Valaith listens to Jex's report with a frown. "We should have hunted that party down from earlier and killed them all. This is likely a scouting party looking for us. That is a very large group. Especially if they are mostly hobgoblins. They fight very well together." She looks at Hurrig. "What do you think?"
"My thoughts exactly" Jex nods in agreement at Val's assessment. "Very organised too and larger than expected. Perhaps looking for us, or perhaps on a bigger, more nefarious mission. I could only guess at their purpose really, but it seems too large for a routine sentry patrol."
He ponders a moment. "Perhaps a few of us could hop back and cause them some trouble, make them think we are just harassing the outriders, or that we have turned another way."
Hurrig turns to Val and Jex, "Do we 'ave anymore of that paper? They could be heading to Hyarantar with a force that size? If not heading there, they are certainly exploring the surrounding area. The elves may be able to curtail them. I think our best option is to inform them while we try to scout the camp."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Mavi Göz Mal - Half Orc Monk Level 1 Not Another Lost Mine of Phandelver
Drita - Aasimar Hexblade Warlock Lvl 3 Tomb of Annhilation
"Not a bad idea, Jex. And yes, we still have some. That's an excellent idea, Hurrig. We should send word to them about what we have discovered." She looks at them sheepishly as she hands over the paper. "Which of you writes better? I do not write very well."
"I can write the note. Then we can get back to sleep so we can try to find out whats going on down there tomorrow." Hurrig takes the parchment and scribbles a message:
Sheercleft taken by Hobglobin army. Force moving toward Hyarantar. Send help.
~Dorno & Friends.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Mavi Göz Mal - Half Orc Monk Level 1 Not Another Lost Mine of Phandelver
Drita - Aasimar Hexblade Warlock Lvl 3 Tomb of Annhilation
The next morning the party rises to grey dawn light and a chill wind from the south. The sky is overcast and there's snow on the air. They've arrived, rested, it's time to act.
Vark’s breath comes out in little puffs of steam as he wakes. Despite the anxiety he clearly feels about the entire situation, his morning ritual seems to ground him a bit. After eating a basic breakfast of rations, he stands and waits for the others. He’s unsure what role he’ll play in the coming events, and to further ease himself he creates little flurries of ice and snow, sending the crystals in intricate spiraling patterns around his hands.
Thurston gets ready as fast as he can, but is not as faster as he would like, for the short sleep of the past nights is taking its toll on him.
He looks to his armor before donning it and with the leather protection that it has underneath he says to the others.
"Should I don it? This doesn't help to go sneaking around. Perhaps I should keep watch from a vantage point and warn those of you who make the scouting in case something comes up"
On a rocky outcrop, Brundir reviews his home with renewed outlook. Familiar home, suburbs, and streets were now points of infiltration. Wrapped in his cloak against the wind, Brundir pictured winding through each of the alleys and streets, trying to figure the best route through the pre-dawn view of the scattered goblin tents. Absently, he hears Thurston's conflicted standpoint on equipment, "Seems it don' matter much. Barely notice this stuff since I replaced my old armor. I'm gettin' my ass in'a that mine, I'mma fin' my frien's an' all, an' we're takin' our home back. Ye can scout all ye like, I know this place in an' out. I'd feel better with ye beside me. Move house to house, hit fast an' quiet."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Unlike some of his companions, Jex is used to short nights of little sleep in rough terrain. If anything he is glad to have companions again so that he can rest a little easier. He is up and cleaning his blades early, watching as the others nervously ready themselves, discussing what to take. This is where he has made his living though and he has no such concerns. Brundir's emotions do get to him more though. Of everything, over the last two days the reactions of Brundir and Hurrig to the plight of their home town has left him feeling uncomfortable and awkward. He was unfamiliar of such sentiment and could not imagine the loss of anything having such a large impact on his emotions.
"Perhaps it is best if I go first. You seem a little... Invested here, and those emotions could blind you. That passion that may give you strength could just as easily get you killed, or the person next to you. You can't just take the whole camp building to building, someone will see you and raise an alarm."
