For a long moment after Marion walks away, Samir continues to watch Silas, his expression - which normally fluctuates somewhere between hesitant and thoughtful - has become unreadable. At the last, he adjusts his glasses and looks away, saying nothing.
Quietly, he moves back to Ashley, and begins helping the survivors as best he can. "I think it would be wise for all of us to retreat back to the inn itself. We are all still exhausted from the journey, and perhaps we can find some food or other supplies that would be useful." He hesitates a moment, his eyes flickering back towards Silas for an instant. "And perhaps we can discuss what happens next."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nature at disadvantage (see below): 2 History at disadvantage (see below): 1 Perception at disadvantage (see below): 16
While not completely oblivious, Joren can't wrap his head around the morality and ethics of what has just happened so he stops trying. Other than the obvious facts that the prisoners need help and that these almost comically evil Razmus-worshippers should likely be stopped.
As for any connections with Tensmith mines, Joren has barely heard of them. Is this cult attempting to invade one place or another stealthily through tunnels dug by rats and rat-men? His mind tries and fails to think coherently about that. He does try to remember if he's ever heard of an Enzian rat or where Enzia (?) is. (See Nature and History checks at disadvantage above).
He helps the prisoners as needed. Occasionally, he stays behind the party by 60' to watch their rear for threats, having his echo advance with the party, then switching places to catch up. (See Perception check at disadvantage above).
Joren wracks his brain for answers, but for the life of him he can't recall ever having heard of Enzia or anything Enzian. And though information isn't perfect in this world, and his homeland is far from here, Joren is not uneducated in the geography of the continent. He would have expected t o have at least an inkling.
By late morning, everyone arrives back in the cellar without incident. Worn their first physical exertions in days, Kairem addresses the group. "Thank you for everything. We had no hope remaining before you arrived. I think... I think we will stay here for a time to rest, heal, and regain our strength." They look around at the others who were rescued. "And we don't NOT look like experiments created in a laboratory. I think it will be better for us to remain out of the public eye while many of us are coming back to ourselves. From there? Who knows." Kairem takes a bite of dried meat. "And how about you? What'll you do next?"
"Well it sounds like Malachi has found us a bit of a mystery, but for now, I need some rest."Looking at the prisoners of Jon, she implores, "Please, find space upstairs, find a bit of comfort, whatever you need to try and recover, this area here is so clean I'm sure we'll be fine here." and with that she unrolls her bedroll and looks to Joren a bit sheepishly, "I'm so sorry I didn't grab your pack when I ran, we definitely need to get you outfitted with some supplies, maybe there are some in the inn that will make do?"
Silas looks around the group whilst they are talking of provisions and settling the freed people, he sets down the one he was carrying and makes sure they are comfortable and we'll situated.
Once that is seen to, Vilus wordlessly exits the Inn via the front door, the tinkling of the bell alerting those who pay attention to his egress.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Perception check at disadvantage to notice Silas' departure: 20
Joren gives Ashley a tired grin and a wink before repying.
"Do not be worrying about me. Saving these prisoners, you and the others were, being more important than my pack! Besides, I am having many a worse situation than missing a bedroll in the past. We are having cots here in any case..."
He re-fills his waterskin at the Inn level, looking for any other food for himself and everyone else such as the cheese plate that the horrible Jonny Ratkeeper had brought the party when they first arrived.
Perception check at disadvantage to notice Silas' departure: 18
Joren gives Ashley a tired grin and a wink before repying.
"Do not be worrying about me. Saving these prisoners, you and the others were, being more important than my pack! Besides, I am having many a worse situation than missing a bedroll in the past. We are having cots here in any case..."
He re-fills his waterskin at the Inn level, looking for any other food for himself and everyone else such as the cheese plate that the horrible Jonny Ratkeeper had brought the party when they first arrived.
It is at this moment that Joren hears the tinkling of the bell and notices that Silas is no longer with them.
He immediately alerts the group. He looks around outside to see if he can discern which way Silas went.
"Those of you thinking more clearly than I - doing what next should we be? Resting? Chasing after the strange goliath? Heading back down the tunnel to clear the rubble and finish off the innkeeper's accomplices?"
