...After a while, she notices that Rel seems a little downcast. She summons a mage hand and slowly creeps towards Rel's left backside while floating the hand over her right shoulder. The mage hand taps Rel's shoulder and at the same time, in a gleeful stage whisper from the left side: "boo!"
Just as Rel trails off in her half-hearted attempt at a joke, with her attention focused on Khessa, she suddenly feels a tap on her right shoulder and Echo's whisper of "Boo". Rel spins and jumps in the air, startled.
Dull black energy seems to flow from her earrings to her fingertips as a dark, light-drinking beam of force shoots off in a random direction through the trees and rocks, startling some crows as they take to the air, cawing vociferously. Surprised as much by her unintentional Eldritch Blast as she is by Echo's playful Mage Hand shoulder-tap and whisper, Rel looks around sheepishly and grins.
"I... I apologize for that, Echo Thornhill... and the rest of you! I must control my magic better."
She follows suit by summoning her own Mage Hand in front of her own face, sticking its thumb on her nose and wiggling the arcane hand's upraised fingers while facing in Echo's direction, sticking her own tongue out as she does...
Khessa is so impressed to see Echo and Rel joke like that with each other... 'Like my sister Yassa...' she thinks 'She was always in such a good mood too... Yassa, you were always my best confidant...' the blonde warrior-mage strives to focus more on the prospect of her family's liberation rather than the present condition of the same 'I'll find you again, my sister. You and everyone else. It will be easier, with the help of Rel. She comes from there...'
During the journey, the tall arcane warrior tries to stay up front, next to Jasper... not because she thinks she can spot dangers well (quite the contrary, in fact), but because she wants to be ready to put herself between them and the rest of the party, if needed.
Seeing the blast of energy fired off, Echo's mage hand mimes flailing and disappears in a brief puff of smoke comically. She herself stares after the blast for one moment before looking back at Rel in awe, "Woah- I mean, nah, sorry for catching you off guard- BUT that was really cool!!"
"In our group so far, I think the women have felt more comfortable being forthcoming and speaking about themselves. Though I know well that it is not easy. Falver Wildheart and Jasper Mooncrest, I hope that we are in the process of earning your trust. Should we succeed in our mission to warn the dwarves, may we learn more about at least one of you?"
"Oh yeah! You guys never mentioned, did you come from somewhere far away?" Echo blinks her eyes expectantly at the two mentioned, waiting to hear more tales from travels and other adventures.
After being jolted by the surprise of the Mage Hands and Rel's Eldritch Blast, Falver takes a big sigh, and smiles. Traveling alone was easier,... but the road was much more frightening when alone.
Listening to Rel and Echo, Falver stares at the road ahead, a thoughtful look on his face.
"My travels led me to Phandalin the day before we all met up. I've been looking for an item that was stolen from my family for some time now. A map...I come from a family of cartographers. Map makers... "he says. He pats his cartography case as he walks along, explaining. "The map that was stolen was an heirloom."
Falver falls quiet for most of the rest of the journey, lost in his thoughts....
Jasper highly focused on watching the area to the south when a blast of energy streaks ahead. Jasper jumps out of his skin. “What was that? What’s going on?” Jasper frantically asks seeing Echo and Rel already laughing it off. Jasper lowers his spear. “Is everyone alright?”
Seemingly okay, Jasper turns back to the front of the group stopped by Rel’s and Echo’s questions. Not turning around, Jasper answers. “I’m looking for my family...They were taken from me. By creatures of the night. Fowl evil creatures with skin...Skin pale as moonlight.”
Jasper continues forward...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jasper Mooncrest🌙 ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Nyx’s Dragon of Icespires Peak: PBP Dastion Salvi~ Half-Elf Warlock(Genie) ~ Lost Mines of the Phandelver: D&DBeyond/Roll20/Discord (Sunday 5-8pm cst) DM canceled Jasper of the Wandering Wood ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Tomb of the Delian Order One Shot(13): PBP complete
... Not turning around, Jasper answers. “I’m looking for my family...They were taken from me. By creatures of the night. Fowl evil creatures with skin...Skin pale as moonlight.”
