As all this is happening, Lyra twirls a finger through her light brown side braid, thoughtful. Shrine of Savras... Shrine of Savras... she did hear about that before, didn't she?

Suddenly, she exclaims, "Oh!"—and as she does, she pulls her braid slightly. "I think I remembered something! Savras is the god of divination and fate. Back at the temple, I heard that many years ago, the shrine's priest-seers foresaw a barbarian attack on Conyberry. And that was super useful, because—see!—that gave the townsfolk time to escape! Though... not everybody decided to flee. Hm hm hm... what else? Oh, yes. Those who did leave went to the shrine, bringing a bunch of the town's gold with them. Apparently." The halfling pauses, then grimaces. "The bad thing is, the barbarians tracked them there, besieged the place, and... um... slaughtered everyone inside."

She falls silent, then glances around awkwardly. "Uhhh, sorry. I thought it would have a better ending, but as I went on remembering, turns out... it hasn't."

After a beat, she adds brightly, "Anyway! I think this was the place Halia mentioned."

Quote from AbishaiTheHatless >>

"Oh and by the way... I deal in more than gemstones. Information is a valuable commodity in my trade. For example, as the Triboar Trail runs east, it passes through the ruins of Conyberry, a town sacked by barbarians years ago. There’s a ruined temple south of Conyberry where it’s said the locals hid their gold. Might be worth a look see for the adventurous type." 

Zephyros listens to the interaction between the group and this female rat creature. He steps forward so he can intercede any attack made against Meira. He watches the rat people with apprehension and attention to detail to determine if they are telling the truth about the temple and leaving the mine (Insight: 18). The armored warriors grip tightens around his trident as he says, "We should find these miners and make sure no more of them are... killed." Ironheart thinks murdered would be a more appropriate word to use but understands the disadvantage they are at and doesn't want to provoke a reaction.

The female ratfolk responds to the questions regarding the shrine: "Yes, as I said... we will go back to the shrine if the Orcs are removed permanently. The shrine has tall walls surrounding it, but they are crumbling and offer several avenues to enter. A watchtower is still standing in the Northeastern section of the temple that would make for a good guard post."

She then turns to the question of the surviving miners, "They are not trapped that I'm aware of. I care not if they starve or die of thirst. They can leave through a tunnel to the east of the mine whenever they want. They've barricaded themselves, so reaching them from here is quite impossible. Now leave us... You have overstayed your welcome." She turns to the ratfolk who escort you in and says, "Grendor, show our guests the way out."

Unless you resist, Grendor leads you back outside and then stands guard with two other wererats, preventing reentry. 

Zephyros,

Meira will not physically push back against the ratfolk.  But she does speak out. "Wait a moment. We really cannot take your words seriously if you will not at least give us a chance to speak to these miners. Tell us about this tunnel to the east. Could we reach them the same way?"  She tries to get an idea if she might be concealing anything, especially about the miners. (Insight: 24) 

If they do try to push her out without answering, she tries to nimbly avoid their efforts, staying near to the woman while not using any force against them. (Acrobatics: 10, if needed) 

Zephyros refuses to leave without everyone leaving first. He watches Meira as she avoids being hurried back outside and stands firm against all attempts to push him out. He puts a restraining hand on Meira's shoulder and quietly says, "Ms. Meira, we should go. They have made it clear we have overstayed our welcome. Let's talk more outside."

Contested Athletics check if needed: 10

Meira,

The female wererat stares at you with a contempt as she squints her eyes and her lip begins to snarl. "I don't care if you believe me or not. What you should take seriously is your life. I have asked you to leave. If you refuse, you'll leave us no choice."

They make no move to force you out of the mine, but you see more of the ratfolk draw their shortswords. 

 After Zephyros speaks, the female fatfolk adds, "Listen to your elder... Ms. Meira." She hisses your name as if it were a curse word. 

Eldrin focus is still fixed on the pages of his notebook, the ink still drying as his arcane quill hovers, waiting for command.

He listens intently, absorbing every word of the increasingly tense exchange. When Meira suggests a handshake agreement, he almost interjects, but then pauses, recognizing the wisdom in her approach. Flexibility, yes. Though not without structure.

