Barakas, Eldon Underbough, Enzana Iranapha, and Kade are a group of adventurers that were hired to investigate the rumors of a goblin assault on a settlement within Ardeep Forest. The High Steward of Nightstone, Lady Velrosa Nandar, is a Waterdhavian noble who offered a reward to anyone will to take on the job. They’ve been traveling along the High Road for days. As evening approaches, they spot a wooden signpost next to a trail that heads north into the hills. Nailed to the post are three arrow-shaped signs. The two marked “Waterdeep” and “Daggerford” follow the High Road but point in opposite directions. The third, marked “Nightstone,” beckons you to follow the trail. If memory serves, Nightstone is roughly ten miles up the trail.
Eldon, who had been whistling a merry tune as he and his companions walked the path towards Nightstone (and possibly driving them 'round the bend in the process) exclaims upon seeing the sign, "Not too much farther to go now!".
“If memory serves me, roughly a half days at a steady pace. But this trail is much less traveled than the High Road, if you insist on continuing to whistle, please give me a head start.” Kade turns to give Eldon a sly look, “You’ll make an excellent decoy if any creatures mean to harm us.”
“You wouldn’t ask a tiger to change his stripes... we know what we have with this one. He will whistle and unfortunately, we will deal with the headaches and other repercussions as they appear”
Enzana says with a bit of a smirk. She is in a good mood so far today as things have been light and there is work to do. “The Enclave put us together for a reason. I’m sure we could learn from another.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Eldon shakes his head at his companions, still smiling, "A journey, big or small, is always benefited by accompaniment, and should be enjoyed to its fullest! I'm not as much of a wanderer as some of my kin, but even I know that!"
Barakas - Barakas walks along with the others just looking off into the distance letting them carry on with their conversations, but thinks, "If this is going to be the content of the conversation the entire time with this trope it will be an arduous journey indeed."
After following the trail for ten miles, you hear the ringing of a bell. The sound grows louder as Nightstone comes into view. A river flows around the settlement, forming a moat. The village itself is contained within a wooden palisade, beyond which you see a windmill, a tall steeple, and the high-pitched rooftops of several other buildings. Apart from the ringing of the bell, you detect no other activity in the village. The trail ends before a lowered drawbridge that spans the moat. Beyond the drawbridge, two stone watchtowers flank an open gap in the palisade.
South of the village and surrounded by the river moat is a cone-shaped, flat-topped hill on which stands a stone keep enclosed by a wooden wall. The keep, which overlooks the village, has partially collapsed. A wooden bridge that once connected the keep to the village has also partially collapsed.
Kade skulks forward, moving along the drawbridge. The drawbridge is lowered. It is 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and made of sturdy oak planks. Iron chains bolted to the drawbridge connect to winch mechanisms in the nearby watchtowers.
As he steps into the village, he can see ample boulders embedded in the earth, holes punched through rooftops, shattered wreckage, and dead villagers buried under piles of debris. The boulders are 3 feet in diameter and weigh 500 pounds each. Kade doesn't see that any one is around, as if the village is empty of its residents.
The whole party is able to see that Nightstone is a motte-and-bailey fortification built on the Ardeep River. A 15-foot-high wooden palisade encloses the village bailey. The palisade’s logs rise to sharpened points, and the gaps between the logs are sealed with tar. The palisade and its stone watchtowers can’t be climbed without the aid of climbing gear or magic, such as a spider climb spell. All the buildings in the village except the watchtowers are made of wood and have steep, shingled rooftops. Muddy paths connect them.
Water from the river fills the moat to a depth of 15 feet. The moat is 30 feet wide, narrowing to a width of 20 feet under the drawbridge. The moat is home to schools of trout.
The keep overlooking the village stands atop a constructed, funnel-shaped hill called a motte. The rocky slopes of the motte are covered with loose shale, and scaling these slopes without climbing gear requires a successful Strength (Athletics) check. Encircling the motte’s keep is an 8-foot-high stone parapet with a 15-foot-high outer curtain wall made of thick wooden planks perforated with shuttered archer windows. The outer walls of the keep are made of smooth, tightly fitted stone bricks. The keep and the outer curtain wall can’t be climbed without the aid of climbing gear or magic, such as a spider climb spell.
Barakas - Walking into the village Barakas begins to wonder, "Is this the aftermath of a battle or something worse?,". He looks to his companions to see their reactions.
Eldon shakes his head, as he kneels from inspecting the body of the nearest villager, whispering them their last rites. "Look around; do you see the bodies of any assailants? This was no battle. This was a slaughter. Perhaps the keep holds some answers as to who, or what, caused this."
The bell still echoes throughout the village, which they can now determine the sound is coming from the temple. They can also see seven stone watchtowers standing along the village perimeter. Each tower is 20 feet tall, with a roof enclosed by crenellated battlements. Inside each tower is a wooden ladder that leads to an unlocked trapdoor in the roof.
