Though anxious to get to the source of the sounds, Assarion hesitates when he sees the statue of the dragon and the fresh grave. He steps carefully into the chamber, examining the spot where his comrade has pointed out the claw marks (Perception 2, in the log). Further in, he takes a wide circle around the dragon statue and looks especially at the base for wear, signs that this dragon statue may be more than a statue (Investigation 24, in the log). Lastly he'll check the grave, but unless there's a marker, he's more concerned with whether the occupant is still there (Investigation 21, in the log).
Tagreth replies back to Victor's question, "Evlish is not one of the languages that I have studied. However, I do have ways to understand languages even if I have never studied them. It is how I translated the writing in Inferno. It is something that I have found useful when tracking people down."
Then upon hearing Bombil hearing that he knows the language, "It seems my talents with translating won't be needed if you can speak the language. Which will be useful as I can't speak the languages that I can translate."
Noting that Assarion has headed into the chamber, Tagreth decides to carefully follow him.
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“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Victor followed Bombil over to the statue and looked at it with a soft hint of a smile. "I don't know if it's true or not but I think that might be of Nikolas when he was younger... but I don't know. It's possible that it could be of an old friend or maybe even a previous lover perhaps." He shrugged slightly and hesitantly reached out but stopped before his hand made contact with the statue.
{With a 13 Bombil has the sense that the statue is that of a golden dragon. There aren't any hidden contraptions or secrets hidden on it but there is a small crack forming near the bottom jaw.}
"Good, I was hoping that would be the case. If we run into those two that found their ways down here then we might be able to convince them to leave before they go and get themselves killed... if they haven't already that is." He replied in Elvish before looking around for a couple seconds.
“We are close listen smell look for tracks. Someone is held captive I can hear some murmuring.” May I make a survival check for direction of these sounds?
{With a 14 Kaliden has a sense that the sounds are coming from the northeastern corner of the chamber, possibly nearby one of the other tunnel openings.}
Thorin shares what he found "Beware there claw marks here. Either the creature was trying to escape or hide by digging into the wall"
He carefully examines the claw marks to see if he recognizes the creature
Nature check with advantage from class feature
16
Survival Check with advantage from class feature
25
"Could it have been one of the ghasts' doing?" Victor asked with a curious look on his face.
{With a 16 Thorin has a sense that the claw marks do not belong ghasts although they did come from a creature of similar size like a ghoul. Although if he were to go out on a limb he might be inclined to think that the marks came from a creature of vampiric origins, like a vampire spawn.}
{With a 25, Thorin notices that further up the wall a little further down there is a second and slightly deeper scratch although that one seems to have been from a strike that missed it's intended target. If he was to look at the ground there are three separate sets of older prints and one set of them seems to have originated from near the statue and graves.}
Though anxious to get to the source of the sounds, Assarion hesitates when he sees the statue of the dragon and the fresh grave. He steps carefully into the chamber, examining the spot where his comrade has pointed out the claw marks (Perception 2, in the log). Further in, he takes a wide circle around the dragon statue and looks especially at the base for wear, signs that this dragon statue may be more than a statue (Investigation 24, in the log). Lastly he'll check the grave, but unless there's a marker, he's more concerned with whether the occupant is still there (Investigation 21, in the log).
{With a 24 Assarion doesn't see any signs that the statue is more than it appears to be but he does notice places where it is beginning to crack and break. A few of the breaks and cracks look to be several years old while the newer ones make it look like something hit it rather hard.}
{With a 21, as Assarion checks the grave he notices that where a coffin should have been there is nothing but dirt, and the body is nowhere to be seen. There's a small marker and the name on it is 'Lyndon Lowclaw'.}
Tagreth replies back to Victor's question, "Evlish is not one of the languages that I have studied. However, I do have ways to understand languages even if I have never studied them. It is how I translated the writing in Inferno. It is something that I have found useful when tracking people down."
