Asher praises Erastil and aims a clear shot at Blue.
Too bad the probably make terrible chowder!
Becky's mind turns to tactics. She wants to get in a shot at the remaining chuuls, but doesn't want to interpose herself between Asher, his reach weapon, and the little monsters. Mentally she makes some calculations....
"I'm going to take a shot at the one on our left! Afterward, you move past me and hack down the one on the right!" Having expressed her plan, the bard steps in front of Asher and fires an arrow at one of the baby chuuls , quietly reminding herself and the others to target the tentacles and the soft flesh behind them.
for
Crispin examines his crossbow suspiciously.
[dice=crossbow + PBS] 1d20 + 4 + 1;
Crispin examines his crossbow suspiciously.
✦ Azlanti Archaeological Site: Cave Entrance (area B2) * ˚ ✦
Crispin shoots his crossbow but in a chaos misses! Talath pauses, waiting to see what his allies do. Mauro slashes his ranseur, killing the purple larval chuul! It wriggles its tentacled mouth and goes still, dead. Becky and Asher both shoot arrows from their bows. Both projectiles find their mark, silencing the last chuul child.
The waterfall continues to roar behind you, although nothing else in the cave jumps out at you.
✦ Azlanti Archaeological Site: Dig Site (area B3) * ˚ ✦
Besides the items found on the corpse, there is nothing else of interest in the narrow passage. The party proceeds deeper into the cave, which opens up into a slightly larger space.
This large cavern is composed of a combination of handhewn stone and natural cave features, as if the very stone of the walls were reclaiming an ancient structure. Enormous calcite pillars stretch from floor to ceiling, surrounded by bristling stalagmites and stalactites. Tiered, mineral-ringed pools of still water are tinted with a rainbow mottling of subterranean algae. Hidden by layers of calcite, mold, and luminous fungus are dilapidated, corroded, and crumbling picks, shovels, and other digging tools. A pair of inert clockwork servants (customized for excavating work) lie alongside tools. One of the clockwork creatures was crushed by falling stone, while the other has become encrusted with calcite deposits and badly rusted. (South)
Before proceeding further after defeating the Chuul larva, Mauro comments "This is not a natural cave, a normal cave cut by the action of a waterfall would not have a passage off the back of it." He then casts False Life and follows up by conjuring another skeletal warrior.
4 rank +3 trained +1 wis +2 racial +3 Skill Focus
4 ranks +3 trained +2 dex
2 ranks +3 trained +2 int
Mauro points at the uncrushed clockwork servant and comments "I think that's repairable"
Becky's drawn to the clockworks like a clockwork moth to a...clockwork flame?! Whatever. Then she nods at Mauro's words. "I'll bet I could repair one of these guys...maybe using the second for spare parts. Or I will be able to repair it in the near future, once I get a better understanding of how clockworks work and what materials go into their creation."
Belatedly, Becky recalls there's a 'bigger picture' here. "I wonder if the mundane tools were used by the Azlanti miners or if maybe our first wave of colonists--or maybe someone or something else--dug here. Durvin's account in the Chronicles hinted that this was once a civilization that was even more ancient. I don't see any signs of that!"
Asher lets the more knowledgeable types interpret what they find, but he searches the area diligently.
Hey, look these glyphs! Can anyone read these?
Looks like a recipe for Chelish Chili to me!
"Glyphs, what glyphs? All I see is some icky mold!"
Becky giggles at Asher's mention of Chelish chili. "I hear that stuff's hot as Hell and can give you gas that smells like brimstone!" After giggling some more at her own joke, the bard regains her composure and casts prestidigitation to make the glyphs more visible. She fails to recognize their significance, however. Feeling the symbols might be important, she uses one of her spell slots to cast comprehend language and save Talath the use of a scroll.
"'Safe haven'...'historical significance'...plus more coordinates to another of Durvin's sites."
"Given the location of that site we should stop by the colony first to update them about our progress."
"I agree with you Talath, but I don't think we are done here - is there not a passage cut off to the west?"
Mauro and his minion will take point again, but first Mauro will have a careful look at the passage... Given how long the excavation here has been abandoned, is it safe?
4 rank +3 trained +1 wis +2 racial +3 Skill Focus
"Of course. I was speaking of when we leave here, I should have been more clear."
Crispin looks up from suspiciously glaring at his innocent crossbow, glancing at the glyphs, "Safe haven & historical significance." He remarks. "Oh and coordinates to another site of interest."
He marks on the party map where to coordinates point, then goes back to glaring at his crossbow.
Antaral moves to where he can watch up the hallway to prevent any unexpected company from arriving and lets the others do their thing. He begins to mix several ingredients counting them off to himself quietly into vials as he watches and waits.
