|
"These gears are tricky. Try to hold it still, Victrix. If I can just get this... last... "
-Posted with Wayfinder
"...uh oh."
As the mechanical creature wriggled and shook, Kip dove for cover. In a brave way. Definitely.
Simon is unable to deactivate the clockwork spy in time. It detonates, sending flames and gears flying every which way!
Victrix is unable to drop the robotic thing in time before it explodes in her hand.
"OW!"
|
|
"Well, that could have gone better. Now, I guess we'll never know who its owner was."
Simon looks through the wreckage, looking for a label of some kind.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Among the broken gears and twisted metal, Simon finds the shattered fragments of a gemstone. It is ruined and worthless now, however. There's no label or other indication as to who the construct once belonged to.
Victrix sighs. "Well, might as well finish puttin' my armour back on."
She leaves to do exactly that.
"Hm... what if... the clockwork spy was built by one of the settlers? If we had let it go we could have followed it back to where the settlers are?" Kip pondered as he returned to searching the building for clues.
|
|
"I had been hoping that myself. I simply wanted to take a look at it first.
Also, as it was about to start flying, we probably would have lost track of it very quickly."
Simon will also return to searching the building, starting from the top floor (since we are up there).
-Posted with Wayfinder
The top floor and the main chamber contain little of interest. The makeshift offices have simple wooden tables, chairs, and writing equipment including stationery, ink, and quills. The northern office also has a locked wooden coffer. No key is evident.
"Want to give this one a try? Hopefully it won't blow up this time," Kip suggested with a wide grin.
Simon is able to unlock the box. Inside are multiple journals and logbooks. The logbooks record various types of events, such as the sea journey to Ancorato, daily work details for construction and farming, a master tool inventory, records of the daily weather, and so on. This information is mostly pedestrian in nature, but might serve as the basis of a future almanac. All of the books date back to approximately 1 month ago, whereupon the entries become sporadic and stop altogether a week later.
One logbook details daily events in the colony since landfall, and it’s the one book that contains something of particular interest. It is missing three to four pages after the last entry, as evidenced by a razor-sharp incision along the binding where the pages were carefully cut out.
Additionally, when studied with detect magic, two invisible arcane marks on the inside back cover glow. They are normal words: "plum tree."
You saw only a single plum tree in the colony, near the southern fields.
"...huh." Victrix scratches her head. "Should we investigate this plum tree?"
"Absolutely! It's our best clue yet. And besides, I like plums."
|
|
"We definitely shall inspect the plum tree.
However, I suggest we continue exploring the buildings here in the palisade first.
We should be as through and precise as possible in order to get the best picture of the events that transpired."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Once you have finished in the government building, you head to the next structure clockwise. The name “Arkley” is carved into a wooden sign nailed next to the doorframe of this log cabin. You know that Rayland Arkley was the leader of the first group of colonists. A single, closed door faces northwest, and the structure has two wooden-shuttered windows. The architecture is otherwise the same as many of the other buildings.
The inside of the house stands in contrast to most of the other buildings in the settlement in that it is relatively organized and tidy. It contains plain wooden furniture, with simple amenities such as wall racks for weapons and armor, a modest dining table and chairs, and a sitting chair with a makeshift cushion and footstool. A separate bedroom features a wooden bed frame and pallet mattress, a boot rack, and a large unlocked chest of folded clothes and other personal items. The entire house is a study in normalcy, though the dust coating most surfaces indicates that nobody has been here for several weeks.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A lot had happened while they explored the town and Emma was feeling a bit worn out. That changed when Victrix ran round half dressed and she gave the woman an appraising look as she walked away to finish donning her armor. When they had the information about the plum tree and discussed going there she nodded in agreement.
As they entered the house the colony leader had owned Emma quickly cast a spell and began to look for any kind of magical auras. She didn't expect to find any but it wouldn't hurt to try.
"We haven't really found any evidence of a struggle. What could cause everyone to willingly leave their homes?"
The bemused berserker can only shake her head. "No idea."
"It's kinda like that--that old wives' story, roight? What was it now--'the Pied Piper o' Woodsedge' or somethin' like that? Coulda been somethin' like that."