Then upon hearing Bombil hearing that he knows the language, "It seems my talents with translating won't be needed if you can speak the language. Which will be useful as I can't speak the languages that I can translate."
Noting that Assarion has headed into the chamber, Tagreth decides to carefully follow him.
"Is that so? Well it's good to know how to translate languages even though you have yet to study them. You never know when that ability will come in handy."
When Victor again mentions Lord Nikolas, Assarion once again is satisfied with his decision to use his nom de guerre. His slight smile falters when he examines the grave, but he schools his features back to his neutral. His mind races, but he calmly notes, "If this statue is meant to be Lord Darkclaw, the someone strong has quite a grudge. Some of these cracks are fresh." The fighter starts paying extra attention to Victor's responses, and notes his reaction to the mention of vampire spawn. (Insight: 20, in the log)
He begins idly examining his sword. Really, he's checking to see if he can catch Victor's reflection in it - Assarion, after all, is no expert on vampirism. But most of all he simply waits until Victor is distracted, and then calls, "Lyndon." Does Lowclaw react?
There was a momentary silence as Victor thought about Thorin's findings. He took a step back from the statue and looked at it again for a couple seconds. "Vampire spawn? Well that's a surprise, I didn't think there were any vampire in the area. Perhaps that Dragonborn was... no that can't be right... although if that were the case then it could explain why he was down here at the time he was. If Stoneclaw found out about there being a vampire or vampire spawn down here... well you can probably figure out how that might turn out."
"I didn't even notice how badly it was getting damaged. It's no secret that me and him had a little bit of bad blood but I didn't do that. In fact I usually take my frustrations out on the ghouls that I've run into down here, maybe whoever your associate here heard had something to do with it?" Victor replied with a small shrug before slowly turning to face Assarion. He faked a small smile but he quickly shifted his gaze back towards the statue, trying to figure out what could have actually happened to it.
{With a 20 Assarion notices that Victor hesitates slightly when Vampire Spawn are brought up, it's almost as if he wished that the possibility of it being one wasn't that high. He also appears to be quiet fearful of what might happen if word of a vampire or vampire spawn being in the tunnels got back to Stoneclaw.}
Although it is a bit muddled, Victor does cast a reflection on the sword. He was just about to head towards the sounds that Kaliden had pointed out when he heard Assarion call out a rather familiar name. He froze up for a couple seconds before slowly turning around with a soft smile almost as if he was half expecting to see him. A confused and somewhat saddened expression crossed his face before quickly turning on his heels and walking over to him. "How do you know that name? Did you meet him before you met with Stoneclaw, perhaps?"
(If Lyndon Lowclaw had some connection to the nobility of the realm, Assarion - Lord Nicolas de Brézé - would likely know it. If Lyndon himself were noble, he would know the name and crest, at least. History: 20, in the log.)
Assarion answers with a slight smile. "How long has he been dead?" he asks.
"Good, I was hoping that would be the case. If we run into those two that found their ways down here then we might be able to convince them to leave before they go and get themselves killed... if they haven't already that is." He replied in Elvish before looking around for a couple seconds.
Bombil thinks for a moment. Two that found their way down here? He turns to Thorin, "Earlier you said you heard two guards looking for Xavword, right?" he glances at Victor and then back to Thorin, "Might those be the two that Victor says wandered down here?"
There was a stunned silence from Victor when he heard Assarion's answer. He takes a few small steps back and curses to himself under his breath as he glanced towards the grave. "He... He's dead? That can't be right, this has to be some messed up joke or maybe perhaps a nightmare that I have yet to wake from." He finally replied after a couple seconds then he turns away from the group to collect himself and his thoughts.
{With a 20, Assarion -Lord Nicolas de Brézé- does recall a noble by the name of Lyndon although he took his partner's last name when they married. Before the marriage his last name was Ravenblood and he was a count from a city called Emberpass that is near the border of Cleica and Arath. The Ravenblood crest is more than a little unusual, on it there is what looks to be either a raven with a serpent's tail(or perhaps it's just a dragon with a lot of raven like features) and a crescent moon.}
Bombil says, "I'm assuming he means Yostil Dakaryh. The pale dragonborn from Lastview."He pauses as his mind starts putting together some of the puzzle piece. "...Lastview ...in Espar." His eyes widen "Wasn't Espar the kingdom with that nercromancy incident some year back? I have to wonder..."
His eyes never leaving Victor, Assarion gives Bombil a nod and a more thorough account. "Yes, the necromancers. We were close to war with Espar, at that point. I hadto.." He pauses, collecting his thoughts. "Rather, the Comte de La Fére had to recruit levies and increase patrols in our county; we're close to the border. I thought I would be sent to war."He says that matter-of-factly, not at all anxious about that possibility. "Tensions eased slightly once Lord Darkbranch came to power, but..." He frowned. "There are rumors that the rulers of Espar were involved in his assassination. Only rumors, but enough to make Lady Amastacia uneasy, and she has Cliffgrave back to heightened alert."
Bombil says, "I'm assuming he means Yostil Dakaryh. The pale dragonborn from Lastview."He pauses as his mind starts putting together some of the puzzle piece. "...Lastview ...in Espar." His eyes widen "Wasn't Espar the kingdom with that nercromancy incident some year back? I have to wonder..."
Trying to think if the name Yostil Dakaryh or a dragonborn was mentioned as factoring into that necromancy incident.
Victor nodded slightly and glanced back towards the group for a moment. "Yes that was who I was referring to." He took a breath when he heard him talking about the necromancy incident. He hesitated for a moment not entirely sure what to say. "Yes it was the kingdom with the necromancy incident, although it's hard to know who actually started it. I've heard so many rumors of how it began and who started it that I'm not entirely sure what to believe anymore."
{With a 5 Bombil doesn't recall hearing the name Yostil Dakaryh or any mention of a Dragonborn being mentioned as a factor in the beginning of the necromancy incident although it is possible that he might have had a less noticeable part in the incident.}
Taggreth thinks for a moment to recall what knowledge he has about Espar.
(History: 24)
{With a 24 Taggreth recalls that Espar is a desert kingdom that has been dealing with the aftermath of a chaotic incident known by most people as the Necromancy Incident. In truth the incident was actually an attempt to overthrow Lord and Lady Crestheart and take back the thrown by the former ruler and three of his disciples who he'd placed in charge of the city of Ghostguard, the town of Glimmervalley and the village of Dustwick, all of which seemed to have disappeared in the years between the start of the 'incident' and now. Most of Espar's former rulers dabbled in necromancy but the current rulers have no interest in necromancy, in fact they had outlawed the use of necromancy around the time of Lord Darkbranch's assassination.}
{With an 18 Kaliden recalls that the necromantic upheaval in Espar began two years after Desmond Crestheart and Wit Crestheart took the thrown. The former ruler, a powerful necromancer who had faked his own death returned to reclaim his position but when Desmond refused to step down he threatened to destroy the very kingdom that he was trying to reclaim from it's young new rulers. After swaying the leaders of Ghostguard, Glimmervalley and Dustwick to join his cause they began to raise the dead in their respective cities, town and village. Then they began to try and recruit more people to join their cause and if the people they asked refused then they would be killed and brought back from the dead as part of their undead 'army'.}
His eyes never leaving Victor, Assarion gives Bombil a nod and a more thorough account. "Yes, the necromancers. We were close to war with Espar, at that point. I hadto.." He pauses, collecting his thoughts. "Rather, the Comte de La Fére had to recruit levies and increase patrols in our county; we're close to the border. I thought I would be sent to war."He says that matter-of-factly, not at all anxious about that possibility. "Tensions eased slightly once Lord Darkbranch came to power, but..." He frowned. "There are rumors that the rulers of Espar were involved in his assassination. Only rumors, but enough to make Lady Amastacia uneasy, and she has Cliffgrave back to heightened alert."
Victor let out a soft sigh and glanced down at the ground as he listened to what Assarion was saying. "I'd be shocked if you weren't. During that time a lot of people were prepared for the possibility of going to war because of it." He shifted slightly and took a step forwards before mumbling something underneath his breath. Then he began to walk towards the location of the sounds had come from. "Yes, when Lord Darkbranch came to power things were starting to cool down a little. Although I have my doubts that those rumors are true it does make me question if there are a few guilty parties in Espar that wanted to shift the blame."
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Thorin shares what he found "Beware there claw marks here. Either the creature was trying to escape or hide by digging into the wall"
He carefully examines the claw marks to see if he recognizes the creature
Nature check with advantage from class feature
22
Survival Check with advantage from class feature
21
Assarion
Though anxious to get to the source of the sounds, Assarion hesitates when he sees the statue of the dragon and the fresh grave. He steps carefully into the chamber, examining the spot where his comrade has pointed out the claw marks (Perception 2, in the log). Further in, he takes a wide circle around the dragon statue and looks especially at the base for wear, signs that this dragon statue may be more than a statue (Investigation 24, in the log). Lastly he'll check the grave, but unless there's a marker, he's more concerned with whether the occupant is still there (Investigation 21, in the log).
Tagreth replies back to Victor's question, "Evlish is not one of the languages that I have studied. However, I do have ways to understand languages even if I have never studied them. It is how I translated the writing in Inferno. It is something that I have found useful when tracking people down."
Then upon hearing Bombil hearing that he knows the language, "It seems my talents with translating won't be needed if you can speak the language. Which will be useful as I can't speak the languages that I can translate."
Noting that Assarion has headed into the chamber, Tagreth decides to carefully follow him.
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Victor followed Bombil over to the statue and looked at it with a soft hint of a smile. "I don't know if it's true or not but I think that might be of Nikolas when he was younger... but I don't know. It's possible that it could be of an old friend or maybe even a previous lover perhaps." He shrugged slightly and hesitantly reached out but stopped before his hand made contact with the statue.
{With a 13 Bombil has the sense that the statue is that of a golden dragon. There aren't any hidden contraptions or secrets hidden on it but there is a small crack forming near the bottom jaw.}
"Good, I was hoping that would be the case. If we run into those two that found their ways down here then we might be able to convince them to leave before they go and get themselves killed... if they haven't already that is." He replied in Elvish before looking around for a couple seconds.
{With a 14 Kaliden has a sense that the sounds are coming from the northeastern corner of the chamber, possibly nearby one of the other tunnel openings.}
"Could it have been one of the ghasts' doing?" Victor asked with a curious look on his face.
{With a 16 Thorin has a sense that the claw marks do not belong ghasts although they did come from a creature of similar size like a ghoul. Although if he were to go out on a limb he might be inclined to think that the marks came from a creature of vampiric origins, like a vampire spawn.}
{With a 25, Thorin notices that further up the wall a little further down there is a second and slightly deeper scratch although that one seems to have been from a strike that missed it's intended target. If he was to look at the ground there are three separate sets of older prints and one set of them seems to have originated from near the statue and graves.}
{With a 24 Assarion doesn't see any signs that the statue is more than it appears to be but he does notice places where it is beginning to crack and break. A few of the breaks and cracks look to be several years old while the newer ones make it look like something hit it rather hard.}
{With a 21, as Assarion checks the grave he notices that where a coffin should have been there is nothing but dirt, and the body is nowhere to be seen. There's a small marker and the name on it is 'Lyndon Lowclaw'.}
"Is that so? Well it's good to know how to translate languages even though you have yet to study them. You never know when that ability will come in handy."
