Xarroth takes out the last spider, leaving a pungent odor lingering in the room.
Now that there are no enemies nearby you can take a calmer look at the room around you. It is simmetrical along the north south axis (the west side is a mirror of the east side.) Each side has a 30 by 30 feet bastion on the north wall, where arrowslits let some sunlight in. The main area is larger, at 60 by 40 feet.
The three cauldrons in the middle have traces of oily residue inside and a mechanism that would tip them over the slits in the floor over the entrance below. Four stone carved pillars support the ceiling 15 feet over your head. The south wall has arrowslits overseeing another hall as large as this one, the inner hall is dark.
Each of the west and east walls has a large fireplace and a staircase going down into the mountain. On the western wall there is a closed door, similar to the one you used to get inside from the east.
OOC: combat is over, we are out of initiative order.
"My vote is to check out the west door first." Lia comments, stepping a bit away from the dead spider corpses. "And someone make a note to make sure the village sends people to do pest control a bit more often..."
You don't hear noise from the other side of the door before opening the door to the west. It leads to a room that mirrors the one you used to enter, but its furniture is trashed completely. Only broken wood and torn cloth remain. A single ray of light comes from the fireplace, indicating that this one also leads outside should you need another escape route.
Holding the torch, Xarrothjust gives the room a look over to reveal any further details of what happened in this room all that time ago...
Perception (if needed): 20
"Perhaps the facilities team was meant to start in here." The dragonborn muses, before looking up the chimney, "I believe it may be wise if we set up another bit of rope down this chimney also. What do you all think?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
After climbing down the other chimney, climbing up this one to tie a rope outside is an easy task. You find little of value here, just a handful (4) silver pieces among the furniture remains.
Rhok finds no signs of other creatures nearby, but all of you hear a faint scrapping noise coming from inside the fortress.
OOC: I'm assuming that Xarroth is carrying a torch, being the only one without darkvision in the group.
"Xarroth, I learned something new the other day, mind if I try it on you? I think it'll help with your need of a torch......wait, you all hear that scrapping?" Rhok says
OOC: If Xarroth accepts, Rhok would cast Darkvision on him, 8H buff
OOC: Yes! Xarroth will gladly hold the touch. Although...
Xarrothturns and agrees to Rhok'soffer, slightly rigid from the tense darkness and silence. He blinks several with a few stopped Draconic exclamations. "Fascinating..." is the reaction he eventually settles on, and snuffs out his torch. He suddenly stops and strains to hear what his comrade was referring to...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"And what may it be? Some kind of machine, or more creatures?" Lothlién says, thinking out loud. After a second, he adds "I guess there's only way to find out, right? Let's keep our eyes and ears open, and our feet silent". He then proceeds to the nearest set of stairs.
There are no creatures in the trashed room with the second chimney.
As you go back to the large hall with the cauldrons you hear the noise a bit more clearly. It sounds like a cloth sack being dragged against the stone floor. But the source of the noise is not in this room.
Going down the stairs you arrive at a large and narrow area. Your attention is instantly drawn to seven ballistas pointed at arrowslits. Two on the west wall point inside the fortress. The five on the east wall are aimed at the entrance outside the portcullis, the place between the portcullis and the main doors and to the area just behind the doors.
Some light is still visible from the arrowslits near the entrance. A winch in the wall next to the porcullis is the only other object of interest here, in the same room that Sabastian explored for you.
A single door on the west wall leads into the fortress.
"Looks like we are going this way..." Lia says, moving to the single door leading into the fortress. "Ready?" She asks, prepared to open it and let those inclined go in before her.
"Wow, they weren't kidding that the towns folk could protect themselves from the dragon in here, those Ballista look like they'd easily pierce dragon hide and then some" Rhok mutters under his breath
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xarroth tries to attempt to follow Lothlién'sapproach!
Stealth: 4
Perception: 10
"This fort does seem impressive. If the townsfolk get here, they may stand a chance. But what of this fort's previous occupants...?" The dragonborn lets the question hang and gestures to the room of the destroyed furniture.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The door on the west wall opens making a light creaking noise. You see a 50 feet long corridor going south, it passes in front of the two ballistas pointing west and leads to a 15 by 35 feet hall with multiple doors.
The floor is strewn with bits of armor and gnawed bones. Before you have a chance to examine the area more closely, four ghouls that were still looking for flesh in the ruins turn towards the fresh meat that so willingly walked in.
Ghouls initiative: 10
Initiative order: 23 Lia 20 Lothlién 18 Four ghouls 14 Rhok 4 Xarroth
Xarroth blows a huff of flame into his claw, the fire lingers and glows with intensity before being slung towards the remaining arachnid!
Fire Bolt
Ranged Spell Attack: 19 Damage: 15 (fire)
Xarroth takes out the last spider, leaving a pungent odor lingering in the room.
Now that there are no enemies nearby you can take a calmer look at the room around you. It is simmetrical along the north south axis (the west side is a mirror of the east side.) Each side has a 30 by 30 feet bastion on the north wall, where arrowslits let some sunlight in. The main area is larger, at 60 by 40 feet.