But as the female wererat’s tone sharpens and the threat becomes clear, Eldrin slowly lowers his hands, closing his notebook as the quill fades away. His eyes narrow, now regarding the ratfolk with scrutiny more than a diplomat’s optimism.

“How very… pragmatic of you,” he murmurs, voice cool but controlled, addressing the ratfolk woman directly. “You lay claim to this mine on the grounds of previous loss, demand recognition of sovereignty, and then threaten death when asked for basic assurances about the lives of those still within.”

He exhales softly, then he offers a shallow, almost ironic bow to the ratfolk leader.

“You have made your intentions clear. But so have we. We will seek the miners by other means. And if you are truly as disinterested in their fate as you claim, then it should concern you little if we go knocking through your eastern tunnel.”

He steps toward the exit, brushing past Meira and waits near the cave mouth for the others.

Lyra gasps as the conversation takes a darker turn. From behind, she tugs slightly at Meira, urging her to leave—just as Zephyros suggested, and as Eldrin has begun to do as well.

Meira at last relents and allows herself to be pulled back by Lyra and ushered back outside the mine.  There is a look of disappointment on her face as she goes, but she remains quiet for the moment.  Outside, she retreats with the group from the mine entrance, waiting until the ratfolk are out of sight. "That went poorly."  She sighs, her disappointment showing even more. "As much as I intended to walk in there alone, I do appreciate that you all stuck with me. Even if it might have tactically been better for you to have kept unnoticed outside."  

She keeps her voice low, trying to keep it from carrying to where any ratfolk might hear them.  For a moment she pauses, listening intently and looking around to try to detect any signs of anyone nearby. (Perception: 15) She then turns to Don-Jon. "I presume that whoever your mine owners are will not stand for these ratfolk's presence. Obviously our next step though is to check in on those miners. Shall we try to find the entrance?" 

Zephyros follows the group outside, making sure he's the last to withdraw. The armored warrior walks a good distance from the mines entrance, Listens to Meira, then says, "I don't believe those creatures intend to leave the mine. Even if we make safe their previous home for them. They seem to value this new home enough to murder the miners for it." Ironheart paces a few steps while tapping his trident on the ground like a walking stick, "I have no intention of leaving this mine without first rescuing the miners still inside. I agree with Meira. Let's find this secondary entrance to the east."

The bull of a man doesn't wait for anyone to respond. He simply marches off to find the opposite side of the mine and the additional entrance.

(Perception: 6)

Eldrin,

The ratfolk leader says to you as you're leave, "Yes, encourage the remaining miners to leave our new home. If they stay their only reward will be death."

Meira,

After going back outside, Don-Jon says to you, "No they will not ma'am. My employer will hire an army if necessary to reclaim what's theirs. I agree we should try and find the survivors." Don-Jon begins walking to join Zephyros.

Zephyros,

After walking about 300 feet you reach the opposite side of the mine. You immediately spot a ring of earthen graves with pickaxes where gravestones ought to be. Don-Jon walks up behind you and crosses his arms before saying, "It's a darn shame... What those things did to these innocent miners. I doubt those creatures would have buried the dead so respectfully."

You spot some heavy boot prints leading further south along the side of the mountain.

After speaking with Don-Jon, Meira follows after Zephyros.  Seeing the graves, she hopes they must be getting closer to the other entrance.  "Alright, I'd like to see how these miners are doing and see where that puts us in the mine."  She then shifts her gaze to Don-Jon. "Or do you know? Compared to where we were in there?"  Resuming her discussions she adds, "We may as well take care of this issue rather than waiting for some hired army.  We do get paid after all. I think I counted somewhere around 8-10 ratfolk. Though I expect there must be more.  Do you guys think we could handle that? We'll need a solid plan." 

(ooc: I'm going to assume we've all followed Zehpyros and are seeing the graves, if that is all right?)

Lyra lets out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding the moment they all finally step outside the mine. She had been so lost in her own thoughts about the shrine of Savras that she only noticed the shift in the room's mood when it had already become awfully tense. She gently brushes Meira's forearm at her disappointed look and words. A gesture that means to say "you did so well there" and "I'm here" at the same time. 

