"I don't have a good feeling about our missing delegation." Trini mutters, watching as Mercy shifts the earth around the graves. She folds her hands in front of her, thinking about the books they heard about as well. It could be a coincidence, but despite her best efforts coincidences never sat well with her. For the moment her normal cheery exterior is more subdued
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Earlier, in the tavern:
"No Carrhae, that's not nonsense, it's a fundamental truth, and one you are living proof of. Temptation and desire constitute a further pair of deliciously magnificent reasons why I love Sune, too. I think Trini may agree with me that without the love and passion Sune inspires, we are lost in our vocation. At the heart of the greatest songs, poems, and dances is the power of love, or perhaps the anguished search for such. I thank Sune for bestowing the fuel that inspires all our greatest achievements. And I have no doubt that she in turn counts you among her greatest treasures. Had I any clues to our mystery to offer up in exchange for your company, I would surely have done so.
"However, with that said, I do have some concerns and regrets regarding the teachings of your faith, and hope that perhaps on some future and more sober occasion, we might speak again on the matter."
Later, at the grave site:
Oh my, Mercy is brilliant. I would never have thought to use my cantrip so. And yet, in a way, I am glad my thoughts don't flow down those darker tributaries. Should I try to help this process? No, there's something more taking place, something deeply personal to Mercy. Poor thing, thought Strife.
"I never had any personal interaction with members of our missing delegation, and so I am both disappointed yet relieved that I can't offer much guidance in the effort to learn if those buried here are those we seek. In truth, I find the aroma now is a bit beyond what I may comfortably endure, and ask that I be excused for a time. May the souls of these unfortunate creatures find their way to rest and comfort in the care of their gods."
Strife steps away and carefully approaches Daewen as she orbits the site, trying to follow in her companion's wake and not disturb any tracks.
"Daewen, I wanted to interact with you for a moment while you employ your tracking skill. I confess that my travels in life thus far are less cosmopolitan than I would wish, and though I have read about a great multitude of peoples, cultures, and civilizations, I have personally experienced many fewer. I have never met anyone of your own race, as just one example, but my curiosity is high, and on one subject in particular.
"I just have a few 'yes' or 'no' questions inspired by what I have read, but where the answer is not really one that can reasonably lay in either category, just wobble your hand and I will know to maybe revisit the topic when you can write your response.
"Do you consider the Shadowfell to be your homeland? Though it is a harsh and wintry realm, do you sometimes miss it or feel something like homesickness? Do you feel a sense of fellowship and goodwill toward other Shadar-kai? Lastly, I just had a comment.
"In the tavern earlier, I did acknowledge Carrhae's very evident charm, but it is continuously demonstrated to me that my own unconventional appearance lies well outside of what most of the world considers appealing or even acceptable. And that's before I opted for various piercings that, if what I read is accurate, also find favor among your kind. I have learned to embrace how I look, and my piercings are a further proud middle finger salute to those who can't see past the surface. You won't often find me cowering under a hooded cloak hoping not to be noticed, unlike some. So it can't come as any great shock to you that my sense of aesthetics is atypical. Where others may see your darkness as somehow menacing, I find your appearance to be absolutely lovely. Since here you may not often be able to share company with other Shadar-kai who can see you as you truly are, I just wanted to remind you how distorted, narrow, and ignorant is the prevailing attitude."
Feeling somewhat restored after a respite from the odor, Strife steels herself and returns to the graves to see if she can identify any clues from the bodies.
The bodies: Once the spell is complete, Mercy, you find one male dwarf dressed in artisan robes, one female human warrior dressed in a black surcoat with a red axe, one male human warrior dressed in a black cloak with strange stony armor, and one male human in a white robe with black feathers at the shoulders. It is very clear that all died from arrow wounds or crushing blows.
Daewen: You find a confused collection of tracks, a few broken arrows, a discarded javelin, and a tattered gray cloak. You have a good view of the surrounding hills from this vantage point. Several miles to the west you can make out the tiny outline of Red Larch, and the thin dark line marking the Long Road. Several miles to the north, you see a slender old tower circled by large birds. Nothing else is around here.
Strife: You were so curious about Daewen, all you could think after that was: Oh, look! Graves and a nice view!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Finally composing herself, Mercy takes a look at the bodies and gingerly makes her way to the dwarf. She pulls a sketch out of her pocket. "Sorry, friend. Gerde didn't tell me where to look for the tattoo..." Crouching, she begins to systematically check the most likely areas for a dwarf to get a tattoo, hoping she'd luck out before things got too awkward.
(OOC: *crosses fingers* Please don't hate me today. Please...)
Daewen chuckles internally when she notices Strife following her like a shadow. I like these ladies...they’re a curious and intelligent bunch, she thinks, bringing a smile to her face. My Queen will be so proud of me when I bring her back the news of all I’ve learned from them, and wow, do I have a lot to learn!
