When I list the skills, feel free to roll to advance the story. Most of those should be secret anyhow Though it is satisfying to pass 50:50 roll with high roll
Lumrolur puts himself in the shoes of the saboteur. "How would I do it? I would infiltrate the building first. Maybe like a guest. A worker? No matter. Since nothing is visible from the outside - I would leave a marker I could detect. Is it possible that the sabotour was magic user? Someone who can simply detect wood? A druid? Nah, too much wood in the building itself. So...counting steps. Where would be logical place to start? The door inside are there, then the stairs and the basement hall. It would be like this..."
Scarred rogue stands immobile in the snow as the swirl of thoughts and scenarios rush through his head in quick succession.
makes sense to bring Arik with you since @Steve Gorak Arik was going to try to sniff it out as a dog. We just need to find the next point of contact if you find it
When I list the skills, feel free to roll to advance the story. Most of those should be secret anyhow Though it is satisfying to pass 50:50 roll with high roll
Lumrolur puts himself in the shoes of the saboteur. "How would I do it? I would infiltrate the building first. Maybe like a guest. A worker? No matter. Since nothing is visible from the outside - I would leave a marker I could detect. Is it possible that the sabotour was magic user? Someone who can simply detect wood? A druid? Nah, too much wood in the building itself. So...counting steps. Where would be logical place to start? The door inside are there, then the stairs and the basement hall. It would be like this..."
Scarred rogue stands immobile in the snow as the swirl of thoughts and scenarios rush through his head in quick succession.
Physical labor like lifting up snow-buried rafters with a rock bar... that would take time.
Doing so in the midst of a snowstorm... that would take endurance.
And no reports of lanterns or suspicious activity, they likely were working in the dim light that smothers all of Icewind Dale... that would take someone accustomed to operating under cover of darkness.
This was not an act of passion, but of grim determination and deliberate malice.
The saboteur came from the direction of Termalaine town. But why? Why sabotage the inn? Either a long-festering revenge among townsfolk turned cool... or a cold-hearted infiltrator moving among the good folk of Termalaine...
GM:
I usually won't be able to roll for your PCs – just too much burden on me (especially if multiple players expect that) when I have other GM things demanding my focus.
Sharing your PC's thought process / your question like you did is terrifically helpful for me to tailor my post to be relevant/fun for you. Thank you for that!
The dwarf looks back at the others who offered to be his companions through the mines.
"Yes, a room for each."
He counts 5 gold and hands it over. A room was the least he could do to repay their kindness.
"It looks like you've been busy, keep the change." He pauses for a moment and, as he watches the poor girl count the money, his heart breaks for her,
You know, we have some business to attend to today but I hear your da is sick, young lady. Maybe while folks get their rooms and get settled in, I can spare some time see him before we head out. I am a cleric of Sharindlar - that's a goddess of healing, if you don't know - and, while I'm not sure if there's anything I could do, I might be able to recommend a remedy."
I had 18 gold and now have 13. Oskar is trained in Medicine.
Marta offers a weak smile and goes about scribbling in the accounting ledger, before she realizes she doesn't know Oskar's name to enter it in the ledger. "Your name, master dwarf?"
She swallows and falls silent at the mention of her father's illness. "A-a- cleric?" Her eyes widen as if Termalaine hasn't known a proper cleric in quite some time. After a moment, she quickly nods, removing the apron she was wearing from doubling up on tasks in the kitchen. "Yes, my father Clyde fell ill last year in a fishing accident on Maer Dualdon. His lungs haven't been the same since, and..." Emotion swells in her throat, choking her words. "I'll show you to him, this way..."
She leads Oskar through a small backroom doubling as a pantry, then down a set up stairs into a private room flickering with candles where a tall greying man is bundled in blankets upon the bed, stifling a rattling cough into his handkerchief. His voice is weak, "Marta, you be careful of that band of miscreants Torrga's caravan attracts... I never trust that dwar..." Clyde trails off as Oskar comes into view behind the sick innkeeper's daughter, and he struggles to sit up.
Marta soothes him to recline back down, and introduces Oskar, "This dwarf is a cleric of Sh-Sha-- he's a cleric, father."
Cantrips Guidance, Mending*,
Sacred Flame, Spare the dying, Memorized spells 1st Bless*, Cure wounds*,
create/destroy water, healing word,
Protection from Evil, Sanctuary, Guiding bolt 2nd Lesser Restoration*, Spiritual Weapon*, Aid,
"Sharindlar, lady Marta. She is the dwaven goddess of life and love and healing. And I am Oskar Whisperstone, a Dwarf, indeed."
Oskar extends his hand to the man on the bed,
"You must be Clyde whose hospitality I'll be enjoying this evening. You have a wonderful Inn, sir. Very cozy after my long trek in the snow."
