Ines and anybody else proficient in religion, make a religion check. I don't think anybody else is from Ten-Towns, right? If you are, make a History check as well.
You all approach the Shrine of the Flaming Sword. You see a painted icon of a towering figure wielding, as one might expect, a flaming sword. But the icon is chipped and faded, and although the Shrine is spacious, the space is empty except for a single long table, with a blanket draped over what appears to be a large human body. Two guards stand near the table, a man and a woman, both human, at relative ease. Their swords are sheathed, shield by their sides, and they both wear somewhat worn splint mail armor, with the town emblem prominently displayed on both the armor and the shields. A small crowd is gathering around the shrine. It would appear that some people are just now getting the news of Kendrick Rielsbarrow's slaying and the bizarre circumstances thereof.
Rock walks inside, giving a respectful bow of his head in reverance to the dead. “We look for someone in charge here, who can tell us where those who did this thing went.” He nods to the body. “Rock, and his good friends...” He waves to his companions. “Will hunt down those who did this thing and do great deed in aiding your village.”
Shayne takes in the scene and notes a few special details to weave into tales at a later time. Likely this will be a minor scene in the epic of Rock, the Dragonborn Goliath and his companions, but even a minor scene should have a touch of truth and a sense of wonder and majesty.
He considers for a moment playing a tune, perhaps a formal dirge for the fallen hero or some other solemn tune... but these were not his people, he did not know their traditions and ways. Best to stay quiet and let the room dictate the ways of bereavement.
Finn falls behind as they approach the shrine. He is not one for funerals so as the others enter he hangs back and finds a place outside to wait and keep watch. Plenty of weird things going on in these parts and he feels better knowing someone is keeping watch.
The man guarding the Speaker's body lets out a quiet sigh, and says the following as if reciting something he's said a thousand times before: "The Good Mead Militia is currently investigating the theft of three casks of mead and the subsequent murder of Speaker Kendrick Rielsbarrow. We currently believe that the verbeeg seen stealing the mead escaped to the northwest, through the forest, to a dwelling at a currently unknown location. If anybody has any information that could lead to the recovery of the mead, please inform the Militia."
One of the nearby townsfolk says, "Yeah, we know, ya keep saying that. We're tellin' you, we know where it is. All ya did was send five poor saps on the trail when we're tellin' ya you need the whole militia. Stop futzing around and do it already."
"The theft of those three casks means no other mead will leave the town... Why I am not sure. And if no mead leaves town, apparently all the other towns no longer sell alcohol or any type, it seems," Shayne explains. "Obviously a very dire situation."
The guardswoman protecting the Speaker's body responds: "It's not just about the three casks of mead, it's all the others that need to go out. If that giant-thing can march right into town, kill our Speaker and steal our stuff, why would we even try to send anything else out? Even if just half of it gets stolen, we can't sustain ourselves like that. The other towns, they might have some kobold piss ale or whatever, but there's no comparison between that and our mead."
Rock turns to the man who says he knows where to go. “Tell Rock where this place is and Rock go and deal with thing that did this thing...” He nods to the dead body. “No need waste more time, Rock and his good friends take care of... No problem.”
“Town to town pest elimination is Rock’s specialty,” Shayne assures. “Just point is in the right direction and Rock will ensure your mead shipments can be made with no more than the usual problems...”
Talking to a few of the townsfolk, they're able to point you in the direction of the footprints headed out of town. Following the footprints leads you to the forest at the northwestern edge of town. A figure in cold weather clothing lurches out of the woods into plain view, running as fast as he can through the deep snow. Slung over his back are a pair of animal traps, one of which appears to contain a panicked fox.
“Wo there friend.” Rock says, lifting up a large hand to stop the running man. “Why you run here?” He asks, glancing fromt he man to the fox. “Does fox talk?” he asks, eyeing the fox for a long moment. “Why fox in trap?” He asks then, looking to the man.
Finn will stay back from the man a little ways but move close enough to see if he looks frightened. He looks over to whoever might be next to him "Running at top speed is not something a trapper or hunter would normally do."
Keeping an eye on the man only for a second Finn starts scanning the woods (Perception- 6) behind the man as he takes his bow off of his back.
