While the others finalize the plan, Velyra will slip the sending stone out of her pocket and activate it, mindful to keep it short so the full message is sent.
"They were killed by a powerful undead. We destroyed it. Also found the ruins they were poking around in. What's that about?" She pockets the stone once more. The moment she begins receiving a response, she'll relay it to the rest of the group.
There is a long pause before you receive a response, well over a full minute. Just when you think you won't receive one at all, the drawling voice sounds off in your head. 'I feared as much, hope the bastard suffered. They were performing a job for us, complicated. We'll pay handsomely for their belongings. Sonatide. Details tomorrow.'
As difficult as it is to get a read on a disembodied voice, you're able to glean genuine anguish and anger from the other end of this brief exchange. You get the sense that there was genuine hope that you might have had better news to tell them.
Whenever you're ready to leave, Paten will have the front door temporarily un-barricaded instead of sending you down through the second floor window.
Silthras listens to Velyra's recounting of the conversation. "You're sure they sounded disappointed?" At her ((presumed!)) nod, he breathes a sigh of relief. "Then, well done! Well...we can collect their other gear when we're at the mansion. Might need to ask if there's anything specific he wants. I'd guess it's the rings and that stone...if he wants the armour he can get it himself. Although..." he tilts his head to one side and smiles "...perhaps it's magical? We should check it all over before returning it."
When Since everybody seems to be ready, Silthras is happy to set off.
"I don't remember there being much else on the bodies. Although I suppose we can take a closer look around to see if they stashed anything else."Kal says, likewise relieved that their contact appears to be at least neutral. "But that can come after correct? We get everyone to Silverfair safely, then come back here alone."
"I imagine those people we found were not simple employees, but something more close knit." Velyra says in reply, "could be the things they held were more valuable than we can see right now. Or maybe it's a sentimental thing." She shrugs, preparing for their exit from the inn. "In any case, the only way to find out for sure is to go to Sonatide. Discussion for afterwards perhaps?"
"Let's get going! We still have a lot to do here, finding the... Infiltrators...in the other two towns and in Silverfare, and seeing where the pedestals lead."
He looks around at the sorry state of the villagers and winces, "For now, the Sending Some will have to be enough. Sonatide is likely to be a can of worms best left unopened until we know a lot more."
Paten and a few others begin pulling the boards off the front door to the inn. As they finish they take a few steps back to give you room to exit, holding their hammers ready to board it back up the moment you step out. "Good luck. We'll be seeing you again soon, hopefully." The councilman says as you open the door and exit. No sooner has the door closed do you hear the banging of nails going into wood as they get to work on the door.
Taking a quick glance around, you actually don't see any undead in sight. With hope that your good fortune continues, you begin to make your way through the town, following the path you took to the manor the first time. You move cautiously at first, trying to avoid running into large groups.
Only you don't find any roving groups at all.
There are few undead left wandering the town, easily picked off at range under the combined fire of Usul and Silthras. The final road to the manor, swarming with undead the last time you visited, now was completely empty. You find yourselves at the gate of the property once more, with nothing but open field between you and the manor.
Silthras looks around, deep suspicion plain to read on his face. He glances at the others, before continuing slowly toward the house. "Where did they go?" He starts looking at the ground for signs of their passing.
(( Has he seen any signs of consistent tracks, especially as they approach the cellar? ))
"Maybe that thing was what drove them here. Killing it might have sent them scattering into the wind."Kal comments as they walk, joining Silthras in searching for signs of their departure.
Checking the ground around the area...You can see footprints heading in almost every direction, but it's difficult to tell what's fresh and what isn't.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Another mystery for later," Velyra says, moving forward. Though as they enter the manor she moves more slowly, straining her hearing to listen for any hint of threat as they move towards the basement. There's a faint spark across her eyes as she guides herself.
The manor is eerily quiet as you move through it, even to Velyra, the only sounds are the occasional groan of the wood construction responding to gusts of wind. Nothing appears to have changed since you last saw it. As you approach the basement, you find the door still open.
Descending the steps, you hear the gurgling sound of the black liquid used by the teleportation platform. Like the rest of the manor, the cellar seems to be untouched since you left it.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Usul follows the group, refraining from looting the manor quite yet. 'Maybe later,' he thinks. As they get to the platform he starts by sending his scout through ((dib perception 22)) just to see if it still seems safe, waiting only about 30 seconds to bring him back. He then reports to the team and, if everything is safe, is ready to go through.
The tiny owl seems to sulk as it approaches the bubbling black liquid of the platform, perhaps growing tired of the sensation of being hurtled through an unknown space. Nevertheless, the familiar passes through, appearing once more in the rocky mine tunnel. After doing a quick flight up to the ruin and down the other side of the tunnel it pops back to Usul's side, relaying the visual information to him.
Coming back through, Usul gives the little bird some love and quietly says, in Gnomish, to him, "Don't worry buddy... you're doing great. Just a few more and we'll get you your fur and tail back."He then looks to the others and says, "Shall we?"ready to follow as they go through.
((replying to above)) "He didn't go that far in actually..."
"I don't think the familiar would be able to make it to the platforms. I remember that door shutting behind us." Kal steps onto the platform, turning to the others. "Only one way to find out."
While the others finalize the plan, Velyra will slip the sending stone out of her pocket and activate it, mindful to keep it short so the full message is sent.
"They were killed by a powerful undead. We destroyed it. Also found the ruins they were poking around in. What's that about?"
