Octo watches Chandle carve up the deer, impressed with his butchering skill. After hearing the compliment, he nods, turns to Kallith and adds “If it wasn’t for your healing, I might have been a ‘goner’ too." The word goner a bit strange to him, then adds "thank you!”
His quick breathing subsides as the rage inside him quells.
Kallith exhales, becoming visible once more. Stumbling a bit and groaning, she rejoins the others. "That stung a bit, but I think I can manage until we take a breather. Probably best not to do that here though, I agree Chandle."
Not wanting to see natures bounty wasted (although the wolves would soon enough take care of that), Kallith joins Chandle, carving away a leg of the deer and snips off 10 feet off her 50 feet rope to tie up the meat. She then carries it in one hand, intending to grill it at the next opportunity.
"I'm happy to share as well", she says, already in better spirits once more.
She grins at Octo. "You're welcome. You know, you remind me of a brother of mine. Always running at things with his head down."
The firbolg points at the tower closeby. "Why not rest there? Seems like a good spot as any."
OOC: To be clear, Kallith is suggesting a short rest.
If the decision is made to check out and possibly rest at this tower, then Chandle will offer, “Seems a secluded enough location, perhaps I could sneak ahead and take a look first?”
again if agreed on…
Stealth. 7 Perception. 18
As she makes her way stumbling on rocks roots and foliage while keeping eyes and ears alert…
The trek up the hill to the lonely tower is a short one, the stiff wind helping to add momentum to your back. The rocky ground slips with pebbles and loose stone beneath your feet. As you approach, the tower is surrounded by rough scrub, tough weeds and a stray vine creeping along its cracked exterior.
The tower was once three stories, but the top has crumbled, lying as boulders scattered about, leaving the second floor exposed to the elements. The front entrance is an arched opening, if there ever was a door, it is long gone. The archway is flanked on either side by a pair of near identical statues.
The interior appears dry, the cobbled floor covered in the detritus of past inhabitants, whether man or beast is not immediately evident. There does not appear to be anybody here, or recently at least. The ceiling is hung with dirty webbing in all the dry corners, as would be expected of an ancient abandoned tower.
Seeing no evident danger, Chandle calls the others forward. Dornin points to the symbols adorning the entrance, the uppermost the emblem of Ancient Stornanter, making the tower at least 500 years old. The other two flanking emblems are not recognized.
Looking at Kallith, Octo says with a smile, pointing at his horns “You should recommend a pair of these to your brother, they help when you hit something!”
Dornin gladly walks with the group to head to the tower for a quick break and a bite to eat. As Chandle and Kallith ready some of the venison for our meal, Dornin takes the time to appreciate the interior of the tower. Recognizing one of the emblems, Dornin is curious to know more about the tower, taking the time to look if there is anything else interesting around. (Investigation:21)
Upon his search around, Dornin's head begins to ring in pain as he feels his patron call to him from his book. The more he tries to push it away, the stronger it comes back. He looks around the room to ensure nobody is watching and unclutches his tome from his waist and opens it. Infernal runes come up on there own upon the pages as he hears the voice in his head. "You have done well, Pet, your reward is power! I require more" as forbidden knowledge is seared into his mind like a brand making his magic stronger than before. The book slams shut and Dornin straps it back on his hip and carries on.
He will relay any information he finds out about the building with the entire group. maybe they will enjoy the history as much as he does.
Chandle does exactly as Dornin describes she puts down a couple torches for fire, gets out her mess kit and cooks nice one pound steaks for anyone who happens to be hungry.
She wonders about the towers history, (if there is evidence of windows and/or stonework). History. 9
She is too distracted by her growling stomach however to learn much…
“Dornin what do you make of this place? Your steak is ready.”
(oops didn’t realize this pc has no torches. Anyone got firewood or torches?)
Octo hands Chandle a torch and his tinderbox, then starts circling around the tower, keeping an eye on the surrounding landscape for anything that might be a threat. Slowly rubbing his axe along his horns, sharpening both.
The tower is strong, sturdy, the stones and mortar collected from the hills and fields about. There are others, not many, but enough that the towers of Stornanter are understood. A kingdom of the North it ruled from the Spine South to the Sword mountains. Little remains of its bright, yet brief flash of brilliance. Its ruler, The witch-queen, like her empire has faded from memory, legends only.