This day dreaming goes on for another few minutes before she snaps out of it and suddenly realizes that she’s been absentmindedly staring at a tree branch sticking out of the brush for god knows how long. She shakes her head clear and suddenly realizes that the branch is really the long handle of a spear! Placing a mental flagpost on top of the speer, she then begins to circle around it, using it as an anchor to find additional evidence of the battle that took place here recently.
Finally collecting up everything she found, Daewen slowly makes her way back to the grave site when beautiful Strife breaks the silence and asks her questions.
“Do you consider the Shadowfell to be your homeland?” She vigorously nods yes, only to be quickly replaced with a sorrowful look on her face, almost as if she were homesick.
”Though it is a harsh and wintry realm, do you sometimes miss it or feel something like homesickness?”Pursing her lips, she thoughtfully nods yes.
”Do you feel a sense of fellowship and goodwill toward other Shadar-kai?”The eagerness is back, and she excitedly nods yes (making a mental note to herself to someday let Strife know that the shadar-kai adopted her and accepted her for who she truly was, regardless of her disability, and for that, she will always love and cherish them).
Returning to the grave site, Dae stands there admiring the group. Family. She’s starting to feel a true sense of family from these strangers. How foreign and truly wonderful that feeling is!
Dropping the collected items down in a pile next to the unearthed corpses, she kneels down and begins to inspect each body (Investigation: 8).
After a few aroma enhanced minutes (death never bothered Daewen, in fact, she looks forward to it....but why does it have to be such a stinky affair?!), she stands up and begins to sketch out a map of the surrounding area into the bare dirt on the ground, highlighting the town they came from, the grave site, the location of the battle detritus, and then finally the mysterious tower she spotted off in the distance.
Carrhae giggles after hearing Strife's response to her intoxicated rambling. "I'm glad that you're inspired by my boobs. May they continue to provide inspiration to you and all other bards. But you don't need to tell me a story in order to have my company, I'm honored to be in the presence of such a lovely and talented individual such as yourself." She then gives a quizzical look to Strife. "What concerns do you have regarding my faith? I'll certainly make it a point to speak with you later if I can possibly calm those fears."
Right now
Carrhae refocuses her mind on the here and now of the material world and tries to find anything on the bodies that might serve as a clue to who these people are and what might have happened to them.
Mercy: Your rolls are good enough to tell you that this dwarf is wearing the typical trappings of a blacksmith. He's probably not the dwarf you're looking for. This one is from Mirabar. (That's the town the delegation came from. Hmm..)
Carrhae: Investigation may not be a strong skill for you, but you're mighty perceptive. The one female human warrior dressed in a black surcoat with a red axe? That's typical of the Mirabarian army.
Daewen: The Raven Queen provided you with no guidance as to more detail as to who these are, or where they came from.
Carrhae bit her lip and furrowed her brow. Unfortunately her years of training in the Sunite temples had not heightened her powers of deduction. But she did manage to notice something that might be useful for the group, so that sort of evens it out in her book. "This unfortunate woman right here is not one of the delegates. Her arms and armor are standard gear for Mirabarian soldiers. While it's unfortunate for her, it might possibly means that the delegates are still alive. At least most of them are still alive."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mercy sat back and dusted off her hands, satisfied this was no surprise. "And the dwarf is a blacksmith of the same town. Probably never read a history book that didn't pertain to his craft." She stood and glanced over at the rough map Daewen was drawing, making note of what she'd sketched before addressing Larmon. "Am I correct to assume there's a priest in your town, to bury the dead properly? They deserve at least as much, given all they seem to have gone through."
She barely waited for his response before going back over to the map and crouching beside Daewen "What's this, then...?" Orienting herself to match the sketch, she walked until she could see the tower the Gloomstalker had noted. "Daewen seems to have found something interesting. Anyone know anything about this tower?"
Larmon notices you looking at the tower. "Feathergale Spire. All I know about that place is that knights out of Waterdeep come up there sometimes, riding on flying monsters.” He adds, “They keep to themselves.”
Carrhae listens to Larmon's words and nods her head. "As much as I'd like to find out more about what happened to these people, it isn't terribly relevant as it doesn't seem like it will help us find the delegates. I say that we mark the tower on our map as a place to visit later and start exploring the other two leads. We could either visit Beliard, where the delegates were last seen, or investigate those Dwarven books that showed up in Womford. Mercy, wasn't the person that you were sent to look for a Dwarven historian? Tracking down the books might help us on our quest."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Trini is instantly relieved that these don't appear to be the delegation they're looking for, then feels bad for feeling relieved. It's still sad what happened to these poor unfortunate souls, and death is something that's still new to her. Elves live a long time, and there were few physical deaths among her village. "Mercy's right, these people deserve a proper burial."She agrees with her -- oh my! -- fellow tiefling!