She pockets the stone once more. The moment she begins receiving a response, she'll relay it to the rest of the group.
Vel Insight: 23
There is a long pause before you receive a response, well over a full minute. Just when you think you won't receive one at all, the drawling voice sounds off in your head. 'I feared as much, hope the bastard suffered. They were performing a job for us, complicated. We'll pay handsomely for their belongings. Sonatide. Details tomorrow.'
As difficult as it is to get a read on a disembodied voice, you're able to glean genuine anguish and anger from the other end of this brief exchange. You get the sense that there was genuine hope that you might have had better news to tell them.
Whenever you're ready to leave, Paten will have the front door temporarily un-barricaded instead of sending you down through the second floor window.
Silthras listens to Velyra's recounting of the conversation. "You're sure they sounded disappointed?" At her ((presumed!)) nod, he breathes a sigh of relief. "Then, well done! Well...we can collect their other gear when we're at the mansion. Might need to ask if there's anything specific he wants. I'd guess it's the rings and that stone...if he wants the armour he can get it himself. Although..." he tilts his head to one side and smiles "...perhaps it's magical? We should check it all over before returning it."
WhenSince everybody seems to be ready, Silthras is happy to set off."I don't remember there being much else on the bodies. Although I suppose we can take a closer look around to see if they stashed anything else." Kal says, likewise relieved that their contact appears to be at least neutral. "But that can come after correct? We get everyone to Silverfair safely, then come back here alone."
"I imagine those people we found were not simple employees, but something more close knit." Velyra says in reply, "could be the things they held were more valuable than we can see right now. Or maybe it's a sentimental thing." She shrugs, preparing for their exit from the inn. "In any case, the only way to find out for sure is to go to Sonatide. Discussion for afterwards perhaps?"
"Let's get going! We still have a lot to do here, finding the... Infiltrators...in the other two towns and in Silverfare, and seeing where the pedestals lead."
He looks around at the sorry state of the villagers and winces, "For now, the Sending Some will have to be enough. Sonatide is likely to be a can of worms best left unopened until we know a lot more."
Paten and a few others begin pulling the boards off the front door to the inn. As they finish they take a few steps back to give you room to exit, holding their hammers ready to board it back up the moment you step out. "Good luck. We'll be seeing you again soon, hopefully." The councilman says as you open the door and exit. No sooner has the door closed do you hear the banging of nails going into wood as they get to work on the door.
Taking a quick glance around, you actually don't see any undead in sight. With hope that your good fortune continues, you begin to make your way through the town, following the path you took to the manor the first time. You move cautiously at first, trying to avoid running into large groups.
Only you don't find any roving groups at all.
There are few undead left wandering the town, easily picked off at range under the combined fire of Usul and Silthras. The final road to the manor, swarming with undead the last time you visited, now was completely empty. You find yourselves at the gate of the property once more, with nothing but open field between you and the manor.
Silthras looks around, deep suspicion plain to read on his face. He glances at the others, before continuing slowly toward the house. "Where did they go?" He starts looking at the ground for signs of their passing.
(( Has he seen any signs of consistent tracks, especially as they approach the cellar? ))
"Maybe that thing was what drove them here. Killing it might have sent them scattering into the wind." Kal comments as they walk, joining Silthras in searching for signs of their departure.
If applicable, taking helping Silthras.
Silthras Survival: 11
Checking the ground around the area...You can see footprints heading in almost every direction, but it's difficult to tell what's fresh and what isn't.
"Another mystery for later," Velyra says, moving forward. Though as they enter the manor she moves more slowly, straining her hearing to listen for any hint of threat as they move towards the basement. There's a faint spark across her eyes as she guides herself.
Perception - 12
The manor is eerily quiet as you move through it, even to Velyra, the only sounds are the occasional groan of the wood construction responding to gusts of wind. Nothing appears to have changed since you last saw it. As you approach the basement, you find the door still open.
Descending the steps, you hear the gurgling sound of the black liquid used by the teleportation platform. Like the rest of the manor, the cellar seems to be untouched since you left it.
Usul follows the group, refraining from looting the manor quite yet. 'Maybe later,' he thinks. As they get to the platform he starts by sending his scout through ((dib perception 22)) just to see if it still seems safe, waiting only about 30 seconds to bring him back. He then reports to the team and, if everything is safe, is ready to go through.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
The tiny owl seems to sulk as it approaches the bubbling black liquid of the platform, perhaps growing tired of the sensation of being hurtled through an unknown space. Nevertheless, the familiar passes through, appearing once more in the rocky mine tunnel. After doing a quick flight up to the ruin and down the other side of the tunnel it pops back to Usul's side, relaying the visual information to him.
When the owl reappears, Silthras turns to Usul expectantly, "Were the platforms intact? And could Dib use the one leading back here?"
Coming back through, Usul gives the little bird some love and quietly says, in Gnomish, to him, "Don't worry buddy... you're doing great. Just a few more and we'll get you your fur and tail back." He then looks to the others and says, "Shall we?" ready to follow as they go through.
((replying to above)) "He didn't go that far in actually..."
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
"I don't think the familiar would be able to make it to the platforms. I remember that door shutting behind us." Kal steps onto the platform, turning to the others. "Only one way to find out."
Silthras nods, "PGood point, Kal. Probably a bit much too ask." He turns to Usul, "Thank you both."
"Are we ready?"
Silthras will step on the platform with the others...