Devin begins to explore the village moving around d the buildings and seeing what there is to see. 

Over the next five minutes or so Devin identifies four buildings in this section of the village. The first building he saw is 80 feet x 40 feet and maybe a barn of some sort, the next two are circular with a diameter 0f 80 feet and the last is a large circular structure with a diameter of 120 feet. It is also connected to a water wheel in the middle of a stream which is the source of the waterfall the party had noticed previously. 

Quote from GrantFromCanberra >>

The airship continues on its journey for the next two days. On the third morning as it moves over the eastern edge of the Cold wood the party can see the mountain range known as the Ice Spires, part of the Spine of the World directly ahead. At the front of the range is the mountain known to the dwarves of the Silver Marches as Mount Hamarhaast, in which they believe lies the dungeon-forge of Ironslag.

Climbing 500 feet from the base of the mountain to a small plateau on which a village has been established is a staircase.

 

So I'm exploring the right side of this then.

Devin moves the eye towards the mill.  It looks like it would have some sort of access to the mountain.  Perhaps there is an entry point to climb down and enter Ironslag.

He'll use the eye to look for a way into the mountain from there.

Devin continues to narrate what he sees to the others.

(Victor - thanks for posting the picture I should have thought of that rather than trying to describe everything in words)

As Devin directs the eye over to the stream he can see that river is extremely swiftly flowing and easily turning an enormous wooden water wheel which is attached to an iron axle that disappears into both the large building on the right hand side of the stream as well as passing through two twenty-foot-tall iron doors set into the mountainside on the left hand side of the stream.

Devin then sends the eye into what he thinks is the mill. Once inside the building it is obvious that it is a mill. Inside the mill he can see two Yakfolk oversighting the work of two dwarves shoveling flour into sacks. To Devin's surprise one of the dwarves is his former team mate Toruun.

(@Grant: They may say a picture may be worth a thousand words, but it is always nice to have a written description as well!)

As soon as Devin mentions Torrun during the play-by-play, the color of D.O.R.K eyes flicker between several others as a few sparks began emitting from her neck. But whether it was due to words of concern from others or her own will re-asserting itself, she eventually clasped the side of her head, shut down ocular sensors, and spent a few moments just standing in place, softly uttering dwarvish words to herself until called upon again.

"Is your dwarven friend enslaved? They could make a willing ally if a fight is imminent..."

Ebonitus also momentarily looks up, startled by the mention of Toruun. Aware that they are a little precariously positioned, in terms of being discovered, he says nothing.

Devin paused for a moment, taking the sight of his friend in. "Slavers." he says with disgust after telling the others what he had seen. Thoughts of Ironslag, the mission, left him.  His friend needed help, the rest could wait. Focusing again he moved the eye around to continue to explore the inside of the mill and who else may be within.  From there he sends it across to the other side of the village to explore it and its buildings.

D.O.R.K immediately freezes up again, before looking over to Devin with eyes gradually turning red as Devin further into details. "Slavers... And... and they have my-... They have Toruun." She stated more than asked in terse whispers. After a look to the ground in further thought, she asks, "What of Vark and Beedo? Any signs of them?" She further asks in a somewhat forced but calm voice, burying the more traitorous and grim thoughts that first came to mind.

Mullo scowls as she silently observes the others. She's not sure what's going on, but she can tell her new comrades are upset about what Devin has found inside the village. She strokes Haetone's neck and continues to periodically scan the top of the wall and the sky for danger.

Over the next hour Devin thoroughly scans the buildings.

In the Eastern section of the village in addition to the mill he quickly examines the other three buildings:

• in the barn he spots a Yakfolk overseeing two human slaves who are gathering eggs, feeding the animals, and clean up the stalls, etc.
• in the closest of the huts he spots a Yakfolk overseeing a goblin slave (Vark) cleaning the hut; a Yakfolk child is taking great delight in spilling drink of some sort as well as food on the floor as soon as Vark cleans it
• the furthest of the huts closest to the Mill is empty

After this he moves onto the larger (western section) of the village which contains nine buildings. Moving clockwise from the cleft:

• in the closest of the huts he spots two Yakfolk overseeing an elvish slave cleaning the hut
• in the next hut he spots two Yakfolk overseeing an elvish slave cleaning the hut
• in the next hut he spots a Yakfolk overseeing two gnome slaves cleaning the hut
• in the barn he spots a Yakfolk  overseeing a human slave and a goblin slave (Beedo) gathering eggs, feeding the animals, and clean up the stalls, etc.
• in the next building, which appears to be a dairy, he sees a Yakfolk overseeing a human slave caring and milking the twelve goats and a half-orc slave doing something with the milk in open vats
• the furthest of the huts is empty
• in the next building, which also appears to be a barn, he spots a Yakfolk overseeing two human slaves who are gathering eggs, feeding the animals, and clean up the stalls, etc.
• finally in the large hut in the centre of the building he can see three Yakfolk being attended by three elvish slaves - all of whom are naked.