Bründir's silhouette is barely visible, perched atop the the crags of the mountain in the dim morning light. The sight before him chills him to the bone. Goblin campfires surround Sheercleft to the north and south, their yurts and war-tents pitched all about them. Barricades and primitive towers have been constructed, watching the roads in and out of the village, and many of the original buildings have obviously been severely damaged in the fighting.
Vark seems to perk up as he has an idea. He remembers seeing the ravine as he first wandered into Sheercleft. The chasm runs right through town, and if the mines we’re underneath Sheercleft, then maybe the ravine could be used as passage. “I have an idea! I- uhm... while you scout the town,” he says as he turns to Jex “I could go check out the ravine. N-north of the town, maybe... maybe theres a way in through there.” He seems excited to have some kind of objective and is already heading in that direction as he says it. “I shouldn’t be too long... I’ll meet you guys back here.”
With that he is off, hiking north. But the trek is more arduous than he expects, and as he navigates the outcroppings and boulders he gets turned around several times. Orkish curses punctuate every mistep. “Where the-“ the last expletive turns into a yelp as Vark is suddenly plummeting. The young sorcerer’s life flashes before his eyes: home, his mother, Aureanous, his new friends. A knee bangs into the rock; fingers scrape at stone. Suddenly the descent stops with a thud as his body slams into the cliff’s face, his arm painfully extended above him. He groans with effort as he pulls himself up, tossing up his staff so he can use both hands. Vark looks around at the predicament he’s found himself in. The sheer, rocky cliff to one side, dropping down to the ravine floor which he thought would be his end. Opposite that: subterranean darkness. Near death experience asside, he might be successful after all. Static crackles across his battered form and he grips his staff tightly in both hands. With one last look outside, he begins to creep his way into the dark.
Were it not for his natural darkvision, Vark would be entirely helpless in the pitch black tunnels. As it is, he sees the path ahead of him extend for about twenty feet before it takes a left turn, sloping down, further underground. It's a wide tunnel, also twenty feet in breadth, and rough underfoot. Away from the snowfall near the entrance the rock is cool and dry.
Poor little half-orc, lost in the dark, the deep, booming voice echoes in the depths of Vark's mind like a velvet drum.
I can help you, he whispers to the sorcerer, the words like honey, give yourself over to me and the power to survive anything will be at your fingertips.
Vark pauses once again. This time with a little more certainty, he reaches into his clothing where he's kept the strange blood stone close to him since finding it in the bandit camp. He peers into the crimson gem. "Who are you? What... what do you want?"
Hurrig looks up to Brundir with ferocity in his eyes. Then a glimmer of calm washes over Hurrig's face and he tells Brundir, "We'll save 'em. Don't worry. We should listen ta Jex though, us two dwarves may be a little too hot headed for this one."Hurrig says a prayer to Moradin, blesses his warhammer for the battle to come. "Maybe we should use the mine network to get into the city."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Mavi Göz Mal - Half Orc Monk Level 1 Not Another Lost Mine of Phandelver
Drita - Aasimar Hexblade Warlock Lvl 3 Tomb of Annhilation
"Agreed, any way in's th' best. Thought you'd like t'know too," he points at a vague mass in the distance, "Big tent squats right next t'yer temple down there."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Valaith listens to Jex's report with a frown. "We should have hunted that party down from earlier and killed them all. This is likely a scouting party looking for us. That is a very large group. Especially if they are mostly hobgoblins. They fight very well together." She looks at Hurrig. "What do you think?"
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
"My thoughts exactly" Jex nods in agreement at Val's assessment. "Very organised too and larger than expected. Perhaps looking for us, or perhaps on a bigger, more nefarious mission. I could only guess at their purpose really, but it seems too large for a routine sentry patrol."
He ponders a moment. "Perhaps a few of us could hop back and cause them some trouble, make them think we are just harassing the outriders, or that we have turned another way."