Joren finds that there is a decent amount of preserved meats and cheeses, along with potatoes and other grains. Enough even for the large group to last several days. There is also plenty of alcohol, but there appears only to be a single barrel of water.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Malachi helps the others with food and water and gets them settled upstairs, grabbing a small bit of the dried meat and cheese for his own breakfast as well. The letters still nag at his thoughts. He had heard of Talmouth of course, but he had walked in many circles in Madurst and Teyra’athal, what did he remember of Tensmith and Councilor Corrine? History: 6.
He shares the full text of the letters with his companions, but warns them “The very language itself seems full of half-truth and deception. It is hard to make out what is true.”
He turns to Rana and Kairem, “Are you from Cambria? We are only just arriving from the Shield Pass ourselves. What can you tell us of the Tensmith Mines and Councilor Corrine? Have you heard of a speaker Marigold or a scriptor Markus? Anything you can share may help others. Anything you may have heard the innkeeper talk about may be valuable information.” Persuasion: 16.
Samir makes his way with the others, helping the prisoners when he can, but largely lost in his own thoughts. Unlike normally, however, these thoughts are of a somewhat less... scholarly bent. When the opportunity arises he helps himself to some of the inn's provisions, thinking it the least the place could provide after the horrible events they had gone through. Joren's revelation that Silas had left finds Samir perched on one of the chairs, his things on the table beside a plate of meats and cheeses. He looks up, eyeing the doorway for a moment before looking to Joren.
"I think, for the time being, we should try and rest. I think if we try and push much harder then the exhaustion will be the death of us." His voice is softer than usual, almost melancholy as he speaks, poking at a lump of cheese with his finger. "As for Silas, well, to be blunt, I don't care what he does. Maybe it would be best if he simply didn't come back at all."
"Thank you Malachi for sharing what you have, but for right now I could care less what time it is or the fact that for some reason that goliath just walked out the door. I am going to get some sleep and try and shake this awful exhaustion. I'd suggest the rest of you that are still inflicted to do the same, but to each their own."and with that she lays down in the corner in her bedroll and in seconds is fast asleep.
As far as Malachi can remember, Tensmith was the name of an industrious town in Northern Cambria that was dedicated almost entirely to the valuable silver mine located there. The wealth and trading potential it brought was one of the reasons Talmouth had become such a dominant trading hub. As far as Councilor Corrine, Malachi is aware that Cambria is theoretically ruled from Talmouth by Lord Derius, but he apparently has delegated all of the actual decision-making to a council he established decades ago. Malachi assumes this Corrine must be a member of the council, and an influential one at that.
(Malachi Persuasion: 17)
Kairem responds, "I can't tell you much about Talmouth and the council, but I am actually from Tensmith. Not a miner, mind you. An administrator. But I heard someone in the council had brought forth evidence of espionage in Tensmith. Apparently there was concern that some other nation might be trying to steal the secrets of our..." Kairem hesitates for a moment, having been about to reveal something sensitive. But they quickly seem to decide they don't care all that much in the present company. "Suffice it to say, some engineers in Tensmith managed to devise a highly efective mining technology that has helped Cambria keep its trade superiority, and there were worries that if the tech got out, a lot of the luxury that the city-dwellers enjoy over in Talmouth would go away.
So they decided to shut the place down while they rooted out the spy or spies. No one in or out. Thanks to my position, I got notice before the policy went into effect, and decided it was a good time to get out. Didn't want to show up in Talmouth and be placed under suspicion, so I figured I'd try the mountain pass and head inland. But I'm sorry I haven't heard of those names you men-"
"I have." One of the others speaks up, the first to really do so besides little murmurs of thanks and please. A human, by the looks of his face, but his arms and legs are far more disfigured than either Rana or Kairem. His eyes are wide in remembered horror. "One of them at least. Someone Jon called Markus came by a long while ago. He took a few of the people who were locked up at the time, strapped them to the table in front of us one by one, and marked their foreheads with some symbol before Jon took the rat heads and... and..." He shivers and goes quiet again.
