Tucked into a mostly-forgotten corner of the Darkmoon Vale, lies the small village of Falcon's Hollow. Caught in the shadow of Droskar's Crag, the people of Falcon's Hollow are cut from a hearty and stern cloth. A life filled with hardship, broken by the occasional festival and even rarer merchant caravan.
If the creatures of Darkmoon Wood aren't bringing their own brand of misery to the people, the lumber barons keep the town shackled in the chains of poverty. That they manage to survive at all is a testament to their strength.
--Pathfinder Chronicles
A week overdue, and penniless, the excitement of Olfden lies behind you as you start out north, following the trade route along the Artfell Forest. Aside from a few meager gold pieces for Thuldrin Kreed, you have spent all of the money that was brought in for the last shipment of darkwood. The Gavel of the Lumber Consortium had entrusted you with the delivery, as you are all well-liked around town, and could be trusted.
The cobblestoned streets of Olfden quickly turn into hard-packed dirt roads, which soon enough turn into rutted cart trails. After the horse had died of neglect, you are forced to drag the cart home yourselves. Skirting the edge of the woods, Falcon's Hollow seems an eternity away as you slog through the thick mud, the rain unrelenting.
Hours pass and you seem to make little progress along the road. A journey that would normally take a day, you are less than halfway to Falcon's Hollow. Ahead, a small cabin sits off to one side of the road. Perched alongside a slow-moving creek, there is a stack of firewood on one side of the building, and animal carcasses hanging from a nearby tree.
"By the gods, I can't believe the horse died, it must have been some malady, it was eating plenty on the road, and the grass was dew-covered so there must have been enough water...if only we'd had a druid or ranger with us, perhaps they would have known what killed it..."
"What's that cabin? I don't seem to remember it being there from the trip to Olfden."
The half elf frowns at her luck, shaking her head as she looks at the dead horses, "Well, I would say it doesn't matter much anyways, they are not going to get any deader."
She stands up, "A cabin?" She looks around, seeing it, "Hmm. Doesn't look too scary. I will go check it out."
She quietly moves up to the cabin, looking to see if there are any traps around the front door.
Perception to look: 1d20+5+2 for keen senses= 13
If there are no traps, she will move up to the front door and listen to hear what is inside.
Perception to listen: 1d20+7=23
"Ah, brave one that..."
watches Saffron with curiosity...having watched her the entire time, there's no hiding from his shrewd eye. Leaning cross-legged against the cart, Gambril draws an arrow and nocks it...just in case
Saffron quickly and quietly moves up to the cabin. The mud tries to suck at her boots, but she manages to find the drier patches where less noise will be made.
There is no evidence of traps around the door, and the only sounds to be heard are the raindrops pelting the roof of the cabin, and the gurgling of the creek.
She stands up, "A cabin?" She looks around, seeing it, "Hmm. Doesn't look too scary. I will go check it out."
"Anything to get out of this damnable rain..." Torillan says. "Just be careful", he adds as Saffron moves closer to the cabin. His hand drops to the hilt of his sword.
"Guess you got more human blood than elf blood eh Tor?" Gambril says with a wink and a nudge..."Since we know them elfies like the rain, more than us round ears...eh...eh?
Torillan and Gambril stand anxious, the relentless rain now unnoticed as the pair stand focused, ready for Saffron's signal.
Gambril isn't so much anxious, he's reactionary but not skittish. He's leaning against the cart, cross-legged with his bow not nocked but not drawn or readied...
"Bah, this rain bothers the Korgun and a cabins a cabin. The Korgun says we need to keep moving."
She frowns, wondering why someone would just leave the cabin on such a day like this. She goes back to the others, placing her hands on her hips, "Seems like no one is home at the moment. May be a good place to stay until things clear up."
Cefrey looks to the sky before giving a nod of agreement at Saffron's suggestion. "I think that would be a good plan" She agrees in a gentle tone "I really don't believe we will get any further on a day like this"
Inside the cabin, the curtain across the single window has been drawn. It is not so dark that you can't make out any details. A double bed off to the left, a table with two chairs to the right, and a pair of rocking chairs in front of the fireplace, the fire long-since extinguished.
Dark spots on the floor indicate that something has pooled up, but the roof is solid, not allowing any water inside. Muddy footprints criss-cross the threshold.
As you open the door further, you can see that the dark spots on the floor are pools of blood. The blood has been smeared, indicating that something was dragged through it, towards the door.
The half-orc sees the signs of murder and silently vows to see justice done. Unslinging his double axe he steps into the cabin and peers into each darkend corner looking for any indications of evil that remain. "The Korgun will get to the bottom of this."
Saffron looks down at the blood on the floor, then looks back at the animal skins that are hanging up, "My guess would be that this is the home of a hunter." She looks to the cleric, "Are you able to tell if this is animal blood or not?"