Seeing the graves, the cleric sighs sadly, and then glances at Don Jon for a moment. She'd mocked him and—while he kind of deserved it for all his bravado and made-up stories—Lyra now felt a little bad about it. Turning to the others, she says, "We definitely need to help. I mean, we can do it. And that makes us the best ones to solve this, right?" She looks up at Meira and adds, "I agree—let's not wait for an army. Besides, an army would just cause more bloodshed, and I think we could do this more... well, efficiently? With less fighting, I mean. And, if we're a bit lucky, maybe even without any deaths?" She smiles nervously. She knows it might be a long shot, but they have to try, haven't they?

Lyra then coughs lightly. "The ratfolk leader said we'd overstayed our welcome, so I guess that means we shouldn't get caught sneaking back into the mine. I miiiight be able to help with that. Lady Luck taught me a new spell last night, and I think it could help us." She proceeds to explain how the spell works. "You'd all need to stay close to me so the spell covers you, and I'd need to keep my focus on it. What do you think?"

DM:

Lyra,

"There's... also the possibility that I could bless one of you to be even more silent, while I continue covering the group as a whole," she finishes, eyes lowered to the ground. Her voice carries a noticeable note of doubt and concern as she adds this last bit.

Meira had given Lyra the briefest of glances and a tiny smile after the halfling had tried to reassure her.  Her attention though had quickly returned to the work at hand. When she suggests a spell for them to move silently, she considers the offer a moment. "Perhaps wait to see what we find. My interpretation was that the ratfolk were letting the miners go. Probably because they couldn't get past whatever barrier there was between them.  You're right though, who knows how long that will last.  But we may very well need that assistance later." 

Zephyros looks from the fresh graves to Don-Jon, "Indeed. They deserved better than this. I vow to bring those monsters to justice for their crimes. The survivors must have buried their dead. I see tracks leading further south along the mountainside." As Ironheart points out the tracks, he begins to follow them. 

As Lyra describes her magical abilities, the armored warrior continues to follow the tracks but nods his head in thought, 'that is a fine skill to have. One that may be useful if we are to gain a tactical advantage against this foe.'

"Aye, Ms. Lyra. Perhaps I was too harsh earlier, please forgive me. Your talents may be just what we need." The armored warrior continues to look for the cave, but is lost in thought as tactics and battlefield strategy begin to flood into his mind.

Survival: 7

Perception: 5

As the ratfolk leader’s threat lingers in the air, Eldrin does not respond with words. He gives the creature a glance, and turns without a sound, cloak bellowing behind him as he exits the mine with the others.

Outside, the cold mountain wind brushes against his face as his eyes drift skyward. He listens as Meira voices her disappointment and Lyra offers reassurance, but his attention drifts back to the mine entrance, his expression thoughtful and grim.

He follows the others toward the eastern ridge in silence until they reach the the graves. At the sight of the makeshift memorials, he stops short. “Grief guided these hands. Zephyros may be right, this was likely the work of the survivors, not the ratfolk.”

He turns to Meira, his voice softening.

“You did what you could. If they'd wanted blood from the start, we may have not have walked out.” A glance toward the slope. “But we can’t rely on their restraint lasting.”

As Lyra describes her new spell, Eldrin steps closer, nodding thoughtfully as she explains.

“A useful weave of the divine,” he says, more softly than usual. “I suspect they believe we’ll return with soldiers, not sooner. Surprise may be our best asset.”

His gaze turns toward the path Zephyros has started down. The warrior’s resolve clearly moves him, it is his action of purpose that needs to be admired.

Adventurers,

As you follow Zephyros further south, it becomes clear there is a cave entrance back into the mine. It would have been hard to see behind some shrubs if it wasn't for the thick smoke fumes billowing out of the entrance. A smell of burnt wood, and metal assault the senses as you get closer. Inside you can hear a clanking sound over and over. What do you do?

"I don't suppose any of you can help clear the smoke?" Meira asks as she rushes for the cave entrance. "We've got to get in there and see what's happening. I assume the ratfolk are making a move."  She does hesitate to make sure others are coming. But if it looks like they are, she will dart inside.