Ori: "...We should scan the grounds looking for girl if she's hiding here. There's a chance the rider didn't know of her and passed by by happen stance aye? So this would be a good place for her to hold up. Vardi, Famh, follow Salts lead and search the area..."
"Aye Ser."Vardi answers with a nod, wary of dividing their forces in a potentially hostile situation, but unable to come up with a better suggestion herself to deal with their current quest.
The lid of the basket on top of her backpack rises slightly, and a pair of quizzical feline eyes can be seen peering out the narrow gap between lid and basket, then as if in silent response to Ori's orders, a pair of massive forepaws appears, and the great muzzle of Skoggi emerges, an alert sentry in a high vantage point, all be it one more focused on behind Vardi than in front of her.
The big lass turns to Famh and says quietly to her "Being hopeful tha' we find her, I would say tha' ye would be a less imposing person than I, and a friendlier face ta a girl that may well be frit out her wits if she's taken refuge from strangers on tha road. I will follow yer lead in this, after we follow Salt's in finding her if she be here ta be found."
Seeing everyone agree with moving and following the disappearing tracks, Ori couldn't deny their logic. "Hold on there mates, we are here looking for the girl not the riders. I agree with Cainneach 's assessment of finding the riders before losing the tracks. Go and follow with haste take Thatch with you, but leave salt with us. Rememberyou are on your owe so nothing stupid you here. We should scan the grounds looking for girl if she's hiding here. There's a chance the rider didn't know of her and passed by by happen stance aye? So this would be a good place for her to hold up. Vardi, Famh, follow Salts lead and search the area. I'll stand watch here on the wall for trouble from either of ya. If we find nothing, Salt should be able to lead us right to Cainneach and Thatch."
"All right Ori, I think that makes sense. We'll move as swiftly as needed to follow the tracks, but try not to get too far ahead of you." He turns to Salt, gives him a vigourous cheek rub and says to the hound, "Listen boy, you take good care of these three and lead them back to Thatch and I when they're ready. You got it? Good boy, there!"Cainneach lets Salt take big sniffs of him and Thatch, then gives the hound a piece of jerky from his pouch.
Before he and Thatch depart, Cainneach turns to Famh, takes her hand and raises it to his lips, then kisses it gently. "Be careful and be quick, leannan!"Cainneach then claps his hand on Vardi's shoulder and nods respectfully, turns, and heads off to the woods.
Ori: "...We should scan the grounds looking for girl if she's hiding here. There's a chance the rider didn't know of her and passed by by happen stance aye? So this would be a good place for her to hold up. Vardi, Famh, follow Salts lead and search the area..."
"Aye Ser."Vardi answers with a nod, wary of dividing their forces in a potentially hostile situation, but unable to come up with a better suggestion herself to deal with their current quest.
The lid of the basket on top of her backpack rises slightly, and a pair of quizzical feline eyes can be seen peering out the narrow gap between lid and basket, then as if in silent response to Ori's orders, a pair of massive forepaws appears, and the great muzzle of Skoggi emerges, an alert sentry in a high vantage point, all be it one more focused on behind Vardi than in front of her.
The big lass turns to Famh and says quietly to her "Being hopeful tha' we find her, I would say tha' ye would be a less imposing person than I, and a friendlier face ta a girl that may well be frit out her wits if she's taken refuge from strangers on tha road. I will follow yer lead in this, after we follow Salt's in finding her if she be here ta be found."
Famh has been glancing more and more frequently over her shoulder towards the broch as the trackers get farther away. When Orilays out his plan, she nods absently, and then claps a hand to her forehead. "I think you may be on to something, Ori! Now I come to think, we've not seen any of the smaller tracks among these gaeing down the hill." She wraps both her hands around Cainneach's and kisses his cheek. "I'll take care, I promise. And you take care of yourself too. We've both got friends helping us wi' that, too!"
She smiles at Vardi as the two women set out under excellent guard and guidance by way of Skoggi and Salt. "I'd say ye're thinkin' clear on that, though after the first she might find your quiet strength an assurance too. Let's gae the way I saw before, that will take us up to the broch out of sight o' the walls. We can go close enough that way to at least to see if there's anyone there. If the girl is there ... well, even I may have to think of some way of drawin' her out without startling her, if she's so much afright that even a girl's voice calling would set her fleeing for her life. But if it's not her in spite of appearances, or if the clues were arranged ... " She says no more, but focuses on approaching the broch without either startling or alerting any potential occupants. If she sees anyone she needs to draw forth or distract, (Held action) she will use her minor illusion spell to create a low, indistinct wailing in a hollow or concealed place chosen to be located in front and in full view of herself and Vardi; and to be just out of sight of anyone in the broch unless they emerge. The effect she will try for is a cry that might be a lost calf's, or a baby's, but cannot be identified with certainty because of the wind without coming closer.
Thatch and Cainneach track the horses and their riders back to the Lords Road, noting they likely headed north in the direction of Marrowglen though avoided heading back down until they were beyond the village....
................
Vardi, Famh, Skoggi and Salt headed towards the broch whilst Ori stood sentinel for them.
