Tora no Senaka - The Back of the Tiger (Inactive)

Game Master Dreaming Warforged

Ameiko's words seem far away to Raith. He listens, but hears very little. He never felt close to Izumi. The man seemed like a fool too caught up in his own idea of honor. Raith mutters, "No one should treat another man the way Izumi was treated. No one." The blood of a companion is an account that must reckoned with those that shed it. "So shall it be."

Sandru stands up: "I was against a trip through the North, but now I feel this may be our best way. Make no mistake though, this is not for the thin and the fragile. No offence Koya! We will need a real caravan and serious preparations for a very long and very cold winter, filled with the horrors that civilization has pushed north..."

He looks around at you, all dramatic, then smiles: "Sounds like my kind of relaxing destination!"

Koya shrugs: "Sandru, you'll be the first one to ask for Desna's Grace, I'm sure! I can take care of myself, and then most of the crew. I feel Garand can do the same and perhaps more." she adds as she smiles to the stoic Shoanti.

Sorin is quiet for a few moments as he thinks. "I will be able to lend my magics to deal with most of the cold. The guards at the least will be protected. It will be wise to still prepare for any eventuality however, as Sandru points out. Winter is remorseless, and much is riding on our success in these endeavors."

"As for our target...it is called Ravenscraeg because it lies high among the rocky crags south of Kalsgard. If we were able to fly as birds, we would have an easy ascent to its peak. However, for us landbound mortals, we must traverse a narrow and winding stair that weaves its way up the cliff face to the hall. Well that is what I remember from my scrolls in any regard. I am certain that we can discover more here, closer to the hall."

"Magic can be dispelled, my friend, and, as Izumi has taught us, we are not immortal. We should be sure to have mundane supplies against the cold, sufficient for this expedition, and what magics we bring to bear will only serve as reinforcement."

Blowing all of your, or our, 1st level slots on endure elements might make us more vulnerable to situations where a magic missile might have proven a better choice. And, uh, hi Tendal! :) We may well end up with twenty or thirty people on this caravan, counting NPCs, so even a wand of endure elements with 50 charges might only last two days...

Crap...nothing like late night posting to screw everything up!

Ameiko looks expectantly at the five of you: "Very well then! You will go to Ravenscraeg and bring the fight to them. Keep Izumi in your hearts and know that you're fighting for my throne, for I can't proceed north knowing that the enemy can catch us from behind. Do you accept to once more risk your life for me?"

Sorin looks slightly perplexed at Ameiko's question, as if the possibility of forswearing an oath had never crossed his mind before.

"Once more? Until you are in your rightful position, I am with you. I will do whatever is necessary to ensure you reach that goal. Ravenscraeg is just one more step on that pathway." Sorin says with a finality that allows no argument.

"You know you don't need to ask, Ameiko." Raith manages to muster a smile.

"Luh'Let's show 'em what happens when they f&!& with us.", Pavel says, loosening his sword in its scabbard.

Ameiko smiles and nods, turning expectantly to Garand and Theoden.

"It looks like we have our mission, gentleman. Let's go rid ourselves of some bad guys, shall we?" he asks rhetorically, winking and with a wry grin. "Let's move."

Garand?

Still here.

Garand has no speeches for such an event, but hoists his pack in anticipation of moving out. That he will accompany the others and continue Ameiko's mission is something that he feels does not need a verbal confirmation at regular intervals.

The next day, you leave on horses before sunrise, leaving a wakening Kalsgard behind. The trail passes through boggy terrain south of Kalsgard dotted with small copses and shale hillocks. The gray line of craggy hills is visible to the south and beyond them the green forest.

The days are long so far north, and you make good distance.

As the sun settles in the west, you arrive in sight of Ravenscraeg...

The hills rise sharply ahead into a steep and craggy shale escarpment hundreds of feet high. Tucked into a narrow defile between two of these crags is a stone-and-timber longhall and tower, weathered and gray. The hall stands nearly one hundred feet above the base of the cliff, with only a single wooden stair climbing in a series of switchbacks up the cliff face to its front gate. All is silent save for the raucous caws of the ravens that congregate atop the hall’s tower and ridgepole high above.

"I don't like the fact that we will be so exposed if we climb up the pathway. Does anybody think we can ascend elsewhere and approach the hall from a different path?"

Garand looks to see if there is any sign where the wastewater leaves the tower (such as a stain traveling down a section of the cliff, or a damp area where water seeps out), whispering an invocation to the Horned Hunter to lend him the perspective of the hawk.

guidance-boosted Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Behind Ravenscraeg looms Grungir Forest, so it is possible that a way exists through the forest, but it is vast and only circling it would take days. Anyhow, it looks like it's where their wastewater goes.

As far as you can tell, there is the stairs, the forest, climbing the cliff or flying.

Raith and Pavel will do some scouting about the place.

Stealth1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Perception1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Perception, how long will it take to climb up the walkway?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Perhaps going invisible and running up the pathway?

For now, the sun is setting and you're still quite far from the stairs, in order to remain out of sight.

Do you wait for the cover of darkness to approach?

The stairs, from where you stand, go back and forth along the cliff wall, meaning they are exposed from attackers above. They could take quite a while to climb.

Sure. We'll wait for darkness. Even if they have darkvision, at this range we should be ok. We want to see if any patrols or activity occur that might help us and search for alternate or secret entrances. We're going to take the time to scout the area well.

Night falls and you carefully scout the area. You find no patrol and no guards until you reach the stairs.

