He looks at the map, thinks for a moment, then back at the group.
"Yoht may be a head strong lad, but he is my best. He can lead you there if you will have him. If you need anything from our armories or smithies, make your preparations, restock your supplies while I see to forming the Legions. What say you?"
Vrox and Tyekanik are fine with this plan.
Tyekaniks suggests,"Maybe best not to send your Legions forth, King Uthar, until we find out more. Keep your army in the fortress until you know where the battle is and whether you march into a trap. As the satyr said, the dragons have left their vale: you would not want to be caught in the open against death from the sky." He takes out a large stone, which looks small in his big hands, and says, "I could leave you with a Sending Stone. Keep it with you, and I will send you message once we find out the state of the Golgari in the north."
He looks at the map, thinks for a moment, then back at the group.
"Yoht may be a head strong lad, but he is my best. He can lead you there if you will have him. If you need anything from our armories or smithies, make your preparations, restock your supplies while I see to forming the Legions. What say you?"
Vrox and Tyekanik are fine with this plan.
Tyekaniks suggests,"Maybe best not to send your Legions forth, King Uthar, until we find out more. Keep your army in the fortress until you know where the battle is and whether you march into a trap. As the satyr said, the dragons have left their vale: you would not want to be caught in the open against death from the sky." He takes out a large stone, which looks small in his big hands, and says, "I could leave you with a Sending Stone. Keep it with you, and I will send you message once we find out the state of the Golgari in the north."
"Prudent, scout ahead and see what lies before us though we will be marching as it will take time for the Legions to assemble, then march. It should give you ample time to case the site, and using this here little stone, tell me what you see so we can plan accordingly."
[[OOC: So, we just need to decide whether there are any supplies, weapons, or armor that we need from the dwarves, and then we'll be heading to Uhubreen?]]
[[ OOC: Yes, why not? Khessa does not need any special supplies, by the way, I think. I'd say let's just assume we take enough food/water for the journey and we go. ]]
"Yoht may be a head strong lad, but he is my best. He can lead you there if you will have him. If you need anything from our armories or smithies, make your preparations, restock your supplies while I see to forming the Legions. What say you?"
"I have faith in Yoht's knowledge of Uhubreen. He has already shared some of it," Clarac says. "If I could make a small request, may I borrow a sledgehammer and a miniature battering ram? One never knows what obstacles will appear before them, but those two items might just be of use on this quest."
Yoht joins the group wearing a well-made, inlaid suit of Dwarven plate and a great battle axe over his shoulder. His backpack appears well traveled, as well as his cloak.
He looks to the group, "Do you have everything, all set to go?" Then he looks to Flute. "If I may be so bold to ask, but I have heard tales, that, how can I put it, you can make distances go by faster? We have some ways to go, and it would be better if we could get there quickly, especially if we can get there before this Khaine does."
Flute smiles and nods. "I can but Khaine can do it as well, I just don't know if he and his group went that way or somewhere else. I guess we won't know until we get there. Shall we?"
Leading the way, Flute and Sparhawk leads the group with Yoht to where you stabled your horses. After leading your horses out of the gate and back out into the sunshine, Flute pauses for a moment, to bask in the sun smiling, her eyes closed.
"Don't take this wrong dear Yoht, but it is good to be back outside." Yoht doesn't say anything as he mounts a thick chested pony while the rest of you mount up. Once everyone is ready, Flute leads you out and like she does, begins playing her Flute and time doesn't seem to matter. You feel like you are dozing until the music stops. When you come back to reality, you are on the edge of a great forest, and before you are an open flatland leading to an opening in a mountain wall. In the center of the valley that is leading into the mountains, is the ruins of a castle.
"Well, there it is. The entrance to Uhubreen, and that is the ruins of the old gatehouse. Our scouts have been watching it of recent and has reported what we think are Drukhari Dark Elves going in and out. Same with some limited reporting on possible Golgari but we couldn't be certain. This information only just recently made it back to us even though we have been sweeping this area for some time, many of those scouting patrols have not been reporting back."
