"That's a handy potion," I say. "I'm tempted to claim it but this would be best for our front line."
I leave the potion on the table in our temporary headquarters.
"I have some ideas for how to cross the bridge," I say. "Well, six or seven ideas. They all have some risk. The least risky is to try and throw a grappling hook across. I am just not sure we have a good anchor point on the other side. The rest of my plans involve building some kind of makeshift bridge or jumping across, either Vigan holding a rope or with the horses."
"Thank you" Taking 20 arrows that are freely given to him "I appreciate it" after searching the town aimlessly and without fruition this store is the best place Carrow could hope to find "I could use some bits myself actually" his voice drifting off as he begins rummaging through the plethora of adventuring supplies.
1 Caltrops
2 vials
1 iron spkes
1 Hunters Traps
1 Healing Kit
1 Grappling Hook
1 Rope Hempen
1 Tinderbox
3 Vials of Oil
Returning to the Inn the Half-Orcs keen nose highlights the already rotting goblin pile in the center of town they need destroying entering the Inn he sits with his fellow companions "I can see tents in store we may need them for the road after this is done, as for the bridge" he thinks for a second "that shop did have a ladder, we could maybe do something with that" The ranger eyes up the loot sat at the table and reaches a hand for the ring sat next to the gold"This is nice, does it possess any qualities?" he studies the ring turning it in his fingers. I could wear this, why wouldn't a half-orc have a piece of jewelry about him, the others may want this, do not rock the boat you have not been accepted yet here Trying the ring on for size Carrow points to the gold "When that is shared may i claim the leather pouch?" I have no need of material possessions the wilds keep me Taking off the ring he returns it to the pile.
Remembering the destroyed section of the bridge he says :"It seems to be 18 feet, maybe 20 feet of that bridge section that is missing. The grappling hook might work, if someone is strong and accurate enough to throw it that far."
I try dividing it up into 4 piles for the others, since I have claimed a gem and potion of healing.
Pile 1: A gemstone worth 100 gp
Pile 2: A ring worth 25 gp, a silver locket worth 25 gp, and a Potion of Healing
Pile 3: A dented silver jug worth 20 gp, a silver image of Asmodeus worth 75 gp, a vial of perfume worth 5 gp
Pile 4: 2 leather pouches of gold worth 77 gp, two vials of perfume worth 5 gp each, a battered flagon worth 1 gp, a healer's kit worth 5 gp, 17 silver pieces, and 13 copper pieces (this one gets short-changed by about 7 gp)
Left over: A potion of heroism and worthless kitchen utensils
After posting himself atop the guard tower for twenty-minutes or so, Vigan sees the first sign of movement. Two human males, wielding spears and wearing garb typically associated with that of a guard, are making their way northward through the village. Based on their direction of travel and the fact that the party of adventurers has searched every part of the village, Vigan can only assume these two men have come from the keep.
They walk, with spears at the ready, toward the pile of dead goblins and worgs. When they are approximately 40' from the southern edge of the square, one of them calls out, "Ho, there! We are guards of Nightstone! Hello! We are in need of aid!"
Andor, Carrow, Ladrian, andRixtonhear the unfamiliar voice from where they are gathered in the inn.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rixton:
I leave the inn to cross the town square to the drawbridge tower where Vigan sits, keeping watch. I stop in the center of the square and examine the hole in the ground. I try to recall the significance of the night stone, where it came from, and possibly why someone would want it.
Vigan watches the humans for a second, then putting two fingers in his mouth, lets out a shrill whistle that travels across the square towards the inn. Without checking to see whether his companions heard him, he makes his way down to the drawbridge, and then slowly walks towards the two men. He rests his greataxe over his shoulder, in an attempt to show that he is not a threat.
The two guards eye Vigan cautiously but then turn their attention to Ladrian as soon as the rogue makes his inquiry.
"Torem Breck, Nightstone guard and servant of Lady Velrosa Nandar here," responds the taller of the two guards. Significant amounts of smeared blood can be seen on his sleeves. He stands still with the butt of his spear on the ground. Motioning to his right, he says, "And this is Sydiri Haular, my fellow guardsman."
