Walt crawls over to the group and begins talking in a low voice, slightly above a whisper. “Would you have a look at that coach? Preeeeeetty fancy…that must be one of the rich folk from San Citlan that Fortino was talking about. Are they taking mining equipment from the buildings?”
Walt shields his eyes with his hands, squints and tries to focus in on what they’re doing.
Perception check: 24 (19+5)
“We have to be on our guard. They might not want us meddling in whatever is is they’re doing down there.”
He pauses for a brief moment pondering what’s next. “What’s the plan? We can’t wait them out too long and risk being outside after dark. Howzabout we leave them be and head straight for the mine? We can back track aways and use that trail off to the left. This isn’t the best hiding spot out in the open and the sun is making my skin crisp up like the chicharrones they had back at the pulqueria.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Although Tuuli manages to vanish into a depression in the dirt and even Bendrak in his jingly chain mail manages to find crude partial cover behind a rock, the rest of you stand out awkwardly on the low hillock with little cover to hide behind. It's only a matter of seconds before one of the workers spots the party and calls to her companions. They point and discuss in voices too low to overhear. "You there!" calls a burly man with a scimitar strapped to his side. "This is private property. What do you want?" he booms across the expanse of dirt between you.
Walt can see that they have been stripping the buildings of anything of any value – which isn't much. Some rusty old tools, furniture, mining equipment, pots and pans, etc.
Well, there goes that plan, the moon elf thinks wryly to himself. Walt's not kidding though; the sun is turning his pale skin a strange reddish-blue color that's not appealing at all. Pretty soon the skin will start flaking off his nose, he's sure. That mine sure sounds cool and inviting at a time like this.
Aranor raises his hands in a show of non-threatening behavior and calls back over to the man with a scimitar, "We've heard rumors that this mine may be cursed. We came to investigate."
Aranor doesn't like the look of these men. Paloma had mentioned strange figures going in and out of the mines. Could she have meant these scavengers? Hopefully scavengers is all they were, but he thinks there is something more going on here.
The scimitar-man shrugs. "Talk to Itzmin," he instructs, pointing his calloused thumb at the fancy carriage. He goes back to work, but the workers keep a close eye on your next move.
Walt slowly gets up, leaning heavily on the shaft of his spear. “Hello there. Pardon our intrusion. As my friend here said, we are merely looking into stories of a cursed mine. This old man enjoys a good ghost story, myths and local legends.”
(I’d imagine this was said prior to being instructed to talk to Itzmin)
Tuuli glances at Lucky, and the kitten pops up, planning to accompany the party. “I’m going to stay here to cover you all,” she whispers to the closest party member.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
If the party starts walking towards the group, Lucky will accompany them, and Tuuli will drop in and out of his cat senses as he goes. Once he is out of range she will resort to peeking her head up to watch the goings on.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Aranor walks toward the carriage, accompanying Walt and Zartan. He gives a discreet nod to Tuuli as he goes. As he arrives at the carriage, he'll knock on the door if it's closed.
Pax follows, eyes cast up to the sky, looking for anything that resembles an 'owl'. He tries to remember what owls look like and wonders if they look anything like the hornius squawkiness he saw earlier.
As Tuuli stays behind to watch, the party approaches. A woman with a short sword raps politely on the coach as you come near. The door opens, and a male tiefling in his late forties steps out. He is immaculately tidy and well-dressed, with a prosthetic horn made of green stone, and a big smile.
"Hello there, friends," he greets you quietly, enunciating every word. "My name is Itzmin del Prado. I am the owner of this mine and this township. How may I help you?" He gives you his full attention.
"Hello. I am Pax, ambassador of peace to the Radiant Citadel. We are here to investigate a curse that may originate from this mine. Are you aware of such a curse, or have you seen any owls?" Pax asks. He watches the body language of Itzmin as he responds, looking for any reaction when Pax mentions the curse and owls.
Insight: 19 (game log) (I rolled above a 10 again!)
From a subtle twitch, Pax can sense that this is not an unfamiliar topic, at least. But he doesn't break his smile nor his calm demeanor.
