"I can assure you we will not take any unnecessary risks, staying close to the Empress for now, Furvus making sure the perimeter is safe." The young noble says in a firm comforting tone. "I believe the tents at the bridge are simply an assembly point for the dwarves while they wait for being retrieved for whatever fate awaits them deeper in the city. We will search the tents for any clues to what happened to them and then decide if we wait there for contact or delve a bit deeper into the ruins before returning to the Empress."

As the Empress gets closer to the bridge, Aubrey would make use of Furvus' eyesight, checking nearby buildings for threats but also scan a wider area from above as Leelan suggested.

Aubrey perception: 18

The Golden Empress slowly passes under the bridge and pulls up alongside the stone dock.  The size and architecture of the bridge are impressive.  The bridge rises 30' feet above the river, arcing gently in the middle.  A row of columns supports it from the center, disappearing into the water below but allowing plenty of room on either side for boats and barges to pass.

From the docks, stairs lead up to the roadway following the riverside, and from there to the bridge itself.  

This is no settlement.  The handful of tents in the center of the bridge are more akin to a day camp, or perhaps a guard post.  The tents are purposefully low in profile, making them almost invisible from the angle of view from the river.  But there are bench seats against the stone sides of the bridge that would allow for observation of river traffic to both the north and south.  There is a weapon here... an enormous crossbow.  It is smaller than a siege weapon, but too heavy to wield by hand.  Indeed, there is a pedestal mount alongside of it and a pile of heavy steel bolts.  It looks like the crossbow could be lifted onto the mount and then fired down at boats in case of attack.  There is also a campfire ring in the center of the bridge, and a midden heap full of fish remains and skeletons... the waste of years worth of guard meals.

Investigation DC 14:

The tents have straw mats that look suited for a quick nap but otherwise there a no amenities here.  Other than the weapon, there is no real fortification here, either.  

Furvus circles overhead.  For now, all remains still and quiet.

     Raqisat stays near the rear of the group by keeps a sharp eye out for... Everything.  Something here seems off, besides the emptiness, and he'll be damn if he lets it sneak up on him.  

     "Should we call out?  Or whistle or something?" he asks to nobody in particular.

As the Empress comes into position, Aubrey gives a wave to Captain Neck and steps ashore, moving onto the already scouted bridge with confidence, nodding and smiling to himself as he admires the impressive architecture of old, then starting to look through the small camp.

Investigation: 9

"From what we heard from the halflings I have the impression people would come looking regularly for dwarves at this place. We could stay and wait for that, but we could also call out for their attention, or even make a shorter incursion into the city." The young noble says, looking between the other members of the team for thoughts, then moving to study the light ballista. "I would hate to lessen the beauty of our Empress but maybe this piece might be deployed onto her somehow Grugga? What do you think?" He says, looking up at the artificer while crouching by the enormous crossbow and the pedestal mount beside it. He would then send Furvus in ethereal form to search the waters under and on the sides of the bridge for any wreckages, again borrowing the thing's sight to have a look for himself.

Furvus perception: 22
Aubrey perception: 24

Investigation: 3

"Da. Ve should take the crossbow if there's no one here. It might protect the Empress from intrusion." 

Rohuzar takes a look around for signs of anyone here

Investigation 8 and at advantage for dwarves being favored enemies? Not sure if it applies here 11 

     "I think these may be out type of people," Raqisat whispers to Cosette as they discuss appropriating the crossbow.  

     Raqisat otherwise busies himself walking the perimeter of the camp and looking out into the distance, trying to spot areas from which people may spy on the camp from cover.  It seems odd the place would be totally devoid of life and unwatched.

((earlier on the boat, responding to Aubrey)): "Of course... This is proof that our mission is vital. I just... didn't ever expect to mourn a city." He seems shaken.

