The guards walk over and open the door. Inside you see the great hall, mostly demolished. You see four guards, mostly standing around a broken table with an oldish woman who has been lain down on the remains, looking fairly crushed. "Giants came in a flying castle surrounded by cloud. They threw rocks down which destroyed a lot including the bridge, cutting us off. In times of crisis the villagers are meant to retreat to the keep here but couldn't so they lowered the drawbridge and fled North, potentially to some bat caves about a mile away. Lady Nander was here in the great hall when it collapsed. She died before we reached her. Once the villagers fled, 4 pale skinned giants descended from the castle and picked up the Nightstone before leaving. We have been here ever since"
"Flying castle? How? That explains a lot but opens so many more questions. I'm sorry to hear about Lady Nander. What are your plans now? Can we help? We tied a rope across the broken bridge so you can start to get across now. I'm sorry to say that there is no one alive in the town. Except for a woman, a monk, staying at the Inn. Do you remember her? And do you think we should go see if the villagers are safe? Tell us more about the caves."
Hawk has the look of a child listening to a great story.. Wooow! Sounds crazy! Sorry about the town! But sounds like all they wanted was the big stone.. I mean.. I know a Giant.. and I don't think they want to harm people.. but when they want something, they will go all the way to get it... sounds like that stone was important to them. Perhaps we could go to the caves, tell the towsfolk that the town is safe again.. assuming the giants got what they came for. As for lady Nander.. she is with the Cat Lord now, she is in good paws. Are you guys hungry?
Hawk grabs some rations out of his pack and shares with the guards if they want some.
What time of day is it at this point? If the guards are done talking, Bert's going to go to the wall of the keep to check and make sure the drawbridge is still up.
Hawk suggests to the group that they stay in the keep for the night. And when the sun rises on the horizon, they can go find the townsfolk at the caves!
Zook listens intently to the incredible story about the flying cloud castle and the giants, but remains quiet throughout. Having spent the past few years rather isolated from most folk, the events of this day are proving to be quite incredible, and they've given him much to think about.
He finds his mind beginning to drift inward. "Where even to begin...?" he thinks to himself. "Flying castles... giants... goblins... the missing Nightstone...I can't even pretend that I understand the world anymore. And here I thought I was on the path to making sense of things and working out the heads and tails of how the grand scheme of life plays out for all of us. Well, the events of this day have clearly shown me that I'm no closer than I was when I entered the monastery and began walking this path. I still have much to learn... and I don't even know where to start looking for the answers I seek..."
Eventually, the gnome returns from his brief period of mental wanderings.
"I agree. I am getting rather tired from the events of this day, and it would seem that resting here would be a good idea. But what about our friend Kella? Shouldn't we go and ask if she wants to join us here for the night as well? Surely it would be much safer for her, just as it would be for us."
Mandaway held up a hand, " I will go tell her, I need to go and bring all the scattered bodies to the graveyard anyway.....if Kraakan would like to come we can probably get them all put to bed in a couple of hours then get some sleep ourselves. I'll leave the burying of nobility to their attendants.", he said with a nod to the guards.
As he readied himself he mused, " I've not heard of any flying castles or such. The giants I lived with were fair carvers of stone but I didn't see nothing they made fly. But it does seem obvious they came here for the Nightstone, whatever it actually is....I doubt they grabbed it on a whim."
He snatched up a loaf of black bread and munched at it as he headed out....
OOC: Gather the bodies he's been notified about/has seen, inform Kella, bury dead, perfunctory rites, hit the sack back at the keep.
If Mandaway and Krakkan are headed out, Bert comes along. "I don't want you to go out alone, without someone watching your back."
He comes with, first checking at the inn to make sure Kella is okay, filling her in on the keep, and looking at what she's doing with a half a suspicious eye. Then he'll rejoin the gravediggers and lend a hand while also looking around to make sure they're not disturbed.
As you are making plans to head out, from the walls, Bert sees 7 figures approaching on horseback. They stop at the drawbridge and shout out but you are too far away to hear. You then see Kella leaving the Inn and heading towards the drawbridge
Bert calls down from the wall, "Forge! Can you get your bird over to the drawbridge right now? Seven people on horseback just got there, and I see Kella moving from the inn to the gate. She's safe, because you need two people to lower that thing, but let's be cautious and get a closer look-listen to what they have to say. Maybe it's a rescue party, maybe it's the villagers, maybe it's brigands, maybe they're monks. I will head that direction once you listen in with your owl and we know more."
