((OOC: I imagine Eli is responding to the fiscal actions of Ikki's hands and changes in his beak clicks and voice. You don't see a scowl in a birds face, but in their entire demeanor. Well played!))
Eli to Ikki, "Why don't at least you, Wolfsong and I search those other two buildings we saw. The big burned out one and the one directly north of the pond? We might find survivors or at least boards and nails to protect this room against the weather. It is very early spring. We could still get terrible weather. We also have no idea how long before the Orcs come back if they choose to." ((Everyone heard the loud short repromands from Blaire and Wolfsong to Robwin not an hour earlier.))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Fine plan," Wolfsong answers Eli after finishing helping Ikki with the bodies. He then turns his attention to the rest of the group present and slowly disappointingly shakes his head, "Take only from what you kill, honor thy hunt, nothing more."
With that said Wolfsong leaves the building and waits for Ikki and Eli outside, watching for any other signs of trouble, taking care to also check the skies.
Robwin comes back downstairs as Eli, Ikki and Wolfsong are speaking. Hearing the discussion and sensing the tension in the room, he throws the sack of coin over by the armour, with an unmistakeable, heavy clinking sound.
”Looks like the orcs didn’t take everything...” he says in an flat, even tone. He doesn’t mention the scroll. ((OOC: I don’t think anyone is aware of its existence))
He looks around. No bodies. He looks outside and sees the pile of orcs. “What do we do with the bodies? Do we bury them? I could burn them, if you wish it...”.
”Any survivors? The owners? Farm hands? Any sign??”, he asks the room.... He frowns when the response is negative.
He will follow the others when they head out to explore the other buildings.
Rinn shakes his head, "We didn't find anyone alive, though someone did manage to make their way to Phandalin." He cuts the rope binds then offers his dagger to Kalazorn. "I think we're all clear here now. If you own this place, you must be Big Al then. We found some of your animals too. They had BAK branded on them, so I figure that's yours. I'm Rinn," he smiles and helps Kalazorn to his feet.
Rinn: Big Al stares at you a bit. Then starts wrapping the blanket round himself and says. "I can't see in this pitch. Should be a tinderbox and candle by the stairs. Go light it, will ya?"
Ikki turns his head to blink at Eli with one red-brown eye. After another click of his beak, his shoulders appear to relax, his posture taking on its usual slumped look. The bird man remains silent as the paladin and Wolfsong suggest they three search some of the other buildings. One more click of his beak, and Ikki looks ready to leave, but still not entirely at easy. At the question about light, Ikki replies, "Yes."
Blaire says, "Right.", and casts light on the head of Ikki's spear.
"I was going to get him a touch, but thanks.", Eli says.
"Whatever! I'm going to gather a meal together and see what's liveable. Make sure you find Rinn!", she turns towards the kitchen. She's again mumbling about the benefits of a ship and the sea with enough vulgarity to peal paint. Pulling out her pipe and leaf as she starts her aggressive foreging.
The burned-out smithy is about 250 ft west by northwest from the ranch house and about 75 ft north of the edge of the pond.
There is a burned-out barn about 350 ft west by southwest from the smithy.
From the northeast edge of the pond to the smithy then continuing down the path toward the barn is the remains of a bloody skirmish. None of the bodies, Orcs (4), humans (2), an elf and a dwarf have nothing of value on them. The stone of the smithy base and furnace remain. There is an undamaged coal stock east of the smithy.
You don't find other survivors.
You do find some serviceable tools and lumber to board the windows.
Buy the time you get back to the ranch house, Rinn and Big Al have gotten back into the house through the back door. Big Al has washed and dressed in working pants and shirt and is sitting in the dining room with TT, Rinn, and Blaire. Big Al looks pretty rough. Blaire casts cure wounds (7 hp) on Big Al.
Are there any discussions between characters to be had outside or inside the house?
Otherwise, fast forward to the party in the dinning area with Big Al before a long rest.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Robwin would bring up the rear, behind the others as the small group traipse round to check the other burned-out buildings and bodies.
