The constable nods at Preston before responding to Ella. “I see. It’s good that you have the Lady of Mercy’s guidance, Kariella, especially in these trying times. The village has seen its share of challenges lately, and a bit of mercy can go a long way.”
As you leave the last of the village houses behind, you take a small path through the lush fields.
It is a beautiful morning. The grass sways gently in the breeze, birds are singing, there isn’t a cloud in the blue sky. Fields of crops, almost ready for harvest, stretch in every direction. Herds of sheep graze peacefully in the pastures, casting long, contented shadows in the early sunlight.
After a few miles, you arrive at your destination—an old farmhouse nestled amidst small crop fields. Nearby, there is a second, much smaller building nearby that looks like a barn, and a moss-covered well next to it. You can see outlines of more farms about a mile to the east.
“Here we are,” Constable Alena announces as she makes her way towards the establishment. As you draw closer to the farmhouse, you come across an unusual sight. On the weathered wooden door of the building, you notice a strange scorch mark, as if something hot and fiery has touched the surface, leaving behind a dark, charred impression. A faint, smoky odour emanates from the mark, subtly tainting the air with its presence.
The constable, now keenly aware of the mark, comes to a halt and leans in for a closer inspection. "This wasn't here before," she mutters under her breath, her brow furrowed in thought. Her fingers hover near the charred mark, but she is careful not to touch it.
Setting her belongings down on the ground beside the door, she retrieves her journal, a small inkwell and a quilt from her backpack. Turning to you all, she instructs, “Search the area carefully. There might be more to discover.”
[Adventurers, feel free to channel your inner detectives and explore your surroundings.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Aeran Dormaris - L2 Paladin on his way to Phandelver
Dracor would start paying more attention once they arrived on the farm. At the mention of a scortch mark Dracors ears perk up and he makes his way to scorch mark on the door. The dragonborn looks at the mark, trying to determine if it looks like it was from a hit clawed of some kind or from a ranged attack. Then as he scratched his chin he would look around the dirt nearby. hunched over so that the orb dangling from his neck sways with every step he would look for any kind of strange footprints.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Preston is curious about the scorch mark on the door. With Dracor going over to investigate it, he feels confident that the magically-inclined dragonborn might be able to see things that could elude him. As such, he walks over to the barn. He starts by circling the perimeter, looking for other scorch marks or for unusual footprints leading in or out of the barn.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Seeing as how Dracor and Preston have the main buildings covered, Wulcrath decides to start small, he can pester the others about their findings and make his own on the Farmhouse and Barn later if he needs to. He silently breaks off from the group, a hand on the hilt of his blade as his eyes of silver scour the farmland. Although... seeing as the other Dragonborn and Human have the main buildings covered... what shall he busy himself with?
The Red Dragonborn spots the Stone Conspirator as he makes his way onto Farmer Hal's land proper. "Ah... Well, Well, Well." SURELY this Well has something to do with it? Regardless, it'll help to cover all their bases. Wulcrath examines the well, crouching down to study the stonework, the ground surrounding it, and anything else that catches his eyes. Feeling a bit silly while he does so... He sort of looks like he's only pretending to know what he's doing. Although... is that really that far from the truth?
Investigation: 23
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
High Hopes, Low Rolls. Timezone Is EST. Surely THIS one will reach an ending...
As Dracor examines the scorch mark on the farmhouse door, he notices that it is not a result of a claw attack but rather some kind of a magical symbol. (You can do an Arcana roll if you'd like to investigate this further).
He finds a lot of different sets of prints in the dirt - some that look like they were made from man’s boots, smaller ones made from women shoes. However, there are some footprints that are very tiny, not larger than the size of human thumb, and look almost human. There is a very faint, eerie glow that has a dark hue. The footprints don’t follow a straight path and appear erratic.
Preston sees that the barn door is partially open. The wooden walls of the building have signs of gnawing, and there are faint, squeaking sounds coming from within. Around the barn, you notice various farming tools scattered about – a pitchfork leaning against the wall, a hoe propped up against a barrel, and a pile of wooden planks and nails, likely intended for repairs.