The ex-prisoners gradually settle in various spots with food and a little bit of water rationed out by Rana. There's just enough for everyone to have a few drinks, but soon it runs dry. Some close their eyes to sleep, while others just rock gently. A few hold each other comfortingly.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Marion busy’s herself attending on each of the freed victims, checking their wounds and doing anything she can to treat them. As she does this she speaks with them each quietly, letting them know that they will be okay and that she is there to listen if there is anything they want to speak about, while also gently talking about the Blue Lady and how she watches over them. Noticing the lingering chemical stench from their wounds she retrieves some incense from her spartan pack, setting it to burn where they survivors are resting, trying to clear the air of the horrid smell and help put the, further at ease.
After seeing them each she goes and speaks with Rana briefly: “I shall go and see if I can fetch some more water, it is important we do everything we can to aid with recovery. Besides, it seems sensible to have a look around outside to ensure all is well.”
Heading outside first she checks the inn for any small carts or wagons or anything that would aid in retrieving water, all the while generally checking the surroundings outside the inn as she walks the perimeter, making sure that there are no immediate dangers approaching unknown.
(Medicine 21) Getting through everyone takes time, especially with the level of care Marion is determined to give to each victim. She finds many of them have minor injuries and sores related to their confinement and she helps ease their pains, sometimes laying hands upon them to provide them with some magical healing while preaching about the blue lady (expend 6 uses of Lay on Hands). By the time she is done, the atmosphere has shifted dramatically. No longer does the air smell like a laboratory, between the incense and the food, and light conversation can be heard from different corners of the main area. Rana nods gratefully, the tensions from the dispute with Vilus out of her mind. Everyone just frankly seems... relieved, an incredible transformation from just an hour previously when despair reigned.
(Investigation 12) Marion steps outside after she is satisfied and looks around. Not seeing anything but low hills at first, she walks around the side of the inn to see if there is a well in the back. What she finds is a small covered shed. There are a few empty barrels and a broken bucket inside, and the dried mud on the ground indicates this is a place that water is regularly handled, but she doesn't see how the water would normally have been transported.
(Perception 18) Joren comes up beside her then, and points out a small worn path at that point that seems to lead over a low rise to the north. Heading to the top, they look past it and see a crystal clear stream running off from the mountain, with a large copse of deciduous trees behind it. Sitting by the stream is a yoke with two full buckets attached. Marion looks back over her shoulder at the shed, just in time to see two small rats scurrying from behind a barrel, and then a sound pulls her attention back to the stream.
There approaches a 7 foot tall bear, reared up on its hind legs and now standing beside the buckets. Peculiarly enough, it seems to have a deer slung over its shoulder.
Joren is in no state to make decisions for the party and is not planning to disturb Ashley's sleep, though he is very uneasy about this situation. It feels akin to winning a skirmish, knowing that the the defeated enemy has associates still at large, and then lulling oneself into a false sense of security. He would have suggested to the remaining PCs that they not all go to sleep at the same time and keep at least two lookouts on watch, enlisting Rana or Kairem's help as lookouts too, if possible. With 2 people up at any time, station one looking out the Inn to the outside, and one looking down the cellar tunnel.
He is similarly concerned about the lack of water. He has seen first hand what can happen to a unit which overextends its supply lines without access to drinkable water, and it isn't pretty. As a result, he would have ventured out with Marion when she went to look for water, helping where he can.
Malachi thanks Kairem and the others and helps ensure they all receive food and water and thinks about this mysterious scriptor. He looks up briefly as Joren points out the departure of Silas, but makes no move to follow. He also does not follow Marion and Joren as the search outside the inn for water or threats. As Samir expresses his thoughts on the goliath, Malachi repeats the same message he shared with Ashley earlier. “Go easy on the goliath. He struggles to control his magic and is paranoid. It can be hard to deal with voices in your head, especially when you think you are being hunted.”
Malachi is content to remain inside, but he does glance nervously as Ashley curls up to sleep in the corner. “I think we have to be on our guard, we should not remain here long and we should stay together. We know that this Daniel that Jon was writing with is coming to visit at some point. And we still know little about this Razmus.” He turns to Rana and Kairem again “You mentioned Burrwatch earlier, is that another place nearby we can go where you will be safe?”
Samir turns to Malachi with a shake of his head as he talks about Silas. "He killed a defenseless, unarmed man in cold blood. That was not an act of paranoia. That was calculated murder." With that he gathers his things and joins Ashley, putting down his own kit a short distance away from hers. Soon he is wrapped in his bedroll and quickly falling into sleep.
