"Scoutin' up above the waterline would be better for us, but they've gotta know that's the most likely entrance. They had dozens guardin' the underwater entrance; they'll probably have more guardin' the one up top. I agree it would be good to get a soundin' on what's goin' on, and if we could kill one or two on the way out it might throw 'em off the trail of the escapees. But these things sound a lot tougher than the ones that attacked us on the Winter; I don't know how we take 'em down without raisin' a ruckus. I'm open to ideas, though."
(Pass without Trace is still going for some time, right? It lasts an hour and started just before Peri, Kei, and Boko took off for the final scouting foray, which I assume took no more than 10 minutes. We arrived back after the guards were being shoved into cells, and then it's maybe 5 minutes of getting out? So 45 minutes, or 30 if we were being a lot slower than I assume, left on the spell? And it benefits whoever is near her, not specific individuals at casting, so everyone could benefit from it on an approach.)
Kysh and Borgas (together with Kysh's sea lion) agree to stay below the surface during any above-surface exploration or engagement; Oceanus, however, would prefer to accompany the air-based party.
(Pass Without Trace is still active. It has a good 45 minutes remaining, providing Boko maintains concentration.)
With effort, Qivys and Gerrard manage to slide the stone slab completely over the entrance to the tunnel.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Boko will move close to the surface when everyone is ready and look around for any attention from the fortress, just barely peeking out into the air and then ducking back down.
With his hand on Peri's invisible shoulder, at least he thinks its his shoulder, Kei follows the group back to the surface. "We don't have long before we're visible again" he says to Peri once they are out of the underwater tunnel.
The stone causeway extends for nearly 200 feet from the coast to a stone ledge. It is 10 feet wide and 10 to 15 feet thick, a few feet above the cold waves. Set into the vertical rock surface beyond the rock ledge, is a pair of large stone doors, each ten feet high and five feet wide. The surface of the doors is featureless, with no visible handles, except for a rectangular aperture six inches wide by four inches high cut in the center of the left-hand door, about six feet above ground level.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kei
Finally his head breaks the surface of the choppy waters. He inhales deeply as if he'd been holding his breath this whole time. The ability to breathe underwater was a new experience he wasn't used to.
Looking around he sees Boko bobbing not far from him. She ducks back under the surface causing Kei to look around in alarm. Nothing. He can't see anything to cause concern. He waits, floating on the surface, for his companions to surface.
Boko describes what she sees and asks if they want to send a scout inside before approaching. She repeats it to Kei on the surface when she realizes he hasn’t dropped back down.
The night is dark, above. A hint of light suggests a moon must lurk behind the wall of clouds above, but no stars are visible. The ocean booms against the rocky island, the causeway, and the more distant shore. The breeze is gusty and icy. The fortress is just a black shape of jagged rock poking out of the sea – there are no windows, entrances, or other openings apparent, other than the double doors on the causeway. Even the hole in the door seems to be covered on the inside with a metal plate. There are no signs of life anywhere.
"Better ta stand on my feet then float around." he thinks to himself. Qivsy won't get out of the water just yet. He will surface near the nearest stone and wait.
Peri listens to Boko's report with disappointment. He'd hoped the gates were open, or even that they were gates with bars to squeeze through, but it sounded as though that route was barred to them. "Kei says I've got a little bit left on this invisibility. I could try to scale the walls and see if there's a way in through the top. If I can find an opening, I can try to get those doors open from the inside. Or, if it's big enough, I can lower down a rope and we can all go in. The best possible result would be if we could get the doors open, then break 'em so they don't close right. Then they'd have to put extra watchers up here, so the underwater fighters will have less to deal with."
If there are no objections or other plans, Peri says, "Wish me luck," and will swim up to the edge of the fortress and begin invisible spider climbing his way up the side. When he gets to the top he will look around for either guards or openings.
Boko, bobbing at the surface, holds up her hand up and says, “I do not wish to spend any more time here than necessary. But currently I cannot wildshape into anything, which means if we are discovered and need to flee in the boat, I cannot dissuade any pursuit from below the surface. Not to mention the actual scouting and assault. If we take an hour here before trying to go in, then I could help more. Just an option. Otherwise that sounds a good option Peri.”
