Nightstone has recently been threatened by a series of goblin incursions. Lady Velrosa Nandar, High Steward of Nightsone, has offered a reward for anyone willing and able to deal with the goblin threat.
Nightstone is a popular retreat for wealthy nobles who wish to hunt in the Ardeep Forest. Adventurers wishing to earn some coin can offer their services as bodyguards.
The residents of Nightstone and the elves of the Ardeep Forest have long held a mutual distrust for each other. Lady Velrosa Nandar has been searching for skilled negotiators to resolve the dispute.
The Nightstone Inn is renowned for its food and cozy guest rooms. The dwarf innkeeper, Morak Ur'Gray, has a fondness for adventurers and a nose for lucrative adventuring opportunities.
The six of you met on the road several days ago, and finding that you have a mutual destination you have decided to travel together for safety and companionship.
The Tenth Day of Marpenoth in the Year 1490
You've been traveling along the High Road for days. As evening approaches, you spot a wooden signpost next to a trail that heads northinto the hills. Nailed to the post are three arrow-shaped signs. The two marked "Waterdeep" and "Daggerford" follow the High Road but point in opposite directions. The third, marked "Nightstone," beckons you to follow the trail. If memory serves, Nightstone is roughly ten miles up the trail.
A light drizzle descends as you approach the signpost, and a frigid winter wind from the north whips it into your numbed faces. Warmth and comfort are only ten miles distant.
Isabella, who is short and slender even for a halfling, has put on so many layers in the damp cold that she almost looks spherical and it is a wonder that she hasn't fallen and rolled down hill much less walk at all. Seeing the signpost ahead she stops dead in her tracks, so fast that the next person walking behind her might trip if they are not paying close attention. Her sleeve falls limp as her arm disappears into her inner layers and you hear her the tools looped on her belt rustling as she weighs her coin. She has a pensive look on her face, and grimaces a bit but then nods, having decided.
Friends, it is dreary and only getting colder. I know a fine inn ahead at Nightstone, and I wonder if perhaps we should rest there as the storm passes?
She stands there looking up at everyone, awaiting their response.
A tiny gray bundle speaks up, water streaming down the bald head, "I was referred to a dwarven fellow in an inn in Nightstone, so that's my destination."
A tall and imposing figure looms over the other two. The female half-orc is adorned in weather perfectly suited to the frigid north. Her scale mail is lined with fur, and a pelt cloak hangs over her shoulder. Her black hair is braided back in a single large braid that is tossed over the front of her shoulder, ending in a small brass ring. "Shelter would be best if we can find it in this weather. Ten miles isn't exactly a cake walk, but pushing on is better than the alternative."
Thalia nods as she catches up to the others. The dragonborn isn't especially bundled up, just dressed in her usual earthy green, brown and bronze-trimmed traveling robes and cloak. The same can't be said for her bag, which is currently wrapped in several layers of spare cloak and held close to her body with one arm. "Couldn't agree more," she says brightly. "I don't mind the drizzle so much myself, but I've got rather a lot of paper that I'd prefer didn't get soaked through if all this rain picks up! I'm more than ready to see this Nightstone Inn and its nice, dry beds, and deal with opportunity in the morning!"
A sleek bundle of black leather armor and heavy cloak follows behind, yellow orbs lightly glowing from under the hood. The shape of a crossbow can be seen on the back of the figure underneath the cloak. They keep walking in the direction which the sign indicates to be towards Nightstone while the others deliberate. "Perhaps?!"comes a stern, icy voice - clearly of a female. "I fully intend to find the nearest glass of whiskey to get rid of this chill." As she continues down the road, a barbed, burgundy tail can be seen flitting about the bottom of the cloak.
Iz follows the Frix with her eyes as the tiefling walks past her.
Well... It seems we have a quorum!
Her gloved hand reappears from amidst her many layers of clothing and she falls into line waddling behind Frix. Her hairy, bare feet crunch against the snow in a soft rhythm and she hums a happy little tune to herself as she walks. Occasionally she pauses to make sure all of her companions are nearby, or to squint at something along the road (her eyesight being poor) but unless she sees something out of the ordinary she continues humming and waddling.
Sheshka pushes on, making sure the way is clear of any obstacles natural or otherwise. “By the way...” she begins, glancing back over her shoulder. “Uh...anyone know anything about this Nightstone place?”
