Karkoran will ask to be led to the forge area and about hiring some assistants for a few days once he has his artisan tools. He will be there for a few days to craft some new weapons.
They lead you to the forges begrudgingly where there is a lot of interest in seeing how you work. You have your artisan tools and by flashing some coin around you are able to hire some able assistants. Many of the dwarves feel disgruntled at a minotaur using their forges, but they marvel at the skill and strength with which you work the metal.
"I think I'll buy a sword and a small supply of heatstones in case the weather is really bad, then I'll bank the rest of my share with the dwarves. I don't see carry a big sack of gold along with us on a trip to the mountains."
Jopple and Lump can arrange to set up an account at the Central Vault.
They can acquire more heatstones as well.
Jovar the Homonculous appears in the room at some point. It has been a while since you have been in contact, and he comes bearing greetings from Tolhemia Brass, the leader of the large group of your brothers and sisters that remained at the lake while your group left.
He fills you in on the stories of the other groups, explaining how they made peace with the goatling people, and participated in a large ceremony at the lake, and then took refuge in their village for a day before coming to the fort here at the behest of the leaders to aid in the fight against the giants.
Asheranthi, during the conversation, you learn that the goatlings have quite a few shamans with them, and perhaps it is possible the more elder among them may be able to cast a Commune. It may be worth investigating.
Jovar would relay the message and seek out one if you are willing.
"Jovar, if you could pass on to the Goatlings our request for intercession with the gods for information and inquire what sort of offering they would require we would appreciate it.
Jovar listens to Tayanella and notes that it would relay the message. "Will there be any other messages or new?"
Jopple and Lump receive the offical appraisal of the valuables from the hill giant loot. It comes in at 15,000 gp, which is 3,000 gp character (and commensurate with Wealth by Level guidelines). Flush with cash they use it to buy the equipment desired, and to fund alchemical research, crafting and to make payments for magical enchantments.
The wizard doing the enchantments is a mage named Bensitra. She had been an adventurer of sorts for a while, and then gave up adventuring to raise several children. She makes a decent living doing minor enchantments and crafting such as this. She is able to work from home and easily able to afford several servants to watch her children.
Asheranthi tracks down a lead with the goatlings. Jovar returns that same day to announce that one of their elder shamans can cast a commune, however the material expense is 500gp.
Grobly gets his armor and barding enchanted and works on formulae exchange and potions.
Karkoran spends most of days in the forge area and evenings with Grobly swapping formulae and working on potions. He also works on the rituals with his weapons.
Tayanella works on her longbow ritual.
Lump and Jopple spend a lot of time in the city selling off the various loot through various merchants to get the best prices. After day 4, the custom work is complete on all of the clothing, barding, and parade armor. Grobly's armor was available immediately since it was just size small leather armor, and could have been masterwork transformed and enchanted during that time. The barding was ready before day 4 and so the same process could be done. The parade armor takes until day 4, and it would take day 5 to enchant. Is this ok? Keep in mind the marshals and Thain believed the giants to be about a week out, so taking 5 days puts them almost to the fort. You can still ride out to intercept them but will not be able to reach the point the group had discussed traveling to initially.
Do we need to visit the Goat Shamans in person for the commune, or can we send 500gp in valuables along with Jovar?
You would probably arrange a visit since the spell requires asking questions. You could tailor your questions based on answers. I guess it depends how you want to handle it.
"Lump, five days is ok with me. I will take on a large cloak and cover myself and go visit the goatlings shamans. Can everyone kick in 100gp each to cover the cost of the Commune spell? I will try to get the answers we seek about the lost temple."
"I can cover anyone's share if they're short...."
"Get it.... "if your short" .... because you're a little frog.... get it?"
You assemble to cash required and arrange for an escort from the fort to the goatling enclave. South of the lake in an area there they have set up a large open swathe for the goatlings to pitch their tents and make their own. The area is bustling with activity.
I'll go along. There should be time for me to upgrade my bow and make this trip, right.
Yes no problem. The bow ritual is only a few hours depending how much of your pool you spend.
Grobly will bow out of the commune to save me from having to post while a travel, and the goblin isn't that diplomatic to begin with.
Lump would go, if his services in the town were not otherwise in use. But he might be of more use in town, so he can see it either way.
Who all can translate with the locals? Do we need Lump to talk to the goats? Does Karkoran need him to translate with helpers in the forge?
Druids get share languages also, so Asheranthi would be ok. Lump can still go, it won't conflict with mercantile activities.
Karkoran will probably be ok in the forges with the helpers once they get a start, although he may need some assistance initially with hiring and explaining what he wants. Day to day they can use diagrams and just point to what they need done. With three of the group able to use share languages, you should be ok with being spread around.
Grobly can cast share language on Kark during his time in the forges.
Karkoran would like to be present at the Commune casting unless it will take too much time from the forges. He can just work later at night though.
The group assembles and an escort is arranged to move you through town. With the upcoming giant raid and influx of strangers and odd races to the town, they are having a hard time keeping everyone escorted all the time, and it seems they are starting to be a little more lenient with your excursions, and how many guards are along. There does seem some prejudice though. Lump and Jopple had a small contingent. Tayanella, Karkoran, Asheranthi and Lump it seems require a much larger escort.
You traverse through the fort and through the gates, the effort to get through all the security taking most of the time. On the streets, people of course gawk and stare and point, and many shy away.
