Graxx feels disappointed yet again, while Neya suggests next steps for the group. Praxx observes.
Utar then asks three more questions to Harae, pausing after each one to allow the spirit to respond through the tiny metal scale.
"Did they find the treasure they were seeking, Harae?" - Ting!
"Is that connected to the lighthouse going out? - Ting!
"Is this Grim someone we should be trusting?" - Ting! Ting!
Drazzim, who had been staying outside keeping an eye out since the fight with the wererat was over, comes back into the room and says "Are y'all done yet? It's boring out here." He is not aware of the latest discoveries you have made.
Graxx perks up at the two tings on Grim. "Two tings! That means we don't trust him! It's a sign. We wipe out the Blackfist! Drazzim, don't worry your skills will be needed soon!"
"I once had similar thoughts when some childhood friends were taken by a drow slaving band. I was angry and wanted to get revenge for them. As I was preparing myself to hunt them down, my teacher apparently saw me and knew my intentions. Instead of berating me, he took me to an ant hill, holding a boot with a stick at the end of it and crushed a few that were a ways away from the entrance. Seconds later, damn near the entire colony poured out, some swarmed the boot, others went for the two of us. Even though I did not kill any, the ants still attacked me! In between the stings, I figured out why he did that and shoved those retaliatory thoughts from my mind."
Having forgotten the dwarf in the conversation with Harae, Utar is momentarily startled when he speaks.
"We'll need to prepare our next move, although I think we all have some homework to take off given the reading that our incorporeal friend has given us. I think Neya might be right, we can't stand against the Black Fist in its entirety."
Turning back and addressing the side rather than any particular point within it.
"Harae, you been so helpful already, but I have one last question to ask. Is Grim also afflicted with the curse of lycanthropy?"
Graxx first giggles at Neya feeling he knows something she doesnt, "Oh Neya! You always are the voice of reason but this time I think you are mistaken! Just because they are called the Black Fist doesn't mean they have Black Fists so your Drow lesson may not work here."
Graxx then goes serious for a moment, "But.. If you ever want to hunt Drow you know I will always have your back."
Graxx then turns to Drazzim, "I have a feeling the lighthouse would be our next reasonable stop."
"Recall who the Lord Regent is... The Knight Commander of the Black Fist himself! I'd wager his current station may make such an endeavor immensely difficult."
"Changing back to the subject at hand, I agree that the lighthouse is worth a look as well. Though, if I remember correctly, the Black Fist on the island have the key that building. Hopefully, there is someone inside to allow us entry."
(OOC: It sounds like you have opted to go to the Lighthouse, so here we go.)
There is no tipping of the metal scale in response to Utar's last question. Whether this means that Harae is done "talking" for the moment or that she doesn't know the answer, the group takes it as a sign that it is time to look elsewhere for clues. The four investigators rejoin with Drazzim outside the East Tower and begin to make their way to the Lighthouse. Their path is illuminated by Utar's Driftglobe as well as Neya's half burnt torch.
The Lighthouse is the tallest tower of the keep and is located at the southern end of the isle, right at the edge of the water. Walking there takes more than just a few minutes. It is a slender round tower about 80 feet tall, consisting of three floors with the upper part being a large open space. A staircase runs along the outward facing walls to the top. There are three doors into the Lighthouse, one in each level. The two doors above ground level can be accessed only by the outside staircase. The ground level door is slightly ajar; its lock is busted open.
"Not a lot of people on the island... Outside of us, the groundskeepers and the Black Fist, the only others I can think of would be the mercenaries. One of them was friendly with Grim, correct? Then why is the lock broken?"
Utar takes the driftglobe in his hand and holds it close to his mouth, whispering "noctis" to it. His face, once illuminated, is plunged into darkness as the globe extinguishes itself.
"Let's hope whoever is in there, is not covered in fur."
Praxx pulls his rapier from his side and looks at Utar and gives him a wink and says “If it’s covered in fur I think it’s about to have a bad day” then pulls a silver coin from his pouch in the other hand.
Graxx primes his ears for any sign of life beyond the door, but does not hear anything out of the ordinary.
Utar puts away his Driftglobe, leaving Neya's torch and Graxx's Moon-touched Sword (if unsheathed) as the only other sources of light around them.
The group still stands outside the door. Drazzim offers to be the first one to cross the threshold if no one else claims the honor. "I'm unlikely to be quiet about it, though..." he says.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Praxx looks at Utar and whispers “this is the most fun I’ve had in years”. As he walks towards the door he quickly looks around to see if anything is out of the ordinary in the dark around the tower.
Drazzim pushes the door open without difficulty. Graxx follows, then Neya, and Utar. Praxx brings up the rear. The monk and the bard make a point of keeping an eye out while moving inside, but their eyes seem to still be adjusting to the sudden transition away from the bright white light provided by Utar's magical sphere. They notice nothing out of the ordinary.
Neya's torch and Graxx's magical sword come in less handy in here. More than a few candles illuminate what is very clearly the guards’ common area. Chairs, tables, mugs, playing cards, ale barrels both empty and full, as well as a variety of dried meats, fruit, and day-old bread. The room is empty, but looks pretty well lived in.
Drazzim goes straight to an untapped barrel and, well, taps it. "Finally!"
Here too, the strange indoor breeze blows, indicating Harae's presence.
Graxx feels disappointed yet again, while Neya suggests next steps for the group. Praxx observes.
Utar then asks three more questions to Harae, pausing after each one to allow the spirit to respond through the tiny metal scale.
Drazzim, who had been staying outside keeping an eye out since the fight with the wererat was over, comes back into the room and says "Are y'all done yet? It's boring out here." He is not aware of the latest discoveries you have made.
