Grimbald suggests the party waits until Augustin is fully healed before taking on the Ankheg. Then to try an infiltrate the keep, "Can we reach this secret door undercover, or is it out in the open. Anyone got any ideas about the locked entry? We can't just smash it down due to the noise. Maybe we have a 2nd plan in case we can't make it through the secret entrance."
sounds like a plan, we have 5 acid vials and 12 flasks of alchemists fire if they help with the planning for the Ankheg or the keep.
Grimbald suggests the party waits until Augustin is fully healed before taking on the Ankheg. Then to try an infiltrate the keep, "Can we reach this secret door undercover, or is it out in the open. Anyone got any ideas about the locked entry? We can't just smash it down due to the noise. Maybe we have a 2nd plan in case we can't make it through the secret entrance."
At the planning meetings Alesia Gravelstoke presents her information gathered from her cultivated spy network in Harken Village:
There is a snitch in a trusted position, so trust no one in Harken Village.
The keep is inhabited by a depleted army, the survivors of the Battle of Albridge, plus those soldiers who were looking after Harken while the battle was on.
The keep is ruled by a powerful priest of Asmodeus named Kaltis. He was sent up from Sarthel when the Iron Circle realised things were not going well in Harkenwold, but too late to get into the battle.
A foul tempered, imperious old wizard named Malkos also lives in the keep, arriving with Kaltis from Sarthel.
The Baron of Harkenwold - Augustin's uncle Jonn Stockmer - and his wife Amirah, and two sons Lennon and Ayaan, are being kept in the gaol. They must be kept safe.
The Gatehouse captain is a spiteful but diligent tiefling named Sturmik.
The drawn map is scoured for information and ideas. Dar Gremath, Alesia Gravelstoke, the party members interested in attending, Kathrid the smith (when she's not working on Augustin's new plate armour) all exchange ideas. All are agreed a frontal assault is going to fail. Therefore infiltration seems to be the best way.
The following options were tabled:
Surrender to the Iron Circle, be put in prison inside the keep. Then have Alesia Gravelstoke infiltrate the keep in the middle of the night and free them.
Hide in supply wagons taken into the keep.
Wear disguises and pretend to be Iron Circle troops returning back and get admitted into the keep.
Send Alesia Gravelstoke into the keep in the middle of the night and get her to open the secret door from the inside, allowing the party in.
The party may add any more to these ideas.
Another secret passage has been identified in the drawing leading from the Lord's Hall to the Lord's Chambers - no doubt where the high priest Mola Ram sleeps.
Vakiel will be in attendance at the meeting but step outside to intercept RL and/or Esa before they join (if possible).
”can one or both of you keep an eye on Alesia - or just get a sense of her intent? Her family has a long history of spying so the fact she has a lot of information she’s able to provide is no surprise… but I want to make sure it’s not leading us into any sort of trap, that she’s honest in what she’s providing us. She’s a bit too………..attentive to me, so it may be tricky for me to get a read on her discreetly.”
Vakiel will be in attendance at the meeting but step outside to intercept RL and/or Esa before they join (if possible).
”can one or both of you keep an eye on Alesia - or just get a sense of her intent? Her family has a long history of spying so the fact she has a lot of information she’s able to provide is no surprise… but I want to make sure it’s not leading us into any sort of trap, that she’s honest in what she’s providing us. She’s a bit too………..attentive to me, so it may be tricky for me to get a read on her discreetly.”
And he’ll head back into the meeting
RL will cast guidance on himself then step into the room the meeting is in and give Alesia a big hug as per the manners he learned from Grimbald. RL will ask her for a run down on the planning and will do an insight check on her honesty with the party, in particular with the snitch and whether the party can trust her to not double cross the party on infiltration.
Vakiel will be in attendance at the meeting but step outside to intercept RL and/or Esa before they join (if possible).
”can one or both of you keep an eye on Alesia - or just get a sense of her intent? Her family has a long history of spying so the fact she has a lot of information she’s able to provide is no surprise… but I want to make sure it’s not leading us into any sort of trap, that she’s honest in what she’s providing us. She’s a bit too………..attentive to me, so it may be tricky for me to get a read on her discreetly.”
