Over the past year or so, the five of you have had the luxury of being gainfully employed by Runa Hildrsdottir. Primarily escorting various packages to and from Lepidstadt University at the behest of Professor Petros Lorrimor. Occasionally this would be broken up with a search of some ruin or another to confirm or copy specific carvings and deliver the results.


A few days ago, Runa came to you at The Lighthouse, the inn run by Samara's family. She offered a chance to find and explore a ruin rumored to be north of Lepidstadt in the swamps along the border. If you are able to find this ruin, you are discern whether or not it belonged to a sorcerer named Voran Earthmane. You are take meticulous notes of anything interesting, bring back any and all artifacts you may find, and properly sketch out the ruins noting where any artifacts were found. Runa emphasized the importance of doing a proper archaeological survey as it will be tied to your pay.


There is a small village in the region called Avelton. If the information the professor has discovered this far is true, then the ruins should be within a day or so of it. The region is dangerous, of course, particularly since it it lies on the border with the Realms of the Mammoth Lords and near the Tusk Mountains, the Shudderwood, and the Worldwound, just for good measure.



Accepting the job is a foregone conclusion, the opportunity to find and survey a ruin, without supervision is nearly impossible to resist. By the next morning, you've packed your gear, said your goodbyes and set out to Avelton. The short journey was rather uneventful, if not terribly easy, the marshlands of the western edge of the Shudderwoods are notoriously finicky. Even in the chill of middle autumn the stagnant pools waiting for the winter rains are filled with buzzing insects of various levels of vampiric natures. Game is plentiful so no rations were wasted during the few days you were journeying and on the late morning of the 31st of Lamashan you find yourselves arriving at the outskirts of Avelton as the early mists are beginning to burn off.

As you pass the outer orchards, you spot the locals working to harvest the heavily laden fruit. As is custom in Ustalav, they stop what they are doing and stare, silent as the suspicion of outsiders becomes palpable. Children are quick to hide behind and adult or are shuffled off out of view, those who were using tools tighten grips until you pass.

Avelton is a small collection of homes alongside a stream that turns a water wheel for the mill. A smithy stands nearby, downstream from the mill. In the village’s center stands a temple to Pharasma, freshly painted and kept in good repair. Not far from it is a comfortable-looking inn and public house that, given the lack of travelers in this region, likely serves the villagers who live in the dozen or so red-roofed, wooden homes that comprise the rest of the buildings. The community would appear idyllic, if not for the fact that all the shutters are closed up tight and not a soul moves about, in Ustalavic tradition of welcoming outsiders.

Vostiun silently nodded to the nervous farmers as they passed as is the traditional Ustalav greeting of strangers. He starts to readjust his pack and stretch as the enter the town proper. "They take their apples seriously here. I'm going to pick up some cider but we should probably keep out of their orchards to avoid a fuss."

As they pass the temple of Pharasma Vostiun makes a gesture that is part warding and part reverential.

"Do you want to go ahead and check out the tavern?"

In reply to Vostiun Hephaurio (msg # 2):

Kon nods and crudely mimics the unfamiliar gesture in kind toward the temple, ending with paired hands and a bow for his own part.

"I can take your things with me to the tavern."

Turning back to the others, he gives a half-hearted smile, "Come on, let's see if the staff are as friendly as the rest of the people."

As the group passes along the orchards and makes their way into the village proper, Saidou keeps a brisk pace to keep up with the others but not one that would be out of the ordinary to his traveling companions. His traveling cloak's hood keeps the light from his eyes, blocking the upper half of his face. This is not enough to hide his eager grin at their arrival however, nor does it diminish the whisper he utters with a warding gesture of his own - "Not this year, Grave Lady. Not yet." His fingers brush back the cloak from his hip, tracing around the lip of his tankard with his fingertip before tapping it upon the wooden vessel twice.



"Here, take a few coppers from me to share to the locals for some goodies and some rumors." he gestures with his head to one of the fields nearby as he moves to Vostiun's side, rummaging in a pouch of copper coins. "Can you see if you can find me something interesting? Pickled apples, candied peels, maybe some apple jam or spread. Something the locals would send you on a long, rumor-filled and productive walk for." The ashen-skinned fellow, having counted out 12c, holds it out to his human traveling companion. "Can't say I don't do my share of the rumor-work if I'm the one chipping in, right? Just ... Don't spend it all in one place." He then moves to follow Kon's leading pace instead of Vostiun's.

[No actual effect intended from the tankard thing- Just a reflexive gesture from a Caydenite as he offers a traditional aphorism to Pharasma. Can you deduct 12cp worth from Saidou to a "Party Rumor Fund" or to Vostiun?]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:51, Tue 01 Nov 2022.

