(Any other thoughts/votes? Looks like 1.5 for bandit hunting, and 1.5 for dragon visions - although if you recall, metallic dragons are usually good-aligned. Not sure if that changes any minds =)
Aftert finishing preparing what's left of the deceased for a decent funeral, Manfred takes some time through the prolonged use of Shatter, and Thunder Chromatic orbs, to ensure that the route into the caves from below is sealed off, as permanently as possible...
Returning back to Leilon, he is a little down - upset that they were left with a mission of vengeance rather than one of rescue. Taking some time, he immerses himself into performance, eventually crafting a dirge to remember the lives lost, entitled 'Oh, from the deep, dark seas...'
'It feels like we've been on our back foot with these cultists, and wider agitation that they seem to be unleashing. I for one think we should seek out the dragon, to see if we can learn something to help us bring the battle to them...'
Tallow listens to the bard while drinking whisky from his flask. "YES! Let's go get that dragon! I assume we'll have to vanquish it and study it's entrails to divine our future. I'll cook us something amazing with it's organs." It's unclear whether or not Tallow is joking.
Many years ago, a bronze dragon helped to defend Leilon and the surrounding area as the captain of the Scaly Eye, a fleet that battled pirates and other threats. To honor her deeds, the Swords of Leilon constructed the Bronze Shrine, a massive temple to Bahamut, god of metallic dragons, in a cliff overlooking the sea. The Bronze Shrine is forty miles north of Leilon on the shore of the Sword Coast. The windswept coastline of this region is lined with rugged granite cliffs and stacks of eroded rock.
About halfway to the shrine, near an old lighthouse called the Tower of Storms you glimpse an armored dreadnaught made from metal and bones resting on a rocky outcrop in the bay. Flames leap from a brazier mounted to its mainmast and its ragged sails are stitched from worn leather. A giant’s skeleton clutching a halberd is lashed to its bow. You think you see movement on the decks, but the distance and fog over the water obscure any greater details.
If you decide to stop and investigate:
Barbaric half-orcs patrol the decks, ready to employ its deadly siege weapons. Over a dozen zombies are impaled on stakes set into the rocks around the vessel.
If you decide to carry on to the bronze shrine:
You pass by the shipwreck, continuing another couple of hours northwards before stopping to make camp for the night. The next day, you travel for several hours before reaching the site of the shrine.
The sea splashes on the bottom of a rocky cliff carved to look like a 60-foot-tall dragon with a ribbed and fluted crest around its head. The dragon’s mouth is open in a triumphant roar, facing the ocean and standing on its hind legs. The Bronze Shrine is a clean, bright, two-story temple. There is a jetty down at the shoreline that appears to lead into the temple, and Genren and Ronkur notice a staircase into the temple hidden by bushes at the top of the cliff.
Checking out the shipwrecked dreadnaught, the group spies twenty zombies impaled on stakes driven into the rocks around the dreadnaught. They still writhe and moan on their stakes but are unable to get off of them. The half-orcs on the deck are keeping a look-out. Do you want to approach the vessel?
‘Looks like we might have a necromancer here, but that doesn’t necessarily mean evil, just unnatural. Shall we sneak closer and see if we can learn something?’
Manfred says, seeing what he can determine of the demeanour of the half-orcs (Insight: 13)
'Sneaking's not my thing' he gestures to the massive armor he's wearing 'I'm more a kick the front door down kinda guy, but I'm happy to give it a try'
Ronkur would hang back if he could stay within 120 ft of the shipwreck, otherwise he'll try to stay as quiet as he can with the group and hang back as they get closer.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Wakka Stealth: 17
The party is able to move within ranged weapons distance of the ship without being seen (60'). The front deck (D5) of the dreadnaught is fitted with a ballista mounted on a rotating platform. You see two half-orc anchorites of Talos there, daring each other to spit on the skull of the giant skeleton mounted under the bowsprit. This animated skeleton of a stone giant is lashed to the ship’s bow. It has a huge halberd which it appears able to swing freely.
The main deck contains a set of stairs that descend into the bowels of the ship, a ballista mounted on a rotating platform, and a hatch in the deck. Four more half-orc anchorites are here. You also see an iron brazier mounted on the mainmast that contains an ever-burning orb of flame.
There is a ship's helm on the quarterdeck (D6) that looks like a shield. On the poop deck (D7), two rear-facing mangonelsare mounted on the poop deck, guarded by two anchorites.
(Disregard the specific features of the below-decks...although you can guess how many there are =)
(Any other thoughts/votes? Looks like 1.5 for bandit hunting, and 1.5 for dragon visions - although if you recall, metallic dragons are usually good-aligned. Not sure if that changes any minds =)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Aftert finishing preparing what's left of the deceased for a decent funeral, Manfred takes some time through the prolonged use of Shatter, and Thunder Chromatic orbs, to ensure that the route into the caves from below is sealed off, as permanently as possible...