"I have been hearing reports of a disease festering in town. I plan to burn all of these abandoned houses to prevent it from spreading. I suggest you keep your distance, as safety is my foremost concern."
"Ah...that must explain why all these people are removing furniture, mining equipment and all sorts of valuables from the houses. You're preserving the history for all the people of San Citlan. I appreciate that."Walt smiles and locks eyes with Itzmin, holding his gaze to the point where it gets a little awkward. "Fortunately, we have no plans for the buildings. We're interested in the mine. Can we take a look in there?"
Walt's focuses his sights on the tiefling's prosthetic green horn.
Nature check: 12. Can Walt glean any info or details about this stone prosthetic horn?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
The horn seems to be made of some kind of jade-like stone. It appears decorative rather than functional. A stripe on his expensive jacket incorporates the same shade of green.
Tuuli watches the scene from afar. She spots nothing new, and no impending threats. The humans continue to pull things out of the old buildings and examine them in the sunlight. Nobody enters or leaves the mine. One woman with a crossbow on her back seems to keep an eye on those speaking with Itzmin – perhaps a bodyguard.
"Preserving history is indeed an important aspect of this operation," Itzmin states cooly. "The mine, however, is quite dangerous – I would not recommend entering it. Like these houses, everything of value was long stripped by looters and opportunists. It is in danger of collapse. Safety comes first – wouldn't you agree?"
Aranor studies the tiefling. He seems smooth, maybe a little too smooth. Still, best to play along for now, he decides.
"Safety should indeed come first," the moon elf agrees. "We are concerned for the safety of San Citlan. That is why we wish to inspect the mine, to make sure it poses no danger to the nearby inhabitants. We are aware that it may be dangerous, but, as you can see, we are no simple villagers and can handle ourselves."
Walt crawls over to the group and begins talking in a low voice, slightly above a whisper. “Would you have a look at that coach? Preeeeeetty fancy…that must be one of the rich folk from San Citlan that Fortino was talking about. Are they taking mining equipment from the buildings?”
Walt shields his eyes with his hands, squints and tries to focus in on what they’re doing.
Perception check: 24 (19+5)
“We have to be on our guard. They might not want us meddling in whatever is is they’re doing down there.”
He pauses for a brief moment pondering what’s next. “What’s the plan? We can’t wait them out too long and risk being outside after dark. Howzabout we leave them be and head straight for the mine? We can back track aways and use that trail off to the left. This isn’t the best hiding spot out in the open and the sun is making my skin crisp up like the chicharrones they had back at the pulqueria.”
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Stealth checks:
Tuuli - √
Zartan - Nope
Walt - Also Nope
Pax - More Nope
Aranor: 3
Bendrak: 9
Although Tuuli manages to vanish into a depression in the dirt and even Bendrak in his jingly chain mail manages to find crude partial cover behind a rock, the rest of you stand out awkwardly on the low hillock with little cover to hide behind. It's only a matter of seconds before one of the workers spots the party and calls to her companions. They point and discuss in voices too low to overhear. "You there!" calls a burly man with a scimitar strapped to his side. "This is private property. What do you want?" he booms across the expanse of dirt between you.
Walt can see that they have been stripping the buildings of anything of any value – which isn't much. Some rusty old tools, furniture, mining equipment, pots and pans, etc.
Well, there goes that plan, the moon elf thinks wryly to himself. Walt's not kidding though; the sun is turning his pale skin a strange reddish-blue color that's not appealing at all. Pretty soon the skin will start flaking off his nose, he's sure. That mine sure sounds cool and inviting at a time like this.
Aranor raises his hands in a show of non-threatening behavior and calls back over to the man with a scimitar, "We've heard rumors that this mine may be cursed. We came to investigate."
Aranor doesn't like the look of these men. Paloma had mentioned strange figures going in and out of the mines. Could she have meant these scavengers? Hopefully scavengers is all they were, but he thinks there is something more going on here.
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
Tuuli sighs, but stays hidden, crossbow in her hands, listening to the conversation. Lucky crouches next to her in the depression she found.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
(What race/species do they look like?)
D&D since 1984
(They all appear to be human.)
