"I shall defer to you on the matter. I have never been one for skulking." Rolas spurs his horse to a trot and comes nearer so he can take up the reins of the others mounts. The pair of jawbones affixed to his pauldron clatter a bit as if to prove the point. "Keep a keen eye for their capabilities and if there's any sort of leader, you two. It may be that we could speak with them. I doubt they would see much value in a pie recipe."

Fianna looks a bit miffed when Rolas says skulking.

"Not so dismissive when it was your idea," she mutters under her breath as she scans the open area ahead of them in the hopes of finding enough blind spots and folds in the ground to obscure their approach.

(Stealth 14)

Bram tries to approach stealthily as he can and to keep his ears and eyes peeled for dangers

Stealth - 11

Perception - 3

Those that are scouting ahead should role both a stealth check and a perception check.  No need now, but for future reference.

Bram is able to get in close and sees regular patrols of 3-4 goblins, spaced about 10 minutes apart.  It doesn’t seem to be a well defended stronghold, but the lookouts tell you there are likely more inside.

(Perception 6)

They do not seem to have spotted either of you.

Fianna is going to look around to see if there are any birds in the area.

Xorben whispers to his friend Rolas, "Let's be ready to get going should the alarm be sounded."

Rolas chortles as he finishes up hitching Fianna and Bram's horses to a tree before remounting his own. "Of course. Have patience my little friend. Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted. We need only wait a moment longer."

Bram turns to Fianna and whispers "I will inform the others with minor illusion." He then slinks back and when he sees the party he uses minor illusion to speak as if he was next to them. Bram informs them of what he saw.

Xorben

Xorben turns to Rolas with a smile whispering, "Ah.....Sorry my friend.  I didn't mean to rush you to get on just be ready should we hear the alarm."

Xorben

Xorben whispers, "That the alarm Rolas lets get going."  

Xorben helps take one of the mounts, so Rolas doesn't have two.  He'll lead them up the way the others went. 

Rolas looks over and gives Bram a wave as they trot by since he's only a few yards away, given the range on the illusion. "4 or so goblins doesn't sound too much of a problem should things get rowdy. Do any of you speak goblin?"

(OOC: 'hitching the horses' as per my last refers to tying them off a safe distance from the village; Rolas was not intending to bring the riderless horses)

As you approach the large stone building, the road turns into a gravel path surrounded by an overgrown lawn, leading toward a large set of wooden double doors. The fragrance of ripening apples is thick in the air from the old apple orchard in the back. There is one massive apple tree near the path to the front doors. As the wind whistles through the long grasses, you notice that the bark of the tree looks almost like an ancient, wizened face.

The latest patrol just passes by the front of the building, and heads around the corner.  You have about 10 minutes to work without being seen, assuming the patrols continue to follow the observed schedule.

Xorben whispers, "In and out maybe pretty quickly.?  Anyone speak goblin?  Or.....lets hope they speak common unless this is a smash and grab so chit chat don't matter."

Bram looks at the goblins, but wishes he spoke their language. He then looks to Fianna and whispers "That tree almost seems like there is a face can that tree be something else and I think we can ambush the goblins. I rather deal with them now rather than later."

"I was wondering that myself," Fianna says with a slight frown, "if it is, I probably speaks Sylvan. Dad tried to teach me but I never really paid much attention."

"I don't speak goblin, but l'd really rather not kill anyone if we don't have to, so I say we sneak in...unless someone wants to try and talk to the tree?"

"You don't suppose those apples are the secret ingredient?"

"Let see if the tree knows common" says Bram. He then waits till the patrol back is turn to sneak to the tree and hide behind it. He then whispers to the tree "Are you sentient?" 

If there is no response he will go through the languages he does know - Elvish, Dwarvish, Draconic.

Fianna continues to scan the sky and tree branches while whistling snatches of birdsong.

(Going to guess it's nature to know bird songs and performance to mimic them?)

(Nature 12, Performance 9)

Xorben whispers, “You think the tree is alive.”

nature roll 13 in log