“Wo there friend.” Rock says, lifting up a large hand to stop the running man. “Why you run here?” He asks, glancing fromt he man to the fox. “Does fox talk?” he asks, eyeing the fox for a long moment. “Why fox in trap?” He asks then, looking to the man.
"I caught the fox. H-h-he was in one of my traps," says the man, panicked urgency clear in his voice. "I got lots of 'em, out in the forest. I was just checkin' the traps, and I found five militiamen with their skulls and chests caved in like somebody smashed a whole damn tree on them. I was just on my way to tell the town."
“Well, best let the fox go.” Rock says, eyeing the beast. “We’ve been finding most of the animals we run across are actually able to speak, so it is probably not a good idea to keep that one in a trap.” He nods to the fox, as if this should be obvious to the man. “After that, why don’t you show Rock,a nd my friends, where these dead men are. This thing is why Rock is out here.”
"Seems to me the sly fox would have spoken up by now if they could," Shayne would point out. "And furriers and butchers undoubtedly still wish to make a living..."
The trapper eyes Rock curiously. "No talking animals out this way. Of course, with all the other weird stuff happening, guess I can't be too surprised by much of anything. I mean, if you want him... I usually sell his fur for 1 gp. Give me that, and he's yours."
When Rock mentions the dead militiamen, the trapper puts his hands up and backs away a step. "No. No no no. I'm not going back there. If you wanna find them, follow my tracks that way," as he points off into the distance.
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((Avarice is just in for the ride until something quips her interest like a ruin or hints of fame!))
Whistler - Lost Mines of Phandelver [Lvl 8 Barbarian] | Cinta Yuliani Lestari - My Island Home [Lvl 3 Fighter] | Shalana - Allansia Wildlands [Lvl 4 Monk] | Roger Durant - Storm King's Thunder [Lvl 8 Monster Hunter] | Rotthran - The Waterdeep Heist [Lvl 5 Thief]
Ines and anybody else proficient in religion, make a religion check. I don't think anybody else is from Ten-Towns, right? If you are, make a History check as well.
You all approach the Shrine of the Flaming Sword. You see a painted icon of a towering figure wielding, as one might expect, a flaming sword. But the icon is chipped and faded, and although the Shrine is spacious, the space is empty except for a single long table, with a blanket draped over what appears to be a large human body. Two guards stand near the table, a man and a woman, both human, at relative ease. Their swords are sheathed, shield by their sides, and they both wear somewhat worn splint mail armor, with the town emblem prominently displayed on both the armor and the shields. A small crowd is gathering around the shrine. It would appear that some people are just now getting the news of Kendrick Rielsbarrow's slaying and the bizarre circumstances thereof.
Rock walks inside, giving a respectful bow of his head in reverance to the dead. “We look for someone in charge here, who can tell us where those who did this thing went.” He nods to the body. “Rock, and his good friends...” He waves to his companions. “Will hunt down those who did this thing and do great deed in aiding your village.”
Shayne takes in the scene and notes a few special details to weave into tales at a later time. Likely this will be a minor scene in the epic of Rock, the Dragonborn Goliath and his companions, but even a minor scene should have a touch of truth and a sense of wonder and majesty.
He considers for a moment playing a tune, perhaps a formal dirge for the fallen hero or some other solemn tune... but these were not his people, he did not know their traditions and ways. Best to stay quiet and let the room dictate the ways of bereavement.
Finn falls behind as they approach the shrine. He is not one for funerals so as the others enter he hangs back and finds a place outside to wait and keep watch. Plenty of weird things going on in these parts and he feels better knowing someone is keeping watch.
Uldran Sporebringer | Lvl 2 Dwarf Druid | Stonebound
Allorian Silverfin | Lvl 1 Rogue | Gillesburg
The man guarding the Speaker's body lets out a quiet sigh, and says the following as if reciting something he's said a thousand times before: "The Good Mead Militia is currently investigating the theft of three casks of mead and the subsequent murder of Speaker Kendrick Rielsbarrow. We currently believe that the verbeeg seen stealing the mead escaped to the northwest, through the forest, to a dwelling at a currently unknown location. If anybody has any information that could lead to the recovery of the mead, please inform the Militia."
One of the nearby townsfolk says, "Yeah, we know, ya keep saying that. We're tellin' you, we know where it is. All ya did was send five poor saps on the trail when we're tellin' ya you need the whole militia. Stop futzing around and do it already."
