The tracks are going in the same direction. Asking because it will be slower if you drive while looking at the tracks. Going directly to Alisfield would be faster but then you won't know if Vlad pulled a sneaky and went a different way.

(OOC: In that case, Dev still said his piece having likely forgotten just that quickly about a more direct route. But if/when reminded of the path, he'd change is tune right quick. So, up to everyone else if there's any wish to follow his accidental suggestion)

"I do think we should go to Alisfield. Vlad doesn't looks like the camping lover to me " says Valwaryn " And time is of the essence before he gets bored of play with his victim or thinks that all this inconvenience is not worth it." 

(OOC: Just to have it icly clarified. Although think we still need input from AnimeSquirrel and pokepallady)

Devarus' brows became sort of knitted together in thought for a bit. "Mn... A fair point. Although I fear either way we may not reach there before nightfall. Such is the price to be paid for much needed haste in our endeavor." He admits as he threw in a sagely nod. "I would trust the reigns to you all the same, Valwyrn. As I fear my own memory might not be the best for so intricate directions our runaway so kindly gave us." 

Runt grunts Not from here. Don't know the land. Trust my friends.

To travel through the forest takes another hour. By the time the party reach Ailsfield, the forest has gotten dark. The golden light of the western sun was not enough to penetrate the thick canopy of the trees in Vandanore Forest. The party is met with a tall stone wall. Large wooden gates are closed. At gates are what seems to be two guards that have been dead for quite some time. Only their bleached bones remain inside their chain armor. It is very quiet here. The town seems abandoned. Though the party was told that it is inhabited by Skeletons and ghosts.

(Wait we knew this city was dead... or undead before coming here? lol ) 

"I do think we should leave here the carriage, along with the lizards. I wonder if the tales about this city are true and those guards are still making their appointed duty now that they are just bones... " says the druid to the others. 

"At this point it wouldn't surprise me. But let's draw them back a little bit further and make sure they are out of sight." Devarus replied to the druid in more hushed tones. "Then once that's done, we should try to find egress passed the gates that is less... straightforward. So let's canvass the perimeter. See if there's an easier point. Or failing that, one that might at least hint at finding immediate cover on the otherside. Agreed?"

Valwaryn nods and strat to do as Devarus had proposed. 

Going around the place, the party notices a second gate at the back with more bleached bones in surprisingly well-kept armor. There are trees near the gates that one might use to climb over the city walls.

"Well there are stories of people continuing to serve their duty after death. I remember reading some when I was living in the library." Elsara mentions. "Maybe they can still talk? We could try asking them if they saw Lord Vladimir come this way, since they'd be more prompted if we let them know he was a cirminal because of kidnapping a noble through beguilement." She suggests.

She recalls the last time they fought against undead, the vampiric empowered maid and her helmed horror entourage. If they could try and not get the ire of a potentially sentient undead town, so much the better. However, she does know that she could cause as much destruction at this place if it turns out to be a town of evil. However, attempting diplomacy has worked before, like her time she attained peace with the goblins near The Guild.

"Sadly my dear, if he fled as far as here, I doubt any resident would be eager to turn one of their own out. The forest's reputation instead would only make it all the more appealing to simply make us disappear without much worry of others coming after us. At least, not without a more significant force that they'd see coming, as clearly a small unit wouldn't suffice to deal with uppity residents." Devarus replied quietly and with a bit of mirth entering his voice towards the end. 

"Better in this case to ask for forgiveness if we should be spotted. Assuming of course this place isn't ruled by our little kidnapper by any chance. So for now, let's try those trees over there. Should be enough cover that we can sneak over, climb them, and drop onto the other side." He assured. And if there were no further dissenting opinions or request to hold off for further prep, Devarus would take point in leading the way over while trying to avoid what he'd imagine to be the potential line of sight of the armor covered skeletons. 

Stealth: 13. 
(Assuming there's no added bonuses like pass without trace from someone.)

-

"I... I suppose." Elsara isn't that keen on trying to sneak in for this snatch-and-grab operation, it's a shame the group didn't have a dedicated diplomat. She found it incredibly interesting that there would be a town of undead, seemingly sentient and making their own community. Hundreds of questions flooded her mind. What professions were needed in such a society? Did they require any sustenance, or was the power of negative energy enough? Did they have trading avenues with anyone? She really wanted to just go up an ask, but didn't want to endanger the mission for her own curiosity.

Stealth (if required): 20

((The project that was taking up all my time is done now so I should get back to more frequent posting))

Deva climbs the tree and gets on top of the rampart. THUD. The moment Deva lands, he noticed that he's stepping on the chest of one of the dead guards. The skeleton on the floor dressed in breast-plate does not react though. Elsara follows Deva's path and gets on top of the rampart too.

From an academic standpoint the existence of an undead town was quite unheard of. Because of the nature by which undead are created, be it from a necromancer using magic or by the wild manastorms that happen in the Late Autumn, undead are almost all evil. There are some exceptions such as Revenants and Ghosts but most undead have an innate desire to destroy and consume thanks to the negative energy that animates them. The closest thing undead have to towns are militaristic fortresses ruled by powerful undead that can create more undead, such as Vampires, Liches, and Wraiths. Though even then the ability to create an undead militia is very very limited. From atop the rampart, this place does not look like a military fortress. It looks like a normal town that's been overgrown with vegetation.

Val follow Elsara and Devarus on the rampamt

 “Or we can be lucky for once and the city is all dead… poor souls..”

Val manages to follow the same path taken by Devan and Elsara and end up on top of the Ramparts. Now it's the three of them up there, some skeletal bodies in armor and Run at the bottom of the wall.

Elsara gasps as she lands. "Mr. Devarus, you're standing on someone." She points at the corpse underfoot. "I, oh, they didn't move. Aww, I thought this would be like from one of the story books I read." She sighs. "Well I guess if that's what it's like around here, let's be super careful. Whatever caused their deaths could still be in the area."

(Just checking, they're skeletons so it looks like they've been dead for a long while, right?)

Quote from pokepaladdy >>

(Just checking, they're skeletons so it looks like they've been dead for a long while, right?)

I'm glad you asked this. Roll me Investigation or Arcana.

Arcana: 15

Given that there is no meat or residue on the skeleton's bones, it would suggest that these have been dead for quite a while.