Returning back to Leilon, he is a little down - upset that they were left with a mission of vengeance rather than one of rescue. Taking some time, he immerses himself into performance, eventually crafting a dirge to remember the lives lost, entitled 'Oh, from the deep, dark seas...'
'It feels like we've been on our back foot with these cultists, and wider agitation that they seem to be unleashing. I for one think we should seek out the dragon, to see if we can learn something to help us bring the battle to them...'
Tallow listens to the bard while drinking whisky from his flask. "YES! Let's go get that dragon! I assume we'll have to vanquish it and study it's entrails to divine our future. I'll cook us something amazing with it's organs." It's unclear whether or not Tallow is joking.
Ronkur nods his head at Manfred's suggestion.
Many years ago, a bronze dragon helped to defend Leilon and the surrounding area as the captain of the Scaly Eye, a fleet that battled pirates and other threats. To honor her deeds, the Swords of Leilon constructed the Bronze Shrine, a massive temple to Bahamut, god of metallic dragons, in a cliff overlooking the sea. The Bronze Shrine is forty miles north of Leilon on the shore of the Sword Coast. The windswept coastline of this region is lined with rugged granite cliffs and stacks of eroded rock.
About halfway to the shrine, near an old lighthouse called the Tower of Storms you glimpse an armored dreadnaught made from metal and bones resting on a rocky outcrop in the bay. Flames leap from a brazier mounted to its mainmast and its ragged sails are stitched from worn leather. A giant’s skeleton clutching a halberd is lashed to its bow. You think you see movement on the decks, but the distance and fog over the water obscure any greater details.
If you decide to stop and investigate:
Barbaric half-orcs patrol the decks, ready to employ its deadly siege weapons. Over a dozen zombies are impaled on stakes set into the rocks around the vessel.
If you decide to carry on to the bronze shrine:
You pass by the shipwreck, continuing another couple of hours northwards before stopping to make camp for the night. The next day, you travel for several hours before reaching the site of the shrine.
The sea splashes on the bottom of a rocky cliff carved to look like a 60-foot-tall dragon with a ribbed and fluted crest around its head. The dragon’s mouth is open in a triumphant roar, facing the ocean and standing on its hind legs. The Bronze Shrine is a clean, bright, two-story temple. There is a jetty down at the shoreline that appears to lead into the temple, and Genren and Ronkur notice a staircase into the temple hidden by bushes at the top of the cliff.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Manfred points to the rocks below ‘Something going on down there guys, we should check it out!’
Tallow perception check 17
Ronkur leaps into the air as the armored dreadnought comes into view, peering down towards the gruesome scene
Investigation (looking for obvious traps, tracks or signs of an ambush) 18 with Flash of Genius
Genren tries to find a good vantage point and climbs up to see what Manny is pointing out. "Huh? What's that..."
Perception: 31
Checking out the shipwrecked dreadnaught, the group spies twenty zombies impaled on stakes driven into the rocks around the dreadnaught. They still writhe and moan on their stakes but are unable to get off of them. The half-orcs on the deck are keeping a look-out. Do you want to approach the vessel?
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
‘Looks like we might have a necromancer here, but that doesn’t necessarily mean evil, just unnatural. Shall we sneak closer and see if we can learn something?’
Manfred says, seeing what he can determine of the demeanour of the half-orcs (Insight: 13)
If you want to sneak closer, I'll need Stealth checks from everyone for a Group Check...
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
'Sneaking's not my thing' he gestures to the massive armor he's wearing 'I'm more a kick the front door down kinda guy, but I'm happy to give it a try'
Ronkur would hang back if he could stay within 120 ft of the shipwreck, otherwise he'll try to stay as quiet as he can with the group and hang back as they get closer.
Ronkur Stealth if needed 3
(Stealth: 23)
’I think we need to go this way…’ says Manfred, finding a ailent route through the rocks…
Tallow stealth check 22
Tallow follows Manfred closely.
Stealth: 31
(So far the others more than compensate for "Ronkur the big metal rock-kicker"... =)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
(stumbling, bumbling, clattering gnome in a big metal can)
Wakka Stealth: 17
The party is able to move within ranged weapons distance of the ship without being seen (60'). The front deck (D5) of the dreadnaught is fitted with a ballista mounted on a rotating platform. You see two half-orc anchorites of Talos there, daring each other to spit on the skull of the giant skeleton mounted under the bowsprit. This animated skeleton of a stone giant is lashed to the ship’s bow. It has a huge halberd which it appears able to swing freely.
The main deck contains a set of stairs that descend into the bowels of the ship, a ballista mounted on a rotating platform, and a hatch in the deck. Four more half-orc anchorites are here. You also see an iron brazier mounted on the mainmast that contains an ever-burning orb of flame.
There is a ship's helm on the quarterdeck (D6) that looks like a shield. On the poop deck (D7), two rear-facing mangonels are mounted on the poop deck, guarded by two anchorites.
(Disregard the specific features of the below-decks...although you can guess how many there are =)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
'So, whadda we think? Swoop in and take out the ones on the seige weapons and then sink this abomination to the bottom of the harbor?'