Barthrum says, "I thought of it, but didn't say it. But now that you have said it I think it makes sense. It looks like we are going in and we could use all the information we can gather beforehand."
He empties his whole pack to get to the small shovel with a hinge that folds out a slightly longer handle. He picks one of the graves that lets him keep his eyes towards the mountains in case anyone comes out of there.. and starts digging.
"No need to dig Barthrum, cleaner to let the earth lift the body up itself and then we can lay them back to rest intact after"
Thenmer takes out his crystal and concentrates on the cold ground, he sees the turned soil of the grave and he begins to mutter to the earth as he unleashes his will. The soil answers his call and begins to move aside, lifting up the poor wretch held within it. Thenmer goes pale, wondering if the body that come up will be one he recognises but he persists with the magic.
"Sorry friend, we need to know what misfortune put you there or else we cannot give you any justice"
(Probably multiple castings of Mold Earth but I sort of narrated them into a single process)
"I was a miner. When the roof came down being able to do this was all I could think of. For days it was all I could dream of as I got thirstier and hungrier. I've heard tell that proper magicians look down on this as a useless trick but for me, well its what awakened me to what I can do"
He looks at the body as it is lifted out of the ground and shapes his will to try to lift it as gently and with as much dignity as he can.
"I'm sorry if I come across as being hot-headed over what's happening here. You got to understand, out in these mines we know how vulnerable we are. We know there's no guards to protect us from robbers or worse. I feel bad for what I'm sure has happened here, but for that accident this could have been me"
Barthrum does notice tracks, but they're unexpected. The tracks are - no doubt about it - dwarven boots. As many Dwarves are conservatives who don't like change, neither did they clothings. For that reason, the boots that Dwarves wear today aren't different than those known to Barthrum, and that's certainly what made the tracks.
Meanwhile, Thenmer manipulates the ground to raise the body up. What comes out eventually is a Human male, his body doesn't seem to have been buried for too long as his muscular body - fitting for a miner - still holds its form from rot. The cause of death isn't hard to guess, as his clothes are completely red around his chest where there's a hole in them, and a very deep wound is under.
“Well I think we can rule out a mining accident as what killed him. Looks like he’s been run through with a blade. I’ll bury him decent again, but you can have a moment to learn what we can from him first if you like”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Barthrum says, "He's been killed all right. What's strange though is the tracks here," and he points out several in the vicinity, "are of dwarven boots."
He looks the body over and also examines the wound. He's no expert, but thinks he can discern if it was a blade or a pickaxe or an animal attack of some kind. Medicine check: 15
Barthrum manages to discern that the wound is too wide to be an arrow or a bolt, and too precise to be any kind of natural weapons like a claw or a fang. It is also quite narrow, though long and straight. Eventually, he manages to conclude that the wound was most likely dealt with by a blade, larger than an average dagger, most likely. Don-Jon is silent during this time, as he passes from grave to grave and pays his respect. Once he's finished, he approaches the dwarves. "I don't know why the footprints are Dwarven as they claim they are, but I know who is in the mine right now. We need to exact vengeance on their behalf."
"I think we should follow the dwarf tracks if we can, I can't believe that any dwarf miner would have inflicted that wound. I've known some short tempered miners but they would cave your head in with a pickaxe not stab you with a blade if they thought you needed killing."
He turns to Don-jon
"Vengeance? Nah, its justice they want. But out here the only justice is what folks make for themselves, I see no town guards to do it for us. Lets find the dwarfs if we can and find out what's happening. I'm a little wary of them and I'll guess they will be wary of us but I'll not believe they inflicted all this murder."
(OK I'm sort of riffing on the ex-miner thing here I hope that's alright. Just seemed like a perfect opportunity to bring his backstory to life)
(Completely fine. Considering all Dwarves are trained with axes and hammers, not with blades (based on the "Dwarven Combat Training" feature), it is safe to assume so.)
"Justice? Even better. We'll keep looking for the backdoor, and surprise them from inside their own house. Otherwise, we'll storm in through the front door. Or, perhaps, wait for the night and sneak in then. What do you say?"
Dolgrim seems confused that the corpse belongs to a human, he expected the miners will be all dwarves. He takes a sip from his flask to calm himself a bit. Well, that's not something I've hoped to find. Anyway, I see there are at least ten graves. All of them are miners I suppose. You know, the strong a sturdy people with a pickaxes and other tools that could be used as weapons... And they are all dead. Storming the front entrance seems like a suicide to me. We should proceed carefully. Let us check the footprints and find the back entrance first. Maybe we'll find something that could be used to our advantage.
Following the tracks you found, they keep leading you around the mountain. First, it continues east, until it sharply breaks to the south-southwest. You continue to follow the tracks until they seem to lead into a bunch of trees and bushes. Walking past them, however, you find an opening, from which leads a narrow tunnel, about 4' wide, into the mountain. The tunnel is not lit but you can see it is similar to the one you entered before. The tunnel itself turns to the right about 30' away from you, so that's as far as you can see.
