The tortle looked around as they spoke, searching (seemingly) thoroughly. Gar admitted to himself, he was not the best at searching, but an extra pair of eyes was always better, in his opinion.

After a time, he stood with a sigh. "It looks like there is no entrance or disturbances here Sand. Shall we return to the others?"

After meticulously examining the passage, Sand had to accept the evidence that no one had passed this way. He had expected this result and had only proposed this to cover all angles, so he rose and nodded to the wizard.

Sand agrees, Alicia did not come this way.

As the pair went back toward the main room he answered the question Gar had asked.

Sand can read a little of book of magic Sand found in dead dwarf friend bags. Sand learned some magic from it, but never had a teacher. Sand likes to build and that comes...

He shrugged, not sure how to explain it.

Images and plans come to Sand head when Sand wants to build, magic words to say with tools. Sand does not know where those come. Sand simply knows.

Gar looked at Sand with a tinge of curiosity. Magic was unique power - some, like his own, you needed to study, learn the language and phrases. Some magic users had magic ties to their bloodline - sorcerers they were called. Some still made pacts with entities of power, selling their souls for power. And artificers, people who had skills to emulate magic with technology was the rarest of all. They were smart and daring.

Sand was unique in more ways than one. HIs knowledge of arcane and gadgets seemed almost instinct, something unlikely. Many people like him spent years with trial and error developing their skills.

...and he had skills.

Gar looked at him as they walked back. "If you don't mind me saying, your unique, even for your kind. Your level of skill seems almost gifted, like...." he trailed off as he smiled, a thought coming to his head.

He decided to take a different tact with him. "Tell me sand....what is your honest opinion of time?"

Gar and Sand had reached the Better Time when the Tortle wizard asked a question that had the warforged thinking. He did not answer right away but took place at a table, the chair groaning under his weight. Taking a small bag, he opened it and removed a metal symbol with a finely engraved dragon on it, that he put aside. Fishing deeper, he got a half reconstructed jade medallion, the detailed engraving not rebuilt enough to give a precise idea yet of what it could be. Meticulous, the artificer looked into the small pile of fragments contained in a box to find the next one to add to the puzzle.

Time is... Sand is not sure. Sand has feeling that Sand is very old. Sand rusted like old sword. Sand never thought about time.

Finding a matching piece, he mended it to the medallion with magic and started looking for another piece.

Sand remembers last 2 years, when dwarf friends freed Sand from ice. But Sand can not be only 2 years old. Sand knows too much. Where is time that Sand lost in ice?

Taking a piece of jade, he tried matching it, turning it this way and that, to realize it didn't fit, so he took another one.

Sand thinks time is like a resource. It comes from...

Shrugging, he did a vague gesture with his hand.

Everywhere? Once time is gone, it is gone, it is very difficult to regain time. Like rock Sand repairs. It was easy to destroy, like time spent, but much harder to rebuilt. Sand does not know if Sand is clear. Or even makes sense. Gar asked difficult question.

Gar sat down, his own weight equally straining the chair as he listened. The tortle had an odd glint in his eye at the warforged and his answer, his mind going over several things unknown to the others. When Sand was finished, he nodded. "There is no right or wrong answer to that Sand....it is a difficult question to answer, even for myself."


he grasped his own hands in front of him. "You, sand, may only remember two years, but you are much older than the years suggest.  Your mind, your skills lend to this."

He looked at the others, then sand again. "Time is something given, but can not be taken. No matter how much we have, we never have enough, and want more. You reconise this....a sign of a keen mind and wisdom. Sand, whatever your past, you will find. And i hope i'm there when you do."

The repetitive motions of working the fields is soothing, focusing on doing the motions correctly, each time striving for impossible perfection, allows my thoughts to settle from the discord brought on from painful memories and turbulent emotions. The exercise burns off excess energy and brings back the satisfying ache to muscles that had been largely idle since this morning. Besides it is nice being able to help others in this simple, non-violent way.

Alas I cannot spend all of my day here, Althaea is still waiting. Waving to the others still working the fields I move back into the settlement proper and draw more water from the well. Drinking most of the first bucket before refilling it and moving to an out of the way place to clean up. That done, white hair still damp against the back of my neck, I head to the Better Times to meet with the others.

Just as Giltris sits down and gets comfortable, Thorin pops back in, barely juggling the dirty dishes, pieces of paper sticking out of various fingers, and a half eaten piece of bread.  After dropping off the dirty dishes on the bar, and Rory sweeping them up quickly, Thorin sits down next to Althaea and organizes the papers.

Alright, I've got the information you requested.  Let's take a look, shall we.

Thorin shuffles through the papers looking for the one he wants first, finally pulling it out.

Here are the directions to the Keep.  The keep itself is to the NorthWest, and is up on top of a mountainous hill.  The hunters said that when going through the moss covered forest, you'll come across a sinkhole near it's center.  Stay to the left and head straight out of the forest.  Once out of the forest, head due West for about half a day until you come across a large statue of a knight, half buried in the ground.  Looks like this.  Thorin hands over a rough sketch of the knight.



From there, head due North and you'll find the keep in another half day of travel.

Thorin flips over the paper, grabbing the next, and quickly peruses it before saying without looking up.

No real defenses you'll need to worry about.  The main defenses at his keep were his contingent of guards.

Taking a big bite out of the bread, he starts flipping over a couple more pieces of paper, finally finding the one he's looking for and hands it over.

Here is a rough sketch of the keep.  He said the cache can be found on the third floor of the main building, on the West side.  It is well protected behind a large iron door, but the keys were lost during the cataclysm, I'm afraid.  You'll have to try and find a way inside.

Thorin, shuffles through the papers again, double checking to make sure he didn't miss anything, before saying, Yup, that's it.  Good luck you guys.

Did you guys every figure out how you're going to bring back all the stuff?  What ideas have you come up with?

I hope someone knows how to pick locks.

"We have not had much time to fully consider any alternative ways to bring the cache back other than by having Clacker pull the cart and to have Sand use his magic to make the ground more passable. There might be other magic that can help haul things, but I do not possess them. My skill lays with people rather than objects. It was a bit slower going, but we made it work for the rescue of the hunters. If this method proves not to work, we will readjust on the journey rather than trying to come up with imaginary ifs and whens that may not happen. Perhaps our newcomers have some tricks in their arsenals that will prove useful to this mission. My hope is that another hiccup does not befall us to have to delay for the third time."

As she spoke, Althaea began to study the documents she requested to try and commit them to memory. It would be easier going if they did not have to keep stopping to study them to make sure they were still on the correct path.

---

18:14, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Intelligence.

While Thorin was giving his explanations on how to find the keep, Sand had the time to find and fix two more pieces of jade to his medallion. Then Althaea detailed how he had helped with his cart for Clacker to retrieve the hunters. He lifted the medallion to his eyes and examined it, before putting it down, nodding.

Sand can do more than cart on Clacker now. Sand has learned how to do disk of magic that could carry Sand and Clacker on it. Sand also has a big magical bag. Maybe Gar also knows how to do disk of magic? If not, maybe Gar can do like Sand and read from book of magic?

Letting the Tortle express itself, he continued after.

If big door has lock, Sand can try to open it. If not, Sand has something else to try to enter room.

Gar looked at Sand and smiled. "I know of the spell you speak of....floating disk. If we get time along the way, May i scribe the spell, then i can likewise carry some. Two disks will mean double the load" The warforged and his idea was sound and logical, again lending credence to the mysteries of sand.

The tortle looked at the others "there is a spell that can open locks. If their is an arcanist in town, they may have this spell. With some gold, i could copy the spell, and should the lock prove difficult, use it to open."

Sand listened to the Tortle and nodded. Opening a bag half hidden by his red cloak, the only garment he was wearing, he produced a medium size book and deposited on the table in front of the wizard.

Gar is welcome to look at dwarf friend book of magic. Sand reads it very slowly, Sand finds it difficult. Maybe Gar can find magic of unlocking in it? Sand does not know, Sand is unable to read all the titles

Infused had little to offer, but did have a couple of questions, "I can try to break the lock, or the door itself. Given enough time, and material, I may be able to create enough acid to eat through it, but that would be the last option after all else fails. I can help with carrying weight. Do you know what kind of supplies are there, and if they are loose or in containers?"

Sand nodded at Infused question and answered, as he was looking for another piece of jade for his puzzle.

Sand can build containers with remains inside keep. Sand likes to build.

He took a piece and tested it on his medallion, finding it lacking so he carefully put it back in the box, fishing for another.

Sand does not need sustenance, but how far away is this keep? Friend that eat will need food. Sand can not build that. Sand can provide all the water friends need.

I spend a few minutes going over the notes and map Thorin provided, writing a copy into my book for later reference. That done, I leave the Better Times inn and track down the hunters to discuss the route and anything we need to look out for on the way to the keep. While speaking to them, a soft melody reaches my ears, the slow and achingly precise notes of a violin playing a half-forgotten song; one I had not heard in over 5o years.