She considers the next step listening to Carrhae. "Mr. Bruldenthar was transporting his historic manuscripts back to the city, so if something bad did befall the delegation, maybe someone is trying to sell off the books? It's worth a look maybe, but if they were last seen in Beliard, maybe it would be best to check there first. There at least might be new leads, and if there isnt' we could check on the books."She offers up a smile, hoping to bring a little cheer back into the somber mood. There's nothing that can be done for these poor folks, and Carrhae makes a good point. There's still hope of finding the delegation alive and well, and maybe just lost. They could be just lost, right?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Strife listened as Mercy, Carrhae, and Trini spoke with Larmon to try to figure out how, if at all, the bodies as well as the equipment Daewen discovered might relate to the missing delegation. The connection seemed tenuous at best. Strife searched her memory for any references to Feathergale Spire she had run across in her research.
Arcana (+3): 18 History (+3): 19
"I would vote to hunt the Dwarven texts, but that's because it's what I do. I hunt down old books," Strife said, alluding to her work as a sage.
Strife noticed Barry was present and listening, too. Strife didn't remember if he was at some earlier point in the Tavern with the rest of the group. Nor did she remember him volunteering anything about what his own inquiries had uncovered.
That's weird. These are mostly your people we're looking for, Harperman, and time may be precious. What have you been up to? Are you making an effort? Or are you the bumbling screwup that Augusto seemed to think you were? Hmmm. Let's test your spy skills and see, shall we?
Strife stepped over to confer privately with who she imagined was Barry. Speaking just loud enough for him to hear, and pretending to be nervous and worried, she addressed the enigmatic secret agent. "Um, hey, Barry. You heard all that, right? I think we are kind of on the right trail, but this is going to take longer than I thought. When you factor in travel time to reach these places, I feel this will take well over a week, maybe two. So that has me worried about a couple things. First, I'm obviously hoping we find the missing in time to save them, but I'm starting to think all the delay before we were assembled for this mission will prove to be catastrophic.
"The second matter is, shall we say, highly awkward. I'm trusting your honor and decency as a Harper to guard this secret until we have figured out how to resolve the issue. I have learned that Mercy will, in approximately a week, enter Tiefling estrus. I admonished her for being so reckless and asked her how she was going to cope if we happened to be traipsing through the wilderness at that point. She indicated that as the sole male among us, you would have to service her, that you would not jeopardize the mission over such a trivial thing. I tried to tell her she has grossly misjudged the cultural norms of humans, but she's still thinking this mission will be over by then. Now, what consenting adults choose to do isn't usually a concern of mine, but my interest here isn't just professional.
"You see, just as human women who live together will have their lunar cycles converge into a shared schedule, we Tiefling females are even more sensitive. Mercy could end up triggering estrus in myself and Trini. And that's a disaster. Please don't take it personally, I don't know you, but I know that you and I - well, it's just not going to happen, alright? NEH. VER. So we have to figure something out. But all I have been able to think of is either hurrying this investigation along to reach the solution faster, or sending Mercy home, which certainly would handicap our effectiveness in a major way. I'm hoping you can brainstorm some better alternatives. Please let me know what you come up with later tonight, okay?"
Deception (+7): 15 Persuasion (+7): 19
Making her way over to Mercy, Strife says, "I'm grateful for all your efforts today. We managed to eliminate at least some unpleasant possibilities. And I know that obtaining answers from these graves came at some personal cost to you. Thank you, and I hope you will allow me to express my appreciation with a gesture of hospitality. When we are back at the inn, I invite you to join me in my room to sample my pipe. Though I am very curious to learn about Mercy, I do not wish to trespass, thus if serene silence would enhance your comfort, it shall be so." After offering a curtsy, Strife excused herself to have a word with Trini.
"Hey girlfriend, party in my room tonight! I'm hoping Mercy will join us. I didn't say you were thirding our Tiefling conclave, but I didn't say you were NOT coming, either. I want her to have a nice time, but it's important that you are present also. Are you in?" Strife extended the invitation to her bardrade with a mischievous grin.
"Oh my goodness, a tiefling party! I am absotootly-lutely in!"She leans in a little closer to Strife, "Truth be told, I've never met so many others like me before. I used to see them around sometimes in my travels, but never really gotten to make friends!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mercy listened to the others, growing increasingly irritated with each suggestion to turn from the most obvious course of investigation to learn about a bunch of books. "If you lot are so keen on chasing down a bunch of old books, go on then. I'll travel on to Beliard without you." She turned back to the group, letting them see her ire. "I was hired to find Bruldenthar, not because of his profession, but because his daughter was afraid you lot would care more about his books. And it looks like she may have been right!"
