DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 1 - Highharvestide in Phandelin

Davroar

"Believe me, when you got the nose of a bear everyone has a unique scent. No need to tag any overpowering scent on anyone."

He does not want to shapechange in front of all the workers and adds, "How about once we get inside I'll sniff everyone, and in the low chance that this doppelganger tries to copy one of us I might have a chance of detecting it."


[ I rolled but failed the Nature roll, so will go the trial and error route.

Davroar Nature roll
Dugan rolled 1d20+3 and got 11 ]

Kriv

“Let’s get inside and see what we can find. I will say this: There are answers that no amount of mind reading would help with, and whilst of limited utility for general detection, they are worth bearing in mind amongst ourselves.”

Dropping his maul, Kriv called the glassstaff to his hand. Stowing the staff, he recalled the maul.

[ooc: Neptune I am only thinking on getting the scent of everyone that is going to go in to investigate, PC's and the main NPC's. Correct me if I am wrong, but we are wanting to have all workers exit (or they already have exited) the mine while we investigate? ]

DM

Sister Gareale agreed immediately with both Davroar and Kriv. "Let's move quickly to the entrance and get the ceremony underway. The men expect us to give you a tour of the mines inside, to show off the work. The best chances for privacy are there."

Her word seemed to be enough to get the Rockseekers, Sildar and the other town leaders to start the short march to the entrance of the mines. Past a few trees and rock outcroppings they found the familiar entrance. It was not so easily recognized after all the work done. The mouth was widened and the path had been flattened and smoothed. In that path there were now two parallel grooves carved into the rocks. The grooves had obviously been cut to guide the large cart whose wheels fit neatly into those groves. Also, the main tunnel into the cavern had been widenned from 10 feet wide to 20 feet. And now the passageway was well lit with lanterns and torches.

After about 50 feet they reached a large cavern that was supported by a natural pillar of rock. This was where they had found the body of Thardren Rockseeker. It was the campsite Rockseeker brothers where the Black Spider and his men ambushed the dwarves, killed Tharden and captured Nundro while Gundren was off to Neverwinter procuring supplies. Off to the right a tarp covered a section of the wall. To the left was a dwarven sized sarcophagous. Straight ahead was a ramp that led down. When the heroes first came here they had to climb down a rope to get into the mines.

This is where they stopped.

<Bern>

He moved with the group, marveling at all the work that had been done outside as well as in. The miners really had been busy!

Zhuirentel Elendaril

She follows along, staying a little bit behind the others. After all, this tour is for the Heroes who retook the Mine from the Black Spider. She is just a guest.

As she walks, she notes the conditions and recent work. She doesn't enjoy being underground. Not that she is claustrophobic, but the fresh woodland air is her element.

Jaliera

She follows the others, glancing to one side once the sarcophagus comes into view. A tribute to Tharden. She will pay her respects before they leave.

She approves of all the changes. The dwarves and their workers have toiled hard in their absence.

Ryssa


The cleric of the Morninglord murmured a short prayer to the late Tharden as she followed Sister Gareale to the mine entrance.

Davroar

As they stop in the large cavern he is impressed and quietly says to no one in particular, "Lots been done."

He steps forward a bit, stopping at the top of the ramp, and remembering how he almost had a bad fall getting down this particular section. Not sure what sort of ceremony they have in plan, Davroar steps back and looks to the town leaders for what will be happening next.

DM

Once they were all in the entry cavern, Sister Gareale stepped towards the sarcophagus where she was joined by Luminmorn and the two living Rockseeker brothers. Sister Gareale waved Ryssa over to join them there and once she moved forward, each member of the clergy would get an opportunity to say a prayer for Tharden.

"A copper to the Lady returns tenfold in gold," she began, using a common prayer to Tymora to begin. "Tharden's fortune will now pass on to his brothers..." Her prayer went on for a bit and then Luminmorn said his prayer which began with "From death, life for there is always another dawn..." and his prayer also went on for a few solemn moments before turning to Ryssa to say her prayers. All the while, the Rockseeker brothers knelt by their brother's tomb, with their foreheads resting on the stone slab that covered him.

Finally, after the prayers were done, Sildar walked over to the tarp and all eyes turned to him as he pulled it down. Under the tarp and in the flickering torchlight, you can see words etched into the now smoothed polished stone. The words told the story of the Rockseeker brothers. It told the tale of how the heroes were simply hired to escort goods to the mine, stumbled upon the wagon that Sildar Hallwinter and Gundren Rockseeker took ahead of the, found out that they were ambushed by goblins, rescued Sildar, tracked down Gundren who was being held by the Goblin king, rescued him, and finally searched out and found the Wave Echo Cave and then rescued Nundro.