Barthrum steps away and to the side of the opening and waves the others closer. "Ok, lets make a plan. We played many of these games growing up - heroes and drows we called it. But this one is going to be lethal. Ideally we would like to isolate and eliminate one at the time, but it might be tricky. It will require stealth to start with and I'm not that great at stealth."
"Two questions first - Dolgrim, how do you feel about scouting a bit? But you need to be careful - no guards doesn't mean it's not guarded in some other way like traps."
He turns to their employer, "Leaving your tales aside, how are you in a fight? Close combat in darkness doesn't sound like your strong suite?"
He drops his bag and looks around for a bush or a hole to hide it in. "We should also leave our excess gear - either we can come back to it later or we won't ever need it again anyways."
Thenmer feels the pack on his back, its not as heavy as his armor and he's not going back into a mine without food and water. Ever.
"I'm good as I am. We're looking for dwarfs, not trouble. They could be a a bit hostile like but I doubt they would attack fellow dwarfs but I'm not sure they are hostile. Lets see what story they got to tell. Then we can decide what we should do about them others in the mine, when we know what's happened"
"You're not implying that my stories are flase, are you?" He pauses for a moment, looking intnetly. "Okay, maybe slightly exaggerated at times, but not completely false. I could hold my own in a fight, but the darkness might be a real issue. Unless there's light inside, I won't be of much use. There was some light at the main entrance, though, so maybe there'll be light in the rest of the place. For that reason, I probably won't be so good as a scout." He says, as if his heavy steps wouldn't be any problem at all.
"Well if you feel unable to manage in the mine you would have to stay outside but we cannot protect you here if we are inside. If there are lights in the mine I'd suggest you come with us."
Thenmer looks at the entrance
"Whoever is best at following tracks should take the lead, we will mess up the tracks as soon as we walk there unless you can tell dwarf boots apart that well"
Barthrum says, "I thought of it, but didn't say it. But now that you have said it I think it makes sense. It looks like we are going in and we could use all the information we can gather beforehand."
He empties his whole pack to get to the small shovel with a hinge that folds out a slightly longer handle. He picks one of the graves that lets him keep his eyes towards the mountains in case anyone comes out of there.. and starts digging.
"No need to dig Barthrum, cleaner to let the earth lift the body up itself and then we can lay them back to rest intact after"
Thenmer takes out his crystal and concentrates on the cold ground, he sees the turned soil of the grave and he begins to mutter to the earth as he unleashes his will. The soil answers his call and begins to move aside, lifting up the poor wretch held within it. Thenmer goes pale, wondering if the body that come up will be one he recognises but he persists with the magic.
"Sorry friend, we need to know what misfortune put you there or else we cannot give you any justice"
(Probably multiple castings of Mold Earth but I sort of narrated them into a single process)
Barthrum sets the shovel aside in stunned silence... "That's SO USEFUL!"
Thenmer looks at Barthrum
"I was a miner. When the roof came down being able to do this was all I could think of. For days it was all I could dream of as I got thirstier and hungrier. I've heard tell that proper magicians look down on this as a useless trick but for me, well its what awakened me to what I can do"
He looks at the body as it is lifted out of the ground and shapes his will to try to lift it as gently and with as much dignity as he can.
"I'm sorry if I come across as being hot-headed over what's happening here. You got to understand, out in these mines we know how vulnerable we are. We know there's no guards to protect us from robbers or worse. I feel bad for what I'm sure has happened here, but for that accident this could have been me"
Barthrum does notice tracks, but they're unexpected. The tracks are - no doubt about it - dwarven boots. As many Dwarves are conservatives who don't like change, neither did they clothings. For that reason, the boots that Dwarves wear today aren't different than those known to Barthrum, and that's certainly what made the tracks.
Meanwhile, Thenmer manipulates the ground to raise the body up. What comes out eventually is a Human male, his body doesn't seem to have been buried for too long as his muscular body - fitting for a miner - still holds its form from rot. The cause of death isn't hard to guess, as his clothes are completely red around his chest where there's a hole in them, and a very deep wound is under.
Varielky
“Well I think we can rule out a mining accident as what killed him. Looks like he’s been run through with a blade. I’ll bury him decent again, but you can have a moment to learn what we can from him first if you like”
Barthrum says, "He's been killed all right. What's strange though is the tracks here," and he points out several in the vicinity, "are of dwarven boots."
He looks the body over and also examines the wound. He's no expert, but thinks he can discern if it was a blade or a pickaxe or an animal attack of some kind. Medicine check: 15
Barthrum manages to discern that the wound is too wide to be an arrow or a bolt, and too precise to be any kind of natural weapons like a claw or a fang. It is also quite narrow, though long and straight. Eventually, he manages to conclude that the wound was most likely dealt with by a blade, larger than an average dagger, most likely.