Shaking her head, she took a breath to calm herself. After a moment, she tried a different approach. "The River Dessarin runs from Beliard to Womford. Trini, Strife, didn't that shopkeeper say the merchant got the one book from a keelboat skipper? If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the only thing we'd find out is that the books were picked up near Beliard and the Stone Bridge." Mercy shrugged. "Besides, I don't think those books are the ones Bruldenthar had with him. Seems to me, if they were so important to the Harpers, the important tomes wouldn't have been sold off downriver."
Persuasion: 15
Having gotten that out of her system, she was calm when Strife made her way over and spoke to her. Nodding absently, she wasn't really listening to a word the bard said.
"Trini, I feel exactly as you do! When I first laid eyes on you back in Waterdeep, I was giddy. But when I saw Mercy there too... Trini, I don't believe this is just an accident. I believe we are meant to achieve great things together, the three of us. So, I want to somehow erase whatever it is that seems to push her away from us. I don't yet understand her perspective, but once I have some insight about what she feels and why, I am confident we can harmonize our efforts."
Upon hearing Mercy decry their seeming to elevate books over people, Strife whispered to Trini, "See? Magnificent." Turning to address Mercy, Strife answered,
"With great and noble words do you offer Strife such shame I ask your forgiveness and for the Mercy that is your name I share your purpose and do follow where you may lead I see your wisdom and your course of action I shall heed"
Zephyr had stayed silent most of the way there, and even now, he looked down upon the uncovered bodies with a frown. These weren't the people they were looking for, but how did they end up in such a state? A battle perhaps, as their wounds would point to it as such. He had been in the middle of a prayer for the lost souls when Strife pulled him aside to talk to him about something. Tiefling estrus? He listened to her, almost too intently, trying to see if she was bullshitting him or not.
Insight: 21
She was 100% playing him as if he were a fool.
But he only grinned as she continued, making it seem as if he was interested in such acts with the group, even though inside Zephyr was sickened to his stomach. Once she finished and just before she was able to turn away from him, he would grab her gently by the wrist to stop her from going anywhere and say back to her:
"I think, regardless of this estrus you speak of, we'll be just fine. We'll find the delegates in no time flat." He extended an arm to rest his hand on her shoulder, looking at her straight in the eyes, with his voice low just so she could hear him. "But, Strife, a word of advise for you: Don't try to deceive a deceiver." Zephyr smiled, and patted her shoulder. "Let's get to it then, yeah?"
He would walk away from the Tiefling, his smile never faltering, and return back to the bodies to complete his prayer, then wait for everyone else to decide on where they would be travelling to. If forced in making the decision he would go with whichever one had the most votes.
Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
"I apologize if it seemed like I cared more for the books than the lives of the delegates. I was only giving suggestions for our next possible course of action. I seek nothing more than the safe return of each delegate, especially if it reunites a father and daughter. To Beliard we go."
She then turns to Larmon. "Are you capable of transporting these corpses to a town where they might receive a proper burial? We'd assist you, but time is of the essence in our mission and we have already tarried for too long."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Okay, Barry, you pass this test, well done. But something is off, thought Strife.
With a look of pity replete with affection, Strife continued their private chat.
"Oh, dear sweet Barry, have I cause for alarm? You move your pieces hoping facts defeat charm Our heart's affection makes us loyal to our kin Here's my new family, here it's my truth that wins"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
THE ROAD TO BELIARD
Larmon agrees to take care of the bodies and bids you all farewell. Nice job! The first mini quest is complete.
BELIARD: The Mirabar delegation was last seen in the town of Beliard. SHALLOW GRAVES: Four new graves have appeared on a windswept hilltop in the Sumber Hills. (COMPLETE!) WOMFORD RATS: A dozen beautiful old books written in Dwarvish showed up in the cargo of a shady keelboat skipper in Womford.
The black X is the graves, the green X is the tower, and I marked the path you all took to Beliard. Rolling for a random encounter during the trip. 19 No encounter. The trip is pleasantly uneventful.
Orchards and large cattle ranches surround the little town of Beliard. Large stockyards lie on the east side of town, and stone warehouses along the Dessarin Road indicate the regular caravan traffic that passes through. As you settle in town, everyone is talking about the travelers from Mirabar and wondering what happened. A dozen theories make the rounds, but most make no sense.
Once again, we're going to need some more DC15 WIS Insight (or similar skill, depending on your approach) to try and sort through what may or may not be true. I'll take the first three successes between all of you. Besides The Watchful Night Inn, you can visit Halamar's Horses, a stable, or Milshoun's Stronghouses, a storage facility.