Can Bert try to glean any more information from them from where he stands? Are they human-looking? Bedraggled? Familiar with the town? Carrying children? Anything from this distance?
Mandaways chill demeanour almost broke, " I just want to bury some folk before they get too ripe...is that too much to ask, Eldath?", he said with frustration.
He turned and started walking towards the drawbridge with a sigh...
"Let's make sure these new arrivals are friendly first, right? Kella would need another person to operate the other side of the drawbridge like we did when we raised it. Maybe someone can ask the guards here if they recognize them?"
Bert: human looking, not carrying much but as Kella arrives, the flying snake flies over and coils around the leader.
Kella is very slowly lowering the drawbridge. It is possible with one person but she has to lower a little on one side and then go to the other tower and lower a little more. By the time you guys can cross back over the bridge it will be open
The guards look over and, upon seeing the flying snake, scowl, "The Zhentarim. Of course they would take advantage of this. "
The guards walk over and open the door. Inside you see the great hall, mostly demolished. You see four guards, mostly standing around a broken table with an oldish woman who has been lain down on the remains, looking fairly crushed. "Giants came in a flying castle surrounded by cloud. They threw rocks down which destroyed a lot including the bridge, cutting us off. In times of crisis the villagers are meant to retreat to the keep here but couldn't so they lowered the drawbridge and fled North, potentially to some bat caves about a mile away. Lady Nander was here in the great hall when it collapsed. She died before we reached her. Once the villagers fled, 4 pale skinned giants descended from the castle and picked up the Nightstone before leaving. We have been here ever since"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
"Flying castle? How? That explains a lot but opens so many more questions. I'm sorry to hear about Lady Nander. What are your plans now? Can we help? We tied a rope across the broken bridge so you can start to get across now. I'm sorry to say that there is no one alive in the town. Except for a woman, a monk, staying at the Inn. Do you remember her? And do you think we should go see if the villagers are safe? Tell us more about the caves."
Hawk has the look of a child listening to a great story.. Wooow! Sounds crazy! Sorry about the town! But sounds like all they wanted was the big stone.. I mean.. I know a Giant.. and I don't think they want to harm people.. but when they want something, they will go all the way to get it... sounds like that stone was important to them. Perhaps we could go to the caves, tell the towsfolk that the town is safe again.. assuming the giants got what they came for. As for lady Nander.. she is with the Cat Lord now, she is in good paws. Are you guys hungry?
Hawk grabs some rations out of his pack and shares with the guards if they want some.
Dungeon Master – MelGon's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Hawk of the Night (Hawk) – Level 2 Tabaxi Ranger – Swift's Storm King's Thunder
Lavandula Angustia – Level 1 Tiefling Rogue – LMoP campaign, DM: novaskyr
The guards have their own supplies. The larder here was fully stocked. And one of the guards remembers a monk arriving and heading to Morak's Inn
(on phone so not doing speech for formatting reasons)
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
What time of day is it at this point? If the guards are done talking, Bert's going to go to the wall of the keep to check and make sure the drawbridge is still up.
It is now evening, getting into late evening. Looking from the wall you look and the drawbridge is still up
(you guys are now level 2)
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Hawk suggests to the group that they stay in the keep for the night. And when the sun rises on the horizon, they can go find the townsfolk at the caves!
Dungeon Master – MelGon's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Hawk of the Night (Hawk) – Level 2 Tabaxi Ranger – Swift's Storm King's Thunder
Lavandula Angustia – Level 1 Tiefling Rogue – LMoP campaign, DM: novaskyr
Bert likes that idea, as long as the guards are okay with it!
Zook listens intently to the incredible story about the flying cloud castle and the giants, but remains quiet throughout. Having spent the past few years rather isolated from most folk, the events of this day are proving to be quite incredible, and they've given him much to think about.
