The day is grey and bitter, beneath the rainy skies and yet-frozen paths ahead. Your horses make good time however, being accustomed to this atmosphere and climate, and Grengt's quiet knowledge of these paths avoids any possible pitfalls - of which there are many. It cannot help but strike you that no army could successfully navigate the region without local assistance - so perilous might these mountains prove to those untrained in their ways as to prove fatal to an invading force by sheer attrition alone - and this during the relatively quiet days of early spring! By late afternoon, you have reached the upper plateau, and follow a somewhat worn-in trail through the hardened snow towards a distant keep, where a single lantern sends of a beam like a vicious eye glaring into the deep valleys beyond.
(not my art, obviously)
Roll a survival check (at advantage due to Grengt's leadership) to determine how well you hold up during the grueling travel, DC 10. If you fail, roll a con save.
With the warmth of the horse beneath him and Grengt’s excellent guidance, the trip to the prison is a welcome relief from the close confines of the crowded city.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Finn Of'Gren
Survival: 3
Layers, Finn thinks. It's all about layers. And staying dry. With enough layers, and if you stay dry, the cold is no bother at all... Luckily Finn had indeed worn several layers and, so far at least, her cloak was proving proof against the rain.
The journey begins well enough but as the footing and the scenery grow more treacherous, Finn finds the quiet to be tedious and weighty. Grengt and his sunny disposition, while helpful for keeping her on the safe path, is doing nothing for her attitude as well. But we can change that, she thinks. The second half of the journey is filled with Finn Of'Gren being entirely amusing, or annoying, depending on one's susceptibility to her charm and sense of humor. She spends the entire time with the mission of making Grengt laugh out loud as her one and only goal.
She begins trying to fulfill her mission with bad jokes about snow. Then of dwarves. Soon it was followed by amusing anecdotes of what happens to people in jail. On and on she pattered endlessly trying to not only amuse Grengt, but to draw forth a genuine laugh. She thought perhaps, once or twice, she may have caught the beginnings of a smile on his face out of the corner of her eye but she couldn't be sure... Eventually though, having reached the upper plateau, she breaks out the big guns - Naughty Limericks told in Halfling!
Performance: 13
... (She was likely found more annoying than humorous... lol. And forgot adv on survival roll but didn't need it to pass so all is good...)
“Some people spoke only when needed, and others filled the air when silence made them uncomfortable…This Finn lady, though, may be in a category all her own,” thinks the young warrior, holding his peace and trying to enjoy the—relative—quiet of the open road.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Surviving the harsh journey without much issue, you approach the stark walls of the dwarven fort, nearly invisible against the waning light of the evening. A lantern glows redly above the gate, but there doesn't seem to be much activity around. The snow lies piled up in front of the gates, and no hail is called out to greet you. Grengt keeps back a little ways, indicating a small hunter's cabin roughly a mile away on the opposite mountain's face.
"Left a few things there. Be spendin' the night. You've been. Alright."
Without another word, he turns and smartly trudges off above the hardened snow, occasionally weaving around unseen obstacles as he had been all day, finding the trail as if by magic.
Riding forward the rest of the way to within 30 feet of the gate, Argentus calls up to the gatehouse, "Hail the fort! We come from on official business. Grant us entry." The plain-spoken tribesman then gestures to Finn, inviting her to speak and/or show her icon of Runian authority. For his part, he watches the fort carefully for any signs of response.
Perception: 4
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Finn raised an eyebrow when Grengt suddenly makes his farewell. Sure she tried to needle the humorless Halfling a bit on the journey but surely not enough to drive him off? But what else would explain their guide parting ways before the journey was truly complete?
(( Insight check on Grengt to try to determine if he is behaving normally or trying to hide something? 17 ))
Letting out an ear piercing whistle that can't help but not be heard, Finn lifts on high her lantern to make herself and Argentus as visible as possible to any who may be looking out from the fort. After a minute or three, if there is no response to Argentus' call, Finn tries again. "We come under orders of Prince Redrian with the full weight and authority of of King Rudan himself! We've come to question the dwarf Durhank Lotrikson, who you hold, to get answers and report back to the King and his advisors!" Finn then holds up the Royal Marque and does her best to make sure it is illuminated by her lantern.