"Well," says Ebonitus quietly, "At least Vark and Beedo are also still alive." He then continues "Are there any other exits to the village? Have you spotted any Guards?"

Mullo finally asks about the three names that have been mentioned and gets a quick recap of their relationship to the group. She doesn't hide her surprise at finding out that two goblins were once part of the party. At least they aren't orcs, she thinks. "Perhaps there are more of those enslaved who have battle experience than the three you recognize," the shaman suggests. "If everyone in the village has been identified, there are more slaves than slavers. And with our addition, it is favorable that we should be able to defeat them. I would suggest we do it quietly to avoid sounding an alarm. That could result in slaves being used as shields."

"If we can get close enough - witihin 30 feet - I can communicate with them, and prepare them for the action about to commence." he says. "D.o.R.K, can you do something similar, but from longer range?"

"If we can get close enough - witihin 30 feet - I can communicate with them, and prepare them for the action about to commence." he says. "D.o.R.K, can you do something similar, but from longer range?"

To give you an idea of scale from where you are sitting in an alcove just off the apex of the hairpin bend it is about 300 feet to the bridge!

"You and me both, Mullo, you and me both. And I lived it" Devin remarks with a grin at seeing Mullo's surprise that the goblins were once companions in their party.  "But the past is the past.  No matter how little Beedo and I got along I will not see him spend his days as a slave." 

"Fifteen enemies, at least, live in the village.  But if we can infiltrate the village and free the slaves they will surely fight on our side.  While they are free working may be an idea, but I fear the yak folk will try to kill them.  Perhaps if we enter the village after dark we can free the slaves.  But then we fight in the dark.  Both are fraught with danger and risk.  Perhaps we free them and get them out of the village after dark and then deal with the Yak folk."

Devin tries to remember if he saw any place that they might keep with slaves when he was doing recon of the village.

D.O.R.K nodded to Ebonitus, and yet made no move to act upon the suggestion, preferring instead to hear everyone out first. At the very mention of attacking in the night D.O.R.K head spasmed and neck sparked a bit in response to the notion. "... Fraught with risk is an understatement. And without Ebonitus blessing, which is bound not to last the entire wait for sundown, we would not get far without raising some alarm... at least, most of us." She admits.

"There would also possibly be the issue of finding some place discrete to wait without bumping into Yakfolk taking the path, or the Chimera taking note of our presence from any sky patrol." She adds. "But if all yet insistent upon a dusk or night raid attempt....Hmm... Beedo is clever in his own way. I... could reach out to him, and have him discretely find a moment to warn the other slaves. Warn...Torunn. And perhaps even cause a distraction to increase odds of safely infiltrating the village, if not prepare to abscond with what weapons they can in preparations. But, if you... feel Torunn would be better suited, I can spare the strength to channel the miracle. I can also do it for both, but... would not be able to do so again for the rest of the day." She said, and would look to the others for guidance before committing to the spell.

Ilezenya adds his abilities to the considerations. "I can grant four of you the ability to see in the night as I do for an hour if we wait until darkness. Whether we attack now or later, I can also cause some of the yakfolk to fall into a slumber or give them a bane to reduce their combat effectiveness. While I always prefer the night, we are also racing against the giant below. Finally, I can also grant one of us a greater invisibility that will allow you to remain unseen even engaged in combat. That will give us an initial edge if we go in the light." The Dusk Warden stands ready to aid in this fight however he can. The Moon Mistress does not condone slavery...

Confirmation of slave numbers, races and cages

In the Eastern section of the village there are four buildings:

• in the mill there are two dwarvish slaves (Toruun is one)
• in the barn there are two human slaves - an iron cage is outside against the south wall
• in the closest hut there is a goblin slave (Vark) - an iron cage is outside against the south sector
• the furthest hut - closest to the Mill - an iron cage is outside against the north sector

In the Western (larger) section) of the village there are nine buildings. Moving clockwise from the cleft:

• in the closest of the huts there is an elvish slave - an iron cage is outside against the north sector
• in the next hut there is an elvish slave - an iron cage is outside against the west sector
• in the next hut there are two gnome slaves - an iron cage is outside against the west sector
• in the barn he spots a Yakfolk  overseeing a human slave and a goblin slave (Beedo) gathering eggs, feeding the animals, and clean up the stalls, etc.
• in the next building, which appears to be a dairy, there is a human and a half-orc slave - an iron cage is in the yard at the back
• the furthest of the huts is empty - an iron cage is outside against the east sector
• in the next building, which also appears to be a barn there are two human slaves - an iron cage is outside against the east wall
• finally in the large hut in the centre of the village there are three elvish slaves - - an iron cage is outside against the west sector

Does Mullo know if a chimera has darkvision?