Which was evident by the fact that he was still wearing his winter coat,
"I've heard you've got a bit of a cough that's been keeping you laid up. While I'm a stonemason by trade, I have training in medicine and the healing arts. Would you like me to have a look at what ails you?"
Oskar feels a bit self conscious, not familiar with tending the sick. Mostly, he's used to tending those workers who might have gotten hurt on a job sight.
OOC:
assuming he says yes
The dwarf removes his coat and boots then prays to Sharindlar to grant him the wisdom to properly diagnose the man's illness as he listens to the man's lungs and asks him several questions regarding the history of his symptoms.
Primary goal: cure him as Oskar feels compelled to do by his faith
Secondary goal: get him to warm up to Oskar and answer some questions about the sabotage and the dwarf from the Caravan
Primary goal: cure him as Oskar feels compelled to do by his faith
Secondary goal: get him to warm up to Oskar and answer some questions about the sabotage and the dwarf from the Caravan
Clyde, though weakened, has keen weathered eyes as he sizes up Oskar. After a pause, he nods to allow the examination. "I figured most of your kin would be retreating to the Dwarven Valley... seems like every day I hear of a dwarven family packing their bags. You're certainly traveling against the w... coughcough cough*..."
Rattling in the lungs. Shortness of breath. Excess of phlegm on the handkerchief. Chills. History of exposure to frigid water. It's all consistent with long-term impacts of unresolved pneumonia. Shandrilar's grace (lesser restoration) should restore the man's health and clear the fluid from his lungs, though it may be a couple days till he makes a full recovery.
Cantrips Guidance, Mending*,
Sacred Flame, Spare the dying, Memorized spells 1st Bless*, Cure wounds*,
create/destroy water, healing word,
Protection from Evil, Sanctuary, Guiding bolt 2nd Lesser Restoration*, Spiritual Weapon*, Aid,
Oskar sits on the side of the bed,
"Well, most dwarves you see going to the valley are probably distant relatives of mine. My clan is from Luskan. I'm just here to find some people."
He turns his attention back to the Innkeeper,
"I think I have the cure for your malady if you will accept Sharidlar's blessing. If so, you'll feel much better, although it might be a couple days until all the fluid clears from your chest. Shall I?"
With the man's consent, Oskar takes his holy symbol and clutches it with both hands, putting it to Clydes chest. There is a warmth on his chest as the healing magic of the Dwarven god touches him.
"There you go. Now, I recommend you not do any swimming until the ice clears." He smiles and winks.
***
"If you're feeling better, I'm hoping you can help me. I helped a fellow named Hamvang to clear some snow from your basement. There was a crack in the rafters and, although we fixed it up, I'm afraid to say that it looks like someone may have purposefully sabotaged it. I haven't mentioned it to anyone because I wanted to tell you first. Do you know anyone who might do that? I've heard you there's a dwarf that you're not too fond of. Would he have a reason to have done something like that?
Casting lesser restoration.
Sorry if I'm forging ahead. I'm just trying to cover everything in as few posts as possible.
With the man's consent, Oskar takes his holy symbol and clutches it with both hands, putting it to Clydes chest. There is a warmth on his chest as the healing magic of the Dwarven god touches him.
"There you go. Now, I recommend you not do any swimming until the ice clears." He smiles and winks.
***
"If you're feeling better, I'm hoping you can help me. I helped a fellow named Hamvang to clear some snow from your basement. There was a crack in the rafters and, although we fixed it up, I'm afraid to say that it looks like someone may have purposefully sabotaged it. I haven't mentioned it to anyone because I wanted to tell you first. Do you know anyone who might do that? I've heard you there's a dwarf that you're not too fond of. Would he have a reason to have done something like that?
Clyde exhales and for the first time the rattling in the innkeeper's chest is no more. Sharindlar's grace has taken away the ailment plaguing him. Blinking away tears, he exchanges a look with his daughter Marta. She immediately notices the change in her father's countenance – the color returning to his cheeks and his lips no longer quivering weakly – and she practically throws herself at her father in embrace.
"Master dwarf, you've given me a miracle! I'd been afraid I wouldn't live to... see...my..." Clyde struggles for a moment, clinging to his daughter's hand, then pushes himself up a little higher in the bed. "If only we had your faith, perhaps our gods would not have abandoned us to this Eternal Rime. I can't thank ye enough."
The innkeeper coughs, expelling the last of the sickness into his kerchief, but he listens keenly. "Hamvang? Good fellow. Hmm. Well if you and Hamvang think it's sabotage, I trust your judgment... There are those cultists of Auril... they've taken over our gem mines, and come to town prostelgzing that only a lottery of sacrifice will end the Eternal Rime." Clyde takes a heavy sigh that becomes an indignant snort. "They never paid me much mind before though."
