Re: Saltmarsh (Time of Flowers 1)

[Nara-pyon]

Instead of ordering cured fish, Sai requested fresh. As one whose memories began with the sea and remained so close to it, it was not a surprise that it would be one of his favourite meals, no matter the time of day.

"You know, we kind of expect that a lot of adventurers must pass through here," he commented once his order had been taken. He looked at Nakos curiously. "Yet we haven't really seen anyone else who looks like adventurers. And if you've been waiting a while to find someone to help you ... is it not as busy as we seemed to get the impression?"

[Kara Winters]

"I actually hadn't been waiting that long, a lot my time here was doing the footwork and investigation, it's been only two weeks, which now that I mention it... it was a long wait," Nakos blinked and grumbled as he realized he had waited a long time, "I'm too use to waiting... as for your question, most don't stay for very long. Just long enough to pick up a job or two before moving on."

He took a sip of a hot brew before explaining.

"Truth is, if it weren't for the city of Luksan, I think most adventurers would have skipped Saltmarsh and head straight for Neverwinter by sea, but because of that city, most stop at Saltmarsh if they're going north to south, and then travel by foot. Those that don't, are adventurers who have been paid a proper mercenary and hazard pay by the ship to travel all the way to Neverwinter."

[Nara-pyon]

"True, it can be expensive to travel by ship," Sai admitted.

His food arrived shortly, and he enjoyed it and the conversation with Nakos while they waited for the girls to arrive. The sun still hadn't peeked over the horizon when they appeared in the dining room and made their way over to the table where the men were seated.

"Good morning," Caelynn greeted them cheerfully, while Ana looked out a window. "All set?"

[Kara Winters]

"Absolutely," Nakos replied as he readjusted his pack, which had his bow and quiver hanging off of it.

And not in a way that would be accessible to him, but Nakos figured if they were in close quarters he wasn't going to get to use it.

"The house is only four miles up the coast from the town, and there's an old road that allows access to it, if we hurry we'll be well up that road before any of the dock workers are done their first shift."

[Nara-pyon]

"Then we might as well be on our way," Sai said, picking his bag off the floor. He removed his cloak, put his bag across his shoulders, and put his cloak back on so that the bag was covered but accessible to him.

The girls stepped aside for Nakos. "Lead the way," Caelynn invited him, nodding towards the door.

[Kara Winters]

Nakos led the way to a worn road that looked like it wasn't normally traveled and for good reason. The journey up was rocky and the road was winding. It gave them a great view of the sea though, and they could smell the brine from churning ocean water that crashed against the cliff rocks.

That was, if one was into the smell of salt and water.

They could see in the distance the old house, as it was tall (at least two stories) and was sitting on the highest point in the area.

[Nara-pyon]

It was a decrepit looking house, but was probably at one point a fine property. It had a six foot stone wall and a metal gate, but the wall was crumbling to the point where there were holes allowing anyone to enter without using the gate. Not that it mattered: the gate was open and swinging in the wind. The roof looked like it was in desperate need of repairs. The grass was so overgrown that the party could barely make out the wooden roof of a water well near the house.

Sai looked around to see if there was anyone suspicious nearby. He didn't see anyone.

Caelynn, accustomed to hunting in a forest, was looking at the ground for tracks. She didn't see any. But as they grew closer to the house, she saw what looked like the remains of many small animal remains near the well, near a burrow under a large, overgrown rosebush. Looking closer, she recognized the tracks.

"There are giant weasels here," she informed the others, drawing her longsword. "Be prepared."

[Kara Winters]

Nakos nodding putting a hand on the hilt of his rapier, "Shall we continue to look around on the outside or go in?"

He could see there were the remains of a terribly overgrown vegetable garden out front. Now that they were close to the house, they could see that behind the house was the edge of a cliff about 30 feet away from the building. Not exactly a safe place for pets or children, but there was never a report of the alchemist having a family so Nakos supposed it didn't matter.

[Nara-pyon]

"Better to make sure there aren't any threats outside that may come in and take us by surprise, I think," Caelynn told Nakos. "I don't know if a weasel, giant or not, is like to come in, but if we at least know what's around out here, we have a bit better idea what to watch for inside."

She started around one side of the house, keeping her eyes open for any movement or tracks.

[Kara Winters]

Nakos eyed the front door, it didn't look sturdy enough to keep wildlife out, so he conceded to Caelynn's thought and took the other way to cover ground. Behind the house was a patio leading to a backdoor. The backdoor was closed.

Looking out towards the cliff, it was clear there was no way down to where the ocean was from that cliff. Which made Nakos wonder if his theory was off, how would have anyone gotten goods to this house? He looked over the edge of the cliff, but there was no sign of anything like stairs or a pulley system.

[Nara-pyon]

Sai wondered if perhaps any smugglers might use caves to get into the house unseen, but when he looked over the cliffside he saw nothing but rocks and water, no signs of a cave entrance.

Ana took a closer look at the animal remains. It seemed there were snakes here as well. She wondered what kind.

Caelynn was frustrated by the long grass, and she wasn't able to see anything new.

"Looks like nothing much to worry about," she called to the others when they were together again. "Shall we head in?"

[Kara Winters]

"Front door or back?" Nakos asked, "It looks like there's a back door too."

There were choices in other words, and he thumbed the back patio. The patio had debris on it, from nature like dead leaves and grass.

[Nara-pyon]

"We're here now," Sai shrugged. He started towards the back patio. There, he cautiously kicked aside leaves and grass, checking for traps of some sort. He had known a few smugglers in his day, and they were a dangerous sort.

There was nothing. Somehow it made him feel more uneasy. He checked the door, which was unlocked, then pulled it open and looked inside.

[Kara Winters]

Whatever the room was, it was impossible to tell because it was bare and lacking furniture. There was only a bit of refuse in a corner of the room on the other side. The house smelled damp and he could see patches of harmless mold growing here and there. There was dust and cobwebs and the woodwork looked like it was starting to rot.

[Nara-pyon]

Sai stepped cautiously into the house. It looked as though no one had been here in years, but he wasn't going to take any chances. It seemed safe, and he continued forward.

Suddenly, to his right, a huge, booming voice rang out: "Welcome, fools — welcome to your deaths!” The tone, above being loud, was terrifying, and Sai jumped out of his skin. He yelped, swearing loudly, and backed away.

"G-g-g-ghost!" he pointed, though he wasn't sure what he was pointing at. It was like someone invisible had been right next to him.

Caelynn and Ana stepped into the house, weapons drawn, looking around cautiously. Ana saw nothing, but Caelynn, looking more closely at the area where Sai had heard something, spotted a small hole in the floor. It was just big enough for a few fingers, and looked as though it had been carved into the plank on purpose.

She knelt down and put her fingers into the hole and lifted it cautiously.

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