This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
[OOC: Long rest is 8 hours, and you can do 2 hours of 'light activity,' aka a watch, and still get a full long rest, so unless you have a lot of elves, who only need 4 hours of sleep, 4 shifts is common, IME.]
Perception, with inspiration: 15 (passive is 15)
ETA: Also, since it looks like we're fast-forwarding a little, Therne would have done a round of ritual Detect Magic around the immediate area of the campsite before bedtime.
(Abner is agreeable to the idea of camping in the clearing tonight, with watches he'll let the others organize. He'd prefer to not to start any campfires, unless cold becomes a real problem, as he'd rather not attract more attention. And his darkvision is pretty good.)
During your rest, you all take intermittent watches that appear to be undisturbed. Other than the usual creatures of the forest; squirrels, foxes, birds and the occasional deer, you are luckily not bothered. Even Therne's detect magic fails to pick up anything.
The next morning, you all find yourselves on the edge of the large glade, with an overcast sky ahead. The gentle patter of a light rain begins as you are tucking into breakfast - not enough to cause a rush for shelter, but it isn't comfortable weather.
The woodland clearing is both secluded and picturesque, but the house within is a burnt out ruin. Much of the roof and upper floor has collapsed, but it appears that the walls of the ground floor are largely intact. An arched entrance, its doors long gone, allows easy access to the blackened remains of the building. Debris, ruined books, burned furniture and scraps of paper are littered outside the front of the building.
[OoC]: I decided to include a map for reference for this particular adventure, to help show you the layout of the building. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but I still want you to describe your actions in a narrative fashion rather than relying on the grid too much. If you do need to use the grid for reference when describing a movement or something, we can keep it simple and say things like "15 feet to my left, 10 feet upwards".
Since I've included it, a few quick points to note:
I'll only update the grid for combat - and only if it's a complex combat that would benefit from a visual aid.
I use flanking rules for combat, but I house rule that you can only flank an enemy if you are not being flanked yourself (to prevent flank trains).
Diagonal movement only costs 5 ft.
As always, if you have any questions fire them through the PM message thread.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." -Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
"Here we are. Is it possible for anyone to check the stability of those walls? I would hate for the whole thing to come down on top of us. I am also afraid that our feathered friends might try to attack from the rear as we go in there, so we should be on the look out both in front of us, and behind. I will go first, if no one objects?"
Brozak readies his warhammer and his shield, prepared to enter the ruins.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Brozak - Red Dragonborn Paladin, lvl 2, Never Winter, Seldom Spring
"I'd like to do a pass around the outside first, using Detect Magic" Therne says. "I can also look in the doors and the window if, uh, someone were to give me a hand --" she seems reluctant to suggest this "If it seems safe, I can do the same inside. It'll take a bit, since it'll be ritual casting."
She also take some of the nuts from her food stores and sets them aside. "If I can bribe a few creatures into telling me if they've seen anything, that might also be of use. But that might be difficult if we're doing a lot of crashing about. That might be a last resort."
"Thank you!" Therne will proceed with her spell, going clockwise around the building, looking through any doors or windows that she can reach with Adri's help. She won't step foot inside, including the (fenced?) garden. She'll also look over any of the materials that have already been dragged outside.
From the outside, is there any obvious sign of where the fire started, or suspiciously undamaged areas? Is there any fire damage to the nearby flora, including overhead? How close does the forest canopy get to the building?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Looking around the outside and through windows and holes seems like a good idea - and also to note any other ways in or out in case we find the need. I can accompany if you like; if not I'll look at this debris in front - not that I hope for much from it. I feel we should stay either all together or in two & three - we got too spread out yesterday. I think I'll leave that one out of our epic, unless to furnish an example of how far we have come (assuming we get far).