Famhs call upon the fey did not yield anyone calling out or emerging from the broch so they headed carefully closer.
Salt led the way into the tower through the narrow entryway; the shadows within were deep but daylight made it through in many places and lifted the gloom somewhat.
The floors above had collapsed inwards and littered the interior with piles of broken stone, there were the remains of a stairway to the left and a well in the centre of the interior. Some of the surfaces were coated in bird excrement and the remains of old nests.
As Salt circled the enclosed space they saw evidence that quite a few people had been up here over the years; initials were scratched into stone, someone had made a crude attempt to draw a series of genitals on the lintel and a couple of the nests contained scarlet ribbons and large clumps of wool.
Famh noted a large slab of stone just passed the entrance....there was a stain on the leading edge of the block. It was a familiar red colour the edges beginning to dry to rusty brown, as she bent to examine it she noted some long black hair stuck to the stain.
(OOC: That would be the mud squelching loudly underfoot, no doubt.)
Famh: "I'd say ye're thinkin' clear on that, though after the first she might find your quiet strength an assurance too. Let's gae the way I saw before, that will take us up to the broch out of sight o' the walls. We can go close enough that way to at least to see if there's anyone there. If the girl is there ... well, even I may have to think of some way of drawin' her out without startling her, if she's so much afright that even a girl's voice calling would set her fleeing for her life. But if it's not her in spite of appearances, or if the clues were arranged ... "
"Tha' may be so, but I'd still rather nay put the wind up them all unintentional like." Vardi pragmatically replies "Frit folk can be right unpredictable ta a perceived threat, even if nay harm be intended. If she is within, yet runs away at our approach, then do we give chase, or follow quietly?"
There is a pensive air to her gaze, as she looks to the broch, then adds "I may nay jingle as much as four horses in harness, but quietly is a fair challenge ta me in this muck, that I admit. If there is skullduggery afoot, well, anyone can wear tha same clothes, aye, but who would hunt with a lass as a live lure?"
(OOC: Vardi attempts stealth in mud, slow and careful in her footing in following Famh. Vardi gets a total of 3 but with the disadvantage due to a large coat of chain rattling as well, there are at least two elephants on the march here.)
Thatch and Cainneach track the horses and their riders back to the Lords Road, noting they likely headed north in the direction of Marrowglen though avoided heading back down until they were beyond the village....
................
Vardi, Famh, Skoggi and Salt headed towards the broch whilst Ori stood sentinel for them.
Famhs call upon the fey did not yield anyone calling out or emerging from the broch so they headed carefully closer.
Salt led the way into the tower through the narrow entryway; the shadows within were deep but daylight made it through in many places and lifted the gloom somewhat.
The floors above had collapsed inwards and littered the interior with piles of broken stone, there were the remains of a stairway to the left and a well in the centre of the interior. Some of the surfaces were coated in bird excrement and the remains of old nests.
As Salt circled the enclosed space they saw evidence that quite a few people had been up here over the years; initials were scratched into stone, someone had made a crude attempt to draw a series of genitals on the lintel and a couple of the nests contained scarlet ribbons and large clumps of wool.
Famh noted a large slab of stone just passed the entrance....there was a stain on the leading edge of the block. It was a familiar red colour the edges beginning to dry to rusty brown, as she bent to examine it she noted some long black hair stuck to the stain.
Sucking her cheeks in with a sudden 'shwsh'ing of breath, Famh raises her hand and gestures to Vardi, first pressing her finger to her lips to signal caution and then beckoning her over. "I dinna like the look o' that.," she whispers. "Why would she strike her head just there, hard enough to draw blood, unless she were pursued? Or was she already wounded? In either case we need haste." Whistling in an undertone to Salt and patting her leg with small movements, she beckons him over with her best rendition of a doggy 'shhhh'. She directs his attention to the bloodstain and whispers in his ear, "Find her, boy. Cainneach will be so proud. Let's go find her."
=========
Famh's Investigation 11
Salt's Perception (unaided) 4
(with Help from the inspiration caused by Famh's appeal to his doggy daddy) 19
Vardi freezes at Famh's warning, then attempts to move closer quickly, as quietly as she can in the muddy terrain. Her face is set into a grim expression at the sight of the hair and the drying reddish-brown stain on the stone.
OOC: Vardi make a Perception test as she checks the broch for anything hidden in the darker corners using her shield to reflect more sunlight into the shadows, total of 20.
"Aye, me neither..." the big lass answers softly, then simply agrees that "Best we got on with looking for her then." with an uneasy look about the place. Skoggi now sits on top of the basket lid with his claws dug into the weave for grip, watching for trouble behind them.
Vardis scan of the interior brings up a mess of bootprints within the broch now visible due to her clever use of her shield, Salt immediately complies sniffing the ground but somewhat dishearteningly heads straight for the well in the centre of the broch and props himself up on it with his huge paws...
"Oh, no.," Famh says softly, a grim sinking feeling building in her stomach as she sees the spot that Salt is homing in on.
