In the midst of his strange puppet show, Keegan searches for a possible cause of death.
Sorry....
Looks like he was devoured by a rather large beast...most of his clothing and stuff is ruined but the sack-like object lying next to him looks to be a backpack and it is in a much better state except for some torn straps.
"Hmmm... Looks like Mr. Friend here got hisself etten by some beastie, hmmm... Beastie beastie beastie..."
Keegan spies the dead man's bag lying in the weeds. He drops the corpse, saunters over to the satchel, and opens it.
"Let's have a butcher's we does..."
Faldor walks over pearing into the bag "Maybe theys I mean it had a map of some treasure or at least of this building." Then with a shrug, "Never know unless you check."
I hope none of the little white 'fly-babies' from the months-dead body land on me! ewww. "Uhhmm... Mushrooms? Are you down there?" Hozs checks out the rope; hoping to find a metal bucket--and mushrooms--while Faldor checks the bag, and Keegan the corpse.
Raph's face scrunches up in disgust. "You all can play with the dead guy... I'll stay over here."
Inside the pack is a foul set of rations that is beyond it's expiration period, a set of thieves tools that look to be of high quality in an oiled pouch (Masterwork), 50' of silk rope that is in good condition, a small coinpurse with 3pp, 10gp, 8sp, and 20cp (41gp total), and a small blue vial containing a lightly glowing creamy liquid.
The rope hanging in the well ends 10' into the well in a frayed mess. The reflective surface of water in the well is to be seen about 30' down.
Raph chuckles as he sees the thieves' tools. "Hmm. I'll be taking those." With that, he walks over and grabs them in plain view of everyone.
Faldor picks up the vial, "I think I've seen something like this... Maybe oil of silence for those squeaky hinges.. No that isn't it I don't think. I'm sure it will come to me in time till then I think I'll hold onto it." Faldor squints at the bottle as he tilts it this way and that letting the fluid swirl as he racks his brain for the items function.
1d20+6=20
Not really sure if this works but I think Faldor is feeling slightly useless with his comrades and this is just his way of trying to be of help.
Fakey, no mushrooms down the well?
"Heh. Looks likes our sneaky friend weren't nones too sneaky enough, eh?"
"Uhmmm.... can I see that rope?" Hozs drops the rope so about a foot of it is in the water dangling enticingly, "Like a big worm," he thinks. If no stick-people or cauldrons burst out at it, he lets out a short whistle. When Miss Squeeker makes his way back to the man he says, "climb down and check for mushrooms. Uhmmm.... Soft munchies." unless little Faldor wants to.
"Death just happens to be the best thief I've ever heard of." Faldor scans the surroundings again. "I'm beginning to feel very targeted all of a sudden, Mayhaps we should hurry on with our business."
"Uhmmm.... can I see that rope?" Hozs drops the rope so about a foot of it is in the water dangling enticingly, "Like a big worm," he thinks. If no stick-people or cauldrons burst out at it, he lets out a short whistle. When Miss Squeeker makes his way back to the man he says, "climb down and check for mushrooms. Uhmmm.... Soft munchies." unless little Faldor wants to.
"Here, Hozs, before you drop that in, let me cast a spell to make the end glow. " Effan casts light on the end of the rope.
Jaden stands off from the party as they fight over the dead body and well, keeping an eye out, but the group is being a little loud .
"This is takeing to long. I never seen a mushroom in a well, but i would want to be wrong this time."
No mushrooms down the well. The water looks clear.
Miss Squeeker has no problem heading down and scouting it out although she loses her grip momentarily before regaining it and scampering back into Hozs' hold again safely.
Faldor-
No mushrooms down the well. The water looks clear.
Miss Squeeker has no problem heading down and scouting it out although she loses her grip momentarily before regaining it and scampering back into Hozs' hold again safely.
Faldor- ** spoiler omitted **
Hozs lets out a disappointed sigh at the lack of fungus, but brightens a little when Miss Squeeker climbs back out of the well. "Uhmmm... hole or door? I think the door. What do you think Miss Stick?" Miss stick does not answer. "Ok me too. What about you Miss Squeeker?" 'squeek'. "Ok thats four votes for the door. What about you..." Hozs holds up three fingers, "uhmmm... five?"
Effan is a little disappointed, but not surprised by the lack of mushrooms in the well. "Shall we try the double doors then?"
Faldor nods with his kinsman, "The doors sound more opening." He says with a small grin. "But I think we should all get ready for a close quarters fight. I doubt the building will give us great maneuverability." With that he puts his crossbow over his shoulder with it's strap and unsheathes his rapier making a few finesse swings into the air. "I believe I'm ready." Then with a second though, "This seems to be a curing potion of some sorts," holding up the vial, "though I do not know it's strength."