"I did not know you also had your family kidnapped!" Khessa gasps, her blue eyes wide open with surprise and compassion; she places her hand on the elf's shoulder "Things like that should never happen. I'll help you in any way possible to save your loved ones. These..." the blonde arcane warrior searches for the correct term; how to define creatures of the night with skin pale as moonlight? "these moonlike shadows" she finally decides "will regret carrying your family away, they won't get away with it".
..."My travels led me to Phandalin the day before we all met up. I've been looking for an item that was stolen from my family for some time now. A map...I come from a family of cartographers. Map makers... "he says. He pats his cartography case as he walks along, explaining. "The map that was stolen was an heirloom."
"But why Phandalin?" Khessa is curious "Mind, I'm glad you came here, for now we can all count on your help - and we will need every help possible against a dragon, but why did you go right here? Were you tracking the thief? Are you following a lead?"
"My travels led me to Phandalin the day before we all met up. I've been looking for an item that was stolen from my family for some time now. A map...I come from a family of cartographers. Map makers... "he says. He pats his cartography case as he walks along, explaining. "The map that was stolen was an heirloom."
"Any idea what the thief looks like? We all kind of know each other around here, if it sounds like one of the folks here," Echo flexes her arm threateningly, "we can have a chat with them and get them to return your map!"
“I’m looking for my family...They were taken from me. By creatures of the night. Fowl evil creatures with skin...Skin pale as moonlight.”
Echo deflates a little hearing this and sensing the sadness in Jasper, she nods along to what Khessa says, "don't know much about these things, but I'll help you find them too, I'm good in the dark!" (The idea that she might share physical semblance with these things flies over her head.)
...Echo deflates a little hearing this and sensing the sadness in Jasper, she nods along to what Khessa says, "don't know much about these things, but I'll help you find them too, I'm good in the dark!" (The idea that she might share physical semblance with these things flies over her head.)
"Yes Echo, your ability to see in the dark might really help! Plus, you also might look somewhat pale, with your fine skin, under the moonlight..." reflects Khessa (who also does not fully realize how much her friend might resemble the moonlight shadows... she would never connect her trusted friend to those family-stealing monsters) "When we come to confront those creatures, maybe we can fool them... maybe they could mistake you for one of them, if they see you from afar! This might give us an advantage".
It takes you several hours of walking through the wooded miner's trail. The trail winds ever upward in the foothills of the Sword Mountains. Jasper and Falver keep an eye out for danger, but the forest is quiet save for the chirping of birds and rustling of larger creatures such as boar or deer. Echo tries to look for anything interesting lying in the road, but all she finds are loose stones.
As you talk amongst yourselves and get to know each other better, time seems to just melt away. Soon enough you notice the trail you are on leading into a canyon. The canyon’s rocky walls rise to a height of eighty feet. At the end of the canyon, a twenty-foot-high wall of black stone has a broken gate carved into it, with one stone door hanging precariously by a hinge and the other door missing. Beyond this open gate, in the shadow of a great mountain to the east, lies a ruined settlement. All is quiet.
Rel is astonished to find her heart aching in sympathy when she hears Jasper's terse account of pale monsters taking his family.
Why should I not be sympathetic to a surface elf? No surface elf has ever done me harm. He speaks of them the way I speak about Roywyn - few words and much pain.
She also makes note of Falver's lost heirloom map. We all have lost much as a group. Perhaps one day we will all recover what we have lost, maybe even with each other's help...
Arriving at the canyon, Rel is a bit wary of a trap, as it seems a good spot for an ambush, thinking back to the tactics that her family of slavers would speak of employing underground to take captives, remembering her mother Ilvara's cruel boasts. She looks around for potential hidden enemies or hazards
If seeing none, she will suggest: "We understand these dwarves to be friendly, correct? Khessa Cabbagefield, you have proven an effective leader and speaker for the party thus far. Do you wish to hail them? Or, while I'm sure they understand Common, does anyone speak Dwarvish perhaps to help ease things?"
"It was dark... I remember them as a dark figure, disappearing across the rooftops and into the shadows. As far as how and why I came to Phandalin, well... all I know is the thief was headed west from my village... so I followed the road and eventually found myself there. "Falver says... still watching the road as they travel.. his eyes don't make contact with any of the other companions as they walk, and as others talk- he sulks back to the back, or off to the side trying to deflect attention away from himself.