Chandle accepts the torch, sufficient to easily light a fire with its pitch soaked rags, something more, something greater would be needed. The tower has rotten wood, collapsed stair risers, collected wooden branches, leaves, twigs and other burnable items. Pretty soon a bed of embers is created, the smell of roasting venison rich upon the air. (Short rest if you wish)
Octo circles the tower, then circles again, restless. Still not used to the expanse, the endless sky. The sound of the wolves has died down, the vultures descended. Octo notices the tower was not built on the highest rise, in fact two hills not twenty minutes trek from here would give a better view. Trying to understand the lightlivers was difficult.
Dornin inspects the entrance further, the emblems are identical on both sides, clearly an insignia or seal, an organization, a regiment perhaps, he just can't place it as too obscure. The interior is unadorned, tapestry hooks and holes for wooden rods long since rotted into nothing. Stairs to the upper stories have rotted away, the second story looks rather precarious, its stones threatening to collapse.
As Chandle pulls the detritus from the tower to burn, Dornin notices a hatch to the cellar. Its stone cover long since opened and smashed on the ground next to it. Peering in he can see a rotted wooden ladder descending, and what appears to be bands of metal, like those found on wooden barrels, just lying on the floor below.
Chandle is able to pull entire chunks of branch, leaves, twigs, grass, feathers, tufts of fur, small bones and other materials in whole chunks, from the tower. Kallith realizes they are nesting materials, bird nesting materials.
Roll another perception check DC 12. If it succeeds, open the next spoiler.
Kallith do not open unless instructed
As Chandle trundles from the tower once again, another load for the fire, you notice a pair of ovoid objects, smooth with a beige tinge, nestled within the materials.
While the fire is being prepared, Kallith happily accepts the offer of meat from Chandle and says: "We can keep the ones I took with me for later. Perhaps an innkeep is interested in a barter."
[Perception Success: 16] She idly notes the material Chandle has used for the campfire. Nesting material? She says: "Maybe there are big birds around, better to keep one eye to the sky. Did you find any eggs?"
After a brief search for some yummy eggs herself [Perception 19], Kallith returns and looks for a place to sit that has decent cover from the sky. The firbolg stretches out her limbs, puts her backpack down as a makeshift backrest and lounges in a corner until the meat is ready, relaxing. While daydreaming, she has the impression of her goddess being all around them, approving of their success, although lamenting the deaths that happened so far. Kallith is receptive to these emotions, at once smiling and tearing up, listening to the wind and the rustle of leaves.
Kallith welcomes the short rest, treating some of her wounds.
Dornin looks down the cellar hatch with intrigue, he bends to a knee to push on the ladder to see if its sturdy enough to take some weight. He looks up to Chandle "Well well Chandle, you know what they say, the best secrets are found in the darkest places. We should let Octo and Kallith rest, perhaps you would like to help me go down there and look for some valuables." Dornin looks over at the others and shouts "We found a cellar and are going to check it out. if you need us, just yell"
Octo stops his pacing and comes over to the hatch. “Interesting” he says, “OK we’ll keep an eye on things up here, yell if you need any help down there.”
Chandle nods at Dormin, and follows his lead. Although dwarves historically dwelled deep in the earth and are at home in caves and mountain halls, Chandle hails from a clan of dwarves generations above ground working the sands of the Anaurock desert. Even this delve into a cellar sends a chill down her back, but she clenches her teeth and goes to look for treasure.
Dornin, Chandle: You both have Darkvision, I will describe what you see with this in mind.
The ladder is useless, the iron struts have rusted through, if they are still embedded in the wall, many of them missing. A rope however in fair condition hangs into the darkness, anchored by a piton driven into the side.
The room below is only slightly larger than the tower above, a small rusty brazier sitting in one corner, surrounded by the remains of wood, punky and rotten, black smears of dried something coat its surface, with lumps of the substance piled within.
A fireplace and enough table to tell what it is, in the other corner, smashed and decayed barrels and crates on either side. The fireplace had been used long after the age of the tower, a pack sits beside it in fair condition. The top flap open and mold climbing its side but clearly fairly recent.