"I don't have a good feeling about our missing delegation." Trini mutters, watching as Mercy shifts the earth around the graves. She folds her hands in front of her, thinking about the books they heard about as well. It could be a coincidence, but despite her best efforts coincidences never sat well with her. For the moment her normal cheery exterior is more subdued
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Earlier, in the tavern:
"No Carrhae, that's not nonsense, it's a fundamental truth, and one you are living proof of. Temptation and desire constitute a further pair of deliciously magnificent reasons why I love Sune, too. I think Trini may agree with me that without the love and passion Sune inspires, we are lost in our vocation. At the heart of the greatest songs, poems, and dances is the power of love, or perhaps the anguished search for such. I thank Sune for bestowing the fuel that inspires all our greatest achievements. And I have no doubt that she in turn counts you among her greatest treasures. Had I any clues to our mystery to offer up in exchange for your company, I would surely have done so.
"However, with that said, I do have some concerns and regrets regarding the teachings of your faith, and hope that perhaps on some future and more sober occasion, we might speak again on the matter."
Later, at the grave site:
Oh my, Mercy is brilliant. I would never have thought to use my cantrip so. And yet, in a way, I am glad my thoughts don't flow down those darker tributaries. Should I try to help this process? No, there's something more taking place, something deeply personal to Mercy. Poor thing, thought Strife.
"I never had any personal interaction with members of our missing delegation, and so I am both disappointed yet relieved that I can't offer much guidance in the effort to learn if those buried here are those we seek. In truth, I find the aroma now is a bit beyond what I may comfortably endure, and ask that I be excused for a time. May the souls of these unfortunate creatures find their way to rest and comfort in the care of their gods."
Strife steps away and carefully approaches Daewen as she orbits the site, trying to follow in her companion's wake and not disturb any tracks.
"Daewen, I wanted to interact with you for a moment while you employ your tracking skill. I confess that my travels in life thus far are less cosmopolitan than I would wish, and though I have read about a great multitude of peoples, cultures, and civilizations, I have personally experienced many fewer. I have never met anyone of your own race, as just one example, but my curiosity is high, and on one subject in particular.
"I just have a few 'yes' or 'no' questions inspired by what I have read, but where the answer is not really one that can reasonably lay in either category, just wobble your hand and I will know to maybe revisit the topic when you can write your response.
"Do you consider the Shadowfell to be your homeland? Though it is a harsh and wintry realm, do you sometimes miss it or feel something like homesickness? Do you feel a sense of fellowship and goodwill toward other Shadar-kai? Lastly, I just had a comment.
"In the tavern earlier, I did acknowledge Carrhae's very evident charm, but it is continuously demonstrated to me that my own unconventional appearance lies well outside of what most of the world considers appealing or even acceptable. And that's before I opted for various piercings that, if what I read is accurate, also find favor among your kind. I have learned to embrace how I look, and my piercings are a further proud middle finger salute to those who can't see past the surface. You won't often find me cowering under a hooded cloak hoping not to be noticed, unlike some. So it can't come as any great shock to you that my sense of aesthetics is atypical. Where others may see your darkness as somehow menacing, I find your appearance to be absolutely lovely. Since here you may not often be able to share company with other Shadar-kai who can see you as you truly are, I just wanted to remind you how distorted, narrow, and ignorant is the prevailing attitude."
Feeling somewhat restored after a respite from the odor, Strife steels herself and returns to the graves to see if she can identify any clues from the bodies.
Investigation (+2): 21
Perception (+1): 4
SIDE QUEST: SHALLOW GRAVES
RESULTS
The bodies: Once the spell is complete, Mercy, you find one male dwarf dressed in artisan robes, one female human warrior dressed in a black surcoat with a red axe, one male human warrior dressed in a black cloak with strange stony armor, and one male human in a white robe with black feathers at the shoulders. It is very clear that all died from arrow wounds or crushing blows.
Daewen: You find a confused collection of tracks, a few broken arrows, a discarded javelin, and a tattered gray cloak. You have a good view of the surrounding hills from this vantage point. Several miles to the west you can make out the tiny outline of Red Larch, and the thin dark line marking the Long Road. Several miles to the north, you see a slender old tower circled by large birds. Nothing else is around here.
Strife: You were so curious about Daewen, all you could think after that was: Oh, look! Graves and a nice view!
Finally composing herself, Mercy takes a look at the bodies and gingerly makes her way to the dwarf. She pulls a sketch out of her pocket. "Sorry, friend. Gerde didn't tell me where to look for the tattoo..." Crouching, she begins to systematically check the most likely areas for a dwarf to get a tattoo, hoping she'd luck out before things got too awkward.
(OOC: *crosses fingers* Please don't hate me today. Please...)
Investigation: 19
Perception: 9
(OOC: ...Could have been worse.)
Daewen chuckles internally when she notices Strife following her like a shadow. I like these ladies...they’re a curious and intelligent bunch, she thinks, bringing a smile to her face. My Queen will be so proud of me when I bring her back the news of all I’ve learned from them, and wow, do I have a lot to learn!