Hurrig turns to Val and Jex, "Do we 'ave anymore of that paper? They could be heading to Hyarantar with a force that size? If not heading there, they are certainly exploring the surrounding area. The elves may be able to curtail them. I think our best option is to inform them while we try to scout the camp."
Mavi Göz Mal - Half Orc Monk Level 1 Not Another Lost Mine of Phandelver
Drita - Aasimar Hexblade Warlock Lvl 3 Tomb of Annhilation
Iznik Sylnithas - Half Drow Blood Hunter Level 2 Precipice of Voids
"Not a bad idea, Jex. And yes, we still have some. That's an excellent idea, Hurrig. We should send word to them about what we have discovered." She looks at them sheepishly as she hands over the paper. "Which of you writes better? I do not write very well."
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Thuston wakes up an, still groogy, listen to the last parts of their conversation
"Warn the elves... yes... good idea... kill the others tomorrow... good night..." and he goes back to sleep.
PbP Character: A few ;)
"I can write the note. Then we can get back to sleep so we can try to find out whats going on down there tomorrow." Hurrig takes the parchment and scribbles a message:
Sheercleft taken by Hobglobin army. Force moving toward Hyarantar. Send help.
~Dorno & Friends.
Mavi Göz Mal - Half Orc Monk Level 1 Not Another Lost Mine of Phandelver
Drita - Aasimar Hexblade Warlock Lvl 3 Tomb of Annhilation
Iznik Sylnithas - Half Drow Blood Hunter Level 2 Precipice of Voids
The next morning the party rises to grey dawn light and a chill wind from the south. The sky is overcast and there's snow on the air. They've arrived, rested, it's time to act.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Vark’s breath comes out in little puffs of steam as he wakes. Despite the anxiety he clearly feels about the entire situation, his morning ritual seems to ground him a bit. After eating a basic breakfast of rations, he stands and waits for the others. He’s unsure what role he’ll play in the coming events, and to further ease himself he creates little flurries of ice and snow, sending the crystals in intricate spiraling patterns around his hands.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Thurston gets ready as fast as he can, but is not as faster as he would like, for the short sleep of the past nights is taking its toll on him.
He looks to his armor before donning it and with the leather protection that it has underneath he says to the others.
"Should I don it? This doesn't help to go sneaking around. Perhaps I should keep watch from a vantage point and warn those of you who make the scouting in case something comes up"
PbP Character: A few ;)
On a rocky outcrop, Brundir reviews his home with renewed outlook. Familiar home, suburbs, and streets were now points of infiltration. Wrapped in his cloak against the wind, Brundir pictured winding through each of the alleys and streets, trying to figure the best route through the pre-dawn view of the scattered goblin tents. Absently, he hears Thurston's conflicted standpoint on equipment, "Seems it don' matter much. Barely notice this stuff since I replaced my old armor. I'm gettin' my ass in'a that mine, I'mma fin' my frien's an' all, an' we're takin' our home back. Ye can scout all ye like, I know this place in an' out. I'd feel better with ye beside me. Move house to house, hit fast an' quiet."
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Unlike some of his companions, Jex is used to short nights of little sleep in rough terrain. If anything he is glad to have companions again so that he can rest a little easier. He is up and cleaning his blades early, watching as the others nervously ready themselves, discussing what to take. This is where he has made his living though and he has no such concerns. Brundir's emotions do get to him more though. Of everything, over the last two days the reactions of Brundir and Hurrig to the plight of their home town has left him feeling uncomfortable and awkward. He was unfamiliar of such sentiment and could not imagine the loss of anything having such a large impact on his emotions.
"Perhaps it is best if I go first. You seem a little... Invested here, and those emotions could blind you. That passion that may give you strength could just as easily get you killed, or the person next to you. You can't just take the whole camp building to building, someone will see you and raise an alarm."