As they reach the settlement, Falver is in awe at the architecture.
He says: " I don't speak Dwarvish, else I would hail them. This place is impressive, to say the least."
... Not turning around, Jasper answers. “I’m looking for my family...They were taken from me. By creatures of the night. Fowl evil creatures with skin...Skin pale as moonlight.”
"I did not know you also had your family kidnapped!" Khessa gasps, her blue eyes wide open with surprise and compassion; she places her hand on the elf's shoulder "Things like that should never happen. I'll help you in any way possible to save your loved ones. These..." the blonde arcane warrior searches for the correct term; how to define creatures of the night with skin pale as moonlight? "these moonlike shadows" she finally decides "will regret carrying your family away, they won't get away with it".
To Khessa: Jasper looks up to Khessa and graciously thanks her. “Thank you and hope I can help you as well. It has been a very long time since, well, since I’ve belonged to anything.” Jasper gestures to Khessa and touches her shoulder casting Vigilant Blessing(Advantage on next initiative roll)
Echo deflates a little hearing this and sensing the sadness in Jasper, she nods along to what Khessa says, "don't know much about these things, but I'll help you find them too, I'm good in the dark!" (The idea that she might share physical semblance with these things flies over her head.)
To Echo: “Thank you Echo” Jasper gestures to her making light eye contact. “I am too, “good in the dark”. Very comfortable in the night hours.”
Walking through the broken gates seeing the ruins, Jasper responds to Rel. “I can speak the dwarvish tongue, but I admit, I’m not one for social interaction. Might be better for Khessa to take this one.”
Seeing the state of the settlement, Echo frowns a little and scratches the back of her head, "guys I don't think this is what the settlement's supposed to look like... I can speak Dwarvish, but what do you say when things--" she gestures vaguely to the broken doors, "--are like this?"
(The sense of foreboding triggers an instinct in her, the shadows near Echo seems to become darker and clings to her person. (Echo casts mage armor on herself.))
"Oh, Rel Serafin, thank you for your consideration towards me and I'll gladly speak to the dwarves, when we find them..." Khessa stares with attention (and suspicion) at the settlement "but right now I share Echo's perplexity... The broken doors, the silence... There something is wrong." the blonde arcane warrior reflects"Either the dragon preceded us and... 'announced by itself', or some monster displaced by the dragon, as happened to Tookrashk, has come here. And it's hard to tell if it's still there... and where are the dwarves now. Are any of us good at tracking? Maybe we could get an idea of what happened looking for tracks. At least figure out if a good number of dwarves have escaped from here and to where. If they haven't escaped... then we should look for them inside, proceeding with caution, as Jasper advised. Maybe Falver could scout ahead sneaking, then".
Whith that, the tall warrior-mage makes herself a first attempt to look for tracks on the ground.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Sure..." Falver says as he moves away from the others..."I'll scout ahead, and look for clues. "He draws his bow and nocks an arrow as he scouts ahead, looking for anything to report back to the group with...
Rel does not discern any traps as the party approaches the excavation through the canyon. All seems quiet and still for the moment.
As you make your way through the ruined settlement, you notice several remains of ruined buildings, mostly just the stone foundations left to mark their existence. There is a stone well on the far side of the ruins.
Jasper looks through the ruins but there is little of value apparent. It seems whatever was left here has long ago been taken. He notices signs of recent campfires and several bones that show signs of being crushed.
Khessa isn't able to find any tracks in the ruins of the village, at least not any distinct ones. Everything seems like it's been ransacked at some point in the past.
Falver is able to make out a set of what look to be heavy bootprints leading through the village. They are much more recent than any other tracks left in the ruins. They lead toward a partially collapsed, ten-foot-high wall separating a courtyard from the ruined village. Three heaps of rubble are piled high in this courtyard area. Hewn from the canyon’s back wall, a thirty-foot-high temple facade features steps rising to a stone platform. Cut into this facade is a ten-foot-high open doorway flanked by crumbling, life-sized granite statues of cloaked dwarves. Evil grins can be seen on their weatherworn faces.
"Oh, well..." Khessa shivers, as Falver shows her where the bootprints are leading "that temple seems no good to me... but maybe the dwarves seeked refuge there. Or maybe the last invaders took them there. I'm afraid we should go in and investigate".
