"Gone mad because of something they saw in the mines?" Velyra muses out loud, leaning her elbow on the bar top while resting her cheek in her hand. "Well I guess now's as good a time as any," she starts sitting up attentively, "I'm here on behalf of a research group out of the Astrium. We found a relic in one of the city's temples...Basically a stone map of the continent. A few months ago, a single location lit up on it, somewhere in the mountains near here."
"Another team had been sent ahead, but we lost contact with them after they arrived in the area. They sent me next, and then I got waylaid here."
"The timing of events is too coincidental to be ignored I think. Whatever's going on here with the undead is likely related to that relic lighting up. Which means old Starlight Court magic is involved."
"They were capable of things we can't even begin to comprehend, so a miner going mad from something he saw down there? That tracks. If we can find that tunnel, I'd be willing to bet we get right to the center of this."
Usul's comment registers to her, and she balks. "W-wait. You're going to blow up the mines!?"
Silthras reacts in mild panic, "Nonononono....we are not going to blow up the mines. It's a fall-back position should the town be completely overrun, when there is no other alternative."
He glances around the room, "Lives and livelihoods depend on the mine...it is not ours to destroy, escept in the utmost need."
"But...you mentioned part of the map lighting up. Does it correspond with the mine or...perhaps...where the falling star was seen? Maybe Giles' ramblings should not be discounted yet...eastern rim of the shining peaks, I think he said?"
Silthras mostly believes what he said about blowing up the mines, but does not believe it quite as strongly as he put it -- he is trying to convey true information AND reassure any villiagers that may have heard.
Performance: 18 (a second roll if he gained advantage from trust as a result of his tireless healing efforts: 24 ))
(Performance is his worst: if it's a Deception or Persuasion roll, then add +2).
At the mention of blowing the mines, Kal self-consciously pulls his pack closer with his feet, scooting it underneath his barstool. "The manor sounds like a distraction. You said a little girl mentioned it to you? Surely someone would have mentioned the prospect of other survivors."
"In any case, we'll see what Paten has to say today."
A few the inn's other occupants perk up, unsure if they heard "blow up" and "mines" in the same sentence. Mostly though, they don't seem to care too much. By the haggard looks on their faces, you can easily see that right now the only real thing they care about is surviving the day.
As you look to find Paten, you find that he has almost finished with his morning check of the defenses, calling on a young boy to bring him a hammer and nail to fix up a board that had been loosened. Seeing you approach, motions someone to take over and steps aside to talk to you. "Ho there, I trust you managed to get at least some sleep last night?" To Silthras he adds, "thank you again, by the way. Not having to worry about open wounds or broken bones takes a load off." As a dwarven woman begins hammering away at a board behind him, he asks, "so did you need my help with something, or what are you planning on?"
As a note to Velyra: The point of light on the map isn't terribly high resolution, but it was definitely in the western region of the Shining Peaks where you currently are.
"Well it's not the worst idea...I just wasn't expecting that level of extravagance right out of the gate." As they walk over to Paten, she recalls the position of the point on the map, and shakes her head. "No, it wasn't to the east. It was somewhere in this area, I'm certain. I'd be willing to bet whatever mechanism was activated here is the same thing that drove that miner mad."
"Last night, Silthras here heard from Luri that there could be more survivors in town, at a large manor somewhere to the southwest. Do you know anything about that?" Velyra leaves her comments at that, preferring to let the others fill in the councilman on their 'backup plan.'
The councilman shakes his head, letting out a sigh. "Now we've told her to stop going on about that, she's just confused about what she saw." Glancing behind him to check up on the window work briefly, he turns back to you and continues. "There's no way anyone is holed up in that place. It was the home the Redvales, but it burned halfway to the ground in a bad fire a few years back. They lost some of their kids in that fire, and decided it wasn't worth trying to repair - they haven't lived in this town for quite some time. In any case, the entire western half of that manor is ruined, rotted, and open to the outside. If anyone was trying to hide in there, they wouldn't last very long."
Silthras nods at the thanks, "Your people have already suffered much, I am glad I could help."
At the remark about Luri he grimaces, "Sounds like a place that was haunted to begin with" he says. "Perhaps....perhaps you might help with another thing: Do you know if Arthur Cartwright is here, or survived? Or perhaps any of his gang?"
"Arthur? No. I'm afraid he didn't make it, or he did survive, he's not here. A couple of his crew are in here though, you talked to one of 'em last night." Paten takes a moment to look around the room, then points out a wiry man with curly red hair sitting with a few others at a table playing cards. "Tully there is another one."
The councilman takes a moment to think about Kal's question, before shrugging. "Possibly. But I would think our runners might have run into any other survivors out there scrounging for supplies. You're welcome to try. It's on the outskirts, undead don't hang around there as much during the day."