He looks at the group with a serious expression. "This is a state secret I just told you, only Uthar and a very small circle of the high command have been made aware of it. This is why he was so eager to get the Legions on the march. We fear something is a foot here in Uhubreen."
"Fear not, Uthar," Khessa pats him non the shoulder, smiling "none will betray your state secret... we are not here to gossip, you know!"
"If something is a foot here in Uhubreen," the blonde arcane warrior declares, determinedly "and that 'something', as I suspect, is unpleasant, we will stop it!"
The tall adventuress turns her blue eyes to Tyekanik and Vrox: "Do some of us want to go ahead and scout a little? Or, if you prefer, I can send Anator... A bat in the underground certainly does not attract attention."
[[OOC: Vrox will restock his (mundane) arrows while he has the chance. If the dwarven smiths have created any magic arrows, he'd certainly be interested in taking whatever they offer. We have pretty good healing resources, but if the dwarves have some healing potions of one type or another, it might be a good idea to take some of those now that we no longer have Aya. Alternatively, we could take some spell scrolls with healing spells that Clarac or Vrox could use or even a Revivify scroll for an emergency.]]
[[OOC: Tyekanik doesn't worry much about equipment, trusting to his strength and Annam's Greataxe to solve most problems. Tyek will restock food and water since he eats as much in a day that most other Goliaths eat in a week. (Based on what Kevtr0n had previously posted, I think that one of the greataxe's detrimental properties is: "While attuned to the artifact, you must eat and drink six times the normal amount each day.")]]
(In case anyone wonders, Lord Akkron is still here. He's just not feeling very talkative and doesn't feel like he has a huge amount to add to the conversation
As for equipment, Lord Akkron doesn't need much. Maybe a few spell scrolls if there are any 6th-level or higher that he wouldn't mind having them. A free casting of maddening darkness or finger of death could be useful).
"Fear not, Uthar," Khessa pats him non the shoulder, smiling "none will betray your state secret... we are not here to gossip, you know!"
"If something is a foot here in Uhubreen," the blonde arcane warrior declares, determinedly "and that 'something', as I suspect, is unpleasant, we will stop it!"
The tall adventuress turns her blue eyes to Tyekanik and Vrox: "Do some of us want to go ahead and scout a little? Or, if you prefer, I can send Anator... A bat in the underground certainly does not attract attention."
Vrox hops forward, merrily singing, "Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to scout I go! Over the meadow and under the hill..." He trails off in humming as he secures his things and gets out his Sentinel Shield and the Elf Sword. Then he bows to the group and says to Khessa, "Certainly, Arcane Warrior and Brassica Oleracea Enthusiast! I will scout ahead. Wait a couple of minutes and then follow as quietly as you can, meeting me at the gatehouse. If I spot any guards or other dangers, I'll Message back to you before you reach them."
With that, Vrox steps carefully out from the forest. As he does so, the shadows from the trees seem to cling to him even after he steps out into the open. Vrox begins creeping across the flat land toward the gatehouse on the way to the opening in the mountain.
[[OOC: Vrox will restock his (mundane) arrows while he has the chance. If the dwarven smiths have created any magic arrows, he'd certainly be interested in taking whatever they offer. We have pretty good healing resources, but if the dwarves have some healing potions of one type or another, it might be a good idea to take some of those now that we no longer have Aya. Alternatively, we could take some spell scrolls with healing spells that Clarac or Vrox could use or even a Revivify scroll for an emergency.]]
[[OOC: Tyekanik doesn't worry much about equipment, trusting to his strength and Annam's Greataxe to solve most problems. Tyek will restock food and water since he eats as much in a day that most other Goliaths eat in a week. (Based on what Kevtr0n had previously posted, I think that one of the greataxe's detrimental properties is: "While attuned to the artifact, you must eat and drink six times the normal amount each day.")]]
Yes, before you departed, you were able to get 20 Arrows +3; 5 potions of superior healing; 3 scrolls of superior healing. Dwarves are well stock when it comes to food, even for preserved rations which are better quality than the standard iron rations carried on adventures.