As Kade skulks into the square, he can see two worgs feasting on a slaughtered dog in the northeast corner of the village square. The square is a muddy open area with a 5-foot-deep hole in the middle of it. North of the hole is a covered well. Other features of the village square include an empty wooden cart and a couple of tethering posts planted firmly in the ground. From the square, you can see signs identifying the Nightstone Inn and the Lionshield Coster trading post.
The bell still echoes throughout the village, which they can now determine the sound is coming from the temple. They can also see seven stone watchtowers standing along the village perimeter. Each tower is 20 feet tall, with a roof enclosed by crenellated battlements. Inside each tower is a wooden ladder that leads to an unlocked trapdoor in the roof.
As Kade skulks into the square, he can see two worgs feasting on a slaughtered dog in the northeast corner of the village square. The square is a muddy open area with a 5-foot-deep hole in the middle of it. North of the hole is a covered well. Other features of the village square include an empty wooden cart and a couple of tethering posts planted firmly in the ground. From the square, you can see signs identifying the Nightstone Inn and the Lionshield Coster trading post.
Barakas - Hearing what Eldon says Barakas agrees by nodding his head. After seeing that Kade is up ahead Barakas attempts to move quietly towards him in order to find out if there is any other information to obtain from his scouting ahead.
"Stange that these posts aren't empty isn't it? Do you mind if I go have a look up here?" If no one objects Enzana will climb the wooden ladder, along the way if she sees any breaks in the ladder she will cast mending and continue to climb.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"Stange that these posts aren't empty isn't it? Do you mind if I go have a look up here?" If no one objects Enzana will climb the wooden ladder, along the way if she sees any breaks in the ladder she will cast mending and continue to climb.
Barakas - While still quietly moving towards Kade he over hears your question and just gives a thumbs-up in your direction.
Enzana ascends to the top of one of the watchtowers flanking the entrance to the village. Each tower contains a winch, and both mechanisms must be turned to extend or retract the chains that raise and lower the drawbridge. If both winches are operated simultaneously, it takes six seconds to raise or lower the drawbridge by 30 degrees. In other words, the fully lowered drawbridge can be fully raised in 24 seconds. Other than that, there's nothing else inside these watchtowers.
Barakas, Eldon Underbough, Enzana Iranapha, and Kade are a group of adventurers that were hired to investigate the rumors of a goblin assault on a settlement within Ardeep Forest. The High Steward of Nightstone, Lady Velrosa Nandar, is a Waterdhavian noble who offered a reward to anyone will to take on the job. They’ve been traveling along the High Road for days. As evening approaches, they spot a wooden signpost next to a trail that heads north into the hills. Nailed to the post are three arrow-shaped signs. The two marked “Waterdeep” and “Daggerford” follow the High Road but point in opposite directions. The third, marked “Nightstone,” beckons you to follow the trail. If memory serves, Nightstone is roughly ten miles up the trail.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Eldon, who had been whistling a merry tune as he and his companions walked the path towards Nightstone (and possibly driving them 'round the bend in the process) exclaims upon seeing the sign, "Not too much farther to go now!".
“If memory serves me, roughly a half days at a steady pace. But this trail is much less traveled than the High Road, if you insist on continuing to whistle, please give me a head start.” Kade turns to give Eldon a sly look, “You’ll make an excellent decoy if any creatures mean to harm us.”
“You wouldn’t ask a tiger to change his stripes... we know what we have with this one. He will whistle and unfortunately, we will deal with the headaches and other repercussions as they appear”
Enzana says with a bit of a smirk. She is in a good mood so far today as things have been light and there is work to do. “The Enclave put us together for a reason. I’m sure we could learn from another.”
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Eldon shakes his head at his companions, still smiling, "A journey, big or small, is always benefited by accompaniment, and should be enjoyed to its fullest! I'm not as much of a wanderer as some of my kin, but even I know that!"
Barakas - Barakas walks along with the others just looking off into the distance letting them carry on with their conversations, but thinks, "If this is going to be the content of the conversation the entire time with this trope it will be an arduous journey indeed."
Cade Overhill/ Level 3 / Halfling / Bard - Talaveroth (sub-campaign 1)
Manneo "Bear Killer" Thuliaga / Level 1 / Goliath / Monk - Curse of Strahd
After following the trail for ten miles, you hear the ringing of a bell. The sound grows louder as Nightstone comes into view. A river flows around the settlement, forming a moat. The village itself is contained within a wooden palisade, beyond which you see a windmill, a tall steeple, and the high-pitched rooftops of several other buildings. Apart from the ringing of the bell, you detect no other activity in the village. The trail ends before a lowered drawbridge that spans the moat. Beyond the drawbridge, two stone watchtowers flank an open gap in the palisade.
South of the village and surrounded by the river moat is a cone-shaped, flat-topped hill on which stands a stone keep enclosed by a wooden wall. The keep, which overlooks the village, has partially collapsed. A wooden bridge that once connected the keep to the village has also partially collapsed.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Eldon's whistling promptly stops, "Oh. Oh dear. What's happened to this place?"
He'll turn to the others, "Quickly! We must see if anyone is hurt!"