Keeping his voice down, Gerrard says, “Master Fenwader, I think you should go now while you are invisible and at least scout it out…But be very careful. If there is not an obvious way in, come back and we will rest for an hour to regroup, perhaps brainstorming additional options.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"Should've brought that darn fiddle" he grumbles as Peri takes to the side of the cliff. Without his cittern, Kei is unable to join his invisible friend. He contemplates wishing him luck as asked, but his inability to join him sours his mood to the point he merely grunts
Peri begins his spider climb up the side of the tall, jagged, dead, black rock that comprises this sunken island. Once he climbs above the slimy base it is easy-going – the convoluted surface is full of deep cracks and holes that would take days to fully search, but there doesn't seem to be much up here other than hardy lichen and bird excrement. There are no obvious entries or evidence of humanoids up here. It's also very steep – a rope or ladder would be necessary for anyone lacking magical slippers to traverse this.
Realising he's let his partner in crime head off completely alone Kei asks the spirits that inhabit his deck of cards to give the halfling aid if he calls on it. "You better come back in one piece" he whispers under his breath.
@DM
Guiding Whispers feature allows Guidance to be cast upto 60ft range
Peri was expecting a flat rooftop, maybe some battlements or something. This was just the top of a small hill. Still, there had to be some way in, didn't there? A chimney, or some kind of air shaft? The sahuagin might not need anything like that, but surely the lizardfolk had had them? He spends about twenty minutes searching the top, afraid to go longer lest his invisibility lapses. Not that it's all that necessary up here...
Peri finds nothing but rotten rock and bird detritus atop this lifeless crag surrounded by the cold boom of the unrelenting ocean. There may theoretically be air shafts in the countless crags and crevices of this crusty slab, but they would be too small for all but the tiniest creatures to traverse, if they could ever even find them.
He returns to the party. Any remaining invisibility only has a few minutes left.
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Peri:
"Scoutin' up above the waterline would be better for us, but they've gotta know that's the most likely entrance. They had dozens guardin' the underwater entrance; they'll probably have more guardin' the one up top. I agree it would be good to get a soundin' on what's goin' on, and if we could kill one or two on the way out it might throw 'em off the trail of the escapees. But these things sound a lot tougher than the ones that attacked us on the Winter; I don't know how we take 'em down without raisin' a ruckus. I'm open to ideas, though."
(Pass without Trace is still going for some time, right? It lasts an hour and started just before Peri, Kei, and Boko took off for the final scouting foray, which I assume took no more than 10 minutes. We arrived back after the guards were being shoved into cells, and then it's maybe 5 minutes of getting out? So 45 minutes, or 30 if we were being a lot slower than I assume, left on the spell? And it benefits whoever is near her, not specific individuals at casting, so everyone could benefit from it on an approach.)
Strength check: 16
Qivys tries to give the slab the old "heave/hoe".
Kysh and Borgas (together with Kysh's sea lion) agree to stay below the surface during any above-surface exploration or engagement; Oceanus, however, would prefer to accompany the air-based party.
(Pass Without Trace is still active. It has a good 45 minutes remaining, providing Boko maintains concentration.)
With effort, Qivys and Gerrard manage to slide the stone slab completely over the entrance to the tunnel.
Gerrard:
”Well done, Master Qivys,” says Gerrard, “Let’s follow Mistress Boko and see what we can learn at the main entrance.”
Gerrard shields the light from his rapier as he follows the stealthy Druid back up to the surface.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Boko will move close to the surface when everyone is ready and look around for any attention from the fortress, just barely peeking out into the air and then ducking back down.
Perception: 23
Stealth: 23
Kei
With his hand on Peri's invisible shoulder, at least he thinks its his shoulder, Kei follows the group back to the surface. "We don't have long before we're visible again" he says to Peri once they are out of the underwater tunnel.
Surfacing, Boko sees no sentries, no guards.
The stone causeway extends for nearly 200 feet from the coast to a stone ledge. It is 10 feet wide and 10 to 15 feet thick, a few feet above the cold waves.
Set into the vertical rock surface beyond the rock ledge, is a pair of large stone doors, each ten feet high and five feet wide. The surface of the doors is featureless, with no visible handles, except for a rectangular aperture six inches wide by four inches high cut in the center of the left-hand door, about six feet above ground level.