Following the sound, I find myself back outside by the stable, the fading light of the sun casting deep shadows across the ground. The volume of the music grows steadily as I walk forward into the stable and towards an empty stall in the back. Taking out my violin, I gently run my hand over the the weathered wood, the various nicks and dents intimately familiar to my finger tips, close my eyes and put the bow to the strings and play along, my inexpert fingers unable to match the glorious music I hear inside.

The song is long, much longer than I remember, but my hands do not falter on the unknown verses, remaining confident and steady. As the song comes to a close, tears streaking down my cheeks leaving wet trails in their wake, I hear a sharp exhale of breathe behind me. Turning I find myself staring into the intelligent, dark eyes of a large mare with a sleek, white spotted grey coat; a deep barrel chest; and solid, muscular legs. Stepping forward, she lowers her head towards me and I press my forehead to hers softly blowing at her nostrils so she will know my scent.

"Well met Harmony." I whisper, my voice thick with tears and wonder.

The day goes by quickly as the each of the party make their individual and necessary preparations for the coming excursion.  As the night begins to come to a close, a stiff, but welcoming cool breeze, finds it way into the caves of Vertigo providing a sense of calm and quiet to all those sleeping within. At times it feels almost too quiet, with the constant commotion of the comings and goings of the hunters and guards, or the late night clanging as Jacob tries to keep up with the demand of supplies, but tonight, even Jacob is taking a break and enjoying the night's quiet.

As the morning rolls around and people start waking up and attending to their necessary chores to keep Vertigo running, those that meander to breakfast are met with fresh cooked biscuits with honey and a touch of an exotic spice Cory threw in that gave it a special something.  It seemed appropriate given the peaceful sleep the night before, as a way of continuing that peaceful calm.

As the party congregated right outside the Better Times Inn after having breakfast, Sebastian walked up to Giltris and pulled her aside to talk privately.

I've thought a lot about what you said and I've decided that I want to do this on my own, in a more private ceremony.  I truly appreciate your help and getting my head in a more appropriate place.  I feel, well rested and...just ready, to close out this chapter of my life.  Thank you and good luck on your journey.

With that, Sebastian lays his hand on Giltris's shoulder in a gesture of friendship and appreciation, and then turns and leaves.

All preparations now in order, the guards open up the inner gates, as they see the party approaching, waiting until they were past it, then closing the inner gates once more, and opening the outer gates, to prevent any unwanted entry from outside.

The party begins their travels, walking along the dusty and desolate plains underneath the inverted mountain, all the various animal companions in tow.  Scamp was hooting and hollering enjoying being able to spread his wings while Aisling more quietly and methodically scanned ahead, circling and keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble.  Clacker by Sand's side seemed constantly on edge, his protective nature very apparent to all those that saw him.  Sel'zir, Thorn's spider had grown to an enormously large size, quickly gaining on the likes of clacker.  It walked besides Thorn in complete silence and moved instinctively with her, as if it could read Thorn's very thoughts when she decided to change direction.

After a good two hours, the plains were left behind and the moss covered trees right outside the edge of the inverted mountain's shadow came into view, the ground slowly supporting more and more new vegetation once able to harness some of the sun's nourishing rays.  As the group got closer to the moss covered forest, it was apparent that having a cart was going to be very unforgiving here.




It's here, when the group noticed that a thick fog had rolled in as well.

Gar smiled as sand offered the dwarven book of magic. "Thank you.  for now, i'll just have a look at it...note any spells that may be useful. When we have time and the means i'll copy some of the spells into my spellbook."

The tortle spent some time looking through the book as the others spoke, preparing for the night of sleep. When it came time to retire, Gar closed the book and handed it back to sand. "Thank you friend sand....their are some spells which are interesting."

Gar retired and slept soundly that night, the people around him hearing a slight snore as she smiled in his sleep - it seemed he had the same sleepy smile all the time.

The next morning, Gar was up at the break of dawn, his meagre belongings only enhanced with rations. staff in hand he was ready to go. As the group went, they noticed that the old atage of turtles being slow applied to Gar....he seemed happy to go at a casual pace.

When the group came to the tree's and left the plains, he stopped and took a breath of the cool, misty air. "Always the air feels fresher when their is a mist - almost cooler."

