B, books, 3 MC weapons, secret door-alchemist lab to cure hides, more books
V, cave with 3 chests of coins
Krazok's group continues searching more along the line of the lake and only finds a few abandoned hovels.
Blienka's group finds an abandoned lodge.
Valisia's group finds several caves near each other.
Looking from the structure their group happened across to his peers, Fritz offered a summary: "Nobody's been here in a long time, I bet. Nothing special - door to a basement, wooden fixings. Good shelter if the weather gets rough though."
That nobody seemed to be about or had been for some time was an indicator to the warrior greater threats pushed-away the smallfolk. "Would the bandits have been fearsome enough to scare the owners away?"
"Hey look over here, caves."
"It appears there are recent boot tracks leading in and out of them. These cannot be more than a few days old. Lets proceed cautiously."
"Would anyone like to sneak in? I can be pretty stealthy if I want to be, but maybe either of you two are also stealthy?"
Huh, a few trinkets in here though. Should let us maybe eventually buy some thing that isn't frog meat hey? Jenya grins as she retrieves the left over bits and pieces of what used to be people's lives. Maybe people can live here again some day.
"Your right about the tracks, question is did our forerunner want to move about quietly or was he being more casual about going in and out of the cave."
"Now I don't mind going into the cave to check it."
"I wonder what caused the people here to leave" Albinius muses out loud as he brushes dirt off the statue found in one of the huts.
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Perception:
Survival:
Blienka shakes her head at Fritz's comment:
Might want to look close. Does not appear to have been used in a while, but these tracks show that someone has been going in and out. She points at the tracks.
After examining the tracks, Blienka follows them into the old lodge and after carefully inspecting the floor, points to a small latch hidden beneath some poorly pushed together dirt.
Seems there is something concealed here. Might as well see what it is.
With that, she carefully pulls up the hatch to see what is hidden beneath.
Looks like some type of a lab. Wonder who has been here, and why it is hidden in this old shack in the woods.
Grateful Blienka spotted the tracks and other details, Fritz nodded his head in silent thanks.
"Let's take a look. I'm no alchemist, but maybe we can find someone who is."
Krafnik nods to the cleric and the leader of the group readying his bow and a sharpened arrow and covering until they reach the bottom upon which he too will descend and then be at the ready. If required he will cast dancing lights
With that, she carefully pulls up the hatch to see what is hidden beneath.
Looks like some type of a lab. Wonder who has been here, and why it is hidden in this old shack in the woods.
"You haven't seen any alchemists or the like in these parts? Can't say I ran into anyone of the sort on my way here."
After the moment of silence Aurora adds
"Looks like, I'm the one who's going in"
She gets off her horse and makes her way into the cave as quietly as she can.
"Good luck."
The metal statue looks to be of an elf and could be made of silver.
You head into the cave and soon find a stash of 3 chests. Two of them have basic locks on them and the third is tied with rope shut.
With a quick inspection and untying of the rope you find the chest to be filled with coins. The other two sound like they are filled with coins as well if you lift them.
Down in the lab, there seems to be an alchemist lab of all sorts of glass tubes and tubing. There appears to be several potion vials at the end of the contraption not even with a cork in them. As if it was set up to create them but left to finish on its own. There are notes here and there as well as several books on basic alchemy. Extra potion vials are on some selves with other glass filled beakers of animal parts. Scetches are on the walls and many quills are around with ink vials.
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The three groups likely finish with their explorations and meet up towards the bottom of the hex they explored. It will be about an hour before noon.
"Greetings, do you have any findings to report?" Krazok asks.
Once the other two groups have offered up what they found, he says, "We found an occupied hovel, that might be good that we all inspect together. Also some abandoned huts, with that statue within."
Then the little green and yellow blur of the lizard Sly enters into the glade. He slows down enough for the group to see him properly as he gets close to Krazok. He is carrying a scepter with a neon green flame atop of it.
Aurora goes back to the group informing them of the find.
"There are three chests in the cave, two with locks and one tied shut with a rope."
Krafnik will report back to the group about the alchemist cave and say that we could use an alchemist to gather up what ever is valuable. Why dont we as a group gather that, then the chests, and last the possible fight?
Albinius' eyes light up at the mention of the laboratory;
"An alchemist's laboratory you say? I know a little of the art myself. I would be very much interested in having a look at what you found."
I know a bit myself. Grew up in an alchemist's shop. Let's go there and then we'll head to the chests, then to the final place.
"Let's haul those out there and take them back."
Kezelia can help, and we can put the chests on the horses.
Albinius' eyes light up at the mention of the laboratory;
"An alchemist's laboratory you say? I know a little of the art myself. I would be very much interested in having a look at what you found."
Though Fritz recognized the value of the alchemy lab, he could decipher little of the esoteric writings. Also, he had no desire to taste potential poisons.
"Good on you to make some sense of it, Albinius. Blienka is right; whole place looked like people picked up and went one day. Urgently." The priest looked to Krazok. "Would those people have had word of the power shift here? Maybe they fled to the hovel you mentioned. I wouldn't mind checking it out."
He helped clarify the location of the lab to Albinius so he could surely arrive at the right spot before letting his mind wander. Maybe there are some stragglers about who resent our occupancy.
She helps collecting and securing the chests, one to each horse and offering to help Kezelia carry the third.
