The following morning Bretwald prepared to leave with the companions leaving Le Cloche in the care of the Widow Bealing and two burly farm hands with permission from Valor to hold him if he recovers early.
Setting out east towards the village of Saxton, which lies very close to where Bretwald hopes to pick up the thread, it is three days from Axbridge on foot with the older priest.
The trade road is broad and well kept and the companions see nought but carts of produce on the road. ( See map on Campaign page for route.)
First nights rest is taken at Igham on the northern border of Jewelspider Wood who happily welcome back Tana and are saddened to hear of Teryls demise, the villagers send the companions on their way with a great profusion of berry tarts and preserves.
Second nights rest is taken after travelling through Norham, a rather sullen village, with little love for strangers and vagrants, though they are slightly more agreeable on learning Valors title. Travelling onward rest is taken at Gullys Inn. a popular place for merchants on the road to stay.
On the third night they arrive in Saxton and Bretwald is eager to head north into Fenring Forest as soon as the moon has risen. You are beginning to doubt the old priests sanity as he searches the forest edge but the thread is easily found, tied to a marked tree a mile or so west of the Forest River. It is visible as a glimmering line, like spider silk, shining in the moonlight.
Bretwald is almost bouncing on his heels so excited is he to get moving, he lights his lantern and beckons you forward.....
( Feel free to detail marching order, lighting and any purchases/conversations/performances or the like over the last three days. Accomodation for the journey was 1 gold room/board for all of you per night. )
Hotspur stays up far too late each night singing, telling tales, and of course imbibing. Thus, each morning he begins a little bleary-eyed and cotton-mouthed. He travels at the rear of the column, pulling his hood over his eyes to block some of the sunlight and grumbles at the singing birds to "keep it down, you posers!"
By mid-day he regains most of his cheery disposition, and the teasing, singing, punning and wordplay return. He'll usually move up to the front end of the company at this point.
Each evening, if they are in a location with a gathering-place for the locals, he will share the tale of the defeat of Fhionn and the liberation of Maiden's Vale.
Thatch’s natural curiosity keeps him to the front of the group as they travel, and he is eager to listen to the priest tell more of the history of the tomb and his tale of his night in the forest as they travel. He listens to Hotspur’s performance each night with interest, marveling as it appears to grow in the telling each night and amazed at how much it differs from what he remembers.
The final evening, as they find the thread, Thatch moves again to the front of the party, lighting his own lantern and lowering its hood, keeping the light to a small circle surrounding him. “We should keep the light to a minimum, it will stand out as a beacon in the dark forest and draw things to us.” He follows the thread in the moonlight, leading the others and trusting them to watch for danger.
The companions follow the glistening thread, Thatch and Tanas keen eyes picking it out when Bretwald loses track of it.....as you move through the dark forest foxes and owls call among the trees and hundreds of smaller creatures make their nightly travails all about you.
Bretwald whispers as you go, " It is strange......some sources call it the Tomb of Vallandar yet many others call it The Test of Vallandar....."
" A Test of what exactly....well. who knows.....but the treasures of Vallandars kingdom were said to be beyond imagining."
He grows quiet again as wolf howls echo across the tree tops...
It is nearly dawn as you enter the clearing Bretwald has told you about. In the side of a grassy bank, entwined with the roots of an old tree, stands a massive door of stone.
Tall letters in an ancient tongue are carved across the face of it. Bretwald picks moss from them with a knife before murmuring, “Here lies Vallandar, who was and will again be King.”
"Well," says the bard, "We didn't come all this way just to stand around gazing at the door." And with that he tries to push, or pull the barrier open.
Valor spends the brief trip treating honestly with the villagers. If any ask, he offers honest judgement as a knight, and support for the disenfranchised.
He is uneasy being in the elf forest, he doesn't want to trespass on another's territory, but will deal with that if it arrives.
When they arrive at the door, he muses to himself, "Hm, a good king would certainly be useful these days." He looks at the priest, "Are there any traps or curses we should be aware of?"
Bretwald stretches, his old joints cracking as he pulls forth two hatchets, two spades and a hand pick from his backpack.
" No curses that I know of, its going to be hard work getting the doors free of those roots though. I suggest as we've just walked through the night we take some rest here for a spell and then set to work on the roots and doors."
Valor nods and drops his pack, and unpins his cloak. "Thatch and I will keep first watch, the rest of you see what rest you can get and we'll get started on a few hours."