"Keep an eye out for me a moment.," she whispers to her companion. "It looks like some of those heaps o' rubble by the stairway would give you a good vantage point to watch from, and they'd hide ye from the first sight of any who enter. Give me a hand fixing this first though, please." With the help of Vardi's training and experience, added to the skills she learned in her years of homeless wandering, she finds a firmly fixed stone sticking out at the edge of the well and ties her rope securely to it ... possibly where the bucket rope had hung in ages past. By the help of this, she climbs down into the well as quietly and nimbly as she is able after patting Salt's head and praising him for "such a good boy!" She thinks to tuck a torch into the sash of her earasaid before starting, but leaves all other gear behind but the pouch in which she keeps her tinderbox. In her haste she does not light the torch first; but as she descends something wakens in her and she seems to see a dim green glow filling the farthest depths she can see in place of the total obscurity she'd expected (darkvision 60')
=========
Stealth 11
Acrobatics 3
(Famh thanks Morkaanades that the above Acrobatics roll somehow got posted without her +6 skill bonus, or any advantage from the rope. Rerolled with those taken into account:
Acrobatics 19 (first roll) (or if advantage applies from the rope, the better of that roll or(25)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Ori stands seems leaning on part of the stone structure watching the scouts move into the forest. He hopes he didn't make a wrong choice sending the pair off on thier own, without Salt. But Ori needed Salts skills here and Cainneach's out there. Je was trying to watch with his head scanning the country side but found he focused mostly in the direction of the scouts and the direction of the bull. If only Tana was here, she could have turned that threat to asset in no time. But she wasn't there and Ori needed to work with what he had, what he had a pretty good team. This Vardi was seemingly fitting in well with the troop, soon enough he will see if she can handle her own in a fight. She was still very green, but had some clear potential.
Realizing he didn't hear the ladies searching, he spoke a bit louder towards them "Oi mates, we're not tryin' to sneak up on the poor lass. Let her know we are here to help and if she's nor there we got to move on. If those horsemen found her, they may have thrown her on a horse to move more quickly." That's how he always did it in the shows. Always needed that build in tension and the horse ride was always the quickest way to get out of the crowds veiw with his "victim".
Hopefully Almeric is having better luck finding his target then they were. As much as he hates splitting the party, he wished that Almeric had taken one with him, Thatch most likely.
"Loge's ever-aching balls..." Vardi mutters to herself in dismay, then slightly louder to Famh "Would be all too easy ta fall in that with a cracked head, aye?"
Skoggi looks from his high perch at Salt, then the hole that the dog's great paws rest on, and makes a low growl of complaint towards the well, not the hound.
Famh: "Keep an eye out for me a moment."
The big lass answers, whisper quiet "Aye." then in curiosity "Wha' ya thinking ta do?"
Famh: "It looks like some of those heaps o' rubble by the stairway would give you a good vantage point to watch from, and they'd hide ye from the first sight of any who enter."
Vardi, now puzzled says quietly "Aye. they would..."
Famh: "Give me a hand fixing this first though, please."
As the warrior maid sees the rope, and then Famh checking the stones around the lip of the well, she mutters "Ye mean ta look down there yerself?" in a tone of shock, then considers the need for swiftness, and if a woman of her own size would even fit through the hole without pulling half the stones out...
OOC: How big is the hole, and how much would someone Vardi's size have to strip off the lip and themselves to fit through it?
She shrugs, and does as she was asked, testing stones for firmness of placement and testing the rope for any fraying as she helps tie knots into place. Only after Famh has climbed down does it occur to the Islander that there is no sign of any light from a torch to be seen from above the well.
"I'm a dead woman tha moment yer fella finds out I let ye down there alone." she murmurs to herself.
OOC: Vardi makes a Survival roll for helping with the rope and gets 11 total.
When Vardi hears Ori's instructions, she leans towards the well and says in a firm but clearly friendly tone "Anyone need a hand up out of there then?"
Against her better judgement Vardi assists with lowering Famh down the narrow well, it is about 20' down that she finds black water, her fey-touched sight allowing her to peer down into the strange twisted water filled calcite cavern below there is no sign of the young woman but a square of pale, patterned fabric waves lazily in the slight current, caught on a protrusion....
Famh has been peering more and more anxiously down the shaft of the well as she descends, half hoping and half fearing she will see the herd girl herself in one condition or another. When she first spies the scrap of cloth, her faerie sight deceives her into thinking for a moment there is no water there. She cannot restrain herself in her first confusion from calling loudly to the countrywoman she thinks might be hiding just out of sight, "Morag! Your father sent us to find you! We were passing by on an errand from the Duke to Sir Robert; and as our laird Sir Almeric's a kind man he had us stop to seek you while he continued on the errand to the other knight. I'll kindle more light so ye can see it's only me!" She almost bursts into tears when the sudden reflection of her torch flashing off the surface tells her how far underwater the scrap of Morag's garment is; when she is braced up by the reflection that she still has seen no sign of Moragherself.