And he’ll head back into the meeting
RL will cast guidance on himself then step into the room the meeting is in and give Alesia a big hug as per the manners he learned from Grimbald. RL will ask her for a run down on the planning and will do an insight check on her honesty with the party, in particular with the snitch and whether the party can trust her to not double cross the party on infiltration.
Insight with guidance 19 +2
Alesia returns the hug, and then, completely understanding where RL is coming from, tells him that while she is happy for physical contact not everyone is and that if you are not sure, and can't read someone's body language, then it is always good to ask "can I hug you?" or words to that effect.
RL, using his enhanced senses from the guidance spell, listens to Alesia closely as she goes through the plans and the information she has gathered. The shifter is confident afterwards that if there is any double crossing or anything dodgy, then it will not come from her - or rather at this point in time Alesia is not looking to seek advantage at the expense of the party. She appears to be focusing on how she can play a role in ousting the Iron Circle.
With regard to the snitch you think it is likely Alesia has an idea who it might be, but she is not saying - perhaps because she isn't 100% sure and the consequences of accusing someone might be severe - given what has happened in the village of Dardun with people who were seen as collaborating with the Iron Circle being badly treated RL thinks maybe this is understandable. So instead she has been telling the party not to trust anyone.
Alesia returns the hug, and then, completely understanding where RL is coming from, tells him that while she is happy for physical contact not everyone is and that if you are not sure, and can't read someone's body language, then it is always good to ask "can I hug you?" or words to that effect.
RL will apologise to Alesia for the hug. ' thank you for the manners lesson's. He will give a half bow instead.
Alesia smiles. "You people are the most genuine folk I have ever met. It is my pleasure to assist you in any way I can. But not everyone is like me, not even my family. Too much time spent with dodgy folk, I expect. Except Vincent. He IS dodgy folk, which I think you know already." She sighs. "The twins are good too, they like you. And Regan, of course. But Xander sees you as someone to be allies with when it suits him. Oh, he will keep his word and never backstabs or double crosses. It's all business to him. He will only be allies with you while it benefits the Gravelstokes, and fully expects you would have the same outlook."
Esa and RL inform everyone of the insect problem. She gives Grimbald the map she has drawn, and tells them "RL and I will go out each day to make sure the problem doesn't get out of hand. With hiss owl and my invisibility, we can stay hidden and do recon daily. If we aren't back by lunch, come find us."
Which entrance do you want to use. The only one easily accessed by humanoids is A (at the top). The one RL and Esa discovered first is C. B and C are very similar and look like the image of the Ankheg Burrow at the top.
While looking down Grimbald accidently kicks a rock down into the shaft. It bounces noisily, rolling out of sight. The dwarf hears the sound of hissing, and then something large moving about. Then silence.
RL suggests we go in at A, we are going to need light for Esa anyway at some point so stealth is not really going to be much use once we use that. Is there light in the tunnel?
Esa on RLs shoulder, Grimbald can lead but only 10ft in front, vakiel next to RL. He wants the detect poison to cover everyone . Stop before the anti chamber so we can assess
That work?
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sounds like a plan, we have 5 acid vials and 12 flasks of alchemists fire if they help with the planning for the Ankheg or the keep.
At the planning meetings Alesia Gravelstoke presents her information gathered from her cultivated spy network in Harken Village:
The drawn map is scoured for information and ideas. Dar Gremath, Alesia Gravelstoke, the party members interested in attending, Kathrid the smith (when she's not working on Augustin's new plate armour) all exchange ideas. All are agreed a frontal assault is going to fail. Therefore infiltration seems to be the best way.
The following options were tabled:
The party may add any more to these ideas.
Another secret passage has been identified in the drawing leading from the Lord's Hall to the Lord's Chambers - no doubt where the high priest Mola Ram sleeps.
Vakiel will be in attendance at the meeting but step outside to intercept RL and/or Esa before they join (if possible).