The far corner is dominated by a round wall rising 3 feet from the floor, a broken spindle a few feet of rope wrapped around it, has tipped, leaning against itself over the well. A clean white skeleton is on the floor in the middle of the room.
Kallith cracks one eye open to peer at the spelunking troupe. The firbolg didn't really understand the drive of some people to go deep into an enclosed space. The thought sent shivers down her spine. Much better to be under the open sky, surrounded by living things.
"Don't get eaten down there." she calls good-naturedly. "Yell in terror if I'm needed!"
"It looks like we're not the only ones that sought this place Chandle, we should be cautious. I don't trust that its prior guests have left anything savory behind"
Dornin then takes the rope and gives it a sturdy pull before descending into the darkness. When he reaches the bottom, he pauses to look around and make sure the coast is clear before giving a sturdy thumbs up to Chandle. Dornin looks around to see if anything in particular stands out. (Perception:15)
Dornin looks about the room but no further detail can be ascertained without closer investigation
Chandle approaches the stark white skeleton. It's arm stretches outward clawing at the ground. No wounds or weapon marks, no cause of death is evident except for a moist stain surrounding it. All the soft tissues are missing leaving only clean white bone behind
Chandle reaches into her backpack pulls out her sack of marbles and begins tossing one in different directions north south east west NE NW SE SW seeing if they connect with anything disguised or hidden.
Kallith stays in the vincinity of the cellar hole, looking for a piece of wood that would serve as good carving material. Something that is both relatively smooth and not too porous. [Survival 22]. If she finds a fitting piece, she packs out her woodcarvers tools and gets to work on preparing the chunk, intending to eventually fashion it into a small bird.
While she works, she looks over to the cellar. "Found anything?"
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Octo watches Chandle carve up the deer, impressed with his butchering skill. After hearing the compliment, he nods, turns to Kallith and adds “If it wasn’t for your healing, I might have been a ‘goner’ too." The word goner a bit strange to him, then adds "thank you!”
His quick breathing subsides as the rage inside him quells.
Kallith exhales, becoming visible once more. Stumbling a bit and groaning, she rejoins the others. "That stung a bit, but I think I can manage until we take a breather. Probably best not to do that here though, I agree Chandle."
Not wanting to see natures bounty wasted (although the wolves would soon enough take care of that), Kallith joins Chandle, carving away a leg of the deer and snips off 10 feet off her 50 feet rope to tie up the meat. She then carries it in one hand, intending to grill it at the next opportunity.
"I'm happy to share as well", she says, already in better spirits once more.
She grins at Octo. "You're welcome. You know, you remind me of a brother of mine. Always running at things with his head down."
The firbolg points at the tower closeby. "Why not rest there? Seems like a good spot as any."
OOC: To be clear, Kallith is suggesting a short rest.
If the decision is made to check out and possibly rest at this tower, then Chandle will offer, “Seems a secluded enough location, perhaps I could sneak ahead and take a look first?”
again if agreed on…
Stealth. 7 Perception. 18
As she makes her way stumbling on rocks roots and foliage while keeping eyes and ears alert…
Wise as a serpent and sly as a fox.
The trek up the hill to the lonely tower is a short one, the stiff wind helping to add momentum to your back. The rocky ground slips with pebbles and loose stone beneath your feet. As you approach, the tower is surrounded by rough scrub, tough weeds and a stray vine creeping along its cracked exterior.
The tower was once three stories, but the top has crumbled, lying as boulders scattered about, leaving the second floor exposed to the elements. The front entrance is an arched opening, if there ever was a door, it is long gone. The archway is flanked on either side by a pair of near identical statues.
The interior appears dry, the cobbled floor covered in the detritus of past inhabitants, whether man or beast is not immediately evident. There does not appear to be anybody here, or recently at least. The ceiling is hung with dirty webbing in all the dry corners, as would be expected of an ancient abandoned tower.
Seeing no evident danger, Chandle calls the others forward. Dornin points to the symbols adorning the entrance, the uppermost the emblem of Ancient Stornanter, making the tower at least 500 years old. The other two flanking emblems are not recognized.