She fetches a small pebble and chants briefly in a soft voice: the tiny object starts emanating a warm orange light (casts the Light cantrip).
"If I'm the only one who can not see in darkness, I'll keep the light in a pocket and let Echo guide me, not to stand out in the dark" explains the blonde warrior-mage. "Else, I'd say someone able to summon a magical hand could have the hand bring the lighted pebble many syeps ahead of us... so that we see where we are going without staying visible in light ourselves".
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Echo follows behind Khessa, seeing the statues, she says: "whoa... who are these guys...?" She peeks into the doorway from outside. Perception: 9
(ooc: Echo has 120ft darkvision in case that helps! also just for clarification since we can't see the map right now, is the courtyard and the three piles of rubble noticeable/accessible once they looked around?)
Echo follows behind Khessa, seeing the statues, she says: "whoa... who are these guys...?"...
"Not the kind of statue I'd put in my garden" replies Khessa, watching the evil grins on the stone faces. "Maybe this was a temple of some evil cult and the dwarves discovered it during their mining operations".
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Khessa is so impressed to see Echo and Rel joke like that with each other...
'Like my sister Yassa...' she thinks 'She was always in such a good mood too... Yassa, you were always my best confidant...' the blonde warrior-mage strives to focus more on the prospect of her family's liberation rather than the present condition of the same 'I'll find you again, my sister. You and everyone else. It will be easier, with the help of Rel. She comes from there...'
During the journey, the tall arcane warrior tries to stay up front, next to Jasper... not because she thinks she can spot dangers well (quite the contrary, in fact), but because she wants to be ready to put herself between them and the rest of the party, if needed.
Seeing the blast of energy fired off, Echo's mage hand mimes flailing and disappears in a brief puff of smoke comically. She herself stares after the blast for one moment before looking back at Rel in awe, "Woah- I mean, nah, sorry for catching you off guard- BUT that was really cool!!"
"Oh yeah! You guys never mentioned, did you come from somewhere far away?" Echo blinks her eyes expectantly at the two mentioned, waiting to hear more tales from travels and other adventures.
After being jolted by the surprise of the Mage Hands and Rel's Eldritch Blast, Falver takes a big sigh, and smiles. Traveling alone was easier,... but the road was much more frightening when alone.
Listening to Rel and Echo, Falver stares at the road ahead, a thoughtful look on his face.
"My travels led me to Phandalin the day before we all met up. I've been looking for an item that was stolen from my family for some time now. A map...I come from a family of cartographers. Map makers... " he says. He pats his cartography case as he walks along, explaining. "The map that was stolen was an heirloom."
Falver falls quiet for most of the rest of the journey, lost in his thoughts....
Jasper highly focused on watching the area to the south when a blast of energy streaks ahead. Jasper jumps out of his skin. “What was that? What’s going on?” Jasper frantically asks seeing Echo and Rel already laughing it off. Jasper lowers his spear. “Is everyone alright?”
Seemingly okay, Jasper turns back to the front of the group stopped by Rel’s and Echo’s questions. Not turning around, Jasper answers.
“I’m looking for my family...They were taken from me. By creatures of the night. Fowl evil creatures with skin...Skin pale as moonlight.”
Jasper continues forward...
Jasper Mooncrest🌙 ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Nyx’s Dragon of Icespires Peak: PBP
Dastion Salvi ~ Half-Elf Warlock(Genie) ~ Lost Mines of the Phandelver: D&DBeyond/Roll20/Discord (Sunday 5-8pm cst) DM canceled
Jasper of the Wandering Wood ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Tomb of the Delian Order One Shot(13): PBP complete
"I did not know you also had your family kidnapped!" Khessa gasps, her blue eyes wide open with surprise and compassion; she places her hand on the elf's shoulder "Things like that should never happen. I'll help you in any way possible to save your loved ones. These..." the blonde arcane warrior searches for the correct term; how to define creatures of the night with skin pale as moonlight? "these moonlike shadows" she finally decides "will regret carrying your family away, they won't get away with it".
"But why Phandalin?" Khessa is curious "Mind, I'm glad you came here, for now we can all count on your help - and we will need every help possible against a dragon, but why did you go right here? Were you tracking the thief? Are you following a lead?"