She calls to Vardi in her loudest voice, "Vardi! Tell Ori I've found a piece of the girl's dress down here in the well. I was fooled for a moment into thinkin' the well was dree ... I don't know what strange faerie sight came ower me a moment. But I'm better now, and I canna see her doon here wi' it, at least frae where I am now. Lower me a bit farther till I see if there's a ledge or fallen rock I can stand on while I look about. "
"And this is just the sort of place to have a faerie rath inside the hill, at least in all the auld tales I loved as a girl. And they were never the sort of places you wanted to just stray into by chance. But here its' hoping I am that this girl's fallen into a faerie story, for it would mean she's been spirited off into some faerie cave or kingdom under the hill and sich noble heroes as ourselves could just don our woad and pick up our druidic spears of enchantment to go off tae the rescue!" The obvoiusly forced brightness in her voice rings hollow as she anxiously scans the well she is in in a spiraling pattern that begins on the level where she has found a foothold (or ten feet above the water if th ere is none) and systematically works down the perimwter until she has made a circuit of the wall underwater at the level the scrap of cloth was. If she has found neither Morag nor signs of any opening, she will scan the bottom and and parts of the wall lower than where the cloth was with the same care.
=========
Investig (WIP)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Thatch and Cainneach come back towards the broch seeing Ori outside watching the landscape, there is no sign of Famh, Vardi or their canine and feline associates.
.......................
Famh-
There is no ledge or place to stand here, the well drives straight down until it reaches the flooded subterranean chamber. She can see there is a current in the water and try though she might she can see no sign of the lass, the water is frighteningly cold and she can feel herself begin to shiver almost immediately.
As Famh sees no immediate sign of any ledges, nor of the girl she has come to seek, she calls up to Vardi through the echoing shaft, "There's nae sign o' Morag herself doun here, nor o place tae stand where she micht have climbit up. But there's a strange current i' the waters o' the well, as gin it were piercit by some underground stream or tunnel. The water's freezin' cauld thouch. I'll juist tak a quick leuk around before I climb up, tae see gin thare's any sign where the openin' is. But ye'd best call Ori an have him brin the rest ower. A scrap o her dress is doon here beyond dout."
=======
Investigation 19
(EDIT: Acrobatics (climbing back) 13
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Ori looks over towards the tree line and sees movement in the direction the lads had gone. He stars a bit trying to see if it was one of the two that he had sent in ahead. He was sure who ever was in there could have spotted him before he saw the moment, woukd be suspicious if he tried to duck out of sight now. Ori decided to double down on appearance and stand tall but relaxed club in full view, perhaps warding off passersby from wanting to approach but also not give the appearance that he has anything to hide, or be guarding.
Ori was relieved and shocked to see the fellas returning. He expected to have to try and catch up with them. Wondering what they could have found short of the girl herself that would turn them back around. No way they are carrying good news.
"Aye, the lads are returning, empty handed it appears. Hope you two are faring better then they did."
Famh: "Vardi! Tell Ori I've found a piece of the girl's dress down here in the well. I was fooled for a moment into thinkin' the well was dree ... I don't know what strange faerie sight came ower me a moment. But I'm better now, and I canna see her doon here wi' it, at least frae where I am now. Lower me a bit farther till I see if there's a ledge or fallen rock I can stand on while I look about. "
Vardi replies "Aye, let me know when yer down far enough ta reach it."and begins slowly plying out a little more rope, careful to keep her grip steady.
Famh: "And this is just the sort of place to have a faerie rath inside the hill, at least in all the auld tales I loved as a girl. And they were never the sort of places you wanted to just stray into by chance. But here its' hoping I am that this girl's fallen into a faerie story, for it would mean she's been spirited off into some faerie cave or kingdom under the hill and sich noble heroes as ourselves could just don our woad and pick up our druidic spears of enchantment to go off tae the rescue!"
The big lass chuckles as she says "Ye'll do me out of a living if naught but woad becomes tha fashion fer heroes again, but it would be a fine sight ta see, tha's fer sure, druidic spears and all!"then a little more serious in tone "I know little of tha fair folk and their hollow hills but a few tales I've heard since coming ta tha mainland. If this is a place of theirs, then I hope Morag has nay come ta any harm from her curiosity."
"Give me but a moment..."Vardi says calmly, braces herself in case of sudden slippage, then turns her head in the direction she last saw Ori, and yells "Nay girl so far, Sarge." then turns her attention back to the situation below.
"How ye doing down there, Famh?" Vardi asks, keeping the calmness in her tone for both her own and the brave little tailor's benefit.
Famh: "There's nae sign o' Morag herself doun here, nor o place tae stand where she micht have climbit up. But there's a strange current i' the waters o' the well, as gin it were piercit by some underground stream or tunnel. The water's freezin' cauld thouch. I'll juist tak a quick leuk around before I climb up, tae see gin thare's any sign where the openin' is. But ye'd best call Ori an have him brin the rest ower. A scrap o her dress is doon here beyond dout."
The Lyften girl replies "Aye, I'll relay tha' ta him. Ye best come back up fer tha moment then . If she went down there, we'll need more eyes and hands ta help find her by the sound of it." then raises her voice again to call out to Ori "We found a bit of her dress down a well hole in tha broch floor. Underground current there. Checking further just in case, but we could really use tha whole toupe's help here Ser."
When Ori yells back "Aye, the lads are returning, empty handed it appears. Hope you two are faring better then they did." Vardi simply answers "Hope so Sarge, but it looks ta be a damp path either way."