As he approaches, he also spots a set of footprints in the dirt leading towards the barn, likely left by Farmer Hal and his family. The prints are relatively fresh, suggesting recent activity around the barn.
As Wulcrath explores the area around the well, his sharp eyes catch sight of a crumpled paper ball in the grass around the stones. Turning his attention to the well itself, Wulcrath observes that its stone surface is cloaked in a thick layer of vibrant green moss, except for one side. On that particular side, the moss has withered away, leaving behind a conspicuous patch of lifeless, greyish stone.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Aeran Dormaris - L2 Paladin on his way to Phandelver
Dracor would shout over his shoulder... "Anyone know what makes small glowing foodprints?" before looking closer at the scorch mark on the door. "this looks like some kind of symbol..."
As Wulcrath studies his findings, he raises his head as he hears Dracor's voice. Small, Glowing... footprints? That was a new one. Okay, one thing at a time. The Big Dragonborn squats himself down, plucking the crumpled up paper from it's spot in the grass. He unfolds it as he stays crouched, looking closer at the clear stone on the Well's one side as he studies the seeming note. He holds the note in one hand, and idly runs his other, free gloved hand over the conspicuous stone on the Well.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
High Hopes, Low Rolls. Timezone Is EST. Surely THIS one will reach an ending...
Curious about the set of fresh footprints but mostly by the strange squeaking sound coming from within the barn, Preston would try to make his way inside. His hand is gripping the handle of his sword and he tries to move as quietly as possible, despite the weight of his armor. He would attempt to squeeze in gap of the partially opened door.
Ella approaches. "How small are we talking?" she asks. "Halfling small or kitten small? Not sure about the glowing part, though."
She'll wrack her brain to see if she does, in fact, know anything about glowing footprints. ((Not sure what check this would be, but I'm gonna go with Nature, feel free to correct me)
Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this mark isn’t just a scorch but a magical glyph. The symbol is a dark, sinister mark that resembles a distorted bullseye. It consists of several circles, each slightly off-centre, giving it an unsettling appearance. The circles are jagged and irregular, lacking the perfect geometric symmetry usually associated with magical symbols.
The entire symbol is etched in a deep, almost imperceptible purple colour that blends with the darkness of the wood, making it difficult to spot at first glance. The purple colour carries an eerie, unnatural quality. Faint, ethereal lines radiate outward from the centre of the symbol in a sense of movement as if the mark is alive and pulsating.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t touch that,” Constable Alena observes while she sketches the symbol in her journal.
The paper ball that Wulcrath finds appears to be a torn page from a book. Someone had written the following in a hasty, almost illegible handwriting:
Whatever was left from the moss's vines on that side of the well crumbles beneath the dragonborn’s touch. As he runs his gloved hand over, a weird sensation washes over him but the feeling doesn’t last for more than a second.
While Preston is making an effort to move quietly, the weight of his armour makes it challenging. As he carefully squeezes through the partially open barn door, the paladin can hear the faint squeaking sounds growing louder and more distinct.
The barn is mostly dark inside but the open barn doors let in enough sunlight for Preston to be able to see some of the interior. The barn is cluttered with various farming tools, crates and sacks of grain. As his eyes adjust to the dim light, he sees a rat scurrying around and nibbling at the sacks. The creature is larger than a typical rat and with mangy fur but it doesn’t seem to have noticed him yet. In the stillness of the barn, he can discern more scurrying around somewhere in the back of the building.
Ella doesn’t recall any useful information about the small, glowing footprints. She remains uncertain about their origin or significance. By inspecting the ground, she does discern that the tracks are relatively recent.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I wonder what type of glyph that is... I didn't really pay much attention in my magical miracles and maladies class..." Dracor would wonder out loud as he strokes the golden scales under his chin. "I can still picture the look on mothers face when she found out I failed that class.." he would add... speaking much quieter than before as the smile on his face quickly fades away.
