This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Caine watches their surroundings as best he can while they make their way back down the trail they came along. Hopefully with it tramped down a bit now, they will be able to make even better time.
The party exits the forest and continues traveling down the Old Road. Following the tracks, hours pass without anything of note occurring. However, the farther the party travels from Trishdale, the more wild and unnatural the Corrupted Forest appears.
It is mid-afternoon as the fall wind brings the scent of salt. The sea spray came from the north, meaning the Old Road is bending closer to the Shore. After another hour of brisk marching, a group of buildings emerge in the distance.
The party sees the ruins of what seems to be a half-ruined trade depot. Broken wagons are surrounded by crumbling stone walls covered in ivy and briars, while a muddy track winds between the old structures. The trail ends at a large, mostly intact mansion.
The footsteps lead towards the trade depot.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral-Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries;Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
Caine stops and looks at the structures. If they can see the buildings, it is likely anyone inside them can see the party.
Speaking quietly to the others, "do we approach directly or try to move through the brush and trees to come upon the depot from off the trail. Or perhaps 4 or 5 move quietly into position and one of us walks directly down the path to see what is drawn from hiding."
Looking more closely at the party, all but Jaesali could likely move quietly through the trees and lay in wait for whatever the barbarian stirs up.
The party begins approaching the ruined trade depot. While Jaesali breaks off to walk in directly, everyone else takes up position in the brush, waiting for what Jaesali draws out of hiding.
Jaesali walks down the muddy trail past the derelict buildings while the afternoon suns begins to wane. Soot stains and moss cover the broken husks of buildings, most of which bear very little clue to their former purpose. The large mansion is situated close to the forest- towering trees flank the imposing structure. As she walks, she notes two buildings which are somewhat intact; a horse stables, and a small shop with the sign "Brugel's Books." Minutes pass, but it is eerily quiet. Nothing jumps out at her, and she sees no bandits and no Tanye.
Caine heads to Brugel's Books, Helena to the mansion, and Jaesali to the stables. Nolla and Tam go wide, sweeping the area for any signs of the bandits.
Caine enters a dark, cobweb-filled book store. Rats scurry away from the light as the door swings open. Dusty tomes are stacked in large shelves throughout the store. A single desk contains an unburned candle and an open book. A staircase leads to an upper floor.
Helena travels down the muddy track and peeks inside the mansion's front entrance. The manor is a mirror of the mayor's in Trishdale, decadent and luxurious despite the toll of the ages. Her superior darkvision allows her to see vintage furniture and gilded walls inside, all surprisingly in good condition. A ceremonial suit of armor stands next to a dusty fireplace. A thread-bare rug seems to be embroidered with a coat of arms, but Helena will need to enter the house and get closer if she wants to identify it.
Jaesali enters the stables. The musty smell of manure still lingers in this empty building. A recently extinguished fire-place lays smoking inside an empty stall, and Jaesali can see all sorts of words frantically scratched onto the wooden walls of the stall.
"Don't stay the night." "Norgon, Norgon, Norgon."
However, some words appear to have been scratched very recently. But, they seem to be complete gibberish to Jaesali.
Meanwhile, Nolla and Tam search for signs of the bandits. They find more footsteps, suggesting the bandits may have stayed in this area for an extended period of time; maybe a day or so. But they do not spot any sign of them.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral-Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries;Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
Caine avoids the spiderwebs and is careful not to step on any of the rats. If he leaves them alone, he hopes they will return the courtesy. He makes his way to the desk and looks at the open book, hoping it might provide some clue to who has been through here.
Helena scouts the entrances to the manor to see if anyone has walked in recently, going in if it seems safe, or like the bandits might have gone inside for a reason.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nolla continues her circuit, looking for tracks that are newer, and would indicate where the ones they tracked to the little village might have gone. Survival: 20
While Tam returns to the village, Nolla searches for more tracks. Her exploration leads her to the edge of the forest, where the tracks suddenly end. Thorny thickets, with gnarled limbs and spiked branches, block movement into the forest. Nature herself, a victim to the spreading corruption: malformed with mis-intent.
Helena begins a thorough search of the manor entrance.