After following the trail for ten miles, you hear the ringing of a bell. The sound grows louder as Nightstone comes into view. A river flows around the settlement, forming a moat. The village itself is contained within a wooden palisade, beyond which you see a steeple, a windmill, and the high-pitched rooftops of several other buildings. Apart from the ringing of the bell, you detect no other activity in the village. The trail ends before a lowered drawbridge that spans the moat. Beyond the drawbridge, two stone towers flank an open gap in the palisade. South of the village and surrounded by 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.
The village of Nightstone is enveloped in a thick fog. The rain continues to descend upon the drenched landscape, and the moat is in danger of flooding. Night has cloaked the landscape, and the forest to the north is an eery silhouette against the backdrop of the dark heavens.
Iz stops humming suddenly. She squints hard, shifting her gaze between the keep and the bridge. She tries to scratch her chin but gives up after realizing she has too many layers on and won't be able to reach.
Strange, this place looks more rubble-y than last I was here.
She waddles forward a bit and struggles, trying to pull her shield onto her forearm, nearly falling over with the effort.
Uh... may I ask for assistance?
She gestures to her shield and it looks like a fat seal waving a flipper. If someone helps her arm her shield she will be ready to use her reaction to grant disadvantage to any attacker who attacks an ally within 5 feet of her.
Either way, she draws her sword easily enough and squints again, moving to the front of the party and tries to be aware of her surroundings while she advances.
Perception: 9 edit : adding second roll take lowest for disadvantage : 5
Druug silently moves towards the small halfling, his large form looming over her. He reaches for her shield and helps her get it on her arm. He, too, hefts his shield and grips his hammer a bit tighter. He nods down at the halfling in approval. “I do not like the way this looks either. Be wary,” he says gruffly. He looks around, his lips moving in a silent prayer as he takes in his surroundings.
"'Fraid I don't know much just yet," Thalia muses. "I've never been, at least. But I hear it's usually a quiet place, most of the time, and a good place to head if you're going sightseeing or exploring, and I thought it'd be the perfect... oh. Hm." She nearly stumbles into Druug's back as he stoops to help Isabella, distracted by the sight looming up ahead. "Uh, like I said, I've never been to Nightstone and I'm not sure how they do things around here, but I don't think that's meant to be the, um, usual gate into the town. Or that that tower's supposed to have a sun roof, nice as some sun would be right now." She looks around, her attempt at a toothy smile not disguising her nervousness in the slightest.
Everyone has disadvantage on Perception checks due to a combination of fog, rain, and darkness. In addition, the range of all ranged attacks is halved.
"This looks like more than a goblin raid."Frixori keeps her hood up but pushes back the right side of her cloak over her shoulder and slides her crossbow off her back. "I hope my dwarf contact is still around. I would hate to have come all this way and not have a job." She readies a bolt in her weapon and rests the stock in the crook of her arm.
(DM: Have the bells continued to ring all the while that we approach?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rat keeps silent, but observant.
Perception with disadvantage: 16
(Rat also has the City Secrets background, so he's looking for secret passages, paths that locals would take or children would playfully climber across or around the walls.. footpaths in the grass, stuff like that)
He might wander to the left and to the right to notice those things.
Iz says to Druug as he helps her with her shield. She tenses and tries to squint harder to make out what is up ahead in the darkness, so hard that her eyes are almost shut. She doesn't see anything but she's nervous enough that a bead of sweat traces its way down her temple.
Not to worry, we'll be having a hot meal and drinks by a roaring fire soon enough.
She says, lying to herself as much as anyone, and proceeds to walk toward (and through if nothing happens prior) the gate in the palisade with the intent to locate the source of the bell sound, thinking about how she wants nothing more than to put her feet up by the fire and have a steaming bowl of stew.
Rat, the only entry you can find is the opening beyond the drawbridge. The only other route out of the town is the collapsed bridge which once led to the keep.
Iz, as you approach the drawbridge you can faintly making out two shapes through the fog, tearing at something in the town square fifty feet distant. The two stone towers that flank the keep rise into the cloudy heavens. As you investigate the area you notice tracks in the mud around the lowered drawbridge, all but obscured by the rain.
Adventure Hooks:
Nightstone has recently been threatened by a series of goblin incursions. Lady Velrosa Nandar, High Steward of Nightsone, has offered a reward for anyone willing and able to deal with the goblin threat.
Nightstone is a popular retreat for wealthy nobles who wish to hunt in the Ardeep Forest. Adventurers wishing to earn some coin can offer their services as bodyguards.