"I'm still coming to the tavern, I was planning to get my cider on our way out of town," Vostiun says as he readjusts his pack and keeps walking.

Samara stays with the group, despite an evidence desire to investigate everything new thing.
She watches carefully, head tilted, as the coins are counted and transferred.

The small Apple Blossom Inn and Common House is one of the central buildings of the village. It’s a stout two-story building with a large apple tree growing next to it.

Sitting out front is a boy about eight years old or so, playing stones in the dirt. He notices your approach and smiles and begins to wave, when a woman steps out of the front door to the inn and scolds him before nervously calling him to her and they both disappear back into the inn.

You arrive at that same door a few moments later and head on inside. You're greeted the smell of home cooked food and the warmth of a well-maintained hearth. A few tables are scattered about in the main room, with only a couple of patrons occupying seats. A middle-aged man with an apron and an air of ownership is talking to one of them as you enter and they all stop what they are doing to look with heavy suspicion at the lot of you.

"Can I help you?" asks the apparent innkeep after a moment.

"I'm here to settle a bet. I hear you have the best cider in Ustalav. Now I said that Hans Brindle in Lepidstadht had the best but my friends called me a liar, so here I am," Vostiun says with a smile. He's clearly exaggerating but also trying to be friendly.

Vostiun takes off his pack and gently sits it down on the floor next to a table.

"Your friend has the right of it." he says, a wry smile momentarily breaking through the suspicion. He walks over to the table Vostiun is next to, looking the group up and down, "What can I get you cityfolk?"

In reply to Vostiun Hephaurio (msg # 8):

Saidou nudges his companion in the hip with an elbow and a wry grin.
"One of these days, your bets will get the best of you, my friend. Poor Uncle Hans'll end up with a head so inflated, you won't know if it was from the yeast or the hot air you keep pumping him full of." Saidou leans against Vostiun's pack, not taking a seat yet.

“You know Hans can’t compete with the real deal out here!” Haznut chimes in, grinning and eagerly going to take a seat. “They do things differently outside of the city, the good ‘ole fashioned way, makes everything taste better.”

The dwarf looks to his companions, motioning for them to sit at the table he’s seated himself at, setting his pack next to his chair.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:14, Tue 01 Nov 2022.

In reply to Hetrik Tellier (msg # 9):

Saidou pulls himself up onto the chair next to Haznut with as little awkwardness as possible, and addresses the innkeep with cheer.
"Do you have any crisp apple chips, maybe apple oat cookies? And how much do you charge for the local cider?"

"We have some boiled eggs and spelt bread from the breakfast meal. On the last few barrels of last harvests hard cider, if you don't mind the older stuff." he thinks for a bit, "Could make some mulled apple juice if you give Marnie a bit, she's working on the pottage for supper." Hetrik calls over his shoulder to the backroom kitchen, "Jenny! We have any of Elissa's mead left?"

The woman you saw rush the boy back into the inn sticks her head out from the kitchen and nervously eyes up the party before responding, "Ah...just a couple of bottles." before she ducks back into the kitchen.

He shrugs and looks back at the party, "Well, there you go."

Sa Saidou briefly leans on Vostiun's pack a soft "Mrrrw? issues out. In just a moment a large black cat pokes his head out and then oozes out onto the table with a long stretch.

"I'll try some of last year's cider and I'll take a few of those eggs with a chunk of bread too," Vostiun says as if a cat issuing from his pack were a normal thing.

Kon waves with a genial smile to the shy woman when she pops her head out and turns to the innkeeper, "Actually I was wondering if you might have any spiderberry tea.  It has been quite some time since I've had a decent cup.  I hear it goes well with sliced apples, candied or otherwise."

He reaches up a hand to shake, "My name is Kon by the way."  Looking about the inn behind the innkeeper, Kon takes in the surroundings a little.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:19, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

At the sound of the "Mrrw?" issuing forth from Vostiun's pack, Saidou's shoulder jerked, his expression that of someone being tickled. A few abrupt movements inside of his hood later, Saidou clamps down on the back of his neck with an exasperated expression. He soothes something unseen. It looks like Saidou's pet has woken up, as well.

"Juice is fine for me, thanks- bit early in the day to start praising Cayden. I would ask for a bit of bread, and an apple please?"

Samara looks about, alert for danger, but also looking to see if these folks have any sort of entertainment - if not a performer, are there any games
Sliding into the chair next to Saidou with only two sniffs at the innkeeper, Samara blinks slowly, saying, "I would like to try them all."