Turning away from the glyph he would focus on the small footprints. "So Ellie.. Ally.... Ella! yes, Ella... do you know what kind of creature left these prints behind?" The dragonborn would ask while slowly bending down to look a bit closer. Not sure if know what they are... "
nature 19
"I wonder where they go" he would add as he begins trying to follow the footsteps
Wulcrath shudders a bit as that strange feeling washes over him. His stomach flutters a little, though he quickly regains his composure. The Red Dragonborn pulls his pack over his shoulder a bit, stashing the note for now and further considering the glorified hole in the ground he's found himself investigating. Hmm... what to do? As he considers the barren stone on the well, he feels a little silly at his next thought, but... There was nobody too nearby to embarrass but himself.
The Nosy Red Lizard messes with the clear stone a bit more, trying to see if any of it gives it all, or feels different. he'll unsheathe the dagger at his belt and try to poke at the stone a bit. If nothing seems to give to his prodding though, he'll wander off to go find the Constable, and inform her of his finding the page, and the strange clear stone of the well. Better than nothing... right? Hopefully old Farmer Hal won't mind a few marks.
Ella's brain comes up empty on this particular subject. "I have no idea," she admits. "Sorry. Following them may not be the best course of action, though."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Preston looks at the sizeable rat with a faint hint of disgust. It was the biggest rat he had ever seen. But being in rural territory, it might be more common to find the rummaging through barns.
Still hearing the noise coming from deeper inside, he continues advancing further into the back of the barn. Though there is a lack of light, he tries to stay alert in case the thing making the noise tries to escape.
As Dracor joins Ella in examining the tiny tracks, he notices several key details:
They are indeed footprints, not paw prints or the tracks of any typical animal
Despite their small size, they appear to be similar to human footprints in shape
The footprints do not follow a coherent path. They seem erratic as if someone or something was wandering aimlessly. There is no clear way to discern where they start from and where they go.
After a few moments of pushing and pulling at the stones, Wulcrath discovers that one of them is indeed loose. As he removes it, he sees there is a small hole behind. Inside, there is what appears to be a gold coin.
Preston’s vision gradually gets better and he can see some more details: more crates and sacks, some casks with probably ale and some hay stacks. He also sees a few more rats running around, all of them as huge as the first one. There are several small holes and tunnels burrowed into the barn’s dirt floor. It’s clear these are the entry and exit points the rats use to access the barn.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Aeran Dormaris - L2 Paladin on his way to Phandelver
Dracor would relay that information to Ella and the constable.. "So what kind of creature leaves small glowing footprints like a person and can leave magical glyphs.." he would ask before looking around for Preston and wulcrath... "Hey! Preston and Wulcrath... you guys find anything?!?!?" He would shout as he glanced around looking for other clues.
"Huh... Well alright." Wulcrath reaches in to take the Golden coin, still feeling a bit silly. If he can manage to scoop it up, he'll do so before returning the brick to it's place and heading back to the Farmhouse to show the Constable his strange page find. Maybe being nosy pays off sometimes?
As Wulcrath hears Dracor shout out, he shrugs. "Umm... A Page and a Coin!?"
"Footprints that small...all I can think of are pixies, but they're more the flying sort." Ella shakes her head, chewing on her lower lip. "I don't know what it could be. I might be able to sense a bit about the magic if you give me a few minutes, but I'm not sure how much help it would be."
Preston starts to become suspicious of the oversized rats. He thinks they may not be what they appear to be. He closes his eyes and, just like he’s been taught during his training, focuses on his senses. The young squire then opens his eyes to see if he can detect anything abnormal with the rats.
(Using Divine Sense)
The presence of strong evil registers on your senses like a noxious odor, and powerful good rings like heavenly music in your ears. As an action, you can open your awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any celestial, fiend, or undead within 60 feet of you that is not behind total cover. You know the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) of any being whose presence you sense, but not its identity (the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, for instance). Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the hallowspell.
The constable nods at Preston before responding to Ella. “I see. It’s good that you have the Lady of Mercy’s guidance, Kariella, especially in these trying times. The village has seen its share of challenges lately, and a bit of mercy can go a long way.”
As you leave the last of the village houses behind, you take a small path through the lush fields.