Sildar read it, word for word, slowly, his voice cracking as he recounted the horrors they faced and the obstacles that they overcame. Those who paid attention to the attendees might have noticed the Rockseeker brothers wiping tears from their eyes. All in all, the ceremony was brief but poignant. Sildar finally ended the reading and said, "I hereby declare the Mines of Phandelver OPEN!" and that was followed by applause and cheers.

Gundren brought out enough iron goblets for each person. He filled them all (except for one) with the rich dwarven which he poured from a large bottle. He handed one to each, except for Jaliera, to whom he handed a separate goblet and whispered, "It's just apple juice".

Nundro raised his goblet and said, "To dear friends who we'll never forget and to those who are not here, Salute!"

Jaliera

She is pleased that proper tribute was paid to Tharden. She did not know him except through his brothers but she liked them well enough.

She had not thought much of their whole adventure, things had lead to the next, they just followed the path laid before them, but hearing it recounted like that seemed to give it more meaning and importance. Anyway she clapped and cheered along with the rest.

When Gundren brought her an apple juice, she grinned at him, pleased that he had remembered. Considering though the dwarven penchant for alcohol, it must have seemed odd enough to him and therefore stuck in his memory. Nevertheless she is grateful and thanks him, then raises her glass, murmuring 'absent friends' before she drinks.

<Bern>

While he was not real big on all the 'ceremony', he =did= mourn the loss and knew that it was important to others. So he followed the testimonials and remembrances for the fallen patiently. He did have a smile for Sildar's announcement reopening the mine. That gave him a feeling that they had accomplished something good. He raised his goblet and echoed the "Salute" with the others, and then enjoyed a sip with the group.

Kriv

It was right and proper that the observances be made, that the deceased brother be honoured by those that remained. Norixius Keep had not forgotten, and here carved into the stone and proclaimed before witnesses was a fresh chapter towards that debt of honour. Besides his part, the work that their group had put in was acknowledged in perpetuity, as was fitting. He accepted the goblet gracefully, briefly pondering if the wine had been here during the doppelgänger’s visit, but he would not insult clan Rockseeker by not drinking.

DM
With the ceremony completed the assembled folks start chatting. A topic discussed was whether to look around the mines or head back to Phandelver.

Zhuirentel Elendaril

The ceremony over, she moves over towards Luminmorn and says, "I would love a tour of the mines."

Davroar

"Salute!", and he empties his drink in a single go. Upon Sildar's announcement that the mines are open and with the ceremony done he returns the goblet to Gundren with a respectful smile and adds, "Very nice. I hope this mine will benefit everyone well."

Now getting back to investigating he asks him, "Have the miners been through the forge room at all?"

Davroar silently wonders if it has been kept off-limits then he might be able to pick up the scent of the doppleganger and its two henchmen.

Jaliera

She has no strong feeling about visiting the mine or not at this time, happy to go with the majority. She does feel that they should discuss the shape-changer though, once an opportunity arises. She finishes her welcome apple juice.

Ryssa
The young priestess knelt at Thardan's sarcophagus, tears dripping down her cheeks and began her short prayer.

Here we are at your grave to weep,
You rest here but you do not sleep.
Your spirit lives on in the winds that blow.
Your strength endures as diamond glint on snow.
Your essence flows as gentle autumn rain.
May Lathandar's light burn away our pain.


- For Exeter

DM

After Ryssa's prayer summed up the ceremony, the group came at ease, the moment of silent observance was over and now it morphed into a discussion. Gundren, upon hearing Davroar's question, replies in the negative. "We told the miners to stay out of several areas" and Nundro continued for his brother by adding "And they are more than happy to stay out of there!"

Luminmorn cleared his throat before adding, "There was a wraith that haunted the cavern adjacent to the area of the forge and we also found and destroyed ghouls. The miners only go in areas we tell them that are safe." Then, turning to Zhu he responds, "Of course. We can show you everything."

He doesn't turn to leave right away. Instead, he waits to see if any of the others have further questions.

Davroar

Looking to both Gundren or Nundro, he asks, "What about the underground lake area? Anything coming from there recently?"

Zhuirentel Elendaril

She smiles at Luminmorn and nods, adjusting the straps of her equipment and waiting for everyone else to be ready to proceed.

Jaliera

Nice words from Ryssa.

"Do we have a plan on how to approach this?"

She thinks about her own role and that there are newcomers amongst them.

"I can scout ahead. I can see in the dark through Whispers eyes, my owl.." she adds for those that don't know.