✦ Azlanti Archaeological Site: Dig Site (area B3) * ˚ ✦
With the added light from spells like Light, the party spends time investigating the opening of the cave. You notice additional things about the space that took more than a cursory glance. Each clockwork digger has a dull gray ioun stone embedded in a slot in its chest!
Someone observes that this place must have been of significance to station clockwork servants here to dig.
The party turns from the wall visible as they came in, to look west, towards the opening Mauro suggested. To the right of the continuing passage you notice something else of interest. It appears as if the chuul has arranged a number of trophies in her den. Twenty-three skulls are stacked into a rough triangle against the western wall of this chamber. In the southeastern section of this chamber, six battered and rusted helmets are arranged in a circle surrounding an odd, elongated mask.
Against the wall, a dozen small piles of mundane adventuring gear (such as torches, grappling hooks, leather sacks, frayed and moldering rope, and cookware) sit sorted by material and shape. A small steel shield holds a rainbow of colored river rocks, among which are nestled eight cut emeralds and a tourmaline sphere ioun stone.
Becky examines everything thoroughly, taking her time and letting out the occasional, "Hmm...."
Talath picks up the mask and examines it closely before turning to the others.
"This is a mask worn by the elves of the Mordant Spire. For everyone's sake I hope it's been here a long time or the colony may have bigger problems."
✦ Azlanti Archaeological Site: Mural Cave (area B4) * ˚ ✦
Finally, the party walks down the narrow passage to the west. This small cave is relatively dry and cramped, with a low ceiling and uneven natural rock underfoot. Faint murals and carvings line the cave’s walls, depicting winged humanoid figures holding lanterns as they descend from a mountaintop. Smaller humanoid shapes are depicted kneeling and reaching up to these figures. An adjacent cave wall illustrates primitive human religious concepts and hunter-gatherer imagery.
You think Carver Hastings might be interested in this.
4 ranks +3 trained +2 int
Mauro's tone is reverent "Nethys's mask those are old! These cave paintings and wall engravings must pre-date the Azlanti Empire."... He gently reaches out to touch the surface...
Asher looks on as Mauro does his thing..interested in seeing how it works with something that ancient.
✦ Azlanti Archaeological Site: Mural Cave (area B4) * ˚ ✦
Asher votes to go to Area C as they are still in good shape and will be able to rest on the way.
Asher votes to go to Area C as they are still in good shape and will be able to rest on the way.
"I think we should stop at Talmandor to inform them of our progress plus they can remove the haunt and establish a quarry for more permanent and stronger building materials. It's not much of a detour from here to Talmandor and then on to the area revealed here."
Crispin nods. "I agree with Talath. It gives them more resources and lets the people know what we're doing if they need to find us."
Becky cast her vote for returning to Talmandor's Bounty as well. "We don't want to have to carry those clockwork servants with us cross-country, right?"
A stop at the settlement wouldn't go amiss,ANtaral states
"I vote for Talmandor's bounty as well - we will be heavily loaded with the remains of the clockwork servants already, and I should not like to venture into trouble with that much to carry around. Not to mention, it seems wise to check in regularly; emergencies seem to crop up."
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Record Thief * ˚ ✦
The party decides to secure the clockwork servants to Talmandor's Bounty before investigating another one of Carver Hasting's requested sites . The hike back across the island is long and you feel like you're ready to rest when you arrive back. However, a guard at the palisade gate informs you that Ramona is waiting in the Government Building for you.
Sweaty and tired, you head towards the largest building in the settlement where you find Ramona Avandth and Lyra Heatherly talking.
"Today while we were going over numbers, Lyra noticed a satchel containing the ship’s manifest and resupply schedule is missing, along with her leather purse containing 50 gold pieces." Ramona sighs, “I believe Medrinnah Harleau, the teenage daughter of one of our soldiers, Sighra Harleau, may have perpetrated the theft. I’m reluctant to make this transgression public, especially while the property is missing. Initiating legal proceedings could put undue strain on her family and the colony, so I’d like you to find Medrinnah at the tailor’s shop where she is apprenticing and talk to her about the missing manifest and gold.”
Ramona spends more time looking at Becky than the other party members. "I would appreciate it if you could talk to Medrinnah and get the stolen items back."
Becky knows at this time Medrinnah is finishing up her shift as an apprentice at the tailoring shop.
Becky's jaw drops at Ramona's words, and a startling transformation overtakes the teen bard. Gone is the fawning toadie Becky usually becomes in Ramona's presence; now she seems shocked, disappointed, and possibly even angry.
"What makes you suspect Medrinnah?" she demands, trying but utterly failing to sound neutral.
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Talath looks at Mauro, "Your powers of perception are amazing."
can only make a DC 10 as untrained
+2 int
Talath looks at Mauro, "Your powers of perception are amazing."
