The icy disease moves faster than we do.  Carina bows her head respectfully as the worst eventuality is revealed to have befallen the shop-owner Verla Pelc.  While saddened, she is aware of not having the personal connection some of her companions may have, and gives them room to mourn.

She nods at Taiga's question to Mila, trying to establish a timeline.  "Perhaps someone else in the village will know, even if Mila does not."

Checking back with the tied-up and disarmed bandits, she checks their bonds and reassures them that they will be leaving as soon as...

"We need to search the shop for records.  Perhaps a bill of sale or receipt from Urgon.  To identify any other items of interest besides the five we know about."  Carina waits circumspectly and, like Elbert, helps whoever else searches the store (providing advantage on Investigation checks).

Brix hands the end of the newly formed picket line to Ragnus as he approaches, "Here. Probably better if you hold on to this. I'll go check the shop as well. Perhaps with my artifact knowledge I'll be able to spot something the others didn't recognize." The gnome proceeds to enter the shop. Looking around he see many dusty curiosities, so many in fact that he has to keep reminding  himself not to get sidetracked. 

Perception: 18

The group of bandits turn to look between themselves, their eyes widening as the urgency of the situation begins to set in like icy water seeping through fabric. They knew of Urgon Wenth's death, and, of course, of Hulil and her sister falling ill — but yet another death at the hands of the sickness seems to tip the scales of fate in the favor of imminent disaster. One of the bandits, the Elven man who had bared his teeth at Taiga, now looks at the Earth Genasi with a furrowed brow. "It must've been 'bout a month and a half ago, when Hulil's sister brought her the relics," he responds grimly.

Mila looks frightened and distraught, the dismay at the discovery of this death overtaking the Grassblade as well. How quickly did this cursed sickness claim its victims, and would this party of adventurers truly be able to help? She's grateful she didn't enter the cabin and avoided seeing the shopkeeper's frozen body. "The last time I've seen Verla was probably about three months ago. She didn't go out much — she was rather reclusive, you see. She opened Pelc's Curiosities only when the mood struck her. And two months ago, that's when her shop was vandalized." By Tulgi, although the Elven woman isn't aware of that bit of information. "She hadn't opened it since."

When Taiga takes a chance by searching Verla's living quarters, she finds nothing of note — only the scattered personal belongings of the dead Elven woman. Meanwhile, the other members of the party begin to search through the remains of the shop, sifting through the debris and broken items for further clues. Brix finds no remaining artifacts among the shop's wares that are fully intact or of value. But the Gnome does find, hidden between the broken shelves of the wooden desk, a parchment that lists the following: a dagger, a scroll case, a jade statuette, a quiver of twenty arrows, a silver ring set with jasper, and two blue glass vials — sold for a thousand gold pieces.

"It is all the same items that Tulgi mentioned," Carina murmurs upon seeing the parchment, "except for one addition.  The quiver of twenty arrows."

"Hulil never came into contact with the dagger, but she still contracted the disease.  So assuming the dagger is ruled out (as being the sole cause anyway), then the source of the illness may be one or more out of the remaining five items sold by Urgon to Pelc and stolen by Tulgi for her sister:
- The scroll case
- The statuette
- The quiver and arrows
- The silver ring
- The two blue glass vials."

"We now have several findings to report back to Elro Aldataur and I believe we should.  Then on to Croakers' Cave with the help of our elven friends here."

Nevertheless, Carina has misgivings, though she does not speak them aloud in front of the bandits or Mila.  Such as how exactly to convince Hulil to part with the items, given that she is already infected.  And the possibility that the bandits may turn on the party once back among their comrades in Croakers' Cave.  And it is not as if finding the cause of the disease is the same as finding the antidote.  But better to let the bandits blur those lines in their heads.

Taiga agrees hesitantly, “Maybe we can see the major before we go to Hulil. I would rather go directly but you’re right. Much has transpired since we started.”