The three cauldrons in the middle have traces of oily residue inside and a mechanism that would tip them over the slits in the floor over the entrance below. Four stone carved pillars support the ceiling 15 feet over your head. The south wall has arrowslits overseeing another hall as large as this one, the inner hall is dark.
Each of the west and east walls has a large fireplace and a staircase going down into the mountain. On the western wall there is a closed door, similar to the one you used to get inside from the east.
OOC: combat is over, we are out of initiative order.
"My vote is to check out the west door first." Lia comments, stepping a bit away from the dead spider corpses. "And someone make a note to make sure the village sends people to do pest control a bit more often..."
Lothlién shruggs "I don't mind where we go first, we'll have to go everywhere eventually"
"Yeah, lets start with the west door" Rhok agrees
Currently playing: Rhok Skatu - Another Dragon at Icespire Peak
You don't hear noise from the other side of the door before opening the door to the west. It leads to a room that mirrors the one you used to enter, but its furniture is trashed completely. Only broken wood and torn cloth remain. A single ray of light comes from the fireplace, indicating that this one also leads outside should you need another escape route.
Holding the torch, Xarroth just gives the room a look over to reveal any further details of what happened in this room all that time ago...
Perception (if needed): 20
"Perhaps the facilities team was meant to start in here." The dragonborn muses, before looking up the chimney, "I believe it may be wise if we set up another bit of rope down this chimney also. What do you all think?"
Lia searches this new chamber, looking for anything of interest or value... Investigation: 13
"Not a bad idea" Lothlién answers Xarroth, offering his rope
"I can try to climb up to secure it.." Rhok offers while glancing around for any other clues to other creatures lurking about
Perception: 11
Currently playing: Rhok Skatu - Another Dragon at Icespire Peak
After climbing down the other chimney, climbing up this one to tie a rope outside is an easy task. You find little of value here, just a handful (4) silver pieces among the furniture remains.
Rhok finds no signs of other creatures nearby, but all of you hear a faint scrapping noise coming from inside the fortress.
OOC: I'm assuming that Xarroth is carrying a torch, being the only one without darkvision in the group.
"Xarroth, I learned something new the other day, mind if I try it on you? I think it'll help with your need of a torch......wait, you all hear that scrapping?" Rhok says
OOC: If Xarroth accepts, Rhok would cast Darkvision on him, 8H buff
Currently playing: Rhok Skatu - Another Dragon at Icespire Peak
OOC: Yes! Xarroth will gladly hold the touch. Although...
Xarroth turns and agrees to Rhok's offer, slightly rigid from the tense darkness and silence. He blinks several with a few stopped Draconic exclamations. "Fascinating..." is the reaction he eventually settles on, and snuffs out his torch. He suddenly stops and strains to hear what his comrade was referring to...
"Where is it coming from?" Lia asks with a frown, glancing towards the source of the sound.
"And what may it be? Some kind of machine, or more creatures?" Lothlién says, thinking out loud. After a second, he adds "I guess there's only way to find out, right? Let's keep our eyes and ears open, and our feet silent". He then proceeds to the nearest set of stairs.
(If needed:
stealth: 4
perception: 16 )
There are no creatures in the trashed room with the second chimney.
As you go back to the large hall with the cauldrons you hear the noise a bit more clearly. It sounds like a cloth sack being dragged against the stone floor. But the source of the noise is not in this room.
Going down the stairs you arrive at a large and narrow area. Your attention is instantly drawn to seven ballistas pointed at arrowslits. Two on the west wall point inside the fortress. The five on the east wall are aimed at the entrance outside the portcullis, the place between the portcullis and the main doors and to the area just behind the doors.
Some light is still visible from the arrowslits near the entrance. A winch in the wall next to the porcullis is the only other object of interest here, in the same room that Sabastian explored for you.
A single door on the west wall leads into the fortress.
"Looks like we are going this way..." Lia says, moving to the single door leading into the fortress. "Ready?" She asks, prepared to open it and let those inclined go in before her.
"Wow, they weren't kidding that the towns folk could protect themselves from the dragon in here, those Ballista look like they'd easily pierce dragon hide and then some" Rhok mutters under his breath
Currently playing: Rhok Skatu - Another Dragon at Icespire Peak
Xarroth tries to attempt to follow Lothlién's approach!
Stealth: 4
Perception: 10
"This fort does seem impressive. If the townsfolk get here, they may stand a chance. But what of this fort's previous occupants...?" The dragonborn lets the question hang and gestures to the room of the destroyed furniture.
The door on the west wall opens making a light creaking noise. You see a 50 feet long corridor going south, it passes in front of the two ballistas pointing west and leads to a 15 by 35 feet hall with multiple doors.
The floor is strewn with bits of armor and gnawed bones. Before you have a chance to examine the area more closely, four ghouls that were still looking for flesh in the ruins turn towards the fresh meat that so willingly walked in.
Ghouls initiative: 10
Initiative order:
23 Lia
20 Lothlién
18 Four ghouls
14 Rhok
4 Xarroth
Lia goes first.
OOC: Ghoul image in the spoiler block below.