Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

Minsys takes a quick look about fir any nearby hay or at least a patch of grass and will direct the horse near to it and then dismount.  Calling out with a little laugh he says, "ya, we found her and a few horses... I smell... food." His smile gets wider and maybe a little more menacing.  Walking along Vaxis, he heads in for some grub.

Big Al lights up as he sees the chocolate-colored cow waddling slowly up the way behind Tabesha’l. “You found her! Oh, sweet relief!” He rushes out to give the cow a warm nuzzle and feeds her a couple of carrots. “Thank you, friends...I am forever in your debt! You are just in time, breakfast is served!”

Minsys finds a patch of overgrown clover near the well at the northeast corner of the house that the horse (a beautiful tan with accents of black around the eyes, ears, mouth and hoofs) immediately becomes interested in. Looking over his shoulder, he sees the two other horses grazing about 300 feet away near the still-smoking remnants of the burned-out barn.

Entering through the door, the front hall looks like the scene of a grisly murder and smells of slaughterhouse, but moving on into the dining room the more pleasant aromas of a home-cooked meal surround the group, stimulating their appetites once more.

As they enjoy their meal, Big Al entertains them with a retelling of the War of the Silver Marches and the subsequent assault on Triboar by a group of fire giants, orogs and an orc cavalry mounted on axe-beaks. As his tale winds down and everyone finishes their meal, Big Al asks the party where they plan to go next and offers to put them up for the night so they can rest and heal before journeying onward.

At the question, Connak thinks of the map.  "Maybe here, if you can tell us where this 'X' on this map points to?"

Big Al clears a few plates and other dishes away from the table so they can spread the map out for a better look at the soiled parchment which is about 2 feet wide and 18’’ tall.

“Hmm...well, this is obviously a map of the local area...seems loosely centered on the Triboar Trail. That would mean the ‘X’ is somewhere in the Sword Mountains...orc country, for sure. Those peaks and valleys hide all sorts of mines, tombs, outposts and even a few strongholds and fortresses...could be anything. There’s a map dealer in Yartar that probably has extensive records on that area, although their services can be a bit pricey. Triboar is a little closer and the guides there might know something they’d be willing to share for a modest fee. If I send you with a letter of introduction explaining your deeds here, they would almost certainly help you for free.”

The quaint dining room is decorated with all sorts of antiques and curios, although some of them lay in pieces on the floor. Tabesha’l spots several books are filed on a shelf in the corner. Choosing one at random, she finds most of its pages blank, however a couple of them appear to contain arcane symbols and script. On top of one of the wooden china cabinets is what appears to be a rather dusty-looking spice rack, although the contents of the jars look hardly like something one would add to their food.

Tabesha'l's mouth twists in a pout as she concentrates on the runes scribbled in the book. Her eyes dart quickly from the worn pages to the spice rack, then back to the book, as her finger traces some of the symbols. She frowns, then readjusts the wide hat on her head, obvioulsy lost in her study.

** Arcane to see what the book is about: 19 **

Connak nods, "Hmm, that letter may come in useful if we decide to figure out what an orc was doing with a map."

Minsys is busy stuffing his face with all sorts of food.  "Never know when ya get ta eat so eat when ya can," he says through a huge mouthful.  

After taking a big drink of whatever was there he continues, "If ya are goin where der be more orcs, ya might need protection, or someone who can help get food in da forest.  That's me."

Vaxis chuckles.

"Then we are happy to have you, friend Minsys."

He turns to Big Al.

"Are you SURE you want to stay? We would be more than happy to escort you back to town if you are having need. You can bring the cow too."

TO VAXIS: “Thanks, but no thanks friend. I’d rather die at the hands of an orc than give up this way of life. I’m afraid if I left this place for too long, I’d just get sucked back into the drama and politics of city life. Every settlement has its criminals and the old sheriff in me wouldn’t be able to resist gettin’ involved. Besides, Phandalin’s not big enough for more than one irascible old coot and Harbin Wester’s already got that covered. I would ask that you please post a notice for me in Phandalin that I’m hiring five new ranch hands...2 gold per tenday, starting immediately.”

After appraising the curious tome, Tabesha’l determines it is an unfinished book of arcane rituals. The first and second pages contain completed spells that she believes she has deciphered, at least to the degree that she believes she could potentially cast them successfully if she had the correct material components. The third page has the beginnings of another arcane cipher, however the ink suddenly runs off the page about halfway down. Several other dark splotches appear below the interrupted arcane script. The remainder of the pages are blank.