Graxx perks up at the two tings on Grim. "Two tings! That means we don't trust him! It's a sign. We wipe out the Blackfist! Drazzim, don't worry your skills will be needed soon!"
"I once had similar thoughts when some childhood friends were taken by a drow slaving band. I was angry and wanted to get revenge for them. As I was preparing myself to hunt them down, my teacher apparently saw me and knew my intentions. Instead of berating me, he took me to an ant hill, holding a boot with a stick at the end of it and crushed a few that were a ways away from the entrance. Seconds later, damn near the entire colony poured out, some swarmed the boot, others went for the two of us. Even though I did not kill any, the ants still attacked me! In between the stings, I figured out why he did that and shoved those retaliatory thoughts from my mind."
Extended Signature
Drazzim answers Graxx with another question: "Alright. Do we go to the Lighthouse or the West Tower next?"
Having forgotten the dwarf in the conversation with Harae, Utar is momentarily startled when he speaks.
"We'll need to prepare our next move, although I think we all have some homework to take off given the reading that our incorporeal friend has given us. I think Neya might be right, we can't stand against the Black Fist in its entirety."
Turning back and addressing the side rather than any particular point within it.
"Harae, you been so helpful already, but I have one last question to ask. Is Grim also afflicted with the curse of lycanthropy?"
Graxx first giggles at Neya feeling he knows something she doesnt, "Oh Neya! You always are the voice of reason but this time I think you are mistaken! Just because they are called the Black Fist doesn't mean they have Black Fists so your Drow lesson may not work here."
Graxx then goes serious for a moment, "But.. If you ever want to hunt Drow you know I will always have your back."
Graxx then turns to Drazzim, "I have a feeling the lighthouse would be our next reasonable stop."
“Ghosts give me the creeps but I’m with Graxx. The Black Fists need to be straightened out.” Praxx says.
Praxx then heads to Drazzim and looks back at the group “‘this problem won’t work itself out”
"Recall who the Lord Regent is... The Knight Commander of the Black Fist himself! I'd wager his current station may make such an endeavor immensely difficult."
"Changing back to the subject at hand, I agree that the lighthouse is worth a look as well. Though, if I remember correctly, the Black Fist on the island have the key that building. Hopefully, there is someone inside to allow us entry."
Extended Signature
(OOC: It sounds like you have opted to go to the Lighthouse, so here we go.)
There is no tipping of the metal scale in response to Utar's last question. Whether this means that Harae is done "talking" for the moment or that she doesn't know the answer, the group takes it as a sign that it is time to look elsewhere for clues. The four investigators rejoin with Drazzim outside the East Tower and begin to make their way to the Lighthouse. Their path is illuminated by Utar's Driftglobe as well as Neya's half burnt torch.
The Lighthouse is the tallest tower of the keep and is located at the southern end of the isle, right at the edge of the water. Walking there takes more than just a few minutes. It is a slender round tower about 80 feet tall, consisting of three floors with the upper part being a large open space. A staircase runs along the outward facing walls to the top. There are three doors into the Lighthouse, one in each level. The two doors above ground level can be accessed only by the outside staircase. The ground level door is slightly ajar; its lock is busted open.
"Someone is here!" Graxx says in a excited whisper. Graxx will approach the ground level door. Does he hear any commotion inside?
Perception: 9
"Not a lot of people on the island... Outside of us, the groundskeepers and the Black Fist, the only others I can think of would be the mercenaries. One of them was friendly with Grim, correct? Then why is the lock broken?"
Extended Signature
Utar takes the driftglobe in his hand and holds it close to his mouth, whispering "noctis" to it. His face, once illuminated, is plunged into darkness as the globe extinguishes itself.
"Let's hope whoever is in there, is not covered in fur."
Pocketing the globe, Utar hefts his warhammer.
"If they are covered in fur... They will meet the sea."
Praxx pulls his rapier from his side and looks at Utar and gives him a wink and says “If it’s covered in fur I think it’s about to have a bad day” then pulls a silver coin from his pouch in the other hand.
Graxx primes his ears for any sign of life beyond the door, but does not hear anything out of the ordinary.
Utar puts away his Driftglobe, leaving Neya's torch and Graxx's Moon-touched Sword (if unsheathed) as the only other sources of light around them.
The group still stands outside the door. Drazzim offers to be the first one to cross the threshold if no one else claims the honor. "I'm unlikely to be quiet about it, though..." he says.
Graxx steps up to Drazzim and smiles with this Moon-touched Sword and grabs him on the shoulder.
"You're right Drazzim. We have been too cautious lately. Let us cause a ruckus. I'll be right behind you my dark seeing friend."
Graxx will follow Drazzim across the threshold.
Neya follows Graxx and Drazzim inside the building, keeping an eye out.
Perception: 4
Extended Signature
Utar looks down at Praxx and shrugs. "This is very much our usual idiom."
With that he slips inside the tower.
Praxx looks at Utar and whispers “this is the most fun I’ve had in years”. As he walks towards the door he quickly looks around to see if anything is out of the ordinary in the dark around the tower.
Perception- 19
Drazzim pushes the door open without difficulty. Graxx follows, then Neya, and Utar. Praxx brings up the rear. The monk and the bard make a point of keeping an eye out while moving inside, but their eyes seem to still be adjusting to the sudden transition away from the bright white light provided by Utar's magical sphere. They notice nothing out of the ordinary.
Neya's torch and Graxx's magical sword come in less handy in here. More than a few candles illuminate what is very clearly the guards’ common area. Chairs, tables, mugs, playing cards, ale barrels both empty and full, as well as a variety of dried meats, fruit, and day-old bread. The room is empty, but looks pretty well lived in.
Drazzim goes straight to an untapped barrel and, well, taps it. "Finally!"
Here too, the strange indoor breeze blows, indicating Harae's presence.