Here is a link to the Player Map. You can add locations when you find them. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13qtDZwZLymDUqe-YL51pPvYpDDltHk3uVrkutwTrkD0/edit?usp=sharing

The members of this expedition: 

The Gates of Trishdale

"Thank you, I hope you'll be able to witness our return with victorious smiles smudged on our faces." Says Limine as she's forcing herself to step out first. "Well, what are you all waiting for?"

Vadania steps forward and says, "Come. I will take point and head towards the farm. I know where it is." She begins walking towards the farm, a path she knows as she has worked there in the past.

Slurb nods, and follows.

Jack nods to the guards then turns to the others approaching.

"Investigating this farm business as well? Well, more hands make less work I suppose. Who are working with, if you don't mind my asking?"

He falls in step as the others pass through the gate and follows Vadania in the direction of the farm. 

"I am Slurb."

"Ah... Hi Slurb. I'm Jack."

Puts out his hand to shake.

Limine follows Vadania too. After all, she doesn't really know the way herself. When Jack approaches and introduces himself, she follows suit. "Hello, Jack. I'm Limine, a pleasure to meet you." she then casts Thaumaturgy to create the sound of a loud thunder from behind her. "What was that?" she asks as she quickly clings to Jack's arm. Looking at Jack's reaction, she releases him and laughs out loud. "Ah, don't be like that. I'm just messing with you." As she speaks, her tail uncoils from one leg, flicks behind her and then coils back around the other leg. "Indeed, we're also going to investigate the farm. What might bring you to investigate it, if you don't mind me asking?"

Stares off in the direction the 'thunder' came from (Would he have been able to tell she was casting a spell?), then he smirks and pats her hand before she releases him.

"Oh, same as you I suspect. Just chasing rumours, right?" Jack lies. He learned a long time ago that letting on one is in law-enforcement before knowing the company you keep can get you into trouble.

"What is it that you've heard? It sounds like messy business, someone tearin' apart a farm like that."

(I guess... it depends on you unless DM has smth else to say. Though the verbal component of the spell was the sentence she said before, if you think your character should be able to spot that then it's fine by me. Limine likes to create drama, but doesn't really try to hide anything.)

That was not the reaction Limine expected. She thought he'll be angry, flustered, embarrassed... at least one of these things. When he just pats her hand though, she feels all three instead. "Ah, of course!" She exclaims. "Personally, I've heard some folks talk about this case, but could barely extract any info from them. When I happened to overhear these guys" she points towards the rest of the group, "talking about going out to investigate, I decided to join them. All I know is that there is a farm and that something terrible happened to it."

Quote from Qb_pipo >>

"Ah... Hi Slurb. I'm Jack."

Puts out his hand to shake.

 Slurb shakes Jack's hand.

Vadania states, "Goliath adventurer here. Call me Ruth." Normally she isn't one to hide her real name but when the Inquisition and the Watch are involved, she'd rather not reveal herself.

The Farmstead 

(Since it's currently a sunny, albeit chilly day, Jack can make an arcana check to realize a spell was cast) 

The party becomes more acquainted with each other as they follow Vadania's lead to Rutherford's farmstead. But before they see the place, they hear it. They hear the incessant baying and large hounds coming from the farmstead, the first sign of trouble. 

After about thirty minutes of travel along the Old Road, the party arrives. In front of them, they see a absolutely devastated farmstead, as if a rampaging beast had came through. The farm's iron gates have been torn off their hinges, and front door is shattered to pieces. But the worst destruction seems to be hidden inside...

In front of the house is what appears to be the remaining members of the household, a woman and two teenage children. The mother and daughter weep and comfort each other at the sight of their devastated home, while the son has a completely haunted look on his face. He tightly clutches a lantern in his hands and stares into the light. 

Close by is a group of five people, arguing with each other. Three of them wear the uniforms of the Watch, while two of them don priest's robes- the Inquisition. They appear to have not noticed the party in the midst of their dispute, which seeing how the Watch are tightening their grip around their weapons, may turn violent. 

The barking of the hounds can be heard from the back of the house, an unceasing cacophony of soul-binding terror . Meanwhile, the broken front door is open, though the way is blocked by the Inquisition and the Watch. What does the party do?  

Vadania feels sad at seeing the members of the family like this. She did not know them super well but she did have a few exchanges with the wife and children when she last she cut crops and hauled them around. She slowly approaches the grieving family, careful to not draw too much attention to herself. She says, "Mrs. Rutherford? Jacques? Nolla? Are you alright? I came here as soon as I heard."

Limine moves forward towards the arguing group. "Hey! What's all this fuss about? Shouldn't you be trying to solve the case together? If not, at least try to look like you're getting along in front of the family. They've been through much already, so I've heard."

Arcana: 15

Follows Limine towards the Watchmen and the Inquisition. 

"Yes gentlemen, gentlemen, can this not be discussed with a bit more discretion? These people over here are greiving. Can we not find somewhere out of the elements they can go?" 

He looks to the Inquisitors for the moment.

"Perhaps a place in the church?"

Slurb walks over to the family. "What happened?" Slurb asks the son.

Sulskan has been quiet the entire journey too preoccupied with the thoughts in his head and his fear if he turns out to be wrong about this Farmer Rutherford to have introduced himself, but he shakes himself out of his reverie as they arrive at the Farmstead and upon seeing the family grieving, he accompanies Vadania (Ruth) towards them and joins her in comforting them as best as he can. "Hello there ma'am. I am so sorry for your loss." He then turns to the boy and crouches down in front of him and tries to talk to the scared child, "Hey there... My name is Sulskan. What's your name?" Sulskan is just trying to get the boy to feel a little less terrified perhaps.

Jack and Limine approach the bickering Watchmen and Inquisitors. One of the Inquisitors turns to them and says, "This is not the place for civilians, so I'd advise you leave right now. There is a unholy influence in this area, and we don't know if these survivors are part of it. It's our job to exorc-"

The guards yell out, "This farmstead is under our jurisdiction! You can't obstruct our investigations, or we will-"

The Inquisitor laughs. "You will what? Arrest us? Are you joking?"

The argument rages on, despite Jack and Limine's attempt to intervene. It might also take a turn for the worse, if they don't do something soon. 

Meanwhile, Sulskan, Vadania, and Slurb move over to the grieving family. The party notices that each of them have several injuries, covered in blood-soaked bandages. 

The mother grabs Vadania's arm, screaming, "They're dead! My uncle and niece-butchered! And my baby..."

Meanwhile, Slurb and Sulskan try to talk to the boy, but it's no use. The son is gazes on with a horrified stare, not seeming to notice his surroundings. His eyes are affixed on the burning lantern in his shaking hands.