Reaching down, Ioben picks up the figurine from near the sign, and (assuming nothing bad happens) turns it over in his hands, looking at it closely. He then holds it up for the others to see. "Take a look at this."
(How large is it? Does it feel sturdy or flimsy? Are the limbs fixed or movable?)
Ioben - You hold up the figurine - it is roughly the size of pint glass (6 - 7 inches), it's limbs are brittle and fixed in place with moss (very easily snappable). It definitely appears fragile enough that it would not necessarily be a child's play thing - more an ornamental piece.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Baern looks in the direction of the windmill and at the figure Ioben found. "Nothing about this windmill gives me a good feeling, despite the potential safety of walls before nightfall."
Sandu'sInvestigation check ((sorry missed your post before!)):
As you investigate the area around the forking road you find some faint tracks, like those of a cart, coming from the direction of the windmill. The sign-post looks like it has been erected shoddily and has been crudely carved, it does not seem as old (or as well-made) as some of the other signs you have previously come across along the Old Svalich Road.
The thing that immediately grabs your attention, much like Ioben, is the high grass (around waist height) along either side of the path leading to the windmill. You spot a number of rodents, snakes, and spiders bustling in the long grass - this strikes you as being unusual / unnatural, even for Barovia.
> Reaching down, Ioben picks up the figurine from near the sign, and (assuming nothing bad happens) turns it over in his hands, looking at it closely. He then holds it up for the others to see. "Take a look at this."
((History or Nature - same modifier: 10 to see if Galqarin knows anything about the figurine))
The figurine is not like you've seen before, it reminds you a little of some of the toys from Blinsky (though this clearly is not). You have heard tale of tree spirits, blights, existing within Barovia and believe this could be a rough estimation of what one might look like.
"A blight!", Galqarin exclaims, recoiling from the vile thing.Seeing the confusion on his companions' faces he continues, "Corrupt plants that spread evil."
“This thing?”Ioben looks at the figurine in surprise as Galqarin reacts. “This is hardly a threat. I could crush it in my hand. I wonder who made it though. Why just leave it here?”
Valzes looks at the figurine in Ioben’s hand then to the windmill. She is now pondering whether to use her sense or not, because, by now, she already knows that there are corrupted things almost everywhere.
She thinks for a moment then lets out a sigh. She holds up her amulet and closes her eyes. Her sense extends to the surrounding, searching for any corruptions that are near her.
(Cast: Divine Sense. To see is the figurine is curse or not. )
Closing your eyes and concentrating you feel the familiar presence of Tyr wash over you. You do not get any sense of desecration, or a curse, coming from the figurine. As far as you are aware it is what it appears to be - a figurine consisting of mostly twigs/sticks and moss.
Unnerved by the blight-doll and the unusual abundance of less welcome fauna, Galqarin is torn. To proceed in darkness seems folly, yet an aura of despair seems to permeate from the windmill. Why had he not felt this when he camped near the old stones, he wonders.
As the others spoke, their sense of unease was apparent. Ioben looked around again, noticing things that at first he had overlooked as inspected the figurine. The long grass, the snakes and rodents, this was hardly an inviting place, and anything could be staying here. As enticing as having walls around him might be, he wasn't a fan of sharing it with other things."You're right, this doesn't seem the most welcoming of places, but the alternative is carrying on through the night. I guess we could find somewhere to sleep once we arrive in Valaki, but it has been a long day. If not here, then I would suggest we find somewhere else soon."
Valerie slowly opens her eyes. "From what I can tell, the figurine isn’t corrupted or anything. It’s... just a normal doll." She then glances around the area. "But you’re right. We should move on."
'You think whoever is living in the mill made those?' Sandu pointed out the faint tracks on the ground. He next drew the attention to the signpost. 'That seems fairly new. Or at least not as battered as other signs we've seen. Maybe someone recently moved into the mill?'
He pondered the tracks for a moment. They were not footprints but rather long and narrow, kind of like a wheel being dragged through the dust. It took another few seconds for the puzzle pieces to click. Sandu dug into his backpack and retrieved something soft wrapped in a napkin.
'You think that old crone lives there?' He asked the others as he showed the pastry he had bought the day before back in the village.
“The facet that she can live out here and walk to the last town we were in raises a whole lot of questions about her. I probably wouldn’t eat that Sandu,” he says to the man. Looking for any sign of live stock.
"Old lady travel alone?", ponders Galqarin. His mind is now racing with the tales of his childhood - tales he had thought make believe until the encounter with the revenant, and the effigy of the tree blight. "Maybe a witch?"
You cannot see any livestock in sight. For that matter, other than the numerous small creatures (rodents, snakes, and spiders), you do not see any other food source; either side of the path the fields are unmaintained and sporting tall grass, there are no chickens / cows / goats / sheep (or any other farmyard animals).
Listening to the conversation, Ismark pipes up,"This is where Old Lady Mo lives alright. I wasn't expecting it to look so... inhospitable. But then, I guess she may struggle to maintain the property in her old age."
Ireena nods along,"She always seemed to be kind enough when I spoke to her. Appearances can be deceiving though. Do you think it would be best to put some distance between us and the windmill before nightfall?"
Reaching down, Ioben picks up the figurine from near the sign, and (assuming nothing bad happens) turns it over in his hands, looking at it closely. He then holds it up for the others to see. "Take a look at this."