As Therne and Adri circle the house, Red checks through the debris, and the front entrance area Investigation 3
Along with uncovering what has become of Lord and Lady Redmane, and mounting a rescue (or wreaking vengeance, may it not come to that) we should try to keep this house from being used for nefarious purposes. And perhaps bring whatever the kenku have not made off with to town for the return to their Lordships, or their heirs.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Circling around the house whilst concentrating on her detect magic spell, Therne looks through the main door first into the room beyond. This two-story entrance hall is now open to the elements and littered with the charred remains of fallen timbers. Three burnt steps are all that's left of a staircase that once ascended to the upper floor. Various unidentifiable burnt objects litter the floor among the wreckage. From her vantage here, it appears that a few pages that are strewn across the floor could be legible if scrutinised.
Moving away from the door, Therne checks the debris scattered out front - which Red is fingering through without much luck. Amidst the ashes, she finds a small page with writing in the common tongue:
28 Kythorn
I fear something is wrong. I have not yet been home a full tenday, yet my dear Clarice grows distant. She seems troubled. Did something happen while I was away?
Passing further around the house, Therne soon notices that almost all of the windows are completely opaque - blackened from the sooty particulates caused by the fire. Making her way around the back, she can see what appears to have been a once magnificent flower garden - now a sprawling mass of vibrant blooms, pervasive weeds and dying shrubs enclosed by a decaying fence. Just before the garden is a section of wall that has entirely crumbled away. Though she doubts it got much use this far from civilisation, this two-story chamber appears to have been a ballroom. Like most of the house, this room is littered with debris and blackened by fire damage. A fine layer of ash covers the floor from wall to wall.
As she passes around the garden, Therne investigates from a distance. Her time spent in the forest makes her adept at spotting things within foliage - and sure enough she can see several small shrub-like humanoids hidden deeper within. They appear to either be docile, sleeping or waiting in ambush. Therne recognises these beings as twig blights - saplings corrupted by the blood of an ancient vampire, or so the legends say. As she is inspecting the garden, she notices another small fragment of paper that appears to have been taken by the wind and caught on a thistle branch. Gingerly taking it, avoiding the ire of the blights, she can make out the script inked upon it.
24 Flamerule
My dear Clarice, how did it come to this? She haunts our home, a terrible specter of the woman I married. The servants fear for their lives, but I fear for nothing but Clarice. There must be a way to return her to Sune's majestic grace.
As she passes beyond the garden, her spell picks up the faintest trace of conjuration magic, but she cannot determine the direction. Similarly; as she reaches the southeast corner of the house near the entrance, she detects another trace of magic within her aura, necromancy this time - although she cannot see the source highlighted by her spell.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." -Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
Brozak and Red don't have much luck rummaging through the charred furniture and rubble. Red however notices that Therne picks something up from the general area of your search and appears to read it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." -Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
It all looks like trash to me upon noticing Therne with something interesting Oh, I would have found that but the sun got in my eyes looks at clouds I mean, rain dripped off my horns
He will try not to muck anything up and be as patient as he can while the useful people finish doing useful things
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & -Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Abner
Abner will poke around the front arch, checking for traps.
Perception: 19
What does he see through the arch, inside the front door? Is the interior floor wood? stone? Does it look safe to stand on? Is there evidence of a basement?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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I'm happy with the middle watch, leaving the fourth for Abner if that is ok.
Red goes back to the other Kendu to check and search. With Therne helping Investigation 20
Then I think we get back on the path and head to the clearing, and find a good spot to camp
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Brozak begins to search through the crushed bird man.
Investigation: 8
"Forewarning from nature's creatures would definitely be appreciated, as will the long rest."
Perception: 3
ooc: I agree with that plan, but these rolls are killing me...
Brozak - Red Dragonborn Paladin, lvl 2, Never Winter, Seldom Spring
"I already offered middle watch, Red, but I appreciate it."
