"You are welcome to get out and go drown," Quelth replies cheerfully through a mouthful of tentacle, "good eating, nice and chewy."
In the former pirate's mind this is simply playful banter, but he still is not sure about such things around normal people.
Vinnick doesn't turn around. Well, don't say I didn't try to help you later when you are sick with god knows what.
he mutters in elven under his breath.
What have I gotten myself into with this rabble. Oh. I hope I find something worthwhile around here...
You press on and make it to the shore.
A well-worn path in the grass rises up a slope toward a cluster of buildings to the east. The buildings are arranged in a rough triangle, with each point ending in a wooden circular enclosure with rectangular notches cut intermittently, like battlements. These round enclosures are clearly meant to be three points of a wooden palisade fence, which would enclose this first group of buildings once completed. The palisade fence, however, is complete only along the southeastern side of the triangle and is obviously unfinished elsewhere. The grass around the settlement looks like it was cropped at one point, and many paths exist between locations in the settlement, but in less well-trafficked spots, the grass has started to regrow.
All the buildings are constructed of either rough timber or mud bricks set in a wooden frame, and have pitched thatch roofs. Many have open window frames, but only a few have actual shutters or even a canvas curtain for privacy. Doors are basic, wooden affairs, too simple for locks, and some buildings lack them entirely. The construction is new, quite rough and unfinished.
"Well alright lets have a look around and see if we can find out what happened here...and could someone take a look at Diomede's wound? That looks nasty." says Ramona.
"Oh, aye sure, over here," Quelth moves over to Diomede's spitting a gristly suction cup out onto the ground and cracking his knuckles.
The aquatic elf reloads his crossbow and dives into the water to help Ramona up and into the boat and then spend a moment searching the goblinoid bodies for weapons and other valuables. Knowing that some might have been dropped he looks over the bottom too.
Regaining the ship Deranthil r takes up a spot near the front of the boat. Observing the druid he has to add[b] Quelth, those are sentient beings, despite their behavior. It is not acceptable for you to eat them. Do you ever wish to fit into society? Even here in this outpost we have societal norms.
"What do you think they wanted to do to us? Turn about is fair play, didn't seem that sentient. More respectful to leave a corpse to waste than eat it? If I see one of them writing a play I won't eat that one," Quelth says, shrugging, "Its not cannibalism, its calamari..."
Not like we haven't all eaten people, what is wrong with these bloody elves? You get hungry enough morality isn't worth nothing.
well, I care not what they wanted to do, I am far above them and so not only does it offend my palate, but it they are far too unworthy to sully myself eating such lowly beasts. Frankly, I'd rather starve.
With that, he makes hand gesture and utters another arcane phrase in draconic. ociur arcaniss he walks around the camp to see if he notices any lingering magic,
Earlier
"Woa, this is disgusting. Eating other thinking beings. A well. You have to to know yourself what you do."
On land.
Bastien looks around with weapon and shield at the ready.
"This looks deserted. But I do not see any signs of battle or carnage!"
"Whatever happened here I think happened a long time ago. It's been 12 weeks since the Peregrin dropped of the first group. There should be over a hundred people here. The plan was however that if this place as attacked or had to be abandoned the rally point was the secondary site up the coast were the Peregrine is going to check." says Ramona looking around.
A2->Tents
A3->Provisions building
A4->Tool storage
A5->Smithy
A6->Chapel
A7->Large home
A8->Pallisade gate
A9->Governor's house
A10->government building
A11-> Soldier barracks
A12->colony square
A13->Planted lands(crops)
A14->Main street
A15->Crop patches
A16->another garden
A17->plum trees
A18-> Levin farm
Let me know were you head first.
Diomedes looks down and notices that Ramona is correct. He concentrates for a moment, placing his hand on the wound.
"Ah, there we are. No major damage done."
He's still a little in shock after the eating of the grindylow. Apparently it distracted him. I mean, sea-goblins are BARELY sentient... and he's right, they WERE trying to eat us.
Focusing again on the matter at hand, he suggests "Well, why don't we start over here" he points toward the tool shed (A4), "and work our way around clockwise. Then we can check the outbuildings."
Bastien points to the big house at the tip of the triangle.
"I would prefer to start with that one. It looks offical and the best defendsible!"
"Seems as good as anywhere else, I ain't sure how much use I will be in there, better with the wild, but best if we all stick together I think. Maybe there will be some sort of log that tells us what happened?" Quelth says, peering about worriedly as he scratches beneath Sloth's leathery chin.