"Dwarf? Oh, you mean Torrga Icevein," Clyde frowns, shaking his head. "Her husband Torg was a decent enough fellow, for a dwarf, er, for a merchant I mean." He stammers over himself, old prejudices weighed in the new light of Sharindlar's grace and Oskar's kindness. "But when Torg died – suspicious circumstances I've heard – his widow Torrga inherited the sled caravan. Now she roams between Ten Towns with a crew of ruffians, dealing in contraband from dead bodies to poisons, and marking up her prices to exploit common folk. No bad blood between us though – I just won't deal with her."
Marta pours tea for her father, and hesitantly chimes in, "Yes, some of Torrga's guards stayed at the inn last night. The half-orc just before you was the last of them to leave though..."
The half-orc... If the half-orc marked your party and overheard you talking about Torrga's caravan and her employee Sephek, it's possible he went to warn Torrga when he left the inn!
Marta pours tea for her father, and hesitantly chimes in, "Yes, some of Torrga's guards stayed at the inn last night. The half-orc just before you was the last of them to leave though..."
The half-orc... If the half-orc marked your party and overheard you talking about Torrga's caravan and her employee Sephek, it's possible he went to warn Torrga when he left the inn!
"Oh, is that so....if you'll excuse me, I just remembered something."
He smiles awkwardly and hastily leaves the room, and hurries down the stairs. He looks around for the other and gives them meaningful looks to follow him outside.
Once outside, he sees Arric and Lumrulor,
"Did you just see a half-orc leave?! Maybe we should follow him!"
He quickly explains to everyone what just took place.
Despite his exhausted state, Jack is cheerful as he enters the inn. He flutters gracefully over to the children, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he leans in with a conspiratorial whisper. "Did I hear someone telling ghost stories? Mind if I join?"
Performance skill check to entertain the children and generally distract anyone at the inn from paying attention to the party: 23
Insight skill check to observe the half-elf and gain an understanding of why she is here: 8
Casting Minor Illusion several times to spice up the pretend play with the children.
The youngest child, wide-eyed and intrigued, nods eagerly, scooting closer. "You're a fairy, aren'tcha mister? Can y'really do magic?"
Jack grins playfully, bowing dramatically. "Jack Everfrost at your service! Indeed, I can—watch this!" With snap of his finger, a spray of frost and snowflakes flies from one hand, and shimmering ghostly images appear, floating gently around the wind-up polar bear that Logrim gifted to the kids. The children gasp and giggle. "Now," Jack begins, lowering his voice theatrically, "this brave little polar bear was wandering all alone on the icy plains when suddenly—" he waves his hand dramatically, conjuring the illusion of three looming yetis surrounding the toy.
One of the children squeals, clutching her friend's arm. "Oh no! They're going to eat him!"
"Ah, but wait," Jack continues, smiling warmly, "look closer. Sometimes, things aren't as scary as they seem." The largest yeti gently nudges forward a small yeti cub, who shyly waves at the bear. A mountain flower sprouts from the floor between the bear and the yeti child. The bear waddles over, plucks up the sprouted flower, gives it to the yeti cub, and they nuzzle noses with each other, eliciting delighted giggles from the children.
Next, Jack sends illusory ice toads hopping into view, croaking hungrily around the bear. "Uh-oh," he whispers to one of the children, "those ice toads look hungry too!" Jack laughs, "But our brave bear always comes prepared." With another flourish, the bear reaches down into the floor, now shimmering and rippling like a small pond, and grabs out some illusionary fish, trhowing them through the air toward the ice toads, who eagerly hop and catch them in mid-air, gobbling them up and croaking contentedly. "And that's how this little bear made even more friends."
Finally, Jack dramatically whispers, "But danger was not done with our little hero yet! One day, the bear found himself trapped on thin ice…" He waves his fingers, and thin cracks of ice appear beneath the bear. The children lean in anxiously.
"What happened next?" asks one of the kids, eyes wide.
Jack smiles gently, motioning toward the children. "That's where you come in! Can you brave adventurers rescue him?"
Giggling, the youngest child carefully reaches in, picking up the toy bear, and triumphantly raises it above her head. "We saved him!"
"You're heroes!" Jack cheers, clapping enthusiastically. "I knew you could do it!"
Even as he laughs and engages warmly with the children, Jack carefully keeps one eye and ear tuned to the rest of the room, attempting to observe the half-orc's restless movements, the half-elven woman's worried scribbling, and the muffled voices from the cellar. Jack is so enrapt in the pretend play, though, that he might have managed to distract himself.
Though it is satisfying to pass 50:50 roll with high roll