"Fear not, Uthar," Khessa pats him non the shoulder, smiling "none will betray your state secret... we are not here to gossip, you know!"
"If something is a foot here in Uhubreen," the blonde arcane warrior declares, determinedly "and that 'something', as I suspect, is unpleasant, we will stop it!"
The tall adventuress turns her blue eyes to Tyekanik and Vrox: "Do some of us want to go ahead and scout a little? Or, if you prefer, I can send Anator... A bat in the underground certainly does not attract attention."
Vrox hops forward, merrily singing, "Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to scout I go! Over the meadow and under the hill..." He trails off in humming as he secures his things and gets out his Sentinel Shield and the Elf Sword. Then he bows to the group and says to Khessa, "Certainly, Arcane Warrior and Brassica Oleracea Enthusiast! I will scout ahead. Wait a couple of minutes and then follow as quietly as you can, meeting me at the gatehouse. If I spot any guards or other dangers, I'll Message back to you before you reach them."
With that, Vrox steps carefully out from the forest. As he does so, the shadows from the trees seem to cling to him even after he steps out into the open. Vrox begins creeping across the flat land toward the gatehouse on the way to the opening in the mountain.
As you move, you sense there is an unease to the land, like it is sick with an infection. To your Fey senses, it is as mother earth here is wounded as you move closer towards the ruins. The land before it is easy to conceal with the high grass, brambles and thorns. You easily spot a trail where there has been foot and horse traffic heading to, or from the ruins. The closer you get to the ruins, the less sound of nature you hear. No birds, no insects, like life itself is avoiding the area. You can sense a taint, faint on the wind and in your nose, the closer you get.
As this is at a higher elevation, you begin to cross snow patches that gets slightly deeper the closer you get to the ruins. From a concealed vantage point, you observe that the ruins are that of a small keep, designed to guard the entrance to the valley leading into the interior of the mountains. As you watch, you do see a group of raiders ride up to the front of the ruins, and a group of Drukhari dark elves come out. The raiders had what appeared to be human prisoners they turned over to the Drukhari, who gave them what appeared to be payment, then as the raiders left, they hauled them into the ruins of the keep.
Vrox backtracks until he's within 120-feet of the party. Then he casts Message to Khessa to tell the group to hide and wait for him to rejoin them.
Once the group is together again, Vrox relays what he saw, including the captives, and asks what the group wants to do. Try to sneak past the guard house and head for the valley that leads to the interior of the mountains? Open attack on the guard house? Try to sneak into the guard house and rescue the captives before they can be used as hostages? Something else?
"If we take the guard house," Vrox says, "we could hopefully save the prisoners, and it would give us a strong place to defend in case we have to fall back." Of course, the party has never had to retreat before. "But if we attack the guard house, they could raise an alarm. In that case, we definitely won't be able to surprise the Golgari in their mountain fastness."
"I'd still prefer to attack the guard house" Khessa says. "That way we'll have a better chance of rescuing the prisoners."
"If that costs us the element of surprise..." the blonde arcane warrior shrugs "that didn't stop us from, for example, retaking the duke's castle a little while ago. I'm counting on us being able to pull it off this time, too."
"I'm not good at sneaking in..." the tall adventuress admits "and I wouldn't want to ask the only ones among us who are stealthy to take the risk of going in and freeing the prisoners... I think if we attack hard, the garrison's first thought will be to defend themselves, not exterminate the prisoners - so we should be able to defeat the garrison and save the prisoners anyway."
Vrox suggests, "You wouldn't have to sneak quietly if you or Lord Akkron know magic like the faeries' glamour: a subtle illusion, or 'seeming', could make our group of heroes look like a party of Drukhari raiders returning to their keep." He laughs quietly at the thought of walking right into the Druhkari's guard house. "But, of course -- as you say! -- none of the Enemies in Veldos could stand against us. Even if they bar the doors of the keep against us, I'm sure that you and Clarac and the 'Angry Giant' could bash the door down without casting a spell!"
