After defeating Hallod and stabilizing his wounds, the party searches the room. Getty grabs a handful of vials that are found in some of the boxes, but nobody is able to determine what the vials are used for. The party debates about testing the vials to figure out what’s in them, but ultimately you decide to just head back to the tavern. Ignatia asks a looky-loo to go get Cooky to use some more healing salve for Hallod.
Back in the tavern, the party explains what happens to a Bewildered Delma Fulst, Kolnral and Amora. The party speculates about the -V being Vilree and mentions that to 3 tavern workers, they seem surprised as nobody has seen Vilree for so long. Delma suggests that they go get Rolth.
Cooky comes in and uses the last of his healing salve on DJ Hallod.
In discussion with everyone at the tavern, the party puts together that Hallod bullied Phinnick into putting the poison into the food. Cooky informs that Phinnick is currently in the Stables. So the party runs over and corners him in the Stables.
Sniveling and crying in a terrified state, gets bullied by the party and confesses that he did not know that Hallod was trying to poison Bort. He thought it was a prank and what he was putting in the food would just make it spicy.
Under duress, Phinnick tells the party that Hallod was always going into the woods to meet his girlfriend or something. He tells the party he can take them there.
Phinnick tells the party that he Hallod gets the vials from his girlfriend and he HAS to take it.
Rolth comes in and decides to take Hallod back to the Jail. There is a tense moment where everyone draws their weapons, Goj and Ayla demanding to be in control. Ignatia, the voice of reason, talks everyone down a bit and Rolth proceeds with the removal of Hallod. Rolth reiterates his commandment for everyone to remain in town until the circuit judge arrives.
After a brief rest and recovery, the party decides to head out with Phinnick to investigate the meeting place where Hallod met his “girlfriend”. It is close to midnight when the party leaves, and the journey takes almost an hour. When you finally arrive at the clearing, you find the tree stump and the same boxes that were in Hallod’s place.
Survival checks - there are 2 main paths in an out of the clearing - many sets of footprints belonging to different people.
Getty intimidates Phinnick to opening the boxes, and you find more of the same vials. The party discusses writing a letter to trick the recipient of whoever investigates this box. Ayla: “These people are stupid… they’re NPC’s!” The note is left in the stump: "V, something is wrong with this last batch. I don't feel so good. Please meet me tomorrow at noon."
Ignatia takes the vials. Everyone agrees to take watch. Goj is first - uneventful Ayla - hears rustling in the woods, Ayla proceeds around the clearing. Ayla hears someone take off, and Ayla takes off in pursuit. The person that is running is very deft and navigating through the woods, but Ayla is able to easily follow. Running through the woods for maybe a minute… the person suddenly does a heel turn and aims a bow at Ayla. The female elf shouts:
Noala: “Who are you?” Ayla: “I’m looking to find out who killed our Caravan leader, Bort”
Noala, realizing that Ayla is not from the town, relaxes her bow and introduces herself. She mentions that she is out here currently investigating some strange goings-on. Ayla and Noala both mention the deranged messed up animals that they’ve seen.
Noala explains she’s been working with Delma Fulst to try to protect the town for many years. Noala says she thinks that she’s tracked the source of where all this is coming from. A place called “Spite’s Cradle” pretty far to the east, maybe a days walk. An old Canyon town where some Orcs live.
They agree to meet in the morning at Dawn in the tavern.
Ayla returns to camp and relays the info. Getty thinks that the potion might be a cure or antidote.
The party chills at the camp and finishes the night. The remaining watches are uneventful.