"I don't know where she went after that," Beth shrugs back to Artos. "Maybe she came back here. I'd have no idea why. You saw how horrible it is in the village. If I were her, I'd run and never look back, but that's just me."
She wipes down the counter again and comes around the bar with two dishes of horse meat and eggs. Beth sets it down at a table and wipes her hands on her apron. "It's rumored there's a spot somewhere in the Fabled Heights where they released the spirit, aye. It's supposed to be the horde of a dragon who's long died. I wouldn't have any maps though, and most of the adventurers who've known have disappeared or died. You likely wouldn't have any luck askin the common folk, but you can try."
"Well you'd have to get through the fog first," Beth frowns back to him. "Most of the people who've tried walking straight through the fog have always wandered straight back to town. You can't escape." She rubs her chin with a big, beefy hand. "There are some who didn't come back, but many folks assume that they died on the journey though. Poor folks." Beth shakes her head disapprovingly and sighs.
"If you want to learn more about the folks who ventured out, the mayor lives further north up the ridgeline, at the old cobblestone estate. She could tell ya 'bout the old mayor, who set up most of the expeditions out. About the Fabled Heights, the girl who runs the stables, Alysson Madin. Rumor 'round town is that she used to take lots of trips up there before the fog settled in."
The Mayor's House. The party has a rough idea where the mayor's house is, and can reach it without making an ability check. Allyson Feed. The party has a rough idea where the stables run by Alysson Madin is, and can reach it without making an ability check.
Warren asks Artos as he lightly places a hand on the genasi's shoulder.
"If it's that important to you, then we can try looking for a way through the fog, first. With luck, these events will probably be linked, if not directly synonymous with each other.Before we set off, I would like to take care of some personal business. Where should we meet up?"
Warren asks the question directed to both Artos and Orryn in the last sentence, giving them both a chance to answer for a accurate statement.
Artos gravely looks at the paladin, he speaks every word akin to boulder
"Yes...yes she is.."
He speaks again after seconds to break an heavy silence
"You can follow your business Warren if they are in town, I will not get out in the fog alone, I hope to left my reckless time ago, with something else....."
"We will meet up here I think, in case I will leave a message to Beth"
Orryn parts ways with the dwarfs and heads back to the group.
"You will never believe what I have learned."
He pauses with an excited expression, waiting for his comrades to feel the same excitement.
"Gems. Lots of them. And... A potentially dangerous and cursed mine! Perhaps the previous adventurers woke an ancient curse there . We could stop it and save the town!"
"Oh the geeems, yes, sure you mentioned them my friend, did they told you that this course came out from that mine?"
"Just to not run into too much troubles at the same time, and, well Warren have something to do so..I can propose to you, let's go to the Mayor's House. There, we can ask more about the fog and the awakened spirit...we will wait there for the Paladin, I will let him a message..and than, if the spirit its really in that mine...we will catch him, along with all the gems you can hold...
The tuning of the drum is replaced by an upbeat, if a little offbeat, tune by the goblin. His face has shifted from minor curiosity to a fierce determination as he struggles to juggle his gear and his drum at the same time. This has an interesting effect on the tune, introducing rests and pauses where a marching tune does not normally have. Nevertheless, Komoi manages to situate his pack and get the drum back under both palms.
"A dragon's hoard needs gems of course! Gems and gold and swords and helmets. Onwards!"
The goblin's tune picks up tempo in time with his quicksteps. He careens out of the tavern with the plush tail flopping and dragging behind him, heading who knows where. He goes off of the words he had heard, making his way where he thought the mine might be located. The gems were at stake of course, so Komoi doesn't bother to stop and ask directions. He'll let his hoard sniffing nose lead him, naturally.
"He's enthusiastic, I'll give him that. As for setting out, I'm in luck. The errand I must perform takes me the exact place we plan to go. We can set out if everyone is ready."
Warren adjusts his helm and shield accordingly, getting ready to embark with the others.
"My business might take me a small bit, but hopefully it won't take too long, as I will inquire of a few things from the mayor regarding a personal matter of mine."
The grand majority of the adventurers in the inn depart out the door and into the town.