You push open the slightly ajar of the double doors to the west revealing a ten foot wide hallway, newly disturbed dust motes dancing in the sunlight. A door to the left and right stand just before a north/south running hallway with double doors standing on the other side of the hallway. The new set of double doors is slightly ajar but the left and right doors are closed. The northern hallway runs 15' before turning to the right while the southern hallway runs down past your vision with two doors on either side of the hall about 20' down. The door on the right is ajar.
Map for clarification- Double door entryway.
You push open the slightly ajar of the double doors to the west revealing a ten foot wide hallway, newly disturbed dust motes dancing in the sunlight. A door to the left and right stand just before a north/south running hallway with double doors standing on the other side of the hallway. The new set of double doors is slightly ajar but the left and right doors are closed. The northern hallway runs 15' before turning to the right while the southern hallway runs down past your vision with two doors on either side of the hall about 20' down. The door on the right is ajar.
Afterwards -- "Doesn't look like anyone's home now. I guess we'll have to search room by room. Shall we try this door on the left?"
You push open the slightly ajar of the double doors to the west revealing a ten foot wide hallway, newly disturbed dust motes dancing in the sunlight. A door to the left and right stand just before a north/south running hallway with double doors standing on the other side of the hallway. The new set of double doors is slightly ajar but the left and right doors are closed. The northern hallway runs 15' before turning to the right while the southern hallway runs down past your vision with two doors on either side of the hall about 20' down. The door on the right is ajar.
Afterwards -- "Doesn't look like anyone's home now. I guess we'll have to search room by room. Shall we try this door on the left?"
There is some illumination from the doorway and a few spots in the roof seem to have collapsed allowing light to filter in. Shadowy illumination throughout.
A narrow trail winds through the leaves and debris strewn about the hallway.
"Let check the door on the left."
Jaden follow behind the group.
Gripping his rapier he grips the door knob that Jaden indicates and turns it ready to jump aside and let the stronger folk at anything in to room.
There is no sound from behind the door, and upon examination the door doesn't appear to have any defensive mechanisms placed upon it. The door opens with a bit of a pull and the odor of mustiness and earthy decay emanates from within.
This room is roughly 10' square with no windows or other exits. Some rags hang from lines of pegs on the wall and a small table to the left of the door is topped with what looks to be a moth-eaten and soiled old hat.
There is alot of debris on the floor, probably the rotted remains of cloaks and coats that may have once hung on the hooks above.
A very audible sigh of relief emits from the small gnome. "See nothing to fear here." He slides into the room and begins poking around the debris with the tip of his rapier looking for anything of value to him or their quest.
In one corner of the room you discover a patch of fungus with a mushroom growing from it. From it's appearance it seems to be an Ironbloom mushroom, one of the seven requested by Laurel....
Keegan's eyes immediately dart towards the old hat.
"Hrm, see, what haves we here, me luvverlies..."
He reaches out towards it, but almost as his fingers brush the cloth, he stops. Drawing his morningstar, he gives the hat a small poke.
"Um... Anyone ever harvest mushrooms before? I have tried in the past, you know for stew while camping? Anyways I destroyed the mushrooms and not only that I have no idea how they would keep any way..." Looking again at the mushroom. "So, who is in charge of mushroom harvesting?" He then steps out of the room and holds his rapier out of the way.
Keegan's eyes immediately dart towards the old hat.
"Hrm, see, what haves we here, me luvverlies..."
He reaches out towards it, but almost as his fingers brush the cloth, he stops. Drawing his morningstar, he gives the hat a small poke.
The hat collapses in on itself, a small cloud of dust rising up from it's demise.
Keegan does a little dance, then begins randomly poking things to see if they disintegrate.
"Um... Anyone ever harvest mushrooms before? I have tried in the past, you know for stew while camping? Anyways I destroyed the mushrooms and not only that I have no idea how they would keep any way..." Looking again at the mushroom. "So, who is in charge of mushroom harvesting?" He then steps out of the room and holds his rapier out of the way.
"My Aunt Felloostinia used to take me to pick mushrooms. We should be able to just pluck it up by the hold-fast. If we keep it moist and shaded and hurry back it should keep fine. But this is just one of seven we need. Let us leave it until we find more. Then we can harvest them all together."
What's next?
With his new found confidence that the world is not out to kill him Faldor steps across and turns the opposite door and pushes it open then with a second thought draws his rapier just in case. "Let us hurry for the sick."
With his new found confidence that the world is not out to kill him Faldor steps across and turns the opposite door and pushes it open then with a second thought draws his rapier just in case. "Let us hurry for the sick."
"Sick?"
The door sticks a bit but Faldor throws his little shoulder into it and the door opens with a pop and a cracking sound made from the shattering of a rotted old chair that was propped against it on the inside of the door.
The room is dark and smells of dust and decay.
"Sick?"