(Do we have a decent vantage point? Can we see anyone on the outskirts of the village)
”I’ll do a quick scout around and meet you all in the village” Kade will stealthily do a quick recon
stealth roll- 7
Perception roll if you need it- 15
Kade skulks forward, moving along the drawbridge. The drawbridge is lowered. It is 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and made of sturdy oak planks. Iron chains bolted to the drawbridge connect to winch mechanisms in the nearby watchtowers.
As he steps into the village, he can see ample boulders embedded in the earth, holes punched through rooftops, shattered wreckage, and dead villagers buried under piles of debris. The boulders are 3 feet in diameter and weigh 500 pounds each. Kade doesn't see that any one is around, as if the village is empty of its residents.
The whole party is able to see that Nightstone is a motte-and-bailey fortification built on the Ardeep River. A 15-foot-high wooden palisade encloses the village bailey. The palisade’s logs rise to sharpened points, and the gaps between the logs are sealed with tar. The palisade and its stone watchtowers can’t be climbed without the aid of climbing gear or magic, such as a spider climb spell. All the buildings in the village except the watchtowers are made of wood and have steep, shingled rooftops. Muddy paths connect them.
Water from the river fills the moat to a depth of 15 feet. The moat is 30 feet wide, narrowing to a width of 20 feet under the drawbridge. The moat is home to schools of trout.
The keep overlooking the village stands atop a constructed, funnel-shaped hill called a motte. The rocky slopes of the motte are covered with loose shale, and scaling these slopes without climbing gear requires a successful Strength (Athletics) check. Encircling the motte’s keep is an 8-foot-high stone parapet with a 15-foot-high outer curtain wall made of thick wooden planks perforated with shuttered archer windows. The outer walls of the keep are made of smooth, tightly fitted stone bricks. The keep and the outer curtain wall can’t be climbed without the aid of climbing gear or magic, such as a spider climb spell.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Barakas - Walking into the village Barakas begins to wonder, "Is this the aftermath of a battle or something worse?,". He looks to his companions to see their reactions.
Cade Overhill/ Level 3 / Halfling / Bard - Talaveroth (sub-campaign 1)
Manneo "Bear Killer" Thuliaga / Level 1 / Goliath / Monk - Curse of Strahd
Eldon shakes his head, as he kneels from inspecting the body of the nearest villager, whispering them their last rites. "Look around; do you see the bodies of any assailants? This was no battle. This was a slaughter. Perhaps the keep holds some answers as to who, or what, caused this."
K: Kade
B: Barakas
EU: Eldon Underbough
EI: Enzana Iranapha
W1: Worg One
W2: Worg Two
The bell still echoes throughout the village, which they can now determine the sound is coming from the temple. They can also see seven stone watchtowers standing along the village perimeter. Each tower is 20 feet tall, with a roof enclosed by crenellated battlements. Inside each tower is a wooden ladder that leads to an unlocked trapdoor in the roof.
As Kade skulks into the square, he can see two worgs feasting on a slaughtered dog in the northeast corner of the village square. The square is a muddy open area with a 5-foot-deep hole in the middle of it. North of the hole is a covered well. Other features of the village square include an empty wooden cart and a couple of tethering posts planted firmly in the ground. From the square, you can see signs identifying the Nightstone Inn and the Lionshield Coster trading post.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Barakas - Hearing what Eldon says Barakas agrees by nodding his head. After seeing that Kade is up ahead Barakas attempts to move quietly towards him in order to find out if there is any other information to obtain from his scouting ahead.
22
Cade Overhill/ Level 3 / Halfling / Bard - Talaveroth (sub-campaign 1)
Manneo "Bear Killer" Thuliaga / Level 1 / Goliath / Monk - Curse of Strahd
"Stange that these posts aren't empty isn't it? Do you mind if I go have a look up here?" If no one objects Enzana will climb the wooden ladder, along the way if she sees any breaks in the ladder she will cast mending and continue to climb.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Barakas - While still quietly moving towards Kade he over hears your question and just gives a thumbs-up in your direction.
Cade Overhill/ Level 3 / Halfling / Bard - Talaveroth (sub-campaign 1)
Manneo "Bear Killer" Thuliaga / Level 1 / Goliath / Monk - Curse of Strahd
Enzana ascends to the top of one of the watchtowers flanking the entrance to the village. Each tower contains a winch, and both mechanisms must be turned to extend or retract the chains that raise and lower the drawbridge. If both winches are operated simultaneously, it takes six seconds to raise or lower the drawbridge by 30 degrees. In other words, the fully lowered drawbridge can be fully raised in 24 seconds. Other than that, there's nothing else inside these watchtowers.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
"See anything else of note from up there, Enzana?"
Due to the loud bell ringing from the temple, Eldon's words are drowned by the bell so Enzana cannot hear him.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Enzana comes down, "Couple of winches of there. It might be useful for use to raise to drawbridge, in case someone or something else is coming."
(ooc: was the alarm control on the towers or just because we were too far apart to hear eachother over the bells?)
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen