Morg looks at the broken goods and bodies, and tries to figure out if weapons were used in the attack and if so which kinds and how.

---

09:01, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 11 using 1d20 with rolls of 11.  Investigate check for weapons used in attack, and clues of their users.

"Gods! No!" Ehrendil exclaims as the carnage comes into view. He quickly examines the first few halflings for signs of life. "All dead," he comments grimly.

The ranger then looks to the tracks, trying to discern any information on what created them and from which direction they arrived, and left.

---

Ehrendil Vakalyn rolled 24 using 1d20+8 for Survival (WIS).

Makari looked genuinely crestfallen at the sight. "oh hells. what a terrible tragedy." He hung his head a moment, letting out a sigh.

He shook his head after a long moment, and took in a deep breath to steady and focus himself. "More cultist assholes or something more like bandits?" It was...not a question he expected an immediate answer to as he began to slowly walk the scene and look for any clues as to who the culprits might have been.

11:07, Today: Secret Roll: Makari rolled 24 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 20.  Investigation.

Faith came on the sight with a frown - she had seen firsthand the destruction these cultists could do when her and the dwarves were captured. though she said nothing, her visage mirrored everyone else's thought. "They didn't have a chance" she muttered

The group heads out into the darkness, a warm but driving rain making the turf slick and wet. The prisoners cling to each other, most unable to see anything in the cloud-shrouded night.

After the group makes its way out of the hidden canyon, mist begins to rise from the soaked earth into the humid air, giving the terrain an unearthly quality. A series of cries splits the night, apparently birds or other flying creatures high above, before falling silent again. The steady rain ebbs slightly, turning to a less driving drizzle.

The group struggles a bit in the darkness, looking for the nearby halfling camp. It was well-hidden before, and especially now after sundown its location is difficult to find.

After a time however, broken timbers of wood become visible, along with a relatively clear trail of bits of foodstuffs and wrecked goods, leading into a small clearing among boulders. Slain halflings lie here and there around the clearing, between many bootprints visible in the muddy ground.

Having never seen a halfling in boots Gorm heads over to the boot prints to smell them and get a scent of what kind of creature created them, or perhaps indication of where those creatures came from.

The group squints through the dim light and the rain for clues about the halflings' murderers. Several of the bodies bear nasty ragged gashes, perhaps from a sort of serrated weapon.

---

Collectively, the group can piece together clues that indicate this was an attack from water cultists, and that the wounds were made by the water cultists' toothed swords.

"Another group of cultists that need to be removed from the mortal world." Ehrendil spits once the perpetrators are identified.

Ehrendil will start looking through every home, looking for survivors.

[Assuming none are found] "Now what? Do we leave this group here? The water cult will certainly not venture here again as they have killed everyone. We can return to the monastery and then escort this group to a town."

[If one or more survivors are found] "They're gone. Come and tell us what happened."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Wed 20 Sept 2023.

Faith pauses at the carnage of the town, a almost sad look on her face, then it turns grim at the wood elf's words. "If it means justice for these poor souls, then count me in."

Wandering around in the mucky darkness, no survivors can be found. A few supplies managed to survive damage from the cultists and the rain however.

---

Two quivers of arrows can be found, and at least one of any item in the PHB adventuring gear section.

The gnome's bulbous nose wrinkled with disgust at the sight of the slain halflings. His good hand tightened on the hilt of his enchanted dagger. But he said nothing. He knew no words equal to the horror of the scene.


"Leave them here, among the dead? Have they not been traumatized enough already?" Zeb sighed. He wanted vengeance as much as anyone, but he was not keen on pursuing at the expense of those they'd rescued. "Let us at least ask them. Whether they would prefer to tarry here, if it enabled us to pursue their captors."

Makari frowned a bit. He didn't want to necessarily 'waste' more time - though it wasn't really a waste - of escorting the freed prisoners around. But...leaving them in a place of slaughter, among the dead, seemed wrong.

He let out a small sigh. He turned to them and asked, "Well, this was to be a safe group to bring you to, so you can stay with them, but as you can see that isn't the case."

He frowned again. "The cultists would be unlikely to return, if you wish to stay here. If not, we can discuss potential other places. We don't want to leave alone and undefended, but we also do need to get back to the place you were being held, to make sure no one else is held there, now or ever again."