"Come now, it has been a long cold journey with one of the most humorless guides you could imagine! Let us in, for the god's sake give us a drink, and let us work out the proper introductions somewhere with a fire, what ya say?"
While calling out and announcing them, Finn squints and tries to use what light there is to get a good look at the fort. She's deliberately not approached many prisons before and so has little to go by but she finds it odd that there has been no challenge or hail called out. The build up of snow in front of the gates is a further concerning sign. She casts her eyes about the snow and tries to see if there are tracks in it at all to indicate activity...
(( Investigation: 14 or if you prefer Perception as she's not yet climbing off the horse, subtract 2 from the roll... ))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
Rather ominously, there is no response to your hail and call.
As for Grengt, he seems, as ever, implacable and utterly honest. It seems unlikely that he would go out of his way to assist you, but might be prevailed upon for guidance if a swift exit were needed.
Looking up at the fort, the structure itself seems deeply embedded within the rock of the nearby mountain slope, in the style of mountain dwarf construction. The gate house is little more than a cubic shape delved out of the stone, the grim eyes of arrowslits littering the downslope-facing side of the delved wing of the mountain in a seemingly random distribution, though a few moments reflection reveals how every possible path of entry has no fewer than two different apertures from which enemies would take fire during an assault. A large stone door lies at the far end of the delved cube, and you can only imagine what form of anti-siegework would lie above your head should you approach without caution.
The singular lantern continues to burn above you, uncaring and unwavering even as darkness begins to descend. There is no response to your hail and call.
"Hmph!" Finn says, only not stamping a foot due to being astride another beast. She turns and looks at Argentus and asks "Any ideas?"
"I could try to sneak up to the door and see what's what but... We've the Royal Marque and all, seems like we should be more upfront or something?" She continues on, before Argentus even has a chance to answer. She hops off her horse slowly starts treading forward a bit, at least wanting to take a look at the snow around the door and the gates to see if there is evidence of tracks at all...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
"Let us lead the horses up to the door and see what awaits us. If there is no one to receive our greeting, perhaps there is something amiss here," replies Argentus. He allows Finn to search as much as she wants as he slowly leads his horse into the shelter of the entryway. If Finn finds nothing of use, Argentus dismounts and tries the door.
Athletics check if needed: 16
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The snow around the gate is unbroken, and it doesn't take a tracker to realize that nothing has disturbed the area outside of the gatehouse for some time - even Grengt's light weight and small feet leave a noticeable trail, though none can be seen in this area.
A strong series of pushes and pulls leaves the door unmoved - of fine dwarf craftsmanship, it is as sturdy as the surrounding walls when locked, which at the moment it appears to be.
Having looked over everything else, Finn presses her hands to the small of her back and stretches as she begins examining the door. She checks out it's apparent sturdiness and design, the hinges, the walls it's connected to - Basically giving it a good once over.
"Have we tried knocking really loud?" she jokingly asks and goes to bang a fist against the door... But pauses. "Don't want to hurt my hand, right?" With that she gives the door a few swift kicks. Kicks intended to be loud, not intended to try to break the door down.
"So... what you thinking? she asks Argentus. "Turn around and go back? Camp out in case we missed their regular hours? Or... I dunno... I have heard that... sometimes... locks can be picked? I mean... How hard can it be?"
"If you think we should..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
”If you have some skill at lockpicking, feel free to try, though I expect an exterior door of a prison to have a stout crossbar as a backup that will resist any intrusion short of a battering ram…though given the lack of response here, it could have been dislodged. Failing that, boosting you up to an arrow slit or having you climb to one for a better view of the interior may be our next move,” responds Argentus.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
“Skill at lockpicking? Oh no, not hardly!” Finn insists, not quite fully over the top in her denial. “I’ve just heard a thing or two about it, some tips and such, in general conversations and such…” She starts pulling out her lockpicking tools as she goes on about the amazing variety of things one can pick up if they just bother paying attention. “Most people listen without ever really paying attention, if you know what I mean.”