Thorin shares what he found with the others. "It could be a vampire spawn and something else came from the statues direction"
Assarion
When Victor again mentions Lord Nikolas, Assarion once again is satisfied with his decision to use his nom de guerre. His slight smile falters when he examines the grave, but he schools his features back to his neutral. His mind races, but he calmly notes, "If this statue is meant to be Lord Darkclaw, the someone strong has quite a grudge. Some of these cracks are fresh." The fighter starts paying extra attention to Victor's responses, and notes his reaction to the mention of vampire spawn. (Insight: 20, in the log)
He begins idly examining his sword. Really, he's checking to see if he can catch Victor's reflection in it - Assarion, after all, is no expert on vampirism. But most of all he simply waits until Victor is distracted, and then calls, "Lyndon." Does Lowclaw react?
Kaliden follows the sounds, praying silently to spare the suffering of the innocent if in fact that is what is being heard.
There was a momentary silence as Victor thought about Thorin's findings. He took a step back from the statue and looked at it again for a couple seconds. "Vampire spawn? Well that's a surprise, I didn't think there were any vampire in the area. Perhaps that Dragonborn was... no that can't be right... although if that were the case then it could explain why he was down here at the time he was. If Stoneclaw found out about there being a vampire or vampire spawn down here... well you can probably figure out how that might turn out."
"I didn't even notice how badly it was getting damaged. It's no secret that me and him had a little bit of bad blood but I didn't do that. In fact I usually take my frustrations out on the ghouls that I've run into down here, maybe whoever your associate here heard had something to do with it?" Victor replied with a small shrug before slowly turning to face Assarion. He faked a small smile but he quickly shifted his gaze back towards the statue, trying to figure out what could have actually happened to it.
{With a 20 Assarion notices that Victor hesitates slightly when Vampire Spawn are brought up, it's almost as if he wished that the possibility of it being one wasn't that high. He also appears to be quiet fearful of what might happen if word of a vampire or vampire spawn being in the tunnels got back to Stoneclaw.}
Although it is a bit muddled, Victor does cast a reflection on the sword. He was just about to head towards the sounds that Kaliden had pointed out when he heard Assarion call out a rather familiar name. He froze up for a couple seconds before slowly turning around with a soft smile almost as if he was half expecting to see him. A confused and somewhat saddened expression crossed his face before quickly turning on his heels and walking over to him. "How do you know that name? Did you meet him before you met with Stoneclaw, perhaps?"
Assarion
(If Lyndon Lowclaw had some connection to the nobility of the realm, Assarion - Lord Nicolas de Brézé - would likely know it. If Lyndon himself were noble, he would know the name and crest, at least. History: 20, in the log.)
Assarion answers with a slight smile. "How long has he been dead?" he asks.
Bombil thinks for a moment. Two that found their way down here? He turns to Thorin, "Earlier you said you heard two guards looking for Xavword, right?" he glances at Victor and then back to Thorin, "Might those be the two that Victor says wandered down here?"
[[OOC: for ease of reference in case memory needs refreshing: 64-74 are the posts of interest]]
He also takes another look at the crack he found on the statue.
(rolled in log)
Investigation: 7-1 = 6
Looking for if the crack is from wear and tear, or claws, or other means.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
There was a stunned silence from Victor when he heard Assarion's answer. He takes a few small steps back and curses to himself under his breath as he glanced towards the grave. "He... He's dead? That can't be right, this has to be some messed up joke or maybe perhaps a nightmare that I have yet to wake from." He finally replied after a couple seconds then he turns away from the group to collect himself and his thoughts.