It is a beautiful morning. The grass sways gently in the breeze, birds are singing, there isn’t a cloud in the blue sky. Fields of crops, almost ready for harvest, stretch in every direction. Herds of sheep graze peacefully in the pastures, casting long, contented shadows in the early sunlight.
After a few miles, you arrive at your destination—an old farmhouse nestled amidst small crop fields. Nearby, there is a second, much smaller building nearby that looks like a barn, and a moss-covered well next to it. You can see outlines of more farms about a mile to the east.
“Here we are,” Constable Alena announces as she makes her way towards the establishment. As you draw closer to the farmhouse, you come across an unusual sight. On the weathered wooden door of the building, you notice a strange scorch mark, as if something hot and fiery has touched the surface, leaving behind a dark, charred impression. A faint, smoky odour emanates from the mark, subtly tainting the air with its presence.
The constable, now keenly aware of the mark, comes to a halt and leans in for a closer inspection. "This wasn't here before," she mutters under her breath, her brow furrowed in thought. Her fingers hover near the charred mark, but she is careful not to touch it.
Setting her belongings down on the ground beside the door, she retrieves her journal, a small inkwell and a quilt from her backpack. Turning to you all, she instructs, “Search the area carefully. There might be more to discover.”
[Adventurers, feel free to channel your inner detectives and explore your surroundings.]
Aeran Dormaris - L2 Paladin on his way to Phandelver
Vesna March - L1 Cleric in Etharis
DM The Missing Farmer
Dracor would start paying more attention once they arrived on the farm. At the mention of a scortch mark Dracors ears perk up and he makes his way to scorch mark on the door. The dragonborn looks at the mark, trying to determine if it looks like it was from a hit clawed of some kind or from a ranged attack. Then as he scratched his chin he would look around the dirt nearby. hunched over so that the orb dangling from his neck sways with every step he would look for any kind of strange footprints.
investigation 19
Preston is curious about the scorch mark on the door. With Dracor going over to investigate it, he feels confident that the magically-inclined dragonborn might be able to see things that could elude him. As such, he walks over to the barn. He starts by circling the perimeter, looking for other scorch marks or for unusual footprints leading in or out of the barn.
Investigation: 16
Seeing as how Dracor and Preston have the main buildings covered, Wulcrath decides to start small, he can pester the others about their findings and make his own on the Farmhouse and Barn later if he needs to. He silently breaks off from the group, a hand on the hilt of his blade as his eyes of silver scour the farmland. Although... seeing as the other Dragonborn and Human have the main buildings covered... what shall he busy himself with?
The Red Dragonborn spots the Stone Conspirator as he makes his way onto Farmer Hal's land proper. "Ah... Well, Well, Well." SURELY this Well has something to do with it? Regardless, it'll help to cover all their bases. Wulcrath examines the well, crouching down to study the stonework, the ground surrounding it, and anything else that catches his eyes. Feeling a bit silly while he does so... He sort of looks like he's only pretending to know what he's doing. Although... is that really that far from the truth?
Investigation: 23
High Hopes, Low Rolls. Timezone Is EST.
Surely THIS one will reach an ending...
(That's what I get for reloading the page I guess?)
New roll just in case...
Investigation: 14
High Hopes, Low Rolls. Timezone Is EST.
Surely THIS one will reach an ending...
As Dracor examines the scorch mark on the farmhouse door, he notices that it is not a result of a claw attack but rather some kind of a magical symbol. (You can do an Arcana roll if you'd like to investigate this further).
He finds a lot of different sets of prints in the dirt - some that look like they were made from man’s boots, smaller ones made from women shoes. However, there are some footprints that are very tiny, not larger than the size of human thumb, and look almost human. There is a very faint, eerie glow that has a dark hue. The footprints don’t follow a straight path and appear erratic.
Preston sees that the barn door is partially open. The wooden walls of the building have signs of gnawing, and there are faint, squeaking sounds coming from within. Around the barn, you notice various farming tools scattered about – a pitchfork leaning against the wall, a hoe propped up against a barrel, and a pile of wooden planks and nails, likely intended for repairs.