The residents of Nightstone and the elves of the Ardeep Forest have long held a mutual distrust for each other. Lady Velrosa Nandar has been searching for skilled negotiators to resolve the dispute.
The Nightstone Inn is renowned for its food and cozy guest rooms. The dwarf innkeeper, Morak Ur'Gray, has a fondness for adventurers and a nose for lucrative adventuring opportunities.
The six of you met on the road several days ago, and finding that you have a mutual destination you have decided to travel together for safety and companionship.
Flayr Flameseeker | Genasi/Fire | Wizard/School of Evocation | Level 2 | Custom Campaign: Cold Cash
Isabella, who is short and slender even for a halfling, has put on so many layers in the damp cold that she almost looks spherical and it is a wonder that she hasn't fallen and rolled down hill much less walk at all. Seeing the signpost ahead she stops dead in her tracks, so fast that the next person walking behind her might trip if they are not paying close attention. Her sleeve falls limp as her arm disappears into her inner layers and you hear her the tools looped on her belt rustling as she weighs her coin. She has a pensive look on her face, and grimaces a bit but then nods, having decided.
Friends, it is dreary and only getting colder. I know a fine inn ahead at Nightstone, and I wonder if perhaps we should rest there as the storm passes?
She stands there looking up at everyone, awaiting their response.
~♡~
A tiny gray bundle speaks up, water streaming down the bald head, "I was referred to a dwarven fellow in an inn in Nightstone, so that's my destination."
(OOC: This is Rat the rogue by the way)
A tall and imposing figure looms over the other two. The female half-orc is adorned in weather perfectly suited to the frigid north. Her scale mail is lined with fur, and a pelt cloak hangs over her shoulder. Her black hair is braided back in a single large braid that is tossed over the front of her shoulder, ending in a small brass ring. "Shelter would be best if we can find it in this weather. Ten miles isn't exactly a cake walk, but pushing on is better than the alternative."
Thalia nods as she catches up to the others. The dragonborn isn't especially bundled up, just dressed in her usual earthy green, brown and bronze-trimmed traveling robes and cloak. The same can't be said for her bag, which is currently wrapped in several layers of spare cloak and held close to her body with one arm. "Couldn't agree more," she says brightly. "I don't mind the drizzle so much myself, but I've got rather a lot of paper that I'd prefer didn't get soaked through if all this rain picks up! I'm more than ready to see this Nightstone Inn and its nice, dry beds, and deal with opportunity in the morning!"
A sleek bundle of black leather armor and heavy cloak follows behind, yellow orbs lightly glowing from under the hood. The shape of a crossbow can be seen on the back of the figure underneath the cloak. They keep walking in the direction which the sign indicates to be towards Nightstone while the others deliberate. "Perhaps?!" comes a stern, icy voice - clearly of a female. "I fully intend to find the nearest glass of whiskey to get rid of this chill." As she continues down the road, a barbed, burgundy tail can be seen flitting about the bottom of the cloak.
Iz follows the Frix with her eyes as the tiefling walks past her.
Well... It seems we have a quorum!
Her gloved hand reappears from amidst her many layers of clothing and she falls into line waddling behind Frix. Her hairy, bare feet crunch against the snow in a soft rhythm and she hums a happy little tune to herself as she walks. Occasionally she pauses to make sure all of her companions are nearby, or to squint at something along the road (her eyesight being poor) but unless she sees something out of the ordinary she continues humming and waddling.
~♡~
Sheshka pushes on, making sure the way is clear of any obstacles natural or otherwise. “By the way...” she begins, glancing back over her shoulder. “Uh...anyone know anything about this Nightstone place?”
After following the trail for ten miles, you hear the ringing of a bell. The sound grows louder as Nightstone comes into view. A river flows around the settlement, forming a moat. The village itself is contained within a wooden palisade, beyond which you see a steeple, a windmill, and the high-pitched rooftops of several other buildings. Apart from the ringing of the bell, you detect no other activity in the village. The trail ends before a lowered drawbridge that spans the moat. Beyond the drawbridge, two stone towers flank an open gap in the palisade. South of the village and surrounded by 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.
The village of Nightstone is enveloped in a thick fog. The rain continues to descend upon the drenched landscape, and the moat is in danger of flooding. Night has cloaked the landscape, and the forest to the north is an eery silhouette against the backdrop of the dark heavens.