"I think we should go to Hulil first. We need to get these artifacts quarantined. But I suppose a quick stop to inform the mayor to put the word out to avoid them, if it isn't already known, wouldn't hurt."

Ragnus nods his head towards Brix "Agreed, let's get our arms around these artifacts first before more people get hurt. Can we have Mila update Elro while we head to tha cave?"

"I am not sure we can just take our elven friends and go," Carina observes demurely.  "We did catch them ransacking the store of a shopkeeper who until now was not known to be a victim of the disease.  To their credit, they came out and surrendered immediately."

(Immediately after we scared them into it, anyway.  Carina leaves out the part where it took a bluff of setting the shop on fire to induce the bandits' exit).

"As an outlander, I know not the ways of law here, but if we leave now with these elven scavengers, we are accessories their escape from justice with Mila here as a witness.  Whereas if we first obtain Elro Aldataur's permission, I am hopeful we can come to a compromise and have them lead us to Croakers' Cave with his blessing.  Elro may even have some additional insight for us once we tell him our findings thus far."

Or Elro just throws these interlopers in a cell to rot and freeze, thinks Carina ruefully in her head, but hopefully we can make the village leader see reason.  It is a blessing we have the bandits disarmed and bound, making them less likely to escape should things not go their way...

She turns to the elven burglars, trying to keep their minds occupied.  "Being new to Palebank, I have to ask.  Why do they call it Croakers' Cave anyway?"

The group of bandits, with their wrists bound and surrounded by the party of adventurers — feel a wave of relief wash over them when Brix Philbin suggests that they depart for Croaker Cave immediately. They try not to let the repose display on their faces too obviously, but the Elven thieves are eager to return to the Priestess and their encampment in Croaker Cave. They certainly don't want to be arrested and brought before the mercy of Palebank Village's leader, and so their relief is short-lived. They shift uneasily as Carina argues against the Gnome and Dwarf, fixing her with guarded stares. The main bandit finally speaks up, struggling slightly, subtly, against the rope that dig into his wrists. "It is called Croaker's Cave for the beasts that dwell there. We have tamed them, and they will attack any outside beings if they are not accompanied by us." It's a threat, almost. Or perhaps more like the hint of a proposition. Do not turn us in, and we will keep you from being killed, the Elven man's eyes seem to say.

“Right,” responds Taiga to the leader’s words. “But that sounds almost like we will be at your mercy once we’re inside that cave.” Taiga looks to Carina, “What do you think if we only turn in their leader, after all the others merely followed orders. This way we also have some security to leave the caves again and the rest of the lot can keep the croakers at bay. When we return from the cave and have established that they really needed to search the shop urgently for a cure, then we can make a case for releasing the leader. You think that’d be fair?”

“You’ll turn in this lot for ransacking a shop that was already ransacked by Tulgi? Seems to me that Tulgi ought to be turned in as well then. Or, my preference, just let the grassblades do their job and we can get on with doing ours. We were asked to investigate the plague, not to round up bandits,” Elbert finally interjects with a hint of sarcasm. “Onward to the cave, I says”

"Mila do you know of this cave? If you do can we drop them off on the way or would it be out of the way?" Asks Brix, thinking to complete two tasks at once. "If it's out of the way we leave them tied here while Mila fetches back up to take them into custody. I vote for the cave."

Quote from Backstabitha >>

“You’ll turn in this lot for ransacking a shop that was already ransacked by Tulgi? Seems to me that Tulgi ought to be turned in as well then. Or, my preference, just let the grassblades do their job and we can get on with doing ours. We were asked to investigate the plague, not to round up bandits,” Elbert finally interjects with a hint of sarcasm. “Onward to the cave, I says”

Carina smiles at Elbert and shrugs at his sarcasm.