It takes some time to get to the south part of town as it requires taking a bridge over the dammed up area. Once there you enter the goatling area, and the group is ushered in to meet with one of their very elder shamans.
One of you will need a share languages spell.
Taya keeps an eye out in all directions (literally), not sure if she's trusting these folk.
"I know the other groups made peace with these guys, but the last time we saw them they were trying to kill us." she says to her companions.
Lump is ready with share langauges and the group is a bit wary given their previous encounter. As Tayanella mentioned, you the know the other groups made peace with the goatlings, but your group did not join the ceremony and there is a bit of apprehension on your part. The goatlings however seem genuine and helpful and perhaps because of the misunderstanding then are trying to provide aid.
Lump will teach their pipe-wielding bards a thing or two about accompaniment for musical numbers while divine preparations are made.
Tayanella, the elder tells you he can ask nine questions before he prepares the ritual.
Lump, they seem more of a percussion and horn type of culture. They may have a few flutes, pipes or pan flute type things, but they seem to defie the stereotypes and have large kettle drums and massive war horns used for ceremonies.
Fine with me on the questions. Im always terrible at that sort of thing.
Dang, well ill work with their drums and horns then. Just something to do while folks get the communion set up
"Greetings Elder, we have come with resources to cast a Commune spell with the gods. We have some specific questions to ask about our missing master. We hope to find a temple that will begin us down the path. My minotaur friend here has devised some questions to quickly narrow our search. Please tell us when we may begin."
The goatling Elder nods at Asheranthi. Indeed several goatlings are here, other elders, even their leader known as Golden Ram has come, but so far has not said anything beyond a cordial greeting. The ceremony to cast the spell begins. It took Lump and Jopple some time to round up enough incense and to have holy water made, but you were able to eventually obtain it. Now the air is thick with incense smoke, so thick you feel a little light headed. The Elder takes a bronze bowl and filling it with the holy water, he begins to chant, beseeching the gods to answer his call. The chanting and prayers go on for a good while, but you were prepared for the lengthy ritual.
After about ten minutes, the goatling's eyes roll back into his head and seeing only the white, he speaks with an otherworldly voice,
I propose questions as such:
1) Does the mountain temple intended as the destination of our exodus spell still exist or stand in some manner other than a useless ruin?
If we get a yes to #1 , we ask
2) Does Kao Lor himself, or his progeny/sect inhabit the temple?
If yes, we just need to find the temple, see below.
If no, I think it is the same as a no to #1, see next question.
If we get a no to #1 or yes to #1 and no to #2. We ask
2 or 3) Will the ruins/locationtemple provide us clues to Kao Lor or his progeny's location.
If yes we need to find the temple, see below.
If no, we need to try another strategy. The backstory said Goodwin was "the son of the planetar Socharial Xreychar". Maybe we can track this guy down. Surely an immortal such as a planetar is still hanging around the upper planes and might have some interest in finding his long lost son, outcast or not.
If we need to find the temple we ask these for questions 3 or 4 through 9 or more.
3) Is the temple north of our location?
4) Is the temple west of our location?
This narrows it down to quarter slice of pie in a circle with a radius of up to 500 miles. Although that radius would start at the spot we were dumped when we arrived. We can cut the pie in half with question.
5) Is the temple greater than 250 miles from the location?
6) Pretending it fell in the northeast quadrant we ask, is the temple between north and northeast of here for example?
Questions 7 and 8 continue the same process. Say for example it was less than 250 miles and in the north to northeast half of the northeast pie slice, we can cut that slice in half the long way and in half vertically. If we had more questions we can keep up the process. If we wanted to spring for another Commune we can narrow it down further. Depending what was revealed we might be able to track it down ourselves, although the square mileage of the area would still be significant, it will be a fraction of the original, and if we send all our kin to the area we can fan out and scour the mountains for it.
"Ashe do you want to ask the questions?"
"No, you came up with them, go ahead."
The Elder turns expectantly to Karkoran and his white eyes glow slightly as he awaits the first question.
"Does the mountain temple intended as the destination of our exodus spell cast by the Homonculus Jovar, still exist or stand in some manner other than a useless ruin?"
The Elder shaman repeats the question to the divine channel and then answers, "Yes."
"Does Kao Lor himself, or his progeny/sect inhabit the temple? "
Lump, having anticipated viewing this spell, ceases his prior activities to be present and give his full attention.
The second question posed, the Shaman repeats the question, and then after a pause answers in an otherwordly voice, "Yes"
Karkoran snorts in excitement. "This is good news."
"Third question: Does the temple reside north of the location where we arrived on this plane as the result of Jovar's exodus spell?"
"Oooooh..."
As the others head out to speak with the Shamans, Grobly will laze around their room for a bit before growing bored. He had a few potions he wanted to make before they began to head north, but curiosity began to climb. He had seen the one griffon rider, and figured there must be more. Just as the dwarves seemed perplexed at seeing the Goblin, Grobly was intrigued in seeing some griffons up close in a 'friendly' setting.
Grobly will gather some meat and try to find a window to slip out of, then begin to climb looking for the aviary.
In response to Karkoran's third question, the Shaman asks and the response comes through again in an otherworldly spiritual voice, "Yes."
"Fourth question: Does the temple reside west of the location where we arrived on this plane as the result of Jovar's exodus spell?"