As he approaches, he also spots a set of footprints in the dirt leading towards the barn, likely left by Farmer Hal and his family. The prints are relatively fresh, suggesting recent activity around the barn.
As Wulcrath explores the area around the well, his sharp eyes catch sight of a crumpled paper ball in the grass around the stones.
Turning his attention to the well itself, Wulcrath observes that its stone surface is cloaked in a thick layer of vibrant green moss, except for one side. On that particular side, the moss has withered away, leaving behind a conspicuous patch of lifeless, greyish stone.
Aeran Dormaris - L2 Paladin on his way to Phandelver
Vesna March - L1 Cleric in Etharis
DM The Missing Farmer
Dracor would shout over his shoulder... "Anyone know what makes small glowing foodprints?" before looking closer at the scorch mark on the door. "this looks like some kind of symbol..."
Arcana 17
As Wulcrath studies his findings, he raises his head as he hears Dracor's voice. Small, Glowing... footprints? That was a new one. Okay, one thing at a time. The Big Dragonborn squats himself down, plucking the crumpled up paper from it's spot in the grass. He unfolds it as he stays crouched, looking closer at the clear stone on the Well's one side as he studies the seeming note. He holds the note in one hand, and idly runs his other, free gloved hand over the conspicuous stone on the Well.
High Hopes, Low Rolls. Timezone Is EST.
Surely THIS one will reach an ending...
Curious about the set of fresh footprints but mostly by the strange squeaking sound coming from within the barn, Preston would try to make his way inside. His hand is gripping the handle of his sword and he tries to move as quietly as possible, despite the weight of his armor. He would attempt to squeeze in gap of the partially opened door.
Stealth: 10
Ella approaches. "How small are we talking?" she asks. "Halfling small or kitten small? Not sure about the glowing part, though."
She'll wrack her brain to see if she does, in fact, know anything about glowing footprints. ((Not sure what check this would be, but I'm gonna go with Nature, feel free to correct me)
Nature: 6
Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this mark isn’t just a scorch but a magical glyph. The symbol is a dark, sinister mark that resembles a distorted bullseye. It consists of several circles, each slightly off-centre, giving it an unsettling appearance. The circles are jagged and irregular, lacking the perfect geometric symmetry usually associated with magical symbols.
The entire symbol is etched in a deep, almost imperceptible purple colour that blends with the darkness of the wood, making it difficult to spot at first glance. The purple colour carries an eerie, unnatural quality. Faint, ethereal lines radiate outward from the centre of the symbol in a sense of movement as if the mark is alive and pulsating.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t touch that,” Constable Alena observes while she sketches the symbol in her journal.
The paper ball that Wulcrath finds appears to be a torn page from a book. Someone had written the following in a hasty, almost illegible handwriting:
“Whispers… always there… hidden… can't see… can’t find”
Whatever was left from the moss's vines on that side of the well crumbles beneath the dragonborn’s touch. As he runs his gloved hand over, a weird sensation washes over him but the feeling doesn’t last for more than a second.
While Preston is making an effort to move quietly, the weight of his armour makes it challenging. As he carefully squeezes through the partially open barn door, the paladin can hear the faint squeaking sounds growing louder and more distinct.
The barn is mostly dark inside but the open barn doors let in enough sunlight for Preston to be able to see some of the interior. The barn is cluttered with various farming tools, crates and sacks of grain. As his eyes adjust to the dim light, he sees a rat scurrying around and nibbling at the sacks. The creature is larger than a typical rat and with mangy fur but it doesn’t seem to have noticed him yet. In the stillness of the barn, he can discern more scurrying around somewhere in the back of the building.
Ella doesn’t recall any useful information about the small, glowing footprints. She remains uncertain about their origin or significance. By inspecting the ground, she does discern that the tracks are relatively recent.
Aeran Dormaris - L2 Paladin on his way to Phandelver
Vesna March - L1 Cleric in Etharis
DM The Missing Farmer
"I wonder what type of glyph that is... I didn't really pay much attention in my magical miracles and maladies class..." Dracor would wonder out loud as he strokes the golden scales under his chin. "I can still picture the look on mothers face when she found out I failed that class.." he would add... speaking much quieter than before as the smile on his face quickly fades away.
