Quote from SpieltJoos >>

(You can use identify to touch a creature & work out what spells are affecting it - it’s towards the bottom of the spell description. But I don’t have materials anyways.)

 (Must’ve glossed over that section, thinking it was just the section for upcasting. Whoops.)

(OOC - looks like we've dropped another player. Not sure what the other players' thoughts are. I'm happy to continue trying I guess.)

Brocc waits for a bit in the cold to see if any other ideas come up. If no one offers anything, he turns back to the boarded up cabin and casts Thaumaturgy to simulate the sound of ominous whispers and scratching, like something undead or evil is trying to come up through the floorboards of the cabin, in an effort to drive Tulgi out of hiding.

(That player mentioned dropping to me. 4+ is my preferred party size, but I know from experience with one of the other groups that if anyone else drops I can probably find replacements quickly.)

You can hear creaking on the floorboards of the house, followed by the door unlatching.

Brocc readies himself near the door and watches it closely, ready for whatever comes out - whether he needs to grab a crazed and scared Tulgi, or defend himself should the shut-in start attacking.

Tulgi opens the door, beckoning for you four to come in.

Brocc will enter the house, kneel near where he made the sounds and act as if he is praying as he stops the sounds from his spell. He then turns to Tulgi.

"Elro sent us ta check on you, but also we'd like ta ask some questions on dis affliction dat is freezin' dose in town. Perhaps you might enlighten us as ta what is happenin', wit' you especially, but also how dis all started?"

“I, I, I, I don’t know! All I know is that I got it somehow!”

"it's alright Tulgi," Brocc tries to calm him down and get him to sit, "Why don't ya tell us what happened? Maybe we can figure somethin' out from dere. An' don't leave anyt'ing out, 'cause da more we know, de better we can help you."

Don't worry, we were sent here for a reason, you know. We're going to get this figured out. Hinry tries to soothe Tulgi as best he can: persuasion 6

He'll also take a discreet look around the cabin: perception 20

You notice that there’s a small brazier in the corner, as well as two wolves cowering behind the bed.

”Okay, I guess I’ll start from the beginning. 

I actually work for the Uttolots. You know, the criminal family of Shadycreek Run? Don’t judge, we all do things we aren’ proud of. My sister Hulil works for them too.

We were sent here by the boss to look out for treasure coming back from the Eiselcross. Urgon was an explorer who brought such treasure back, so I waited until he sold it to Pelc’s Curiosities and stole it all.

I gave all the treasure to Hulil, but took a nice dagger for myself. She’s with the rest of the treasure in Croaker Cave, to the north of town.”

"No judgement friend," Brocc reassures Tulgi, "Do ya still have de dagger? And have ya checked in on Hulil recently? I'm concerned dat p'haps dis treasure is cursed in some way an' is why yer feelin' sick. Could ya point us to da cave ya call Croaker?"

“It’s, it’s, it’s to the north of town. The dagger’s in my desk drawer. Just promise me that once all this is over you’ll help me get out of town so I can run away from my mistakes.”

Hinry goes for the desk and the dagger.

"We'll go check on Hulil an' see what we can do," Brocc says to reassure the distraught Tulgi. He checks that Hinry has the dagger before leaving to go to the cave.

(Hinry, you’ve obtained a +1 dagger, so you can add that to your inventory.)

(Sweet.)

Hinry follows Brocc out. Anything about that seem....odd to you?

"In what way?" Brocc says to Hinry as they make their way to the cave. "Much of it was odd. Him givin' over de dagger. Tellin' us dat story so easily after not wantin' ta talk. I t'ink we'd best be on our guard from here on. Likely dat dis is all just an elaborate setup." Seeing Hinry with his new dagger, he adds, "Dat's a lovely piece, just be careful. I don't know if it's cursed or not, with dis sickness an' all, so maybe don't use it just yet."

Brocc continues to the cave, unless the group wishes to do something else.

That about sums it up Hinry says, holding up the dagger and inspecting it. I'm not much for daggers anyway...I'll put it in my pack for now.

You approach an ice-covered cave, noticing the tracks in the snow leading up to it. You notice smoke coming out of a sort of chimney on top of the cave.

How should we handle it? March straight in or shall we take a...stealthier approach?