Festoon helps where he can, adding his road rations to the mix for dinner and searching as needed. Once all the camp chores are done, he says "So, from the sounds of things, you've arrived to the area as inauspiciously as I did. I went to sleep in a city, and wok up in a tiny village inn. Most rude! Anyone have any clues how we came here?"

Vee shrugs as he drops his load of limbs. Rummaging thru his backpack he’ll offer Mill the spices he carries and tells him to use whatever is needed for the food. ‘It must be magic’ he’ll say with a slight grin to Festoon as he heads out for firewood. Then, intrigued, he’ll stop at the disturbed dirt to see what’s up. He’ll try to guesstimate the dimensions of the disturbed area, trying to figure out what might be the significance of the dirt.

Sorrow looks around for Azurewrath. ‘Can you read anything in the tracks away from the tent area? Any trails or sign of wheels or horses?’ 
She also heads to the dirt, pondering its significance and hoping it’s nothing sinister or bad.

Busily weaving boiled leaves into cone shaped bowls next to a pile of chopsticks, Millwater's head jerks up as his nose catches the scent of exotic spices. Some never scented before! "Oh these smell wonderful!" Happily accepts the bundle, and begins tasting each one. Decides on a peppery sauce to mix dried meats with. And finds a lemonine flavored spice perfect for fish. Looks over at the bandit and thinks (The spice problem has been solved.) He grabs a bucket and heads to the river.

"I put the shovel next to the latrine, believe me you don't want to step in that hole!" He says to Veeshal. Turns to Festoon and says "I hope its manifest destiny! I'd be disappointed if I drank to excess and got Shanghaied. I feel I'm farther than a night's travel from the monastery, waiting to see the night's sky to know for sure."

Fills a bucket with water from the river and searches for mushrooms on the way back. 

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 1 8hp 

While Millwater works on the mid day meal for all of you the rest of you move towards the  disturbed earth behind the larger tent.  Seeing a space of about 4 feet wide and approximately 6 feet long you can almost imagine of what you may or may not find under this area of earth.  The small key that you found off the body fitted into the small chest inside the larger tent.  Inside you find two other keys along with a note.  The note reads, "We have stored the shipment from Foulat beside the one we took the time before.  The guards over the goods are getting antsy as the caravan guards ran away not wanting any part of them.  Hopefully anyone coming in search of the goods can provide a quick battle for them to feast upon."    Under the note you find 10 gold and 8 silver. 

Millwater did not find any mushrooms

Upon abandoning his search for mushrooms, he stops to admire Tail Feathers' stitches and cravings on Karie's pole. "That looks beautiful!" Examines it from different directions "Lunch will be ready in a few minutes." He says to Tail Feathers 

At the camp fire, Millwater starts preparing the victuals that need rehydrating. Finishes the bowls by cutting off the excess leaf. Flakes the fish and makes a paste with it. Rolls the paste in rice and fries them. While constantly stirring the pepper sauce for the noodles. Reaching out with his senses, he tastes with his nose enjoying the new aromas, feels the heat and steam wetting his fur. Then reaching farther, past the birdsong, the running water, way past the latrine pit. Reaching Zen, then quickly returning. Leaving a content smile on his face.

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 1 8hp 

Festoon, does little for the meal, other than helping with firewood, dishes and aiding where possible, a bit amazed by the effort going into what truly is a rustic camp meal. "That certainly smells delicious! I've never seen such artistry applied to cooking before. It must be a calling?" 

With regards to the message, he says "Sounds like it's guarded by undead or the like. How far away do you they hid the goods?"

"I've been tending the pots since I was a kit. No wounds heal with spoiled food and brackish water! Clean water and balanced vitae are the foundation of health." Millwater explains to Festoon "Master says I'm as dumb as a bag of rocks but blessed with the wisdom of a Saint," laughs then he looks to Sorrow "I've seen people with Sorrow's gift, they were called inquisitors and you did not want their complete and undivided attention!" Attending the stirring of pots and a def shake of pan. "By doing what I know best, let's everyone do what they know best. Having a ready made camp helped tremendously too."

The mention of the undead shocks Millwater's face like it had been slapped, in a low voice he whispers "The coolies" Looks at the spot of disturbed earth and swallows audibly, then drains the noodles, proportioning them into the leaf bowls.