The rain had left a mess of the streets, looking more like a swamp than a public roadway. A couple of city workers work with brushes to smooth out the roads and excavate some of the water and mud to make it more traversable. Commoners wander about, their eyes a bit more distant, their gazes a bit more lost, as they go about their daily business. The fog that was present last night still hangs in the air several hundred feet around the town, like a white smokey prison.
Some of the carnage of last night was also visible. Many of the buildings around had fresh new scratches. Debris of wood and splinters are stacked in piles at the side of the road, to be dried and used as firewood in the future. A man pushes a cart through town, calling out, "Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead!" His current cart has about six or so bodies inside of it. There seems to be far too many legs and arms in that cart.
The party has several options they can do. They know the location of the mine in the eastern town, down toward the quarry at the fork they encountered when they entered the town. They know if they continue following the western road, they'll encounter Allyson Feed, closer to the middle of town. If they continue following further along that, they'll come to the mayor's house.
Your backstory may give you the location of other places not indicated here. Alternatively, you can wander around and see what other places you can find.
Known Locations
Abandoned Mine. In the eastern part of town is an abandoned mine, once the source of the town's income. It's said that creatures that eat and rust metal has taken over the site, and has been closed ever since. It's rumored that there's a vein of gems hidden deep within the mine, but has been deemed unreachable due to the creatures.
Mayor's House. The mayor, besides being the leader of the town, supposedly sent out several expeditions out into the fog for help. It's likely that the mayor will know the most about the fog and what it does.
Alysson Feed. It's said that Alysson Madin used to take several trips back and forth between town and the Fabled Heights. She's well-known in the town for knowing the most about the wilderness beyond the Hamlet of Lindley's borders.
Artos shrugs to Orryn and reach out of the Inn the enthusiastic goblin.
"Hey, hey....Komoi hold a second" the fire genasi catch up the goblin with his arm "You don't know exactly where this mine is, Orrin knows, you will find yourself lost in this damn fog if you step regardless of this, come with us to the Mayor's House, we want to better know what's happening here and there..but than, I promise, we will go to this mine, and take all the gems we could carry on, and of course, 8 arms and 4 backpacks are more than 2 and 1 don't you think? Your loot will be greater with little patience" Artos ends with a promising smile.
With a few strides, Warren catches up with the eager goblin and cautious genasi.
"Artos is right, Komoi. Charging headlong into a situation you're not ready for can often lead to disastrous consequence. I'd think you would rather live to hold a gem than perish before you get to see it. If there are no further qualms, we must depart posthaste if we are to make some progress before nightfall."
Warren's tone is stern, yet caring, approaching the subject with as much bluntness as possible to makke the situation clear.
The goblin rubs his chin as he listens to Artos' words. He doesn't seem terribly convinced the mayor could give him any information on the important parts. Namely the gems, of course. But the prospect of having multiple sets of arms to carry what would be the start to Komoi's hoard brings a grin to his face. He nods animatedly as he shoves the drum in his pack to free up both hands.
"This offer of yours sounds promising, it does. So then we go to this mayor and interrogate him to find out how many gems there are. I want to make sure I get them all collected. Volunteering yourself to carry my hoard is very generous!"
The goblin beams up at the man happily as he pats him on the arm. He glances over at Warren, a flicker of curiosity sparking in the goblin's eyes. He steps over and looks up at the armored man with his clawed hands on his hips. He nods once.
"You can carry my hoard too. But we have to go to the mayor's house first, metal man. So be patient, okay metal man? Don't go charging into the fog without first finding out how many gems you'll have to carry. Don't get over eager to help me with my hoard. I know it's an honor."
Komoi smiles reassuringly at Warren as he gives the man's armored leg a few pats. The goblin puffs out his chest and turns about face, looking around for the road leading to the mayor's residence.
"If we're going to get the gems before night, we should get a move on! Let's go my followers!"
The goblin begins marching, his destination altered for the time being.
The players set onward down the path, heading up north on the western trail through the town. It takes about 5 minutes before the buildings about begin lessening in density, and the trees beginning to come further onto the trail. It seems there was once more houses here from the oddly flattened land, but Mother Nature seems to have retaken its rightful place out here, and is once again expansive forest and grasslands.
