Lost Lab of Kwalish

I’ll follow 

Leann is not leaving the others behind. She pauses and looks to the others. "Let's go." She says with a frown at the others. "You decided leaving is what you wanted, so let's get up and out, then we can decide what to do next."

I didn't say Huarache was going to go to the forge. He'll look at it longingly for a few seconds before Leann snaps him out of it.

"Doubtless it lacks a secondary exit," Dorian murmurs to Huarache sympathetically.

As the others join her Leann continues to lead the way out of the place.  She glances around with a bit of frustration and annoyance in her every movement, clearly ready to get out of here if that is what the others wish.

So it looks like you're not going to check out the old haunted forge.  

 As you round the West side of the mine shaft, several kobolds meet you at the mouth of the cave to see you off, having crossed the shaft via the bridge connecting the South spur tunnel to the egg hatchery.  They wave and wish you well.  The DragonShield, crocodile tears in his reptilian eyes, grabs Shutorn and, sobbing, hugs him with a great squeeze as he whispers. "Take care, >sniffle< Old Friend." after an uncomfortably long time, he lets go and with a pat on the back, clears his throat and in a deeper voice than hes used before, restates. "Stay out if trouble."

You're outside the mine. It's sunset. There is a small building on either side of the dwarf-built road before you.

To your right, the office: This building has walls made of closely fitted stone with large windows, and a wide, overhanging tile roof. It's now  overgrown with vines and creepers, but the structure is still solid.

To your left, the supply shed: This building is made from closely fitted stones and has a tile roof, but no windows. Portions of the wall are crumbling where tree roots are pushing the stones apart.  Gouges and scars show where someone tried to hack  through the heavy door with axes but gave up after making little headway.

Explore one of them or just head down the road.  The base of the Barrier Peaks stands before you.

Almost forgot. You're all level 6 now, but i have tk rework the xp because my assumptions weren't met. Im still sure your level 6.

Anybody care to:

1. check one of the out-buildings,

2. go back into the mine or

3. start the actual Kwalish content

?????

Dorian would like to take a look at the supply shed -- does it seem intact, or did they find a way around the door to get at what's inside? Is it locked or more barricaded?

Shutorn suggests being on our way as soon as possible because once his spell wears off, he explains, the kobolds he charmed will be aware they were tricked. 

“As nice as it would be to check out those buildings, I would rather not be here when those spells wear off...”  Leann says as she nods back towards the mines.  “Let’s put some distance between us and this place.” She glances to the others for acceptance of that idea. She would not walk off on ehr own, so she waits if someone really needs to check out a building before leaving.

The axe marks are only a few feet off the ground (having been made by kobolds). The door can be forced open  with a successful DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check.  

The windows are 10ft above the ground and completely open, making access trivial, so here's what's inside: Dozens of crates and barrels are stacked inside.  Several have been toppled over by tree roots growing beneath them. Stored food and water is inedible, but the other supplies are mostly still usable, even if they won't be especially useful to adventurers. They consist of tools for mining, stone-working, and iron-working, shovels. Lanterns and candles, miners' helmets, heavy gloves, spare wheels, axles, and brakes for ore carts, grease, thick rope, tar, brushes, brooms, and so forth.     

Dorian will have his owl grab him a mining helmet ("I'd like to protect the old noggin if the kobolds do try and chase us down!") and agree to move on.

Ctenmiir walks with you as you follow the Dwarven road to the foot of the mountains. Though centuries of neglect have taken their toll, the road remains easily passable, owing to the fine craftsmanship kf the stonemasons who laid these bricks in centuries past.

Rising from the trees in the distance, a particularly tall copse reveals itself to be, in fact, the spires of a temple, overgrown with vines and ferns.  

"Does someone want to send a faimilar or something ahead to check out that temple?" Leann suggests as she spots it ahead. "I'd hate to walk into a trap or something if we can scout it from afar first..."

If anyone wants to make a nature check or investigation check, you might learn something (Sam would have advantage om Nature)

 Dorian will do an Investigation check: 24

Dorian's arcane expertise informs him that there are elements of the Feywild in this forest, suggesting the presence of a nearby Fey crossroad.

As the party nears the temple, the wilderness gives way to orderly rows of plants growing amid the short grass, but rows set at odd angles to one another. It's not a maze, the space between each specimen is broad and not obstructive, but the arrangement of each copse is not in any regular or discernible pattern.  Within the garden, the buzz of flying insects wanes as an eerie stillness sets in.  Regardless of your perception, you sense that there is some presence within the manicured rows which narrowly evades your senses. 

The temple itself, beneath the turrets and spires, is actually constructed on a foundation comprised of a great statue.  It's form resembles a humanoid, but its face is nearly featureless and lacking any expression.  It appears to be struggling to free itself from the bonds of the massive tree growing within the temple, whose branches twist and wrap around the statue's limbs.  

As you explore the grounds around the temple, an incredibly fast creature emerges from the bushes behind you.  The tiny fey creature pickpockets Huarache, lifting his spyglass of the pit viper and absconding into the temple.

He move 120ft / 6sec. round.