Although he’s not too fussy about it, and he’s not holding out too much hope of anything showing up, more just out of routine really, and a sense of duty to examine all angles as they look around, he will ritually cast detect magic again as they head out.
His eyes glaze over a little with their familiar, oily, rainbowy film, as he looks round, and he feels for and follows the magical weave around him with his finger tips.
Investigation check (if needed): 24 (passive 15)
Otherwise, he’s happy to move on towards the dinning area with Big Al.
"Thank you for the healing both now and earlier.", Al now says to TT and Blaire.
"And thank you for getting me out of my dang cold cellar.", he continues nodding to Rinn.
To the party he says, "I have five regular hands and two seasonal on the ranch. We were just getting ready for the first planting which always keeps us all busy. After getting seed in the ground, we round up the few free ranging cattle I have, a few steer, cow and two bulls. I am grateful you found Petunia and some of my horses already.", he stops and sips the malled ale Blaire had put out for everyone.
"Anyway, early morning, they came barreling over the northern hills. Wasn't expecting any ruckus. We don't typically have much. It's why I chose this area. We hadn't even seen a tenday since the last wagon took our ready stock east.", another pause
"Hells. Anyway, first carrying on is that the pigs are loose. That's what the alarm was what pulled me out of the cellar. Second, that there's Orcs. Then, I'm hit hard. Don't know how anything went from there. I was in my own ... troubles ... until you showed up."
"Now, the sack of coin. That was wages. I will pay the lot of you half what I have there to spend two days helping me set what we can right."
"The rough gems, I never saw. Must be from the Orcs. None of my hands were the miner type. You take them. The shirt and gauntlets; mithral chain mail; from my soldiering. You all take it and use it. You saved me and my Petunia. I wouldn't have a business worth anything without her."
"I think your plan of bedding down in here and sorting everything else out in the morning makes sense. From what I've seen, a lot needs to be cleaned or burned before things are set right."
(Big Al looks a bit shaken, but determined to march on. You get the feeling anything further would be better approached in the morning.)
((Do you bed down? Do you grab a spot on the floor in this room or find another spot? Are you taking watch? Big Al will bed down in a corner in this dinning room tonight.))
Rinn's eyes light up at the thought of getting to work on the farm and be around the animals. "I've never worked on a farm before! This will be fun," he laughs. "I suppose we could rest for tonight and then do more in the morning, but I'm feeling alright if anyone wants to do anything now."
Rinn will take several watches throughout the night due to his elven trance.
“Big Al”, Robwin says kindly, “I’m glad you’re alright. And I hope we can help a little over the next few days.... There’s probably not much we can do now, as it’s getting dark. But is there anything that needs doing urgently before we turn in?”.
”Like Rinn, I only need a few hours trance, so I can put in a good few hours watch too...... Rinn, why don’t we take half the night each? And then people can keep us company and help out as and when they can”.
Before settling down, Robwin will spend 11 minutes at each ground-floor-door and each broken-window to ritually cast silent alarm spells.
((Given the choice, Robwin would probably opt for the last 4 hours watch, just so Lia has a chance to get back and help him out, but he’ll do any old watch if he’s needed to))
@DM:-
((@DM - Lia the Owl went to follow the orcs as they fled, and watch where they got to, and report back. Robwin is fine to wait if it takes longer, but I was just wondering whether she’d get back tonight or later. No bother either way))
((@DM - not sure if Robwin’s trance time would qualify for his communing with magic or whether he should take any particular actions. Let me know))
Robwin: As you take the first opportunity to enter Reverie, you are think deeply on your dedication to magic, your desire to identify the scroll you found and how helpful you could have been with TT and others if you could get the spell worked out. Throughout the dreaming memories of your youth your unquenchable faith in the weave has been a constant thread. Of course, as you matured the dreaming come less often, a normal progression, your elder mentors have all assured you. In those early reverie, magic was to you sometimes a beautiful archfey of rich yellow hair and vibrant green or blue eyes or the same likeness with white silver tipped hair and pale lilac eyes. Tonight you see her as the latter. Only you aren't looking upon a background of a tower or wood or through some memories eyes. You see with your current eyes in your current surroundings.