I was only trying to help Quelth. I personally care little for what you eat. But I can assure you that such behavior will not be accepted by the other settlers. Do you want to be an outcast? He does in fact seem indifferent about it and turns away from the druid, evidently content that he has had his say.
Well first, I say we search the pier and the waters around it, since we are here and I am already wet. And Bastien, I believe what you are point at is a chapel. I don't care much what we search after the pier but those tents are closer.
"Oh, well, ah, I suppose it ain't really like I need to always liked tentacles... What about Slith eating them? I mean tough to find free meat just lying around, I wouldn't let her eat friends, but foes should be alright?' Quelth says sheepishly scratching his head.
Diomedes, taking a sip from his canteen, almost spews out his water. "Yes. I'm afraid I must insist. Foes only. Please," he says looking at the little plesiosaur.
Indeed, we are already wet. Might as well start with the docks."
"Hear that Slith, no eating friends," Quelth says in an indulgent tone, the elasomosaur tilting her head inquiringly at him and producing a quavering mewl.
"She probably gets it, animals are sensible about not voting the hands thatnfeeds them, most of the time. As for what to examine first I am not bothered as long as we do something."
@Derantil, sorry nothing worth mentioning 4 small spears that's basically it. You are at the pier yes.
"Ramona nods I think the government building (a10) might be a good place to start. I will go take a look." she starts to go in that direction.
If you follow her.
This wooden-framed, mud brick structure is currently the colony’s only two-story building, as well as one of the largest structures. It has the appearance of a rural courthouse or city hall rather than that of a residence. The front features a small porch supported by rough log pillars, with double wooden doors facing west. Numerous window frames with shutters, some of them open, wrap around the building on both floors. The roof is not thatched, but has wooden shakes instead. The construction suggests this building was intended to be a source of community pride, but it still has a rough, unfinished appearance due to lack of paint and coarse materials. A few small shrubs have been planted around it.
if you enter.
Through the main doors is a foyer opening to a large chamber that occupies most of the main floor. This room is open to the second floor, and two flights of stairs lead to a gallery that overlooks this space, supported by columns on the main level. At the rear of the chamber against the east wall is a raised desk, like a podium. Tables and chairs are arrayed in front of it like a courtroom. The gallery above has simple wooden chairs so that citizens can observe whatever business is conducted here. Doors at the north and south ends of the main floor lead to what appears to be separate offices.
A room by room search reveals nothing out of place but Ramona does find the logs with day by day reports on what happened at the colony.
She skips to the last day and checks it.
"The last log is from almost four weeks ago...Looks like a normal day..Veyr strange still there might be a clue here...There is a lot to go trough here I will read these will you investigate the rest of the colony" says Ramona.
Following along, but not contributing a great deal to the search Quelth nods at Captain Ramona's words, "Right you are Captain. I'm going to take a look at the provisions building and see if we have anything to work with. Anyone want to come?"
Making his way out he picks up Slith and the two make there way over to check what, if any, provisions remain.
As they check the house he was interested in Bastien follows.
"No clue yet. Let us check together. Divided we fall!"
Listen, we should not split up, and should be more systematic about our search. I get that Ramona wanted to come her first, but we passed a lot of sites that needed searching on the way, and we never even searched the pier! This is what we are going to do. Since Ramona is staying here we are going to make sure this building is secure first. After that we search everything in the partial walls, order is not important but lets not pass buildings up to get to other buildings. Its gonna be a long day as it is and I am done wasting time. Deranthil looks bothered by the already inserted inefficiency. Also stop calling Ramona Captain. She is not the captain. Jacob Markosi is.
Bastien smiles and nods."Then take point, scout!"
"You ain't the Captain either, I'll be checking the supplies, you don't want to split up come." Quelth calls back, not pausing.
Diomedes claps the elf on the shoulder. "I'm with you, Deranthil. It'd be nice to have some organization here. And splitting up is a bad idea. Especially before we find out what the hell happened here."
He lowers his voice to a whisper. "Between him and the sea serpent, they might well eat anything left in the supply hut."
Vinnick walks around. Honestly, the most disturbing part is the lack of anything. Even bodies. Its like they all just vanished into nothing. There isn't even blood or signs of a fight.
He follows behind Deranthil.
As you are leaving the Manor Vinnick does detect something magical moving about. It catches his attention he he is able to recognizes it as illusion magic but there doesn't seem to be anything there. Whatever it is is every small about the size of a closed fist and moves around along the walls and ceilings following the group.