Turning away from the glyph he would focus on the small footprints. "So Ellie.. Ally.... Ella! yes, Ella... do you know what kind of creature left these prints behind?" The dragonborn would ask while slowly bending down to look a bit closer. Not sure if know what they are... "
nature 19
"I wonder where they go" he would add as he begins trying to follow the footsteps
Wulcrath shudders a bit as that strange feeling washes over him. His stomach flutters a little, though he quickly regains his composure. The Red Dragonborn pulls his pack over his shoulder a bit, stashing the note for now and further considering the glorified hole in the ground he's found himself investigating. Hmm... what to do? As he considers the barren stone on the well, he feels a little silly at his next thought, but... There was nobody too nearby to embarrass but himself.
The Nosy Red Lizard messes with the clear stone a bit more, trying to see if any of it gives it all, or feels different. he'll unsheathe the dagger at his belt and try to poke at the stone a bit. If nothing seems to give to his prodding though, he'll wander off to go find the Constable, and inform her of his finding the page, and the strange clear stone of the well. Better than nothing... right? Hopefully old Farmer Hal won't mind a few marks.
Strength check just incase?: 23
High Hopes, Low Rolls. Timezone Is EST.
Surely THIS one will reach an ending...
Ella's brain comes up empty on this particular subject. "I have no idea," she admits. "Sorry. Following them may not be the best course of action, though."
Preston looks at the sizeable rat with a faint hint of disgust. It was the biggest rat he had ever seen. But being in rural territory, it might be more common to find the rummaging through barns.
Still hearing the noise coming from deeper inside, he continues advancing further into the back of the barn. Though there is a lack of light, he tries to stay alert in case the thing making the noise tries to escape.
Stealth : 8
Perception: 10
As Dracor joins Ella in examining the tiny tracks, he notices several key details:
After a few moments of pushing and pulling at the stones, Wulcrath discovers that one of them is indeed loose. As he removes it, he sees there is a small hole behind. Inside, there is what appears to be a gold coin.
Preston’s vision gradually gets better and he can see some more details: more crates and sacks, some casks with probably ale and some hay stacks. He also sees a few more rats running around, all of them as huge as the first one. There are several small holes and tunnels burrowed into the barn’s dirt floor. It’s clear these are the entry and exit points the rats use to access the barn.
Aeran Dormaris - L2 Paladin on his way to Phandelver
Vesna March - L1 Cleric in Etharis
DM The Missing Farmer
Dracor would relay that information to Ella and the constable.. "So what kind of creature leaves small glowing footprints like a person and can leave magical glyphs.." he would ask before looking around for Preston and wulcrath... "Hey! Preston and Wulcrath... you guys find anything?!?!?" He would shout as he glanced around looking for other clues.
"Huh... Well alright." Wulcrath reaches in to take the Golden coin, still feeling a bit silly. If he can manage to scoop it up, he'll do so before returning the brick to it's place and heading back to the Farmhouse to show the Constable his strange page find. Maybe being nosy pays off sometimes?
As Wulcrath hears Dracor shout out, he shrugs. "Umm... A Page and a Coin!?"
High Hopes, Low Rolls. Timezone Is EST.
Surely THIS one will reach an ending...
"Footprints that small...all I can think of are pixies, but they're more the flying sort." Ella shakes her head, chewing on her lower lip. "I don't know what it could be. I might be able to sense a bit about the magic if you give me a few minutes, but I'm not sure how much help it would be."
Preston starts to become suspicious of the oversized rats. He thinks they may not be what they appear to be. He closes his eyes and, just like he’s been taught during his training, focuses on his senses. The young squire then opens his eyes to see if he can detect anything abnormal with the rats.
(Using Divine Sense)
The presence of strong evil registers on your senses like a noxious odor, and powerful good rings like heavenly music in your ears. As an action, you can open your awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any celestial, fiend, or undead within 60 feet of you that is not behind total cover. You know the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) of any being whose presence you sense, but not its identity (the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, for instance). Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the hallowspell.