Hoid, “I am in agreement with Kragen. If the villagers are at the bottom of the cliff they are already dead. Finding their corpses is not a pressing matter.”
You all arrive to the ruins mid to late morning. The sky is clear with a few cotton ball clouds to break the monotony. A cool breeze is coming from the mountains that gently wafts across the plateau. No carrion birds were seen in the sky at the scene of the massacre of the guards. None are seen over the ruins. Gneuman confirms that he has seen no small creatures that would be expected (rabbits, voles, mice) in the area. It is quiet here. The corpses of the dead orcs remain in place where you left them.
The ruins of the manor seem unchanged in their slow decay from time.
A high tower sits in the courtyard. It is constructed of tightly fitting stone blocks and well made. There is an open top with battlements. You can see gutters running down the tower to direct water from the roof away from the tower at the base through buried drains. There is a large double door solidly made of oak with iron bands. You can see small windows on the upper levels that have solid stone shutters blocking them. The tower appears unaffected by the time that has led to the collapse of the keep walls and the manor house.
Two thick posts are set in the ground about 20’ from the tower door. They appear to have been placed recently given the bare dirt around their bases. There are ropes with what appear to be leather restraints on the ends hanging from each post.
I believe we have a quorum to (1) save the corpse cliff investigation until later, and (2) go down to the cavern to (a) investigate where the tunnel leads and (b) look for the buried dragon treasure.
You descend back down the stairs. The cave remains dimly illuminated by the crystals in the cave wall with a pale bluish light. The orc corpses remain in place. All you hear is the dripping of water into the pool.
Kragen searches through the barrels and crates. He find a collection of gear useful for mining or farming. Many tools such as picks, pitchforks, wood axes, shovels, hoes and other items are found. There is hemp rope, block and tackle, chisels, hammers, spikes and boxes of nails. No precious items are found. The barrels and casks contain wine, ale and the smaller ones brandy.
Light can be seen from the end of the tunnel once you round the first corner. The tunnel exits as a cave mouth on the cliff face. There are boulders arranged on the edge of a small landing and some scrubby bushes growing there as well. You seem to be about 100’ from the valley floor and about 100’ below the cliff edge.
Hoid scratches around with his crowbar. No solid items are encountered. The sand seems to be the same everywhere.
Chadwick says "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere."
Are those bunks over by the tables? If so Chadwick will do a quick rummage through there. Then check the sand out to see if anything has been recently disturbed. Maybe the tables are covering it? If nothing he'll continue down to the water and see if anything might be hidden under the water.
Maybe we (Starker) could cast detect magic again then do a slow walk around the caves. A decent chance that there could be something magical with the treasure.
Hoid will grab a shovel, which is likely a spade of colossal excavation, and begin digging a hole 12” -18” deep (at current token location) and then move 3’ left/west. He will also encourage others to start digging for the treasure we have been told is buried.
Hoid, “I am in agreement with Kragen. If the villagers are at the bottom of the cliff they are already dead. Finding their corpses is not a pressing matter.”
I still can't access the maps. /sad face.
Gneuman admitted to both maps
You all arrive to the ruins mid to late morning. The sky is clear with a few cotton ball clouds to break the monotony. A cool breeze is coming from the mountains that gently wafts across the plateau. No carrion birds were seen in the sky at the scene of the massacre of the guards. None are seen over the ruins. Gneuman confirms that he has seen no small creatures that would be expected (rabbits, voles, mice) in the area. It is quiet here. The corpses of the dead orcs remain in place where you left them.
The ruins of the manor seem unchanged in their slow decay from time.
A high tower sits in the courtyard. It is constructed of tightly fitting stone blocks and well made. There is an open top with battlements. You can see gutters running down the tower to direct water from the roof away from the tower at the base through buried drains. There is a large double door solidly made of oak with iron bands. You can see small windows on the upper levels that have solid stone shutters blocking them. The tower appears unaffected by the time that has led to the collapse of the keep walls and the manor house.
Two thick posts are set in the ground about 20’ from the tower door. They appear to have been placed recently given the bare dirt around their bases. There are ropes with what appear to be leather restraints on the ends hanging from each post.
I believe we have a quorum to (1) save the corpse cliff investigation until later, and (2) go down to the cavern to (a) investigate where the tunnel leads and (b) look for the buried dragon treasure.
You descend back down the stairs. The cave remains dimly illuminated by the crystals in the cave wall with a pale bluish light. The orc corpses remain in place. All you hear is the dripping of water into the pool.
(( Move your tokens to where you take actions. ))
Avoiding the coin pile the the blue man ungroup said were traps, Starker ‘investigates’ for the dragon’s hoard, starting in NW corner of the cavern.
Hoid, being mostly obvious, will help Starker.
Gneuman will help Starker. Starting at the other side of the pile.
You mill about the area. The sand is hard packed with about a six inch layer of looser sand. Nothing to be found.
Blue man said the treasure was buried. Hoid will dig through the sand.
With?
Kragen, noticing a preponderance of compatriots searching in one area, moves to the barrels and crates to do a cursory search of that area.
Investigation = 16
Once search completed for oddities, Kragen intends to start to cautiously explore the cave tunnel.
Dig/scratch around with a crowbar. Look for an area where the loose sand is deeper or something solid under the sand.
Kragen searches through the barrels and crates. He find a collection of gear useful for mining or farming. Many tools such as picks, pitchforks, wood axes, shovels, hoes and other items are found. There is hemp rope, block and tackle, chisels, hammers, spikes and boxes of nails. No precious items are found. The barrels and casks contain wine, ale and the smaller ones brandy.
Light can be seen from the end of the tunnel once you round the first corner. The tunnel exits as a cave mouth on the cliff face. There are boulders arranged on the edge of a small landing and some scrubby bushes growing there as well. You seem to be about 100’ from the valley floor and about 100’ below the cliff edge.
Hoid scratches around with his crowbar. No solid items are encountered. The sand seems to be the same everywhere.
Chadwick says "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere."
Are those bunks over by the tables? If so Chadwick will do a quick rummage through there. Then check the sand out to see if anything has been recently disturbed. Maybe the tables are covering it? If nothing he'll continue down to the water and see if anything might be hidden under the water.
Maybe we (Starker) could cast detect magic again then do a slow walk around the caves. A decent chance that there could be something magical with the treasure.
Hoid will grab a shovel, which is likely a spade of colossal excavation, and begin digging a hole 12” -18” deep (at current token location) and then move 3’ left/west. He will also encourage others to start digging for the treasure we have been told is buried.
Starker takes 10 minutes to perform the Detect Magic Ritual and perambulate as Anak<del><del><del><del> Chadwick suggests.
Starker “This spell will only penetrate about a yard of dirt, but it is worth a try. A little quiet, please, so I can concentrate.”
Starker's spell does not detect any magic.
Hoid toils away shoveling the sand. He is digging down to a 18" hole and has found nothing.
Nothing is found in the bedrolls after a search by Chadwick.