(How large is it? Does it feel sturdy or flimsy? Are the limbs fixed or movable?)
Ioben - You hold up the figurine - it is roughly the size of pint glass (6 - 7 inches), it's limbs are brittle and fixed in place with moss (very easily snappable). It definitely appears fragile enough that it would not necessarily be a child's play thing - more an ornamental piece.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Baern looks in the direction of the windmill and at the figure Ioben found. "Nothing about this windmill gives me a good feeling, despite the potential safety of walls before nightfall."
Perception: 14
Sandu's Investigation check ((sorry missed your post before!)):
As you investigate the area around the forking road you find some faint tracks, like those of a cart, coming from the direction of the windmill. The sign-post looks like it has been erected shoddily and has been crudely carved, it does not seem as old (or as well-made) as some of the other signs you have previously come across along the Old Svalich Road.
Baern's Perception check:
The thing that immediately grabs your attention, much like Ioben, is the high grass (around waist height) along either side of the path leading to the windmill. You spot a number of rodents, snakes, and spiders bustling in the long grass - this strikes you as being unusual / unnatural, even for Barovia.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
> Reaching down, Ioben picks up the figurine from near the sign, and (assuming nothing bad happens) turns it over in his hands, looking at it closely. He then holds it up for the others to see. "Take a look at this."
((History or Nature - same modifier: 10 to see if Galqarin knows anything about the figurine))
Galqarin's Nature check:
The figurine is not like you've seen before, it reminds you a little of some of the toys from Blinsky (though this clearly is not). You have heard tale of tree spirits, blights, existing within Barovia and believe this could be a rough estimation of what one might look like.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
"A blight!", Galqarin exclaims, recoiling from the vile thing. Seeing the confusion on his companions' faces he continues, "Corrupt plants that spread evil."
“This thing?” Ioben looks at the figurine in surprise as Galqarin reacts. “This is hardly a threat. I could crush it in my hand. I wonder who made it though. Why just leave it here?”
Galqarin is still wary. "May be cursed", he says sullenly.
Valzes looks at the figurine in Ioben’s hand then to the windmill. She is now pondering whether to use her sense or not, because, by now, she already knows that there are corrupted things almost everywhere.
She thinks for a moment then lets out a sigh. She holds up her amulet and closes her eyes. Her sense extends to the surrounding, searching for any corruptions that are near her.
(Cast: Divine Sense. To see is the figurine is curse or not. )
Valerie's Divine Sense:
Closing your eyes and concentrating you feel the familiar presence of Tyr wash over you. You do not get any sense of desecration, or a curse, coming from the figurine. As far as you are aware it is what it appears to be - a figurine consisting of mostly twigs/sticks and moss.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
“This place feels unusual to me, I think we should keep going,” says Dormark to the orheers
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Unnerved by the blight-doll and the unusual abundance of less welcome fauna, Galqarin is torn. To proceed in darkness seems folly, yet an aura of despair seems to permeate from the windmill. Why had he not felt this when he camped near the old stones, he wonders.
As the others spoke, their sense of unease was apparent. Ioben looked around again, noticing things that at first he had overlooked as inspected the figurine. The long grass, the snakes and rodents, this was hardly an inviting place, and anything could be staying here. As enticing as having walls around him might be, he wasn't a fan of sharing it with other things. "You're right, this doesn't seem the most welcoming of places, but the alternative is carrying on through the night. I guess we could find somewhere to sleep once we arrive in Valaki, but it has been a long day. If not here, then I would suggest we find somewhere else soon."
Valerie slowly opens her eyes. "From what I can tell, the figurine isn’t corrupted or anything. It’s... just a normal doll." She then glances around the area. "But you’re right. We should move on."
'You think whoever is living in the mill made those?' Sandu pointed out the faint tracks on the ground. He next drew the attention to the signpost. 'That seems fairly new. Or at least not as battered as other signs we've seen. Maybe someone recently moved into the mill?'
He pondered the tracks for a moment. They were not footprints but rather long and narrow, kind of like a wheel being dragged through the dust. It took another few seconds for the puzzle pieces to click. Sandu dug into his backpack and retrieved something soft wrapped in a napkin.
'You think that old crone lives there?' He asked the others as he showed the pastry he had bought the day before back in the village.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
“The facet that she can live out here and walk to the last town we were in raises a whole lot of questions about her. I probably wouldn’t eat that Sandu,” he says to the man. Looking for any sign of live stock.
(Rolling perception with guidance 16 total)
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
"Old lady travel alone?", ponders Galqarin. His mind is now racing with the tales of his childhood - tales he had thought make believe until the encounter with the revenant, and the effigy of the tree blight. "Maybe a witch?"
Dormark's Perception check:
You cannot see any livestock in sight. For that matter, other than the numerous small creatures (rodents, snakes, and spiders), you do not see any other food source; either side of the path the fields are unmaintained and sporting tall grass, there are no chickens / cows / goats / sheep (or any other farmyard animals).
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Listening to the conversation, Ismark pipes up, "This is where Old Lady Mo lives alright. I wasn't expecting it to look so... inhospitable. But then, I guess she may struggle to maintain the property in her old age."
Ireena nods along, "She always seemed to be kind enough when I spoke to her. Appearances can be deceiving though. Do you think it would be best to put some distance between us and the windmill before nightfall?"
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)