Like an unlikely cat at a mousehole, Vardi waits, keeping the rope steady, as Salt and Skokki keep watch, and listens carefully for Famh's return.
Getting more than a little soaked and chilled, Famh is able to snatch the piece of fabric which seems an embroidered gravat and makes the, somewhat difficult with frozen fingers, climb back out of the well as the others arrive outside.
Shivering, Famh draws out the little flask with her uisgebeaugh.and shares a nip with Vardi and whoever else might like. "I'll be right in a moment, but mair than the heart turns to lead when ye climb doon there. It's cauld as a w ... " Just then she spies Cainneach coming into view and an uncharacteristic fit of modesty overtakes her; she leaves the simile uncompleted. Instead, she waits until the retinue is all gathered again and then describes what she's found. "What do ye all think we'd best do? This scrap of fabric ought to be perished if it had been down there too long, so I'm guessng its frae Morag... but no sign o' her within sight. And there must be some opening down there to make the current, although I didn't spy it when I lookit the first time. ... I trust she's no a selkie, and fled back to the sea?"
Cainneach's peering and listening yield nothing and his anxiety rises, naturally concerned for Famh, Salt, and the rest. Surely they would have reached a conclusion regarding the broch by now? "Thatch, I've not got a great feeling about this. I think our ability to follow this trail is secure, let's track back and see what's going on with the rest." The forester sets off with purpose down the trail and toward the broch.
Upon nearing the edge of the clearing on the other side of the copse, Cainneach pauses and holds back Thatch, taking a moment to survey the scene before emerging from their cover. Fortunately, he only spies Ori upon the hill, looking unbothered, at least by Ori's standards. Cainneach strides quickly up to meet the rest of the party, finding a shivering Famh and the rest gathered around the well.
The forester frowns darkly at Famh's report. "I'm relieved you weren't swept away down there, by the current and your curiosity! I dinnae ken what ta think about the lass. If she tumbled down the well after striking her head, there's not much hope for her I'd think. When we followed the tracks of those men and their horses, I'd thought maybe they'd bound the girl and tossed her on one of the beasts, seeing as there were no tracks of hers alongside. Seems like that might be our only hope of finding her now."Cainneach unknowingly echoes the very thought that Ori had expressed earlier. "We followed the tracks beyond the copse and along the ridge, where they led back down to the Lord's Road, likely past Marrowglen. If we don't think the girl is here or that we can navigate this well, then we should be heading that way with haste."
Ori: "...We should scan the grounds looking for girl if she's hiding here. There's a chance the rider didn't know of her and passed by by happen stance aye? So this would be a good place for her to hold up. Vardi, Famh, follow Salts lead and search the area..."
"Aye Ser." Vardi answers with a nod, wary of dividing their forces in a potentially hostile situation, but unable to come up with a better suggestion herself to deal with their current quest.
The lid of the basket on top of her backpack rises slightly, and a pair of quizzical feline eyes can be seen peering out the narrow gap between lid and basket, then as if in silent response to Ori's orders, a pair of massive forepaws appears, and the great muzzle of Skoggi emerges, an alert sentry in a high vantage point, all be it one more focused on behind Vardi than in front of her.
The big lass turns to Famh and says quietly to her "Being hopeful tha' we find her, I would say tha' ye would be a less imposing person than I, and a friendlier face ta a girl that may well be frit out her wits if she's taken refuge from strangers on tha road. I will follow yer lead in this, after we follow Salt's in finding her if she be here ta be found."
Famh has been glancing more and more frequently over her shoulder towards the broch as the trackers get farther away. When Ori lays out his plan, she nods absently, and then claps a hand to her forehead. "I think you may be on to something, Ori! Now I come to think, we've not seen any of the smaller tracks among these gaeing down the hill." She wraps both her hands around Cainneach's and kisses his cheek. "I'll take care, I promise. And you take care of yourself too. We've both got friends helping us wi' that, too!"
She smiles at Vardi as the two women set out under excellent guard and guidance by way of Skoggi and Salt. "I'd say ye're thinkin' clear on that, though after the first she might find your quiet strength an assurance too. Let's gae the way I saw before, that will take us up to the broch out of sight o' the walls. We can go close enough that way to at least to see if there's anyone there. If the girl is there ... well, even I may have to think of some way of drawin' her out without startling her, if she's so much afright that even a girl's voice calling would set her fleeing for her life. But if it's not her in spite of appearances, or if the clues were arranged ... " She says no more, but focuses on approaching the broch without either startling or alerting any potential occupants. If she sees anyone she needs to draw forth or distract, (Held action) she will use her minor illusion spell to create a low, indistinct wailing in a hollow or concealed place chosen to be located in front and in full view of herself and Vardi; and to be just out of sight of anyone in the broch unless they emerge. The effect she will try for is a cry that might be a lost calf's, or a baby's, but cannot be identified with certainty because of the wind without coming closer.
=========
Stealth 7
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
(or if she clomps across the hillside like an elephant and needs something to draw attention from her ham-footed performance ...
