Four days ago, while you were enjoying an evening of food, drink, song, and casual conversation in the Sleeping Dragon, the inn’s proprietor ambled into the main dining area and nailed a flyer to one of the wooden posts.
“Goblin trouble in Nightstone, it seems,” announced Yondral, the old dwarf who runs the inn.
“That's a lesser evil than giant trouble,” mumbled one of the locals.
“Aye, rightly said!" responded Yondral while vigorously nodding his grizzled head. “Far too many rumors of giantfolk roamin' about and causin’ trouble of late. Well, if anyone’s feelin’ heroic, here’s yer chance.” The dwarf then tapped the flyer with his index finger a few times before sauntering back to the kitchen.
A quick glance at the flyer told you everything you needed to know:
REWARD!
<-<>->
A Sum of four-hundred gold Pieces
To Any who can rid Nightstone of its Goblin Menace
<-<>-<>-<>->
Lady Velrosa Nandar, High Steward of Nightstone, requests your Assistance
And pledges prompt Payment in full to Those who restore Peace and Order to the Village
<-<>->
The next morning you departed the sleepy village of Rassalantar with four other adventurers and began the southward journey to Nightstone. That evening at the Sleeping Dragon was your first introduction to your fellow travelers; so, you don’t really know them all that well. They seem agreeable enough, and, more importantly, they seem able to handle themselves in a fight.
You estimate that it is now midday, but it’s hard to know for certain. The entire sky is covered in gloom. Gray clouds have been sprinkling you with light rain since you set out this morning, and it doesn’t seem like the weather will improve any time soon. But you know the village of Nightstone is just ahead, and you have heard that some of the best food in the land is served by Morak Ur’gray, the innkeeper at the Nightstone Inn.
The first indication that your destination is near is, oddly enough, the deep, resonant sound of a ringing bell. The sound grows louder as Nightstone comes into view. The Ardeep River flows around the settlement, forming a moat. The village itself is contained within a wooden palisade, beyond which you see a windmill, a tall steeple, and high-pitched rooftops of several other buildings. Apart from the ringing of the bell, you detect no other activity in the village. The trail you have been walking upon ends before a lowered drawbridge that spans the moat. Beyond the drawbridge, two stone watchtowers flank an open gap in the palisade.
South of the village and surrounded by the river moat is a cone-shaped, flat-topped hill on which stands a stone keep enclosed by a wooden wall. The keep, which overlooks the village, has partially collapsed. A wooden bridge that once connected the keep to the village has also partially collapsed.
From where you stand, you see no activity whatsoever; you hear only the soft sound of rain and the continued ringing of the village bell, which you now realize is at the top of the steeple in the building just inside the gate. What action do you take?
(The map below indicates the current location of the party members.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Carrow
"I like to gather my thoughts beforehand, well met all" Dismounting the cart Carrow throws the hood down from around his face revealing the hardy features of a well weathered Half-orc "We may possess some element of surprise here. That bell needs to be silenced but we must be wary of ambush, what are your thoughts"
Carrow Studies the main drawbridge from a distance. Investigation: 7
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Andor
The sorcerer looks out over the approach to the village, green eyes curious and alert. "We don't know what the purpose of the bell is though, it may be a call for help. Looking at the keep and the bridge they have had a rough time of it, I don't see another entrance so I think the ranger is right, sneak up as close as possible and be wary of an ambush, once we are closer we will have a better idea of what we are dealing with."
Pulling up the hood of his worn and now rain soaked cloak Andor prepares to move closer scanning the walls and guardtowers for signs of activity.
Perception 5
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
The well dressed man is one the last to exit the carriage. "My my, everyone is in such hurry these days. It would be foolish of me not to indulge the will and eagerness of my fellow crew members. It’s all about understanding people,” he continued talking to the inside of the carriage. “You have to read how someone is feeling, change that feeling by manipulating it in the proper direction, then channel their newfound emotional state to your advantage. That, my dear Goaliath friend, is the challenge in what we do! It is difficult, but for those who can do it well… What was your name again, friend?” Ladrian asked while completely exiting the carriage, not particularly waiting for an answer. He pulls the hood from the cloak to cover himself from the rain. "Dreary weather conditions indeed"
Ladrian takes a look at the village, focused on the entry point and says: "It would be a shame if we were ambushed in that village with only one way in or out. Specially if someone or something raises the alarm by playing that bell to signal the attack."
1. My apologies for not specifying the party's means of travel. Each of you is on foot. There's no need to edit your previous posts, however.
2. By the words "I investigate the town," I'm assuming Rixton does so from where he currently stands.
From where the party stands--roughly seventy-five feet from the drawbridge and guard towers--Rixton, Carrow, and Andor look and listen for any sort of hint that might reveal what has recently happened in Nightstone. There's nothing of note on or near the drawbridge, and there's no evidence of activity in either guard tower, which are the only structures you can truly see; the wooden palisade is tall enough to obscure your view of anything else that lies within the village.