The man identified as Sydiri nods at Ladrian, then at Vigan. "We come from the keep. There." He points to the south where the broken bridge is. "The bridge is sloped downward toward the village. The jump across is manageable."
Torem points at the goblin carcasses with his spear. "Remarkable." After a pause, he asks gloomily, "Villagers? Are there any?"
Looking at the five-feet deep hole in the ground and sifting through his memory of the lore of the North, Rixton remembers that Nightstone was named after a massive chunk of obsidian that once stood in the middle of the village square. The obsidian megalith had strange glyphs carved into it and radiated magic under the scrutiny of detect magic spells, but its properties and purpose couldn’t be ascertained. The villagers assumed it was a relic of some bygone age or kingdom and left it alone.
Looking at Rixton, Sydiri replies, "The keep is indeed the place where our townspeople are to hide in times of danger. One of the first falling boulders destroyed the bridge and their retreat was cut off. They fled north...to the caves, I imagine."
Torem then notices the flying snake on Rixton's arm; a look of concern quickly passes over the guard's face before he says to the group, "Your timing, perfect. Your skill, impressive. Impressive gentlemen. Thank you. Nightstone's debt to you is immense."
The goliath registers the concern on the guard's face, and attempts to give him the facts to put his mind at ease.
"My friend, our group arrived here from Rassalantar earlier today, where we heard of your lady's request for help against goblins. Seems like you may have other problems too", he says, nodding at a nearby boulder. "Everything is dead this side of the bridge but us, including an agent of the Zhentarim, killed by a goblin arrow. Her snake has taken a shine to my companion here", gesturing in the direction of Rixton. "The woman was in possession of a note, indicating she was expecting company soon. Her body is in the inn. We were preparing to search the keep, when you made yourselves known to us."
I rub the snake's head with a sly smile. Disguising ourselves as Zhentarim might be useful eventually but it doesn't serve us right now. "I could use your help filling in the blanks," I say to the guards. "I believe your town and keep were attacked by giants due to the precise boulder strikes. I suspect the goblins came into the town after the giants had finished, but maybe they worked together? Additionally, it seems pretty clear that they were after the night stone in your town square, probably due to its little known magical properties. Did you see the stone removed?"
"A Zhentarim here in Nightstone? If that is true, then this place is cursed three-fold," mutters Sydiri. "A senseless attack by cloud giants...an invasion of goblin vermin...and now Zhentarim..."
Torem fills in the blanks. "Day before yesterday--a day like any other, I assure you--until a castle in the clouds drifts over the village. Giants start droppin' these boulders you see all around us, killin' innocent folk, knockin' down buildings, and causin' all manner of fear. Those who could, fled. From my vantage point in the keep I watched four cloud giants descend a set of stairs from their castle. They marched straight to the village square, dug up the obsidian stone, returned to their castle, and away they went. No explanation whatsoever. Sure, maybe the thing was magical. But why the slaughter?"
Sydiri adds, "Goblins showed up last night we believe. Opportunistic bastards! Looting an abandoned village. The cloud giant attack makes no sense, but it would make even less sense for them to be in league with goblins."
Torem speaks again. "Well, I don't know your names, and I may be rushin' ahead of myself here, but the five of you are the first ray of hope to shine on this place for quite some time. There are three more of us in the keep. Nay, only two. Lady Nandar has died. Two guards watch over the Lady's body."
Both Torem and Sydiri attempt to stifle their grief as the announcement of Lady Nandar's death is made.
"Of course!" I say, perhaps too excitedly. "Cloud giants. That is most helpful."
The pained look from the guards causes me to stammer somewhat. "Ah, yes. You said you were in need of aid? The attack is finished and your Lady has passed. What need have you?"
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Rixton uncorks the potion flask and immediately recognizes the bubbling, steaming blue liquid within; it is a Potion of Heroism.
Rixton:
"That's a handy potion," I say. "I'm tempted to claim it but this would be best for our front line."
I leave the potion on the table in our temporary headquarters.
"I have some ideas for how to cross the bridge," I say. "Well, six or seven ideas. They all have some risk. The least risky is to try and throw a grappling hook across. I am just not sure we have a good anchor point on the other side. The rest of my plans involve building some kind of makeshift bridge or jumping across, either Vigan holding a rope or with the horses."