You cannot speak or move, but you see and hear her as she opens your spell book as she has in dreams before.
"Nice hat little one. Always so ambitious. So eager to please and to learn. Ever faithful. It's rare you know. Even your dear master rarely seeks us out this past century. We're pleased with you and with your studies. We hope to see you walk this plane for many centuries. We wonder if you too will forget us without the blessing of youth. Oh, don't look so sad. We know your heart. We simply see change everywhere. Now, you almost have this one even without your master's tutelage. We see you are in an interesting time. Perhaps you will seek us out someday? What fun we could have." (At this point, you're not sure if she's talking about you or not.)
"She shows you a few quick scratches of her long sharp nail across the page you were working on in your spell book. Now, you understand?" (You do and you nod.)
"What a fun child." She closes your book, lifts your hat, kisses your brow and says, "You have company. Wake."
Your eyes pop open. You are in ranch hand room were you found the scroll. You are alone sitting in the corner behind the closed door. There is a small candle lamp lit by the closed window. Lia is purchased on the other candle lamp. In your lap is your spell book and the scroll.
You open your spell book to the page and completed on it is what you now understand to be the spell identify. What in your dream were nailmarks are now fine vibrant amethyst colored ink. It's an interesting contrast to your own black inked script. You unroll the scroll again and this time you understand it to be Spider Climb.
As you open your scroll case to put it away for later, you find a single pearl (100 gp) and an owl feather; clearly not Lia's.
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((OOC: I imagine Eli is responding to the fiscal actions of Ikki's hands and changes in his beak clicks and voice. You don't see a scowl in a birds face, but in their entire demeanor. Well played!))
Eli to Ikki, "Why don't at least you, Wolfsong and I search those other two buildings we saw. The big burned out one and the one directly north of the pond? We might find survivors or at least boards and nails to protect this room against the weather. It is very early spring. We could still get terrible weather. We also have no idea how long before the Orcs come back if they choose to." ((Everyone heard the loud short repromands from Blaire and Wolfsong to Robwin not an hour earlier.))
"Fine plan," Wolfsong answers Eli after finishing helping Ikki with the bodies. He then turns his attention to the rest of the group present and slowly disappointingly shakes his head, "Take only from what you kill, honor thy hunt, nothing more."
With that said Wolfsong leaves the building and waits for Ikki and Eli outside, watching for any other signs of trouble, taking care to also check the skies.
Perception 16
Eli will wait for Ikki to follow Wolfsong, then follow Ikki.
"Do you need light out there Ikki?", he'll ask.
Robwin comes back downstairs as Eli, Ikki and Wolfsong are speaking. Hearing the discussion and sensing the tension in the room, he throws the sack of coin over by the armour, with an unmistakeable, heavy clinking sound.
”Looks like the orcs didn’t take everything...” he says in an flat, even tone. He doesn’t mention the scroll. ((OOC: I don’t think anyone is aware of its existence))
He looks around. No bodies. He looks outside and sees the pile of orcs. “What do we do with the bodies? Do we bury them? I could burn them, if you wish it...”.
”Any survivors? The owners? Farm hands? Any sign??”, he asks the room.... He frowns when the response is negative.
He will follow the others when they head out to explore the other buildings.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Rinn shakes his head, "We didn't find anyone alive, though someone did manage to make their way to Phandalin." He cuts the rope binds then offers his dagger to Kalazorn. "I think we're all clear here now. If you own this place, you must be Big Al then. We found some of your animals too. They had BAK branded on them, so I figure that's yours. I'm Rinn," he smiles and helps Kalazorn to his feet.
Rinn: Big Al stares at you a bit. Then starts wrapping the blanket round himself and says. "I can't see in this pitch. Should be a tinderbox and candle by the stairs. Go light it, will ya?"