Kairem agrees with Joren that someone should keep an eye and an ear out downstairs, and volunteers for the duty. "Before I head down though, does anyone have a mirror and knife I could borrow?" Kairem asks, scratching a their patchy beard. "To give me something to do while I'm down there"
Rana says to Malachi, "The goliath does indeed seem troubled. If he has magic, that may be why he is being hunted. There was another among us who I think had magic. A Solmonite priest. When I was captured, Jon held this strange talisman near me, but nothing happened. When Azfur the priest was captured shortly after, Jon did the same thing, but the talisman started glowing red when it approached him. He got really excited and rather than wrap his limbs, he sent one of his abominations to carry a message down the tunnel to the west. The next day, the one he called Daniel showed up and took the priest away."
When Samir interjects with his comment about Vilus's actions, Rana scoffs. "Defensless? Unarmed? I can promise you that every moment that man was awake, he was plotting a way to escape and destroy you. If not your body, then your mind and your soul. Hell, even dead he nearly killed us all! At worst I would call killing him calculated survival."
She turns her attention back to Malachi to address his question.
"Burrwatch? It's a town halfway between here and Talmouth. Its where most of the food and wool from the ranchlands to the south pass through on their way to the market. It's also where I'm from." Rana sits down crosslegged and slouches. "I... I can't speak for the others, but I'm not ready to go back there. If you grow up in a place like Burrwatch, you don't really leave. But I wanted to. I did leave. Everyone scoffed, but I wanted to see what was outside of that town. What was outside of Cambria. I tried getting on a ship at Talmouth, but there was no way I could afford the latest prices. But I couldn't go back. It was a matter of pride, and it... It seems so stupid now." She breathes deep, trying to hold in tears of fatigue and the regret of making a single choice that forever changes everything. "I didn't want to come crawling back to my hometown with my tail between my legs so to speak, so I skirted around the town and tried to make for the Shield Pass. And that is how I ended up here. But now it's more than pride that keeps me away from Burrwatch. My family, and the others who live there, are a superstitious bunch. If we show up looking like... this... they'll think we ventured into the forbidden First Wood and contracted some horrible curse. They'll drive us out, or worse, I suspect."
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For a long moment after Marion walks away, Samir continues to watch Silas, his expression - which normally fluctuates somewhere between hesitant and thoughtful - has become unreadable. At the last, he adjusts his glasses and looks away, saying nothing.
Quietly, he moves back to Ashley, and begins helping the survivors as best he can. "I think it would be wise for all of us to retreat back to the inn itself. We are all still exhausted from the journey, and perhaps we can find some food or other supplies that would be useful." He hesitates a moment, his eyes flickering back towards Silas for an instant. "And perhaps we can discuss what happens next."
Nature at disadvantage (see below): 2
History at disadvantage (see below): 1
Perception at disadvantage (see below): 16
While not completely oblivious, Joren can't wrap his head around the morality and ethics of what has just happened so he stops trying. Other than the obvious facts that the prisoners need help and that these almost comically evil Razmus-worshippers should likely be stopped.
As for any connections with Tensmith mines, Joren has barely heard of them. Is this cult attempting to invade one place or another stealthily through tunnels dug by rats and rat-men? His mind tries and fails to think coherently about that. He does try to remember if he's ever heard of an Enzian rat or where Enzia (?) is. (See Nature and History checks at disadvantage above).
He helps the prisoners as needed. Occasionally, he stays behind the party by 60' to watch their rear for threats, having his echo advance with the party, then switching places to catch up. (See Perception check at disadvantage above).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Joren wracks his brain for answers, but for the life of him he can't recall ever having heard of Enzia or anything Enzian. And though information isn't perfect in this world, and his homeland is far from here, Joren is not uneducated in the geography of the continent. He would have expected t o have at least an inkling.
By late morning, everyone arrives back in the cellar without incident. Worn their first physical exertions in days, Kairem addresses the group. "Thank you for everything. We had no hope remaining before you arrived. I think... I think we will stay here for a time to rest, heal, and regain our strength." They look around at the others who were rescued. "And we don't NOT look like experiments created in a laboratory. I think it will be better for us to remain out of the public eye while many of us are coming back to ourselves. From there? Who knows." Kairem takes a bite of dried meat. "And how about you? What'll you do next?"
