GM/Lictor Lane's Who Needs Parenting? = CoT Team 1 IC Thread
Game Master michaelane

"Now that we eradicated the giant spiders, we should be on the lookout for giant flies", Roman adds with a deadpan face.

Emmett gets up slowly: "Sounds like we're using the same route. let's go then. I'm sure Whitechin is not a morning person..."

I pick up my axe, throw it into the air spinning and catch it by the handle. Grinning I turn to the others, "I feel's lucky, let's go 'n' put an end's to Whitechin."

Mother provides Jo with a heaping second helping and before long, you set out for the manor house again. The gate shattered by Jo provides easy entry back into the grounds. Ahead on the right, you can see the shattered windows of the room where you fought the spiders to the right.

I'm going to assume you slip around back and through the conservatory, but you also have easy entry into the library. I just need to know if you're going as a group or sending a couple of scouts ahead. You may make Perception and Stealth checks if you like. Once we have consensus, I'll roll them for anyone who hasn't.

I would like to head to where we had to flee after fighting the spiders, if I remember correctly there was another door we could check on the other side of the hall. I would also like everyone to stay in a group, but what is everyone else's opinion on this?

Perception : 1d20 ⇒ 12
Stealth : 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14

Coran would want to stay as a group not wanting anyone to be out of his sights if they get hurt.

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Jo, now worried about Giant Flies, is not eager to take the lead.

I will take the lead again, feeling a little more cautious now.

I believe that is three for staying in a group with the order you were in before the spiders. Approaching from the rear through the conservatory to the doors across the hall. I have posted a refresher on the full map so far in the Discussion Thread.

Xianae - group, back, conservatory double doors
Byron - group, back, conservatory double doors
Jo - goin' with the flow
Coran - group
I'll call that consensus.

You make your way back around the manor. Against you push through thick undergrowth, but manage to find a few trails where something has passed repeatedly. You slip into the conservatory and breath a sigh of relief to see that the vines broken and torn and no new ones appear to have taken their place. You stand together next to the unopened door in the conservatory.

Coran would like to listen to the door see if he can hear anything behind it.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

my standing vote is to NEVER split the party.

Moondark moves up to check out the door for signs of trouble as well.
perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

OOOh-kay. nothing to see here, move along :P

Neither Coran nor Moondark hears anything.

Byron listens at the door carefully.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17.

He then tries to open it...

...subtly at first...

Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17.

...and then with a bit of elbow grease, after pulling-out a crowbar.

Strength check: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 2 = 25.

The door creaks open, revealing what once was probably a beautifully manicured courtyard and garden, but is now an overgrown tangle of vegetation. A passable flagstone path leads from the door you are looking out into the center of the former courtyard where a dried up fountain stands slightly off center. To your left the path curves back to a pair of double doors that lead back into the manor while directly across from you, another pair of double doors lead into another wing mirroring the conservatory. To your right, the courtyard is open, but from here the growth masks what was probably once a beautiful view of the river.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Moondark whispers, "I think we should go right into the manor."

Perception : 1d20 ⇒ 14

"*Whistle*! Dis place musta bin sumtin back in dah day!" Jo says completely ignorant of any stealthy tactics.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"Hold on everyone there is something over there." Coran points to the far corner of the building

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23.

Hmmm? What? Oh, I see - my, that *is* rather a large burrow. Shall we move forward and clear it out, or ignore it for the moment?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Emmett stays in the centre of the group as they progress. Once they near the manor, he quickly makes a slow and soft whistle that is repeated by his familiar. For a second, the air around him seem to seize in a protective armour that vanishes with a popping sound in his ear.

More confident, he proceeds.

Cast Mage Armor.

Roman stands on his toes to get a better view.
"I wouldn't want whatever's inside to get a jump on us while we're dealing with Whitechin. I think we have to at least check it out."

"Certainly. By all means, feel free to lure the beast out."

Byron grins, and bows courteously, throwing Roman an outrageous wink when he is finished.

He then draws his silversheen weapon, ready for whatever may be found in the 'garden'.

I also draw my Axe in anticipation.

Moondark hangs back. "If the spiders around here can beat down Jo, I don't want to meet the gophers."

Roman shrugs at Byron's wink, then closes his eyes for a moment as his lips move wordlessly. casting Guidance. He then
begins to cautiously approach the burrow. Stealth take 10 = 20 Once he is close enough, he peeks inside. Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12, Survival (track): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Using at-will Detect Evil, Detect Chaos

Close to the burrow, you can tell it runs under the manor. You see tracks that look like those of a large dog or wolf.

Mondark shrugs impatiently, "Fine. It's a hole. Can we get back to the manor and Whitechin now?"

"It looks like the talking wolf we met earlier may have fled here. Perhaps the burrow leads to Whitechin directly? Maybe we better fill it up, to close the escape/ambush route for them."

"might one of us sneaking in the hole to come up behind Whitechin and turn the tides and ambush him."

I'm here, but waiting for you guys to decide what to do. Ok to take your time :)

"Don't look at me for that suicide mission. If one of us is going down the wolf hole, all of us are and it doesn't look like the Big Guy will fit very well."

"you are right Moondark, that would mean spilting the group, because not all would fit. We should block it off as originally suggested."

"Anyone knows how to make a traP? Perhaps this would take too long though... Jo, can you find something to block that hole?"

Perhaps a small tree...or the fountain...or a door...these are the obvious things, feel free to suggest others.

Moondark looks mischievous. "What about filling the hole with some of this dry brush. Then place a vial of alchemists fire where it will be easily broken. That ought to make their day." She checks her pouch, "Aww Hells, I used up my fire. I do have a tindertwig, but I don't think that will work as we."

Jo will look around for something large that will block the hole. There is not much that he could not drag there. GM - you can use your discretion. It should be something heavy though. Jo is not up for using brush (too light) nor fire (to dangerous).

Emmett stand in awe at the strength of Jo: Too bad I can't use my wand on him. He'd be mighty!

Fountain is probably your best bet (but at the upper limit of your strength, especially considering the overgrown conditions) unless you want to tear off a door in which case I need to know which one. You could uproot a decent tree too.

Jo will walk over to the Fountain and try to break it loose from its mooring and vegetation and drag it over to the Burrow. (Jo can drag up to 2000 lbs. in favorable conditions.

Strength Spot check if needed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Maybe I am not fully back yet. LOL!

I head over to the fountain and try to attempt to push the fountain over.

Strength Check : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Byron pulls out a crowbar, and starts to try to lever the fountain from its moorings...

Strength check: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21.

Moondark watches the assault on the fountain with a mixture of impatience and amusement. At the sight of tool use she notes, "That's using the old radish, Radanavich."

With the added leverage of Byron's crowbar, the fountain finally tears loose with a screech as it grinds over the flagstones. Now loose, Jo and Xianae are able (with difficulty) to manhandle it over to the burrow and cover up the hole.

"Lets see Fido get frew dat!" Jo says as he dusts off his hands on his pants. He picks up Rosebud and waits for the rest to continue on.

Moondark loads her crossbow without comment and heads toward the manor.

Emmett's smile quickly fades to a frown as he takes his place in the middle of the group.

Which way in. You can go back through the conservatory, through the doors between the wings, or through the doors in the wing that faces the conservatory.

Through the double doors opposite the room where we encountered the spiders?