Old Poe is enraptured by Karst's song, and for once, remains silent for a moment. At its finish, he claps his hands wildly, saying, "Oh Diana, that was excellent, that's almost as good as your performance at the feast!" Suddenly, a wild, worried look crosses his face and he shouts, "Don't go in the smokehouse, by the gods!" His face returns to normal and he continues, "They call me Old Poe. Been searching for an orc named Scar. He's a Longhunt chieftain, took Arugg's girls captive - no wait, just one girl. Thane wrote it down for me here, as if I could forget such a thing. Do you all know anything?"

Bartram Shadecrest
Lvl 1 | Human | Rogue

"Old Poe, would you mind letting me see this note they wrote for you? My memory isn't what it's used to be and it might help me to remember if I saw the note" Bartram begins to wonder if this old man knows more than he can remember and if this note does exists it may shed more light on everything.

Bartram Investigation: 20

Old Poe digs through a pack for a few seconds, eventually pulling out a crumple piece of parchment that he hands to Bartram. "I met me that Drizz-zzet dark elf fellow on the road. They's all murdering curs but he's good folk, he is. Did you know I've been saying drow wrong all these years? Wait, did he tell me it was drow or drow? Well I've been sayin' it wrong, whatever it is."

The note contains everything Old Poe said, along with mention of an abundance of orc raids in the east, which are being combated by "Roccar's Reavers". At the bottom of the note is some hastily scribbled text, barely legible, that Bartram makes out to say "Remember the map".

Doing a history check to see if I recall any detail about Drizzt from the military.

10

Bartram Shadecrest

Bartram shows the note to everyone and points out the parts about the orc raids, Roccar's Reavers, and the part about remembering about a map.

"Does any of this mean aniti anyone? The part about the orc raids may be contacted to are investigation and it maybe a good idea to look into these Roccar's Reavers if they are indeed combating them in the east. This note also mentions something about a map. Thoughts anyone?"

"A map? Perhaps Old Poe here has a map in his packaging somewhere." Travus inquires Poe about any maps he may have on him.

Replying to Bartram, Karst says "We would be foolish not to find out more about these Reavers if they are fighting the same foes as us.  They must have some knowledge, if it doesn't take us too far out of our way it seems worth investigating. But what catches my eye most is this missing girl, the daughter of Arugg.  If this is true there is a young woman in peril at the hands of orcs, possibly the same ones we are investigating, we cannot stand by and leave her in peril if we have the power to help her, but then maybe the Reavers know more of this Scar fellow too.."

Meepo looks at Karst with a worried expression on his scaly face.

"I'm not thrilled in going to an orc camp with just the five of us. Maybe we could find these 'Roccar's Reavers' and help us out. They could also know who are the orc's supplier of weapons if we ask them nicely."

Aradurk can recall that there is a renowned adventurer named Drizzt, a drow that spurned the evil nature of his heritage. He is held in high regard by most, but the nature of the drow elves still makes some wary of his intentions.

As soon as Bartram and Travus mention the map, it seems to spark something within Old Poe as he exclaims, "Ah! That's right, Dreezert drew me a map! Said he knew where Longhunt orcs had holed up, but I'm having trouble deciphering it. Maybe you could learn something from it." He again reaches into his bag, pulling out a large piece of parchment with hastily drawn sketches of the area, and hands it to Travus.

Travus grabs the map and begins inspecting it, showing it to the others as well. Travus attempts to decipher any meaning from the hastily drawn sketches.

Travus Nature: 7

The names written on the map are either fictional or not commonly used, and Travus is unable to pinpoint any locations or landmarks.

Are there any names on the map that might be in Orcish in nature?

With the limitations of his height impending his desire to see the map, the kobold speaks a few words.

"Sorry about this Travus."

Meepo climbs at Travus' shoulder to take a better look at it for any hidden messages or clues.

"I am not aware of much of the geography in this part of the world but maybe one of the others might recognise something?" 

Karst turns back to Old Poe

"How long have you been searching for the girl, my friend?"

Travus freaks out when the kobold starts climbing on him, pushing him off. "Hey, hey. No climbing on me, alright? Here, you can take a look at the map yourself, I can't make heads or tails of it." Travus hands the map to Meepo.

There is one name on the map with an orcish origin, labeled as "Ugreth's Folly". It doesn't seem to Meepo like there is anything hidden on the map, but it has the quality of something a kobold child could draw.

"The girl? Oh, right, the girl!" Old Poe responds to Karst, but doesn't answer the question, saying, "Don't go in the smokehouse, by the gods! It was horrible, a horrible sight it was."

I think long and hard about Ugreth’s Folly based on my Orcish history 16

Aradurk recognizes the name as a pseudonym for the Deadsnows, an area surrounding a small mining settlement named for a notable battle against an orc attack. The best path there would be to continue through the Moon Pass toward Rauvincross as originally planned.

It is highly doubtful to everyone looking at the map that it was drawn by Drizzt, a ranger, or any educated person. An obvious reference to Silverymoon is written "Snobbery-moon", and a childlike depiction of a cave is referred to only as "Dwarf Hole".

Bartram Shadecrest
Lvl 1 | Human | Rogue

After hearing about this smokehouse for awhile Bartram beings to wonder about it. What could possibly have happened to upset this old man so much like this. "Old Poe, if you don't mind could you tell me where this smokehouse you keep referring to is so I can avoid it. Anything you can tell me about it would be much appreciated so I can better understand why to avoid it."

Karst slowly moves towards Old Poe, reaching out and putting his arm on his shoulder kindly, looking him in the eyes he says "It seems you have been through something trying recently, we would help you if we can, we have another task we must carry out but the two things may be linked.  We need answers now from you, please try and focus on what I am asking.  Where can we find Roccar and his Reavers, how far away are they and where exactly?  We are travelling to Rauvincross with all haste and from there to another location where we believe orcs have a camp to try and thwart their schemes if they endanger the lives of the local people. If Roccar is in our path we would like to talk to him, otherwise we might need to speak to him later.  This is why I ask." He continues to hold Old Poe's gaze if the old man will look at him and try and look reassuring."