Perception: 9
[ooc sorry I read second for Adri, third was what I meant - we have 5 people - if we are only using 4 watches then I guess Abner gets tonite off]
Perception 9
When Red wakes Therne for the last or Abner for the next to last watch, Inspiration (1d6) for their check
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
[OOC: In my experience I've only done two or three watches per night. Four is fine, I just didn't expect that. That was my bad]
[OOC: Long rest is 8 hours, and you can do 2 hours of 'light activity,' aka a watch, and still get a full long rest, so unless you have a lot of elves, who only need 4 hours of sleep, 4 shifts is common, IME.]
Perception, with inspiration: 15 (passive is 15)
ETA: Also, since it looks like we're fast-forwarding a little, Therne would have done a round of ritual Detect Magic around the immediate area of the campsite before bedtime.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Abner
"Just wake me when you need me."
(Abner is agreeable to the idea of camping in the clearing tonight, with watches he'll let the others organize. He'd prefer to not to start any campfires, unless cold becomes a real problem, as he'd rather not attract more attention. And his darkvision is pretty good.)
During your rest, you all take intermittent watches that appear to be undisturbed. Other than the usual creatures of the forest; squirrels, foxes, birds and the occasional deer, you are luckily not bothered. Even Therne's detect magic fails to pick up anything.
The next morning, you all find yourselves on the edge of the large glade, with an overcast sky ahead. The gentle patter of a light rain begins as you are tucking into breakfast - not enough to cause a rush for shelter, but it isn't comfortable weather.
The woodland clearing is both secluded and picturesque, but the house within is a burnt out ruin. Much of the roof and upper floor has collapsed, but it appears that the walls of the ground floor are largely intact. An arched entrance, its doors long gone, allows easy access to the blackened remains of the building. Debris, ruined books, burned furniture and scraps of paper are littered outside the front of the building.
[OoC]: I decided to include a map for reference for this particular adventure, to help show you the layout of the building. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but I still want you to describe your actions in a narrative fashion rather than relying on the grid too much. If you do need to use the grid for reference when describing a movement or something, we can keep it simple and say things like "15 feet to my left, 10 feet upwards".
Since I've included it, a few quick points to note:
As always, if you have any questions fire them through the PM message thread.
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." - Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
"Here we are. Is it possible for anyone to check the stability of those walls? I would hate for the whole thing to come down on top of us. I am also afraid that our feathered friends might try to attack from the rear as we go in there, so we should be on the look out both in front of us, and behind. I will go first, if no one objects?"
Brozak readies his warhammer and his shield, prepared to enter the ruins.
Brozak - Red Dragonborn Paladin, lvl 2, Never Winter, Seldom Spring
"I'd like to do a pass around the outside first, using Detect Magic" Therne says. "I can also look in the doors and the window if, uh, someone were to give me a hand --" she seems reluctant to suggest this "If it seems safe, I can do the same inside. It'll take a bit, since it'll be ritual casting."
She also take some of the nuts from her food stores and sets them aside. "If I can bribe a few creatures into telling me if they've seen anything, that might also be of use. But that might be difficult if we're doing a lot of crashing about. That might be a last resort."
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
"I can assist you Therne" Adri says as she places a hand on Therne's shoulder and casts Guidance "I'll watch your back as you check."
"Thank you!" Therne will proceed with her spell, going clockwise around the building, looking through any doors or windows that she can reach with Adri's help. She won't step foot inside, including the (fenced?) garden. She'll also look over any of the materials that have already been dragged outside.
From the outside, is there any obvious sign of where the fire started, or suspiciously undamaged areas? Is there any fire damage to the nearby flora, including overhead? How close does the forest canopy get to the building?
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Therne Perception check: 29
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." - Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
Looking around the outside and through windows and holes seems like a good idea - and also to note any other ways in or out in case we find the need. I can accompany if you like; if not I'll look at this debris in front - not that I hope for much from it. I feel we should stay either all together or in two & three - we got too spread out yesterday. I think I'll leave that one out of our epic, unless to furnish an example of how far we have come (assuming we get far).