"It's never too early to praise any of the gods, but I would say it's in bad taste to drink alone when surrounded by friends. I'll take a small order of anything you recommend, and a pour of any breakfast ale if you have any left over." Haznut says in agreement with Samara, after taking a quick look around the inn to determine if there's anything interesting on the walls or mounted anywhere.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Tue 01 Nov 2022.

Hetrik nods with each order, "Hetrik. Hetrik Tellier." replies as he shakes Elde Kon's hand, "You folks getting rooms or moving on?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:00, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

"If there's room, good Hetrik; and if you'll put up with us, and the food's fair at least."  He leans his head slightly toward the nearby two at the other table, "Wouldn't want to impose if you're busy and all filled up."  With a small wave to the rest of the table he continues,  "My companions and I are in town to experience the local atmosphere, take in the scenery as it were, and of course confirm the cider story."  Looking back to the others,  "I expect we'll be out quite a bit during the days?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:34, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

"Aye, if we were to be able to take up a room or two here, I imagine we would be out a fair bit taking in the scenery, I always enjoy getting to see new cultures." Haznut replies with a smile to his friends before taking a sideways glance at the other table, before looking up at Hetrik.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

"This time of year we don't get much in the way of visitors. Harvesting finishes up just before the snows come, so any merchants'll wait until we get something fermented through the winter." he shrugs, "If'n you're stayin' we got three rooms, each a silver per night, pay for your stay up front. Comes with evening meal, which is available after sunset. Kitchen's closed after the misses and I turn in, doors and shutters are barred at night as well. Get in before they are or yer stayin' outside til sunrise and don't be askin to get yer money back if that happens."

"What will you turn int-OH, you mean retire for the evening, right." Kon smiles again, "I can't say we will be that late in the evening some days, but when would that be if I might ask?  Certainly past midnight is unreasonable, but, well, we do tend to wander a bit, and it might take us a good while to return if we're caught returning later than we'd like."

Rubbing the back of his bare neck a bit, he looks slightly concerned for a moment, "Err, is there anything we might be looking to avoid out there, if we happen to stray out of town for long?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

"Nothing good comes from nightfall. If you're not back inside by sundown...well, there isn't any good reason to be out there beyond that anyways." he rubs the back of his neck, "I'll just assume you haven't been in Ustalav for more'n a day or two. This is not a safe place. Never has been and when the Whispering Tyrant ruled over it, it only got less so."

You can see that he's trying to figure out how to explain something as simple as the sky is blue to someone looking at the sky and not comprehending it's blue, "I mean, take yer pick, you got undead and werewolves. Vampires. Demons out of the Worldwound and even them nutters in Lepidstadt can't leave well-enough-alone and work at making even more monsters quick-as-you-please."

He sighs, "Makes you wish for the good times when all you had to worry about were goblins and orcs."

He shrugs, "Anyways, it's a long walk to tell ya, if you're out past sundown, you might have a couple hours while we serve supper and clean up before you might want to consider finding somewhere to hide."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:33, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

"Make it back inside before too late, try to be home by supper, that doesn't sound like too terrible of a rule. You've truly had people have issues with that? Haznut lets out a light-hearted chuckle. "Well anyways, how many beds do you have in a room?"

Vostiun nods at the warnings to be back by dark. "Of course. Besides the usual precautions are there any areas around the village we should avoid?"

Samara stares at Kon while he speaks, then at the barkeep, then Haznut, then the barkeep, then Vostiun, with increasing agitation.
"Um. maybe... maybe we can let the nice man bring my drinks and then interrogate him?" Samara says with a swish of her tail.

Saidou quietly listens to the conversation between the innkeep and his companions, the only real sound from him being a soothing crooning he occasionally utters as he heaps attention on the wriggling lump in his traveling cloak's hood.

After Samara speaks up, he adds an agreement. "I am Saidou, and I'd love to speak more about things that are better avoided at night... She has a point, though. I very much want to hear more about the things to keep an eye out for, especially if there's news around here from Lepistadt. But the apple juice and ciders would lubricate such social measures."

Hetrik nods, "Right, the food." he makes a quick tabulation in his head and then turns to go back to the kitchens, "We'll call it 3 silvers for the meal, since I don't know if yer leavin' or stayin' I'd just as soon have that before you start eating."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

As Hetrik disappears into the kitchen, a woman clears her throat, "So where are you from?" she asks in a rather friendly voice, quite unexpected given the more traditional Ustalavic tradition of suspicion. "I couldn't help but overhear, and it seems like you folks haven't been in Ustalav for very long."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

Kon turns to the woman, "Oh, some of us are from here, I'm originally from Tian Xia.  Been in Ustalav a year or two myself."  He gives a sigh, "It's been pretty hard to find good tea here, but I have to say it has been...  Interesting around here.  Different problems for different regions."