Carrow
"Thank you" Taking 20 arrows that are freely given to him "I appreciate it" after searching the town aimlessly and without fruition this store is the best place Carrow could hope to find "I could use some bits myself actually" his voice drifting off as he begins rummaging through the plethora of adventuring supplies.
1 Caltrops
2 vials
1 iron spkes
1 Hunters Traps
1 Healing Kit
1 Grappling Hook
1 Rope Hempen
1 Tinderbox
3 Vials of Oil
Returning to the Inn the Half-Orcs keen nose highlights the already rotting goblin pile in the center of town they need destroying entering the Inn he sits with his fellow companions "I can see tents in store we may need them for the road after this is done, as for the bridge" he thinks for a second "that shop did have a ladder, we could maybe do something with that" The ranger eyes up the loot sat at the table and reaches a hand for the ring sat next to the gold "This is nice, does it possess any qualities?" he studies the ring turning it in his fingers. I could wear this, why wouldn't a half-orc have a piece of jewelry about him, the others may want this, do not rock the boat you have not been accepted yet here Trying the ring on for size Carrow points to the gold "When that is shared may i claim the leather pouch?" I have no need of material possessions the wilds keep me Taking off the ring he returns it to the pile.
Ladrian
Remembering the destroyed section of the bridge he says :"It seems to be 18 feet, maybe 20 feet of that bridge section that is missing. The grappling hook might work, if someone is strong and accurate enough to throw it that far."
Here is what (I think) is still on the table:
Rixton has a gemstone worth 100 gp.
Rixton:
"We should divvy this up, gents."
I try dividing it up into 4 piles for the others, since I have claimed a gem and potion of healing.
Pile 1: A gemstone worth 100 gp
Pile 2: A ring worth 25 gp, a silver locket worth 25 gp, and a Potion of Healing
Pile 3: A dented silver jug worth 20 gp, a silver image of Asmodeus worth 75 gp, a vial of perfume worth 5 gp
Pile 4: 2 leather pouches of gold worth 77 gp, two vials of perfume worth 5 gp each, a battered flagon worth 1 gp, a healer's kit worth 5 gp, 17 silver pieces, and 13 copper pieces (this one gets short-changed by about 7 gp)
Left over: A potion of heroism and worthless kitchen utensils
Ladrian
"If no one objects , I'll take pile 1. We need to get moving" He says to the others
After posting himself atop the guard tower for twenty-minutes or so, Vigan sees the first sign of movement. Two human males, wielding spears and wearing garb typically associated with that of a guard, are making their way northward through the village. Based on their direction of travel and the fact that the party of adventurers has searched every part of the village, Vigan can only assume these two men have come from the keep.
They walk, with spears at the ready, toward the pile of dead goblins and worgs. When they are approximately 40' from the southern edge of the square, one of them calls out, "Ho, there! We are guards of Nightstone! Hello! We are in need of aid!"
Andor, Carrow, Ladrian, and Rixton hear the unfamiliar voice from where they are gathered in the inn.
Rixton:
I leave the inn to cross the town square to the drawbridge tower where Vigan sits, keeping watch. I stop in the center of the square and examine the hole in the ground. I try to recall the significance of the night stone, where it came from, and possibly why someone would want it.
History: 21
I hear an unfamiliar voice rouse me from my thoughts.
Edit: okay, fixed to be more in line with what's going on.
Vigan
Vigan watches the humans for a second, then putting two fingers in his mouth, lets out a shrill whistle that travels across the square towards the inn. Without checking to see whether his companions heard him, he makes his way down to the drawbridge, and then slowly walks towards the two men. He rests his greataxe over his shoulder, in an attempt to show that he is not a threat.
Ladrian
Hearing the voices and the whistle he brings up whis shortbow and moves outside the Inn.
Seeing Vigan walking towards the the human-like figures he draws his string aiming at the humans and shouts "Who's there? And how did you get here?"
The two guards eye Vigan cautiously but then turn their attention to Ladrian as soon as the rogue makes his inquiry.
"Torem Breck, Nightstone guard and servant of Lady Velrosa Nandar here," responds the taller of the two guards. Significant amounts of smeared blood can be seen on his sleeves. He stands still with the butt of his spear on the ground. Motioning to his right, he says, "And this is Sydiri Haular, my fellow guardsman."