"Well it sounds like Malachi has found us a bit of a mystery, but for now, I need some rest." Looking at the prisoners of Jon, she implores, "Please, find space upstairs, find a bit of comfort, whatever you need to try and recover, this area here is so clean I'm sure we'll be fine here." and with that she unrolls her bedroll and looks to Joren a bit sheepishly, "I'm so sorry I didn't grab your pack when I ran, we definitely need to get you outfitted with some supplies, maybe there are some in the inn that will make do?"
Silas looks around the group whilst they are talking of provisions and settling the freed people, he sets down the one he was carrying and makes sure they are comfortable and we'll situated.
Once that is seen to, Vilus wordlessly exits the Inn via the front door, the tinkling of the bell alerting those who pay attention to his egress.
Perception check at disadvantage to notice Silas' departure: 20
Joren gives Ashley a tired grin and a wink before repying.
"Do not be worrying about me. Saving these prisoners, you and the others were, being more important than my pack! Besides, I am having many a worse situation than missing a bedroll in the past. We are having cots here in any case..."
He re-fills his waterskin at the Inn level, looking for any other food for himself and everyone else such as the cheese plate that the horrible Jonny Ratkeeper had brought the party when they first arrived.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
It is at this moment that Joren hears the tinkling of the bell and notices that Silas is no longer with them.
He immediately alerts the group. He looks around outside to see if he can discern which way Silas went.
"Those of you thinking more clearly than I - doing what next should we be? Resting? Chasing after the strange goliath? Heading back down the tunnel to clear the rubble and finish off the innkeeper's accomplices?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Joren finds that there is a decent amount of preserved meats and cheeses, along with potatoes and other grains. Enough even for the large group to last several days. There is also plenty of alcohol, but there appears only to be a single barrel of water.
Malachi helps the others with food and water and gets them settled upstairs, grabbing a small bit of the dried meat and cheese for his own breakfast as well. The letters still nag at his thoughts. He had heard of Talmouth of course, but he had walked in many circles in Madurst and Teyra’athal, what did he remember of Tensmith and Councilor Corrine? History: 6.
He shares the full text of the letters with his companions, but warns them “The very language itself seems full of half-truth and deception. It is hard to make out what is true.”
He turns to Rana and Kairem, “Are you from Cambria? We are only just arriving from the Shield Pass ourselves. What can you tell us of the Tensmith Mines and Councilor Corrine? Have you heard of a speaker Marigold or a scriptor Markus? Anything you can share may help others. Anything you may have heard the innkeeper talk about may be valuable information.” Persuasion: 16.
Samir makes his way with the others, helping the prisoners when he can, but largely lost in his own thoughts. Unlike normally, however, these thoughts are of a somewhat less... scholarly bent. When the opportunity arises he helps himself to some of the inn's provisions, thinking it the least the place could provide after the horrible events they had gone through. Joren's revelation that Silas had left finds Samir perched on one of the chairs, his things on the table beside a plate of meats and cheeses. He looks up, eyeing the doorway for a moment before looking to Joren.
"I think, for the time being, we should try and rest. I think if we try and push much harder then the exhaustion will be the death of us." His voice is softer than usual, almost melancholy as he speaks, poking at a lump of cheese with his finger. "As for Silas, well, to be blunt, I don't care what he does. Maybe it would be best if he simply didn't come back at all."
"Thank you Malachi for sharing what you have, but for right now I could care less what time it is or the fact that for some reason that goliath just walked out the door. I am going to get some sleep and try and shake this awful exhaustion. I'd suggest the rest of you that are still inflicted to do the same, but to each their own." and with that she lays down in the corner in her bedroll and in seconds is fast asleep.
(Malachi History: 10)
As far as Malachi can remember, Tensmith was the name of an industrious town in Northern Cambria that was dedicated almost entirely to the valuable silver mine located there. The wealth and trading potential it brought was one of the reasons Talmouth had become such a dominant trading hub. As far as Councilor Corrine, Malachi is aware that Cambria is theoretically ruled from Talmouth by Lord Derius, but he apparently has delegated all of the actual decision-making to a council he established decades ago. Malachi assumes this Corrine must be a member of the council, and an influential one at that.
