Book 3: Act 1 - The Stuff of Legends

[Vardaen]

Arent may be right, this is different, different enough to warrant a search from Nimriel. So you go about giving the place a look over for clues, hidden things, or signs of what may have happened.

Nimirel locates a hidden compartment in the altar, almost as expected. A small drawer opens up hidden in the lower back of the altar inside she locates a handful of scrolls. Clearly the stash was left here in case some emergency came up. Nimriel goes through them, they are clearly labeled and cataloged. Three scrolls of cure serious wounds, three scrolls of remove paralysis, a scroll of restoration, a scroll of break enchantment, a scroll of breath of life, and a scroll of raise dead.

A foot print in mud on the floor suggests perhaps a spriggan was here, it matches the figure from the inn. here is no blood or sign of a fight however, suggesting this may have been done when the place was empty and already abandoned by the villagers.

Roll

So... 3d20: (15,20,18)

You guys are in the 30s on these checks!

[Graven]

"If we don't run into an emergency, at the very least, we can offer to return those to the church when we get back to Stagfall."
Rising from a pile of broken pews, the half-elf dusts his knees off then checks his weapons. "Looted after everyone left? This isn't becoming much clearer."

[Othniel]

"Indeed," replies Nimiriel. "Let us pray we do not need them. I am thinking that either spriggans, centaurs, or both are responsible for the villagers' disappearances. I am inclined toward the former as I believe centaurs would have trouble with stairs."

[ManWithDoor]

"Huh, hadn't considered that. Good point. Hooves and stairs aren't the most comfortable combination." The bard helps finish the search, then is ready to go on again.

[Vardaen]

Nimiriel stashes the scrolls in her gear for emergency use. You take a final look about and then move outside to the small cemetery attached to the temple grounds. Its small, the cemetery was established when the colony experienced its first casualties, who succumbed to the elements and Nomen raiders. It holds a total of 14 wooden grave markers, the latest one standing over a fairly fresh grave. That marker reads, “Andrisha the Potter,” and is dated several weeks ago.

[Graven]

"I wonder how many were buried? It looks like enough people were left to up and leave," the Shadow Marshal's face darkens, "or be taken, but if this took more than a day or two, maybe we can figure something out from the graves."

Moving efficiently, he inspects the graves, checking the names and any dates available. "Do any of us know an Andrisha?"

[Vardaen]

None of the markers are recent, save the one. They are all from years ago during the founding of the village, which was a bit after Stagfall was founded. That seems to match up with the history you know of the Stolen Lands. The recent one, dated from several weeks ago, is the only one of note. The name Andrisha means nothing to any of you.

[Othniel]

"So not likely the result of whatever happened hear," Nimiriel offers. "Let's keep looking."

[ManWithDoor]

"Agreed." Arent is struggling with the search, given his usual social nature. He finds out information by schmoozing, bribing, fast-talking, and occasionally deceiving. This physical dig through clues, especially now that there appear to be dangerous beings involved as well, cuts counter to his nature. He isn't running for the hills or anything, but is feeling out of his element and stressing about it.

[Vardaen]

You explore the final homes to the north, finding more of the same before you turn south again and start to look about the buildings around the center of town. Near to the Inn is a giant barn that has both a cargo door on the front and a smaller door on the side where a lean-to abuts the structure. The strong odor of barley and other grains wafts through the seams in the clapboard walls.

Map