There is no ale left in the house, Barkas, but there are still some bottles of red wine the Orcs did not finish.  Kalazorn will gladly let you take a few bottles.  

Setting out under cover of darkness, the party makes for Conyberry.  They follow near but off of the Triboar Trail, hoping to evade any sentries that may have been posted by the Orcish raiders.  

10

I will need...

• Stealth rolls from everyone
• Perception checks from everyone
• A Survival check from whomever is doing the navigating

Barkas rolls up his star map, confident and glad to lead them all to Conyberry, seemingly overconfident in his skills.  Any hesitation and he acts as if the star map is guiding him, leading him true.  

Stealth :20

Perception : 14

Survival : 15

T'laren Stealth: 10 and Perception: 14

Droknin Stealth: 17 Perception: 9

(Apparently the big cat is not having a good day...)

Aranea Stealth: 4 and Perception: 5

The stars do right by Barkas and his directions are unimpeachable.  He successfully steers the party through the thin forests and fields along the Triboar Trail until they reach the outskirts of the ruins of Conyberry.  Those who had previously been to Thundertree, can easily see that these ruins wish they were in as good repair as those.  Conyberry is little more than a cluster of foundations, with a few stone walls to show there was ever a town here at all.  

Yet, there can be no doubt that something dwells here.  All throughout the ruins and leading away to the south are the tracks of many Orc, as well as something larger, perhaps Ogres or Trolls.  

Following the tracks quietly, you travel another several miles south until you emerge from thin forest onto a wide, rocky plain.  In the moonlight to the south you can see the rising spires of the Sword Mountains. More immediately, in front of you stands the broken remains of an old monastery.  

The ruin stands in the middle of a vast field.  An old stone temple with a belfry jutting from its peaked roof is enclosed by stone walls, many sections of which have collapsed.  The trail ends at a crumbling gatehouse, the doors to which were sundered long ago.  Three of the four towers that once stood at the corners of the outer walls have collapsed. Only the northeast tower remains, and a guard post stands atop it.  No alarm has gone up at your approach, but you feel very exposed as you linger near the treeline.  

Barkas ushers everyone back into the treelike and points toward the remaining tower.    “Thas where I’d post a guard.  What dya think, how should we approach it?  I could transform into one of my animal frenz and sneak uponem, but wanna hear if you fellers have another idea..”

"Neral't and I can cross short distances handily, but not a field that size. I think you would have the most chance to get across unnoticed, perhaps create a small distraction to take any eyes off us as we slip across?"

“Maybe slither up on em as BarkBoaStrictor?  Hah!  I can do that!  But you fellers better move quick and fast when it starts going down.”  Barkas starts making squeezing motions with his hands and looking for any other ideas.

Aranea turns to Barkas and smiles. "I have to see BarkBoaStrictor," she whispers. "We'll be quick as a snake's strike."

((How far across the vast field is it to where we'd have cover from the guard post? How high up is the lone tower's guard post? We were heading south, so would be approaching the side with the NE tower,  yes? Able to make out any guards atop the tower? Just trying to get a feel in case T'laren needs to try to snipe the lookout with his 150/600 range on his longbow.))

It looks like there is a single guard visible atop the northeast tower.  T'laren would need to leave cover to get within 150' range.  While the moon is out, it is dark, and he could try to sneak slowly within range.  Alternatively, it looks like only the northeast tower has a guard post.  If the party skirted the monastery at great distance they could come at it from another direction.

"Perhaps a big cat could cause some distraction? Could even bring some of those orcs out from their place." Droknin goes on all fours, and wags his Leonin tail.

(Talking about tail. It just occurred to me that I just assumed that Leonins have tails. However, it doesn’t say anything about it on their official description, nor do I see it in the picture. I googled it and I am not sure.)

“Ok ok, BarkPanther it is.  I love the way the power in my arms and legs feel when I did that before…”. Barkas steps aside for a moment, then transforms into a large black panther, fur gleaming black as night.  The panther raises up for a moment and makes swiping motions and pinching with his paws and nods, then steps toward the tower in the night, ready to approach and surprise the watchman in the tower.  If it is possible for a panther to give a dew claw thumbs up, he does so.

"Resplendent!" Aranea declares once Barkas has transformed. "Truly magnificent, Barkas. Black is my favorite color."

Indeed the strange investigator from Neverwinter appears to be admiring the panther's sleek fur and sharp claws. In that moment, in fact, Aranea finds herself strangely jealous. How come she couldn't change her shape? Surely that is something within the capabilities of her patron but alas, no. She was stuck with her own form. At least the Raven Queen had seen fit to bless her with enhanced darkvision.

Barkas waits for the signal from everyone before he starts his stalk up to the tower, periodically looking back to make sure everyone is in position.

Seen that Barkas shapeshifts into a Black Panther, Droknin gets up from his all four stance. "Well, that will do as well. Actually, might be a better option." He looks to T'laren and Aranea. "So, we run to this place when Barkas gives the signal?"

"I suppose..." T'laren says a bit dubiously. "I can take shots at the one in the watch tower if it looks like they are about to raise the alarm... What is the signal?"