"Any idea what the thief looks like? We all kind of know each other around here, if it sounds like one of the folks here," Echo flexes her arm threateningly, "we can have a chat with them and get them to return your map!"
Echo deflates a little hearing this and sensing the sadness in Jasper, she nods along to what Khessa says, "don't know much about these things, but I'll help you find them too, I'm good in the dark!" (The idea that she might share physical semblance with these things flies over her head.)
"Yes Echo, your ability to see in the dark might really help! Plus, you also might look somewhat pale, with your fine skin, under the moonlight..." reflects Khessa (who also does not fully realize how much her friend might resemble the moonlight shadows... she would never connect her trusted friend to those family-stealing monsters) "When we come to confront those creatures, maybe we can fool them... maybe they could mistake you for one of them, if they see you from afar! This might give us an advantage".
It takes you several hours of walking through the wooded miner's trail. The trail winds ever upward in the foothills of the Sword Mountains. Jasper and Falver keep an eye out for danger, but the forest is quiet save for the chirping of birds and rustling of larger creatures such as boar or deer. Echo tries to look for anything interesting lying in the road, but all she finds are loose stones.
As you talk amongst yourselves and get to know each other better, time seems to just melt away. Soon enough you notice the trail you are on leading into a canyon. The canyon’s rocky walls rise to a height of eighty feet. At the end of the canyon, a twenty-foot-high wall of black stone has a broken gate carved into it, with one stone door hanging precariously by a hinge and the other door missing. Beyond this open gate, in the shadow of a great mountain to the east, lies a ruined settlement. All is quiet.
(It is about 1 pm or so.)
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Rel is astonished to find her heart aching in sympathy when she hears Jasper's terse account of pale monsters taking his family.
Why should I not be sympathetic to a surface elf? No surface elf has ever done me harm. He speaks of them the way I speak about Roywyn - few words and much pain.
She also makes note of Falver's lost heirloom map. We all have lost much as a group. Perhaps one day we will all recover what we have lost, maybe even with each other's help...
Arriving at the canyon, Rel is a bit wary of a trap, as it seems a good spot for an ambush, thinking back to the tactics that her family of slavers would speak of employing underground to take captives, remembering her mother Ilvara's cruel boasts. She looks around for potential hidden enemies or hazards
Perception: 14
If seeing none, she will suggest: "We understand these dwarves to be friendly, correct? Khessa Cabbagefield, you have proven an effective leader and speaker for the party thus far. Do you wish to hail them? Or, while I'm sure they understand Common, does anyone speak Dwarvish perhaps to help ease things?"
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 was dark... I remember them as a dark figure, disappearing across the rooftops and into the shadows. As far as how and why I came to Phandalin, well... all I know is the thief was headed west from my village... so I followed the road and eventually found myself there. " Falver says... still watching the road as they travel.. his eyes don't make contact with any of the other companions as they walk, and as others talk- he sulks back to the back, or off to the side trying to deflect attention away from himself.
As they reach the settlement, Falver is in awe at the architecture.
He says: " I don't speak Dwarvish, else I would hail them. This place is impressive, to say the least."
To Khessa:
Jasper looks up to Khessa and graciously thanks her. “Thank you and hope I can help you as well. It has been a very long time since, well, since I’ve belonged to anything.” Jasper gestures to Khessa and touches her shoulder casting Vigilant Blessing(Advantage on next initiative roll)
To Echo:
“Thank you Echo” Jasper gestures to her making light eye contact. “I am too, “good in the dark”. Very comfortable in the night hours.”
Walking through the broken gates seeing the ruins, Jasper responds to Rel. “I can speak the dwarvish tongue, but I admit, I’m not one for social interaction. Might be better for Khessa to take this one.”
Jasper Mooncrest🌙 ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Nyx’s Dragon of Icespires Peak: PBP
Dastion Salvi ~ Half-Elf Warlock(Genie) ~ Lost Mines of the Phandelver: D&DBeyond/Roll20/Discord (Sunday 5-8pm cst) DM canceled
Jasper of the Wandering Wood ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Tomb of the Delian Order One Shot(13): PBP complete
Seeing the state of the settlement, Echo frowns a little and scratches the back of her head, "guys I don't think this is what the settlement's supposed to look like... I can speak Dwarvish, but what do you say when things--" she gestures vaguely to the broken doors, "--are like this?"