[[OOC: How much open ground without cover does the party have to cross between the edge of the forest and the wall of the keep? Just curious how long the party will be exposed to the keep's archers, war wizards, or even siege weapons (like ballistae or trebuchets) before we reach the walls.]]
Vrox suggests, "You wouldn't have to sneak quietly if you or Lord Akkron know magic like the faeries' glamour: a subtle illusion, or 'seeming', could make our group of heroes look like a party of Drukhari raiders returning to their keep." He laughs quietly at the thought of walking right into the Druhkari's guard house. "But, of course -- as you say! -- none of the Enemies in Veldos could stand against us. Even if they bar the doors of the keep against us, I'm sure that you and Clarac and the 'Angry Giant' could bash the door down without casting a spell!"
[[OOC: How much open ground without cover does the party have to cross between the edge of the forest and the wall of the keep? Just curious how long the party will be exposed to the keep's archers, war wizards, or even siege weapons (like ballistae or trebuchets) before we reach the walls.]]
Akkron pauses at that suggestion...
"I have a hat of disguise still..." the lich says. "Though I am not currently attuned to it. I must admit, I did not come to these shores expecting this much espionage... if we really need to I suppose that I could simply wish to disguise us all, but that feels a bit excessive. That said... can anyone here grant us silent passage into the enemies' territory. I could also hide our presence and turn us invisible if we can spare a minimum of four hours for me to properly prepare the spell...
He pauses, then sighs dramatically.
"I really should have brought my utility spellbook, shouldn't I?" he mutters. "Oh well... I suppose it is what it is now."
"The prisoners must be rescued, but needless violence would only put them at risk," Clarac says. "I will break down the door with Tyekanik if that is what the group decides is best." Even as she says that, she is retrieving her new, miniature, dwarven, battering ram from Wetherbee's saddlebag and taking a few practice swings.
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Vrox and Tyekanik are fine with this plan.
Tyekaniks suggests, "Maybe best not to send your Legions forth, King Uthar, until we find out more. Keep your army in the fortress until you know where the battle is and whether you march into a trap. As the satyr said, the dragons have left their vale: you would not want to be caught in the open against death from the sky." He takes out a large stone, which looks small in his big hands, and says, "I could leave you with a Sending Stone. Keep it with you, and I will send you message once we find out the state of the Golgari in the north."
"Prudent, scout ahead and see what lies before us though we will be marching as it will take time for the Legions to assemble, then march. It should give you ample time to case the site, and using this here little stone, tell me what you see so we can plan accordingly."
[[OOC: So, we just need to decide whether there are any supplies, weapons, or armor that we need from the dwarves, and then we'll be heading to Uhubreen?]]
[[ OOC: Yes, why not? Khessa does not need any special supplies, by the way, I think. I'd say let's just assume we take enough food/water for the journey and we go. ]]
"I have faith in Yoht's knowledge of Uhubreen. He has already shared some of it," Clarac says. "If I could make a small request, may I borrow a sledgehammer and a miniature battering ram? One never knows what obstacles will appear before them, but those two items might just be of use on this quest."
Uthar nods, "whatever you require for this journey you may have."
Clarac, you are taken by one of the dwarves to one of the artisan shops where you can get what you want
As soon as Clsrac gets her equipment, Khessa is ready to start the new journey...
Given how much worried was Flute, the blonde arcane warrior is quite eager to start annoying this new chaos god as well!
Yoht joins the group wearing a well-made, inlaid suit of Dwarven plate and a great battle axe over his shoulder. His backpack appears well traveled, as well as his cloak.
He looks to the group, "Do you have everything, all set to go?" Then he looks to Flute. "If I may be so bold to ask, but I have heard tales, that, how can I put it, you can make distances go by faster? We have some ways to go, and it would be better if we could get there quickly, especially if we can get there before this Khaine does."
