"Maybe I'll make your book glow and chuck it in the hole... hu? you would like that would ya. Then we can count to see how long it takes to go WHAM. An we can see if there is anything down there.. Maybe it's full of gems. Maybe we should go down the hole..." Rak would say as he holds his tankard upside.. looking a bit disappointed. "That hole better have mindflayers or gems. Maybe mindflayers with gems.. That way i get rich by killin them. Damn illithids ill..Ill-I-Squids more like it. Ten damn years they kept me locked up but they gotta nother thing coming if they think Their ever capture me again. I'll turn em into calamari? You know what that is? Its uh.. Tenticle food.. damn I'm still hungry... Can I get some more chowder and like.. a loaf of bread?" The green skinned githyanki would ask as he holds up his empty tankard and attempts to flag down a waitress 

"Fantastic!" the Speaker says, delighted. A serving girl, or at least, you think it's a girl, he or she is definitely bundled up. "Here. I'll show you where the mine is." And he proceeds to tell you. The entrance to the mine is in the woods northeast of town. You can follow a trail from Termalaine and be there in 30 minutes. When you're ready to depart, I shall progress.

Mica's glad to have entertained the villagers. He makes his way back to the table, unsure what to make of Rak was saying - the booze had gotten to him in more ways than one. Maybe it will help them on their path. Mica takes out his arcane focus of the kobold skull, nodding to whatever villager stopped by to inform them of their mission. Kobolds were easy enough to dispatch of, but the talk of the Underdark and strange creatures made Mica doubtful of his abilities. At least Rak would be a distraction.

Mica makes some mimics about wanting to clear the mine from kobolds, investigate the news about the moose running amok in Lonelywood since they're nearby, and finally, he wants to dispatch of the wolves back in Dougan's Hole. If he was taking souls for his patron, might as well defy what his instinct called for and instead do some good in the world. 

A BEAUTIFUL MINE QUEST

The entrance to the gem mine is an open tunnel in a hillside. Empty carts are parked near the entrance, next to which a crude wooden sign has been propped up. Written on the sign in charcoal are the words “Kobolds only!” in Common. The words are written in more elaborate calligraphy than would be expected from a kobold. Strange.

The mine’s meandering tunnels have 7-foot-high ceilings. Wider areas tend to have higher ceilings, the average being 12 feet. The mine has no light sources.

Rough-hewn steps descend 60 feet before ending just north of this chamber.

M1 - Racks holding picks and hammers are nailed to the walls of this small cavern. The floor is covered with rock dust and tracks.

DC 13 Wisdom (Survival): ?????

Phineas kneels down on a knee to inspect the tracks, taking the rock dust and working it between his finger and thumb and using his hand to measure the footprints. "Let us see what we be dealing with here," he mutters absent-mindedly.

Survival: 17

With the guidance: 1

Rak would rub his head in a failed attempt to sooth his pounding head as he moves towards the racks of hammers and picks. The Gith would take one of each and place it in his pack. He would then pull out his flaming green amulet of Bane and allow it light up the cavern as it hangs from his neck. After taking a pair of free tools, the gith would look around the room "Alright.. help us to find these kobolds so we can get out of here." Rak would grumble in githyanki as he casts guidance on  anyone  who is looking for tracks or a trying to determine the best way to go.

Survivial 23 plus 4

Kilmus would cover the party's rear, making sure no one came up from behind as the ranger and cleric worked to figure out the path ahead.

'Hunting kobolds now?  Seems to me you are seeking out trouble instead of trying to avoid it.  How do you expect to avoid violence if you continue to plunge yerself into danger?' his mother's voice, chiding but not entirely wrong.  The path he was walking would lead to violence.  He knew this.  These kobolds are unlikely to leave after a stern talking to.  

'These villagers rely on this mine for their livelihood.  With the mine closed children go hungry in their beds.  That's a violence of its own.  Ignoring evil doesn't make it go away.  I will break the wheel.  I will end the cycle.  That is my path.'  the bouncer was unaware that his one-sided argument could be heard by anyone standing nearby.

Mica is confused at Kilmus's outburst. Was he talking with a patron, too? Anyways, Mica holds up the kobold skull, illuminating the surrounding area for the rest of the party. Mica can see normally within 120 feet of darkness anyways, but he likes the feeling of helping people out. 

(OOC: Rak would have cast [spell]continual flame{/spell] on the skull of Mica's choosing with the color of Mica's choosing if he had asked at any point)

Phineas, you identify reptilian footprints mingled with human tracks, as well as a set of tracks that look like they belong to a pair of giant rodents. The reptilian (kobold) tracks fan out, leading to areas M2, M3, and M4. The rodent tracks lead to area M2, and from there to area M3.

Phineas scoffs. "It appears we've got kobolds and rats." He points out the tracks going in the different directions.

"Well we gotta clear the whole place out so I guess let's get to it." Rak would reply. "Point the way.. " He would add as he pulls out his greatsword which begins to glow as he casts magic weapon. 

Mica is happy to follow, staying slightly behind Phineas and Rak, but enough so Mica can see ahead. Entering pacts with demon lords has its benefits.

Kilmus takes his now customary spot at the back - where the clanking from his armor is less likely to broadcast their intentions.  Blade up and out, the Paladin is ready to strike if anything comes within range.

Phineas shrugs, opting to follow the reptilian tracks toward M4. He draws his twin swords, giving those behind him a look and placing a finger to his mouth, "Shhhhhh." He attempts to move stealthily forward.

Stealth: 8

M4 - THE PROCESSING ROOM

Loudly, you enter M4. The floor of the western tunnel from area M1 is 7 feet higher than the floor of the cavern it leads to. The ledge can be easily climbed in either direction. Benches and tables are set up as workspaces where miners clean any gemstones they find. Gravel and pebbles are strewn on the ground. Scattered across the floor are a few hammers, picks, and broken lanterns. It is strangely quiet here.

Phineas scans the room, holding his spot with his swords ready. "It be too quiet," he whispers. "Be careful."

Perception: 6

Kilmus keeps his position near the rear, turning to cover the party's descent over the 7 foot ledge before hoping down himself.  

'This place doesn't look overrun - it looks abandoned.'

Kilmus holds position guarding against anything coming from the South (Opportunity attack if anything comes with 10 ft with polearm master feat).

The cave system is emitting a soft windy howl, it's barely imperceptible, but it's there. So far, it's quiet and empty in here.

Phineas sighs, moves into the room further, picking through some of the discarded and broken items while looking for clues as to what happened. "Perhaps the miners left in a hurry, huh?" he says, holding up a broken lantern. "They just be kobolds."

Investigation: 10