Kei
Finally his head breaks the surface of the choppy waters. He inhales deeply as if he'd been holding his breath this whole time. The ability to breathe underwater was a new experience he wasn't used to.
Looking around he sees Boko bobbing not far from him. She ducks back under the surface causing Kei to look around in alarm. Nothing. He can't see anything to cause concern. He waits, floating on the surface, for his companions to surface.
Perception Unable to parse dice roll.
Boko describes what she sees and asks if they want to send a scout inside before approaching. She repeats it to Kei on the surface when she realizes he hasn’t dropped back down.
The night is dark, above. A hint of light suggests a moon must lurk behind the wall of clouds above, but no stars are visible. The ocean booms against the rocky island, the causeway, and the more distant shore. The breeze is gusty and icy. The fortress is just a black shape of jagged rock poking out of the sea – there are no windows, entrances, or other openings apparent, other than the double doors on the causeway. Even the hole in the door seems to be covered on the inside with a metal plate. There are no signs of life anywhere.
Qivys eases his way towards the stone causeway.
"Better ta stand on my feet then float around." he thinks to himself.
Qivsy won't get out of the water just yet. He will surface near the nearest stone and wait.
Peri:
Peri listens to Boko's report with disappointment. He'd hoped the gates were open, or even that they were gates with bars to squeeze through, but it sounded as though that route was barred to them. "Kei says I've got a little bit left on this invisibility. I could try to scale the walls and see if there's a way in through the top. If I can find an opening, I can try to get those doors open from the inside. Or, if it's big enough, I can lower down a rope and we can all go in. The best possible result would be if we could get the doors open, then break 'em so they don't close right. Then they'd have to put extra watchers up here, so the underwater fighters will have less to deal with."
If there are no objections or other plans, Peri says, "Wish me luck," and will swim up to the edge of the fortress and begin invisible spider climbing his way up the side. When he gets to the top he will look around for either guards or openings.
Stealth: 21
Perception: 25
Boko, bobbing at the surface, holds up her hand up and says, “I do not wish to spend any more time here than necessary. But currently I cannot wildshape into anything, which means if we are discovered and need to flee in the boat, I cannot dissuade any pursuit from below the surface. Not to mention the actual scouting and assault. If we take an hour here before trying to go in, then I could help more. Just an option. Otherwise that sounds a good option Peri.”
Gerrard:
Keeping his voice down, Gerrard says, “Master Fenwader, I think you should go now while you are invisible and at least scout it out…But be very careful. If there is not an obvious way in, come back and we will rest for an hour to regroup, perhaps brainstorming additional options.”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Kei
"Should've brought that darn fiddle" he grumbles as Peri takes to the side of the cliff. Without his cittern, Kei is unable to join his invisible friend. He contemplates wishing him luck as asked, but his inability to join him sours his mood to the point he merely grunts
Peri begins his spider climb up the side of the tall, jagged, dead, black rock that comprises this sunken island. Once he climbs above the slimy base it is easy-going – the convoluted surface is full of deep cracks and holes that would take days to fully search, but there doesn't seem to be much up here other than hardy lichen and bird excrement. There are no obvious entries or evidence of humanoids up here. It's also very steep – a rope or ladder would be necessary for anyone lacking magical slippers to traverse this.
Kei
Realising he's let his partner in crime head off completely alone Kei asks the spirits that inhabit his deck of cards to give the halfling aid if he calls on it. "You better come back in one piece" he whispers under his breath.
@DM
Guiding Whispers feature allows Guidance to be cast upto 60ft range
Peri:
Peri was expecting a flat rooftop, maybe some battlements or something. This was just the top of a small hill. Still, there had to be some way in, didn't there? A chimney, or some kind of air shaft? The sahuagin might not need anything like that, but surely the lizardfolk had had them? He spends about twenty minutes searching the top, afraid to go longer lest his invisibility lapses. Not that it's all that necessary up here...
Investigation 4
Peri finds nothing but rotten rock and bird detritus atop this lifeless crag surrounded by the cold boom of the unrelenting ocean. There may theoretically be air shafts in the countless crags and crevices of this crusty slab, but they would be too small for all but the tiniest creatures to traverse, if they could ever even find them.
He returns to the party. Any remaining invisibility only has a few minutes left.