This day dreaming goes on for another few minutes before she snaps out of it and suddenly realizes that she’s been absentmindedly staring at a tree branch sticking out of the brush for god knows how long. She shakes her head clear and suddenly realizes that the branch is really the long handle of a spear! Placing a mental flagpost on top of the speer, she then begins to circle around it, using it as an anchor to find additional evidence of the battle that took place here recently.
Finally collecting up everything she found, Daewen slowly makes her way back to the grave site when beautiful Strife breaks the silence and asks her questions.
“Do you consider the Shadowfell to be your homeland?” She vigorously nods yes, only to be quickly replaced with a sorrowful look on her face, almost as if she were homesick.
”Though it is a harsh and wintry realm, do you sometimes miss it or feel something like homesickness?” Pursing her lips, she thoughtfully nods yes.
”Do you feel a sense of fellowship and goodwill toward other Shadar-kai?” The eagerness is back, and she excitedly nods yes (making a mental note to herself to someday let Strife know that the shadar-kai adopted her and accepted her for who she truly was, regardless of her disability, and for that, she will always love and cherish them).
Returning to the grave site, Dae stands there admiring the group. Family. She’s starting to feel a true sense of family from these strangers. How foreign and truly wonderful that feeling is!
Dropping the collected items down in a pile next to the unearthed corpses, she kneels down and begins to inspect each body (Investigation: 8).
After a few aroma enhanced minutes (death never bothered Daewen, in fact, she looks forward to it....but why does it have to be such a stinky affair?!), she stands up and begins to sketch out a map of the surrounding area into the bare dirt on the ground, highlighting the town they came from, the grave site, the location of the battle detritus, and then finally the mysterious tower she spotted off in the distance.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Back at the tavern
Carrhae giggles after hearing Strife's response to her intoxicated rambling. "I'm glad that you're inspired by my boobs. May they continue to provide inspiration to you and all other bards. But you don't need to tell me a story in order to have my company, I'm honored to be in the presence of such a lovely and talented individual such as yourself." She then gives a quizzical look to Strife. "What concerns do you have regarding my faith? I'll certainly make it a point to speak with you later if I can possibly calm those fears."
Right now
Carrhae refocuses her mind on the here and now of the material world and tries to find anything on the bodies that might serve as a clue to who these people are and what might have happened to them.
Investigation:4
Perception:20
She at least got one thing right.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Mercy: Your rolls are good enough to tell you that this dwarf is wearing the typical trappings of a blacksmith. He's probably not the dwarf you're looking for. This one is from Mirabar. (That's the town the delegation came from. Hmm..)
Carrhae: Investigation may not be a strong skill for you, but you're mighty perceptive. The one female human warrior dressed in a black surcoat with a red axe? That's typical of the Mirabarian army.
Daewen: The Raven Queen provided you with no guidance as to more detail as to who these are, or where they came from.
Carrhae bit her lip and furrowed her brow. Unfortunately her years of training in the Sunite temples had not heightened her powers of deduction. But she did manage to notice something that might be useful for the group, so that sort of evens it out in her book. "This unfortunate woman right here is not one of the delegates. Her arms and armor are standard gear for Mirabarian soldiers. While it's unfortunate for her, it might possibly means that the delegates are still alive. At least most of them are still alive."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Mercy sat back and dusted off her hands, satisfied this was no surprise. "And the dwarf is a blacksmith of the same town. Probably never read a history book that didn't pertain to his craft." She stood and glanced over at the rough map Daewen was drawing, making note of what she'd sketched before addressing Larmon. "Am I correct to assume there's a priest in your town, to bury the dead properly? They deserve at least as much, given all they seem to have gone through."
She barely waited for his response before going back over to the map and crouching beside Daewen "What's this, then...?" Orienting herself to match the sketch, she walked until she could see the tower the Gloomstalker had noted. "Daewen seems to have found something interesting. Anyone know anything about this tower?"
History: 6
(OOC: I'm assuming this roll will be low.)
Larmon notices you looking at the tower. "Feathergale Spire. All I know about that place is that knights out of Waterdeep come up there sometimes, riding on flying monsters.” He adds, “They keep to themselves.”
Carrhae listens to Larmon's words and nods her head. "As much as I'd like to find out more about what happened to these people, it isn't terribly relevant as it doesn't seem like it will help us find the delegates. I say that we mark the tower on our map as a place to visit later and start exploring the other two leads. We could either visit Beliard, where the delegates were last seen, or investigate those Dwarven books that showed up in Womford. Mercy, wasn't the person that you were sent to look for a Dwarven historian? Tracking down the books might help us on our quest."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Trini is instantly relieved that these don't appear to be the delegation they're looking for, then feels bad for feeling relieved. It's still sad what happened to these poor unfortunate souls, and death is something that's still new to her. Elves live a long time, and there were few physical deaths among her village. "Mercy's right, these people deserve a proper burial." She agrees with her -- oh my! -- fellow tiefling!