Rickety, wooden, the stairs climb the cliff face in a series of switchbacks to a fortified hall ninety feet above. The stairs and rails are built of timber planks, silver with age, and climb haphazardly through a series of railed landings on their winding ascent. In some places the stairs and landings are secured directly to the rock face, and in others they hang free upon wooden supports and buttresses driven into the rock. Lichens and moss cover the stairs and rocks, with pale vines, roots, and blooms of nightshade, willowherb, and bog tea sprouting from occasional crevices in the stone.

From your position, you spot five landings. You can't find any sign of a secret passage that would allow you to avoid the stairs.

The place looks abandoned?

Raith whispers to Pavel, "Seems they want the place to appear abandoned. Let's walk the stairs."

Move up the stairs quietly.

Stealth1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Perception1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Pavel follows along. Would Mountain/Hills favored terrain apply?
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 1 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Yes, it would apply.

So that would be a 17 and a 12, respectively.

Sorin takes a few seconds to layer himself in protective spells before following Pavel up the trail.

Sorin follows after the main party, wincing everytime he steps on a twig or knocks over a pebble.

Mage Armor and Protection from Arrows, extended

The stairs and landings groan when trod upon and sway alarmingly in the wind but are otherwise stable. The stairs are 5 feet wide, steep, and slightly slippery. You make it barely to the first landing, only to realize there are six more above you. The moon often hides behind the clouds, making you pause for lack of vision.

Do you use light sources?
The stairs count as difficult terrain, but the landings don't.

No light sources. We'll use the moonlight. Light source would alert any watchers like a beacon. Make scouting at night pointless.

You wait for the moon and resume the climb.

Marching order? First and last roll perception, everyone rolls stealth please.

Stealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (18) - 3 = 15

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 Just in case I'm first or last. Not real sure how y'all wanna do the marching order. I'm good with whatever.

Only two of us are scouting up the stairs. Pavel and Raith. Points of interest are the path up the stairs and the entrance. We want to see what kind of guard and defenses exist.

Perception:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Stealth1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Yay.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 And Sorin has low-light vision, so he can see pretty well with the lighting conditions
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

My take is that Sorin is pretty much bringing up the rear. I don't think that we expect them to get behind us...I mean just looking at it, there is only one way up the trail...

Only two of us are scouting up the stairs. Pavel and Raith. Points of interest are the path up the stairs and the entrance. We want to see what kind of guard and defenses exist.

Cool. Gotcha.

Pavel takes one more cautious look around the landing before signalling the others.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 = 19
+4 vs. humans, +2 vs. undead, if that applies.

We'll signal the others to come up.

Raith gives the all clear signal.

The companions regroup on the third landing, and Raith and Pavel proceed further up.

Sneak to cave and listen and look for guards and traps.

Perception:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16 Stealth:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Raith, use spoiler please. We want the others to freak out...

Raith signals to the others to come up. He points the cave out to the others.

If one of you wants to check the cave out, feel free.

Everyone who comes up needs to roll Stealth please.

stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Perfect! Sorin strikes again! I can't wait to see what happens now.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 1 - 3 = 4

"They will never hear us coming, Sorin. We have them right where we want them." He grins wryly.

As Sorin and Theoden make their way, with Garand and bear-spirit, Sorin crashes head first in the landing as he slips on the stairs.

For a moment, silence fills the air, accompanied by a sense of dread...

Suddenly, a piercing shriek fills the air, like metal scratching a plate, and you feel wind coming out of the cavern as a leathery flapping sound fills the air.

Initiative Order
Group 1: Raith, Sorin, Pavel
Group 2: Shrieking Thing
Group 3: Theoden and Garand

Map; the cavern is right in front of Pavel and Raith.

Raith, Sorin and Pavel are up for round 1.

Crane Style Total Defense.

Pavel draws his longsword and straps on his shield.
"Thuh'think it might be time for a luh'light!"

Sorin grimaces as he realizes that it was his slipping that caused the creature to awaken.

"Well, I guess now is as good as ever." he says, and starts moving his hands in the intricate weaving of a spell. As the casting progresses, he repeatedly claps his hands together, as if marking time. Faster and faster he chants and claps, till his hands are blurring in a staccato rythmn. He claps a final time, and suddenly the world slows to a languid pace, the creature's shriek seemingly stretching out.

Haste, everyone but Sorin. +1 attack, +1 AC, plus one extra attack with a natural or manufactured weapon. 5 rounds. (go get'em Raith!)

Ravenscraeg’s Fourth Landing
Round 1 - Sorin, Pavel and Raith
Raith takes a defensive stance, spreading his arms like a great bird.

Pavel draws his longsword and straps on his shield. "Thuh'think it might be time for a luh'light!"

Sorin grimaces as he realizes that it was his slipping that caused the creature to awaken.
"Well, I guess now is as good as ever." he says, and starts moving his hands in the intricate weaving of a spell. As the casting progresses, he repeatedly claps his hands together, as if marking time. Faster and faster he chants and claps, till his hands are blurring in a staccato rythmn. He claps a final time, and suddenly the world slows to a languid pace, the creature's shriek seemingly stretching out.

Round 1 - The Shrieking Thing
Coming out is a monstrous insectile beast the size of a horse with the head of a spider, a giant stinger, and two long arms tipped with wickedly sharp pincers.

It flies above your heads and turns immediately left, disappearing in the darkness.
AoO from all of you. Dim light condition, so it has concealment. Roll 1d5 with your attack; miss on 1.

Status
Haste, everyone but Sorin. +1 attack, +1 AC, plus one extra attack with a natural or manufactured weapon. 1/5 rounds..

Same Map for now, all of you are up.