Kon nods in a short, seated bow, "My name is Kon.  You are...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

Hearing your request of name exchanges, the man next here rolls his eyes and sighs as if some form of tedious chore had just been thrust upon him.

"Oh, I'm Elizabet." she responds with an offended look at the man next to her, "People around here call me Lizzie. I've only heard stories about the place, is it true that dragons force everyone to wear wooden sandals?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:39, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

"Oh geta aren't forced on people, it's mostly for those who don't want to track mud everywhere.  Mother never approved of me wandering around barefoot."  Kon muses, "I can't say you're missing much though. Lots of trees where I grew up, farms, a tenuous balance with nature, the usual stuff.  I do miss the kitsune from time to time though.  Tricky lot, them.  Always have to watch out for pranks."

"Oh, you have fey as well?" she shutters with what you recognize as genuine fear. She rubs her index finger and thumb together, like adding a pinch of salt to a stew, in front of her heart before continuing, "Nasty creatures them. Evil runs deep and they're the messengers of it."

Kon shrugs, "Many kitsune, at least around the area I'm from, act as mediators for the forest and the humans.  Everyone stays safe and mostly happy.  I'd hardly call that evil.  I've encountered a few of the type you mean though, so I understand the resentment."  Kon leans back in his chair.

Vostiun tries to chime in before any negative response can lower the mood. "I'm Vostiun, so what do you do in the village Lizzie?" He absently scratches the black cat behind the ears who meows loudly.

"Oh, and this is Sargon."

"Oh, I'm just a simple seamstress. Certainly not anyone important enough to just travel to another town on a whim." she frowns a bit at that before continuing, "So what do you do?"

The man next to her speaks up, "Leave them alone, Lizzie. What they do or don't do isn't any of our business. Probably best if we didn't know anyways." he says looking Samara and Saidou over.

Samara is nodding while the woman speaks, then stops when Kon speaks. "And..." she prods the ones doing introductions.

"Terribly sorry, where are my manners!" Haznut says in an apologetic tone. "My name is Haznut Ingut, I'm from not too far South of Ustalav, actually." He runs his hand through his beard, touching at the hilt of his Clan dagger under it, gently touching the leather peace-knot tied around it. "From Lastwall, specifically."

"Lastwall!" she exclaims, "Pharasma save us. You poor dear." she stands, concern on her face, and walks over to the table.

"Lizzie..." he starts but she's up and walking before he can stop her, "Dammit woman."

"And I'm still Saidou, born of the beautiful islands of Soral's Tears. Close enough to being a local, though - Ustalav has been my home for half of my life." It looks like he has finished calming down his unseen little friend, and his hands now move to his lap. "I'm from the Lepistadt area, actually. For the last 10 years."

"And you can call me Sapphire. If you have questions about your fate, I can help find the answers."

Saidou and Samara's introductions get her attention before she can sit at the table and she gets her first good look at the fetchling. She gasps and puts a hand over her mouth, fear painted over her face, "Fey!" she chokes out.

She frantically looks over her shoulder to the man she was sitting with and then back to the adventurers, "Fey. Dear Pharasma..." she starts moving backwards towards the door, attempting to gather her composure, "I..I'm sorrry, I..I need to go home."

The man she was with reaches her and helps to escort her out, actively making sure he doesn't make eye contact with Saidou as they leave.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:09, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

”Well that seems to have gone over well.” Haznut says with a lighthearted chuckle, not wanting his companions to feel upset by the reaction of Lizzie. ”I’m sure she’ll warm up to ya two.”

Sargon pauses in the middle of washing his face to say in a surprisingly deep boice, "All things considered it could be worse."

Saidou's cheerful smile doesn't waver a millimeter, but a tired drop hits the corner of his eyes. Might not be recognized by a stranger, but the more insightful members of his troupe would undoubtedly get the impression that he's not mad or upset... Just disappointed.

Haznut places his hand on Saidou’s shoulder reassuringly. “Fret not, people around here are just scared of the things and people they don’t know yet is all.”

The door to the kitchens opens and Hetrik comes out with a wooden platter and a pony keg, behind him is Jenny with several tankards, a bottle, and another wooden platter. "Here you go." he says as they set down the food and drinks, "A bottle of Elissa's, a summer ale..." he sets the ale in front of Haznut, "...a few apples, fresh and dried, a loaf of bread, a dozen boiled eggs, a pitcher of cider, and a keg of hard cider."