She considers the next step listening to Carrhae. "Mr. Bruldenthar was transporting his historic manuscripts back to the city, so if something bad did befall the delegation, maybe someone is trying to sell off the books? It's worth a look maybe, but if they were last seen in Beliard, maybe it would be best to check there first. There at least might be new leads, and if there isnt' we could check on the books." She offers up a smile, hoping to bring a little cheer back into the somber mood. There's nothing that can be done for these poor folks, and Carrhae makes a good point. There's still hope of finding the delegation alive and well, and maybe just lost. They could be just lost, right?
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Strife listened as Mercy, Carrhae, and Trini spoke with Larmon to try to figure out how, if at all, the bodies as well as the equipment Daewen discovered might relate to the missing delegation. The connection seemed tenuous at best. Strife searched her memory for any references to Feathergale Spire she had run across in her research.
Arcana (+3): 18
History (+3): 19
"I would vote to hunt the Dwarven texts, but that's because it's what I do. I hunt down old books," Strife said, alluding to her work as a sage.
Strife noticed Barry was present and listening, too. Strife didn't remember if he was at some earlier point in the Tavern with the rest of the group. Nor did she remember him volunteering anything about what his own inquiries had uncovered.
That's weird. These are mostly your people we're looking for, Harperman, and time may be precious. What have you been up to? Are you making an effort? Or are you the bumbling screwup that Augusto seemed to think you were? Hmmm. Let's test your spy skills and see, shall we?
Strife stepped over to confer privately with who she imagined was Barry. Speaking just loud enough for him to hear, and pretending to be nervous and worried, she addressed the enigmatic secret agent. "Um, hey, Barry. You heard all that, right? I think we are kind of on the right trail, but this is going to take longer than I thought. When you factor in travel time to reach these places, I feel this will take well over a week, maybe two. So that has me worried about a couple things. First, I'm obviously hoping we find the missing in time to save them, but I'm starting to think all the delay before we were assembled for this mission will prove to be catastrophic.
"The second matter is, shall we say, highly awkward. I'm trusting your honor and decency as a Harper to guard this secret until we have figured out how to resolve the issue. I have learned that Mercy will, in approximately a week, enter Tiefling estrus. I admonished her for being so reckless and asked her how she was going to cope if we happened to be traipsing through the wilderness at that point. She indicated that as the sole male among us, you would have to service her, that you would not jeopardize the mission over such a trivial thing. I tried to tell her she has grossly misjudged the cultural norms of humans, but she's still thinking this mission will be over by then. Now, what consenting adults choose to do isn't usually a concern of mine, but my interest here isn't just professional.
"You see, just as human women who live together will have their lunar cycles converge into a shared schedule, we Tiefling females are even more sensitive. Mercy could end up triggering estrus in myself and Trini. And that's a disaster. Please don't take it personally, I don't know you, but I know that you and I - well, it's just not going to happen, alright? NEH. VER. So we have to figure something out. But all I have been able to think of is either hurrying this investigation along to reach the solution faster, or sending Mercy home, which certainly would handicap our effectiveness in a major way. I'm hoping you can brainstorm some better alternatives. Please let me know what you come up with later tonight, okay?"
Deception (+7): 15
Persuasion (+7): 19
Making her way over to Mercy, Strife says, "I'm grateful for all your efforts today. We managed to eliminate at least some unpleasant possibilities. And I know that obtaining answers from these graves came at some personal cost to you. Thank you, and I hope you will allow me to express my appreciation with a gesture of hospitality. When we are back at the inn, I invite you to join me in my room to sample my pipe. Though I am very curious to learn about Mercy, I do not wish to trespass, thus if serene silence would enhance your comfort, it shall be so." After offering a curtsy, Strife excused herself to have a word with Trini.
"Hey girlfriend, party in my room tonight! I'm hoping Mercy will join us. I didn't say you were thirding our Tiefling conclave, but I didn't say you were NOT coming, either. I want her to have a nice time, but it's important that you are present also. Are you in?" Strife extended the invitation to her bardrade with a mischievous grin.
"Oh my goodness, a tiefling party! I am absotootly-lutely in!" She leans in a little closer to Strife, "Truth be told, I've never met so many others like me before. I used to see them around sometimes in my travels, but never really gotten to make friends!"
"All will become equal now" | "Cause we're going to shout it loud, even if our words seem meaningless. It's like we're carrying the weight of the world"
Mercy listened to the others, growing increasingly irritated with each suggestion to turn from the most obvious course of investigation to learn about a bunch of books. "If you lot are so keen on chasing down a bunch of old books, go on then. I'll travel on to Beliard without you." She turned back to the group, letting them see her ire. "I was hired to find Bruldenthar, not because of his profession, but because his daughter was afraid you lot would care more about his books. And it looks like she may have been right!"