Now that you're quite close to Nightstone, all five of you can detect a rhythmic inconsistency in the ringing of the village bell. Whoever, or whatever, is ringing the bell is doing so irregularly.
I look back at my fellow travelers, dusty, tired, wet, and cold. The promise of shelter and maybe a fire is enticing. "There is no time like the present, gentlemen. I, for one, did not come all this way just to stand in the rain and wait for the goblins to find me."
I walk to the drawbridge but don't cross it yet, peering into the town, at the guard towers, and what I can see of the church or town hall with the ringing bell.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ladrian
"I guess we might as well get this done with so that we can return to the civilised world of an hot bath and and proper meal. " he says, while he follows Andor to investigate the bell, in stealth.
"Agreed the bell is frustrating, listen, its frantic and irregular could be the goblins ******* around " he replies, pulling his hood back up over his head Carrow nocks an arrow and follows Ladrian before taking a position behind the tree covering the bridge.
"I guess the drawbridge being down is a bad sign, if I were defending this place raising it would be the first thing I'd do" Andor whispers to the others as they sneak forward. He turns to the ranger saying "Carrow, can you see any signs of what caused this attack? I don't see any equipment that could have done it."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Carrow
"Not yet" he replies to the human, he casts a quick glance over his rain soaked cloak unable to discern any features under the damp hood. Carrow, staying low, studies the immediate area for any evidence the goblins came this way, and if so, in what number.
Survival: 12
Looking up and past the rogue stood in plain sight on the road Carrow casts an eye over the drawbridge looking for any evidence as to how it was opened.
Perception: 7
"Rixton, what do you see?"
Apologies if i roll against the wrong skills to start with, i am still learning the game.
Vigan strides onto the drawbridge, planting the long handle of his greataxe into the ground next to him with an audible thud.
"We can look and talk and hide behind bushes all we want, but that bell could be someone in danger, or injured. We waste time with our inaction."
He looks over his shoulder at the others; "Besides, I've had far worse welcomes at the gates to fortifications. Nobody is raining arrows down on us, for a start!"
Carrow makes his way toward the large oak that stands just to the west of the drawbridge. En route, he looks for signs of goblin tracks, but finds nothing. Pressing himself against the trunk of the tree, he has a narrow view into the village. He sees a muddy town square strewn with a few boulders that seem somewhat out of place. From a hole in each guard tower a heavy chain extends to the drawbridge, indicating the mechanisms by which the bridge is raised and lowered are probably somewhere in the towers.
Rixton and Vigan, with Andor and Ladrian nearby, stand on the drawbridge and look directly into Nightstone. Not only do they see the muddy town square littered with boulders, they notice a large hole in the ground in the center of the square. Just north of the hole is a covered well. On the eastern edge of the square is a wooden cart and a few tethering posts.
Everyone: Your approach to the village drawbridge enables you to better see some of the details regarding the building that houses the ringing bell. You can see that it is a small temple of some sort. The bell teases you for a moment, as if it were about to go silent. Then it suddenly begins clanging again, loud and fast.
No one seems to have noticed your movement toward the village, and the thud of Vigan's axe handle is met only with silence and falling rain.
"What is that hole in the middle? Do goblins come from the ground?"he asks "And that blasted bell seems to have change its pattern. I wonder if it's best for us to get the high ground. like going to wall and to the watch tower above the gate or go directly to the bell to see what's going on "Ladrian says to the crew.
"I don't like that bell", Vigan grunts. "But not because it's annoying. I'd value another sword-arm to investigate with me."
He hefts his greataxe over his shoulder, and strides through the gate, his urgency apparent with each step. Glancing at the hole in the ground for a second, Vigan turns left towards the temple, and out of view of the others.
"He's asking for trouble going off on his own, I'll go with him." The sorcerer moves off trying to keep out of sight as he goes but not getting too far from the hulking goliath.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
"Ha, I like him already" Carrows mouth curls up into a smile revealing the tusks of his Orcish heritage. The Half-Orc follows on behind the sorcerer and the goliath, eyes on the temple, bow at the ready.
Four days ago, while you were enjoying an evening of food, drink, song, and casual conversation in the Sleeping Dragon, the inn’s proprietor ambled into the main dining area and nailed a flyer to one of the wooden posts.
“Goblin trouble in Nightstone, it seems,” announced Yondral, the old dwarf who runs the inn.
“That's a lesser evil than giant trouble,” mumbled one of the locals.