Vinnick tries to focus on the blip of magic. Constantly trying to follow it with his eyes. If it continues to move he speaks up.
Hmmm... is this some type of fairy or other creature? Best to try and find out at least.
Hello? Who is here? Are you using some type of invisibility? If you can speak, do you know what happened to the people here?
Darenthil notes Vinnick talking to the air and watches cautiously. His hand gravitates towards the sword at his side but he does not draw a weapon.
Whatever it is doesn't reply but moves to leave trough an open window.
Deranthil continues the search of the current building, wanting to make sure it is secure before leaving Ramona alone here.
defiantly sentient
Vinnick shouts and points to the window. Someone block that window! Something is here and trying to leave through it.
He is then going to cast web bolt via his arcane bond. lorit krivim Nar!
Gonna give that a 50% miss chance
Vinnick's aim was true but the creature avoids it.
Running to the window is too slow and hitting it with a range attack is unlikely to work anyone else got an Aoe spell or ability that can stop it?
The creature whatever it was manages to escape.
Cursing as the creature gets away Deranthil says That was my best trick too. I hit but I think I barely winged it.
There is nothing else to be found in this building for now.
"What the crap was that? I was going to check the supplies, but maybe we should try and track whatever that was? I ain't a bad tracker and if Slith can find the scent we can at least get an idea where it is headed. What do yiou reckon?" Quelth asks, making to head outside to search for the creatures trail.
Bastien looks around and shrugs."Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes not. But we should continue with our investigation."
Jordy nods at Quelth. "I'd pay to see someone track something that can turn invisible. I'll follow along."
Silth smell around around but cant seem to catch a scent. Searching the area outside the window you find a tiny golden metal cog.
Well, this structure seems secure enough. Ramona, make a lot of noise if you get into any trouble. I recommend we check out the next closest structure next.
Jordy nods at Deranthil. "We should be as systematic about this as possible. Checking the closest buildings and moving outward makes the most sense. We should also think of a way to mark the buildings we have checked so we aren't wasting time doubling back. I have some chalk, if no one else has a better way."
"Long as we are doing something Slith ain't smelling chumshit. My Captain always told me to secure the supplies first, but I suppose that ain't a real priority yet, we got supplies on the ship and all. Think we can probably just remember the buildings we checked though? You think they are going to move?" Quelth asks, his tone slightly worried by the prospect. Is that a thing that happens I ain't spent much time on land, but I would have heard about that right? But ain't that what gears do? Like clockwork...
You check the next closest building. The name “Arkley” is carved into a wooden sign nailed next to the doorframe of this log cabin. 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.
You recognize the name Arkley, or specifically Rayland Arkley, as the leader of the first group of colonists.
The only door is shut and latched, but not barred. 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 PCs who succeed at a DC 10 Survival check find just enough dust to ascertain that the house has not been entered for 3–4 weeks.
There doesn't seem to anything odd here except as your about to leave you notice a piece of parchment atop a crossbeam up above.
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 PCs should know these facts as part of the debriefing and disclosures given to all colonists, and in fact likely signed a similar document themselves before joining the colony. The document is important for historical and legal reasons but is not intrinsically valuable in itself; a duplicate charter remains in Almas. The charter also includes a list of every colonist that came here with the first group. Examining it you notice that most of the names on the list have a small checkmark next to them.
Deranthil gets a sick feeling and wonders aloud It almost seems like someone was accounting for everyone. Rayland Arkley, was the leader of the group. He could have just led people off. They likely would gone wherever he said. But why, and to where?
"Been at least 3 weeks since anyone was in here from the dust," Qielth says, running a finger through the dust.
"Most of the names on this charter were checked off, what does that mean?" Quelth asks, looking to see if he can find any unchecked names. "Maybe they all agreed to move somewhere else? Better location or something?"
"Place looks pretty normal to me. Boring even."
since there doesn't seem to be anything of interest here you move on to the next set of buildings the barracks. These two long, rectangular buildings are constructed entirely from planks on a wooden frame, with a pitched thatched roof. Each building has two doorframes on the side of the buildings opposite the palisade, but lacks doors. Four window frames open into either side of the long walls, a few of which have no cover and others only a canvas draped across the inside. A partial view of the interior is possible from the doorways. Inside, the floors are hard-packed earth, and along the walls are wooden bunk beds. Many of the pallet beds are covered with blankets that now gather dust. Those beds have sacks or tied bundles of clothes sitting at their feet.