Don-Jon is silent during this time, as he passes from grave to grave and pays his respect. Once he's finished, he approaches the dwarves. "I don't know why the footprints are Dwarven as they claim they are, but I know who is in the mine right now. We need to exact vengeance on their behalf."
Varielky
"I think we should follow the dwarf tracks if we can, I can't believe that any dwarf miner would have inflicted that wound. I've known some short tempered miners but they would cave your head in with a pickaxe not stab you with a blade if they thought you needed killing."
He turns to Don-jon
"Vengeance? Nah, its justice they want. But out here the only justice is what folks make for themselves, I see no town guards to do it for us. Lets find the dwarfs if we can and find out what's happening. I'm a little wary of them and I'll guess they will be wary of us but I'll not believe they inflicted all this murder."
(OK I'm sort of riffing on the ex-miner thing here I hope that's alright. Just seemed like a perfect opportunity to bring his backstory to life)
(Completely fine. Considering all Dwarves are trained with axes and hammers, not with blades (based on the "Dwarven Combat Training" feature), it is safe to assume so.)
"Justice? Even better. We'll keep looking for the backdoor, and surprise them from inside their own house. Otherwise, we'll storm in through the front door. Or, perhaps, wait for the night and sneak in then. What do you say?"
Varielky
Barthrum says, "Lets first see where the dwarven tracks lead. After this fellow is back in ground." He nods to Thenmer.
"Any thoughts on any of this, Dolgrim?"
Once it's done he'll pick up the trail and see where it leads them.
Thenmer lets the earth gently swallow up the body again so that it lies at rest
"I'll let you lead on the tracking, I'm no good at that"
Dolgrim seems confused that the corpse belongs to a human, he expected the miners will be all dwarves. He takes a sip from his flask to calm himself a bit. Well, that's not something I've hoped to find. Anyway, I see there are at least ten graves. All of them are miners I suppose. You know, the strong a sturdy people with a pickaxes and other tools that could be used as weapons... And they are all dead. Storming the front entrance seems like a suicide to me. We should proceed carefully. Let us check the footprints and find the back entrance first. Maybe we'll find something that could be used to our advantage.
Following the tracks you found, they keep leading you around the mountain. First, it continues east, until it sharply breaks to the south-southwest. You continue to follow the tracks until they seem to lead into a bunch of trees and bushes. Walking past them, however, you find an opening, from which leads a narrow tunnel, about 4' wide, into the mountain. The tunnel is not lit but you can see it is similar to the one you entered before. The tunnel itself turns to the right about 30' away from you, so that's as far as you can see.
Varielky
Barthrum steps away and to the side of the opening and waves the others closer. "Ok, lets make a plan. We played many of these games growing up - heroes and drows we called it. But this one is going to be lethal. Ideally we would like to isolate and eliminate one at the time, but it might be tricky. It will require stealth to start with and I'm not that great at stealth."
"Two questions first - Dolgrim, how do you feel about scouting a bit? But you need to be careful - no guards doesn't mean it's not guarded in some other way like traps."
He turns to their employer, "Leaving your tales aside, how are you in a fight? Close combat in darkness doesn't sound like your strong suite?"
He drops his bag and looks around for a bush or a hole to hide it in. "We should also leave our excess gear - either we can come back to it later or we won't ever need it again anyways."
Thenmer feels the pack on his back, its not as heavy as his armor and he's not going back into a mine without food and water. Ever.
"I'm good as I am. We're looking for dwarfs, not trouble. They could be a a bit hostile like but I doubt they would attack fellow dwarfs but I'm not sure they are hostile. Lets see what story they got to tell. Then we can decide what we should do about them others in the mine, when we know what's happened"
"You're not implying that my stories are flase, are you?" He pauses for a moment, looking intnetly. "Okay, maybe slightly exaggerated at times, but not completely false. I could hold my own in a fight, but the darkness might be a real issue. Unless there's light inside, I won't be of much use. There was some light at the main entrance, though, so maybe there'll be light in the rest of the place. For that reason, I probably won't be so good as a scout." He says, as if his heavy steps wouldn't be any problem at all.
Varielky
"Well if you feel unable to manage in the mine you would have to stay outside but we cannot protect you here if we are inside. If there are lights in the mine I'd suggest you come with us."
Thenmer looks at the entrance
"Whoever is best at following tracks should take the lead, we will mess up the tracks as soon as we walk there unless you can tell dwarf boots apart that well"
Barthrum says, "Dolgrim is probably best for scouting ahead a bit. I'm not really built for stealth."
Neither am I, and this shining clinking armor doesn't help either. But I can help with the tracking
((Ooc I don't have any bonus to stealth and have disadvantage due to armor))