Rhanloi's Romp Through the Sword Coast

Penumbra takes up the rear about 10 feet behind Perkas.

(I added the three potions to Penumbra's inventory. If anyone wants one just ask, Penumbra has plenty right now.)

(Manfred will take one if that’s okay, he doesn’t have any)

(Same for Wakka)

With Wakka in the lead, followed by Perkas, then Manfred, and finally Penumbra, the group winds their way carefully up the narrow, wind-swept path. You continue to climb higher as you circle around the first structure - a gate house. On the far (south) side you see that an earthquake has collapsed a portion of the main keep and also dropped debris across the path. This 20' section is difficult to traverse, but with caution the group can make it past safely. You then turn north and pass under a solid stone bridge spanning the 35-foot gap between the gatehouse and the main fortress, 50 feet above your current spot. If you continue to follow the trail, you come all the way around the gatehouse to the north side and face a large, closed door made of wood and fitted with rusty iron handles and hinges.

Wakka lifted his new blue coat tightly against his body as he slowly lead the way up the steep mountain pass towards Icespire Hold.  When he noted the rough terrain in front of him.  He held the group up and shared, "Pretty shaky terrain up ahead.  We should go one by one just to make sure."  Then turning around, he slowly moved his way through the debris, doing his best to avoid any spots that seemed icy or particularly unstable.

• Acrobatics: 20

(I read that as we’ve got to the doors, and now need to decide what to do - is that right?)

(Oh you might be right.  But I think Wakka rolled well enough that he doesn't have to worry either way!)

(Assuming that we are all indeed at the Gatehouse).  Wakka will investigate the door to see if it's still operable, or if its trapped...

• Investigation - 25

Waka's investigation of the door reveals no indications of traps, and it is unlocked and unbarred. Although the door is old and the hinges a bit rusty, you believe it is still fully functional!

If you open the doors:

"Let me take a look." Penumbra says moving to the door. After oiling the hinges with the oil in her thieves kit she waits a few minuets to let the oil penetrate into the corrosion then carefully opens the door and sneaks in.

Sneak: 22

(Still have 5 regular potions of healing and one potion of greater healing.)

Perkas keeps an eye out for baddies while Penumbra does her thing with the door waiting for her to either report back or signal everything is ok.

Does it look like there is any kind of patrol happening on the top of the building, any windows or archer slits I can see?

Perception. 18     Investigation 14

(Sorry about your kitty, hope everything is ok. I'll take a healing potion too thank you.)

Looking over the gatehouse, you see several arrow slits about 10 feet above you on the east, north, and west side of the gatehouse. You do not see anything through the arrow slits or above you at the main castle to the west...the only sound is the wind blowing through the mountains and the occasional whinny of the horses inside. (Updated the map to show the stable area.)

"Do you see anything...?"  Wakka whispers loudly to Penumbra.  

(What I described before is what you can see from just inside the door. If you're moving further in, let me know - you can also move your tokens on the map to show me where you are...)

"Looks clear so far." Penumbra says signaling the group to follow. Once inside she will continue forward and take a look around the wall and report what she sees.

sneak: 16

(My cat is doing well tomorrow is the last day of two of her medications, so back to a reasonable daily routine.)

Perkas, hearing the whinny of horses smiles softly and comes into the room behind Penumbra. She whispers to the group "Maybe I can have a little talk with the horses and see what's going on."

She gives a glance around the room making sure no others are in there with them and whispers a small prayer and wipes her hand from under her chin to her heart, casting Speak with Animals. She'll walk up as quietly and slowly as she can to the horse that looks and feels like it would be the best to chat with and make some quieting sounds "Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh it's ok, it's ok." She'll hold a hand out so it can sniff her. If she senses all is well she'll ask the horse some questions quietly while petting it... "Where are your riders? Are they treating you well? Think you might be able to give us a ride out of here when it's time to leave?" 


Perception: 5
Stealth: 19
Animal Handling: 7

Following the others inside, Wakka was surprise to find the stables occupied with seemingly health horses.  "Well if there was any doubt, it's clear that we're not alone in here.  Let's try not to die before reach the dragon."  Wakka shared lightly as he equipped his shield.  He then followed along quietly behind Penumbra, looking to see what was ahead of them.

• Stealth - 16
• Perception - 20

Perkas gently approaches the first horse, her training and magic combining to let her speak with the animal. He seems surprised that he can understand you, and that you can understand him! In response to Perkas' questions, he answers, "Riders in next room...bigger than you! Heavy. Tough. Not nice, like you, but not bad to us. We carry them and their things - they feed us and keep hungry creatures away."

Penumbra sneaks to the southwestern edge of the stable room and sees a 20' deep by 10' wide room, with two doors on the western wall, one door to the south, and one door on the east wall. You also see four humans, two men and two women, in the room. 

"Heard ya come in...better just turn around and go back out. Nothing here for ya but broken bones and cuts," a female voice calls out.
A moment later a male voice follows. "And you's better not mess wit' dem horses!" 

Wakka stepped forward (ideally taking the place of Penumbra at the junction point) and responded, "We have no issue with any of you.  We're just passing through.  Why don't you just let us pass and we'll be on our way..."   Wakka tried to appear as friendly as possible but was ready to spring into action should the situation get messy.

• Persuasion Roll - 9
• If any of them try to approach Wakka threateningly, he'll use his Telekinetic Shove to try and shove them away!  (DC14 STR Save or be shoved 5ft back)

The rough-looking group hold their position, but their drawn weapons indicate they mean to keep you from going any further. "Hear that, Syleen?" one of the men says to the thin, red-headed woman in the back. "Pretty boy here thinks he can charm us! Look, sweetcheeks...we ain't gonna tell ya again - turn around and head back down the path. Otherwise we gonna toss you down."

‘Now now, let’s not be hasty...’ says Manfred, stepping into the breach, ‘Surely you wouldn’t turn away the great bard, Manfred Swiftfingers, and his retinue...’ he swirls a flourishing bow, and then pulls out his lute, strumming a few chords... ‘We’re in the area seeking word of the majestic shimmering white dragon seen in these parts for my next ballad. Perhaps you’ve seen sign of the mighty creature.. Perhaps you might even wish for a part, even if a small part, in the ballad...?’

(Persuasion: 11 / Performance: 17)