He puts his hand down and picks up the little lizard. He takes the scepter with his free hand and puts it in his belt before picking up the bloody axe again. Then he puts the little lizard on his shoulder and pats his head a few times as he whispers, "Thank you Sly, may you ever be prosperous and I will make sure you always get some pretties."
"With the chests already collected, here we can put the third one on my Axebeak, let's go check out the alchemy place then the smokey hut." Krazok agrees with what most have already been saying.
The group moves out, heading straight for the location of the hidden alchemy shop following Blienka's group to the site.
It would be very experimental to drink more than one potion, it could be dangerous and disastrous!
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A dilapidated mud-brick hut squats atop a small hummock in the middle of a fetid marsh, a thin tendril of bluish smoke trickling through a gaping hole in its moss covered roof. A wooden fence surrounding the perimeter of the mound is festooned with crude fetishes crafted out of sticks, feathers, and animal bones. A lone crow caws noisily from the top of a nearby cypress tree.
The hut is a simple, one-roomed affair; it’s only about 20 feet in diameter with a dirt floor and thatched roof.
The region around the hut is an 80 foot diameter area of solid ground, thick with bog grass and dotted with small cattail-clogged pools. This solid region is surrounded by a waist-high wooden fence, in which a single gate hangs askew. A fist sized rusted iron bell hangs from a hairy length of rope tied to a crooked post next to the gate. A scarecrow appears to be propped up midway between the gate and the door to the hut.
Most of the denizens of the southern Greenbelt believe the old woman to be a hag and call her the Swamp Witch, believing that she sold her soul to a demon or devil for malign powers. Any time a child goes missing, the Swamp Witch is blamed, and her legend is commonly used to scare said children into behaving well or finishing their suppers.
Once at the old lodge Krazok checks out the area waiting for those who wish to check it out get done. If it takes more than 15 minutes, which it likely would as some might pour over the books and notes, he takes the chest off his Axebeak and begins to sort through the coins in the chest.
Selena joins Krazok in waiting for the others to be done.
The Sly walks around, and climbs down with the ones looking through the lab, he stands near most of them... each of you can feel a charge of static at one time or another when the little lizard is near you.
Well lookit that. Whoever was here was some heavy duty tinkerer
I think this stuff is more your style Albinus? Though I'd like to take one of those cat's graces if nobody minds
Krafnik nods and says good find, let's try the chests. Do we have someone strong with locks and traps?
I'm alright with it, but... don't have any tools on me for that stuff. Was busy fighting bandits not acting like them recently Jenya grins.
Not a fan of swamps, Fritz held his discontent with the location internally. Never know where you have good footing, can't take a cart through 'em easily, and they stick to hell too. This didn't stop him from attending, though his face showed his displeasure.
"I've got to say - if these are the sorts of bandits you dealt with," the priest began, gesturing towards the hovel, "it's not a surprise you drove them out so quickly."
Just sayin' I don't have the tools of the thievin' trade Fritz. Though I 'm alright at using 'em if someone else has got them.
Albinius looks over the notes with Jenya.
"This is absolutely fascinating! Whoever made these notes clearly knew what they were doing. I wonder what could have happened to them? I suggest we clearly label and divide up the potions and also take the notes with us for further study"
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Knowledge(local):
Not having much knowledge, Blienka listens and follows the others as they examine the lab and the hut. She spends most of her time outside looking at flowers and imagining how the area could be more beautiful, perhaps through the creation of a scenic vista or something similar.
Although not impatient, she appears ready to move on and hopefully find the other unicorn to speak with the beautiful and noble creature.
"Hmm, let me see. Since we have some time." She pulls out a few tools and begins to get to work on the locks, Then she starts counting...
Albinius packs up the paperwork as Jenya points out what the different potions are likely.
She takes the cat's grace for herself and four more remain unclaimed.
Selena unlocks the other two chests to reveal more coins and treasures. . Most of the items are precious metal cups, silverware, statues, jewelry and the such. 3,200 cp, 820 sp, 435 gp, and 34 pp.
On to the hovel...
Krazok asks the group, "Anyone have a suggestion here? I am likely not the best one to be approaching a house."
Selena goes to jump the fence and appears to hit an invisible wall and now lays dazed next to the fence.
Krafnik stops and calls out hail to the hut, might we have a peaceful word with you?
From the hut you can hear an angry old woman's voice, "What do you want?"
Aurora replies to Krazok
"Likely not, but you never know.
And it does not help that I tend to be shy about new people I meet."
Krazok and Aurora likely keep near the mounts as others begin the interactions. Selena is still sitting on the ground with her back to the fence. As Krafnik begins to open communication.
"To see if you've seen some shady types wandering about the area!" sounded Fritz. [b]"The Stag Lord has been taken care of, but there are still brigands around."
we are clearing land to set up a kingdom and have defeated the bandits as said. We have heard both the rumors and the truths of you and would have you as an ally. We would like to negotiate with you
"Nice job Selene."
Yeah, not going to try and sweet talk that person. Jenya says, staying back and letting Krafnik take the lead.
Selena goes to jump the fence and appears to hit an invisible wall and now lays dazed next to the fence.
"Looks like she is a powerful magic user at any rate. We'll have to tread carefully, she could be a useful ally or a dangerous enemy if angered. I wonder if she'd respond well to flattery, saying that we've heard of her wisdom and power and seek her advice?" Albinius whispers to the others.