Finn examines the door more closely, trying to first make sure there is no traps to be sprung or set off. Then she begins focusing on the lock itself to see if perhaps she can coax it open…
Investigation to check for traps? 16
Sleight of Hand to pick lock? 9 …
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
No traps can be discerned, other than the previously mentioned murder holes and arrow slits positioned menacingly around the enclosed space. As the sun sets, a cold wind sets in - a warning to Argentus's accustomed senses of an impending storm.
It takes a rather significant amount of time - certainly far longer than one would have ever been afforded during an actual assault, but eventually you are able to locate the deftly concealed lock and, with some rather cramped handiwork, unlatch the inner bolts. With an ominous, grinding squeal, the door sags open a few feet before coming to rest.
Night is falling quickly now, and the first stars of the evening sky are already dimming before rapidly darkening clouds. There is no certainty of a moon this evening.
“Huh,” Finn says with mock surprise at the door unlocking. “It really does look harder than it is!”
Finn opens the door but not too far, just wanting to ensure it doesn’t re-latch shut but not fully committed to entering just yet.
“We could go talk to Grengt and whoever else is at whatever miserable hut they have set up. They could know somethi… You know, if something happened here it could have happened there. Grengt could be in trouble?” Finn says to Argentus with a questioning voice.
“What ya think boss, sneak into a creepily quiet prison or slink after our guide and make sure they’re alive?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
“The night approaches and we need to get the horses out of the wind and cold,” replies Argentus. “Let us settle them inside and see what we can find out about the prison afterwards…I am not the most stealthy, but I will follow your lead.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
“I can usually go pretty quietly when needed, but it’s too dark. I’d need a light and that would alert anyone to my approach anyway. Best we tend to the bourses and then search out a bit…” Finn suggests, thinking aloud. “You could hold the light end hang back so I’m just at the edge of it…”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
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The day is grey and bitter, beneath the rainy skies and yet-frozen paths ahead. Your horses make good time however, being accustomed to this atmosphere and climate, and Grengt's quiet knowledge of these paths avoids any possible pitfalls - of which there are many. It cannot help but strike you that no army could successfully navigate the region without local assistance - so perilous might these mountains prove to those untrained in their ways as to prove fatal to an invading force by sheer attrition alone - and this during the relatively quiet days of early spring! By late afternoon, you have reached the upper plateau, and follow a somewhat worn-in trail through the hardened snow towards a distant keep, where a single lantern sends of a beam like a vicious eye glaring into the deep valleys beyond.
(not my art, obviously)
Roll a survival check (at advantage due to Grengt's leadership) to determine how well you hold up during the grueling travel, DC 10. If you fail, roll a con save.
Argentus:
Survival: 15
With the warmth of the horse beneath him and Grengt’s excellent guidance, the trip to the prison is a welcome relief from the close confines of the crowded city.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Finn Of'Gren
Survival: 3
Layers, Finn thinks. It's all about layers. And staying dry. With enough layers, and if you stay dry, the cold is no bother at all... Luckily Finn had indeed worn several layers and, so far at least, her cloak was proving proof against the rain.
The journey begins well enough but as the footing and the scenery grow more treacherous, Finn finds the quiet to be tedious and weighty. Grengt and his sunny disposition, while helpful for keeping her on the safe path, is doing nothing for her attitude as well. But we can change that, she thinks. The second half of the journey is filled with Finn Of'Gren being entirely amusing, or annoying, depending on one's susceptibility to her charm and sense of humor. She spends the entire time with the mission of making Grengt laugh out loud as her one and only goal.
She begins trying to fulfill her mission with bad jokes about snow. Then of dwarves. Soon it was followed by amusing anecdotes of what happens to people in jail. On and on she pattered endlessly trying to not only amuse Grengt, but to draw forth a genuine laugh. She thought perhaps, once or twice, she may have caught the beginnings of a smile on his face out of the corner of her eye but she couldn't be sure... Eventually though, having reached the upper plateau, she breaks out the big guns - Naughty Limericks told in Halfling!
