Chapter 3 - The Missing Delegation

Yillia throws back the wine almost as quickly as it was placed in her hand. She emits a satisfying sigh and follows the rest into the hall.

After curiously listening to Balak for a while, she finally devices to speak up. "Dwarves ain't my usual quarry, but I've been wandering these lands for some time and have been tracking things my entire life."

She turns to Thurl, and courteously adds "I'm probably not a patch on a expert Feathergale tracker, but these monks sound intriguing for my own hunt" and then back to Balak and the rest of the group "I'd be willing to provide what help I can with these ruins, if you'll accompany me to the monks, and of course, if you'll have me".

This monastery certainly seems of interest. If they are harboring evil, it would be good to end that on our way to the ruins. Felicia says between sips.

Sorgrimm offers to cast detect magic (ritual) on the ring.

When the time is right Sorgrimm attempts to take Thurl aside to ask him a question.

Sorgrimm tosses the ring back to Balak, Here you go friend, another shiny trinket.

After you quietly chat, the knights demanding several recounts of the battle as the wine flows freely, you begin to debut off toward your rooms for the remainder of the night. Several of you spend a few quiet moments with Thurl (private notes above).

GM Prompt: If you have any questions for the Feathergale knights this evening, speak now. Otherwise, in 24 hours we'll advance to morning and you'll need to decide your next step. The trail leads so far to the Riverguard Keep or the Sacred Stone Monastery.

After a long night of drinking, Yillia flops face first onto her bed and starts snoring loudly.

Looking around at his allies and the food as they stand now outside the tower Sorgrimm is the first to speak up, Well, Rivergard Keep then?

"Sounds as good a destination as any."

Yillia looks up from her already-half-eaten breakfast and gives muffled noises of agreement.
She coughs to clear her throat. "Lead the way!"

The route to the Riverguard Keep, which passes by the graves you found, and then the Sacred Stone Monastery, is to cut along the south side of the Sumber Hills. It's a journey of about 50 miles and so might take three days.

After midday, a day which had included sudden gusty breezes, a microstorm shower, and the sound of ground rumbling from far away within the hills, you come upon a small homestead. It is sturdy if not actually fortified, nestled against a stand of old trees with a garden of local vegetables, and several goats in a rough pen.

Yillia scouts ahead, then back, closer, then further away, trying to get an angle to see any activity inside.

Yillia can tell from movement and sound that there are quite a few people inside, including the occasional high pitched squeaking of children. She also notices a man in the woods behind who has dug a small hole and is engaged in partially filling it, if you take my meaning.

"Seems to be just a family home" Yilla muses "Unless someone wants rations or has some questions for the locals, I don't see much reason to stop?". She looks to the others quizzically.

I have no business here, unless someone wishes to see if they have spotted any strange happenings in the area as of late.