"Are the plates still here?"

"No, they took them along. Probably to refer to them as they travel."

"Well, if they thought they might be back in a week, that means they only expected it to take a couple days to get there at most. It can't be too far. And if they took a boat, that greatly reduces where they may have gone..." Spriggy thought for a moment, then went to grab one of his geography books. He flipped through it as he tried to recall locations within the appropriate range that they may have been lead to by dwarven plate translations. Surely he wouldn't figure out their exact destination, but perhaps he could greatly narrow down the area. He shared his findings with the group as he uncovered them.

---

Sprout Lore, with book. Trying to recall a place of interest to plate-making dwarves that is a few days west by boat (primarily).
10:52, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 11 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 2,5.  Sprout Lore, with book - Geography.

"I might be able to help in tracking them, if Gianam wills it."

He turned to the butler.  "Is there a place we might refresh ourselves as we prepare for onward travel?"

Looking through your books, you find a rather vague reference to a Dwarven village dating back to the Caliphate's era, somewhere in the Sunrise Reach. There's very little information on it though, as no one ever found out it's location.

"You can use this salon if you wish. We do not expect other visitors today."

The knight nodded his thanks and waited to see if anyone else had further questions.  When the butler had left them some privacy, he took advantage of it to cleanse himself of the grime of travel, then headed out to the river to find a quiet place to pray, purify himself and meditate.

Taking on a quest: Ensure Charlotte is safe
Boons: Unwavering sense of direction to Charlotte, Invulnerability to edged weapons, A freedom from hunger, thirst, and sleep

Buck avails himself of the fine amenities, but not before asking one last question;

"Is the lord conspicuous in his travels? It would be useful to be able to inquire if he's passed through as we make our way rather blindly after his rentinue."

"He didn't look like he was trying to be stealthy, but he had enough provisions that he shouldn't need to stop in villages during his trip. Not unless it's longer than expected."


OOC: If you don't have any other preparations to make, do you want to travel on foot, or by boat? You could rent one (with a pilot) for 5 coins each.

Do we have a sense of likely difference in elapsed travel time to get there and back one way or the other?  Does anyone know of any particular risks for the terrain we'd be travelling over one way or the other?

Spriggy considered what they had learned. "What do you think? Should we try to retrace their path? Hopefully we will meet them coming back as we are leaving town, but we might have quite a journey ahead of us."

Between the vision and what the butler told you, renting a boat is the fastest way to follow Charlotte's group, as well as the most likely path they followed.

It takes a bit of walking before you can find a small boat willing to take you there, but money talks, and he was eager to listen.

The trip takes a few days, with little to distract you along the way. Soon, you find a bend in the river where another raft is camouflaged, as well as a discreet path heading up into the mountain.

While the others disembark and investigate the covered-up raft beached ashore, Buck wanders up the bank a short distance. He drops to one knee, scoops up a handful of loose soil and lets it slowly drain from his fist as he surveys for the most likely path away from the river.

Can Sir Gorrid sense that Charlotte is likely off in the direction the faded path leads?

Russel busied himself with the task of getting the pony and cart from boat to land.
While the land doesn't move, the shifting weight of cart and pony did cause the boat to move.
While not panicked with Russel soothing her, Lydia was still skittish when the boat rocked.

Examining the path, Buckthorn sees faint tracks, heading up into the mountain. Multiple hard boots, and a few small carts, pulled by people.

Once on solid ground, Lydia calms down, though it looks like the trail will be pretty tight for the cart.

OOC: The trail heads toward Charlotte, though it seems she's underground.

Buck relays the information to the Phoenix Blade party, concluding "If they pulled their carts through, it's possible we could get ours through. It won't be easy and may slow our pace." His tone is pragmatic as usual and he doesn't make a case for any specific course of action.

The paladin shared what his senses conveyed, then moved a little ways up the trail to get a better sense of what their path was likely to involve.

quote:

19:37, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 6 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,2.  Discern realities.

That's an XP unless someone wants to Aid.

Buck follows Sir Gorrid up the trail a short distance, offering a bit of input on the heavy flora pressing in on their prospective path and the condition of the course itself when the knight stops to study the way forward.

Buckthorn rolled 7 using 2d6+1 to aid Sir Gorrid (Discern Realities)

Looking more closely at the tracks, it seems the group moved quickly, although it seems someone there was being forced along against their will...

The trail leads to a recess in the mountain, where an old dwarven building stands, still resisting the elements after all this time. One Idi recognizes from his vision. The tracks lead inside, and you can see the shaft of an ancient mechanical elevator in the center of the building's single room.

The old knight sighed.  Stooping through dank abandoned dwarven tunnels wasn't exactly his idea of a fun time, but there wasn't much to do but head down.  If someone was being forced against their will, he would do his best to free them.

He examined the old machinery to verify it was still in decent operating condition before the team made use of it.

quote:

10:13, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,3.  Discern realities on elevator.

What should I be on the lookout for?

"Let me take a look at that before anyone touches it," said Russel.
Russel then checks the contraption for any signs that it might be rigged to be a trap to the unsuspecting user.

13:38, Today: Russel Albion rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,6.  Trick of the Trade (Trap?).

The sound of machinery echoes from below. Despite it's age, the dwarven machines are still working just fine. Even the lever to call up the elevator seems to have no need for oil as you test it. Moments later, a platform rises from below, making far less noise than you'd think for something so big.

You see no trap so far... though you know dwarves have a natural talent for them, so you're planning on moving carefully.

OOC: I'll use your roll result for the next time you come across a trap here.

"Fascinating." Buck remarks, keenly interested in the contraption but waiting for someone else to set foot onto it first. He also eyes the cart and pony to gauge if everything might fit in one go.

While some of the others inspected the elevator, Spriggy did his best to try and locate an underground critter that he might be able to convince to share its form. He would feel much more comfortable with the spirit of an underground inhabitant on his side.

When the elevator was ready and he saw Buckthorn looking at his pony, Spriggy used his magical amulet to speak to the small equine. "Lydia, will you be alright up here by yourself for a while? I don't think you will enjoy it underground. You can relax up here and graze to your heart's content." If the pony agreed, Spriggy would unhook her from her cart, then be brave and be first to step onto the ancient elevator.

---

Are there any underground animals in the area willing to let Spriggy shapeshift into them? A bat would be ideal, but Spriggy isn't going to be picky.

Sir Gorrid helped lug supplies from the pony cart onto the elevator.  Hopefully there'd be mine carts below they could load them into.  If not, at least they'd be closer at hand below ground than they would up here.