*sigh*
least it wasn't a nat 1)
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Thatch and Cainneach track the horses and their riders back to the Lords Road, noting they likely headed north in the direction of Marrowglen though avoided heading back down until they were beyond the village....
................
Vardi, Famh, Skoggi and Salt headed towards the broch whilst Ori stood sentinel for them.
Famhs call upon the fey did not yield anyone calling out or emerging from the broch so they headed carefully closer.
Salt led the way into the tower through the narrow entryway; the shadows within were deep but daylight made it through in many places and lifted the gloom somewhat.
The floors above had collapsed inwards and littered the interior with piles of broken stone, there were the remains of a stairway to the left and a well in the centre of the interior. Some of the surfaces were coated in bird excrement and the remains of old nests.
As Salt circled the enclosed space they saw evidence that quite a few people had been up here over the years; initials were scratched into stone, someone had made a crude attempt to draw a series of genitals on the lintel and a couple of the nests contained scarlet ribbons and large clumps of wool.
Famh noted a large slab of stone just passed the entrance....there was a stain on the leading edge of the block. It was a familiar red colour the edges beginning to dry to rusty brown, as she bent to examine it she noted some long black hair stuck to the stain.
(OOC: That would be the mud squelching loudly underfoot, no doubt.)
Famh: "I'd say ye're thinkin' clear on that, though after the first she might find your quiet strength an assurance too. Let's gae the way I saw before, that will take us up to the broch out of sight o' the walls. We can go close enough that way to at least to see if there's anyone there. If the girl is there ... well, even I may have to think of some way of drawin' her out without startling her, if she's so much afright that even a girl's voice calling would set her fleeing for her life. But if it's not her in spite of appearances, or if the clues were arranged ... "
"Tha' may be so, but I'd still rather nay put the wind up them all unintentional like." Vardi pragmatically replies "Frit folk can be right unpredictable ta a perceived threat, even if nay harm be intended. If she is within, yet runs away at our approach, then do we give chase, or follow quietly?"
There is a pensive air to her gaze, as she looks to the broch, then adds "I may nay jingle as much as four horses in harness, but quietly is a fair challenge ta me in this muck, that I admit. If there is skullduggery afoot, well, anyone can wear tha same clothes, aye, but who would hunt with a lass as a live lure?"
(OOC: Vardi attempts stealth in mud, slow and careful in her footing in following Famh. Vardi gets a total of 3 but with the disadvantage due to a large coat of chain rattling as well, there are at least two elephants on the march here.)
Sucking her cheeks in with a sudden 'shwsh'ing of breath, Famh raises her hand and gestures to Vardi, first pressing her finger to her lips to signal caution and then beckoning her over. "I dinna like the look o' that.," she whispers. "Why would she strike her head just there, hard enough to draw blood, unless she were pursued? Or was she already wounded? In either case we need haste." Whistling in an undertone to Salt and patting her leg with small movements, she beckons him over with her best rendition of a doggy 'shhhh'. She directs his attention to the bloodstain and whispers in his ear, "Find her, boy. Cainneach will be so proud. Let's go find her."
=========
Famh's Investigation 11
Salt's Perception (unaided) 4
(with Help from the inspiration caused by Famh's appeal to his doggy daddy) 19
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Vardi freezes at Famh's warning, then attempts to move closer quickly, as quietly as she can in the muddy terrain. Her face is set into a grim expression at the sight of the hair and the drying reddish-brown stain on the stone.
OOC: Vardi make a Perception test as she checks the broch for anything hidden in the darker corners using her shield to reflect more sunlight into the shadows, total of 20.
"Aye, me neither..." the big lass answers softly, then simply agrees that "Best we got on with looking for her then." with an uneasy look about the place. Skoggi now sits on top of the basket lid with his claws dug into the weave for grip, watching for trouble behind them.
Vardis scan of the interior brings up a mess of bootprints within the broch now visible due to her clever use of her shield, Salt immediately complies sniffing the ground but somewhat dishearteningly heads straight for the well in the centre of the broch and props himself up on it with his huge paws...
(Famh thanks Morkaanades that the above Acrobatics roll somehow got posted without her +6 skill bonus, or any advantage from the rope. Rerolled with those taken into account:
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Ori stands seems leaning on part of the stone structure watching the scouts move into the forest. He hopes he didn't make a wrong choice sending the pair off on thier own, without Salt. But Ori needed Salts skills here and Cainneach's out there. Je was trying to watch with his head scanning the country side but found he focused mostly in the direction of the scouts and the direction of the bull. If only Tana was here, she could have turned that threat to asset in no time. But she wasn't there and Ori needed to work with what he had, what he had a pretty good team. This Vardi was seemingly fitting in well with the troop, soon enough he will see if she can handle her own in a fight. She was still very green, but had some clear potential.
Realizing he didn't hear the ladies searching, he spoke a bit louder towards them "Oi mates, we're not tryin' to sneak up on the poor lass. Let her know we are here to help and if she's nor there we got to move on. If those horsemen found her, they may have thrown her on a horse to move more quickly." That's how he always did it in the shows. Always needed that build in tension and the horse ride was always the quickest way to get out of the crowds veiw with his "victim".