The trail ascends higher as well before coming to a peak. At the top of this peak is an estate, with a 10-foot tall granite wall surrounding a 120-foot by 60-foot compound. A large house sits toward the far north of the compound, with a garden and a fountain leading up to it. The area seems to have seen better days, with many superficial damages in the wall and a great deal of shrubbery and weeds infesting the once beautiful front lawn.
However, it still seem to have some life, evident by the beautiful elvish flowers at the doorstep of the manor.
The party currently stands at the gate of the manor. The gate is currently closed and locked, but it doesn't seem quite strong. Alternatively, one could try to scale over the shallow wall, but the slippery, and even crumbling surface at parts can be difficult to climb. A bell also sits on the far right-hand side, which seems operable.
They could also circle around to find another way in.
Manor Gate. The gate can be attempted to be pulled open with a DC 20 Strength check. The gate is AC 19 and has 30 hit points.
Manor Walls.The walls can be scaled with a DC 13 Strength (Athletics) check.
Approaching the estate, Artos ponders that this building has been more efficient to take the wolves out than the passage of time. And the manor's staff could be reduced by these deadly nights, considering the wagon advancing in the town that morning.
The fire genasi hold the clapper and ring the bell for a dozen of seconds, hopefully waiting for answer...
Artos grips the clapper and gives it a firm pull. There's a resonating SNAP, then a loud metallic CLANK as the bell collapses and falls apart on the other side. When the splintering of wood and rope dies down, and the echoing of the 'gong' of the bell fades into the abyss, the party is left in the silence once more. No one comes to answer.
Manor Front Bell. The bell is rendered inoperable. Any attempt to pull or use the bell will result in silence.
Artos:
"I don't know where she went after that," Beth shrugs back to Artos. "Maybe she came back here. I'd have no idea why. You saw how horrible it is in the village. If I were her, I'd run and never look back, but that's just me."
She wipes down the counter again and comes around the bar with two dishes of horse meat and eggs. Beth sets it down at a table and wipes her hands on her apron. "It's rumored there's a spot somewhere in the Fabled Heights where they released the spirit, aye. It's supposed to be the horde of a dragon who's long died. I wouldn't have any maps though, and most of the adventurers who've known have disappeared or died. You likely wouldn't have any luck askin the common folk, but you can try."
A misture sense of urgency and fear of the upcoming events took Artos in his very bones
"Well, thanks for your help Beth, is there in the village any scout we could hire for guiding us into the Fabled Heights?"
Artos:
"Well you'd have to get through the fog first," Beth frowns back to him. "Most of the people who've tried walking straight through the fog have always wandered straight back to town. You can't escape." She rubs her chin with a big, beefy hand. "There are some who didn't come back, but many folks assume that they died on the journey though. Poor folks." Beth shakes her head disapprovingly and sighs.
"If you want to learn more about the folks who ventured out, the mayor lives further north up the ridgeline, at the old cobblestone estate. She could tell ya 'bout the old mayor, who set up most of the expeditions out. About the Fabled Heights, the girl who runs the stables, Alysson Madin. Rumor 'round town is that she used to take lots of trips up there before the fog settled in."
Allyson Feed. The party has a rough idea where the stables run by Alysson Madin is, and can reach it without making an ability check.
"This woman you speak of, she is important, yes?"
Warren asks Artos as he lightly places a hand on the genasi's shoulder.
"If it's that important to you, then we can try looking for a way through the fog, first. With luck, these events will probably be linked, if not directly synonymous with each other. Before we set off, I would like to take care of some personal business. Where should we meet up?"
Warren asks the question directed to both Artos and Orryn in the last sentence, giving them both a chance to answer for a accurate statement.
Artos gravely looks at the paladin, he speaks every word akin to boulder
"Yes...yes she is.."
He speaks again after seconds to break an heavy silence
"You can follow your business Warren if they are in town, I will not get out in the fog alone, I hope to left my reckless time ago, with something else....."
"We will meet up here I think, in case I will leave a message to Beth"
Orryn parts ways with the dwarfs and heads back to the group.
"You will never believe what I have learned."
He pauses with an excited expression, waiting for his comrades to feel the same excitement.