Flute smiles and nods. "I can but Khaine can do it as well, I just don't know if he and his group went that way or somewhere else. I guess we won't know until we get there. Shall we?"
Leading the way, Flute and Sparhawk leads the group with Yoht to where you stabled your horses. After leading your horses out of the gate and back out into the sunshine, Flute pauses for a moment, to bask in the sun smiling, her eyes closed.
"Don't take this wrong dear Yoht, but it is good to be back outside." Yoht doesn't say anything as he mounts a thick chested pony while the rest of you mount up. Once everyone is ready, Flute leads you out and like she does, begins playing her Flute and time doesn't seem to matter. You feel like you are dozing until the music stops. When you come back to reality, you are on the edge of a great forest, and before you are an open flatland leading to an opening in a mountain wall. In the center of the valley that is leading into the mountains, is the ruins of a castle.
"Well, there it is. The entrance to Uhubreen, and that is the ruins of the old gatehouse. Our scouts have been watching it of recent and has reported what we think are Drukhari Dark Elves going in and out. Same with some limited reporting on possible Golgari but we couldn't be certain. This information only just recently made it back to us even though we have been sweeping this area for some time, many of those scouting patrols have not been reporting back."
He looks at the group with a serious expression. "This is a state secret I just told you, only Uthar and a very small circle of the high command have been made aware of it. This is why he was so eager to get the Legions on the march. We fear something is a foot here in Uhubreen."
"Fear not, Uthar," Khessa pats him non the shoulder, smiling "none will betray your state secret... we are not here to gossip, you know!"
"If something is a foot here in Uhubreen," the blonde arcane warrior declares, determinedly "and that 'something', as I suspect, is unpleasant, we will stop it!"
The tall adventuress turns her blue eyes to Tyekanik and Vrox: "Do some of us want to go ahead and scout a little? Or, if you prefer, I can send Anator... A bat in the underground certainly does not attract attention."
[[OOC: Vrox will restock his (mundane) arrows while he has the chance. If the dwarven smiths have created any magic arrows, he'd certainly be interested in taking whatever they offer. We have pretty good healing resources, but if the dwarves have some healing potions of one type or another, it might be a good idea to take some of those now that we no longer have Aya. Alternatively, we could take some spell scrolls with healing spells that Clarac or Vrox could use or even a Revivify scroll for an emergency.]]
[[OOC: Tyekanik doesn't worry much about equipment, trusting to his strength and Annam's Greataxe to solve most problems. Tyek will restock food and water since he eats as much in a day that most other Goliaths eat in a week. (Based on what Kevtr0n had previously posted, I think that one of the greataxe's detrimental properties is: "While attuned to the artifact, you must eat and drink six times the normal amount each day.")]]
(In case anyone wonders, Lord Akkron is still here. He's just not feeling very talkative and doesn't feel like he has a huge amount to add to the conversation
As for equipment, Lord Akkron doesn't need much. Maybe a few spell scrolls if there are any 6th-level or higher that he wouldn't mind having them. A free casting of maddening darkness or finger of death could be useful).
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Vrox hops forward, merrily singing, "Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to scout I go! Over the meadow and under the hill..." He trails off in humming as he secures his things and gets out his Sentinel Shield and the Elf Sword. Then he bows to the group and says to Khessa, "Certainly, Arcane Warrior and Brassica Oleracea Enthusiast! I will scout ahead. Wait a couple of minutes and then follow as quietly as you can, meeting me at the gatehouse. If I spot any guards or other dangers, I'll Message back to you before you reach them."
With that, Vrox steps carefully out from the forest. As he does so, the shadows from the trees seem to cling to him even after he steps out into the open. Vrox begins creeping across the flat land toward the gatehouse on the way to the opening in the mountain.
Trying not to be spotted - Stealth: 26 (advantage from Shadowfell Brand Tattoo)
Looking for danger - Perception: 30 (advantage from Sentinel Shield)
Yes, before you departed, you were able to get 20 Arrows +3; 5 potions of superior healing; 3 scrolls of superior healing. Dwarves are well stock when it comes to food, even for preserved rations which are better quality than the standard iron rations carried on adventures.