Ikki turns his head to blink at Eli with one red-brown eye. After another click of his beak, his shoulders appear to relax, his posture taking on its usual slumped look. The bird man remains silent as the paladin and Wolfsong suggest they three search some of the other buildings. One more click of his beak, and Ikki looks ready to leave, but still not entirely at easy. At the question about light, Ikki replies, "Yes."
"Here, I have spares," Wolfsong says as he pulls a torch from his pack and offers it to Ikki then lighting it with his tinderbox if Ikki accepts it.
"Oh yeah, human an' all," Rinn chuckles and heads over to light the candle.
Blaire says, "Right.", and casts light on the head of Ikki's spear.
"I was going to get him a touch, but thanks.", Eli says.
"Whatever! I'm going to gather a meal together and see what's liveable. Make sure you find Rinn!", she turns towards the kitchen. She's again mumbling about the benefits of a ship and the sea with enough vulgarity to peal paint. Pulling out her pipe and leaf as she starts her aggressive foreging.
Ikki is appreciative of the light. He marches toward the small group of buildings.
The burned-out smithy is about 250 ft west by northwest from the ranch house and about 75 ft north of the edge of the pond.
There is a burned-out barn about 350 ft west by southwest from the smithy.
From the northeast edge of the pond to the smithy then continuing down the path toward the barn is the remains of a bloody skirmish. None of the bodies, Orcs (4), humans (2), an elf and a dwarf have nothing of value on them. The stone of the smithy base and furnace remain. There is an undamaged coal stock east of the smithy.
You don't find other survivors.
You do find some serviceable tools and lumber to board the windows.
Buy the time you get back to the ranch house, Rinn and Big Al have gotten back into the house through the back door. Big Al has washed and dressed in working pants and shirt and is sitting in the dining room with TT, Rinn, and Blaire. Big Al looks pretty rough. Blaire casts cure wounds (7 hp) on Big Al.
Are there any discussions between characters to be had outside or inside the house?
Otherwise, fast forward to the party in the dinning area with Big Al before a long rest.
Robwin would bring up the rear, behind the others as the small group traipse round to check the other burned-out buildings and bodies.
Although he’s not too fussy about it, and he’s not holding out too much hope of anything showing up, more just out of routine really, and a sense of duty to examine all angles as they look around, he will ritually cast detect magic again as they head out.
His eyes glaze over a little with their familiar, oily, rainbowy film, as he looks round, and he feels for and follows the magical weave around him with his finger tips.
Investigation check (if needed): 24 (passive 15)
Otherwise, he’s happy to move on towards the dinning area with Big Al.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
"What happened here AL?" TT will ask as she touches his arm and cast Cure wounds (9) as well (if he still looks like he needs it)
Robwin: Nothing catches your attention.
(Big Al was looking pretty rough.)
"Thank you for the healing both now and earlier.", Al now says to TT and Blaire.
"And thank you for getting me out of my dang cold cellar.", he continues nodding to Rinn.
To the party he says, "I have five regular hands and two seasonal on the ranch. We were just getting ready for the first planting which always keeps us all busy. After getting seed in the ground, we round up the few free ranging cattle I have, a few steer, cow and two bulls. I am grateful you found Petunia and some of my horses already.", he stops and sips the malled ale Blaire had put out for everyone.
"Anyway, early morning, they came barreling over the northern hills. Wasn't expecting any ruckus. We don't typically have much. It's why I chose this area. We hadn't even seen a tenday since the last wagon took our ready stock east.", another pause
"Hells. Anyway, first carrying on is that the pigs are loose. That's what the alarm was what pulled me out of the cellar. Second, that there's Orcs. Then, I'm hit hard. Don't know how anything went from there. I was in my own ... troubles ... until you showed up."
"Now, the sack of coin. That was wages. I will pay the lot of you half what I have there to spend two days helping me set what we can right."