((later)) Investigation: 25 (rolled in game log)

While disembarking the Empress, Grugga watches Furvus take flight in his peculiar way. "I've only seen one other familiar in my life before, but for some reason I expected them to... hmm, how do I put it? - look more comfortable as the animals they're representing. I suppose it's because they're not comfortable?" He looks to Aubrey for confirmation. "They're some sort of spirit in physical form, right?"

At the top of the bridge, Grugga initially steers clear of the pile of old bones, but eventually his eyes linger on them for a while. "Some of these are still relatively fresh..." He looks up into the sky and at the tops of buildings. "Where are all the birds like in Bardstown?" He skirts the midden heap and looks down the river to the south, looking for evidence of birds, especially around the Kingswood.

As he walks back to the north side, the group is discussing the mounted ballista. He answers Aubrey's question. "It's ready to go, by the looks of it." He squats over the crossbow and tests the strength and durability of its parts. "I'm sure Mr. Howie would appreciate this in case the Burned Knights come back... but... it feels kind of wrong just taking it, doesn't it?" He looks up at his companions. "I mean, they set this up because they thought they'd need it. What if they're friendly? Should we wait for them here and see?"

Following up on Leelan's idea, Grugga points to the nearby stone tower looming over the cityscape. "Or some of us could keep watch up there. We don't want to spook them too much."

"Ouu..." Cos bounces and coos in response to retrofitting the crossbow. "Mmhmm!" She agrees with Raqisat before chiming, "Retrofits raise value." She looks behind her, over her shoulder to the young noble. "Instead of thinking of it like yer lil girl getting a new tongue piercing, look at it as an investment." She winks.

Craning herself from her perch on Raqisat's back, Cosette still wanted to get a better look. "Higher." She taps the top of his head to give him the heads up, then ready or not, she proceeds to lift herself from around his waist and up to sit on his shoulders. Hooking her feet around the sides/back of his rib cage, Cos secures herself and investigates from her newerish vantage point.

Investigation: 20 and w/ advantage assuming help from Raq?: 23

Cosette pauses abruptly. Raqisat can hear her sniffing, then she leans in as if to sniff to see if it was him. "Shhh..." Cosette shushes Raq, covering his mouth with a hand even though he hasn't even had a chance to say anything yet. "Do you hear that?" She doesn't wait for any form of response. "Exactly! Where are the gulls?" She notes, eventually pointing out the rotting fish she spots.

(oops sorry, some cross post. Didn't see Rock's til after my posts and page refresh *facepalm*)

"As far as I know Grugga, I feel I again must disappoint you by not being very knowledgable about my servant, but I'm more of a practical man and Furvus has proven to be a very useful scout, don't you think." Aubrey aswers the artificer with a friendly smile.

As Cosette comments on the Empress, the young noble shoots her a glance as she is astride her companion, but then he smiles briefly. "It would only be an investment if it raised the value in some sense, and it wouldn't do much for her aestethics I would think, an empress with the kind of perforation you mentioned would be a rare thing indeed and may not be everyone's cup of tea. Still, given our current mission I can see the practical advantages of arming the Empress so that she can defend herself from any unwanted attention." He says with a wink of his own, standing and looking up at the exotic archaeologist.

"I suppose we could wait with moving the weapon to the Empress until we find out more about those who put it here, but I doubt it has a defensive purpose, being positioned to cover the canal. The only vessels passing through here would likely be cargo ships and maybe some passenger ships, nothing you would need this to defend against but quite possibly attack if you were so inclined. These bolts are not anti-personnel projectiles I would think, but rather something you would pierce the hull of a ship with." The young noble comments regarding seizing the light ballista.

As Grugga and Cosette points out the absence of sea birds, Aubrey nods in agreement. "I can only assume their animal instincts tell them to keep away from this place, the aberrations would likely give the ruins an unnatural aura." He speculates. "So, how do we proceed? Call out, proceed into the ruins or simply wait here until nightfall?" He looks around and asks the team. "And if we want to survey the city from above, Furvus has already done that, and I would prefer it if we didn't split up this early in the mission but I will of course not try to stop anyone going up into one of the towers."