He looks around the table, satisfied with what he's delivered and then snaps his fingers, "Right, the tea. We don't have any of that spider berry whatever it is, but we do have enough spices and herbs to make an herbal tea if you'd like." without waiting for Kon's response, "Go on Jenny, get the pot on."

She hurries back into the kitchens to do just that and Hetrik turns back to the table, "Alright, before you dive in, who's paying?"

Kon sighs, "Herbal is fine.  Tiger clove if you've got any would suffice."  Looking about to the others, "I think we're good to pay together?"  He pulls out a handful of copper pieces and sets them down on the table, counting them out with brief clinks as they settle into a stack.

With a look up at Hetrik, Kon asks, "Unfortunately poor Lizzie had to go in a hurry, suddenly panicked about fey.  Has anything untoward happened lately that might have gotten her spooked?"  He slowly rolls another copper over his fingers and back again.  "We wouldn't want to accidentally run afoul of some otherworldly creature out there, after all."

Haznut grins with excitement at everything that was brought out. ”Thank you very much, we can all pay together.” He then goes to count out six pieces of copper before sliding them towards the center of the table. ”Speaking of Lizzie, did their table pay their tab?”.

Haznut peers up from under his brow, trying to discern what, if any, reaction Hetrik has at the mention of Fey.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

Hetrik collects the coins from everyone, "They have a standing tab." He then processes what Kon is asking and let's out a frustrated sigh, "There is always something happening. We keep our talismans up and try our best to keep out of the interest of the evils that prowl this world."

He puts the coins in his apron, "Not everyone is lucky enough to escape notice. Goblins snatch your pigs. Fey steal your baby and replace it with a changeling. Your spouse goes out to collect wood and never returns, or worse, does." the implications in his tone on the last word is ominously clear, "Not sure how you could be in this country and not know any of this." He nods to Saidou, "Especially with one of them traveling with you."

Kon waves dismissively at Saidou, "Oh don't mind him, best to think of him as a cursed halfling.  He's harmless.  I'm plenty familiar with the strange though.  Saw enough of that crawling over the Crown with the caravans for a lifetime and I'll gladly stick to the ships in the future."  He leans in a bit closer, this time holding the coin forward between his fingers, "What I'm more interested in is whether something has been happening lately."  After a beat, his face looks a little more serious, "Lepistadt is interested."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

He flicks his head the coin, "Taht supposed to make me believe he's a cursed halfling or pretend that being cursed isn't just as bad as being a fey?" he rubs the bridge of his nose, "Something is always happening, doesn't matter if I know about it or not. Old Ioana complained about being attacked by frogs when she came through this summer. The sheriff chased off some bandits that were lurking around just last week. Elissa gave young Pel a seeing to when she caught him stealing honeycomb from one of her hives."

He spreads his arms as of to say chose as you please.

Kon shrugs and holds the coin forward, "Sounds like any other town then.  Bandits and barghests, kids and crumbs."

Looking aside to Saidou, "At least you won't have to worry about him though.  Unless you start asking him questions."  Kon covers his ears and leans away with a grin, expecting retaliation.

Saidou's eyebrow twitches as he slowly closes his eyes listening to Kon and Hetrik's words, and then finally just breaks his plastered-on grin into a grimace. His forehead plants on the table with a thunk, and a long sigh like wind escaping from a balloon.

A black and cream colored ferret scrambles out from behind the neck of Saidou's hood, perching on its hind legs before chittering indignantly at being awakened. It darts over, picks up a fresh apple slice, and starts making the snack disappear into its face.

"Hetrik, I am not cursed in the way many understand it... Nor am I fey. Where I am from, I am common. My people fear the things that lurk in dark places as much as yours do. We find ourselves the victims of monsters and abuse, of dragons and intrigue, bandits and vagrancy just like anyone else. Where I was born, I am common folk.

Where I hail from now, Lepistadt, I am no more a monster or ill omen than I was in my home before. A curious-minded curiosity to some, sure. But I am no monster, and the only curse is that I had no warning before being sent from my home to Avistan, nor will I get any warning before I am called home again someday in the future. I value knowledge. That uncertainty, is my bane."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Sat 05 Nov 2022.

Kon leans over to Hetrik and whispers, "Like I said..."

Samara puts her coins on the table, knowing hers will be extra since she ordered one of each, cocks her head at the innkeeper and says, "Do you need any entertainment here this evening?"

Hetrik shrugs, "Don't really care about your past or what you claim your are. You pay your bill and don't cause trouble before you move on, then that's all I care to know." He looks over to Samara, "You can entertain yourselves, after Lizzie finishes telling everyone about this one..." he points to Saidou, "...won't be anyone else in here."