"It is true, I do not know the customs here.  I was certainly planning to tell Elro about Tulgi as well.  Were you not?  How she had ransacked Pelc's shop, actually finding several items, most of which she sent to her sister, thereby unwittingly spreading the disease.  So yes, I suppose that would be turning Tulgi in.  And is ransacking an already ransacked shop fair game in Palebank Village as you imply?  Only the first ransacking is forbidden?  We did not help Tulgi escape justice, but if we leave now with these bandits without reporting them, we would certainly be helping them escape it."

"Which is all right.  I have nothing personal against these fine elves.  My preference was to talk Elro into accepting their offer so we all go to Croakers' Cave with his blessing.  Although..."  She turns to the bandit leader as he struggles subtly against his bonds.  "Perhaps we take Taiga's idea of only turning in the leader here as compromise and collateral.  Certainly if he keeps struggling against his bonds as he is now.  Makes him seem untrustworthy."

She adds an extra loop to secure the bandit leader, giving him a meaningful look.  Stop struggling and do not betray or cross us.

Ragnus strokes his beard thoughtfully, as he listens to the back and forth of the others. "Elbert speaks true, Elro hired us ta investigate this disease, not round up bandits. I say we leave em with tha grassblades an' head out as quickly as we can - time is wastin' and' these so called beasts at tha cave don't scare me."

"Time is of the essence, we can agree on that," Taiga concludes. "I also don't think we need to report every minute development to Elro. If he'd wanted to know everything without delay, he'd come with us. I'm with Ragnus here, let's just go to the cave. Might be we only find ice statues there. So much happened already so long ago and we are still several steps behind that disease agent. We really need to step up our game, I think, and catch up and fill the gaps and all that quickly."

The Elven Grassblade gives Brix a nod. "I know where Croaker Cave is, I can tell you all the way to get there," Mila responds, speaking to the entire party of adventurers. She sets her jaw in determination, relieved to find that she can be helpful for your group. "I can take these bandits here to Elro while you move on to the cave, or we can all visit Elro together if you'd like to report your findings to him. I'd like to see that this lot gets their due punishment," she goes on, squinting at the bandit group's main speaker. She hadn't noticed the Elven man struggling against his ropes, and inwardly commends Carina for catching on and securing his binds. The Warlock seemed quite sharp.

"If you head towards the northern border of our village, and follow the trail outside in the direction of the forest, you'll find Croaker Cave," Mila explains, pointing in the direction your characters need to head. The main bandit, meanwhile, grits his teeth. It seemed he'd almost gotten his group in the clear, if it weren't for the scarlet-haired Carina. He doesn't like the calculating look in the woman's eyes, and as she ties another knot in the ropes that bind his wrists — he realizes outsmarting her is unlikely. "Looks to me," Mila goes on. "Like it's between speaking to Elro and losing time, but being able to bypass the dangers of the beasts that reside within - assuming this one is telling the truth. Or, alternatively, making up for lost time by heading straight to the cave, but facing the dangers alone."

"Seems like it's 4 votes for the cave." observes Brix. 

"To the cave then.  With or without the burglars?"  Carina glances sidelong at the bandit leader.  This one loves me not and may betray us.

"I say we leave behind at least the leader with Mila to present to Elro Aldataur."

If no one has done so already (OOC:  I, Tybard can't remember), Carina proceeds to give Mila the outline of their investigation thus far, including what they've heard from Tulgi (since Mila wasn't there), so when Mila can bring the town leader up to date.

Carina looks around at her companions.  "Some of you are locals, so this may be an ignorant question from an outlander.  But if we are going to be trekking through the snowy countryside and entering what may be an icy cave, do we all have snowshoes and crampons to go with our warm clothing?"

(She points to the first two items as she produces them from her own pack).

"I'd prefer we leave them all behind. Would rather not have bandits at me back while bein' attacked by beasts." Looking over at Elbert, "I'd bet me armor that Elbert here can guide us through anythin' to that cave, proper equipment or no." 

“Let Milo take them all to Elro, they’ll slow us down,” says Taiga.