{With a 20, Assarion -Lord Nicolas de Brézé- does recall a noble by the name of Lyndon although he took his partner's last name when they married. Before the marriage his last name was Ravenblood and he was a count from a city called Emberpass that is near the border of Cleica and Arath. The Ravenblood crest is more than a little unusual, on it there is what looks to be either a raven with a serpent's tail(or perhaps it's just a dragon with a lot of raven like features) and a crescent moon.}
"What dragonborn are you speaking of Victor. First the ghast and not a vampire spawn. Something strange in happening in this tunnel." says Thorin
Bombil says, "I'm assuming he means Yostil Dakaryh. The pale dragonborn from Lastview." He pauses as his mind starts putting together some of the puzzle piece. "...Lastview ...in Espar." His eyes widen "Wasn't Espar the kingdom with that nercromancy incident some year back? I have to wonder..."
(rolled in log)
History: 6-1=5
Trying to think if the name Yostil Dakaryh or a dragonborn was mentioned as factoring into that necromancy incident.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
"Well thanks for reminding me. Shall we continue on?" says Thorin
Taggreth thinks for a moment to recall what knowledge he has about Espar.
(History: 10)
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Kaliden jogs his memory regarding any necromantic upheaval in Espar also.
history 18
Assarion
His eyes never leaving Victor, Assarion gives Bombil a nod and a more thorough account. "Yes, the necromancers. We were close to war with Espar, at that point. I had to.." He pauses, collecting his thoughts. "Rather, the Comte de La Fére had to recruit levies and increase patrols in our county; we're close to the border. I thought I would be sent to war." He says that matter-of-factly, not at all anxious about that possibility. "Tensions eased slightly once Lord Darkbranch came to power, but..." He frowned. "There are rumors that the rulers of Espar were involved in his assassination. Only rumors, but enough to make Lady Amastacia uneasy, and she has Cliffgrave back to heightened alert."
Victor nodded slightly and glanced back towards the group for a moment. "Yes that was who I was referring to." He took a breath when he heard him talking about the necromancy incident. He hesitated for a moment not entirely sure what to say. "Yes it was the kingdom with the necromancy incident, although it's hard to know who actually started it. I've heard so many rumors of how it began and who started it that I'm not entirely sure what to believe anymore."
{With a 5 Bombil doesn't recall hearing the name Yostil Dakaryh or any mention of a Dragonborn being mentioned as a factor in the beginning of the necromancy incident although it is possible that he might have had a less noticeable part in the incident.}
{With a 24 Taggreth recalls that Espar is a desert kingdom that has been dealing with the aftermath of a chaotic incident known by most people as the Necromancy Incident. In truth the incident was actually an attempt to overthrow Lord and Lady Crestheart and take back the thrown by the former ruler and three of his disciples who he'd placed in charge of the city of Ghostguard, the town of Glimmervalley and the village of Dustwick, all of which seemed to have disappeared in the years between the start of the 'incident' and now. Most of Espar's former rulers dabbled in necromancy but the current rulers have no interest in necromancy, in fact they had outlawed the use of necromancy around the time of Lord Darkbranch's assassination.}
{With an 18 Kaliden recalls that the necromantic upheaval in Espar began two years after Desmond Crestheart and Wit Crestheart took the thrown. The former ruler, a powerful necromancer who had faked his own death returned to reclaim his position but when Desmond refused to step down he threatened to destroy the very kingdom that he was trying to reclaim from it's young new rulers. After swaying the leaders of Ghostguard, Glimmervalley and Dustwick to join his cause they began to raise the dead in their respective cities, town and village. Then they began to try and recruit more people to join their cause and if the people they asked refused then they would be killed and brought back from the dead as part of their undead 'army'.}
Victor let out a soft sigh and glanced down at the ground as he listened to what Assarion was saying. "I'd be shocked if you weren't. During that time a lot of people were prepared for the possibility of going to war because of it." He shifted slightly and took a step forwards before mumbling something underneath his breath. Then he began to walk towards the location of the sounds had come from. "Yes, when Lord Darkbranch came to power things were starting to cool down a little. Although I have my doubts that those rumors are true it does make me question if there are a few guilty parties in Espar that wanted to shift the blame."