The scimitar-man shrugs. "Talk to Itzmin," he instructs, pointing his calloused thumb at the fancy carriage. He goes back to work, but the workers keep a close eye on your next move.
Walt slowly gets up, leaning heavily on the shaft of his spear. “Hello there. Pardon our intrusion. As my friend here said, we are merely looking into stories of a cursed mine. This old man enjoys a good ghost story, myths and local legends.”
(I’d imagine this was said prior to being instructed to talk to Itzmin)
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Tuuli glances at Lucky, and the kitten pops up, planning to accompany the party. “I’m going to stay here to cover you all,” she whispers to the closest party member.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Zartan also walks next to Walt, appearing to help him walk.
D&D since 1984
If the party starts walking towards the group, Lucky will accompany them, and Tuuli will drop in and out of his cat senses as he goes. Once he is out of range she will resort to peeking her head up to watch the goings on.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Aranor walks toward the carriage, accompanying Walt and Zartan. He gives a discreet nod to Tuuli as he goes. As he arrives at the carriage, he'll knock on the door if it's closed.
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
Pax follows, eyes cast up to the sky, looking for anything that resembles an 'owl'. He tries to remember what owls look like and wonders if they look anything like the hornius squawkiness he saw earlier.
Perception: 15
As Tuuli stays behind to watch, the party approaches. A woman with a short sword raps politely on the coach as you come near. The door opens, and a male tiefling in his late forties steps out. He is immaculately tidy and well-dressed, with a prosthetic horn made of green stone, and a big smile.
"Hello there, friends," he greets you quietly, enunciating every word. "My name is Itzmin del Prado. I am the owner of this mine and this township. How may I help you?" He gives you his full attention.
Pax sees nothing in the skies but thin clouds.
"Hello. I am Pax, ambassador of peace to the Radiant Citadel. We are here to investigate a curse that may originate from this mine. Are you aware of such a curse, or have you seen any owls?" Pax asks. He watches the body language of Itzmin as he responds, looking for any reaction when Pax mentions the curse and owls.
Insight: 19 (game log)
(I rolled above a 10 again!)
From a subtle twitch, Pax can sense that this is not an unfamiliar topic, at least. But he doesn't break his smile nor his calm demeanor.
"I have been hearing reports of a disease festering in town. I plan to burn all of these abandoned houses to prevent it from spreading. I suggest you keep your distance, as safety is my foremost concern."
"Ah...that must explain why all these people are removing furniture, mining equipment and all sorts of valuables from the houses. You're preserving the history for all the people of San Citlan. I appreciate that." Walt smiles and locks eyes with Itzmin, holding his gaze to the point where it gets a little awkward. "Fortunately, we have no plans for the buildings. We're interested in the mine. Can we take a look in there?"
Walt's focuses his sights on the tiefling's prosthetic green horn.
Nature check: 12. Can Walt glean any info or details about this stone prosthetic horn?
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
From her scrape, Tuuli watches the scene, but also takes a moment to look around, trying to make sure nobody surprises the group (or her).
Perception (igl): 22
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
The horn seems to be made of some kind of jade-like stone. It appears decorative rather than functional. A stripe on his expensive jacket incorporates the same shade of green.
Tuuli watches the scene from afar. She spots nothing new, and no impending threats. The humans continue to pull things out of the old buildings and examine them in the sunlight. Nobody enters or leaves the mine. One woman with a crossbow on her back seems to keep an eye on those speaking with Itzmin – perhaps a bodyguard.
"Preserving history is indeed an important aspect of this operation," Itzmin states cooly. "The mine, however, is quite dangerous – I would not recommend entering it. Like these houses, everything of value was long stripped by looters and opportunists. It is in danger of collapse. Safety comes first – wouldn't you agree?"
Aranor studies the tiefling. He seems smooth, maybe a little too smooth. Still, best to play along for now, he decides.
"Safety should indeed come first," the moon elf agrees. "We are concerned for the safety of San Citlan. That is why we wish to inspect the mine, to make sure it poses no danger to the nearby inhabitants. We are aware that it may be dangerous, but, as you can see, we are no simple villagers and can handle ourselves."
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