"Gems. Lots of them. And... A potentially dangerous and cursed mine! Perhaps the previous adventurers woke an ancient curse there . We could stop it and save the town!"
He starts dancing with excitement.
"And did I mention... GEMS"
||PbP: Tarvyn's World... DM||
"Oh the geeems, yes, sure you mentioned them my friend, did they told you that this course came out from that mine?"
"Just to not run into too much troubles at the same time, and, well Warren have something to do so..I can propose to you, let's go to the Mayor's House. There, we can ask more about the fog and the awakened spirit...we will wait there for the Paladin, I will let him a message..and than, if the spirit its really in that mine...we will catch him, along with all the gems you can hold...
what do you think?"
"that sounds fine, let us depart!"
Orryn says excitedly.
||PbP: Tarvyn's World... DM||
The tuning of the drum is replaced by an upbeat, if a little offbeat, tune by the goblin. His face has shifted from minor curiosity to a fierce determination as he struggles to juggle his gear and his drum at the same time. This has an interesting effect on the tune, introducing rests and pauses where a marching tune does not normally have. Nevertheless, Komoi manages to situate his pack and get the drum back under both palms.
"A dragon's hoard needs gems of course! Gems and gold and swords and helmets. Onwards!"
The goblin's tune picks up tempo in time with his quicksteps. He careens out of the tavern with the plush tail flopping and dragging behind him, heading who knows where. He goes off of the words he had heard, making his way where he thought the mine might be located. The gems were at stake of course, so Komoi doesn't bother to stop and ask directions. He'll let his hoard sniffing nose lead him, naturally.
Orryn does a small jump and skips after Komoi.
"Hey, come along. I have no idea where he is going."
He calls back to Artos slightly puzzled.
||PbP: Tarvyn's World... DM||
"He's enthusiastic, I'll give him that. As for setting out, I'm in luck. The errand I must perform takes me the exact place we plan to go. We can set out if everyone is ready."
Warren adjusts his helm and shield accordingly, getting ready to embark with the others.
"My business might take me a small bit, but hopefully it won't take too long, as I will inquire of a few things from the mayor regarding a personal matter of mine."
All Players:
The grand majority of the adventurers in the inn depart out the door and into the town.
The rain had left a mess of the streets, looking more like a swamp than a public roadway. A couple of city workers work with brushes to smooth out the roads and excavate some of the water and mud to make it more traversable. Commoners wander about, their eyes a bit more distant, their gazes a bit more lost, as they go about their daily business. The fog that was present last night still hangs in the air several hundred feet around the town, like a white smokey prison.
Some of the carnage of last night was also visible. Many of the buildings around had fresh new scratches. Debris of wood and splinters are stacked in piles at the side of the road, to be dried and used as firewood in the future. A man pushes a cart through town, calling out, "Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead!" His current cart has about six or so bodies inside of it. There seems to be far too many legs and arms in that cart.
The party has several options they can do. They know the location of the mine in the eastern town, down toward the quarry at the fork they encountered when they entered the town. They know if they continue following the western road, they'll encounter Allyson Feed, closer to the middle of town. If they continue following further along that, they'll come to the mayor's house.
Your backstory may give you the location of other places not indicated here. Alternatively, you can wander around and see what other places you can find.
Abandoned Mine. In the eastern part of town is an abandoned mine, once the source of the town's income. It's said that creatures that eat and rust metal has taken over the site, and has been closed ever since. It's rumored that there's a vein of gems hidden deep within the mine, but has been deemed unreachable due to the creatures.
Mayor's House. The mayor, besides being the leader of the town, supposedly sent out several expeditions out into the fog for help. It's likely that the mayor will know the most about the fog and what it does.
Alysson Feed. It's said that Alysson Madin used to take several trips back and forth between town and the Fabled Heights. She's well-known in the town for knowing the most about the wilderness beyond the Hamlet of Lindley's borders.
Artos shrugs to Orryn and reach out of the Inn the enthusiastic goblin.