Sand had continued repairing the medallion while Gar was perusing the spell book and nodded when the wizard gave it back. Finishing the piece he had started, he picked up the book and said:

Gar let Sand know when Gar is ready to copy spells.

By that time, most of the patrons had retired for the night and the warforged energy was also running low. He knew he should enter is rest state soon but wanted to read the book, as he had just managed to understand another part of it. Some time later, he carefully put the book in his bag and finding a comfortable position on the chair, he stopped moving, like frozen. Automatically, his internal mechanisms started to repair the daily wear and tear of the wood muscles, while his mind processed what he had witnessed this day.

The following morning, the party was ready to leave and the going went well for the plains underneath the inverted mountain. Andraste had somehow acquired a horse during the night, an animal that Sand had not seen in the stable of the community. Cocking his head as his sign of curiosity, he asked his friend where she had picked it up.

But soon the terrain became more treacherous for the cart and the artificer had to concentrate on using his earth and water magic to level up a path for Clacker to pass on, slowing down the procession a lot. Which seemed to be to Gar's liking, as the Tortle was not hurrying at all for anything. Progressively, fog started to lift and Sand sent Scamp to scout around the party, to make sure no nasties were approaching under the fog cover, as he donned his shield on his arm.

Dead not dead like fog, friends be ready.

Today: Sand rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  sand perception.
Today: Sand rolled 14 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only.  Scamp perception (advantage).

As gar walked, he came up beside sand. “When you and I get time, I’d like to talk to you about your dwarven friends book. It has some….unusual qualities that have me curious.”

"This is Harmony." I tell Sand while stroking her broad neck. "She has chosen to leave her place in the heavens to help us." Reaching down I run my hands down her leg and she raises the hoof for inspection. "Actually, I need your help. Harmony has little protection and we are often in dangerous situations. Can you make something for her?"

Althaea returned to the room she shared with Alaric for the night. She needed to gather her belongings for the trip and inform him of her departure. Seeing Alaric sitting on the lower bunk perusing a book, she sat down next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "Hello, my love. What are you reading?

"Nothing nearly as important as you".  Alaric closes the book, focusing his full attention on Althaea.

After receiving his answer, Althaea continued. "I have news. In case you had not heard, two newcomers have gained entry to Vertigo. Gar is a tortle wizard and Infused is a Warforged, but his specialties vary from those of Sand. I spoke with my companions this evening and we have made plans to once again venture to the Keep to retrieve the cache of weapons Sebastian believes to still be there. We will be departing with the dawn's light. I did not want you to be surprised if you wake and find I have already gone. Would you help me pack?"

Althaea stood from where she sat next to Alaric and began to place the few belongings she had brought with her to Vertigo back in their respective places in her pack, apart from her armor and weapons which she would don when she woke.

"Am I not welcome on this journey?" Alaric said playfully as he stood up and started to help pack what he thought appropriate.

"Of course, you are welcome to join me. I did not want to assume you would accompany me and be disappointed to learn you had prior engagements."

"The only engaging I wish to do, is with you, my dear." Alaric says with a devilishly handsome and charming grin.

Althaea rolls her eyes at Alaric's antics and mutters, "Humans," under her breath before looking up at him with a playful smile. Alaric kissed her forehead and began to pack his own belongings for the trip.

Once that task was complete, she began to prepare for sleep. Washing her face and hands, she removed the kohl from her eyes and undid her hair, running her comb through the long strands. Changing into the clothes she wore to sleep, Althaea crawled into bed next to Alaric satisfied she was ready to depart upon waking. "Sleep well, my love."

Althaea rose before dawn and began her day in the usual fashion, rebraiding her hair, drawing her eyes with kohl, and donning her armor. She placed her pack over her shoulder and strapped her weapons to her belt and left for the Better Times with Alaric. She would take the time to eat a warm meal since she did not know how long she would be traveling and might not get another chance to for some time. Once their meal was finished, they waited by the gate for the others to arrive.

Althaea felt lighter on this voyage than on her previous forays into the wilderness outside Vertigo. Be that from Alaric's presence, the lack of dread associated with the travels, or a combination of the two. Although she knew with the possibility of undead roaming the countryside she should aim for silence when possible, she found herself humming under her breath in spite of herself.

When the mists started rolling in, she headed the warning from Sand and began to keep a more watchful eye on her surroundings. What she saw unnerved her. The moss-covered forest was laden with bodies....everywhere.  The bodies were mostly twisted, strangely on their hands and knees, and moss-covered like the forest around them.  A good 60 feet or more away, one of the bodies has its head seemingly propped up, its eyeless skull looking straight ahead in our direction. For the time being, none of the bodies moved.