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 1 8hp 

Sorrow nods in agreement with Festoon's summation. 'Aye, that's where my thoughts headed immediately. And it makes sense-townies wouldn't-or shouldn't-have much experience in dealing with grave or carrion beings. That's what they have the clergy and church for. No offense intended Vee. It also makes sense in the fact the undead would "feast from a battle". She continues to sift thru the dirt, moving it to the side as she makes certain nothing escapes their notice. 'Hopefully there's something here-and not any bodies or pieces parts-that will give us more clues since this mess is getting murkier and muddier by the minute.' She looks over at her hog-tied captive for a moment in thought. 'Alright. Maybe we can use the shovels to dig thru this and see what's here. Can't spend all day sifting too slowly...Besides, I have an idea to get answers from him quick." she points with her chin at the captive. 

Standing and dusting off her knees, she motions to Arashi to step aside with her. Speaking in Abyssal ##Can you form those ice bolts at will and not throw them-like hold them for a round or two, and just touch something with it rather than throw it? And maybe form it discretely? It's ok if that's not the way they work-it would just fit into a plan I have to make him sing. Actually, it's one of the two ideas I have-they would make for a less messier discussion, but to get answers I'm willing to get my hands dirty-and bloody. ##

After Sorrow steps away, Vee starts scooping the dirt out more rapidly by using his hands with the fingers laced together like a trowel or small shovel. He occasionally throws a quick glance at Sorrow and Arashi talking, but continues to scoop as fast as he can.

After he drains the small amount of used cooking oil into a small cup near the coals, he tops off a large pot of boiling water. Preparing the bowls of noodles with a peppery meat sauce and 3 rice balls that been fried golden brown, Millwater starts purring. Adding fried onions (crunchies) to each dish along with a pair of chopsticks he scoops all the bowls into his arm.

He stops at Tail Feathers makeshift work site to sneak a peak of the nearly finished pole. "It looks blessed! Any fisher would be envious of such a pole." Looks at the rest of group "I think they are about to compare evidence with what the bandit has to say." Millwater hands the bowl of noodles to Tail Feathers "The show is about to start!"

Millwater heads to the others.

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 1 8hp 

Tail Feathers ducks her head at the praise, “It seems to want to be a fishing pole.” She places the pole next to the bucket and takes a deep sniff of the noodles. “Seems you are a talented cook.” And follows Millwater to the rest of the group.

As you dig in the disturbed earth it is not long till you come upon a box that is taking up most of the hole space.  The box has a rope handle on each side.  When you pull it out of the ground I will need a perception check from everyone by the hole. 

Mouse looks at the box, curious but still staying a few feet away. *This doesn't look like the cargo that was lost.* he thinks to himself. 

Expecting a hoard of zombies, Millwater signs in relief as a chest is exposed. 

perception 8     (2 if A/D) +2 prof +5 skill

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 1 8hp 

As the chest is uncovered, Vee motions for someone to grab the rope handles and pull the chest up as he continues to scoop dirt away.

Perception: 13

Realizing that Arashi has wandered off, Sorrow first looks around to see if she spots any sign of him. Shrugging her shoulders at not locating him, she will then move to plan B of her interrogation.

She measures out the firepit, lengthening it to over 6' and widening it roughly to 3'. Spreading out the coals already there, she'll add smaller sticks some other tinder, blowing on it till it catches and is burning, then laying in a few longer pieces to create a nice pit large enough and hot enough to roast a hog-at least once the initial flames burn down. While waiting for the wood to turn into red coals, she'll accept the meal from Mill, nodding her thanks and watching the others uncover and remove the chest.

As she is not in the immediate vicinity of the diggers, she will not have the opportunity to see much of anything around them. 

“Wasn’t expecting something like this to be found.”

Perception14

While Millwater and Sorrow are at the fire pit, Millwater cooking and Sorrow enlarging it.  She will see that Millwater has already added wood to the fire so she will have plenty of hot coals as well as some wood that is still burning. 

Meanwhile at the hole in the ground you see the crate.  Using the rope handles it is easy to pull up and remove it from the ground.  Those not lifting see another crate underneath this one.  It seems to be just a little bit wider and longer than the top one taking up most of the room in the hole. 

Placing the first crate on the ground you look at it as Tailfeathers and Festoon both tell the others about the second crate. 

What are your next moves?

Vee gives the first box a cursory look to see what kind of treasure chest they have uncovered - material made from, visible lock, condition of the chest-before resuming his exhumation of the next chest. While digging, he'll give a start of surprise as Sorrow pulls Mill aside to speak to him, then as she uses a large piece of wood as a stool to sit in front of the prisoner and makes a show of sharpening several interesting looking knoves.