Northlands Campaign

'If you want stealth I should be in the back.' cade tells the others through mind-speach. 'If you want to charge in, then I can go first...'

The fallen drawbridge is but a few yards off and the gates, partially open and revealing an open courtyard beyond.  Near the far side of the courtyard you can see what looks to be another of the buckboard wagons.  Nothing is moving from your vantage point, but you can periodically make out the sounds heavy breathing possibly from a large animal.

“There’s something big in there. I saw some outsized ox tracks and with that heavy breathing in there and the history of this place, I think there might be a Minotaur in there. I’ll go take a quick look, hopefully I’m wrong.”

Stealth: 18

OOC: stupid crappy dice!!! I want a new set!!!! LOL LOL

Barnabus scratches his face through his snarled red beard as he eyes the drawbridge.

" You know...a draw bridge can serve two purposes. It can keep you out or lock you in, if there isn't another way out that is.  Maybe we finish circling this place then remove the bridge. Slows any new arrials allowing for a rescue and seals in any from going to get more."

The drawbridge lies flat with no apparent method to raise it.  Rusting and rotting stumps of the draw chain are still attached to the near end.  In fact, it seems to be overlaid with newer planks to accommodate wagon traffic.  The stagnant pools that have been so prevalent for the trip through the moors are even more so here, forming a 10' wide moat as far as you can see to either side from the path.

(meant to post sooner, just need to get a good night's rest so I don't have Kina just use her bra as a slingshot or something weird.)

'I already told Wil here that I heard an ox inside there.' Cade speaks into the other's minds. 'That's probably what the big creature is...'

Wil checks himself over after being hit by the frog, “Would you rather blunder into a Minotaur prepared for it to be an ox, or would you rather blunder in to an ox prepared for it to be a Minotaur? Me, I’d much rather prepare for a Minotaur but discover it’s actually an ox.”

"Well if we don't go see we'll never know. Come on."

Says the determined dwarf as he begins to make his way around the castle heading clockwise from the gate. He keeps the moat on his right and at about 10 ft away.

Perception: 10

Wil follows Barnabus, bow at the ready. 

The bear shrugs its shoulders and follows after the others.

As you make your way around the outside of the ruins, dry ground gets harder and harder to find and the shadows from the setting sun get longer and longer, and shortly before the suns takes its final few gasps for the day you find yourself back at the entrance with the rest of the group.  No other paths or exits were seen, just more evidence of age and neglect.  The walls collapsing outward into the moat as well as into the courtyard and building in multiple places, although none seemed large enough to enter.  The gaps into the interior were of little to no use to see what lay beyond the walls.

Just as you make it back around near the front entrance, you see what looks to be a plume of dark smoke rise from the west edge of the building emitting a high pitched shriek.  Startling at first, after a brief moment you realize it is a swarm of bats taking off to hunt.  It doesn't take long for them to vanish into the darkening sky.

Bart speaks up and says " its seems to be getting to be late crew. I know we are in a hurry but im sure some of us need to replenish their energy.  Let's make camp in the ruins to explore them futher upon daylight. If the party deems it so I will be more than happy to take first watch this time"

Perception check for the watch: 16

OOC: Welp looks like bart fell asleep haahah

'I don't think we can rest without knowing more of what is inside.' Cade says from his bear form. 'Seems we would just be asking to be attacked while we sleep.'

"How about a short rest as a compromise?" suggests Barnabus. "But lets get inside before we decide anything" 

Barnabus moves as gingerly and as quietly as possible across the drawbridge. 

Stealth: 17

Perception :  4

Barnabus:  As you approach the drawbridge, you see the original sections are barely holding together and, in fact, several holes can be seen through the planks.  Crossing on the news beams is a simple matter and the courtyard begins to come into view.  An open courtyard, roughly 50' x 50' comes into view.  The watchtower to your left, while badly damaged, seems to have its lower level mostly intact.  Directly ahead across the courtyard you see a single buckboard wagon sitting unattended.  Diagonally across the courtyard to your right are stairs leading up to an open doorway and further to the right the corner of a corral is visible.  You hear a snort from the direction of the corral.  You also catch what you believe to be whispers of voices coming from the open doorway.

If there is a way in Barnabus will move to the watch tower and wait. If not he will move directly below the open doorway. He will wait at either place for the rest to join him.

Kina dares to go no further. With others trying to sneak about, her heavy steps will undoubtedly be a dead giveaway. She waits for Barnabus to reappear before she makes a move, though she stands at the ready.

'Want me to rush up and into that open door?' Cade/bear asks the group mentally. 'I bet it would surprise them to have a large brown bear right in there with them...'

Barnabus:  The left gate door hangs loosely at an odd angle, but you can slide around it into the corner of the courtyard to where the door to the watchtower stands firmly closed.  In doing so, the rest of the corral comes into view to the near right where an ox is eating and paying no mind to anything else going on.

The stairs up to the open doorway rise between 3 and 4 feet above the level of the courtyard, between 15 and 20 feet wide.  Still indistinct, the whispers end with an angrily muffled "quiet you idiots," as the shadows continue to deepen all around.