"Why are 3 casks of mead so important to risk lives?" asks Avarice, genuinely curious.
Whistler - Lost Mines of Phandelver [Lvl 8 Barbarian] | Cinta Yuliani Lestari - My Island Home [Lvl 3 Fighter] | Shalana - Allansia Wildlands [Lvl 4 Monk] | Roger Durant - Storm King's Thunder [Lvl 8 Monster Hunter] | Rotthran - The Waterdeep Heist [Lvl 5 Thief]
"The theft of those three casks means no other mead will leave the town... Why I am not sure. And if no mead leaves town, apparently all the other towns no longer sell alcohol or any type, it seems," Shayne explains. "Obviously a very dire situation."
The guardswoman protecting the Speaker's body responds: "It's not just about the three casks of mead, it's all the others that need to go out. If that giant-thing can march right into town, kill our Speaker and steal our stuff, why would we even try to send anything else out? Even if just half of it gets stolen, we can't sustain ourselves like that. The other towns, they might have some kobold piss ale or whatever, but there's no comparison between that and our mead."
Rock turns to the man who says he knows where to go. “Tell Rock where this place is and Rock go and deal with thing that did this thing...” He nods to the dead body. “No need waste more time, Rock and his good friends take care of... No problem.”
“Town to town pest elimination is Rock’s specialty,” Shayne assures. “Just point is in the right direction and Rock will ensure your mead shipments can be made with no more than the usual problems...”
Talking to a few of the townsfolk, they're able to point you in the direction of the footprints headed out of town. Following the footprints leads you to the forest at the northwestern edge of town. A figure in cold weather clothing lurches out of the woods into plain view, running as fast as he can through the deep snow. Slung over his back are a pair of animal traps, one of which appears to contain a panicked fox.
“Wo there friend.” Rock says, lifting up a large hand to stop the running man. “Why you run here?” He asks, glancing fromt he man to the fox. “Does fox talk?” he asks, eyeing the fox for a long moment. “Why fox in trap?” He asks then, looking to the man.
"I don't think all the animals talk now," Shayne says. After a short pause he turns to the figure. "Does it talk??"
Finn will stay back from the man a little ways but move close enough to see if he looks frightened. He looks over to whoever might be next to him "Running at top speed is not something a trapper or hunter would normally do."
Keeping an eye on the man only for a second Finn starts scanning the woods (Perception- 6) behind the man as he takes his bow off of his back.
Uldran Sporebringer | Lvl 2 Dwarf Druid | Stonebound
Allorian Silverfin | Lvl 1 Rogue | Gillesburg
"Ze animals talking might have to do with ze Giant and ze Mammoth. Zis seems too far away," says Avarice as she scans the woods for signs of movement.
Perception check: 9
Whistler - Lost Mines of Phandelver [Lvl 8 Barbarian] | Cinta Yuliani Lestari - My Island Home [Lvl 3 Fighter] | Shalana - Allansia Wildlands [Lvl 4 Monk] | Roger Durant - Storm King's Thunder [Lvl 8 Monster Hunter] | Rotthran - The Waterdeep Heist [Lvl 5 Thief]
"I caught the fox. H-h-he was in one of my traps," says the man, panicked urgency clear in his voice. "I got lots of 'em, out in the forest. I was just checkin' the traps, and I found five militiamen with their skulls and chests caved in like somebody smashed a whole damn tree on them. I was just on my way to tell the town."
“Well, best let the fox go.” Rock says, eyeing the beast. “We’ve been finding most of the animals we run across are actually able to speak, so it is probably not a good idea to keep that one in a trap.” He nods to the fox, as if this should be obvious to the man. “After that, why don’t you show Rock,a nd my friends, where these dead men are. This thing is why Rock is out here.”
"Seems to me the sly fox would have spoken up by now if they could," Shayne would point out. "And furriers and butchers undoubtedly still wish to make a living..."
The trapper eyes Rock curiously. "No talking animals out this way. Of course, with all the other weird stuff happening, guess I can't be too surprised by much of anything. I mean, if you want him... I usually sell his fur for 1 gp. Give me that, and he's yours."
When Rock mentions the dead militiamen, the trapper puts his hands up and backs away a step. "No. No no no. I'm not going back there. If you wanna find them, follow my tracks that way," as he points off into the distance.