Hopefully Almeric is having better luck finding his target then they were. As much as he hates splitting the party, he wished that Almeric had taken one with him, Thatch most likely.
Famh: "Oh no,"
"Loge's ever-aching balls..." Vardi mutters to herself in dismay, then slightly louder to Famh "Would be all too easy ta fall in that with a cracked head, aye?"
Skoggi looks from his high perch at Salt, then the hole that the dog's great paws rest on, and makes a low growl of complaint towards the well, not the hound.
Famh: "Keep an eye out for me a moment."
The big lass answers, whisper quiet "Aye." then in curiosity "Wha' ya thinking ta do?"
Famh: "It looks like some of those heaps o' rubble by the stairway would give you a good vantage point to watch from, and they'd hide ye from the first sight of any who enter."
Vardi, now puzzled says quietly "Aye. they would..."
Famh: "Give me a hand fixing this first though, please."
As the warrior maid sees the rope, and then Famh checking the stones around the lip of the well, she mutters "Ye mean ta look down there yerself?" in a tone of shock, then considers the need for swiftness, and if a woman of her own size would even fit through the hole without pulling half the stones out...
OOC: How big is the hole, and how much would someone Vardi's size have to strip off the lip and themselves to fit through it?
She shrugs, and does as she was asked, testing stones for firmness of placement and testing the rope for any fraying as she helps tie knots into place. Only after Famh has climbed down does it occur to the Islander that there is no sign of any light from a torch to be seen from above the well.
"I'm a dead woman tha moment yer fella finds out I let ye down there alone." she murmurs to herself.
OOC: Vardi makes a Survival roll for helping with the rope and gets 11 total.
When Vardi hears Ori's instructions, she leans towards the well and says in a firm but clearly friendly tone "Anyone need a hand up out of there then?"
Against her better judgement Vardi assists with lowering Famh down the narrow well, it is about 20' down that she finds black water, her fey-touched sight allowing her to peer down into the strange twisted water filled calcite cavern below there is no sign of the young woman but a square of pale, patterned fabric waves lazily in the slight current, caught on a protrusion....
Famh has been peering more and more anxiously down the shaft of the well as she descends, half hoping and half fearing she will see the herd girl herself in one condition or another. When she first spies the scrap of cloth, her faerie sight deceives her into thinking for a moment there is no water there. She cannot restrain herself in her first confusion from calling loudly to the countrywoman she thinks might be hiding just out of sight, "Morag! Your father sent us to find you! We were passing by on an errand from the Duke to Sir Robert; and as our laird Sir Almeric's a kind man he had us stop to seek you while he continued on the errand to the other knight. I'll kindle more light so ye can see it's only me!" She almost bursts into tears when the sudden reflection of her torch flashing off the surface tells her how far underwater the scrap of Morag's garment is; when she is braced up by the reflection that she still has seen no sign of Morag herself.
She calls to Vardi in her loudest voice, "Vardi! Tell Ori I've found a piece of the girl's dress down here in the well. I was fooled for a moment into thinkin' the well was dree ... I don't know what strange faerie sight came ower me a moment. But I'm better now, and I canna see her doon here wi' it, at least frae where I am now. Lower me a bit farther till I see if there's a ledge or fallen rock I can stand on while I look about. "
"And this is just the sort of place to have a faerie rath inside the hill, at least in all the auld tales I loved as a girl. And they were never the sort of places you wanted to just stray into by chance. But here its' hoping I am that this girl's fallen into a faerie story, for it would mean she's been spirited off into some faerie cave or kingdom under the hill and sich noble heroes as ourselves could just don our woad and pick up our druidic spears of enchantment to go off tae the rescue!" The obvoiusly forced brightness in her voice rings hollow as she anxiously scans the well she is in in a spiraling pattern that begins on the level where she has found a foothold (or ten feet above the water if th ere is none) and systematically works down the perimwter until she has made a circuit of the wall underwater at the level the scrap of cloth was. If she has found neither Morag nor signs of any opening, she will scan the bottom and and parts of the wall lower than where the cloth was with the same care.
=========
Investig (WIP)
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Thatch and Cainneach come back towards the broch seeing Ori outside watching the landscape, there is no sign of Famh, Vardi or their canine and feline associates.
.......................
Famh-
There is no ledge or place to stand here, the well drives straight down until it reaches the flooded subterranean chamber. She can see there is a current in the water and try though she might she can see no sign of the lass, the water is frighteningly cold and she can feel herself begin to shiver almost immediately.
(EDIT: Acrobatics (climbing back) 13
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Ori looks over towards the tree line and sees movement in the direction the lads had gone. He stars a bit trying to see if it was one of the two that he had sent in ahead. He was sure who ever was in there could have spotted him before he saw the moment, woukd be suspicious if he tried to duck out of sight now. Ori decided to double down on appearance and stand tall but relaxed club in full view, perhaps warding off passersby from wanting to approach but also not give the appearance that he has anything to hide, or be guarding.
Ori was relieved and shocked to see the fellas returning. He expected to have to try and catch up with them. Wondering what they could have found short of the girl herself that would turn them back around. No way they are carrying good news.