Big Al notices her interest in the old book. “You like mysteries, lady elf? Ye’ve stumbled onto a good one there. Not long after I bought this place, I was digging the well right out front here. Found that old book buried about 20 feet deep...clutched in the skeletal hands of what I can only assume was it’s previous owner. Customers get a kick out of it, ‘specially when I tell ‘em how I found it, but to be honest with you, it gives me the creeps. It’s yours if you want it...”

Vaxis picks up whatever is appropriate at hand and jots a note to get that posted in Phandalin. He then smiles a big toothy grin.

"Fair enough. I can understand and respect that, to live and die for ones way of life. I will do as you ask, I'm sure there will be plenty of people looking for work."

“You know, come to think of it, that book wasn’t the only thing I found buried that day...I’ll be right back,” Big Al pushes away from the table and ascends the stairs in the corner of the dining room. His footsteps can be heard from downstairs as he moved along the hall and into a room at the front of the house. Other muffled sounds can be heard as he searched through his belongings for the item he was after.

Moments later, heavy footfalls descended the stairs and he reappears carrying in both arms what looks to be a full set of chain mail armor, which he plops down on top of the worn out map. It’s shining, silvery-blue interlocking metal rings are much smaller and thus grouped closer together than is commonly seen in heavy armor of similar design, giving the set a lighter and more flexible appearance.

“This was on the fella that someone decided they needed to bury 20 feet deep in the ground...” he clips sarcastically, “...along with his unfinished, bloodstained book. I got no need for either of ‘em. Not sure if any of you can make use of it, but if you like it, you can have it.” Big Al slaps a pair of matching gauntlets on top of the set of armor as if to punctuate his decision to part with it. “Who wants coffee?”

Connak's eyes light up, hands itching.  He touches it reverently, turning it over and moving it about as he tries to figure out if he could even possibly wear it.

Vaxis eyes the armor, appraising it mentally. He tries on one of the gauntlets, to slate his curiosity. 

What can be in that well?, he wonders to himself.

Big Al heads off to the kitchen to make coffee as Connak and Vaxis appraise the suit of armor. The exceptional materials and craftsmanship are immediately evident - as Connak lifts the various pieces to examine further, he is surprised by how light they feel. The multiple layers of metal rings barely make a sound while the armor is being handled. As Vaxis slides his hand into one of the gleaming gauntlets, images of a noble pulling on a silk glove are conjured up in his mind. Not a single spot of corrosion can be found anywhere, despite having spent untold years buried deep in the moist, arable soil.

Connak dejectly realizes as light as the armor is, it would still be too heavy to allow him to sneak along or shoot his bow with proper form.  The state of the armor strongly suggests magical properties, but the only one that could confirm is Tabesha'l and she is thankfully engrossed in her new book.  Connak shrugs and returns to glancing over at the map, not curious enough to give Tabasha'l an excuse to launch into a monologue.

Vaxis puts the armor in his bag, resolved to speaking to Tabesha'l later about the curious nature of the armor, and to Ando about who should wear it should it be truly special.

Each member of the party becomes quietly lost in their own activities for about half an hour until Big Al returns from the kitchen carrying a large tray with a dented but otherwise elegant silver teapot and several sets of slightly chipped porcelain cups and saucers. “Apologies for the state of my serving dishes...salvaged what I could from what those damned orcs threw into the floor.”

He places a set in front of each of his guests and then pours a steaming cup of the dark, aromatic bean infusion. “Looks like its a keeper, eh? Good, good,” he says to Vaxis who he noticed had stuffed the suit of armor into a pack. “My days of needing armor are over...I hope,” he adds with a but of sarcasm.

”So, what secrets has your campfire map revealed?” he says to the group of Connak, Minsys and Ando. “Figure out where your off to next, hmm? There’s an old shrine dedicated to Savras about 7 miles southwest of here. If the legends are true, then all the wealth of Conyberry was hidden there somewhere just before the barbarian horde stormed in and slaughtered everyone in town. Who knows, you just might get rich!”

Connak scoffs, "Light houses and now shrines, all full of riches.  Sounds like problem areas locals talk up to try and get people to throw themselves at them."

Minsys grunts, "Makes no difference to me but if there are some orc causing trouble there, then I'm in for putting it down."

Connak turns to Vaxis, arm swept out at Minsys, "See!  He gets it too.  And he's almost one of them!"