The man identified as Sydiri nods at Ladrian, then at Vigan. "We come from the keep. There." He points to the south where the broken bridge is. "The bridge is sloped downward toward the village. The jump across is manageable."
Torem points at the goblin carcasses with his spear. "Remarkable." After a pause, he asks gloomily, "Villagers? Are there any?"
Rixton:
Looking at the five-feet deep hole in the ground and sifting through his memory of the lore of the North, Rixton remembers that Nightstone was named after a massive chunk of obsidian that once stood in the middle of the village square. The obsidian megalith had strange glyphs carved into it and radiated magic under the scrutiny of detect magic spells, but its properties and purpose couldn’t be ascertained. The villagers assumed it was a relic of some bygone age or kingdom and left it alone.
Rixton:
I approach the men alongside my comrades, keeping mostly quiet while I observe the guards for their intention.
Insight: 15
I finally say, "Just goblins. No sign of the villagers. I had thought them in the keep."
Looking at Rixton, Sydiri replies, "The keep is indeed the place where our townspeople are to hide in times of danger. One of the first falling boulders destroyed the bridge and their retreat was cut off. They fled north...to the caves, I imagine."
Torem then notices the flying snake on Rixton's arm; a look of concern quickly passes over the guard's face before he says to the group, "Your timing, perfect. Your skill, impressive. Impressive gentlemen. Thank you. Nightstone's debt to you is immense."
Vigan
The goliath registers the concern on the guard's face, and attempts to give him the facts to put his mind at ease.
"My friend, our group arrived here from Rassalantar earlier today, where we heard of your lady's request for help against goblins. Seems like you may have other problems too", he says, nodding at a nearby boulder. "Everything is dead this side of the bridge but us, including an agent of the Zhentarim, killed by a goblin arrow. Her snake has taken a shine to my companion here", gesturing in the direction of Rixton. "The woman was in possession of a note, indicating she was expecting company soon. Her body is in the inn. We were preparing to search the keep, when you made yourselves known to us."
Ladrian
"So what exactly happened here? And how many are still in the keep?" Ladrian asks Torm, still suspicious about the timing of the events
If required here's my insight roll: 13
Rixton:
I rub the snake's head with a sly smile. Disguising ourselves as Zhentarim might be useful eventually but it doesn't serve us right now. "I could use your help filling in the blanks," I say to the guards. "I believe your town and keep were attacked by giants due to the precise boulder strikes. I suspect the goblins came into the town after the giants had finished, but maybe they worked together? Additionally, it seems pretty clear that they were after the night stone in your town square, probably due to its little known magical properties. Did you see the stone removed?"
"A Zhentarim here in Nightstone? If that is true, then this place is cursed three-fold," mutters Sydiri. "A senseless attack by cloud giants...an invasion of goblin vermin...and now Zhentarim..."
Torem fills in the blanks. "Day before yesterday--a day like any other, I assure you--until a castle in the clouds drifts over the village. Giants start droppin' these boulders you see all around us, killin' innocent folk, knockin' down buildings, and causin' all manner of fear. Those who could, fled. From my vantage point in the keep I watched four cloud giants descend a set of stairs from their castle. They marched straight to the village square, dug up the obsidian stone, returned to their castle, and away they went. No explanation whatsoever. Sure, maybe the thing was magical. But why the slaughter?"
Sydiri adds, "Goblins showed up last night we believe. Opportunistic bastards! Looting an abandoned village. The cloud giant attack makes no sense, but it would make even less sense for them to be in league with goblins."
Torem speaks again. "Well, I don't know your names, and I may be rushin' ahead of myself here, but the five of you are the first ray of hope to shine on this place for quite some time. There are three more of us in the keep. Nay, only two. Lady Nandar has died. Two guards watch over the Lady's body."
Both Torem and Sydiri attempt to stifle their grief as the announcement of Lady Nandar's death is made.
Rixton:
"Of course!" I say, perhaps too excitedly. "Cloud giants. That is most helpful."
The pained look from the guards causes me to stammer somewhat. "Ah, yes. You said you were in need of aid? The attack is finished and your Lady has passed. What need have you?"