Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

(does the sounds come from the amulet?)

The sound is coming from the amulet.  You recall that the amulet is supposed to have a kind of starburst pattern to it.  You see nothing like that on this. (I forget if I specifically described it or just said the Olcelle described it to Elyria.) 

Realizing this is not what she is looking for, and having a bad feeling about the faint ticking and whirring sound, Elyria quickly throws it away in the grass.
"Not sure what that is, but it is not what we're looking for." She says, sounding disappointed. "It must be here somewhere." She growls, keeping looking. 

"Flynt, my divine energy does not differentiate between amulets... what does the magic from the scroll tell you?"  Aurelius says as he, perhaps foolishly, walks to the discarded amulet and bends down to look at it more closely.

"Is there anything else on the body that would identify who it was?"

Flynt tries reading from the scroll. As he does he makes a slow circuit of the immediate area.

When Flynt focuses on the spell again, he realizes that the point he can sense is just a few feet behind the skeletal remains that we're found.  And a bit deeper in the ground.  (Perhaps 5 feet deep.)

Assuming Flynt shares his findings Elyria sends her Air Elemental to do the last bit of digging to the amulet.

Flynt walks to a spot about 4 ft beyond the existing hole. 

"I feel this may be the spot. Seems pretty deep too. Also with the discovery of that body I suggest we tread lightly.  Per chance this is an unmarked burial site."

Aurelius will continue to examine the first amulet, and then move over to examine the skeleton.    He will reach out with his Divine Sense feature to determine if the skeleton is undead, or if there are any other undead nearby.

The air elemental is not very effective at moving the dirt.  Sure, the dust along the surface quickly rises up into the whirlwind that is the elemental.  But it does not make much more progress.  (It can make progress, but it is significantly slower than person digging with their hands.)  

Aurelius examines the amulet more closely.   As it is cleaned up, you notice that it contains many tiny interlocking gears that seems to be moving.  This seems to be the source of the sounds.  You sense the item is clearly magical.  

The skeleton shows no signs of being undead - just dead.  You pick up no other undead nearby either.  

Frustrated Elyria again turns into an Giant Badger and starts digging.

In Giant Badger form it takes little time despite the depth that you have to dig.  You eventually realize there is a bit of metal lodged down with the soil you are pulling out.  

This time, it does appear to have a starburst sort of pattern, very much like had been described to you.  

Elyria again returns to her elven form and takes up the amulet, beaming with joy. "I have it." She says, climbing out of the dirt hole, a little bit messy but she doesn't seem to care.
"I'm going back to Lady Sylmare now. We should decide on somewhere we can meet up after I've delivered the mushrooms and the amulet." She says to Aurelius and Flynt.
(Elyria uses her Wanderer feature to figure out where they could meet up. Would the Harengon village be a good place geographically  for instance?)

Aurelius places the clockwork amulet in his pack for later.  Upon hearing the druid, he looks troubled. He places his hands on Elyria's shoulders and looks at her sincerely.

"I do not want to lose another companion.  We need to have some way to communicate if the meeting with Sylmare does not go well.  Also, we need to figure out exactly what this amulet is, and what it does, and perhaps have our healer friend prepare an antidote or two lest Sylmare use the mind-control on you.  Please, allow the delay of a day or two to avoid walking headlong into captivity."

"If she wanted me captive she could have just kept me when I was there earlier." Elyria snarls, but then she calms down again. "I'm sorry, I guess you are right Aurelius. Perhaps Zol'nard or the Harengon can help us out. I will try to not rush off, even though I still feel that I must. Let's go back to Zol'nard and Triserla." She says and starts walking.

(Flynt had suggested a rest? You could now, or after meeting back with Zol'nard and the others. Or later.  It is later in the day. You might have time to even get back to the Harengone village before it's too late.)

(As far as Elyria considering travel...  the Harengone village is farther from Leilatha than Sylmare's village.  So not very convenient. The most direct route would be if you met along the same road north out of Sylmare's land you took originally.  Basically Flynt and Aurelius backtrack, looping around northward to head east, while you could go directly east to get to Sylmare more quickly.  It would be longer,  but you could all loop northward then separate and the two just wait where you leave them.)

Elyria suggests stopping by Zol'nard and Triserla but then to keep on going to the Harengon village before resting. Next morning they move like suggested in the previous post. If an antidote can be made by the Harengon that is good. Elyria will try to send Aelric if a message is needed.

Flynt simply shrugs, "As you wish."

As the group prepares to make their way back, you suddenly spot something.  An unusual, small creature floating in the air.  

It seems to be floating in the air, spiraling around Elyria.  It then drops to the ground, looking up at her. 

As it stops, you can see it seems to have a leafy top.  They were evidently spinning like propellers to make it fly.  It hops around, making some sort of high-pitched squeaks. 

Elyria thinks this must be some sort of nature spirit. 

Elyria smiles widely at the super cute nature spirit. "Hello there." She says in Sylvan as she kneels down by it and let's it hop up in her open palms, bringing it up to her pointed ear. "I didn't hear you there my friend. Do you have a message for me?"