"Hey, hey....Komoi hold a second" the fire genasi catch up the goblin with his arm "You don't know exactly where this mine is, Orrin knows, you will find yourself lost in this damn fog if you step regardless of this, come with us to the Mayor's House, we want to better know what's happening here and there..but than, I promise, we will go to this mine, and take all the gems we could carry on, and of course, 8 arms and 4 backpacks are more than 2 and 1 don't you think? Your loot will be greater with little patience" Artos ends with a promising smile.
Orryn will follow Artos, excitedly hopping along.
When he sees the fresh damage to the buildings, it only helps to fuel his curiosity.
||PbP: Tarvyn's World... DM||
With a few strides, Warren catches up with the eager goblin and cautious genasi.
"Artos is right, Komoi. Charging headlong into a situation you're not ready for can often lead to disastrous consequence. I'd think you would rather live to hold a gem than perish before you get to see it. If there are no further qualms, we must depart posthaste if we are to make some progress before nightfall."
Warren's tone is stern, yet caring, approaching the subject with as much bluntness as possible to makke the situation clear.
The goblin rubs his chin as he listens to Artos' words. He doesn't seem terribly convinced the mayor could give him any information on the important parts. Namely the gems, of course. But the prospect of having multiple sets of arms to carry what would be the start to Komoi's hoard brings a grin to his face. He nods animatedly as he shoves the drum in his pack to free up both hands.
"This offer of yours sounds promising, it does. So then we go to this mayor and interrogate him to find out how many gems there are. I want to make sure I get them all collected. Volunteering yourself to carry my hoard is very generous!"
The goblin beams up at the man happily as he pats him on the arm. He glances over at Warren, a flicker of curiosity sparking in the goblin's eyes. He steps over and looks up at the armored man with his clawed hands on his hips. He nods once.
"You can carry my hoard too. But we have to go to the mayor's house first, metal man. So be patient, okay metal man? Don't go charging into the fog without first finding out how many gems you'll have to carry. Don't get over eager to help me with my hoard. I know it's an honor."
Komoi smiles reassuringly at Warren as he gives the man's armored leg a few pats. The goblin puffs out his chest and turns about face, looking around for the road leading to the mayor's residence.
"If we're going to get the gems before night, we should get a move on! Let's go my followers!"
The goblin begins marching, his destination altered for the time being.
All Players:
The players set onward down the path, heading up north on the western trail through the town. It takes about 5 minutes before the buildings about begin lessening in density, and the trees beginning to come further onto the trail. It seems there was once more houses here from the oddly flattened land, but Mother Nature seems to have retaken its rightful place out here, and is once again expansive forest and grasslands.
The trail ascends higher as well before coming to a peak. At the top of this peak is an estate, with a 10-foot tall granite wall surrounding a 120-foot by 60-foot compound. A large house sits toward the far north of the compound, with a garden and a fountain leading up to it. The area seems to have seen better days, with many superficial damages in the wall and a great deal of shrubbery and weeds infesting the once beautiful front lawn.
However, it still seem to have some life, evident by the beautiful elvish flowers at the doorstep of the manor.
The party currently stands at the gate of the manor. The gate is currently closed and locked, but it doesn't seem quite strong. Alternatively, one could try to scale over the shallow wall, but the slippery, and even crumbling surface at parts can be difficult to climb. A bell also sits on the far right-hand side, which seems operable.
They could also circle around to find another way in.
Manor Walls. The walls can be scaled with a DC 13 Strength (Athletics) check.
Approaching the estate, Artos ponders that this building has been more efficient to take the wolves out than the passage of time. And the manor's staff could be reduced by these deadly nights, considering the wagon advancing in the town that morning.
The fire genasi hold the clapper and ring the bell for a dozen of seconds, hopefully waiting for answer...
Artos:
Artos grips the clapper and gives it a firm pull. There's a resonating SNAP, then a loud metallic CLANK as the bell collapses and falls apart on the other side. When the splintering of wood and rope dies down, and the echoing of the 'gong' of the bell fades into the abyss, the party is left in the silence once more. No one comes to answer.
"It would appear he expected no visitors to this place, and refuses for anyone to continue passage."
Minor setback.
"So how about this, we try not to cause any more damage, and we scale the wall? I'll help anyone if they need it."
I use the help action to try to help anyone over the wall if they need it. How tall is the wall exactly?