Ghosts of Saltmarsh IC

[CaoimhinTheCape]

So, you had the cavern that you fought the smugglers in, which headed north and then branched right and left. Right was the loot cavern, nothing else there.

To the left, you continue about 20 feet before you see a branch again. You can see south into a roughly circular, naturally formed cavern is about twenty-five feet in diameter. It looks like there is another path to the left out of the southern cavern.

The other branch lets you continue forward.

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

After selecting some silk that best compliments her complexion Yue follows Caspian in exploring the rest of the caves.

[Snarkhunter]

While his companions rested and recovered, Byrok had directed his efforts to loading the boat with any serviceable equipment from the dead smugglers in plans of selling it later. Afterwards each corpse was dragged to a suitable location to be burned, a task which he planned to complete once their exploration was finished.

Seeing his companions roused and beginning to delve deeper into the cave, Byrok grabs the hobgoblin prisoner and follows. "It'd be smart for you to warn us of any dangers here, Mr. AlmostWon," he growled as they pressed further into the damp passage.

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

"<Caspian, perhaps we should check the right path. I think it might lead up into the house.>"

[CaoimhinTheCape]

Heading to the right, you see a cavern that turns back to the left (you can assume there's one more cavern down here, to connect the areas you know of) and a stone staircase leading up to a door.

[paradox26]

Eldryn decides to follow the cavern entrance towards the left hand side, where the presumed other cavern will be. He figures it is best to protect their backs before they proceed into what they assume to be the house.

[CaoimhinTheCape]

This cavern makes a connection from where the party stands now to the south path a little while ago. It opens into a larger area. This uneven, naturally formed cavern is about twenty feet in diameter and the walls and ceiling are caked with slime.

So, you don't see any other obvious passages out of here, aside from one that leads you back to where you've already been.

[CaoimhinTheCape]

(From discussion in the OOC chat, you decide to go up the stairs)

You walk up the stone staircase and see a door in the wall. It is silent as it opens and you look inside.

This torchlit chamber was once a large cellar, but it has since been converted into living quarters. Ten crude beds stand along the south wall, each with a wooden locker at its foot. A long wooden trestle table ringed by rickety stools dominates the center of the room. Metal cutlery, cups, and dirty plates sit atop the table. A cookstove is installed near the table, and evidence of recently cooked meals sits in pots atop it. A large ham hangs from a loop of twine near the stove.

A sturdy set of stairs leads to a trapdoor in the ceiling above. There are two wooden doors in the east side of the room and a door on the north wall.

As you enter the room and look back at the door you came through, you see that it fits seamlessly with the wall - if you didn't know about it, this door would have been hard to spot.

[Lioslaith]

"MMMMmmmhm. Wonder h-h-hhh-how long this place been used for s-s-sss-smugglin?"

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

Yue checks on the ham.

[CaoimhinTheCape]

The ham looks well cure - you're guessing one of the smugglers has a lot of knowledge on how to prepare meats. All of the food you see is recently cooked and still pretty warm, as if they were getting ready for a meal just before being called to the fight.

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

Yue goes to cut a small slice off the ham with her dagger while keeping an eye on the prisoner that Byrok is holding to see how they react.

Spoiler: OOC

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Insight? (1d20+3)[5]

[CaoimhinTheCape]

The ham tastes really good! Your prisoner (I'm assuming the leader, Sanbalet) doesn't seem to react in any particular way. He definitely wasn't the cook.

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

While snacking on the food, so it doesn't go to waste, Yue begins trying to open the foot lockers from a safe distance with Mage Hand and peaking inside.

[CaoimhinTheCape]

The foot lockers are all locked - it looks like someone able to pick locks might be able to open them or someone with a crowbar could use good old fashioned strength.

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

Yue approaches the prisoner.

"<You know where keys are? We will be handing you to the authorities soon. You can have one last good meal here...>" she gestures to the spread "<or we can take you in hungry.>"

Spoiler: OOC

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Persuasion: (1d20+5)[21]

[CaoimhinTheCape]

"Well, seeing as those contain the personal belongings of my friends, I would guess that unless someone was forgetful the keys would be on their unconscious bodies or somewhere by their bed."

I think you guys searched the bodies before, so we can retcon you finding the keys earlier or they could be found by doing a pretty quick search of the room (no check needed).

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

Yue tries the various keys on the different foot lockers.

Spoiler: OOC

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Retcon is fine.

[paradox26]

Eldryn eyes the meat warily, worried in case the enemy's last act before leaving for the fight could be poisoning the food in case the party made it this far. He decides not to mention it, but declines to eat any himself, just in case. He studies the doors, and presses his ear up against each, in the hope of hearing anything on the other side.

Spoiler: OOC Actions

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Eldryn will make a Perception check against each of the three doors plus the trapdoor.
(1d20+2)[8] Roll 1
(1d20+2)[8] Roll 2
(1d20+2)[9] Roll 3
(1d20+2)[16] Roll 4

[CaoimhinTheCape]

The lockers contain personal effects; each also has a coin purse that holds 7 gp and 15 sp.

North Door: It seems like there are no traps on this - if anything, you'd guess this door might be hidden from the other side.

East Door 1: This door appears normal.

East Door 2: This door has a wooden bar across it, held in brackets on the frame and the door itself. The word "DANGER" is scrawled on that door in the Common tongue using chalk.

Trapdoor at the top of stairs: This is definitely trapped, though not from this side. You can't tell exactly how it would trigger or what would happen, but if someone was around the other side of the trapdoor something would surely happen.

[Snarkhunter]

"Let's check them all," suggests Byrok as he moves toward the north door and prepares to open it.

[Lioslaith]

I follow in behind them, backing them up.

[CaoimhinTheCape]

Shoulder-height wooden bottle racks line the north and west walls here. There appear to be no intact bottles left in the racks and shattered bottles cover the floor.

Against the east wall, at the foot of the stairs, rest two large metal storage bins that appear to be empty.

In the center of the room lies a human corpse clad in plate mail; a longsword lies by the corpse's right side, and a large shield covers its legs.

This room is a wine cellar, with stairs leading up to the house above. The door you use to come in is hidden from the other side - it would have taken some searching for you to find it.

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

Yue examines the corpse.

Spoiler: OOC

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Cause of death, how long has it been been dead?
Medicine? (1d20+3)[20]

[CaoimhinTheCape]

The armor seems to have taken bludgeoning damage and there is dried blood on the floor from stab wounds. This person seems to have been killed in a fight by common weapons.

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

Yue approaches the prisoner.
"<Care to explain who this was and why they were killed?>"

[paradox26]

Eldryn studies the dead being from a distance, not getting too close. He stays near the exit back to the main chamber, just in case they get attacked from behind. He turns his head, though, to hear what the captive has to say about the dead person and their story.

[CaoimhinTheCape]

"<Care to explain who this was and why they were killed?>"

"I have absolutely no idea..." He pauses, looks over your group, and accepts that he really couldn't bluff his way out of this one. "what his name was. He threatened our business venture so we... had a little sparring match. Shame he didn't make it."

[Izzarra]

Yue Divine Soul Sorceress / Bard HP: 19/19, AC: 14, Resistance: Fire Conditions: None Spell Slots: 1st 2/4, 2nd 1/2

Yue studies the face of the body and tries to commit it to memory so she can show it to authorities later with Minor Illusion.

[Snarkhunter]

Noticing the dings in the suit of plate mail, Byrok inspects it carefully to see if he could use it, and if there's anything else of value or usefulness on the corpse.

Spoiler: Skill check

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Perception 1d20 + 4 = (1d20+4)[14]