Session 57 - Information Gathering Again
Thu 13th Jan 2022 20:00 - 23:30
In-game timeline: Nightal 24 - Nightal 26 DR1489
Our "Heroes" spend another night in Settlestone at the Hearthstrains and decide to spend the following day finding out more information around town. Nothing new there then.
Initially they head to The Guard and speak with Sharak Hackshield about all sorts of things - they report their adventures in the Sporerealm and in the gnoll / hyena caves. Sharak takes detailed notes. It takes a while. Sharak is meticulous.
The party then ask for information about the missing jeweller, and the murdered miners / stonemasons. Sharak passes on some information about what The Guard know about the incidents - mentioning that Orcs were suspected - most specifically from the Notched Cleaver tribe, and that some evidence of these Orcs had been found at the Old Fort out of town, but that they seemed to have abandoned the place before The Guard got there. They also seemed to be responsible for a caravan raid some weeks ago on its way to Settlestone from Mithral Hall.
The party investigate the death of Gryff Hardhelm, who was returning home from the gambling den The House of Cards. There isn't a lot to go on. They visit a worker from The House of Cards, and also have a talk to Gryff's widow, Grista. He had been babbling a bit lately after a long shift in the mine, and was a little unwell, but otherwise nothing untoward, or reason for his death.
Alwaith visits Paxton at The Archive, asking about the crossbow bolt found at the scene of Gryff's murder. He receives some information on the Necromical, and also a long diatribe on the various clans of Orcs that have been in the area over the past few centuries, but it did reveal a bit of useful information that seemed to confirm that the crossbow bolt was from the Notched Cleavers - or at least a deliberate imitation of one.
Drogan visits the second best silversmith in town, Elderbeard Jewellers, and ask if he may know anything about Elrik Brightling's abduction. He doesn't get a lot of information.
All of this took much of the day, so they decide to retire back to the Inn for some discussion about their proposed next steps. This discussion goes as expected, with nothing decided for certain.
They retire for the night at the 'free lodging' of the Hearthstrains. Alwaith tries to attune to the Necromical, and fails (though he doesn't tell the others what he is doing, and comes back from the latrines looking worried and sweaty. Much discussion about what he may have been up to ensued.
Overnight Drogan seems to have a very strange dream. He is thrashing around and seems to be coughing up water, which Alwaith, very worryingly, tastes! It is salty. Drogan eventually awakes from his dream and recounts a dream in which he was happily sailing on the seas when he was 'accosted' but MEEPO! But a Meepo in a different form. And a threat that the Dark Hunt will ride this Midwinter's Night.