As you search the house, Simon glances upward and spots the corner of a folded parchment resting on top of a crossbeam, nine feet above the floor.
You also find a silver pocket watch in the cushions of one of the chairs. Such timepieces are rare in the Inner Sea region, and this one also functions as a compass. Study of the symbols on the watch’s face indicates it is of original Azlanti design, and it is amazingly still in working order.
Additionally, you discover a traveling spellbook tucked under the mattress in the bedroom. Twenty-nine pages have been used, with twenty-one blank pages remaining. Inside the front cover is an arcane mark that reads, “Hendrake.” A spell component pouch is tied to a brass ring bound into the spine of the book.
"Oh! I can help with that." Kip said cheerfully before he bounded up into the rafters in a few quick hops up the wall.
The parchment is actually four sheets that have been folded together and tightly creased. When unfolded, it proves to be the Talmandor’s Bounty colony charter. This legal document declares the island and the colony to be under the protection of the nation of Andoran, outlines the colony’s relationship to the Bountiful Venture Company, and enumerates the rights and responsibilities of all colonists. It bears the sealed signature of three members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Bountiful Venture Company, and every colonist that came aboard the Liberty’s Herald. The four of you signed a similar document before departing Almas.
This document should have been stored at the government building.
Emmaliandra had finished searching the place for magic after a few minutes and returned to meet with the others. She looked at them and said, "Well, I didn't find anything magical." She arched one eyebrow as she asked, "What did the rest of you find?"
|
|
"Now why would the charter be hidden away here?
Was he trying to break ties with Andoran and set himself up as some kind of noble?
Why would he have this spellbook in his house? Hendrake is probably the U.H. from the wand...
Just what we needed, more mysteries."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Referencing the charter, you find one of the first colonists is named Una Hendrake.
"...yeh think he might be behind all o' this?" Victrix cautiously ventures, her eyes darting nervously about.
|
|
"It is a possibility only.
We need more evidence before reaching a conclusion."
Simon will hand the spellbook to Ellimendara, but would like to hold onto the compass, if that's all right.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Emma shrugged her shoulders and said, "No clue, I bet we'll find out eventually thought." When the spellbook was produced the lovely mage looked at it hungrily and reached out to take it when it was offered to her. She leafed through it quickly and recognized several spells she already knew and then frowned as she saw some of the later pages. The spells made no sense until she realized that they started on one page and finished on the net. Her eyes lit up in delight as she said, "This book has spells from the second level of magic, more powerful than I can cast right now but given time I'm sure I can learn."
She spotted the watch as it was looked at and held out a hand as she asked, "Could I look at that? You can keep it but I..." her voice trailed off thoughtfully as something niggled at her mind.
|
|
"I'm afraid I didn't spend enough time learning about other forms of magic to be able to understand these spells.
Hopefully you won't mind if I create formulas to replicate the self affecting spells once I have a better understanding."
In response to the request to see the compass/ watch:
"Of course, here you go."
Simon will hand the watch/compass to her.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Victrix looks over her shoulder out the door of the home they were in.
Victrix only sees the empty and silent town square.
"Why hide the charter? Maybe something happened and it was tucked away here to protect it?"
Emalliandra held the watch in her hand and it almost seemed to be shaking slightly. There was something familiar about it but whatever it was seemed to drift quickly away as she steadied. After a minute or two of examination she handed it back to Simon and said, "Here, it is extremely well made." She turned then and slipped out the door. As she did so it seemed that she may have said something along the lines of, "They always were," but as quiet as it was it may well have been the wind. She waited until the others came for her and watched the town and sea absently.
Victrix shrugs and follows Emalliandra outside.
"...y'know, if it weren't fer the fact that everyone in town's gone missin', this looks like a lovely place ta live." She muses, watching the lapping of the ocean waves against the shore.
When you are ready, you continue your circuit of the colony. The south side of the palisade fence is the only finished side. A large gate set in the fence can be barred from within. The gate is open, however, and the large wooden bar leans against the fence. Beyond the gate is an unpaved road where homes have been built or are in various stages of construction.