Bründir's silhouette is barely visible, perched atop the the crags of the mountain in the dim morning light. The sight before him chills him to the bone. Goblin campfires surround Sheercleft to the north and south, their yurts and war-tents pitched all about them. Barricades and primitive towers have been constructed, watching the roads in and out of the village, and many of the original buildings have obviously been severely damaged in the fighting.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Vark seems to perk up as he has an idea. He remembers seeing the ravine as he first wandered into Sheercleft. The chasm runs right through town, and if the mines we’re underneath Sheercleft, then maybe the ravine could be used as passage. “I have an idea! I- uhm... while you scout the town,” he says as he turns to Jex “I could go check out the ravine. N-north of the town, maybe... maybe theres a way in through there.” He seems excited to have some kind of objective and is already heading in that direction as he says it. “I shouldn’t be too long... I’ll meet you guys back here.”
With that he is off, hiking north. But the trek is more arduous than he expects, and as he navigates the outcroppings and boulders he gets turned around several times. Orkish curses punctuate every mistep. “Where the-“ the last expletive turns into a yelp as Vark is suddenly plummeting. The young sorcerer’s life flashes before his eyes: home, his mother, Aureanous, his new friends. A knee bangs into the rock; fingers scrape at stone. Suddenly the descent stops with a thud as his body slams into the cliff’s face, his arm painfully extended above him. He groans with effort as he pulls himself up, tossing up his staff so he can use both hands. Vark looks around at the predicament he’s found himself in. The sheer, rocky cliff to one side, dropping down to the ravine floor which he thought would be his end. Opposite that: subterranean darkness. Near death experience asside, he might be successful after all. Static crackles across his battered form and he grips his staff tightly in both hands. With one last look outside, he begins to creep his way into the dark.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Were it not for his natural darkvision, Vark would be entirely helpless in the pitch black tunnels. As it is, he sees the path ahead of him extend for about twenty feet before it takes a left turn, sloping down, further underground. It's a wide tunnel, also twenty feet in breadth, and rough underfoot. Away from the snowfall near the entrance the rock is cool and dry.
Poor little half-orc, lost in the dark, the deep, booming voice echoes in the depths of Vark's mind like a velvet drum.
I can help you, he whispers to the sorcerer, the words like honey, give yourself over to me and the power to survive anything will be at your fingertips.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Vark freezes, his knuckles going white on his staff. "H-h-h- who's th-there? Show yourself!" He takes another shaky step forward into the tunnel.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
The tunnel seems to descend south-east for as far as Vark can see.
You know who I am, boy, the voice rumbles back, you know where you can find me.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Vark pauses once again. This time with a little more certainty, he reaches into his clothing where he's kept the strange blood stone close to him since finding it in the bandit camp. He peers into the crimson gem. "Who are you? What... what do you want?"
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Hurrig looks up to Brundir with ferocity in his eyes. Then a glimmer of calm washes over Hurrig's face and he tells Brundir, "We'll save 'em. Don't worry. We should listen ta Jex though, us two dwarves may be a little too hot headed for this one." Hurrig says a prayer to Moradin, blesses his warhammer for the battle to come. "Maybe we should use the mine network to get into the city."
Mavi Göz Mal - Half Orc Monk Level 1 Not Another Lost Mine of Phandelver
Drita - Aasimar Hexblade Warlock Lvl 3 Tomb of Annhilation
Iznik Sylnithas - Half Drow Blood Hunter Level 2 Precipice of Voids
"Agreed, any way in's th' best. Thought you'd like t'know too," he points at a vague mass in the distance, "Big tent squats right next t'yer temple down there."
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Hurrigs face starts to turn a bright red. "If those weee ****ers touch a single thing in that temple. I swear."
Mavi Göz Mal - Half Orc Monk Level 1 Not Another Lost Mine of Phandelver
Drita - Aasimar Hexblade Warlock Lvl 3 Tomb of Annhilation
Iznik Sylnithas - Half Drow Blood Hunter Level 2 Precipice of Voids