Aubrey:

 As the group investigates the bridge camp, the ethereal bird scout moves up out of the water continues to circle overhead.  After 10 minutes, Furvus alerts Aubrey that three figures, one bearing a torch, are approaching from the south along the road that follows the river.  Alerted to their presence, soon you can all spot the small flame of the torch in the distance.  They are not hurrying and you have at least 5 minutes before they reach the bridge.  It's not clear if they see you, but from their vantage point they must have seen the Golden Empress docked below the bridge by now.

"Nevermind, we will have company within a few minutes. The survivors, expecting dwarves to collect for their cure no doubt." The young noble says to the others as Furvus reports back and points in the direction of their approach. "I intend to talk to them and any who wants to can of course join me trying to make peaceful contact. Anyone who doesn't please keep your eyes open for any threats, I don't expect this to be a trap but you never know. Also, if they offer us to follow them I would prefer to decline, instead sending Furvus after them as they leave to scout out their camp and see what we will be dealing with. Any thoughts on that?" He finishes, looking around at the others. Aubrey then sends Furvus back in ethereal form towards the approaching group, using it's sight again as it gets close, also letting it leave the ethereal plane briefly while on a nearby roof, hoping to get a good look at what they will soon be dealing with, one way or the other.

Furvus perception: 17
Aubrey perception: 7

Furvus report:

The three figures approaching are all human.  They are covered head to toe in dirty leather armor, rags and cloaks.  Furvus can't actually see any fleas or body lice, but at the same time you wouldn't want to wager that there weren't some crawling around in there.  Two have shortswords on their belts and the one carrying the torch is unarmed.  Their posture is casual, businesslike.  "They'll have seen us by now," says one in the back.  The others continue on without reply.

     As much as Raqisat is happy to have Cosette ride him however she likes, this seems like a good point in time to set her down and adopts a more defensive position.  Taking up position about five feet to Aubrey's left, Raqisat adopts a loose but ready posture.  

     "The talking is all yours," he assures Aubrey and repositions his robes to cover his face.  Raqisat watches to see where Cosette positions herself then focuses on the coming trio, ready for anything.

Aubrey relays his impressions of the approaching trio to the others in the team, seeming a bit troubled by their unhealthy appearance, hoping they will not insist on shaking hands.

Leelan finds a hidding spot that gives him a good visual of the upcoming conversation. Not that he doesn’t trust Aubrey negotiation skills, on the contrary it’s the three men he doesn’t trust. He’d rather be prepared for the worst and hope for the best than remain in the open for possible hostiles to see.

Stealth: 14

Grugga watches the trio approach from within the heart of the city. "Hmmm... let's just wait until we meet them. Can you imagine what they've seen?" He bites his lower lip in thought. "You're probably right though. They've done something to those desperate Dwarves who were seeking healing."

“Sounds like my cup of tea…” Cosette comments under her breath as she’s strongly encouraged to get down. She concedes for the purpose of professionalism for the anticipated business with these ‘locals’.

Once down, Cos side glances Bruno. An idea pops into her head, and she pats her nose in thought. With a shrug, she decides, what’s it gunna hurt? Much to Bruno’s confusion, his mistress  commands him to sit, and begins to size him up. Dipping into her ‘tickle trunk’ (disguise kit), Cosette fashions an adventurer’s outfit with Dwarven aesthetics in mind and quickly dresses him in it. With Raq allowing Aubrey to take the lead, she gestures for the anthropologist to look over their ‘dwarven companion’ to provide any suggestions. 

(Intention is to dress Bruno up to look like a dwarf, in case it provides an angle for Aubrey to work with, depending on initial contact/conversation. Worst case, he looks like a poorly dressed up boat mascot?)

[Cosette... I have no idea what to ask you to roll.  How about... Deception (w/disadvantage, because c'mon) against a DC of 7 ]