Kal glances over at the man Paten pointed out, nodding. "One last thing," he starts, lowering his voice. "If we can't find another solution, we planned on blowing the entrance to the mine. Given what we've learned so far, that seems to be where they're coming from. Cutting off the source wouldn't be a bad place to start making this area livable again."
As you explain your plan to him, the councilman's eyes go wide as he considers the ramifications. He looks around at the others in the tavern common room, then nods his head solemnly. "You do what you need to do to save what remains of this town. We'll deal with the consequences after we've survived."
Silthras listens to the conversation, and in response to Paten's last remark asks, "People talk about the clawed ones only appearing at night, and seemingly coming out of nowhere...do you have any idea where the come from? The mine, hiding in shadows? Has anyone tried to find them during the day?"
(( DM Question: of the non-clawed ones we have seen are any 'older' (ratty clothes etc)? Meaning, is it possible that all of the non-clawed ones are ex-townsfolk? ))
Paten lets out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Try to find them? No son, my people aren't that suicidal. At the start of all this, we started running into the usual undead in the mines. And then in greater and greater numbers. We had been completely pushed out of the mines by the time this new "clawed" variety started showing up. It's hard to say for sure where they came from, but I would bet they came out of the mines too."
((The non-clawed ones exclusively have "older" clothing. The clawed ones are a mix between older clothing, and newer. They're the type that turns people they kill, not the slow zombies you're used to.))
"Sounds like the mine looms in our collective future, for better or worse" he says. "Do you know anyone who might have a map of the mine? Or where we might find one?"
Then he grins, "Just to be clear: I am hoping for an answer other than 'In the mine, son'!"
"A map?" The councilman repeats, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "One of the miners might know more about that, the only time I've seen one was when it was brought to council meetings at the town hall."
"Of course, there probably is one in the mine, son."
Paten offers a small smile, "it's the little things, we take what we can get." To Silthras' question, he shakes his head. "I'm not quite sure where they would have it. As I recall they have a little outpost type building put up just outside the mine. Might have it there?"
Listening, Usul chimes in saying “We’d be happy to explore the town more and check out the manor. Or all together towards the outpost and the mine? Either way, Muad will stay here today. He is tired, and doesn’t enjoy being pulled up by the rope.”
Kal nods, "that's probably smart. He did good work yesterday and deserves the rest. I think we should stop by the manor, but not waste too much time. If nothing jumps out to us immediately we should move on."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
"Gone mad because of something they saw in the mines?" Velyra muses out loud, leaning her elbow on the bar top while resting her cheek in her hand. "Well I guess now's as good a time as any," she starts sitting up attentively, "I'm here on behalf of a research group out of the Astrium. We found a relic in one of the city's temples...Basically a stone map of the continent. A few months ago, a single location lit up on it, somewhere in the mountains near here."
"Another team had been sent ahead, but we lost contact with them after they arrived in the area. They sent me next, and then I got waylaid here."
"The timing of events is too coincidental to be ignored I think. Whatever's going on here with the undead is likely related to that relic lighting up. Which means old Starlight Court magic is involved."
"They were capable of things we can't even begin to comprehend, so a miner going mad from something he saw down there? That tracks. If we can find that tunnel, I'd be willing to bet we get right to the center of this."
Usul's comment registers to her, and she balks. "W-wait. You're going to blow up the mines!?"
Silthras reacts in mild panic, "Nonononono....we are not going to blow up the mines. It's a fall-back position should the town be completely overrun, when there is no other alternative."
He glances around the room, "Lives and livelihoods depend on the mine...it is not ours to destroy, escept in the utmost need."
"But...you mentioned part of the map lighting up. Does it correspond with the mine or...perhaps...where the falling star was seen? Maybe Giles' ramblings should not be discounted yet...eastern rim of the shining peaks, I think he said?"
Silthras mostly believes what he said about blowing up the mines, but does not believe it quite as strongly as he put it -- he is trying to convey true information AND reassure any villiagers that may have heard.
Performance: 18 (a second roll if he gained advantage from trust as a result of his tireless healing efforts: 24 ))
(Performance is his worst: if it's a Deception or Persuasion roll, then add +2).
At the mention of blowing the mines, Kal self-consciously pulls his pack closer with his feet, scooting it underneath his barstool. "The manor sounds like a distraction. You said a little girl mentioned it to you? Surely someone would have mentioned the prospect of other survivors."
"In any case, we'll see what Paten has to say today."
A few the inn's other occupants perk up, unsure if they heard "blow up" and "mines" in the same sentence. Mostly though, they don't seem to care too much. By the haggard looks on their faces, you can easily see that right now the only real thing they care about is surviving the day.
As you look to find Paten, you find that he has almost finished with his morning check of the defenses, calling on a young boy to bring him a hammer and nail to fix up a board that had been loosened. Seeing you approach, motions someone to take over and steps aside to talk to you. "Ho there, I trust you managed to get at least some sleep last night?" To Silthras he adds, "thank you again, by the way. Not having to worry about open wounds or broken bones takes a load off." As a dwarven woman begins hammering away at a board behind him, he asks, "so did you need my help with something, or what are you planning on?"
