The Cottage on the Long Road - Game Finished

The room is quiet now, except for Jorin catching his breath. It is a square chamber with nothing much to show for it but a large pile of debris in the center, clearly collected into place by someone, or something.

Drusk will search the room for loot, concentrating on where it popped up. (Assuming someone else will check the central pile. If not, he will do that next round.) And check the Spectator debris, in case it swallowed anything. Investigation: 11

"Well done, everyone. I was worried when you charged in, Jorin, but those were mighty blows!" (Cast Guidance if Jorin is looking around.)

Jorin takes several deep breaths while looking at the ruined corpse of the Spectator, hands white-knuckled on the hafts of his axes.  The wild look in his eyes seems to fade with every sawing breath.   After a moment he says, "Thank you Drusk, I do not like things intruding into my mind."   

He uses the cloth of his pants to wipe the green blood off his weapons' blade edge, but he leaves the hafts, and his hands, gore stained.

Afterwards, Jorin takes a look through central pile with Guidance from Drusk.  Investigation: 6

OoC Edit: That investigation roll tho lol!

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Afterwards, Jorin takes a look through central pile with Guidance from Drusk.  Investigation: 6

 (Guidance is not advantage. You add d4 to your result of 6, so in this case 6 + 2 = 8 )

OoC - I get that wrong everytime!  lol

Pascal doesn’t start looking around the room for treasure, instead, he makes his way over to the eye monster and will start carving it up. First, he’ll try to get those eyes, as fresh eyes are a juicy and rare treat. Then he’ll maybe go for the flank of the creature, get some steaks. Lastly, he’ll lop off the tentacles and maybe some bones as well, maybe make some calamari and a stew. I... don’t know what to roll for this. Survival? I’ll just roll, add a mod as you see fit: 7

Oh dear.

OOC > Don't worry, JcAndD, that roll's not low enough for Pascal to think some poisonous part is instead a delicate morsel. :) Going forward I am happy for you to use Survival as your skill for butchering things, so this is... +2, so a total of 9.

FYI, I'm giving DDP time to check in (they usually check in late in the day) since Hildigrim has the best Investigation rolling of all of you (and that gives NeoMagus a chance to weigh in, too).

Hildigrim draws back his next arrow, but watches as Jorin dispatches the creature soundly. The halfling releases the tension on his bowstring and quickly moves forward. His weapons disappear as he nears, his eyes scrutinizing the creature. What was it? What did it mean? Could it be responsible for the half-elf and its arm?

Investigation: 7 (-2 for arcana, -4 for nature)

As Pascal steps up and begins carving the creature into various-sized pieces, the halfling doesn't complain; he simply redirects his curiosity from the creature to Pascal's activity.

OOC: I guess there's a limit to even Hildi's knowledge.

(OOC: Hildigrim is Lucky, and just rolled a 1 on an ability check.)

(Gotta love halflings)

OOC: Ha ha! You're right! Reroll!

Investigation: 17 (-2 for arcana, -4 for nature)

The group begins to examine the creature and the room. And by examine, I apparently mean dismember the creature. While Jorin and Drusk (there was nothing in the corner where it was hiding) poke and prod at the pile of debris ("Is this a sink?") Hildigrim crouches next to the body of the monster, looking it over carefully. For a moment his mind is completely blank, then Pascal kneels next to him and rolls out a canvas bag, revealing a dozen or so knives of various lengths. Picking a pair of long knives, he begins carving the creature up. Hildi smiles and leans in to the carnage, oblivious to the gore.

Meanwhile, Vanja keeps a lookout back down the hallway (Perception: 13).

As they begin their search, Jorin finds a gold bracelet (20 gp) fashioned to look like intertwined leafy branches. There is more to look through.

"Fascinating," Hildigrim comments, engrossed by what Pascal is uncovering. At one point, he reaches in and removes a gooey organ, holding it up to the light and examining its structure. Toward the end, he finally focuses on Pascal. "What do you plan to do with the meat?" he asks the crimson lizardfolk.

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

"Fascinating," Hildigrim comments, engrossed by what Pascal is uncovering. At one point, he reaches in and removes a gooey organ, holding it up to the light and examining its structure. Toward the end, he finally focuses on Pascal. "What do you plan to do with the meat?" he asks the crimson lizardfolk.

 “Oh, little bit o’ this, little bit o’ that. Thinking maybe a gumbo. Got a lot to work with here. Y’all got any preferences on supper?” Pascal takes a quick taste of the creature, should help him figure out the best meal.

Jorin holds the bracelet up to the glow of his axe, "Pretty, Hildi, does this design mean anything to you?  Maybe related to the people that used this place before?"

He tosses the item over to the hafling and goes back to looking through the pile of stuff with Drusk. Investigation: 16

"Design on the bracelet?" (Drusk has proficiency with History and Religion, same modifier.) Roll with self-Guidance: 7

(Edit: Wow, really? Well, better now than during a crisis.)

OOC > That’s not such a bad roll... with the bonuses. :)

Drusk sees it as Jorin picks it up and is pretty sure it is elven made. He would know, right? But that’s all he can add. 

Vanja pointedly does NOT watch as Pascal butchers the fallen creature.

In fact, when the lizard-man mentions COOKING parts of the creature, Vanja's face goes a bit green and she forcibly swallows to keep from retching, after which she hands the torch back over to Hildi.

"I don't care what you do to it..." she says adamantly in Pascal's direction even as she turns to walk away, "...but I am NOT eating that thing!"

She then moves to help Jorin and Drusk search through the pile, using her Produce Flame as a personal light source.

Investigation: 11

Drusk avoided the central pile last turn. Hopes for better results this time. Investigation (w/Guidance): 20

Vanja returns from the hallway, hands the torch to Hildigrim, and joins the group taking the pile apart. It takes a little while, maybe ten or fifteen minutes, during which you have to shift some larger pieces (that iron stove) and sift through some smaller bits, but you do end up finding a few more interesting and valuable things.

Drusk finds a small statue of an imp in flight, carved out of bone, and a few minutes later, Vanja finds its matched pair (25 gp for the pair).

In a broken false bottom of a drawer, Jorin finds a golden locket with a painting inside of a beautiful Tiefling woman (25 gp), and a silk scarf wrapped around the chain (25 gp).

At this point, you're done with the creature's remains, and with the pile of debris.

You've almost gotten used to the dank atmosphere and the constant drip drip of water.