As the month of Neth sets in, and the days grow shorter with the promise of cold and possibly snow, the fate of the Barony remains uncertain as its coffers shrink like water drops on a hot stove.
Furthermore, vague rumours of violence south has spread among the population and farmers are less inclined to venture that way.
At the last council, a decision was made to go forth and explore the lands south. The group gathers and prepares for an expedition...
Servayn, eyes bloodshot from going over tally sheets with Oleg, agrees heartily. "Yes, to the lake! Or, wherever. Away the Hells from here for a spell! I thought running a kingdom was going to be all ermine-trimmed bedsheets and mistresses peeling me grapes!"
Kriger throws a grape in his mouth. "Grapes? I got some grapes here, Servayn. There a might good." He says as he throws another one in. "Mmmm! Mmmm!" He tosses in another. "Sounds good to me, Kals! Let's go clear us out some bad guys!" He slaps Servayn on the back as he finishes off the last grape.
"Yes lets venture forth". "I fear if I ever need to raise a cathedral to Milani, I'll have to raise the money myself".
It is a cold and brisk morning as the group of nobles sets forth on horseback. The landscape has changed in no small way. As you make your way south, on the brand new road that has been recently built, you are amazed at the transformation civilization can have of a piece of land that, a few months back only, needed to be "reclaimed".
You spend the night at a farm on the edge of the Barony, then start before dawn, only to be welcomed by a cold rain and a northbound wind that sprays your face and makes it hard to see. You are now a long way from Providence and a growing sense of luxury. The mud and the rain outline the unforgiving nature of the untamed world that spreads before you. You spend that night near the crossing at the junction of the Thorn and Gudrin rivers, with a relentless rain sending you freezing under tent and blankets.
The next morning greets you with a steel sky. Everything seems muted and lethal as you make your way to the Stag Lord's Fort. It's ruins lie still on the hill looking over a dark purple Tuskwater Lake. Its half standing walls convey a different sense of solemness now that the months have passed. You can still see with vivid clarity the battle where you laid down the bandit lord. A fierce battle it had been...
The exploration starts only the next day, with Kriger leading the small group as it explores the land east of the lake. Hills follow hills and only the howl of nearby wolves breaks the monotony of the day's exploration.
Ember returns the howls of the wolves, roughly at first, but becoming fairly convincing by the end of the day...
At Servayn's querying look, he replies, "What? Wolfs good eating. Maybe they come to us..."
One of the low hills has a dsitinct shape. It's a little too perfect Kriger would say. As you approach it, it does, in fact, look a little too circular for its relative flatness.
A crack can be seen at its base, leading to the darkness below...
Servayn suddenly says, out of the blue, "Oh, did I mention that the kobolds will be mining stuff and sending us tribute from some mines their tribe lives in? Or did I totally forget to mention that?"
Kriger looks to Servayn with a scolding look for a moment, relaxes his visage and shrugs. "I have no idea. What I do know, is that, this goes back under-stinking-ground." He points at the opening in the hill. "And that's troll dung. I hate the underground." He complains.
Staring at the low symmetrical hill Janku racks his brain to see if it seems familiar.
Knowledge History
"Trolls...hmm." he takes a moment to consider his knowledge of Trolls "We need fire and acid? Anyone have alchemists fire or powerful fire and acid spells? These filthy things regenerate."
Knowledge Nature:
"Troll wasn't eat-able. Don't like trolls." Ember grumbles.
Servayn whispers an invocation, and Ember's scales darken with magical reinforcement.
Kriger looks around at the others with a scowl. "No, no, no! Going back underground is as fun as troll dung! That's not troll dung, that's...well...I'm not exactly sure what kinda dung that is, to be honest." He scratches his chin.
Janku wonders if that might not be an old tomb, shaped like a hill...
What next?
Marching order?
While the passage is narrow, Kal notices that it quickly leads to a tiled floor. You could probably stand, but single filed.
"Ware". "This looks like it could be a tomb".
We could also put a deadline, so I can move the story forward as well. I'll update tonight if possible. (It's morning atm.)
Davor draws out his sword in preperation, not knowing what'll come next.
"Whatever it in there will not stand long before us." he grinned as he looked back at the group, all too proud to go first. "Anyone able to skin creatures?"
Davor leads the group inside. Light quickly gives way to a looming darkness as he crosses the threshold of the mount. His darkvision allow him to notice that the earth under his feet is covered by what must have been pretty tiles of ceramic. all this is but a souvenir though, as pieces are broken and, for the most part, covered by a thick slippery and nauseous layer of guano...
He looks up into the darkness and sees the myriad of tiny creatures, all packed nervously away from the world, waiting for darkness, or for an excuse...
As Davor enters the chamber, he slips slightly in guano, his armor clashing loudly. A tremor moves through the bats and, as one, they take flight, their numbers making them look like a massive dark sail snapping in the wind.
If this is the place that I think it is then you should know that the stats for the fighter inside the tomb are messed up. For instance ther eis no penalty for the broken chain mail when there is meant to be and the same for the broken weapon too. Just letting you know.
"Oh crap! I'm right behind you, Kals! Let's go fellas! No time to waste!" He yells as he takes off, following behind Kalsgrim.
Who has a light source? And what kind is it?
Janku carefully crafts his light spell so that it follows the outline of the rose on his new shield.
Servayn will also conjure light, on his belt, so that it won't be at eye level and distracting.
Ember immediately grumbles that it's right in his face...
Does that mean that Kriger and Kalsgrim went running straight into the darkness?
Round 1
Kal
Kri
Charging forth through the darkness, with little light to see, Kalsgrim moves across the room. Unfortunately, Kriger, following suit, is not so lucky and slips in a particularly warm patch of guano.
The bat then descend upon both Davor and Kriger.
Davor
Kriger
Their myriad hit and bite like millions of needle, bleeding the two adventurers
Servayn calls upon forces from the distant planes, and Ember looks up with a start as his form begins to drift apart. A moment later, a kobold sized figure of mist appears, and Servayn attempts to command it, despite being unfamiliar with the tongue of the elemental spirits of the air.
"Craaaaap! Stupid bats!" Kriger gripes as he stands and draws his flail.
Davor will get up and run out of the swarm, heading towards the blue K using all his movement this round, if allowed to get up from prone and just run.
"Rats with wings." he grunts as he attempts to get out of the swarm.
Only Kriger was prone.
Only Kriger was prone.
Janku goes running in after his friends his shield held high to prevent the bats from attacking his face, even with his helm visor lowered. And just for fun to see what happens, he casts Sound burst into the swarm once everyone else is clear.
"You two run ahead...Everyone else wait a bit before entering". "I might be able to help here".
Sound burst (20'Radius, Fort Save DC15 or stunned for a round also.)