Hotspur finds a tree stump to lean against, and stretches out his legs on the ground. He uncorks one of the bottles he received from the grateful people of Maiden's Vale, and pours a little into a wooden cup he takes from his pack. He swishes the wine around and smells it, a smile on his face. After taking a sip, he sets it to the side, and gets out his lute, quietly tunes the strings, and begins to pluck a sleepy wordless melody.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thatch takes out one of his daggers and prods lightly at the roots running through the doors. “No curses would be a good thing. Still, best to be careful. The Fey lords knew you were here last time somehow, I doubt we will avoid their notice for long” Thatch inspects the door for any potential traps or for any markings, runes, or writing. As he finishes, he moves to set up his bedroll and take the first watch with Valor.
Perception (for both inspecting the door and for first watch) 11.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
From somewhere nearby, camouflaged in the foliage ...
"Dru, what do you make of this lot? Rather odd assortment to be travelling together through Fenring Forest. I suppose they've found what they were seeking at the end of this mysterious thread. I'll see if I can figure out what they're talking about."
Cainneach slinks off, hopefully silently, through the brush, seeking a better vantage point from which to observe the conversation between the elderly fellow, the bard, and the apparent knight. Now that the sun has come up and he can make out the details of the environment, Cainneach realizes that, despite his time spent in Fenring under Dru's expert tutelage, at the present moment he has no idea where they are. Cainneach lets out a quiet sigh, then sees if he can fare better in understanding the stranger's conversation than he can in ascertaining their current position.
(Cainneach will attempt to read the lips of those involved in the conversation at the door, using the Observant feat.)
Stealth22 (to sneak to his vantage point?) Perception23 (in case their mouths are partially/momentarily obscured?)
Dru pulls a blade of grass and holds it between her teeth, chewing on one end. To Cainneach she says, “Not forest people. Shouldn’t be out here. Gonna get themselves killed or worse.” Then she points out a place where he might get a better vantage point and readies her bow in case there is trouble.
Thatch takes out one of his daggers and prods lightly at the roots running through the doors. “No curses would be a good thing. Still, best to be careful. The Fey lords knew you were here last time somehow, I doubt we will avoid their notice for long” Thatch inspects the door for any potential traps or for any markings, runes, or writing. As he finishes, he moves to set up his bedroll and take the first watch with Valor.
Perception (for both inspecting the door and for first watch) 11.
There is no writing on the door except for that Bretwald already revealed, it appears immensly heavy, possibly so much so that the only thing keeping it from collapsing now are the tree roots.
As the others setlle in for a few hours, Thatch hears some rustling in the bushes nearby as if a smallish animal is moving about.....
From somewhere nearby, camouflaged in the foliage ...
"Dru, what do you make of this lot? Rather odd assortment to be travelling together through Fenring Forest. I suppose they've found what they were seeking at the end of this mysterious thread. I'll see if I can figure out what they're talking about."
Cainneach slinks off, hopefully silently, through the brush, seeking a better vantage point from which to observe the conversation between the elderly fellow, the bard, and the apparent knight. Now that the sun has come up and he can make out the details of the environment, Cainneach realizes that, despite his time spent in Fenring under Dru's expert tutelage, at the present moment he has no idea where they are. Cainneach lets out a quiet sigh, then sees if he can fare better in understanding the stranger's conversation than he can in ascertaining their current position.
(Cainneach will attempt to read the lips of those involved in the conversation at the door, using the Observant feat.)
Stealth10 (to sneak to his vantage point?) Perception14 (in case their mouths are partially/momentarily obscured?)
Cainneach is able to make out everything said, including references to the Aos Si and that the old priest had visited the area before.....perhaps back when he and Dru had found those gnawed corpses stacked amongst the trees.
As he moves across he makes a bit more noise than intended....
Dru pulls a blade of grass and holds it between her teeth, chewing on one end. To Cainneach she says, “Not forest people. Shouldn’t be out here. Gonna get themselves killed or worse.” Then she points out a place where he might get a better vantage point and readies her bow in case there is trouble.
Cainneach grimaces and shakes his head as he crunches down on a dried leaf while settling into a crouch. "Come on Cainneach, you've been taught better than that. Ach, well I'm here, may as well take a look and hope the interlopers didn't hear that", he thinks to himself. After "listening" to the conversation, Cainneach does indeed recall those corpses, a haunting sight he won't soon forget. A puzzled frown crosses his face with that memory and the mention of the elves, but he remains still and silent otherwise, waiting for an opportunity to return to Dru's position or to follow her lead.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tana watches everyone's movements carefully, pointing out their footsteps as they go. As the party comes to a stop for their nightly rest, she also takes a moment to inspect the doors embedded in the nature. She nods in faint fascination at the structure, fingers lightly skimming the crevices before turning away.
Not one to get much sleep, Tana tucks herself into the corner of some roots and also keeps watch over the slumbering party members. She inclines her head at Thatch to alert him of her awakened status. She continues to scan the forest line as the night goes on.