As you move, you sense there is an unease to the land, like it is sick with an infection. To your Fey senses, it is as mother earth here is wounded as you move closer towards the ruins. The land before it is easy to conceal with the high grass, brambles and thorns. You easily spot a trail where there has been foot and horse traffic heading to, or from the ruins. The closer you get to the ruins, the less sound of nature you hear. No birds, no insects, like life itself is avoiding the area. You can sense a taint, faint on the wind and in your nose, the closer you get.
As this is at a higher elevation, you begin to cross snow patches that gets slightly deeper the closer you get to the ruins. From a concealed vantage point, you observe that the ruins are that of a small keep, designed to guard the entrance to the valley leading into the interior of the mountains. As you watch, you do see a group of raiders ride up to the front of the ruins, and a group of Drukhari dark elves come out. The raiders had what appeared to be human prisoners they turned over to the Drukhari, who gave them what appeared to be payment, then as the raiders left, they hauled them into the ruins of the keep.
Vrox backtracks until he's within 120-feet of the party. Then he casts Message to Khessa to tell the group to hide and wait for him to rejoin them.
Once the group is together again, Vrox relays what he saw, including the captives, and asks what the group wants to do. Try to sneak past the guard house and head for the valley that leads to the interior of the mountains? Open attack on the guard house? Try to sneak into the guard house and rescue the captives before they can be used as hostages? Something else?
"If we take the guard house," Vrox says, "we could hopefully save the prisoners, and it would give us a strong place to defend in case we have to fall back." Of course, the party has never had to retreat before. "But if we attack the guard house, they could raise an alarm. In that case, we definitely won't be able to surprise the Golgari in their mountain fastness."
"I'd still prefer to attack the guard house" Khessa says. "That way we'll have a better chance of rescuing the prisoners."
"If that costs us the element of surprise..." the blonde arcane warrior shrugs "that didn't stop us from, for example, retaking the duke's castle a little while ago. I'm counting on us being able to pull it off this time, too."
"I'm not good at sneaking in..." the tall adventuress admits "and I wouldn't want to ask the only ones among us who are stealthy to take the risk of going in and freeing the prisoners... I think if we attack hard, the garrison's first thought will be to defend themselves, not exterminate the prisoners - so we should be able to defeat the garrison and save the prisoners anyway."
Vrox suggests, "You wouldn't have to sneak quietly if you or Lord Akkron know magic like the faeries' glamour: a subtle illusion, or 'seeming', could make our group of heroes look like a party of Drukhari raiders returning to their keep." He laughs quietly at the thought of walking right into the Druhkari's guard house. "But, of course -- as you say! -- none of the Enemies in Veldos could stand against us. Even if they bar the doors of the keep against us, I'm sure that you and Clarac and the 'Angry Giant' could bash the door down without casting a spell!"
[[OOC: How much open ground without cover does the party have to cross between the edge of the forest and the wall of the keep? Just curious how long the party will be exposed to the keep's archers, war wizards, or even siege weapons (like ballistae or trebuchets) before we reach the walls.]]
Akkron pauses at that suggestion...
"I have a hat of disguise still..." the lich says. "Though I am not currently attuned to it. I must admit, I did not come to these shores expecting this much espionage... if we really need to I suppose that I could simply wish to disguise us all, but that feels a bit excessive. That said... can anyone here grant us silent passage into the enemies' territory. I could also hide our presence and turn us invisible if we can spare a minimum of four hours for me to properly prepare the spell...
He pauses, then sighs dramatically.
"I really should have brought my utility spellbook, shouldn't I?" he mutters. "Oh well... I suppose it is what it is now."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
"The prisoners must be rescued, but needless violence would only put them at risk," Clarac says. "I will break down the door with Tyekanik if that is what the group decides is best." Even as she says that, she is retrieving her new, miniature, dwarven, battering ram from Wetherbee's saddlebag and taking a few practice swings.