He finds his mind beginning to drift inward. "Where even to begin...?" he thinks to himself. "Flying castles... giants... goblins... the missing Nightstone...I can't even pretend that I understand the world anymore. And here I thought I was on the path to making sense of things and working out the heads and tails of how the grand scheme of life plays out for all of us. Well, the events of this day have clearly shown me that I'm no closer than I was when I entered the monastery and began walking this path. I still have much to learn... and I don't even know where to start looking for the answers I seek..."
Eventually, the gnome returns from his brief period of mental wanderings.
"I agree. I am getting rather tired from the events of this day, and it would seem that resting here would be a good idea. But what about our friend Kella? Shouldn't we go and ask if she wants to join us here for the night as well? Surely it would be much safer for her, just as it would be for us."
Mandaway held up a hand, " I will go tell her, I need to go and bring all the scattered bodies to the graveyard anyway.....if Kraakan would like to come we can probably get them all put to bed in a couple of hours then get some sleep ourselves. I'll leave the burying of nobility to their attendants.", he said with a nod to the guards.
As he readied himself he mused, " I've not heard of any flying castles or such. The giants I lived with were fair carvers of stone but I didn't see nothing they made fly. But it does seem obvious they came here for the Nightstone, whatever it actually is....I doubt they grabbed it on a whim."
He snatched up a loaf of black bread and munched at it as he headed out....
OOC: Gather the bodies he's been notified about/has seen, inform Kella, bury dead, perfunctory rites, hit the sack back at the keep.
If Mandaway and Krakkan are headed out, Bert comes along. "I don't want you to go out alone, without someone watching your back."
He comes with, first checking at the inn to make sure Kella is okay, filling her in on the keep, and looking at what she's doing with a half a suspicious eye. Then he'll rejoin the gravediggers and lend a hand while also looking around to make sure they're not disturbed.
As you are making plans to head out, from the walls, Bert sees 7 figures approaching on horseback. They stop at the drawbridge and shout out but you are too far away to hear. You then see Kella leaving the Inn and heading towards the drawbridge
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
(I’m confused, is it the next day or is this happening in the evening?)
Dungeon Master – MelGon's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Hawk of the Night (Hawk) – Level 2 Tabaxi Ranger – Swift's Storm King's Thunder
Lavandula Angustia – Level 1 Tiefling Rogue – LMoP campaign, DM: novaskyr
(it's evening)
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Bert calls down from the wall, "Forge! Can you get your bird over to the drawbridge right now? Seven people on horseback just got there, and I see Kella moving from the inn to the gate. She's safe, because you need two people to lower that thing, but let's be cautious and get a closer look-listen to what they have to say. Maybe it's a rescue party, maybe it's the villagers, maybe it's brigands, maybe they're monks. I will head that direction once you listen in with your owl and we know more."
Can Bert try to glean any more information from them from where he stands? Are they human-looking? Bedraggled? Familiar with the town? Carrying children? Anything from this distance?
Hawk asks Bert:
Do you think Kella needs help with the drawbridge?
Dungeon Master – MelGon's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Hawk of the Night (Hawk) – Level 2 Tabaxi Ranger – Swift's Storm King's Thunder
Lavandula Angustia – Level 1 Tiefling Rogue – LMoP campaign, DM: novaskyr
Mandaways chill demeanour almost broke, " I just want to bury some folk before they get too ripe...is that too much to ask, Eldath?", he said with frustration.
He turned and started walking towards the drawbridge with a sigh...
"Let's make sure these new arrivals are friendly first, right? Kella would need another person to operate the other side of the drawbridge like we did when we raised it. Maybe someone can ask the guards here if they recognize them?"
Bert: human looking, not carrying much but as Kella arrives, the flying snake flies over and coils around the leader.
Kella is very slowly lowering the drawbridge. It is possible with one person but she has to lower a little on one side and then go to the other tower and lower a little more. By the time you guys can cross back over the bridge it will be open
The guards look over and, upon seeing the flying snake, scowl, "The Zhentarim. Of course they would take advantage of this. "
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Hawk asks:
The who what now?
(I can’t imagine Hawk would’ve heard about them in his homeland, and most likely hasn’t really heard about them before now either)
Dungeon Master – MelGon's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Hawk of the Night (Hawk) – Level 2 Tabaxi Ranger – Swift's Storm King's Thunder
Lavandula Angustia – Level 1 Tiefling Rogue – LMoP campaign, DM: novaskyr