The long, rectangular building on the other side appears to be a home, though larger than many beyond the palisade to the south. It has three windows, all covered with wooden shutters, and a single door facing borthwest, which is unbarred and slightly ajar.
Simple wooden furniture is in disarray throughout this residence. Tables and chairs are knocked over and pushed aside, though none appear willfully broken. Articles of clothing and household items are scattered across the floor as if they were examined briefly and discarded. A large pallet bed is visible in a separate room through an open interior door. A third room with no windows is next to the bedroom but is completely empty.
Although the home has been ransacked, there is no evidence of foul play or personal violence. A casual search reveals any number of common domestic items, such as boots, spare cloaks hung on pegs, cookware, and plates and mugs—sundries that one might find in any dwelling. You also find a gold wedding band left sitting on a windowsill. “My dearest Livvy” is engraved on the ring’s interior.
In the bedroom, you spot a small metal chest shoved far under the bed and against the wall. It is locked.
In the empty room, you discover a few large circles on the floor where no dust has accumulated. The bare circles correspond to the size of an average wooden barrel, if set upright on end. No barrels can be found in the house, although there is a clear path to the door.
Just outside this building, you can see a strange set of tracks. One trail is 3-1/2 feet wide, heavy and flat, and corresponds to no natural creature. The other is a set of odd, starfish-shaped footprints running down the center of the flattened trail.
|
|
"Kip, can you check the charter to see if there was someone named Livvy, or something similar?" Simon sets down to look at the box.
Then opens the lock.
-Posted with Wayfinder
There is one "Livvy" listed on the town charter: the wife of Father Adran Felton, a priest of Erastil.
Simon doesn't find any traps on the chest, so he fiddles with the lock until he's able to pop it open. The small chest contains five bags, each of which holds 5 pounds of powdered silver (worth 25 gp each), four blocks of incense (worth 25 gp each), and a pouch with 100 gp worth of diamond dust. Emma recognizes these as expensive material components for bless water, augury, and restoration, respectively.
|
|
"So, this was the priest's home.
Someone certainly thought they would find something here.
These tracks are an interesting clue. We'll need to investigate then further after we check out the plum tree."
Simon will examine the track for a minute. Do they appear to be going to or from the house?
-Posted with Wayfinder
The tracks seem to lead away from the house, northeast and then south through the gate in the palisade fence.
"Indeed. Let's get goin'."
No tracks seem to lead back into the house. Leaving the trail alone for now, you proceed to the next building.
This large building is durably built in a log cabin–style construction with a thatched pitched roof and three gables. Its several open windows are uncovered, and the sole entrance on the east side of the building is bereft of a door. A small porch covered by a gable shelters this door, though the porch has not been swept and dirt and dust have started to accumulate, while one end of the gable is starting to sag from neglect.
The interior of this building suggests a modest place of worship—not quite a temple but more than a mere shrine. A table near the center of the west wall appears to serve as an altar, draped in a white but dusty cloth. Behind the table, a large wood carving of a humanoid figure with a stag’s head leans against the wall. Two rows of benches face the altar, although some have been knocked over and two piles of ashes are visible in the aisle between them. Scattered throughout the room are assorted objects related to public worship, such as a chalice and a ceremonial rod. An ornately carved longbow hangs on the wall near the altar, as if on display.
Against the north wall is a smaller shrine. Nearby is a wooden statue roughly three feet tall that depicts a male half-human and half-avian creature. One carved wing hangs partially broken from the statue.
Kip wandered through the torn up building, fingers trailing along the benches and tables. "Looks like someone tore up the place. Maybe even camped out here for a night or two, what with the ashes here." Coming to stand before the broken winged carving, Kip sighed. "I never like to see destruction like this... I wish I had prepared a repair spell this morning. Gerald, why didn't you tell me to be ready for something like this? It's always 'Make me some water!' with you, never thinking about the possible issues we could face. If we stay here tomorrow, don't let me forget to come by here and fix this wing."
Gerald flopped over on Kip's hat and blew a bubble.