The Colony - Turn 45 - Silverstream Mine

The party latches onto the idea of figuring out what is going on at the Silverstream Mine. Word on the street is that a group of miners were sent to open the place back up and went missing. Mercenaries sent by the owner were attacked when they tried to investigate. There's a rumor that, before the mine was closed years ago, the miners found something strange in the depths.


Start Date: August 18, late morning
Start Status: Meet and Greet
Start Location: New Kavlin

Adventuring: Rennard, Brigg, Jinx, Smoke, Zenobe
At the Tulip: Adrienne, Mendel, Hagan, Xon, Aaron

The Turn

After a day of errands and messages and discussion, Smoke becomes impatient. She mutters something about going to Vinehold and asks if anyone else is coming. When no one responds, she grabs her gear and heads out. Zenobe and Aaron also head out, although their errand is a short one. They bring the three statues to one of the artists they found yesterday and contract to have them do lost-wax castings. The artist will do all three for 36 GP. The work will take at least a week. Someone can pick up the statues themselves in three days.

Shortly after noon, Adrienne's efforts pay off and she receives a note at the White Tulip from the Vine steward indicating Lady Vine will meet with representatives of the party at her home in New Kavlin late this evening. In the note, he apologizes for the hour of the meeting, but the Lady is meeting with guild representatives all day. The group decides to send Rennard, Hagan and Brigg to negotiate.

Meanwhile, Adrienne seeks out Lt. Durhel and asks a few questions about various rumors the party has heard. Adrienne asks about patrol patterns and encounters and Durhel frowns and tells her that that information is only available on a need to know basis. Adrienne also asks about any old cult activity in the colony. Durhel shrugs and says that's not really her area. She also has no idea why Adrienne would ask her about church activities. She's a civil engineer, not a priest. She does confirm that there have been a number of thefts near Southreach but is unaware of any outposts or colonies outside New Kavlin's area of influence. She has no knowledge of any obelisk under Raven Rock.

Mendel seeks an audience with the bishop of his order, without success. Instead, he speaks with Sten Altman, the church's archivist, who seems to know something of Mendel and his friends (it turns out he's also spoken to Maarek on several occasions). Sten says that all he knows of the governor is that she is hardworking and pushes people that work for her to perform. She is skilled in the magical arts, but as far as he knows the church has no problem with her. She attends services at the High Church of Sarva, one of the Unified churches.

Mendel also describes the two people in the vision to Altman. He doesn't recognize them but does point out that the old cult's Mother of Night is associated with purple, and some of the cult stories suggest there is an association between her and the Sky Killer.

That evening...

The Vine mansion is in the Gateway neighborhood of New Kavlin. Like most of the homes in this area, walls surround the building's formal grounds, which include the house itself, a stable and two smaller outbuildings. The two-story brick and wood house is well-maintained and attractive. A servant leads the party into the formal parlor, where the Steward Warten Tun and Lady Vine wait.

Jinel Vine is about average in height and appears quite fit. Her pale completion contrasts sharply with her dark eyes and black hair. She wears practical clothing, well-tailored and obviously expensive. A large signet ring on a silver chain hangs around her neck. She looks a bit tired but greets everyone pleasantly as Tun makes introductions and offers brandy all around.

The group makes their offer regarding the Silverstream expedition and Lady Vine and Warten seem quite interested. Tun reminds her that the group also found the remains of several former tenants. Negotiations go quickly. Vine agrees to pay 200 GP per person (1,000 GP total) for a successful resolution of the problems at the mine. When Brigg mentions the possibility of land, she says she'd be willing to make part of the agreed-upon payment as a lease on property within her land grant.

The group may keep any items found other than ore, mine inventory or personal belongings of miners or guards. She does reserve the right to review all materials recovered and expects a full report of what happens.

Her accounting of recent events at the mine matches what you already know, and Tun says he will authorize Woring (the captain) to give you a full report. So far as history, the mine was opened in the spring of 1015 by Jinel Vine's father, Turvan Vine, and closed just two years later, in the fall of 1017. It produced iron, coal, silver and a limited amount of gems (chiefly diamonds). Unfortunately, most of the mine records were stored on site and lost or destroyed during the plague years. There is little information as to why it was closed, other than persistent rumors that the miners found something unnatural in the depths. The mine extends into a rocky mountainside and has two levels, but there are no current maps of the place.

Satisfied with the results of the meeting, the party takes their leave. On the way out, Tun says he will have a contract delivered to the party the next morning. By the time the envoys return to the White Tulip it is fairly late. Surprisingly, there is no sign of Smoke.

August 19 - Morning

The group is up early to prepare for departure, and Smoke finally shows up looking a bit frazzled after breakfast. "I went out to Vinehold to ask about the mine. I didn't learn much beyond what we already know, except that the gates of New Kavlin close at dusk, and the guards won't let anyone in once they're shut. Spent the night in a hay mound outside the walls." She heads to her room, muttering, to get her gear together.

A messenger delivers the contract mid-morning, and Mendel and Aaron review it. The terms are clear and match the previous night's discussion. Aaron stores the contract in his room and reminds Zenobe to take the letter the party has that gives them free passage across Vine-held lands.

The trip to the Silverstream takes about two hours following the road. Once past the turn-off for Vine's Strike, the road deteriorates, and any signs of passage were washed away by recent rains. The mine itself is situated in a clear-cut area of about two acres. Piles of rubble mark the edges of this clearing, and a large barracks-like structure and a barn/workshop flank the mine opening itself. There's also what appears to be a well between the barracks and mine's entrance. The grass in the clearing is torn up in places, perhaps a sign of the recent fight. The mine itself is a squarish opening in the cliff face about 15 x 15 feet in size.

End Date: August 19, early afternoon
End Status: Miner 49er
End Location: Silverstream mine