(Malachi Persuasion: 17)
Kairem responds, "I can't tell you much about Talmouth and the council, but I am actually from Tensmith. Not a miner, mind you. An administrator. But I heard someone in the council had brought forth evidence of espionage in Tensmith. Apparently there was concern that some other nation might be trying to steal the secrets of our..." Kairem hesitates for a moment, having been about to reveal something sensitive. But they quickly seem to decide they don't care all that much in the present company. "Suffice it to say, some engineers in Tensmith managed to devise a highly efective mining technology that has helped Cambria keep its trade superiority, and there were worries that if the tech got out, a lot of the luxury that the city-dwellers enjoy over in Talmouth would go away.
So they decided to shut the place down while they rooted out the spy or spies. No one in or out. Thanks to my position, I got notice before the policy went into effect, and decided it was a good time to get out. Didn't want to show up in Talmouth and be placed under suspicion, so I figured I'd try the mountain pass and head inland. But I'm sorry I haven't heard of those names you men-"
"I have." One of the others speaks up, the first to really do so besides little murmurs of thanks and please. A human, by the looks of his face, but his arms and legs are far more disfigured than either Rana or Kairem. His eyes are wide in remembered horror. "One of them at least. Someone Jon called Markus came by a long while ago. He took a few of the people who were locked up at the time, strapped them to the table in front of us one by one, and marked their foreheads with some symbol before Jon took the rat heads and... and..." He shivers and goes quiet again.
The ex-prisoners gradually settle in various spots with food and a little bit of water rationed out by Rana. There's just enough for everyone to have a few drinks, but soon it runs dry. Some close their eyes to sleep, while others just rock gently. A few hold each other comfortingly.
Marion busy’s herself attending on each of the freed victims, checking their wounds and doing anything she can to treat them. As she does this she speaks with them each quietly, letting them know that they will be okay and that she is there to listen if there is anything they want to speak about, while also gently talking about the Blue Lady and how she watches over them. Noticing the lingering chemical stench from their wounds she retrieves some incense from her spartan pack, setting it to burn where they survivors are resting, trying to clear the air of the horrid smell and help put the, further at ease.
After seeing them each she goes and speaks with Rana briefly: “I shall go and see if I can fetch some more water, it is important we do everything we can to aid with recovery. Besides, it seems sensible to have a look around outside to ensure all is well.”
Heading outside first she checks the inn for any small carts or wagons or anything that would aid in retrieving water, all the while generally checking the surroundings outside the inn as she walks the perimeter, making sure that there are no immediate dangers approaching unknown.
Not sure what you need so here you go:
medicine: 21
investigation: 22
perception: 17
Don't mind these rolls:
18
14
12
(Medicine 21) Getting through everyone takes time, especially with the level of care Marion is determined to give to each victim. She finds many of them have minor injuries and sores related to their confinement and she helps ease their pains, sometimes laying hands upon them to provide them with some magical healing while preaching about the blue lady (expend 6 uses of Lay on Hands). By the time she is done, the atmosphere has shifted dramatically. No longer does the air smell like a laboratory, between the incense and the food, and light conversation can be heard from different corners of the main area. Rana nods gratefully, the tensions from the dispute with Vilus out of her mind. Everyone just frankly seems... relieved, an incredible transformation from just an hour previously when despair reigned.
(Investigation 12) Marion steps outside after she is satisfied and looks around. Not seeing anything but low hills at first, she walks around the side of the inn to see if there is a well in the back. What she finds is a small covered shed. There are a few empty barrels and a broken bucket inside, and the dried mud on the ground indicates this is a place that water is regularly handled, but she doesn't see how the water would normally have been transported.
(Perception 18) Joren comes up beside her then, and points out a small worn path at that point that seems to lead over a low rise to the north. Heading to the top, they look past it and see a crystal clear stream running off from the mountain, with a large copse of deciduous trees behind it. Sitting by the stream is a yoke with two full buckets attached. Marion looks back over her shoulder at the shed, just in time to see two small rats scurrying from behind a barrel, and then a sound pulls her attention back to the stream.
