Northlands Campaign

Wil smiles, “We should have asked the guard for barding. So, who’s coming with me to scout?”

Keeping to cover as you approach, you find a spot about 100 yards away from the front of the ruins.  Even in the lengthening shadows, you are able to make out that once upon a time there was at least a second floor if not more, but that is all collapsed into a jumbled mass of rotting beams and rubble, all overgrown by vines and other sickly growth.  The entrance stands partly open, the former drawbridge now laying flat, no chains or other means to raise it visible.  The gates themselves ajar and one tilted at an odd angle, giving the impression it is only a stiff breeze away from falling.

Speaking of breezes, you just realize that you haven't felt so much as a whisper of a breeze since entering the moors.

Looking back to the ruins, you can detect no movement from inside the walls.  Other than the sounds that have become normal for the swamp, you hear nothing.

"This place is not right." Cade says in the other's minds. "I remember tales of an ancient evil place that sickened the land forming the moors... This could easily be an outpost of that place..."

"Yes, getting closer is good." Cade says as the group prepares to move towards the structure. "Just be careful, if this is the place I think it is, then it could easily be why no one returns from here..."

"I'll go with whomever wishes to help scout..." He says once they are clsoer to the structure.

Wil and Cade slide away from the group towards the front of the ruins.  As you approach, ever vigilant, no signs of life or movement can be seen coming from in or around the structure.  You, unsurprisingly, find ample tracks on the pack, but mostly just from ox and cart wheels, the few others much smaller and likely the local wildlife.

Roll Nature or Perception check

Nature: 8

Wilhorn: 

 Kina:  Roll insight check please.

Cade perception: 18

Cade: 

Kina's insight: 10

Kina: 

Kina tightens her grip on her staff as she waits at the edge of the clearing... out of the line of sight for guards, but close enough she can just barely make out the movements of the scouts.
"I don't like this.." she whispers. "Why would they be here, in a rotting structure that looks like it would collapse if someone farted too aggressively? There's no protection from attack." she mutters.
"What could this 'One' gain from just having an army of half-aware slaves that can't even win with three to one odds?"
She doesn't make a move, however. She doesn't want to endanger Cade and Wil by moving her big body any closer.

"Your right. This place has no real defensability."

Barnabus replies to Kina from his position in the tall grasses not far from the centaur.

"My guess would be some kind of evil nexus. For what else could bring about this decrepidness and why else would you need kidnapped subjects brought to a place of such ruin. Surely must be the lair of an evil cabal. One we will surely eradicate."

Barnabus grins as his mind runs wild with conspiracy theories and the thought of evil vanquished.

Cade speaks directly into Wil's mind... 'Those tracks are bigger than anything we've seen so far.' Cade's voice says in Wil's head. 'There is also the sound of an ox inside the gate.'

Wil and Cade: 

 Kina, Barnabus and Bartholomew:  Roll Perception check

Cade initiative: 4

Kina perception: 3

perception check:14

Perception:  20

Bartholomew: 

Bart speaks up to the party "Hey fellow adventurers, we need to go. I smell and see truble approaching the fine scouting gentleman. There is no time to waste, I'd rather be safe than sorry as they say." he turns to Kina and says " I'm so terribly sorry to ask this of you malady, but would it be possible for this slow feathered fello to maybe catch a ride? I feel as we will not arrive in time if we dally too long"