The ruins of Torbel are easier to spot from the air, so changing course towards them is easy enough.

And that's the reason, apparently, that the village didn't show up on the later map--it had been abandoned by then. It's also easier to see from the air that the village looks like it was destroyed. Walls were built of stone and the roofs were probably thatch over timbers. The thatch and timbers are long gone except for a few scraps of wood here and there. The stones, however, have been knocked down and scattered around the area.

Hsang examines the village from the air.

"440 years ago this village didn't exist.  So lets go over this.

When it came to crafting magical armor, there was no one more skilled at crafting it than Mistrallena and that is why I went to her when I realized that some kind of armor would be needed. Her armors were legendary even before I met her, though few people new that it was she who had crafted them. After explaining to her my sketchy vision, she crafted Steelheart. After the villagers of Torbel made a tomb for the Warlord Kaballah Kabar upon his death, I thought that would be an excellent place to hide Mistrallena’s Armor.

That is our guide.  So we're looking for a tomb.  Assuming this is was a good place to hide but still notable what do we have around here that makes sense as a location?"

He spirals gently inspecting the area around the village looking for any sign of a temple or any sign of a large mound that might be the tomb.

"A graveyard would be a good starting point," Ozrus suggested as they scanned the area from above. He occasionally recast Guidance upon himself as they searched. "Even if the tomb isn't in the graveyard, it would likely be nearby. But if we don't find it, we could always ask the locals." Before Hsang had a chance to think Ozrus was blind to the ruination, he clarified. "And by that, I mean ask some of the critters who have moved in. Using magic..."

---

Looking for a grave-like area of town, with Guidance.
21:49, Today: Ozrus Wither rolled 30 using 1d20+22.  Perception, with Guidance - grave-area.

Hsang and Ozrus fly over and around the village but neither of you spot a graveyard or anything that looks like the ruins of a temple.

However, Ozrus, thinking it might be nearby rather than in the village, spots something a bit of a way off. As he flies towards it, he realizes that it is the graveyard but it's in a clearing in a small copse of trees. The closer he gets, though, the more he realizes that the trees were probably planted around the graveyard at some point because the trees don't look to be 400+ years old.


Meanwhile, Hsang spots a stone that seems a bit out of place even amid the other scattered stones. He guesses that it's in the middle of what was once the village square or common. The reason it looks odd is that it seems to be a bit less regular than the blocks that were used on the buildings. In fact, from the air, it looks like it's in the center of a circle of other stones. The peripheral stones are irregularly scattered, not regular in any sense.

Hsang suddenly looks sick.

"I have a horrible thought here.  We have a village where everyone died.  And then the wording, the villagers of Torbel made a tomb.  What if that is EXACTLY literal.  The villagers of Torbel made a tomb, as in they BECAME the tomb themselves.  Look at those stones in the middle of the village, could those be the villagers, turned to stone?"

Tyrol, Ozrus wouldn't have inadvertently stolen Kurat's mirror. :-P But perhaps it is hidden under the pile of notes Ozrus left behind.

---

Ozrus flew back toward Hsang after spotting the graveyard a little ways away and responded to the samurai's question. "That isn't a conclusion I would leap to, but it is certainly possible. Let's have a closer look." He cast Detect magic and Guidance upon himself, then glided down to have a peek at the stones Hsang had mentioned. As he neared them, he also informed his new companion, "By the way, I did find the graveyard just outside of town. It looks like trees have been planted around since after the town fell. This place might not be quite as deserted as it seems."

---

Examining the potentially petrified stone using Detect Magic and Guidance.
13:48, Today: Ozrus Wither rolled 27 using 1d20+22.  Perception, with Guidance and Detect Magic - Petrification?

Hsang joins him but doesn't land but instead flies in small circles.

"Did you see anything that might be a tomb other than the stones.  I was looking for a howe or similar but I couldn't see anything."

"I haven't had a chance to examine the graveyard that closely yet, unfortunately. I thought this seemed more important in the short-term." He gestured to the stones he was examining while hovering just above the ground in his air elemental form. If there might be something around that could petrify people, it would be good to know ahead of time. Ozrus shared the conclusions of his examinations with Hsang even as he realized them.

As Ozrus flies around, particularly higher, he gets a better sense that the surrounding stones were just where they fell because they were from the buildings that surrounded the town common. However, he does notice that the stone in the center has a plaque fastened to one side.

"In honor of Warlord Kaballah Kabar, who gave his life to save the villagers of Torbel from the Black Dragon Causticus."

Hsang eyes the stone with interest.

"We are here at the instructions of the Oracle, searching for Steelheart, creation of Mistralenna"

He eyes the area carefully.  If this was the tomb he would expect one or a combination of those words to allow them access to it.

As Hsang spoke, Ozrus kept his eyes trained on the statue to see if any magics were activated. And if so, which types. "If that doesn't work, we can search around a bit more, and I can try earthgliding in the most promising-looking spots. You know. To see if there is any notable architecture underground."

---

Were there any magics present on the stone or plaque? Were any activated with Hsang's words? Ozrus should still have Detect Magic active.