"Aye, the lads are returning, empty handed it appears. Hope you two are faring better then they did."
Famh: "Vardi! Tell Ori I've found a piece of the girl's dress down here in the well. I was fooled for a moment into thinkin' the well was dree ... I don't know what strange faerie sight came ower me a moment. But I'm better now, and I canna see her doon here wi' it, at least frae where I am now. Lower me a bit farther till I see if there's a ledge or fallen rock I can stand on while I look about. "
Vardi replies "Aye, let me know when yer down far enough ta reach it." and begins slowly plying out a little more rope, careful to keep her grip steady.
Famh: "And this is just the sort of place to have a faerie rath inside the hill, at least in all the auld tales I loved as a girl. And they were never the sort of places you wanted to just stray into by chance. But here its' hoping I am that this girl's fallen into a faerie story, for it would mean she's been spirited off into some faerie cave or kingdom under the hill and sich noble heroes as ourselves could just don our woad and pick up our druidic spears of enchantment to go off tae the rescue!"
The big lass chuckles as she says "Ye'll do me out of a living if naught but woad becomes tha fashion fer heroes again, but it would be a fine sight ta see, tha's fer sure, druidic spears and all!" then a little more serious in tone "I know little of tha fair folk and their hollow hills but a few tales I've heard since coming ta tha mainland. If this is a place of theirs, then I hope Morag has nay come ta any harm from her curiosity."
"Give me but a moment..." Vardi says calmly, braces herself in case of sudden slippage, then turns her head in the direction she last saw Ori, and yells "Nay girl so far, Sarge." then turns her attention back to the situation below.
"How ye doing down there, Famh?" Vardi asks, keeping the calmness in her tone for both her own and the brave little tailor's benefit.
Famh: "There's nae sign o' Morag herself doun here, nor o place tae stand where she micht have climbit up. But there's a strange current i' the waters o' the well, as gin it were piercit by some underground stream or tunnel. The water's freezin' cauld thouch. I'll juist tak a quick leuk around before I climb up, tae see gin thare's any sign where the openin' is. But ye'd best call Ori an have him brin the rest ower. A scrap o her dress is doon here beyond dout."
The Lyften girl replies "Aye, I'll relay tha' ta him. Ye best come back up fer tha moment then . If she went down there, we'll need more eyes and hands ta help find her by the sound of it." then raises her voice again to call out to Ori "We found a bit of her dress down a well hole in tha broch floor. Underground current there. Checking further just in case, but we could really use tha whole toupe's help here Ser."
When Ori yells back "Aye, the lads are returning, empty handed it appears. Hope you two are faring better then they did." Vardi simply answers "Hope so Sarge, but it looks ta be a damp path either way."
Like an unlikely cat at a mousehole, Vardi waits, keeping the rope steady, as Salt and Skokki keep watch, and listens carefully for Famh's return.
Getting more than a little soaked and chilled, Famh is able to snatch the piece of fabric which seems an embroidered gravat and makes the, somewhat difficult with frozen fingers, climb back out of the well as the others arrive outside.
Shivering, Famh draws out the little flask with her uisgebeaugh.and shares a nip with Vardi and whoever else might like. "I'll be right in a moment, but mair than the heart turns to lead when ye climb doon there. It's cauld as a w ... " Just then she spies Cainneach coming into view and an uncharacteristic fit of modesty overtakes her; she leaves the simile uncompleted. Instead, she waits until the retinue is all gathered again and then describes what she's found. "What do ye all think we'd best do? This scrap of fabric ought to be perished if it had been down there too long, so I'm guessng its frae Morag ... but no sign o' her within sight. And there must be some opening down there to make the current, although I didn't spy it when I lookit the first time. ... I trust she's no a selkie, and fled back to the sea?"
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Cainneach's peering and listening yield nothing and his anxiety rises, naturally concerned for Famh, Salt, and the rest. Surely they would have reached a conclusion regarding the broch by now? "Thatch, I've not got a great feeling about this. I think our ability to follow this trail is secure, let's track back and see what's going on with the rest." The forester sets off with purpose down the trail and toward the broch.
Upon nearing the edge of the clearing on the other side of the copse, Cainneach pauses and holds back Thatch, taking a moment to survey the scene before emerging from their cover. Fortunately, he only spies Ori upon the hill, looking unbothered, at least by Ori's standards. Cainneach strides quickly up to meet the rest of the party, finding a shivering Famh and the rest gathered around the well.
The forester frowns darkly at Famh's report. "I'm relieved you weren't swept away down there, by the current and your curiosity! I dinnae ken what ta think about the lass. If she tumbled down the well after striking her head, there's not much hope for her I'd think. When we followed the tracks of those men and their horses, I'd thought maybe they'd bound the girl and tossed her on one of the beasts, seeing as there were no tracks of hers alongside. Seems like that might be our only hope of finding her now." Cainneach unknowingly echoes the very thought that Ori had expressed earlier. "We followed the tracks beyond the copse and along the ridge, where they led back down to the Lord's Road, likely past Marrowglen. If we don't think the girl is here or that we can navigate this well, then we should be heading that way with haste."
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