The Blackmire Company: Campaign

Yaalin glowers at the obvious rudeness of Orta,  she approaches Diadochi and whispers in his ear

"We may need to try a different tactic, one to maybe scare her into allowing us in?" 

She then makes a large show (in case Orta is watching from within) of getting ready to leave then say loudly,

"The witch won't see us I guess we need to go beat it from her cat...What was his name? Alul?  right! he's injured and we know where he is he should squeal in no time"

Performance or Intimidation 7 ((bonus is the same either way))

There’s some shuffling of sounds. But you are again met with silence. 

Sim pounds on the door “Orta open up you owe us some answers. I know you are working with someone we met up on the mountain and I know Alul is in the countryside nearby.  He bit a little girl. You know, the guy you either abandoned or betrayed in favor of not getting killed yourself. If you don’t talk to us we will just let the mayor know you are trying to slip your bonds to the village and go back to the old ways and I don’t care if it’s true or not. I’m giving you the chance to talk to us. Instead of being forced to by the mayor.”

Again you are met with silence. Just the sounds of you all pounding on her door. 

Lafetha gives up on trying to get anything out of Lady Orta. She suggests to the group that they go find Shepherd May. He may have more insight anyway since he hangs out in the mountains. She starts on her way to him.

Abigail, looks around... The tree growing out of her house has branches that reach down to the grown, she is going to investigate to see if any of them are sturdy enough to climb. Investigation 13 

Quote from Emzad >>

Abigail, looks around... The tree growing out of her house has branches that reach down to the grown, she is going to investigate to see if any of them are sturdy enough to climb. Investigation 8 

 If there are any methods for climbing up the tree and on to the roof, Abigail is going to attempt it ((figuring that the roof or its flashing against the tree cannot be that great, so maybe she can peek in to see what is going on)); however, she does not want to necessarily anger Orta, so she is going to try to be as quiet and discreet about it as possible... Iron Queen knows the rest of the group has already been antagonistic enough to put her on edge. Stealth 26 

If she manages to get this far, Perception 20 to see if she can figure out what is going on inside the hut. 

((My natural climb speed should allow me to Climb, but I am going to throw an Acrobatics check of 6, in case you see fit that I might need some additional balancing or other maneuvering measures.))

 

         
       

 

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Orta's stone hut is build around the tree, with it's large trunk extending up through the house, and then into the air.  Some of the limbs are surely sturdy enough to climb.  The window over to the side of the house catches your eye first.  Sneaking over, Abigail peers in.  Going a bit on her tip toes as the window is at a odd height of nearly eight feet.  A small circular opening.  Inside is a bit difficult to see too much.  By the oven / fireplace you see the large mountain lion, Alul, is sleeping soundly on a stone slab.  Tail swishing and knocking into some pots that line the area.  Giving that rustling sound.  Orta herself is nowhere to be seen.  Glancing to and from, you don't think she's even by the door.

From the interior, you can see the runes carved into the trunk.  Deciding to take a bit of a climb to get closer to the tree itself, Abigail heads up.  But as her clawed hands dig into the stone, a spurt of acid coats her palm; causing her to fall back down with a splat on the mushy ground. (9 Acid Damage).

It's as Lafetha says something about heading to see Shepherd (about a hour and a half walk from where you are), the group hears the splat sound of Abigail hitting the ground.

Abigail gets up, cursing, before heading back to the front of the hut. When she sees the rest of the group, she will say, "Alul is already inside, sleeping. Probably why Lady Orta does not want to open the door for us."

Turning to the door, Abigail attempts to negotiate, "Lady Orta, we know Alul is in there. If you do not want us to come in to talk, would you ask Alul if he would be willing to come out to talk with us? We have a more questions having come down the mountain than we did going up -we no longer possess any of the rune stones, so we need to know if there is a way to breakdown the barrier. It might also be nice to know what exactly is behind that barrier, and if you know how the goblins fit into all of this." ((Saying anything else that might make it more likely to get someone to talk with us: Persuasion 9))

Again there’s silence. Some shuffling. Some muffled sounds. But the door doesn’t open.

