The path winds about the side of the mountain for a short distance and then opens up on the left side to reveal a steep, scree covered slope down to a tree filled valley two hundred feet below. Across the valley you can see a rocky promontory at a higher elevation than you. There is a low stone wall around the perimeter of the top of this promontory that appears to be level. You can see a large shadow sitting near the end of the promontory, like a building. It is unclear in the darkness and this distance. The voices seem to be coming from there. The path continues to wind around the mountain and looks like it may curl around to the other side of the promontory and approach this leveled area from that direction.
I vote we continue on and make sure there isn't another way in or out, then we could try another short rest (if I'm envisioning this correctly) before charging in.
I agree continuing on to investigate, my question would be do we send a smaller party to investigate and provide additional intel about the approach? May be valuable information prior to formulating an assault plan?
Major encounter is about to happen. We have party members that are not at full capabilities. A short rest would improve the capabilities of the party, perhaps substantially.
Craddick got a 15 minute head start. We spent another 15 minutes finding his trail when lost. That is a 30 minute lead. He was on a faster mount and therefore arrived more than 30 minutes ahead. Our total travel time has not been stated, but it seems plausible Craddick has been able to get a short rest already.
What benefit, other than hit point recovery, could that give a cowardly warlock?
We know he used one potion to heal himself already. Thus he has access to potions. This likely being his base of operations, it is plausible the he has other potions here. We should operate under the assumption that he can restore his hit points fully without rest via potion and have more at his disposal in the upcoming encounter.
We know where we are going now. We need to stop pushing forward to take a short rest so that we can start this important and likely difficult encounter with the least disadvantage we reasonably can.
Kragen is good, will make due with remainder of spell slots available. Let's catch The Coward before he escapes.
Approach via the pathway, using caution and stealth (for a bunch of small folk, a warlock and a pretty human). Stop when we can make out the buildings to quickly game plan?
The party approached a broken down tower. Erbert got stuck in a magic web. Craddick, his warg, and two goblin riders showed up.
Nasty spells, including the web, were being cast from atop the tower. Craddick, his warg, a goblin and a wolf died. Some demons showed up. Erbert got unstuck from the web. The demons died.
Much searching occurred, During the search, Hoid kicked open a giant hornet nest. He rolled many poison saves. The hornets died. Erbert did some damage.
Kragen inhaled mold spores.
A basement was discovered, and a secret passage further down was discovered. The search further down was postponed.
The search moved to the top of the tower. A blocked staircase down was discovered. Took a short rest.
Went down the stairs. Found the Spider. He filled a tunnel with more magic webs. Chadwick was not wise in his dealings with the webs. He confronted the Spider and 4 zombies by himself while separated from the rest of the party by the hallway after it was refilled with webs.
Trolkarl was heroic and got up in the Spider’s grill. The room full of zombies was filled with magic webs, Chadwick was blinded and ran into a wall, restoring his vision. He was unwise again and got stuck in the room, restricting access for the party. The spider ran away from Trolkarl, who used misty step to get in front of the Spider. Trolkarl was blinded, the webs dissipated, and the Spider climbed up a water spout (well) after blinding Trolkarl.
Gneuman ran back up through the ruins to try to block the spider from escaping the well.
Gneuman and Trolkarl have taken off in pursuit of the Black Spider. There were two zombies remaining in the room after the Black Spider fled and the webs dissipated. They were easily dispatched by those of you left behind from the chase.
This room appears to be a laboratory. There are two large tables holding various pieces of lab equipment (alembics, tongs, small fire pots, mortar and pestle, etc.). A humanoid skull rests on one table with a book stand that is empty. Another skull of a horned beast is on the other table. There are several threadbare tapestries hanging here. Bookshelves are in the corner containing rotting tomes. Four sconces are on the wall that are unlit. A faintly pulsating magical diagram is on the ground that dimly gives off a greenish glow. It is on the floor in front of what appears to be a 5’ diameter circular door made of a dull silver metal. There is a large wheel handle in the center of the door. Four smaller dials can be seen near the edge of each quadrant of the door.
From the hallway that the Black Spider and Trolkarl ran down you can hear Trolkarl's voice calling out for help.
Chadwick asks if anyone down there had a healing potion he can use. Assuming he gets one he'll take it then haul ass to see what's going on. If he sees the spider he'll immediately use his bonus action for channel divinity Vow of Enmity (grants advantage for one minute).
Chadwick smirks, and stifles a laugh. Softly he says "we're closing in on our target, save your energy for them".
The path winds about the side of the mountain for a short distance and then opens up on the left side to reveal a steep, scree covered slope down to a tree filled valley two hundred feet below. Across the valley you can see a rocky promontory at a higher elevation than you. There is a low stone wall around the perimeter of the top of this promontory that appears to be level. You can see a large shadow sitting near the end of the promontory, like a building. It is unclear in the darkness and this distance. The voices seem to be coming from there. The path continues to wind around the mountain and looks like it may curl around to the other side of the promontory and approach this leveled area from that direction.