”can one or both of you keep an eye on Alesia - or just get a sense of her intent? Her family has a long history of spying so the fact she has a lot of information she’s able to provide is no surprise… but I want to make sure it’s not leading us into any sort of trap, that she’s honest in what she’s providing us. She’s a bit too………..attentive to me, so it may be tricky for me to get a read on her discreetly.”
And he’ll head back into the meeting
RL will cast guidance on himself then step into the room the meeting is in and give Alesia a big hug as per the manners he learned from Grimbald. RL will ask her for a run down on the planning and will do an insight check on her honesty with the party, in particular with the snitch and whether the party can trust her to not double cross the party on infiltration.
Insight with guidance 15 +3
Alesia returns the hug, and then, completely understanding where RL is coming from, tells him that while she is happy for physical contact not everyone is and that if you are not sure, and can't read someone's body language, then it is always good to ask "can I hug you?" or words to that effect.
RL, using his enhanced senses from the guidance spell, listens to Alesia closely as she goes through the plans and the information she has gathered. The shifter is confident afterwards that if there is any double crossing or anything dodgy, then it will not come from her - or rather at this point in time Alesia is not looking to seek advantage at the expense of the party. She appears to be focusing on how she can play a role in ousting the Iron Circle.
With regard to the snitch you think it is likely Alesia has an idea who it might be, but she is not saying - perhaps because she isn't 100% sure and the consequences of accusing someone might be severe - given what has happened in the village of Dardun with people who were seen as collaborating with the Iron Circle being badly treated RL thinks maybe this is understandable. So instead she has been telling the party not to trust anyone.
Alesia returns the hug, and then, completely understanding where RL is coming from, tells him that while she is happy for physical contact not everyone is and that if you are not sure, and can't read someone's body language, then it is always good to ask "can I hug you?" or words to that effect.
RL will apologise to Alesia for the hug. ' thank you for the manners lesson's. He will give a half bow instead.
Alesia smiles. "You people are the most genuine folk I have ever met. It is my pleasure to assist you in any way I can. But not everyone is like me, not even my family. Too much time spent with dodgy folk, I expect. Except Vincent. He IS dodgy folk, which I think you know already." She sighs. "The twins are good too, they like you. And Regan, of course. But Xander sees you as someone to be allies with when it suits him. Oh, he will keep his word and never backstabs or double crosses. It's all business to him. He will only be allies with you while it benefits the Gravelstokes, and fully expects you would have the same outlook."
Esa and RL inform everyone of the insect problem. She gives Grimbald the map she has drawn, and tells them "RL and I will go out each day to make sure the problem doesn't get out of hand. With hiss owl and my invisibility, we can stay hidden and do recon daily. If we aren't back by lunch, come find us."
RL will take 4 of the alchemist fire vials.
Augustin will come along on the bug hunt, he'll stay up top though, out of combat, throwing down any supplies you need.
Hey Vakiel and Grimbald, do you wan t to come and hunt an Anhkeg? Maybe I can persuade it to leave, otherwise we probably have to kill it.
Grimbald cracks his knuckles, and picks up his crossbows and packs his new flail
13th Day of Latesummer
Overcast, cool and drizzly day, blown by a SE breeze.
The party get ready for a bug hunt. They meet in the common room, and RL draws out a rough map of the creature's lair.
RL will ritually cast detect poison and disease before we go in. 10 minutes, concentration 30ft and ovs with him.
He is a bit worried by the beetles and fungus
"Which way Wolf? " Stealth 18
Which entrance do you want to use. The only one easily accessed by humanoids is A (at the top). The one RL and Esa discovered first is C. B and C are very similar and look like the image of the Ankheg Burrow at the top.
While looking down Grimbald accidently kicks a rock down into the shaft. It bounces noisily, rolling out of sight. The dwarf hears the sound of hissing, and then something large moving about. Then silence.
RL suggests we go in at A, we are going to need light for Esa anyway at some point so stealth is not really going to be much use once we use that. Is there light in the tunnel?
Esa on RLs shoulder, Grimbald can lead but only 10ft in front, vakiel next to RL. He wants the detect poison to cover everyone . Stop before the anti chamber so we can assess
That work?