For around an hour, Norrell sits there, snoring quietly, while the rain slows down outside from a downpour to a drizzle. Suddenly, his eyes fly open and he stands up, then immediately grabs his arm and sits back down. He looks around at you. "I must thank you. You have helped me greatly, and this is a debt I cannot repay. Now, I assume you are looking for answers?" he asks. "Fire away."  

this dagger, besides the handle is there anything special or magical about it?

He takes it from you and inspects it. "I do not see anything." He holds it up to the sunlight faintly streaming in from outside and points at a spot on the blade. "Wait. Do any of you understand these?" He holds it up to you, and you see faint markings on it- a few random slashes here and there near the tip of the blade. On first impression, it appears to be only a crafter's mark. 

(OOC: Checks are welcome)

Quote from Weslockes >>

He takes it from you and inspects it. "I do not see anything." He holds it up to the sunlight faintly streaming in from outside and points at a spot on the blade. "Wait. Do any of you understand these?" He holds it up to you, and you see faint markings on it- a few random slashes here and there near the tip of the blade. On first impression, it appears to be only a crafter's mark. 

(OOC: Checks are welcome)

 Not sure which checks apply here rolled Arcana (10) and History (18) and Religion (4)

Tristan begins to look at the symbols trying to see if he may have any knowledge.

OOC:
Religion: 19
History: 7

Ozymandias also peers in, trying to recall information from the recesses of his mind.

OOC:

History: 8

Arcana: 22

Religion: 20

Quote from srgharrison >>

Quote from Weslockes >>

He takes it from you and inspects it. "I do not see anything." He holds it up to the sunlight faintly streaming in from outside and points at a spot on the blade. "Wait. Do any of you understand these?" He holds it up to you, and you see faint markings on it- a few random slashes here and there near the tip of the blade. On first impression, it appears to be only a crafter's mark. 

(OOC: Checks are welcome)

 Not sure which checks apply here rolled Arcana (10) and History (18) and Religion (4)

Quote from Hambergler >>

Tristan begins to look at the symbols trying to see if he may have any knowledge.

OOC:
Religion: 19
History: 7

Quote from LeoIsBad >>

Ozymandias also peers in, trying to recall information from the recesses of his mind.

OOC:

History: 8

Arcana: 22

Religion: 20

(OOC: Sorry, should have specified. Taking History for this one)

Ozymandias and Tristan both struggle to see these faint slashes as anything other than a crafter's mark- that of a village blacksmith proud of their work, perhaps. However, Thorne, looking at the blade, recognizes the slashes as a crafter's mark - the mark of a blacksmith of the city of Port Ilsyn. 

(Background knowledge: Port Ilsyn is a large city built partly on the side of a mountaintop and partly floating on the waters of the Bay of Trissimen. From Dracor, it is a three-day journey over the Spine, a mountain range known for its cold, harsh forests, and a week's journey by the Sea Road, which peacefully winds along the coast.)

Norrell looks at the blade and then back at you. "Do any of you recognize these marks?" 

Yes! I’ve seen this same marking in a weapon made by a blacksmith in Port Ilsyn. We should go talk with this man about who commissioned it.

Tristan just stays silent a clear sign of not recognizing anything and wanting to hear his companion. As the suggestion comes he just nods "Yes agreed."

I’ve been a guide to many that journeyed from here to Ilsyn, although I have not spent much time in the city itself other than to rest before my return trip. I know of 2 such paths, a shorter but more dangerous road through the mountains, or a longer but safer one along the shore.

I personally think time is of the essence and we should brave the Spine.

Thorne also asks Norrell if the dagger has any additional martial properties outside of the normal dagger stats. (Intention is to see if the dagger would be more useful to wield than his current shortsword) 

"No, I think that it does not." He rummages through the papers at his desk, eventually grabbing a crumpled map and handing it to you. "Please be careful venturing into the Spine. Recently, there have been attacks and kidnappings against parties venturing through those wilds. Please take this - a map of the Spine, with several safe places." All of you have seen maps of this region before, but this one has several areas circled along the winding mountain road. "In these troubled times, you may want to rest at these locations." 

(OOC: Got another player joining (sorry to all about this) and I was wondering if you all had an idea about how you want me to add him in to the story.)

OOC - Norrell has a special delivery and has given the item to the new person (someone he trusts more than us strangers to deliver it). And requests we accompany them since we are traveling in the same direction.

edit - hopefully the delivery is not the special rocks I stole  😂

OOC: We find out that he is actually stalking us through the Spine, and joins us by helping to fight against the raiding party. Alternatively, he is part of the raiding party and turns against them to help us. 

Tristan looks at the suggestion and then the map "I think with this it will be safe to brave the Spine."

OOC:
Maybe a guide, or we find them being attack on the Spine? Maybe he saw the bar brawl and followed us after hearing something of interest?

Any update on this campaign?

(OOC: I'm so sorry. Should have told all of you.)

Norrell ushers you downstairs. "As you are taking the Spine, will you need any supplies? I can help you obtain them."

Yes supplies would be greatly appreciated. We will require winter gear and supplies to make it through the mountains.

OOC: Sorry, I was also off for a while. Agree with Hambergler's Idea seems fitting.

Looking at Norrell sympathetically he asks, "Is there anything we can do for you to repay your kindness"  

"No. You have saved my life- you do not owe me anything. Now- you need winter gear? I know a small shop not far from here." He scribbles down an address on a piece of paper, giving it to you. It reads "32 Lord's Plaza- East District." Not very far from Norrell's shop. "Tell the shopkeeper that I sent you. I wish you well on your journey."