Hetrik turns to head back into the kitchen, "Figure out if your stayin' or not and for how long if you are. I'm needed in the kitchen for a bit."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:29, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

After Hetrik leaves, Samara says, "OR... We could charge people to come in and see the mysterious tame fey... Hey? Hey?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

"How about we don't but say we did?" Vostiun says as he scratches his cat behind the ears.

"We should figure out how long we want to pre-pay for. Hopefully we find the site quickly but it make take us a few days to document and gather everything after that. And take care of whatever minster live there now. So... three days in advance?"

Saidou looks up from where his forehead was resting on the table, looks at Samara, and grins cheerfully. "Tame fey? When you haven't even housebroken me? Be sure to check your shoes before wearing them, you never know..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

Haznut lets out a chuckle and pats Saidou on the back. ”That’s the spirit! Don’t let anyone get you down friend, or it’s not just you messing with them that they’ll have to worry about!”

Saidou reaches out to pull his apple juice close, and collects the pile of apple bits away from his little friend. "I'm sorry. I won't actually do anything to you guys... and I probably wouldn't to anyone else, either. 's why I don't want to do much of the talking." He separates out a portion of the snacks for the ferret, and then moves the rest into a more accessable spot.

With a glance to Vostiun, he offers "Don't look to me for planning the expedition, nor how long it takes. You know better. Our stay might be limited by funds, but not curiosity. Likely as anything that you'll be dragging me away before I'm satisfied wether it's a day, ten, or a month."

Kon thinks on the task at hand, "I don't think 3 days is long enough. For one, the info we have is our destination is another day or so out there, so it'll be probably 3 days away from town as it is, even if we knew where we were going.  I think we should just stay for the night to rest up after the journey, ask around a bit more about the swamp, and head out in the morning.  We can worry about staying a few days when we return and need to finish cataloguing everything."

Samara cocks her head at Kon. "You just agreed we have no idea where to go next," Samara holds eye contact with Kon as she slowly pushes his cup towards the edge of the table, "but you want to head out in the morning. In what direction, hmm?"

Kon shrugs, "That's for the locals to tell.  We've the better part of a whole day ahead of us.  Surely someone who lives in this town has heard of some ruins nearby."  Leaning on a hand and gazing off toward the front door he continues, "Probably tell us the place is cursed, or the local court of the fey, overrun with undead, some foul beast who's made its home there..." his head bobs as his hand prevents his chin from moving, "I mean just mentioning my kind had Elizabet crying fey.  We're divine!"  He drops his supporting hand as a fist on the table with a dull thud as he exclaims the last part, "Well, we're Daikitsu's children at least, and she's a goddess..."

He waves dismissively at the door and leans back in his chair, causing it to creak and rock slightly, "Whatever, they'll tell us where it is in short order I expect with a heaping helping of whatever local superstition they hold and warn us not to go.  We'll know by nightfall the direction to travel and be on our way in the morning."  With a wry smirk he crosses his arms, "For all we know someone will tell us it's haunted and to stay away, and we'll find that it's just some hideout for local smugglers making off with the artefacts we're here to recover."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Tue 08 Nov 2022.

Vostiun sips his cider and picks up a few eggs. "A smuggler that desperate would be as dangerous as a cornered rat. I can ask around and see what people tell me. If it really is more than a day away from town, it's pretty unlikely that anyone would have gone that far out to run across it."

As Vostiun stops scratching Sargon, the cat steps over and curls up in his lap. "So we're going to stay here tonight, set out tomorrow morning, and camp at the site when we find it?" he clarifies.

“Aye, sounds about right. If we get any locals to help us find it, intentionally or not, then great. Otherwise, half of archeology is finding the site, isn’t it?”

Samara slowly pushes Kon's cup right up to the edge of the table, saying, "Ok, so, question the locals, stay here tonight, follow our noses in the morning. I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it!"

"The way I see it, we have a few steps to follow and things to do. It would be good and proper to have a local map, updated with where the dangers the locals seek to avoid. We should learn which direction lies the border swamps, where the ruin lies - wether or not it's Voran's, they still want us to map the place. And thirdly, with ... Varying importance to us, if we want to spread good will amongst the locals and their jump-to-conclusion, hatefu-  Saidou would hold up one finger and then a second as he went through his thoughts, eyes clouding with anger when presenting a third finger. He stops himself mid sentence to breathe. "Nevermind. Just, thirdly, good will where we can. I don't want us locked out from getting our things."