With a slightly dumbfounded look he turns back and up to look at Keegan, "UM... The people back home we are on an errand to save? Ringing anything up there?" He then rubs his little shoulder. "Someone else want to start opening doors? I think I may be killed by the next one I try to open."
"All you needed to do was ask"
Jaden gives a smile, and light pat on the back to faldor, all the while slinging his crossbow, and sholdering his shield and drawing his axe.
"So one sroom down, half dozen left"
The door sticks a bit but Faldor throws his little shoulder into it and the door opens with a pop and a cracking sound made from the shattering of a rotted old chair that was propped against it on the inside of the door.
The room is dark and smells of dust and decay.
"Jaden, Faldor, what's in there?" Effan asks.
"Sick?"With a slightly dumbfounded look he turns back and up to look at Keegan, "UM... The people back home we are on an errand to save? Ringing anything up there?" He then rubs his little shoulder. "Someone else want to start opening doors? I think I may be killed by the next one I try to open."
Effan whispers quietly to Faldor, "I don't think he much cares about the illness. I think he just wanted an excuse to roam the woods and kill things."
The light from the hallway filters into this room and as eyes adjust to the darkness and the dust begins to settle you can make out the several shapes. A couple benches and chairs are arrayed around the perimeter of the 10' square room with a form seated in the northwest corner chair. The form appears to be that of a deceased humanoid from several generations ago.
The light from the hallway filters into this room and as eyes adjust to the darkness and the dust begins to settle you can make out the several shapes. A couple benches and chairs are arrayed around the perimeter of the 10' square room with a form seated in the northwest corner chair. The form appears to be that of a deceased humanoid from several generations ago.
Effan looks around the room. "No other doors? Did he barricade himself in to die?" He remembers another small room with a "body" in a chair. Looking around mushrooms or anything of interest, he steps into the room .
Spot check (1d20=7) +1 is 8. Can I just take 10?
Turning to his fellow gnome, "I do believe you have a point. I just hope his humanity keeps him on track with the rest of us."
Then emboldened by his companion he to walks into the room looking about then going to check the corpse. "Perhaps he can help us further with our own quest. Sad to die like this though.."
As you approach to investigate the body you can see that the figure is that of a dwarf dressed in the rainments of a blacksmith, the shattered shards of a vial in one hand and a scrap of note in the other.
If you can read Dwarven-
Tucked into a moldering leather belt at his waist is a Silver light hammer that appears to be crafted by a master (Masterwork). The hammer bears a rune upon the head.
Knowledge Religion DC15-
As you approach to investigate the body you can see that the figure is that of a dwarf dressed in the rainments of a blacksmith, the shattered shards of a vial in one hand and a scrap of note in the other.
If you can read Dwarven- ** spoiler omitted **
Tucked into a moldering leather belt at his waist is a Silver light hammer that appears to be crafted by a master (Masterwork). The hammer bears a rune upon the head.
Knowledge Religion DC15- ** spoiler omitted **
Effan reads out the Dwarven note. "Dark Father, indeed."
Picking up and looking at the hammer. "I'm not sure who this is meant to represent but it looks like dwarven quality none the less. Anyone use hammers to kill stuff?" Faldor looks around the room, "I didn't find any mushrooms either... Perhaps we should continue one a little faster. I'm beginnig to worry for the folks back home."
Keegan's eyes snap to the vial in the dwarf's hand, then to the hammer.
The familiar covetous look creeps onto his face as he searches his brain for relevant information.
"See, ermmm..."
1d20+3=14
Picking up and looking at the hammer. "I'm not sure who this is meant to represent but it looks like dwarven quality none the less. Anyone use hammers to kill stuff?" Faldor looks around the room, "I didn't find any mushrooms either... Perhaps we should continue one a little faster. I'm beginnig to worry for the folks back home."
Effan's face grows grave as he considers the shoemaker's widow. "I think you're right, Faldor. It would be tragic were any to die because we ....
"See, ermmm..."
Effan spins at the interuption. Seeing Keegan's expression, he spits, "Oh, out with it, man. If you want the hammer, if you can use the hammer, just say so. It's not doing the dwarf any good. Although if it's marked with the brand of this "Dark Father" it may give more harm than weal."
"See, ermmm..."Effan spins at the interuption. Seeing Keegan's expression, he spits, "Oh, out with it, man. If you want the hammer, if you can use the hammer, just say so. It's not doing the dwarf any good. Although if it's marked with the brand of this "Dark Father" it may give more harm than weal."
"In interests o' becoming polite... hmmm... Palaver 'bout this with himself..."
Keegan mumbles a few things that you can't totally hear. You can gather the words "hammers in nails," "shiny things," and "sell."
He scratches his neck with his knifepoint.
"M'hmmmm... Yeah... Heh heh..."