“Aye, rightly said!" responded Yondral while vigorously nodding his grizzled head. “Far too many rumors of giantfolk roamin' about and causin’ trouble of late. Well, if anyone’s feelin’ heroic, here’s yer chance.” The dwarf then tapped the flyer with his index finger a few times before sauntering back to the kitchen.
A quick glance at the flyer told you everything you needed to know:
REWARD!
<-<>->
A Sum of four-hundred gold Pieces
To Any who can rid Nightstone of its Goblin Menace
<-<>-<>-<>->
Lady Velrosa Nandar, High Steward of Nightstone, requests your Assistance
And pledges prompt Payment in full to Those who restore Peace and Order to the Village
<-<>->
The next morning you departed the sleepy village of Rassalantar with four other adventurers and began the southward journey to Nightstone. That evening at the Sleeping Dragon was your first introduction to your fellow travelers; so, you don’t really know them all that well. They seem agreeable enough, and, more importantly, they seem able to handle themselves in a fight.
You estimate that it is now midday, but it’s hard to know for certain. The entire sky is covered in gloom. Gray clouds have been sprinkling you with light rain since you set out this morning, and it doesn’t seem like the weather will improve any time soon. But you know the village of Nightstone is just ahead, and you have heard that some of the best food in the land is served by Morak Ur’gray, the innkeeper at the Nightstone Inn.
The first indication that your destination is near is, oddly enough, the deep, resonant sound of a ringing bell. The sound grows louder as Nightstone comes into view. The Ardeep River flows around the settlement, forming a moat. The village itself is contained within a wooden palisade, beyond which you see a windmill, a tall steeple, and high-pitched rooftops of several other buildings. Apart from the ringing of the bell, you detect no other activity in the village. The trail you have been walking upon ends before a lowered drawbridge that spans the moat. Beyond the drawbridge, two stone watchtowers flank an open gap in the palisade.
South of the village and surrounded by the river moat is a cone-shaped, flat-topped hill on which stands a stone keep enclosed by a wooden wall. The keep, which overlooks the village, has partially collapsed. A wooden bridge that once connected the keep to the village has also partially collapsed.
From where you stand, you see no activity whatsoever; you hear only the soft sound of rain and the continued ringing of the village bell, which you now realize is at the top of the steeple in the building just inside the gate. What action do you take?
(The map below indicates the current location of the party members.)
Rixton:
"Well, gentlemen. Your silence on this journey has been very much appreciated."
I investigate the town for signs of what happened here recently. Investigation: 21
"I look forward to seeing you all in action, though."
Carrow
"I like to gather my thoughts beforehand, well met all" Dismounting the cart Carrow throws the hood down from around his face revealing the hardy features of a well weathered Half-orc "We may possess some element of surprise here. That bell needs to be silenced but we must be wary of ambush, what are your thoughts"
Carrow Studies the main drawbridge from a distance. Investigation: 7
Andor
The sorcerer looks out over the approach to the village, green eyes curious and alert. "We don't know what the purpose of the bell is though, it may be a call for help. Looking at the keep and the bridge they have had a rough time of it, I don't see another entrance so I think the ranger is right, sneak up as close as possible and be wary of an ambush, once we are closer we will have a better idea of what we are dealing with."
Pulling up the hood of his worn and now rain soaked cloak Andor prepares to move closer scanning the walls and guardtowers for signs of activity.
Perception 5
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Ladrian,
The well dressed man is one the last to exit the carriage. "My my, everyone is in such hurry these days. It would be foolish of me not to indulge the will and eagerness of my fellow crew members. It’s all about understanding people,” he continued talking to the inside of the carriage. “You have to read how someone is feeling, change that feeling by manipulating it in the proper direction, then channel their newfound emotional state to your advantage. That, my dear Goaliath friend, is the challenge in what we do! It is difficult, but for those who can do it well… What was your name again, friend?” Ladrian asked while completely exiting the carriage, not particularly waiting for an answer. He pulls the hood from the cloak to cover himself from the rain. "Dreary weather conditions indeed"
Ladrian takes a look at the village, focused on the entry point and says: "It would be a shame if we were ambushed in that village with only one way in or out. Specially if someone or something raises the alarm by playing that bell to signal the attack."
1. My apologies for not specifying the party's means of travel. Each of you is on foot. There's no need to edit your previous posts, however.
2. By the words "I investigate the town," I'm assuming Rixton does so from where he currently stands.
From where the party stands--roughly seventy-five feet from the drawbridge and guard towers--Rixton, Carrow, and Andor look and listen for any sort of hint that might reveal what has recently happened in Nightstone. There's nothing of note on or near the drawbridge, and there's no evidence of activity in either guard tower, which are the only structures you can truly see; the wooden palisade is tall enough to obscure your view of anything else that lies within the village.