I vote we continue on and make sure there isn't another way in or out, then we could try another short rest (if I'm envisioning this correctly) before charging in.
I agree continuing on to investigate, my question would be do we send a smaller party to investigate and provide additional intel about the approach? May be valuable information prior to formulating an assault plan?
Some are better at sneaking than others. Other than Gneuman, I don’t know who counts as sneaky.
/Plans
I say we keep going as a group.
Major encounter is about to happen. We have party members that are not at full capabilities. A short rest would improve the capabilities of the party, perhaps substantially.
Craddick got a 15 minute head start. We spent another 15 minutes finding his trail when lost. That is a 30 minute lead. He was on a faster mount and therefore arrived more than 30 minutes ahead. Our total travel time has not been stated, but it seems plausible Craddick has been able to get a short rest already.
What benefit, other than hit point recovery, could that give a cowardly warlock?
We know he used one potion to heal himself already. Thus he has access to potions. This likely being his base of operations, it is plausible the he has other potions here. We should operate under the assumption that he can restore his hit points fully without rest via potion and have more at his disposal in the upcoming encounter.
We know where we are going now. We need to stop pushing forward to take a short rest so that we can start this important and likely difficult encounter with the least disadvantage we reasonably can.
As your group stops to consider the next actions, snippets of conversation drift across the valley from the direction of the promontory.
"........ not to........ here..." VOICE 1
"....no choice.........chasing..........." VOICE 2
"..... leave..............my research........" VOICE 1
"...........bugbears coming......here soon........Gral......" VOICE 2
"..........gather...things.......leave..........will kill you......." VOICE 1
"..........will.........follow........commands......." VOICE 2
After this you hear no more.
New information. Let’s roll.
Are the lines alternating voices or are there more than 2?
Gneuman is good to go. Let's push forward.
How long will it take to get to the (most likely) building?
Hard to say since you cannot see the path. Also, running, walking, stealthy, etc?
Forced to guess, 20-30 minutes walking.
Kragen is good, will make due with remainder of spell slots available. Let's catch The Coward before he escapes.
Approach via the pathway, using caution and stealth (for a bunch of small folk, a warlock and a pretty human). Stop when we can make out the buildings to quickly game plan?
Summary for Erbert:
The party approached a broken down tower. Erbert got stuck in a magic web. Craddick, his warg, and two goblin riders showed up.
Nasty spells, including the web, were being cast from atop the tower. Craddick, his warg, a goblin and a wolf died. Some demons showed up. Erbert got unstuck from the web. The demons died.
Much searching occurred, During the search, Hoid kicked open a giant hornet nest. He rolled many poison saves. The hornets died. Erbert did some damage.
Kragen inhaled mold spores.
A basement was discovered, and a secret passage further down was discovered. The search further down was postponed.
The search moved to the top of the tower. A blocked staircase down was discovered. Took a short rest.
Went down the stairs. Found the Spider. He filled a tunnel with more magic webs. Chadwick was not wise in his dealings with the webs. He confronted the Spider and 4 zombies by himself while separated from the rest of the party by the hallway after it was refilled with webs.
Trolkarl was heroic and got up in the Spider’s grill. The room full of zombies was filled with magic webs, Chadwick was blinded and ran into a wall, restoring his vision. He was unwise again and got stuck in the room, restricting access for the party. The spider ran away from Trolkarl, who used misty step to get in front of the Spider. Trolkarl was blinded, the webs dissipated, and the Spider climbed up a water spout (well) after blinding Trolkarl.
Gneuman ran back up through the ruins to try to block the spider from escaping the well.
Two zombies remain. Chadwick has 3 HP.
Here are links to the appropriate maps:
Promontory
Dungeon - Upper level
Dungeon - Lower level
Will Gneuman close the deal? Or, will you have yet another enemy to chase across the Spine of the World......
Gneuman and Trolkarl have taken off in pursuit of the Black Spider. There were two zombies remaining in the room after the Black Spider fled and the webs dissipated. They were easily dispatched by those of you left behind from the chase.
This room appears to be a laboratory. There are two large tables holding various pieces of lab equipment (alembics, tongs, small fire pots, mortar and pestle, etc.). A humanoid skull rests on one table with a book stand that is empty. Another skull of a horned beast is on the other table. There are several threadbare tapestries hanging here. Bookshelves are in the corner containing rotting tomes. Four sconces are on the wall that are unlit. A faintly pulsating magical diagram is on the ground that dimly gives off a greenish glow. It is on the floor in front of what appears to be a 5’ diameter circular door made of a dull silver metal. There is a large wheel handle in the center of the door. Four smaller dials can be seen near the edge of each quadrant of the door.
From the hallway that the Black Spider and Trolkarl ran down you can hear Trolkarl's voice calling out for help.
Chadwick asks if anyone down there had a healing potion he can use. Assuming he gets one he'll take it then haul ass to see what's going on. If he sees the spider he'll immediately use his bonus action for channel divinity Vow of Enmity (grants advantage for one minute).
Take the healing potion Hoid has. 2d4+2 health. Removed from Hoid’s inventory