There approaches a 7 foot tall bear, reared up on its hind legs and now standing beside the buckets. Peculiarly enough, it seems to have a deer slung over its shoulder.
Joren is in no state to make decisions for the party and is not planning to disturb Ashley's sleep, though he is very uneasy about this situation. It feels akin to winning a skirmish, knowing that the the defeated enemy has associates still at large, and then lulling oneself into a false sense of security. He would have suggested to the remaining PCs that they not all go to sleep at the same time and keep at least two lookouts on watch, enlisting Rana or Kairem's help as lookouts too, if possible. With 2 people up at any time, station one looking out the Inn to the outside, and one looking down the cellar tunnel.
He is similarly concerned about the lack of water. He has seen first hand what can happen to a unit which overextends its supply lines without access to drinkable water, and it isn't pretty. As a result, he would have ventured out with Marion when she went to look for water, helping where he can.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Malachi thanks Kairem and the others and helps ensure they all receive food and water and thinks about this mysterious scriptor. He looks up briefly as Joren points out the departure of Silas, but makes no move to follow. He also does not follow Marion and Joren as the search outside the inn for water or threats. As Samir expresses his thoughts on the goliath, Malachi repeats the same message he shared with Ashley earlier. “Go easy on the goliath. He struggles to control his magic and is paranoid. It can be hard to deal with voices in your head, especially when you think you are being hunted.”
Malachi is content to remain inside, but he does glance nervously as Ashley curls up to sleep in the corner. “I think we have to be on our guard, we should not remain here long and we should stay together. We know that this Daniel that Jon was writing with is coming to visit at some point. And we still know little about this Razmus.” He turns to Rana and Kairem again “You mentioned Burrwatch earlier, is that another place nearby we can go where you will be safe?”
Samir turns to Malachi with a shake of his head as he talks about Silas. "He killed a defenseless, unarmed man in cold blood. That was not an act of paranoia. That was calculated murder." With that he gathers his things and joins Ashley, putting down his own kit a short distance away from hers. Soon he is wrapped in his bedroll and quickly falling into sleep.
Kairem agrees with Joren that someone should keep an eye and an ear out downstairs, and volunteers for the duty. "Before I head down though, does anyone have a mirror and knife I could borrow?" Kairem asks, scratching a their patchy beard. "To give me something to do while I'm down there"
Rana says to Malachi, "The goliath does indeed seem troubled. If he has magic, that may be why he is being hunted. There was another among us who I think had magic. A Solmonite priest. When I was captured, Jon held this strange talisman near me, but nothing happened. When Azfur the priest was captured shortly after, Jon did the same thing, but the talisman started glowing red when it approached him. He got really excited and rather than wrap his limbs, he sent one of his abominations to carry a message down the tunnel to the west. The next day, the one he called Daniel showed up and took the priest away."
When Samir interjects with his comment about Vilus's actions, Rana scoffs. "Defensless? Unarmed? I can promise you that every moment that man was awake, he was plotting a way to escape and destroy you. If not your body, then your mind and your soul. Hell, even dead he nearly killed us all! At worst I would call killing him calculated survival."
She turns her attention back to Malachi to address his question.
"Burrwatch? It's a town halfway between here and Talmouth. Its where most of the food and wool from the ranchlands to the south pass through on their way to the market. It's also where I'm from." Rana sits down crosslegged and slouches. "I... I can't speak for the others, but I'm not ready to go back there. If you grow up in a place like Burrwatch, you don't really leave. But I wanted to. I did leave. Everyone scoffed, but I wanted to see what was outside of that town. What was outside of Cambria. I tried getting on a ship at Talmouth, but there was no way I could afford the latest prices. But I couldn't go back. It was a matter of pride, and it... It seems so stupid now." She breathes deep, trying to hold in tears of fatigue and the regret of making a single choice that forever changes everything. "I didn't want to come crawling back to my hometown with my tail between my legs so to speak, so I skirted around the town and tried to make for the Shield Pass. And that is how I ended up here. But now it's more than pride that keeps me away from Burrwatch. My family, and the others who live there, are a superstitious bunch. If we show up looking like... this... they'll think we ventured into the forbidden First Wood and contracted some horrible curse. They'll drive us out, or worse, I suspect."