(The sense of foreboding triggers an instinct in her, the shadows near Echo seems to become darker and clings to her person. (Echo casts mage armor on herself.))
“Maybe we should just proceed with caution and keep an eye out for the dwarves?”
Jasper begins to look outward over the ruins for signs of life.
Perception: 26
Jasper Mooncrest🌙 ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Nyx’s Dragon of Icespires Peak: PBP
Dastion Salvi ~ Half-Elf Warlock(Genie) ~ Lost Mines of the Phandelver: D&DBeyond/Roll20/Discord (Sunday 5-8pm cst) DM canceled
Jasper of the Wandering Wood ~ Wood Elf Cleric Twilight Domain ~ Tomb of the Delian Order One Shot(13): PBP complete
"Oh, Rel Serafin, thank you for your consideration towards me and I'll gladly speak to the dwarves, when we find them..." Khessa stares with attention (and suspicion) at the settlement "but right now I share Echo's perplexity... The broken doors, the silence... There something is wrong." the blonde arcane warrior reflects "Either the dragon preceded us and... 'announced by itself', or some monster displaced by the dragon, as happened to Tookrashk, has come here. And it's hard to tell if it's still there... and where are the dwarves now. Are any of us good at tracking? Maybe we could get an idea of what happened looking for tracks. At least figure out if a good number of dwarves have escaped from here and to where. If they haven't escaped... then we should look for them inside, proceeding with caution, as Jasper advised. Maybe Falver could scout ahead sneaking, then".
Whith that, the tall warrior-mage makes herself a first attempt to look for tracks on the ground.
Survival: 7
"Sure..." Falver says as he moves away from the others..."I'll scout ahead, and look for clues. " He draws his bow and nocks an arrow as he scouts ahead, looking for anything to report back to the group with...
( Stealth: 9 Investigation: 15 )
Rel does not discern any traps as the party approaches the excavation through the canyon. All seems quiet and still for the moment.
As you make your way through the ruined settlement, you notice several remains of ruined buildings, mostly just the stone foundations left to mark their existence. There is a stone well on the far side of the ruins.
Jasper looks through the ruins but there is little of value apparent. It seems whatever was left here has long ago been taken. He notices signs of recent campfires and several bones that show signs of being crushed.
Khessa isn't able to find any tracks in the ruins of the village, at least not any distinct ones. Everything seems like it's been ransacked at some point in the past.
Falver is able to make out a set of what look to be heavy bootprints leading through the village. They are much more recent than any other tracks left in the ruins. They lead toward a partially collapsed, ten-foot-high wall separating a courtyard from the ruined village. Three heaps of rubble are piled high in this courtyard area. Hewn from the canyon’s back wall, a thirty-foot-high temple facade features steps rising to a stone platform. Cut into this facade is a ten-foot-high open doorway flanked by crumbling, life-sized granite statues of cloaked dwarves. Evil grins can be seen on their weatherworn faces.
(Here is a link to the map!)
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
"Oh, well..." Khessa shivers, as Falver shows her where the bootprints are leading "that temple seems no good to me... but maybe the dwarves seeked refuge there. Or maybe the last invaders took them there. I'm afraid we should go in and investigate".
She fetches a small pebble and chants briefly in a soft voice: the tiny object starts emanating a warm orange light (casts the Light cantrip).
"If I'm the only one who can not see in darkness, I'll keep the light in a pocket and let Echo guide me, not to stand out in the dark" explains the blonde warrior-mage. "Else, I'd say someone able to summon a magical hand could have the hand bring the lighted pebble many syeps ahead of us... so that we see where we are going without staying visible in light ourselves".
Echo follows behind Khessa, seeing the statues, she says: "whoa... who are these guys...?" She peeks into the doorway from outside. Perception: 9
(ooc: Echo has 120ft darkvision in case that helps! also just for clarification since we can't see the map right now, is the courtyard and the three piles of rubble noticeable/accessible once they looked around?)
"Not the kind of statue I'd put in my garden" replies Khessa, watching the evil grins on the stone faces. "Maybe this was a temple of some evil cult and the dwarves discovered it during their mining operations".