The following morning Bretwald prepared to leave with the companions leaving Le Cloche in the care of the Widow Bealing and two burly farm hands with permission from Valor to hold him if he recovers early.
Setting out east towards the village of Saxton, which lies very close to where Bretwald hopes to pick up the thread, it is three days from Axbridge on foot with the older priest.
The trade road is broad and well kept and the companions see nought but carts of produce on the road. ( See map on Campaign page for route.)
First nights rest is taken at Igham on the northern border of Jewelspider Wood who happily welcome back Tana and are saddened to hear of Teryls demise, the villagers send the companions on their way with a great profusion of berry tarts and preserves.
Second nights rest is taken after travelling through Norham, a rather sullen village, with little love for strangers and vagrants, though they are slightly more agreeable on learning Valors title. Travelling onward rest is taken at Gullys Inn. a popular place for merchants on the road to stay.
On the third night they arrive in Saxton and Bretwald is eager to head north into Fenring Forest as soon as the moon has risen. You are beginning to doubt the old priests sanity as he searches the forest edge but the thread is easily found, tied to a marked tree a mile or so west of the Forest River. It is visible as a glimmering line, like
spider silk, shining in the moonlight.
Bretwald is almost bouncing on his heels so excited is he to get moving, he lights his lantern and beckons you forward.....
( Feel free to detail marching order, lighting and any purchases/conversations/performances or the like over the last three days. Accomodation for the journey was 1 gold room/board for all of you per night. )
Hotspur stays up far too late each night singing, telling tales, and of course imbibing. Thus, each morning he begins a little bleary-eyed and cotton-mouthed. He travels at the rear of the column, pulling his hood over his eyes to block some of the sunlight and grumbles at the singing birds to "keep it down, you posers!"
By mid-day he regains most of his cheery disposition, and the teasing, singing, punning and wordplay return. He'll usually move up to the front end of the company at this point.
Each evening, if they are in a location with a gathering-place for the locals, he will share the tale of the defeat of Fhionn and the liberation of Maiden's Vale.
Thatch’s natural curiosity keeps him to the front of the group as they travel, and he is eager to listen to the priest tell more of the history of the tomb and his tale of his night in the forest as they travel. He listens to Hotspur’s performance each night with interest, marveling as it appears to grow in the telling each night and amazed at how much it differs from what he remembers.
The final evening, as they find the thread, Thatch moves again to the front of the party, lighting his own lantern and lowering its hood, keeping the light to a small circle surrounding him. “We should keep the light to a minimum, it will stand out as a beacon in the dark forest and draw things to us.” He follows the thread in the moonlight, leading the others and trusting them to watch for danger.
Morseth follows trying to stay as quiet as he can at the back of the party.
The companions follow the glistening thread, Thatch and Tanas keen eyes picking it out when Bretwald loses track of it.....as you move through the dark forest foxes and owls call among the trees and hundreds of smaller creatures make their nightly travails all about you.
Bretwald whispers as you go, " It is strange......some sources call it the Tomb of Vallandar yet many others call it The Test of Vallandar....."
" A Test of what exactly....well. who knows.....but the treasures of Vallandars kingdom were said to be beyond imagining."
He grows quiet again as wolf howls echo across the tree tops...
It is nearly dawn as you enter the clearing Bretwald has told you about. In the side of a grassy bank, entwined with the roots of an old tree, stands a massive door of stone.
Tall letters in an ancient tongue are carved across the face of it. Bretwald picks moss from them with a knife before murmuring, “Here lies Vallandar, who was and will again be King.”
"Well," says the bard, "We didn't come all this way just to stand around gazing at the door." And with that he tries to push, or pull the barrier open.
Valor spends the brief trip treating honestly with the villagers. If any ask, he offers honest judgement as a knight, and support for the disenfranchised.
He is uneasy being in the elf forest, he doesn't want to trespass on another's territory, but will deal with that if it arrives.
When they arrive at the door, he muses to himself, "Hm, a good king would certainly be useful these days." He looks at the priest, "Are there any traps or curses we should be aware of?"
**By the Light of the Sun, you will burn!**
Previously BENEFICENCE
DM: Storm Lord's Wrath || Syr Valor Dayne: Sleeping Gods || tooltips | guides | dice |
Hotspur ceases yanking on the stone slab as he hears Valor utter the word "curses" and slowly backs away. "Um, yeah... are there any of... those?"
Bretwald stretches, his old joints cracking as he pulls forth two hatchets, two spades and a hand pick from his backpack.
" No curses that I know of, its going to be hard work getting the doors free of those roots though. I suggest as we've just walked through the night we take some rest here for a spell and then set to work on the roots and doors."
Valor nods and drops his pack, and unpins his cloak. "Thatch and I will keep first watch, the rest of you see what rest you can get and we'll get started on a few hours."