Lafetha and Abigail head off to camp do they can find the Shepherd. 

Where do the rest of you go?

(For those going over to the Shepherd)

It takes a bit of time to get from Orta's hut back to the main area of the village, heading back up and over to the camp.  Taking a slight detour as the sun begins to set, another small fire emerges.  The flock of sheep hanging around lazily.  Shepherd sits up against a rock that seems to be molded into a more comfortable resting spot.  A small kettle hangs over the fire, suspended across a cheaply made cooking setup.  

His horse-sized goat stamps it's foot a few times as you draw closer, seeming to signal your arrival.  Shepherd looks up, squinting to see you as shadows before making a presence known.  "Ah, you all," he states while moving to stand.  Grabbing his walking stick and using it to help him get up.  "Can I offer you a evening drink?" his hand gestures to the campfire.  The blackmire camp isn't too far from his smaller set-up.  The multiple fires lighting up the area.  

Yaalin plucks at Diadochis elbow, "Your new friend from the morning should be back any moment if he isn't already. Didn't you want to question him more?"

As the others head off to find Shepard she sighs heavily, "I am lost, friend.  I am here for a job and for every turn we take six roads seem to open up as options.  WE have to go back into those mountains and I am not looking forward to it but...I see no other path to start."  

She pauses on their walk to the inn, shuffling her feet before looking up at the world above, a slight relaxation as she closes her eyes in the face of her ancestors.

"Let me think about where we have been and what we have seen.  Alul, being with Orta already seems to be a block I had not anticipated. I am afraid I have been approaching this from the wrong way." She growls " And I HATE being wrong....."

If she sees Mr. Weatherbee...

If they do not see Mr. Weatherbee...

When Sim sees Shepherd he will greet him and exchange pleasantries about his trip down the mountain since they parted. And tell him some of their defense of the temple including stopping the spell.

When they are done he will move on to a more meaty discussion. “I am hoping you can help me to understand your brother’s position in working with Orta who you call a witch. Any idea why she wasn’t destroyed? What do you know of her bodyguard the wereLion man? 

While speaking he will use the helm just to skim his surface thoughts.

At the Inn...

Eventually, Mr. Weatherbee arrives.  He gives a hearty wave before joining Yaalin and Diadochi for some drinks.  He talks about the trail of the day.  More sighting of white-hawks, studying them, noticing how they pack hunt.  It seems he spent the majority of the day simply bird watching.  

As the conversation continues to shift and flow, he stops for a second.  "History of the mountain?  I'm afraid I don't know much..." he pauses for a second. (25 v Insight) "If the tales of the Faith are to believed, not everyone went with the Queen)

He's still difficult to get a read on.

Over with Shepherd...

He simply shakes his head, his face souring as he learns all that you speak of.  His thoughts range from confused, to sad, to annoyed.  Back to some sadness. Especially as you talk about the mountain.  "You are digging into old things left alone."  He shakes his head as he pokes the fire a bit.  "The things better left to the people of the mountain, and to the bones of Yeth."  Another shake of his head.  "Reasons I left Yeth as a mentor."

But, as the conversation changes over to Orta.  "She is a witch.  One I do not trust.  Weird magic and strange powers.  But your information is right.  My brother, heir the legacy of our grandfather, has her under his spell.  As for why, I do not know my grandfather's past.  I was not his keeper.  You should ask those that live on the mountain.  Although if you have killed some of them, you may find yourself out of their good graces for the answers that you speak."  When asked of any werelion, he has no knowledge of it.  

((before they get into the blood Raven)) Diadochi nods "I'm not sure how it helps our mission to see Weatherbee again, but if you want to spend the evening with pleasant company, I'm more than willing to suffer the same fate. Friend, I think you might have to come to terms that had a chance to get the Apple with Shale's ritual and we didn't. There might not be another way up there, or at least not a way we are winning go take. I accepted a won't ago that we can not do good on this mountain, if we must get the Apple we must find the least evil way to do so." 