Looking at Kallith, Octo says with a smile, pointing at his horns “You should recommend a pair of these to your brother, they help when you hit something!”
Dornin gladly walks with the group to head to the tower for a quick break and a bite to eat. As Chandle and Kallith ready some of the venison for our meal, Dornin takes the time to appreciate the interior of the tower. Recognizing one of the emblems, Dornin is curious to know more about the tower, taking the time to look if there is anything else interesting around. (Investigation:21)
Upon his search around, Dornin's head begins to ring in pain as he feels his patron call to him from his book. The more he tries to push it away, the stronger it comes back. He looks around the room to ensure nobody is watching and unclutches his tome from his waist and opens it. Infernal runes come up on there own upon the pages as he hears the voice in his head. "You have done well, Pet, your reward is power! I require more" as forbidden knowledge is seared into his mind like a brand making his magic stronger than before. The book slams shut and Dornin straps it back on his hip and carries on.
He will relay any information he finds out about the building with the entire group. maybe they will enjoy the history as much as he does.
Chandle does exactly as Dornin describes she puts down a couple torches for fire, gets out her mess kit and cooks nice one pound steaks for anyone who happens to be hungry.
She wonders about the towers history, (if there is evidence of windows and/or stonework). History. 9
She is too distracted by her growling stomach however to learn much…
“Dornin what do you make of this place? Your steak is ready.”
(oops didn’t realize this pc has no torches. Anyone got firewood or torches?)
Wise as a serpent and sly as a fox.
Octo hands Chandle a torch and his tinderbox, then starts circling around the tower, keeping an eye on the surrounding landscape for anything that might be a threat. Slowly rubbing his axe along his horns, sharpening both.
The tower is strong, sturdy, the stones and mortar collected from the hills and fields about. There are others, not many, but enough that the towers of Stornanter are understood. A kingdom of the North it ruled from the Spine South to the Sword mountains. Little remains of its bright, yet brief flash of brilliance. Its ruler, The witch-queen, like her empire has faded from memory, legends only.
Chandle accepts the torch, sufficient to easily light a fire with its pitch soaked rags, something more, something greater would be needed. The tower has rotten wood, collapsed stair risers, collected wooden branches, leaves, twigs and other burnable items. Pretty soon a bed of embers is created, the smell of roasting venison rich upon the air. (Short rest if you wish)
Octo circles the tower, then circles again, restless. Still not used to the expanse, the endless sky. The sound of the wolves has died down, the vultures descended. Octo notices the tower was not built on the highest rise, in fact two hills not twenty minutes trek from here would give a better view. Trying to understand the lightlivers was difficult.
Dornin inspects the entrance further, the emblems are identical on both sides, clearly an insignia or seal, an organization, a regiment perhaps, he just can't place it as too obscure. The interior is unadorned, tapestry hooks and holes for wooden rods long since rotted into nothing. Stairs to the upper stories have rotted away, the second story looks rather precarious, its stones threatening to collapse.
As Chandle pulls the detritus from the tower to burn, Dornin notices a hatch to the cellar. Its stone cover long since opened and smashed on the ground next to it. Peering in he can see a rotted wooden ladder descending, and what appears to be bands of metal, like those found on wooden barrels, just lying on the floor below.
Kallith Please roll a perception test DC 12.
If you succeed
Chandle is able to pull entire chunks of branch, leaves, twigs, grass, feathers, tufts of fur, small bones and other materials in whole chunks, from the tower. Kallith realizes they are nesting materials, bird nesting materials.
Roll another perception check DC 12. If it succeeds, open the next spoiler.
Kallith do not open unless instructed
As Chandle trundles from the tower once again, another load for the fire, you notice a pair of ovoid objects, smooth with a beige tinge, nestled within the materials.
While the fire is being prepared, Kallith happily accepts the offer of meat from Chandle and says: "We can keep the ones I took with me for later. Perhaps an innkeep is interested in a barter."
[Perception Success: 16] She idly notes the material Chandle has used for the campfire. Nesting material? She says: "Maybe there are big birds around, better to keep one eye to the sky. Did you find any eggs?"