As a note to Velyra: The point of light on the map isn't terribly high resolution, but it was definitely in the western region of the Shining Peaks where you currently are.
"Well it's not the worst idea...I just wasn't expecting that level of extravagance right out of the gate." As they walk over to Paten, she recalls the position of the point on the map, and shakes her head. "No, it wasn't to the east. It was somewhere in this area, I'm certain. I'd be willing to bet whatever mechanism was activated here is the same thing that drove that miner mad."
"Last night, Silthras here heard from Luri that there could be more survivors in town, at a large manor somewhere to the southwest. Do you know anything about that?" Velyra leaves her comments at that, preferring to let the others fill in the councilman on their 'backup plan.'
Silthras nods at the mention of Luri, and looks questioningly at Paten.
The councilman shakes his head, letting out a sigh. "Now we've told her to stop going on about that, she's just confused about what she saw." Glancing behind him to check up on the window work briefly, he turns back to you and continues. "There's no way anyone is holed up in that place. It was the home the Redvales, but it burned halfway to the ground in a bad fire a few years back. They lost some of their kids in that fire, and decided it wasn't worth trying to repair - they haven't lived in this town for quite some time. In any case, the entire western half of that manor is ruined, rotted, and open to the outside. If anyone was trying to hide in there, they wouldn't last very long."
Silthras nods at the thanks, "Your people have already suffered much, I am glad I could help."
At the remark about Luri he grimaces, "Sounds like a place that was haunted to begin with" he says. "Perhaps....perhaps you might help with another thing: Do you know if Arthur Cartwright is here, or survived? Or perhaps any of his gang?"
"Is it possible there's a cellar or basement beneath the manor that someone could hide in?" Kal asks.
"Arthur? No. I'm afraid he didn't make it, or he did survive, he's not here. A couple of his crew are in here though, you talked to one of 'em last night." Paten takes a moment to look around the room, then points out a wiry man with curly red hair sitting with a few others at a table playing cards. "Tully there is another one."
The councilman takes a moment to think about Kal's question, before shrugging. "Possibly. But I would think our runners might have run into any other survivors out there scrounging for supplies. You're welcome to try. It's on the outskirts, undead don't hang around there as much during the day."
Kal glances over at the man Paten pointed out, nodding. "One last thing," he starts, lowering his voice. "If we can't find another solution, we planned on blowing the entrance to the mine. Given what we've learned so far, that seems to be where they're coming from. Cutting off the source wouldn't be a bad place to start making this area livable again."
As you explain your plan to him, the councilman's eyes go wide as he considers the ramifications. He looks around at the others in the tavern common room, then nods his head solemnly. "You do what you need to do to save what remains of this town. We'll deal with the consequences after we've survived."
Silthras listens to the conversation, and in response to Paten's last remark asks, "People talk about the clawed ones only appearing at night, and seemingly coming out of nowhere...do you have any idea where the come from? The mine, hiding in shadows? Has anyone tried to find them during the day?"
(( DM Question: of the non-clawed ones we have seen are any 'older' (ratty clothes etc)? Meaning, is it possible that all of the non-clawed ones are ex-townsfolk? ))
Paten lets out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Try to find them? No son, my people aren't that suicidal. At the start of all this, we started running into the usual undead in the mines. And then in greater and greater numbers. We had been completely pushed out of the mines by the time this new "clawed" variety started showing up. It's hard to say for sure where they came from, but I would bet they came out of the mines too."
((The non-clawed ones exclusively have "older" clothing. The clawed ones are a mix between older clothing, and newer. They're the type that turns people they kill, not the slow zombies you're used to.))
"Sounds like the mine looms in our collective future, for better or worse" he says. "Do you know anyone who might have a map of the mine? Or where we might find one?"
Then he grins, "Just to be clear: I am hoping for an answer other than 'In the mine, son'!"
"A map?" The councilman repeats, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "One of the miners might know more about that, the only time I've seen one was when it was brought to council meetings at the town hall."
"Of course, there probably is one in the mine, son."
Silthras laughs at the last comment, "Couldn't help yourself, could you, old man!"
"The map you saw in council...would it still be there? Or was it returned to the mine?"
Paten offers a small smile, "it's the little things, we take what we can get." To Silthras' question, he shakes his head. "I'm not quite sure where they would have it. As I recall they have a little outpost type building put up just outside the mine. Might have it there?"
Listening, Usul chimes in saying “We’d be happy to explore the town more and check out the manor. Or all together towards the outpost and the mine? Either way, Muad will stay here today. He is tired, and doesn’t enjoy being pulled up by the rope.”
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Kal nods, "that's probably smart. He did good work yesterday and deserves the rest. I think we should stop by the manor, but not waste too much time. If nothing jumps out to us immediately we should move on."