(@Helena, Survival check)
Caine approaches the desk with the open book. The candle is half-burned: red wax has dripped on the table and solidified, giving the appearance of freshly-spilled blood. Caine investigates the old book, but finds it to be written in some sort of cipher. A mess of cryptic symbols and unknown ideographs are written on the open page. If he's willing to spend some time, perhaps something could be gleamed from this tome.
(@Investigation to decipher)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral-Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries;Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
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Caine watches their surroundings as best he can while they make their way back down the trail they came along. Hopefully with it tramped down a bit now, they will be able to make even better time.
Perception: 14
Tam doesn't comment on Helena's statement but his eye twitches.
He follows with the group.
The party exits the forest and continues traveling down the Old Road. Following the tracks, hours pass without anything of note occurring. However, the farther the party travels from Trishdale, the more wild and unnatural the Corrupted Forest appears.
It is mid-afternoon as the fall wind brings the scent of salt. The sea spray came from the north, meaning the Old Road is bending closer to the Shore. After another hour of brisk marching, a group of buildings emerge in the distance.
The party sees the ruins of what seems to be a half-ruined trade depot. Broken wagons are surrounded by crumbling stone walls covered in ivy and briars, while a muddy track winds between the old structures. The trail ends at a large, mostly intact mansion.
The footsteps lead towards the trade depot.
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral- Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries; Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
Caine stops and looks at the structures. If they can see the buildings, it is likely anyone inside them can see the party.
Speaking quietly to the others, "do we approach directly or try to move through the brush and trees to come upon the depot from off the trail. Or perhaps 4 or 5 move quietly into position and one of us walks directly down the path to see what is drawn from hiding."
Looking more closely at the party, all but Jaesali could likely move quietly through the trees and lay in wait for whatever the barbarian stirs up.
"I'm always for a quiet and unseen approach..." Nolla informs the others.
Jaesali shrugs. "I'll go catch their attention. Let me know when you're ready."
Tam moves to the sneaky group without a word.
Cedar walks over to Nolla "I have never been one for head on attacks"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
The party begins approaching the ruined trade depot. While Jaesali breaks off to walk in directly, everyone else takes up position in the brush, waiting for what Jaesali draws out of hiding.
Jaesali walks down the muddy trail past the derelict buildings while the afternoon suns begins to wane. Soot stains and moss cover the broken husks of buildings, most of which bear very little clue to their former purpose. The large mansion is situated close to the forest- towering trees flank the imposing structure. As she walks, she notes two buildings which are somewhat intact; a horse stables, and a small shop with the sign "Brugel's Books." Minutes pass, but it is eerily quiet. Nothing jumps out at her, and she sees no bandits and no Tanye.
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral- Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries; Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
Caine looks to the others and then back out at Jaesali.
"If this is an ambush, the bandits have remarkable patience," he says in a quiet voice.
He steps lightly out of the brush and moves to join Jaesai. He looks through any openings to see inside "Brugel's Books".
Tam will go wide around the ruins, watching for movement in them.
Perception:14
Helena stalks slightly ahead to the mansion, figuring that’s where she’d stay in this place, and looks for signs of life.
Perception 14
Jaesali walks toward the stables, but doesn't enter at first. She peers into the building, her eyes on the surrounding area as much as the building.
Perception: 3
((sigh))
Nolla stays in the trees, making her way around the mansion to see if she can spot anything of interest.
stealth: 18
perception: 20
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral- Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries; Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd
Caine avoids the spiderwebs and is careful not to step on any of the rats. If he leaves them alone, he hopes they will return the courtesy. He makes his way to the desk and looks at the open book, hoping it might provide some clue to who has been through here.
Helena scouts the entrances to the manor to see if anyone has walked in recently, going in if it seems safe, or like the bandits might have gone inside for a reason.
Tam cautiously circles in to to the others.
Nolla continues her circuit, looking for tracks that are newer, and would indicate where the ones they tracked to the little village might have gone. Survival: 20
DMing:
Solo Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Playing:
Baral- Coliseum of Conquest, Lazarus Vernon- Tale of Mercenaries; Bernard Lionsbane- Solo Curse of Strahd