Shaking her head, she took a breath to calm herself. After a moment, she tried a different approach. "The River Dessarin runs from Beliard to Womford. Trini, Strife, didn't that shopkeeper say the merchant got the one book from a keelboat skipper? If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the only thing we'd find out is that the books were picked up near Beliard and the Stone Bridge." Mercy shrugged. "Besides, I don't think those books are the ones Bruldenthar had with him. Seems to me, if they were so important to the Harpers, the important tomes wouldn't have been sold off downriver."
Persuasion: 15
Having gotten that out of her system, she was calm when Strife made her way over and spoke to her. Nodding absently, she wasn't really listening to a word the bard said.
"Trini, I feel exactly as you do! When I first laid eyes on you back in Waterdeep, I was giddy. But when I saw Mercy there too... Trini, I don't believe this is just an accident. I believe we are meant to achieve great things together, the three of us. So, I want to somehow erase whatever it is that seems to push her away from us. I don't yet understand her perspective, but once I have some insight about what she feels and why, I am confident we can harmonize our efforts."
Upon hearing Mercy decry their seeming to elevate books over people, Strife whispered to Trini, "See? Magnificent." Turning to address Mercy, Strife answered,
"With great and noble words do you offer Strife such shame
I ask your forgiveness and for the Mercy that is your name
I share your purpose and do follow where you may lead
I see your wisdom and your course of action I shall heed"
Zephyr had stayed silent most of the way there, and even now, he looked down upon the uncovered bodies with a frown. These weren't the people they were looking for, but how did they end up in such a state? A battle perhaps, as their wounds would point to it as such. He had been in the middle of a prayer for the lost souls when Strife pulled him aside to talk to him about something. Tiefling estrus? He listened to her, almost too intently, trying to see if she was bullshitting him or not.
Insight: 21
She was 100% playing him as if he were a fool.
But he only grinned as she continued, making it seem as if he was interested in such acts with the group, even though inside Zephyr was sickened to his stomach. Once she finished and just before she was able to turn away from him, he would grab her gently by the wrist to stop her from going anywhere and say back to her:
"I think, regardless of this estrus you speak of, we'll be just fine. We'll find the delegates in no time flat." He extended an arm to rest his hand on her shoulder, looking at her straight in the eyes, with his voice low just so she could hear him. "But, Strife, a word of advise for you: Don't try to deceive a deceiver." Zephyr smiled, and patted her shoulder. "Let's get to it then, yeah?"
He would walk away from the Tiefling, his smile never faltering, and return back to the bodies to complete his prayer, then wait for everyone else to decide on where they would be travelling to. If forced in making the decision he would go with whichever one had the most votes.
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
"I apologize if it seemed like I cared more for the books than the lives of the delegates. I was only giving suggestions for our next possible course of action. I seek nothing more than the safe return of each delegate, especially if it reunites a father and daughter. To Beliard we go."
She then turns to Larmon. "Are you capable of transporting these corpses to a town where they might receive a proper burial? We'd assist you, but time is of the essence in our mission and we have already tarried for too long."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Okay, Barry, you pass this test, well done. But something is off, thought Strife.
With a look of pity replete with affection, Strife continued their private chat.
"Oh, dear sweet Barry, have I cause for alarm?
You move your pieces hoping facts defeat charm
Our heart's affection makes us loyal to our kin
Here's my new family, here it's my truth that wins"
THE ROAD TO BELIARD
Larmon agrees to take care of the bodies and bids you all farewell. Nice job! The first mini quest is complete.
BELIARD: The Mirabar delegation was last seen in the town of Beliard.
SHALLOW GRAVES: Four new graves have appeared on a windswept hilltop in the Sumber Hills. (COMPLETE!)
WOMFORD RATS: A dozen beautiful old books written in Dwarvish showed up in the cargo of a shady keelboat skipper in Womford.
The black X is the graves, the green X is the tower, and I marked the path you all took to Beliard. Rolling for a random encounter during the trip. 19 No encounter. The trip is pleasantly uneventful.
Orchards and large cattle ranches surround the little town of Beliard. Large stockyards lie on the east side of town, and stone warehouses along the Dessarin Road indicate the regular caravan traffic that passes through. As you settle in town, everyone is talking about the travelers from Mirabar and wondering what happened. A dozen theories make the rounds, but most make no sense.
Once again, we're going to need some more DC15 WIS Insight (or similar skill, depending on your approach) to try and sort through what may or may not be true. I'll take the first three successes between all of you. Besides The Watchful Night Inn, you can visit Halamar's Horses, a stable, or Milshoun's Stronghouses, a storage facility.