After a brief search for some yummy eggs herself [Perception 19], Kallith returns and looks for a place to sit that has decent cover from the sky. The firbolg stretches out her limbs, puts her backpack down as a makeshift backrest and lounges in a corner until the meat is ready, relaxing. While daydreaming, she has the impression of her goddess being all around them, approving of their success, although lamenting the deaths that happened so far. Kallith is receptive to these emotions, at once smiling and tearing up, listening to the wind and the rustle of leaves.
Kallith welcomes the short rest, treating some of her wounds.
For DM:
Second Perception check failure: 5
Dornin looks down the cellar hatch with intrigue, he bends to a knee to push on the ladder to see if its sturdy enough to take some weight. He looks up to Chandle "Well well Chandle, you know what they say, the best secrets are found in the darkest places. We should let Octo and Kallith rest, perhaps you would like to help me go down there and look for some valuables." Dornin looks over at the others and shouts "We found a cellar and are going to check it out. if you need us, just yell"
Octo stops his pacing and comes over to the hatch. “Interesting” he says, “OK we’ll keep an eye on things up here, yell if you need any help down there.”
Chandle nods at Dormin, and follows his lead. Although dwarves historically dwelled deep in the earth and are at home in caves and mountain halls, Chandle hails from a clan of dwarves generations above ground working the sands of the Anaurock desert. Even this delve into a cellar sends a chill down her back, but she clenches her teeth and goes to look for treasure.
Wise as a serpent and sly as a fox.
Kallith, Octo; Remain up top, recovering
Dornin, Chandle: You both have Darkvision, I will describe what you see with this in mind.
The ladder is useless, the iron struts have rusted through, if they are still embedded in the wall, many of them missing. A rope however in fair condition hangs into the darkness, anchored by a piton driven into the side.
The room below is only slightly larger than the tower above, a small rusty brazier sitting in one corner, surrounded by the remains of wood, punky and rotten, black smears of dried something coat its surface, with lumps of the substance piled within.
A fireplace and enough table to tell what it is, in the other corner, smashed and decayed barrels and crates on either side. The fireplace had been used long after the age of the tower, a pack sits beside it in fair condition. The top flap open and mold climbing its side but clearly fairly recent.
The far corner is dominated by a round wall rising 3 feet from the floor, a broken spindle a few feet of rope wrapped around it, has tipped, leaning against itself over the well. A clean white skeleton is on the floor in the middle of the room.
Kallith cracks one eye open to peer at the spelunking troupe. The firbolg didn't really understand the drive of some people to go deep into an enclosed space. The thought sent shivers down her spine. Much better to be under the open sky, surrounded by living things.
"Don't get eaten down there." she calls good-naturedly. "Yell in terror if I'm needed!"
"It looks like we're not the only ones that sought this place Chandle, we should be cautious. I don't trust that its prior guests have left anything savory behind"
Dornin then takes the rope and gives it a sturdy pull before descending into the darkness. When he reaches the bottom, he pauses to look around and make sure the coast is clear before giving a sturdy thumbs up to Chandle. Dornin looks around to see if anything in particular stands out. (Perception:15)
Chandle cautiously approaches the clean white skeleton, checking her surroundings including the ceiling for slime bats or other oddities.
Perception 10
Wise as a serpent and sly as a fox.
Kallith, Octo
Short rest completed
Dornin looks about the room but no further detail can be ascertained without closer investigation
Chandle approaches the stark white skeleton. It's arm stretches outward clawing at the ground. No wounds or weapon marks, no cause of death is evident except for a moist stain surrounding it. All the soft tissues are missing leaving only clean white bone behind
Chandle reaches into her backpack pulls out her sack of marbles and begins tossing one in different directions north south east west NE NW SE SW seeing if they connect with anything disguised or hidden.
Wise as a serpent and sly as a fox.
Kallith stays in the vincinity of the cellar hole, looking for a piece of wood that would serve as good carving material. Something that is both relatively smooth and not too porous. [Survival 22]. If she finds a fitting piece, she packs out her woodcarvers tools and gets to work on preparing the chunk, intending to eventually fashion it into a small bird.
While she works, she looks over to the cellar. "Found anything?"