Flayr Flameseeker | Genasi/Fire | Wizard/School of Evocation | Level 2 | Custom Campaign: Cold Cash
Iz stops humming suddenly. She squints hard, shifting her gaze between the keep and the bridge. She tries to scratch her chin but gives up after realizing she has too many layers on and won't be able to reach.
Strange, this place looks more rubble-y than last I was here.
She waddles forward a bit and struggles, trying to pull her shield onto her forearm, nearly falling over with the effort.
Uh... may I ask for assistance?
She gestures to her shield and it looks like a fat seal waving a flipper. If someone helps her arm her shield she will be ready to use her reaction to grant disadvantage to any attacker who attacks an ally within 5 feet of her.
Either way, she draws her sword easily enough and squints again, moving to the front of the party and tries to be aware of her surroundings while she advances.
Perception: 9 edit : adding second roll take lowest for disadvantage : 5
~♡~
Druug silently moves towards the small halfling, his large form looming over her. He reaches for her shield and helps her get it on her arm. He, too, hefts his shield and grips his hammer a bit tighter. He nods down at the halfling in approval. “I do not like the way this looks either. Be wary,” he says gruffly. He looks around, his lips moving in a silent prayer as he takes in his surroundings.
Perception: 13
"'Fraid I don't know much just yet," Thalia muses. "I've never been, at least. But I hear it's usually a quiet place, most of the time, and a good place to head if you're going sightseeing or exploring, and I thought it'd be the perfect... oh. Hm." She nearly stumbles into Druug's back as he stoops to help Isabella, distracted by the sight looming up ahead. "Uh, like I said, I've never been to Nightstone and I'm not sure how they do things around here, but I don't think that's meant to be the, um, usual gate into the town. Or that that tower's supposed to have a sun roof, nice as some sun would be right now." She looks around, her attempt at a toothy smile not disguising her nervousness in the slightest.
Perception: 8
Everyone has disadvantage on Perception checks due to a combination of fog, rain, and darkness. In addition, the range of all ranged attacks is halved.
Flayr Flameseeker | Genasi/Fire | Wizard/School of Evocation | Level 2 | Custom Campaign: Cold Cash
"This looks like more than a goblin raid." Frixori keeps her hood up but pushes back the right side of her cloak over her shoulder and slides her crossbow off her back. "I hope my dwarf contact is still around. I would hate to have come all this way and not have a job." She readies a bolt in her weapon and rests the stock in the crook of her arm.
(DM: Have the bells continued to ring all the while that we approach?)
The bells have not ceased to ring since you came in view of Nightstone.
Flayr Flameseeker | Genasi/Fire | Wizard/School of Evocation | Level 2 | Custom Campaign: Cold Cash
Rat keeps silent, but observant.
Perception with disadvantage: 16
(Rat also has the City Secrets background, so he's looking for secret passages, paths that locals would take or children would playfully climber across or around the walls.. footpaths in the grass, stuff like that)
He might wander to the left and to the right to notice those things.
Gratitude, my large, tusked compatriot.
Iz says to Druug as he helps her with her shield. She tenses and tries to squint harder to make out what is up ahead in the darkness, so hard that her eyes are almost shut. She doesn't see anything but she's nervous enough that a bead of sweat traces its way down her temple.
Not to worry, we'll be having a hot meal and drinks by a roaring fire soon enough.
She says, lying to herself as much as anyone, and proceeds to walk toward (and through if nothing happens prior) the gate in the palisade with the intent to locate the source of the bell sound, thinking about how she wants nothing more than to put her feet up by the fire and have a steaming bowl of stew.
~♡~
Rat, the only entry you can find is the opening beyond the drawbridge. The only other route out of the town is the collapsed bridge which once led to the keep.
Iz, as you approach the drawbridge you can faintly making out two shapes through the fog, tearing at something in the town square fifty feet distant. The two stone towers that flank the keep rise into the cloudy heavens. As you investigate the area you notice tracks in the mud around the lowered drawbridge, all but obscured by the rain.
Flayr Flameseeker | Genasi/Fire | Wizard/School of Evocation | Level 2 | Custom Campaign: Cold Cash
Sheshka moves forward as well to perceive what's there
Perception: 6
Sheshka has no more luck than Iz in the blinding torrent. (If you wish to investigate the tracks make a Survival check.)
Flayr Flameseeker | Genasi/Fire | Wizard/School of Evocation | Level 2 | Custom Campaign: Cold Cash