((When they find  Weatherbee)) "you know, we had a run in with white Hawks, pretty embarrassing actually. You know if you're limited by safety but wish to explore more of the mountain you should come with us. I'd have to get the okay from the rest of my team of course. I'd be lying if I said it's totally safe, but as long as you're fine with coming back as a dwarf there is nothing to worry about."

Speaking with Shepherd, Abigail asks, "Do you happen to know how to get to any of the goblin villages? We believe that the tribes are being mislead, and that they are still in danger of being influence by outside influences."

At the Inn...

Weathersbee looks over at Diadochi as he arches a brow.  "Come back as a Dwarf?  I feel like there's a story here. But I would adore joining you all!  But I fear I may slow you down.  Documenting. Sightseeing.  Observing.  If you're trying to go somewhere quick, I won't be the best of company."

With Shepherd...

Shepherd does give a nod.  "I know the way to a few.  There are several goblin nations that exist on the mountain.  Many are semi-nomadic but seem to follow seasonal paths.  People on the mountains seem to color coordinate the goblins into respective groupings.  The Sky goblins because they're blue.  Mountain goblins because they're grey.  Here, many folks refer to them as the Stonecutters.  Which is the more tribal nation of goblins that live close by.  But they were in fact a nation of goblins and kobalds.  Now it seems everyone in the village refers to any goblin as a Stonecutter," he shakes his head.  

Shepherd points off into the vastness of the Widowpeaks.  "There is one nation of goblin kin that holds a larger gathering of territory.  But they're deep into the heart of the mountain range.  I've met a few emissaries before.  A bit secretive.  This time of year, I would guess two months journey to the land they hold.  Maybe three.  Never been as it is not a journey for them," he gestures back over to his flock.

Abigail sighs at the prospect of going further up into the mountains, "I do not suppose you could help me create some sort of rudimentary map of those territories you know of, since you are most familiar with the area? I would be willing to compensate you for your time." 

Sim listens to shepherd then responds “I agree many things are better left alone sometimes but other people are trying to open those things again and if we don’t find out what we can about what happened in every way then we won’t be able to do the right thing and stop them. As for your grandfather what do you mean by keeper? Do you mean like keeping the memories like the Hn’ti? And I need to know why you left Yeth so we can understand this better.  Will you tell me?”

He gives Abigail a nod.  "I can mark them on a map you may have.  It won't be exact.  When traveling the mountain, you have to feel the mountain.  I also use some areas that you cannot cross into."  His hand gestures, and a few druidic words spill out.  The stone and earth around him changing shape.  Similar to how you saw him leave; creating his own path before the spell fading and returning to his natural state.  Probably how he transports the wagon his large goat pulls as well.  

"I left Yeth because I do not wish to be involved.  The rituals. The learning. The teachings. The Circles."  He gives a sigh.  "I'm afraid you would never understand.  It's the life of Circles of the Mountain." He says another word, it being in Druidic.  Lafetha understands it though.  

In Druidic

 "I am not my grandfather's keeper.  I am not the tribes of the mountains keeper.  I am keeper to myself.  I only speak for myself.  You seek answers, but I can only speak as to myself.  You seek to understand, but you ask about the dead.  You speak of knowing who keeps memories, but yet you're here with me." He closes his eyes simply shaking his head.  The surface thoughts are that of annoyance.  And that he's growing tired.   "The mountain kills those who assume to much.  The mountain spares those that understand it's endurance."  

The Hn’ti Elder will not see us again until the snow thaws. We tried to go there already. Something showed me a vision of the evil they locked up. Either the hn’ti, yeth, or the mountain I do not know but I do know I must find any answers I can because if it does get out then you and everyone else will be forced to be involved or die and I can not let that happen. And I fear the one called Shale is working with Orta to make that happen and your brother seems to be complacent in believing everything is just fine. I would not bother you if I felt I had another choice.”