"It's more of a strong belief in Murphy's Law... ", then he steps close to Talath and continues sotto voce "I don't actually recall signing up to be the town guard, do you?"
Talath whispers to Mauro, "Well my people sent me here to assist the colony so I suppose in a way I've been drafted? Or perhaps the will of Desna?"
Looking at Ramona, Talath attempts to be diplomatic to cover for Becky's unexpected show of emotion, "Are there witnesses or evidence suggesting Medrinnah is responsible? I would hate to ruin someone's reputation over just a suspicion."
Crispin stays very quiet. Dealing with monsters is far safer than teenage girls. 'Should have stuck to book keeping!' He thinks gloomily.
Asher stands off to the side to let the more diplomatic members of the group deal with this development but offers to check the area close to the theft for tracks that can link the suspect to the incident.
I am not a town guard, but I will offer my tracking ability if you think it'll aid in either confirming or absolving your suspect. Where was the satchel kept, so I can look for tracks leading away from its vicinity?
Antaral waits to see what the group will do as he has little to no interaction with Medrinah.
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Record Thief * ˚ ✦
Ramona gives Becky the eye and the teen can't help but feel a pang of guilt.
Looking at Ramona, Talath attempts to be diplomatic to cover for Becky's unexpected show of emotion, "Are there witnesses or evidence suggesting Medrinnah is responsible? I would hate to ruin someone's reputation over just a suspicion."
Ramona nods. "Yes, two farmers who were putting away tools in the shed said they saw a smaller person who looked like Medrinnah hop out the window. However," Ramona pauses, "I would prefer if you didn't question the farmers. The attention could put undue strain on her family and the colony."
"I am not a town guard, but I will offer my tracking ability if you think it'll aid in either confirming or absolving your suspect. Where was the satchel kept, so I can look for tracks leading away from its vicinity?"
Ramona smiles, "that would be appreciated, Asher."
"We'll head to the scene and see what we can find. Before we leave, however, we came here to update you on what we've found..."
Asher takes the time to inspect the area where the satchel was kept and then looks at the ground around the windows to find tracks and clues.
Omari also look for clues at the scene of the crime
4 rank +3 trained +1 wis +2 racial +3 Skill Focus
and he will use his object reading abilities to examine the same area as Asher (in particular, the window itself could potentially yield a clue about who opened it...)
This may not get me anything; object reading:" You gain one piece of information about the historical significance or the last previous owner—such as a glimpse of the last owner’s appearance or its emotional state when it last used the item—determined by the GM." The area where the satchel was kept likely has no historical significance, and assuredly isn't owned by the thief. I'm thinking my best bet is the sash and windowframe by which they exited ...
"Fine--I'll try to talk to her and recover the documents and gold," Becky grumbles. The teen's not looking forward to a showdown with her BFF.
Nonetheless, she approached Medrinnah. "You're in trouble...and now I am, too," Becky tells Medrinnah. "Some important documents and a coin pouch went missing earlier today, and there were witnesses that saw you in the area of the theft...sneaking out a window. Really, Medrinnah? There are so many other ways to blow off steam on this island; did you really have to pick something that'd tick off Ramona? If you return the stuff, I'll put in a good word with her."
✦ Talmandor's Bounty: Record Thief * ˚ ✦
The party exits the Government building to circle the perimeter. There are indeed tracks leading away from one of the windows. Asher identifies the tracks as humanoid and slightly smaller than average.
Mauro uses his mysterious object reading ability on the window frame.
The party continues towards the tailoring shop, where the teen was said to be. Becky marches up to Medrinnah to give the other teen a piece of her mind, but Medrinnah attempts to flee! Someone in the group is quick enough to grab and restain Medrinnah.
"I- you-" Medrinnah sputters as if in shock that her friend would turn on her. Tears well up in the teen's eyes, "fine, yeah. I stole the gold. But I didn't take no papers! What would I want with that stuffy junk?"
"Here," Medrinnah turns to open her own backpack and pulls out a leather pouch. She hands it to Becky. "I didn't spend any of it or nothing. And... you're right. I know I shouldn't be stealing but I just hate being here." She stares hard at the floor - anywhere but your faces.
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Mauro clearly believes that she didn't take the documents, as he speculates:"Who else could have taken the documents? Who else would want the ship's manifest and resupply schedule?"
"Something's not adding up," Becky comments. "Lyra said the gold was in a leather sack inside a larger satchel. Medrinnah--did you take the satchel or just the pouch of gold from inside it?"
Asher is suspicious and voices this to the group.
Should we look further around the area by the window for signs of who may have picked up the satchel? The child may have taken the gold, but there is no motive to take the papers.