**By the Light of the Sun, you will burn!**
Previously BENEFICENCE
DM: Storm Lord's Wrath || Syr Valor Dayne: Sleeping Gods || tooltips | guides | dice |
Hotspur finds a tree stump to lean against, and stretches out his legs on the ground. He uncorks one of the bottles he received from the grateful people of Maiden's Vale, and pours a little into a wooden cup he takes from his pack. He swishes the wine around and smells it, a smile on his face. After taking a sip, he sets it to the side, and gets out his lute, quietly tunes the strings, and begins to pluck a sleepy wordless melody.
(Is this to be a short, or a long rest?)
"Yep I can use some rest" says Morseth. He uses his pack as a makeshift pillow.
Thatch takes out one of his daggers and prods lightly at the roots running through the doors. “No curses would be a good thing. Still, best to be careful. The Fey lords knew you were here last time somehow, I doubt we will avoid their notice for long” Thatch inspects the door for any potential traps or for any markings, runes, or writing. As he finishes, he moves to set up his bedroll and take the first watch with Valor.
Perception (for both inspecting the door and for first watch) 11.
.
From somewhere nearby, camouflaged in the foliage ...
"Dru, what do you make of this lot? Rather odd assortment to be travelling together through Fenring Forest. I suppose they've found what they were seeking at the end of this mysterious thread. I'll see if I can figure out what they're talking about."
Cainneach slinks off, hopefully silently, through the brush, seeking a better vantage point from which to observe the conversation between the elderly fellow, the bard, and the apparent knight. Now that the sun has come up and he can make out the details of the environment, Cainneach realizes that, despite his time spent in Fenring under Dru's expert tutelage, at the present moment he has no idea where they are. Cainneach lets out a quiet sigh, then sees if he can fare better in understanding the stranger's conversation than he can in ascertaining their current position.
(Cainneach will attempt to read the lips of those involved in the conversation at the door, using the Observant feat.)
Stealth 22 (to sneak to his vantage point?)
Perception 23 (in case their mouths are partially/momentarily obscured?)
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
Come join the Worlds of Pphost, a new and growing PbP community! Adventures are currently running in the world of Haven or do some role-playing!
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Dru pulls a blade of grass and holds it between her teeth, chewing on one end. To Cainneach she says, “Not forest people. Shouldn’t be out here. Gonna get themselves killed or worse.” Then she points out a place where he might get a better vantage point and readies her bow in case there is trouble.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
There is no writing on the door except for that Bretwald already revealed, it appears immensly heavy, possibly so much so that the only thing keeping it from collapsing now are the tree roots.
As the others setlle in for a few hours, Thatch hears some rustling in the bushes nearby as if a smallish animal is moving about.....
Cainneach is able to make out everything said, including references to the Aos Si and that the old priest had visited the area before.....perhaps back when he and Dru had found those gnawed corpses stacked amongst the trees.
As he moves across he makes a bit more noise than intended....
Cainneach grimaces and shakes his head as he crunches down on a dried leaf while settling into a crouch. "Come on Cainneach, you've been taught better than that. Ach, well I'm here, may as well take a look and hope the interlopers didn't hear that", he thinks to himself. After "listening" to the conversation, Cainneach does indeed recall those corpses, a haunting sight he won't soon forget. A puzzled frown crosses his face with that memory and the mention of the elves, but he remains still and silent otherwise, waiting for an opportunity to return to Dru's position or to follow her lead.
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
Come join the Worlds of Pphost, a new and growing PbP community! Adventures are currently running in the world of Haven or do some role-playing!
It never hurts to help! ---- PbP: [Rolling Dice] [Tooltips] ---- DDB Content: [Free Adventures] [Encounter of the Week]
Tana watches everyone's movements carefully, pointing out their footsteps as they go. As the party comes to a stop for their nightly rest, she also takes a moment to inspect the doors embedded in the nature. She nods in faint fascination at the structure, fingers lightly skimming the crevices before turning away.
Not one to get much sleep, Tana tucks herself into the corner of some roots and also keeps watch over the slumbering party members. She inclines her head at Thatch to alert him of her awakened status. She continues to scan the forest line as the night goes on.
(Perception: 18)
Noire Havensong | Harengon Archfey Warlock 6/Lore Bard 4 | Westmarch - Guild of the Phoenix (Discord)
Tanatari Crelieu | Kalashtar Druid 2 | Damian_May's Sleeping Gods
Jynx Starrkeep | Changling GOO Warlock 2 | Astien's Tyranny of Dragons
DM | Eberron Eternal (Discord)
( And for those that were wondering despite it just being an early morning kip for a few hours it'll count as a long rest.
Tana definitely heard the same sounds as Thatch).