Seeing Andraste not far away, Althaea whispered loud enough for her to hear, "Perhaps now would be a good time for that extra sense you have about the undead and the like. She pointed out the bodies as she spoke.

---

11:50, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 29 using 1d20+10.  Performance.
11:51, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

Infused has little to do in the way of preparations, so instead he spent the time pre-travel having a small look around the area, taking in the sites of what civilization had become since last he stepped foot in such. The cool breeze at night was nice, though it overall made little difference to him, but he enjoyed the way that it made him feel more...compact, within himself. The relative feeling of safety within the city walls was odd, and difficult to accept. If he had required sleep, this night probably would have been one of those where it eluded him anyway, accustomed as he now was to taking any hint of noise as a sign of potential danger. He spent the night in inert observation and contemplation.

As others began to gather for a meal, Infused ended the inert state and listened to conversations, such as they were. He had little to add to anything that was said, but knowing what issues people here faced and what topics occupied their minds gave him a better sense of his new surroundings.

Leaving with a part of people was a welcome change, but he also felt more exposed. More people meant more noise, higher risk of unwanted attention. It meant better defense with more people, but how did he feel about the lives of strangers? How did they feel about him? Was his job to protect them all? Was it their job alone, and what happened happened? Once again, he lived in a world full of questions, as it had so many years ago.

The others began to change their bearing as the fog rose, and then weapons and shields began to move too, drawing Infused out of contemplation and into a state of alertness. What he saw was fog, and what he heard was nothing, but the others felt differently. Infused brought his greatsword to bear in front of him, feeling the energies inside him begin to swirl with anticipation, hoping for another opportunity to be unleased.

13:20, Today: Infused rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Wis Check.

Gar, still walking at his slow, leisurely pace, didn’t register the threat of undead until he heard the others speak, so entranced in the mist and trees. Though a man of knowledge and learning, his roots traced back to nature, and he always appreciated the beauty of such. As infused came to alertness, he placed a hand on his arm and nodded, a little more serious. Infused and himself had fought undead before - knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but now there were others to help.

“Stay calm and focused my friend….let danger come to us.” The tortle had seen his friend fight, a fierce warrior, but understood his eagerness as well. Gar was more patient…that was his nature, but he also knew when to be ready and when to strike. The two, though very different, complimented each other.

He none the less kept his usual pace as he strolled along. Casually he looked the same, but his eyes looked more alert

During the trip, both Gar and Andraste came to talk to Sand, and he was happy to answer both that he would help them with respectively the book and with an armor for Harmony, already measuring the horse in his mind to design the equine protection. When the forest deepened and the fog rolled in, Scamp could not see much. But Sand did.

The forest floor was filled with moss covered corpses, on their hands and knees. One even had the moss partially removed from it's head, the sightless eyes seemingly watching the progress of the little group. Nothing moved but Sand was uneasy, so he said to the group

Sand thinks it is better to not disturb dead. Sand not sure if they are dead not dead. Friends should hurry to put this place behind.

He still took a moment to concentrate and try to feel if there was any magic in the place but his synthetic nerves were too tight and he couldn't reach the state of calmness needed to sense magic this way. Instead, he gripped his spear and lifted it up high, ready to intervene if things started moving in an unnatural way.

22:14, Today: Sand rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Sand Arcana.

Seeing the scattering of bodies across the forest floor , I pull myself up into Harmony's saddle and lean forward to whisper into her ear. "This is why I always burn the bodies; whomever did this was very irresponsible. Let us check if this is worse than it looks."

Harmony trots forward until we are standing between our party and the corpses. Singing a soft hymn, I raise my right hand to gently grip my amulet and open myself, allowing Rao's power to flow through me and out into the world, searching for anything other.

Summary
Andraste
Delay action until Harmony has moved forward.
Action: Use Divine Sense. (As an action, you can detect good and evil. Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover. You can use this feature 6 times per long rest.)
Passive Perception: 15

Harmony
Move: Advance until we are equidistant between the party and the corpses.
Action: Ready. take the Dash action of anyone other than the party starts to move or prepares to attack.
Reaction: See above.
Passive Perception: 11
This message was last edited by the player at 23:55, Thu 02 Sept 2021.

The tendrils of magic reach out from Giltris, probing their way through the densely moss covered forest.  Eyes closed, Giltris waits for the knowing feeling to pinpoint any unholy creatures near her, but alas, she comes up with naught.