"As for how we go about it, I'll let you tell me where and what to do for being of most use, because I don't think you want me to be the one doing the talking. I think it would be important to check with the temple of Pharasma first. We might be able to get some rumors, or local records of Voran Earthmane that don't exist back in Lepistadt anymore."

"I think that's a good idea."  Kon nods at Saidou, "I'm usually pretty good at digging up information, if not physical ruins, so I think I'm going to check out the market in town.  Midday I would think most people would be either out there or going about their livelihood, but you don't put a market away from common traffic."

Preparing for Hetrik's return, or the boiled water's arrival, Kon reaches into his satchel and pulls out a few items including a lovingly packed "ornate" clay cup, obviously accented by a novice with a dark brown paint showing some kind of sticks and leaves, almost like tree branches but not, and finished with a slightly uneven glazed layer.  He sets his tools on the table next to him, then looks over to Samara slowly edging the tankard toward a precarious fate, "I'm guessing this is a cat thing.  But won't Hetrik be put off by you knocking his dishware off the table?"  Kon makes a show of confirming his strainer is cleaned out.

"I welcome company at the market, but we might want to split up to cover more area."  Setting the strainer down next to the cup, Kon looks to Saidou, "I'm guessing you're not big on visiting the temple, given your remark earlier.  I'm pretty sure the locals wouldn't talk if you came along with me either, given Lizzie's response.  There are a few other options off the top of my head for you..."  Indexing on his fingers, he lists off:

1. The orchard, maybe some of the folk finishing up the harvest or preparing the grounds for winter will have some info
   
2. Scouting the areas a few minutes from town, maybe getting a higher vantage point to look out and see if there's any "ruiny" looking things on the horizon.  If not, maybe spot the swamp we're looking for in the distance.
   
3. Following people around to see where the popular places are and getting familiar with the town.
   
4. Staying here and watching our room with Hetrik, and maybe helping him out a bit for some good will

"For the rest of us, Vostiun you wanted to procure some cider.  You can either join me in the market, I'm sure they'll have some, or you can head to the orchards to see if they'll sell out of their workshop."  He shrugs briefly, "Or I can just get some while I'm there and save you the trouble.  Haznut and Samara, do you have any plans?  Saidou's recommendation for the temple visit is still open."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:40, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

Vostiun sighs and says, "We shouldn't go near the orchards unless we have to. The reason they have such a good harvest is because they've made a deal with a dryad who lives in the orchards. I'll take the temple."

Kon sighs, muttering under his breath, "I travel half way around the world and the kami are still around..."

"I don't mind going to the temple. I appreciate Pharasma's works, and nearly all of the art done of Pharasma strongly resembles my people, physically.

"I'll go to the market. I've never had any problem talking to people."

"Good stuff.  Between the two of us we should be able to find something."  Kon runs a finger over the lip of his cup, "Maybe we can find some tea leaves too."

[Kon begins to Follow a Lead, focused on the Ruins of Voran Earthmane]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:08, Tue 08 Nov 2022.

Jenny returns with a tea pot and nervously sets it down on the table. The tea smells of chamomile, marigold, and a hint of cherry.

"Is there anything else I can get you?"

Kon leans forward in a small seated bow, "No my dear, this is enough."  He looks to the others, "So we're going to stay the night for now and return later?"  He munchs an apple wedge, then pours some tea into his cup.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Tue 08 Nov 2022.

“That sounds like a good of a plan as any. I’ll probably ask around tomorrow, and pay the sherif a visit to see if he might’ve heard about anything.” Haznut takes a few bites of food while planning the next day in his head.

Saidou only nods an agreement with Kon's declining further service, putting on what he hopes is a disarming grin.

As Jenny returns Hetrik comes back out, "How many rooms and for how long?"

Kon raises a hand, "We'd like to spend the night for now and store our things for the day.  How many rooms would we need for 4 of us?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

Samara gives Jenny a friendly smile and thanks her. "This is very good, thank you!"

"One if you don't mind getting a little cozy, all three if you want a bit more room and privacy." he suggests, "There's a bed in each room, comfortable for one, cozy for two. The misses can bring up some extra blankets."

"I'd love a bath, is that available, or can you direct me to the bathhouse?" Samara asks the innkeeper.

"Two rooms I believe is fine.  The little one fades into the shadows when the lights go out."  Kon smirks as he sips some more of the tea.  "I trust there is a lock on the doors?  City folk nerves about disputes on property ownership and all that."  He adds a little cider to the tea after his experimental sip, smiling through the confused bitter and sour taste still lingering in his mouth.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:10, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

"No need for locks around here. If something goes missing, it isn't too hard to find out who did it. Besides, the last thing we need is someone barring themselves inside, refusing to leave." He looks over at Samara, "No bathhouse, but we have a river, or if you want some privacy you can take a bucket or two into the barn."