As Therne and Adri circle the house, Red checks through the debris, and the front entrance area Investigation 3
Along with uncovering what has become of Lord and Lady Redmane, and mounting a rescue (or wreaking vengeance, may it not come to that) we should try to keep this house from being used for nefarious purposes. And perhaps bring whatever the kenku have not made off with to town for the return to their Lordships, or their heirs.
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Therne:
Circling around the house whilst concentrating on her detect magic spell, Therne looks through the main door first into the room beyond. This two-story entrance hall is now open to the elements and littered with the charred remains of fallen timbers. Three burnt steps are all that's left of a staircase that once ascended to the upper floor. Various unidentifiable burnt objects litter the floor among the wreckage. From her vantage here, it appears that a few pages that are strewn across the floor could be legible if scrutinised.
Moving away from the door, Therne checks the debris scattered out front - which Red is fingering through without much luck. Amidst the ashes, she finds a small page with writing in the common tongue:
28 Kythorn
I fear something is wrong. I have not yet been home a full tenday, yet my dear Clarice grows distant. She seems troubled. Did something happen while I was away?
Passing further around the house, Therne soon notices that almost all of the windows are completely opaque - blackened from the sooty particulates caused by the fire. Making her way around the back, she can see what appears to have been a once magnificent flower garden - now a sprawling mass of vibrant blooms, pervasive weeds and dying shrubs enclosed by a decaying fence. Just before the garden is a section of wall that has entirely crumbled away. Though she doubts it got much use this far from civilisation, this two-story chamber appears to have been a ballroom. Like most of the house, this room is littered with debris and blackened by fire damage. A fine layer of ash covers the floor from wall to wall.
As she passes around the garden, Therne investigates from a distance. Her time spent in the forest makes her adept at spotting things within foliage - and sure enough she can see several small shrub-like humanoids hidden deeper within. They appear to either be docile, sleeping or waiting in ambush. Therne recognises these beings as twig blights - saplings corrupted by the blood of an ancient vampire, or so the legends say. As she is inspecting the garden, she notices another small fragment of paper that appears to have been taken by the wind and caught on a thistle branch. Gingerly taking it, avoiding the ire of the blights, she can make out the script inked upon it.
24 Flamerule
My dear Clarice, how did it come to this? She haunts our home, a terrible specter of the woman I married. The servants fear for their lives, but I fear for nothing but Clarice. There must be a way to return her to Sune's majestic grace.
As she passes beyond the garden, her spell picks up the faintest trace of conjuration magic, but she cannot determine the direction. Similarly; as she reaches the southeast corner of the house near the entrance, she detects another trace of magic within her aura, necromancy this time - although she cannot see the source highlighted by her spell.
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." - Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
Brozak attempts to assist Redemption as he is searching through the debris.
"What are we looking for out here, or what do you expect to find?"
Investigation 11
Brozak - Red Dragonborn Paladin, lvl 2, Never Winter, Seldom Spring
Brozak and Red don't have much luck rummaging through the charred furniture and rubble. Red however notices that Therne picks something up from the general area of your search and appears to read it.
"The most important step a person can take is always the next one." - Dalinar Kholin; Oathbringer
Adri sees Therne reading something and walks up behind her to take a peak.
"What'd you find?" Adri asks as she attempts to read it over Therne's shoulder.
It all looks like trash to me upon noticing Therne with something interesting Oh, I would have found that but the sun got in my eyes looks at clouds I mean, rain dripped off my horns
He will try not to muck anything up and be as patient as he can while the useful people finish doing useful things
Galanodel Deacon Tosh - Less-than-Half-Elf Bard - & - Flitterbug - Pixie Sorceress : Meanwhile in the Westwoods
Amadow 'Tug' Rioux - Human Psionic Palooka : Revenge Heist - - - Gofer Bayut - Bugbear Paladin Messenger : Shrouded Sky
Abner
Abner will poke around the front arch, checking for traps.
Perception: 19
What does he see through the arch, inside the front door? Is the interior floor wood? stone? Does it look safe to stand on? Is there evidence of a basement?