"The rough gems, I never saw. Must be from the Orcs. None of my hands were the miner type. You take them. The shirt and gauntlets; mithral chain mail; from my soldiering. You all take it and use it. You saved me and my Petunia. I wouldn't have a business worth anything without her."
"I think your plan of bedding down in here and sorting everything else out in the morning makes sense. From what I've seen, a lot needs to be cleaned or burned before things are set right."
(Big Al looks a bit shaken, but determined to march on. You get the feeling anything further would be better approached in the morning.)
((Do you bed down? Do you grab a spot on the floor in this room or find another spot? Are you taking watch? Big Al will bed down in a corner in this dinning room tonight.))
Rinn's eyes light up at the thought of getting to work on the farm and be around the animals. "I've never worked on a farm before! This will be fun," he laughs. "I suppose we could rest for tonight and then do more in the morning, but I'm feeling alright if anyone wants to do anything now."
Rinn will take several watches throughout the night due to his elven trance.
“Big Al”, Robwin says kindly, “I’m glad you’re alright. And I hope we can help a little over the next few days.... There’s probably not much we can do now, as it’s getting dark. But is there anything that needs doing urgently before we turn in?”.
”Like Rinn, I only need a few hours trance, so I can put in a good few hours watch too...... Rinn, why don’t we take half the night each? And then people can keep us company and help out as and when they can”.
Before settling down, Robwin will spend 11 minutes at each ground-floor-door and each broken-window to ritually cast silent alarm spells.
((Given the choice, Robwin would probably opt for the last 4 hours watch, just so Lia has a chance to get back and help him out, but he’ll do any old watch if he’s needed to))
@DM:-
((@DM - Lia the Owl went to follow the orcs as they fled, and watch where they got to, and report back. Robwin is fine to wait if it takes longer, but I was just wondering whether she’d get back tonight or later. No bother either way))
((@DM - not sure if Robwin’s trance time would qualify for his communing with magic or whether he should take any particular actions. Let me know))
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Robwin: As you take the first opportunity to enter Reverie, you are think deeply on your dedication to magic, your desire to identify the scroll you found and how helpful you could have been with TT and others if you could get the spell worked out. Throughout the dreaming memories of your youth your unquenchable faith in the weave has been a constant thread. Of course, as you matured the dreaming come less often, a normal progression, your elder mentors have all assured you. In those early reverie, magic was to you sometimes a beautiful archfey of rich yellow hair and vibrant green or blue eyes or the same likeness with white silver tipped hair and pale lilac eyes. Tonight you see her as the latter. Only you aren't looking upon a background of a tower or wood or through some memories eyes. You see with your current eyes in your current surroundings.
You cannot speak or move, but you see and hear her as she opens your spell book as she has in dreams before.
"Nice hat little one. Always so ambitious. So eager to please and to learn. Ever faithful. It's rare you know. Even your dear master rarely seeks us out this past century. We're pleased with you and with your studies. We hope to see you walk this plane for many centuries. We wonder if you too will forget us without the blessing of youth. Oh, don't look so sad. We know your heart. We simply see change everywhere. Now, you almost have this one even without your master's tutelage. We see you are in an interesting time. Perhaps you will seek us out someday? What fun we could have." (At this point, you're not sure if she's talking about you or not.)
"She shows you a few quick scratches of her long sharp nail across the page you were working on in your spell book. Now, you understand?" (You do and you nod.)
"What a fun child." She closes your book, lifts your hat, kisses your brow and says, "You have company. Wake."
Your eyes pop open. You are in ranch hand room were you found the scroll. You are alone sitting in the corner behind the closed door. There is a small candle lamp lit by the closed window. Lia is purchased on the other candle lamp. In your lap is your spell book and the scroll.
You open your spell book to the page and completed on it is what you now understand to be the spell identify. What in your dream were nailmarks are now fine vibrant amethyst colored ink. It's an interesting contrast to your own black inked script. You unroll the scroll again and this time you understand it to be Spider Climb.
As you open your scroll case to put it away for later, you find a single pearl (100 gp) and an owl feather; clearly not Lia's.