New adventure

The map to find the Shield of Bahamut shows a wide view of Faerûn including a reference to a last to the far west called the Mystery Kingdoms.  According to the map the shield was stolen from the Well of Dragons and hidden in the Star Mountains. To get to the Star Mountains from Phandelver there are three suggested routes.

The most difficult route would be through the Sword Mountains and the Kryptgarden Forest.  This route would not allow for wagons or horses.

The second route would allow follow the High Road which runs from Neverwinter, Leilon, Waterdeep, to Draggerford.  You would then follow Grayflow river to Secomber and up into the Star Mountains.

The third route is by sea from Neverwinter to Daggerford.

Looks like quite a journey for the future

OOC: Boghadair bumps up his Dexterity by 2 points. Feels like I've been missing the shots I need to hit.

Boghadair picks up the silvered arrows, and places them in his quiver with care. He then goes and changes all the prices back, thinking to himself that what started off as a quiet chuckle for himself, seems in poor taste now upon receiving a wonderful gift from a kind person.

He also adds the 200 gp to his pouch, and purchases 15 sp of rations and 2 quivers of arrows for 2 gp.

He also sets aside some time to properly thank Liene, and to ask her more about her experience as an armorer.

"I have these green dragon scales that we acquired from our adventures. Would you be able to make armor out of them? Or perhaps know who might be able to work with this material?"

Linene is very intrigued by the parts of the dragon but knows that she doesn’t possess the skills for working with the material.  She does suggest two options.  “Maybe you could try the Black Hammer in Neverwinter or perhaps the School of th High Guard in Waterdeep.  I know both have produced amazing craftsmanship with exotic materials.  Someday I will go to learn more of the craft.”  She bits you the best of luck.  As you leave you could see a look of sadness in her eyes.

Later the group finally gathers together to leave for Wave Echo Cave.  Along with the horses that the party already has Gundren and Sildar provide mounts for the rest of the group.  The cave is only 15 miles away but can be challenging with a wagon.  Gundren also convinces Barthen to secure the rest of the teams goods.

Fifteen miles east of Phandalin, in the deep vales of the Sword Mountains, lies Wave Echo Cave. The rich mine of the Phandelver’s Pact was lost five hundred years ago during orc invasions that devastated this part of the North.

In the centuries since, countless prospectors and adventurers have searched for the lost mine, but none succeeded until the Rockseeker brothers found the entrance a month ago.  Gundren tells the group that though he has a map many dangers lie within.  He is worried about his brothers.

The group arrives at the mouth of the cave after 3 hours of riding.

Ian added 2 points to Dexterity for mostly the same reason as Boghadair.

OOC:  Rewinds time just before leaving...

Knowing that the sheer amount of dragon scales he has will be enough for his small stature,  Boghadair gives enough scales to Linene for her to learn to work with.   

"Everybody has goals they are proud of,  and should be able to achieve.  I hope this helps you in your journey to be a better armorer,  just as the silvered arrows you gave me will help me on my journey. "

ooc: i purchase 8 rations and perform a ceremony honoring bahamut for the daggers (in an attempt to test the boundries of the ritual).

in the present, i attempt to investigate the area surrounding the cave.

Johnson upon completion of the ritual suddenly feels a flash of cold then the daggers suddenly feel light in his hands.

The entrance tunnel leads into a large cavern supported by a natural pillar of rock and containing three stalagmites.

After tying up the horses, Ian assists Johnson with a perception check.

22

Both daggers at the ready.

so that bugbear seemed to imply that someone is already here, so let’s proceed carefully.

once the group is ready to go, i’ll continue to proceed into the cavern quietly.

stealth: 18

Thagakh walks to the group's front and help the first one who wants to check the cavern's surroundings.

Gundren tells the group that all good dungeons have characteristics that make them unique, and Wave Echo Cave is no exception. The rhythmic thunder of pounding waves echoes throughout the mine, loud enough to make the stone underfoot shiver. Waves come about two minutes apart, growing louder toward the northeast.

Wave Echo Cave is nowhere near the ocean, but a water-filled cavern deep in the mine is connected to an underground hot spring. That spring boils over continuously to produce a surge that slams into a narrow funnel, making a sound like breaking surf. As he is describing the sound the group starts to feel a vibration in the ground then a sudden release of air from the cave booms past everyone it is so distinct that it takes everyones focus off what they are doing for a moment.

As the group refocuses they see in the western part of the cave, behind the column of rock, are three bedrolls and a heap of ordinary supplies — sacks of flour, bags of salt, casks of salted meat, lanterns, flasks of lamp oil, pickaxes, shovels, and other gear. Amid the supplies, you see the body of a dwarf miner, dead for at least a week.  Gundren is crushed by what he finds.  It is the body of one of his brothers.  He moves away in disgust and become very angry.  He acts like he is about to run to the pit that leads into the cave.

All characters roll for perception and initiative.  After that give an order of travel.

Perception 23

Initiative: 6

Thagakh will be at the front, listening at the group's surroundings for unusual sounds.

The northeastern section of the cavern has collapsed, forming a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-deep pit. A sturdy hemp rope is tied off around a nearby stalagmite and dangles down the side of the pit, at the bottom of which is a rough-hewn tunnel heading northwest and east.

This was the campsite of the Rockseekers. The dead dwarf is Tharden, Gundren’s brother.

The dwarves’ supplies are potentially useful, but not particularly valuable.

Open Pit. Climbing up or down the wall of the pit without a rope requires a successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check. The tunnel at the bottom of the pit leads northwest toward area 2 and east toward area 3.

Tharden wears a pair of boots of striding and springing. 

OOC: Holy plot progression, Batman!

Earlier...

Tyrus nods in reply to Johnson. "Indeed, once our job here is finished, I feel called to find this shield."

Present...

Tyrus place his hand gently on Gundren's shoulder. "I am sorry. No harm comes to anybody else today, I swear it."

He says to the group, "Does anybody have rope?"

Perception: 15
Initiative: 12

OOC: Is there light in here? Tyrus will stow Talon and light a torch if he needs to. Tyrus will take up the front of the marching order with Thagakh, shield leading the way.

There is a rope already in place.  The cave has the following features unless otherwise stated.

The mine is cold, damp, and surprisingly drafty. A noticeable breeze blows through many of its passages, flowing from area 1 toward area 16.

Ceilings. Tunnels are 10 feet high unless noted otherwise. Rooms have 20-foot-high ceilings, while natural caverns have 30-foot-high ceilings dotted with stalactites.

Doors. Unless noted otherwise, all doors are 6 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and made of six-inch-thick cut slabs of stone fitted with iron handles and hinges. The doors are low and wide — perfect for dwarves.

Walls. The walls are hewn stone. In a few areas (14, 15, 19, and 20), they are dressed with well-fitted stone blocks.

Floors. All floors are smooth, natural stone.

Light. None unless otherwise indicated. Vision in the area will require light sources or darkvision.

Stalagmites. Found in many of the natural caverns, these spires of rock rise up from the floor and can be used for cover 

Perception:22

Initiative: 16

Travelling   middle ro back of party

Perception: 9
Initiative: 10

"I'm sorry for your loss Gundren.  Let's go find your other brother and ensure his safety."

Boghadair respectfully inspects the body looking for the cause of death. 

Investigation 4

Bringing up the rear for marching order .

OOC : Getting those bad rolls out of the way good and early! 

Rolled perception earlier at 22

Initative 10

Gundren Perception 11    and Initiative 11 minus 1

Sildar Perception 15     and initiative 17

Waiting for Johnson to roll.