Chapter 1: All I Ever Hear About is A Marsh. A Marsh! A Marsh! A Marsh!

[BaltoBruiser]

Ellith
Myrrh
Lia
Brondulm
Brinna

and switch Ellith and Brondulm in the ruins.
Top

Should we put Vali behind Brondulm (Do we want one of the least armored character in front? and Cinders in front of Brinna? Also do we want a PC in the rear guard position instead of NPC?

Brondulm

Should we investigate those tracks a bit and try to determine if they were left by our lost adventurers?

[TheMyth]

Vali (npc)

"Just outside the door is a halfling footprint. So unless another halfling is traipsing around these ruins, he came this way," Vali explains.

[Rex]

Myrrh

"Vali, I think I can boost you up to look on the ceiling above to make sure nothing is up there."

[TheMyth]

Vali (npc)

"You're a wary one, Mister Knight. Hold still," Vali says as he climbs Myrrh like a tree, eventually resting on his shoulders.

"I see nothing unusual up here. Some bird nests. Lots of leaves. A few brackish puddles," he says.

[Rex]

Myrrh

Myrhh helps Vali down. "Best to be cautious. Who wants to check the stairs? Then we can go check the other entrance."

[TheMyth]

Myrrh

Myrhh helps Vali down. "Best to be cautious. Who wants to check the stairs? Then we can go check the other entrance."

Cinders (npc)

Cinders looks around at the others then says, "I'll do it." She walks around the pile of rubble and peers down into the hole, taking a few tentative steps down. She quickly pops back up.

"The stairs go down about 20', then hit a landing and bank left. So south and then east," she whispers while gesturing.

[Darithe]

Lia

Lia looks to Cinders, grateful that she took the lead in this. "Was there a sign of anything down there indicating which direction they went?," curious about what lies below.

[Edeldhur]

Ellith

Ellith accompanies Cinders, and tries to look for tracks, while Faron sniffs at the air.

[TheMyth]

Ellith

Ellith accompanies Cinders, and tries to look for tracks, while Faron sniffs at the air.

Ellith sees several small footprints and a few larger ones. All humanoid.

Faron sniffs the air at the top of the stairs and grumbles (in Canine)

I smell goblins.

[Edeldhur]

Ellith

Ellith smiles at Faron - "What would I do without you brother?" - he ruffles his companion, then turns to Cinders - "Goblins. We should let the others know"

[Rex]

Myrrh

Listening in he hears Goblins, "Back out for now, we should check the other entrance I would hate to have them use it as a way to circle around behind us."

[TheMyth]

The group carefully leaves the tower and passes by the well to reach the bottom of the hill. The hill itself rises gradually to about 5' above the base of the well, where the ruined remains of a stone foundation can be seen under piles of rubble and scorched plant life. It is easy to guess this was the center of the swampfire a few weeks ago. To the south, the group can see across the marsh to the Boiling Brook and points south. Only a few obstructions still stand in the way.

In short order, Cinders leads the group to a pile of stones which seems to have been hastily piled to obscure something from view -- a stone stairwell going down towards the south! The stairwell is strewn with refuse and debris, but footprints are visible when pointed out by Cinders and Vali. The stairwell has seen recent use.

[Rex]

Myrrh

"Recent use in both entrances, we will need to be watchful at our rear no mater which we choose to go in. Which one should we go down first?"

[TheMyth]

Brinna (npc)

Brinna offers the following: "There was a halfling print by the tower, correct? Wasn't there a halfling in the missing exploration party? Perhaps the tower is the proper choice if the intention is to find out what happened to them."

[Rex]

Myrrh

"Yes an excellent observation Brinna. Is everyone all right going in that way?"

[BaltoBruiser]

Brondulm

I believe Brinna's idea is a good one and we should search the tower area for more evidence of the halfling and his party.

[TheMyth]

Brondulm

I believe Brinna's idea is a good one and we should search the tower area for more evidence of the halfling and his party.

(OOC: Where would you like Brondulm to look?)

[Edeldhur]

Ellith

In short order, Cinders leads the group to a pile of stones which seems to have been hastily piled to obscure something from view -- a stone stairwell going down towards the south! The stairwell is strewn with refuse and debris, but footprints are visible when pointed out by Cinders and Vali. The stairwell has seen recent use.

The elf tries to ascertain what kind of footprints these may be, in the hopes of gathering more information.

[BaltoBruiser]

Brondulm

"There's a clear halfling footprint over by the tower..." Cinders starts.

Listen folks, I know we didn't get off on the right foot and all but I am pretty sure that if we split up and start going in different directions that is going to end in disaster for all. We are looking for lost adventurers and the halfling was part of that group. I say we head over toward the tower and follow the halfling tracks that Cinder identified there and see where they lead. If the majority of the party wants to head down the stairs where the Goblins went, I will go but without much conviction that this furthers our goal of finding the lost adventurers.

[Rex]

Myrrh

"I agree Brondulm, we should stay together."