"If you only need two rooms for the night, then that'll be 2 silvers and you can choose whichever two rooms you want upstairs."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

Vostiun puts four copper on the table. "That sounds lovely, thank you."

Kon also takes out some copper for the rooms.

Saidou's eyebrow twitches in response to Kon's words, but he presents his share without saying a word yet. Making change with the coins on the table, he makes a show of placing down four copper, then pulling them back along with 6 of the coppers that had been paid out with a silver coin instead.

for clarification, we have paid 6cp each for food (3sp split) and are paying 4cp for room (2sp split)?

So 1sp from each of us, with 1.2sp more also given to Vostiun by Saidou as a fund to help pay for incidental snacks and/or rumors for the road.

After pocketing the extra copper pieces, Saidou would loose the throwing blade from one of his wrist bracers, twirling it twice between his fingers. "Shame that you don't think we'll have much company at evening meal tonight, good Innkeep. Samara likes to show off." He pulls in one of the fresh apples brought along with the bread, eggs and the like... and begins to flay long strips of the peel off with his blade. After each pass, he would attempt to flick the apple peel strip to splash into Kon's teacup.

(Would I need to make a roll for apple peel artiller-tea?)
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

Haznut stretches before digging out the coins to pay for his room and board.

"Adventurers are cause enough for worry." he says as he scoops up the coins, "Adding a fey into the mix and your just about guaranteed that your lot will cause the death or injury of at least one of us. Makes people like us a bit nervous."

He sets about cleaning the table occupied by Lizzie, "Remember; back by sunset."

Kon nods and stands, hefting his pack and then taking another sip of his tea, "If we find any fey we'll be sure to deal with them appropriately.  I'll be back down for the pot in a minute."  He downs the last of the tea in his cup and heads upstairs to claim one of the rooms.

Saidou closes his eyes for a few deep breaths, and then turns to Haznut after painting on a pleasant grin. "Master Dwarf, do you happen to get mistaken for a fey very often? Because, quite alarmingly, while I am in many ways as mundane as any human, I am being mislabelled an awful lot. Quite curious, right?"

Saidou's chair scrapes as he scoots back, re arranges the tea pot and cup into his old seating spot, and plants himself- and his belongings- back where Kon had previously sat before.

Haznut lets out a hearty chuckle and grins. “I’ve been labeled and mislabeled many times Saidou, and I’m sure I will continue to be. Maybe not called Fey, but a failure for sure…” His voice trails off before he gets up and gathers his belongings, wiping off his face before looking back to the rest of his companions. “I’ll be putting my things in one of the rooms. If anyone needs me, I won’t be too hard to find.” He then takes his possessions upstairs to claim the other room.

Samara counts out her coins for her drinks and her room, then secures her purse.
She stands and stretches.
"Here's my money," she says to Hetrik as she hands him the coins, then leans close with a wink, "He's not a fey, by the way. Not half, not even a little bit. Of course, an intelligent, worldly man such as yourself certainly already discerned that, but your potential customers this evening might feel more confident hearing it from you, a pillar of the community, rather than a few drifters who are already suspect in their eyes.  Is Elizabet known for flights of fancy, or was she just drinking a little harder this morning than was prudent?"

Samara slithers past Hetrik, "well, I'm off for the market, see if I can help Hetrik here restore his business this evening.  Just going to go change really quick first."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:45, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

Saidou would shake his head slightly to himself, watching the others go to claim their rooms. He would remain at the table, waiting quietly with his apple and Spirit- who was standing on it's hind legs, eating a strip of apple peel it had intercepted.

"Vos, when the others come down, play along that I didn't switch into his seat, would you? I wish to mess with Kon's head, just a little."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:52, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

After several minutes, Kon comes back down significantly lighter than before, still clothed as before but less his pack.  He looks back to the table after coming downstairs and raises an eyebrow.  With a flourish he spins the opposite chair on one leg under his hand and sits astride it with the back of the chair facing the table.  Leaning over the back of the chair, he reaches for the tea and his cup.  "Thought I'd turn the chair around so it's facing the right direction."  After another sip of tea and a grimace, he glances to Saidou, "Next time, remember to put the grooves into the floor from where the chair dug in from being rocked."  He upends the tea cup once more and notes it's emptied again.

Vostiun watches his companions go about claiming their beds and their quiet mischief before, with a shake of his head, getting up himself. He transitions the cat into his arms and shoulders his pack before heading upstairs.