A rain-sodden Bruldenthar steps forward, alone among the prisoners in being able to see his surroundings. "My friends, I thank you again for your efforts to rescue us and bring all of us to safety. It does seem that we have encountered a grave setback in our journey to safety. The loss of these potential allies is truly regrettable. Now, we must adapt and decide our next move carefully."

"First, we must distance ourselves from this tragic scene and ensure we are not pursued by cultists, of any stripe. We should leave no trace that could lead them to us. Next, let us consider our options. We need a sanctuary where we can regroup, tend to our wounds, and plan our next steps. Ideally, we should seek a place of relative safety, one where we can rest and gather our strength.

I will admit to a relative lack of knowledge of the geography of this region, though Summit Hall was among the destinations my delegation was bound for, at least before our original captors captured us. There was also earlier discussion of Goldenfields, though perhaps that is a longer and riskier journey. If anyone among us has knowledge of any better safe havens nearby, now is the time to speak up."

The other prisoners continued their wary looks around the former campsite of the halflings, and none said a word.

Faith stood by with a smile and looked at them. When teh otehrs looked at her, she shrugged. "I came with these guys - i don't know the area liek you guys."

"I share your desire to confront the cultists," Zeb said to the group at large, "but our first duty is to see no harm comes to those whom fate has delivered into our charge. Let us escort them as far as Summit Hall, as the good dwarf here suggests. Then we can resume our mission."

Ehrendil purses his lips for a moment, as if preparing a retort, but then he nods, "You are right, Zeb. Let's get these people to a truly safe place. And then I say we deal with the water cultists for what they have done here."

The elf then goes about gathering the halfling bodies.

---

1. I can't remember, but was Morg at Summit Hall in the last few days?
2. Does he know if it's an old ruin or populated, and if so by whom and is it safe?

10:00, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 8 using 1d20 with rolls of 8.  History check, is Summit Hall populated and safe?

Morg was not at Summit Hall, but he would know that is the headquarters of the Knights of Samular. It is a fortified monastery of the Knights of Samular, founded by Samular Caradoon.

---

Are the Knights of Samular's HQ a safe place?

16:22, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16.  History check on safety of Knights of Samular, Samular Caradoon.

"I am admittedly not an expert in the geography of the Dessarin Valley," Bruldenthar begins in his deep tones, "but it is my recollection that Summit Hall stands on the eastern side of the River Dessarin. We stand, rather sodden I might add, on the western side. There are bridges to the north and south if I'm not mistaken, but either direction would lengthen our journey. However, a river crossing without a suitable vessel, in the dark, with our present company in a somewhat weakened state, may be unwise."

Distant echos of birds sound above rain. "I suggest we decide on a route and then depart quickly," he adds, glancing at the skies.

---

Morg had previously recognized the name Samular Caradoon as the founder of an order of knights called The Knights of Samular, an order of paladins dedicated to Tyr that has pursued justice across the North for over five hundred years. Samular built Summit Hall as a training monastery for the order. Young men and women across the North travel to Summit Hall so that they might learn from its aging heroes.

This came up as part of the encounter with Renwick Caradoon's lich.

The Dessarin Valley map is decently high-res, so zooming in on it should retain good resolution.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:07, Fri 06 Oct 2023.

Faith was looking around, unsure of the area, she looked at the others. "Unless someone knows the area better, either north or south is pretty much a coin flip. Swimming or a boat ride is too risky."

"Bruldenthar, are there minor bridges that cross the Dessarin? Or are you referring to the Stone Bridge to the north and the bridge near the Bargewright Inn to the south?

If those are our only choices, I say we head south. We will be out of the mountains and should be able to move faster through the grasslands."

Ehrendil looked to the dwarf academic and the rest of the party for their responses.

"I confess, I do not know if there are minor bridges across the Dessarin. I only know of the two bridges you mentioned."

"In that case, our fastest route to safety will be to the south. We can make it to the Bargewright Inn, near Womford, in two days if we are not delayed."

The tiefling clapped her hands with a smile. "I'm all for taking the fastest route - the sooner we can get to a town and rest and eat, the better i'll feel."