Performance: 13
... (She was likely found more annoying than humorous... lol. And forgot adv on survival roll but didn't need it to pass so all is good...)
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
Argentus:
“Some people spoke only when needed, and others filled the air when silence made them uncomfortable…This Finn lady, though, may be in a category all her own,” thinks the young warrior, holding his peace and trying to enjoy the—relative—quiet of the open road.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Surviving the harsh journey without much issue, you approach the stark walls of the dwarven fort, nearly invisible against the waning light of the evening. A lantern glows redly above the gate, but there doesn't seem to be much activity around. The snow lies piled up in front of the gates, and no hail is called out to greet you. Grengt keeps back a little ways, indicating a small hunter's cabin roughly a mile away on the opposite mountain's face.
"Left a few things there. Be spendin' the night. You've been. Alright."
Without another word, he turns and smartly trudges off above the hardened snow, occasionally weaving around unseen obstacles as he had been all day, finding the trail as if by magic.
What shall you do?
Argentus:
Riding forward the rest of the way to within 30 feet of the gate, Argentus calls up to the gatehouse, "Hail the fort! We come from on official business. Grant us entry." The plain-spoken tribesman then gestures to Finn, inviting her to speak and/or show her icon of Runian authority. For his part, he watches the fort carefully for any signs of response.
Perception: 4
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Finn Of'Gren
Finn raised an eyebrow when Grengt suddenly makes his farewell. Sure she tried to needle the humorless Halfling a bit on the journey but surely not enough to drive him off? But what else would explain their guide parting ways before the journey was truly complete?
(( Insight check on Grengt to try to determine if he is behaving normally or trying to hide something? 17 ))
Letting out an ear piercing whistle that can't help but not be heard, Finn lifts on high her lantern to make herself and Argentus as visible as possible to any who may be looking out from the fort. After a minute or three, if there is no response to Argentus' call, Finn tries again. "We come under orders of Prince Redrian with the full weight and authority of of King Rudan himself! We've come to question the dwarf Durhank Lotrikson, who you hold, to get answers and report back to the King and his advisors!" Finn then holds up the Royal Marque and does her best to make sure it is illuminated by her lantern.
"Come now, it has been a long cold journey with one of the most humorless guides you could imagine! Let us in, for the god's sake give us a drink, and let us work out the proper introductions somewhere with a fire, what ya say?"
While calling out and announcing them, Finn squints and tries to use what light there is to get a good look at the fort. She's deliberately not approached many prisons before and so has little to go by but she finds it odd that there has been no challenge or hail called out. The build up of snow in front of the gates is a further concerning sign. She casts her eyes about the snow and tries to see if there are tracks in it at all to indicate activity...
(( Investigation: 14 or if you prefer Perception as she's not yet climbing off the horse, subtract 2 from the roll... ))
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
Rather ominously, there is no response to your hail and call.
As for Grengt, he seems, as ever, implacable and utterly honest. It seems unlikely that he would go out of his way to assist you, but might be prevailed upon for guidance if a swift exit were needed.
Looking up at the fort, the structure itself seems deeply embedded within the rock of the nearby mountain slope, in the style of mountain dwarf construction. The gate house is little more than a cubic shape delved out of the stone, the grim eyes of arrowslits littering the downslope-facing side of the delved wing of the mountain in a seemingly random distribution, though a few moments reflection reveals how every possible path of entry has no fewer than two different apertures from which enemies would take fire during an assault. A large stone door lies at the far end of the delved cube, and you can only imagine what form of anti-siegework would lie above your head should you approach without caution.
The singular lantern continues to burn above you, uncaring and unwavering even as darkness begins to descend. There is no response to your hail and call.
"Hmph!" Finn says, only not stamping a foot due to being astride another beast. She turns and looks at Argentus and asks "Any ideas?"
"I could try to sneak up to the door and see what's what but... We've the Royal Marque and all, seems like we should be more upfront or something?" She continues on, before Argentus even has a chance to answer. She hops off her horse slowly starts treading forward a bit, at least wanting to take a look at the snow around the door and the gates to see if there is evidence of tracks at all...