Gambril, the last to step into the doorway of the cabin...
"Hello? Anyone home?"
"That's a likely source, unless of course..." in a "Dumberjack" voice "It were them's trespassers!"
"Guess you got more human blood than elf blood eh Tor?" Gambril says with a wink and a nudge..."Since we know them elfies like the rain, more than us round ears...eh...eh?
Torillan smirks.
"Funny, old friend. Veeerrrryyyy funny... I'll try to remember that at your funeral when I'm only half-way through my life...". He smiles and says "Let's go" once Saffron gives the all clear.
Korgun's moves through the cabin, and his spell reveals no evil presence inside.
Saffron notices *something* about the animal carcasses outside. [Perception: Sight check]
Gambril notes that there are no hunting implements inside the cabin, other than a crude bow and arrow.
She takes a look at the skins, narrowing her eyes to study them closer.
Saffron - Nice roll.
Anyone in the cabin, roll a Perception (sight) check.
Frowning, Saffron goes over to the mud, reaching to grab what the blue spot is.
Saffron plucks a large, blue fish scale from the mud. At least...it looks like a fish scale.
Knowledge (arcana) to identify.
She wrinkles her nose as she studies the scale, "I have no clue what this belongs to." She holds it out for one of the others to study, "Who does?"
Gambril glances quickly around the cabin...
Anyone in the cabin, roll a Perception (sight) check.
Korgun makes a slow and steady search of the cabin looking for clues.
Perception (to search) (1d20+2=7)
Korgun finds a couple of the same blue scales mixed into the mud--the same type that Saffron found outside.
As the others start to uncover signs that not all is well with the cabin Cefrey stands out in the rain keeping an eye on the path outside, both the way they came and the way they were heading. Feeling a little unnerved she doesn't know if she's looking for more help or for possible attackers but she keeps an eye out nonetheless.
Is this a one-room cabin?
The rain is coming down too heavily for Cefrey to make anything out. Wind howls between the trees, drawing her eye to a piece of fabric wrapped around a tree trunk, about 30 feet away, to the left of the cabin.
She frowns as no one decides to look at the scale. She pockets it, then moves inside the cabin, careful to check to make sure everything is safe before they decide to stay the night.
"I think I've seen something" Cefrey tells the group before heading further into the rain and towards the piece of fabric to get a closer look at it.
Gambril will follow Cefrey back into the howling rain...
"What did you see Kef?"
In this inclement weather, the bow looks to be a hindrance, so while he's walking he returns the arrow to the quiver, and slings his bow. Then he draws his rapier.
===== Inside the Cabin =====
Looking around the cabin, Saffron notes that dinner bowls and spoons are set on the table, one of the bowls spilled over, the stew that was in it has not yet congealed on the tabletop.
Over on the bed, a couple more of the blue scales are mixed into the sheets, which have long tears in them, like something had fought its way out.
Around the fireplace, Saffron sees that one of the stones has a different color mortar holding it in place.
===== Outside =====
Cefrey and Gambril cautiously approach the piece of cloth hanging from the tree. It looks like it used to be a shirt, the wool dyed a light green.
She frowns, "Well, this all certainly looks odd." She moves over to the fireplace, testing to see if the stones are loose.
She frowns, "Well, this all certainly looks odd." She moves over to the fireplace, testing to see if the stones are loose.
The off-colored stone wobbles in the mortar, and it falls out under your testing. Behind the stone is a small sack.
Meanwhile, back in the forest...
"I'm not sure" Cefrey replies, keeping close to Gambril as worry starts to take hold of her. "Does that look like someones clothes to you?" She asks in a worried tone, her eyes wildly scanning the area with inexperience in these matters.
Gambril and Cefrey both nearly trip over a young woman lying face-down in the mud. She clutches a piece of cloth which matches the one wrapped around the tree.
Before taking out the bag, she checks for traps.
Gambril looks to the enigma named Cefrey...a pacifist acolyte carrying a warrior's weapon. Then he looks around again.
Before taking out the bag, she checks for traps.
Saffron notices nothing out of the ordinary. Retrieving the bag, it clinks, like it's full of coins. Inside, there are 25 copper coins.
Saffron, not feeling comfortable taking the money, places the bag on the table. She then goes to the bed to inspect it closer.
Gambril will inspect the area directly around the rag...suspecting its a trap. 1d20+4=12
Saffron, not feeling comfortable taking the money, places the bag on the table. She then goes to the bed to inspect it closer.
Smears of mud surround the tears in the sheet. The bed itself is built of logs, the mattress a large sheet stuffed with leaves. Part of the mattress has been pulled off the bed frame, the leaves spilling out onto the floor.
Gambril will inspect the area directly around the rag...suspecting its a trap. 1d20+4=12
The wet cloth stirs in the wind, being slapped noisily against the tree. Gambril notes nothing which could be a trap.