Now that you're quite close to Nightstone, all five of you can detect a rhythmic inconsistency in the ringing of the village bell. Whoever, or whatever, is ringing the bell is doing so irregularly.
Rixton:
I look back at my fellow travelers, dusty, tired, wet, and cold. The promise of shelter and maybe a fire is enticing. "There is no time like the present, gentlemen. I, for one, did not come all this way just to stand in the rain and wait for the goblins to find me."
I walk to the drawbridge but don't cross it yet, peering into the town, at the guard towers, and what I can see of the church or town hall with the ringing bell.
Perception: 18
Andor
"That bell is starting to annoy me already, I don't see anything on the walls or tower so yes let's go, a little caution might be called for though.."
The sorcerer attempts to move inconspicuously using any cover to try and stay out of sight.
Stealth 23
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Ladrian
"I guess we might as well get this done with so that we can return to the civilised world of an hot bath and and proper meal. " he says, while he follows Andor to investigate the bell, in stealth.
Stealth: 19
Carrow
"Agreed the bell is frustrating, listen, its frantic and irregular could be the goblins ******* around " he replies, pulling his hood back up over his head Carrow nocks an arrow and follows Ladrian before taking a position behind the tree covering the bridge.
Stealth 21
Andor
"I guess the drawbridge being down is a bad sign, if I were defending this place raising it would be the first thing I'd do" Andor whispers to the others as they sneak forward. He turns to the ranger saying "Carrow, can you see any signs of what caused this attack? I don't see any equipment that could have done it."
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Carrow
"Not yet" he replies to the human, he casts a quick glance over his rain soaked cloak unable to discern any features under the damp hood. Carrow, staying low, studies the immediate area for any evidence the goblins came this way, and if so, in what number.
Survival: 12
Looking up and past the rogue stood in plain sight on the road Carrow casts an eye over the drawbridge looking for any evidence as to how it was opened.
Perception: 7
"Rixton, what do you see?"
Apologies if i roll against the wrong skills to start with, i am still learning the game.
Vigan
Vigan strides onto the drawbridge, planting the long handle of his greataxe into the ground next to him with an audible thud.
"We can look and talk and hide behind bushes all we want, but that bell could be someone in danger, or injured. We waste time with our inaction."
He looks over his shoulder at the others; "Besides, I've had far worse welcomes at the gates to fortifications. Nobody is raining arrows down on us, for a start!"
Carrow makes his way toward the large oak that stands just to the west of the drawbridge. En route, he looks for signs of goblin tracks, but finds nothing. Pressing himself against the trunk of the tree, he has a narrow view into the village. He sees a muddy town square strewn with a few boulders that seem somewhat out of place. From a hole in each guard tower a heavy chain extends to the drawbridge, indicating the mechanisms by which the bridge is raised and lowered are probably somewhere in the towers.
Rixton and Vigan, with Andor and Ladrian nearby, stand on the drawbridge and look directly into Nightstone. Not only do they see the muddy town square littered with boulders, they notice a large hole in the ground in the center of the square. Just north of the hole is a covered well. On the eastern edge of the square is a wooden cart and a few tethering posts.
Everyone: Your approach to the village drawbridge enables you to better see some of the details regarding the building that houses the ringing bell. You can see that it is a small temple of some sort. The bell teases you for a moment, as if it were about to go silent. Then it suddenly begins clanging again, loud and fast.
No one seems to have noticed your movement toward the village, and the thud of Vigan's axe handle is met only with silence and falling rain.
Rixton:
"Interesting," I mutter.
I try to recall goblin war tactics and whether or not they used trebuchets or catapaults. History:21
"No tracks here, the boulders in town could have been launched in, they look out of place"
He joins the others on the bridge "shall we then" he says gesturing across the bridge, and walks towards the entrance longbow in hand.
Ladrian
"What is that hole in the middle? Do goblins come from the ground?" he asks "And that blasted bell seems to have change its pattern. I wonder if it's best for us to get the high ground. like going to wall and to the watch tower above the gate or go directly to the bell to see what's going on " Ladrian says to the crew.
Vigan
"I don't like that bell", Vigan grunts. "But not because it's annoying. I'd value another sword-arm to investigate with me."
He hefts his greataxe over his shoulder, and strides through the gate, his urgency apparent with each step. Glancing at the hole in the ground for a second, Vigan turns left towards the temple, and out of view of the others.
Andor
"He's asking for trouble going off on his own, I'll go with him." The sorcerer moves off trying to keep out of sight as he goes but not getting too far from the hulking goliath.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Carrow
"Ha, I like him already" Carrows mouth curls up into a smile revealing the tusks of his Orcish heritage. The Half-Orc follows on behind the sorcerer and the goliath, eyes on the temple, bow at the ready.