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
Argentus:
"Let us lead the horses up to the door and see what awaits us. If there is no one to receive our greeting, perhaps there is something amiss here," replies Argentus. He allows Finn to search as much as she wants as he slowly leads his horse into the shelter of the entryway. If Finn finds nothing of use, Argentus dismounts and tries the door.
Athletics check if needed: 16
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The snow around the gate is unbroken, and it doesn't take a tracker to realize that nothing has disturbed the area outside of the gatehouse for some time - even Grengt's light weight and small feet leave a noticeable trail, though none can be seen in this area.
A strong series of pushes and pulls leaves the door unmoved - of fine dwarf craftsmanship, it is as sturdy as the surrounding walls when locked, which at the moment it appears to be.
Having looked over everything else, Finn presses her hands to the small of her back and stretches as she begins examining the door. She checks out it's apparent sturdiness and design, the hinges, the walls it's connected to - Basically giving it a good once over.
"Have we tried knocking really loud?" she jokingly asks and goes to bang a fist against the door... But pauses. "Don't want to hurt my hand, right?" With that she gives the door a few swift kicks. Kicks intended to be loud, not intended to try to break the door down.
"So... what you thinking? she asks Argentus. "Turn around and go back? Camp out in case we missed their regular hours? Or... I dunno... I have heard that... sometimes... locks can be picked? I mean... How hard can it be?"
"If you think we should..."
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
Argentus:
”If you have some skill at lockpicking, feel free to try, though I expect an exterior door of a prison to have a stout crossbar as a backup that will resist any intrusion short of a battering ram…though given the lack of response here, it could have been dislodged. Failing that, boosting you up to an arrow slit or having you climb to one for a better view of the interior may be our next move,” responds Argentus.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
“Skill at lockpicking? Oh no, not hardly!” Finn insists, not quite fully over the top in her denial. “I’ve just heard a thing or two about it, some tips and such, in general conversations and such…” She starts pulling out her lockpicking tools as she goes on about the amazing variety of things one can pick up if they just bother paying attention.
“Most people listen without ever really paying attention, if you know what I mean.”
Finn examines the door more closely, trying to first make sure there is no traps to be sprung or set off. Then she begins focusing on the lock itself to see if perhaps she can coax it open…
Investigation to check for traps? 16
Sleight of Hand to pick lock? 9
…
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
No traps can be discerned, other than the previously mentioned murder holes and arrow slits positioned menacingly around the enclosed space. As the sun sets, a cold wind sets in - a warning to Argentus's accustomed senses of an impending storm.
It takes a rather significant amount of time - certainly far longer than one would have ever been afforded during an actual assault, but eventually you are able to locate the deftly concealed lock and, with some rather cramped handiwork, unlatch the inner bolts. With an ominous, grinding squeal, the door sags open a few feet before coming to rest.
Night is falling quickly now, and the first stars of the evening sky are already dimming before rapidly darkening clouds. There is no certainty of a moon this evening.
“Huh,” Finn says with mock surprise at the door unlocking. “It really does look harder than it is!”
Finn opens the door but not too far, just wanting to ensure it doesn’t re-latch shut but not fully committed to entering just yet.
“We could go talk to Grengt and whoever else is at whatever miserable hut they have set up. They could know somethi… You know, if something happened here it could have happened there. Grengt could be in trouble?” Finn says to Argentus with a questioning voice.
“What ya think boss, sneak into a creepily quiet prison or slink after our guide and make sure they’re alive?”
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop
Argentus:
“The night approaches and we need to get the horses out of the wind and cold,” replies Argentus. “Let us settle them inside and see what we can find out about the prison afterwards…I am not the most stealthy, but I will follow your lead.”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
“I can usually go pretty quietly when needed, but it’s too dark. I’d need a light and that would alert anyone to my approach anyway. Best we tend to the bourses and then search out a bit…” Finn suggests, thinking aloud. “You could hold the light end hang back so I’m just at the edge of it…”
We're doing one small murder-y thing for a bigger, better reason. The ends justify the means.
-- Eleanor Shellstrop