After Gabriel returns I make my way inside, looking for ways to weaken walls for collapse or rig the roof to fall in just prior to fighting the vampires.
Knowledge (engineering)
The interior of the barn is a simple enough wooden structure - so it would take only a small amount of work to turn it into something that will collapse when given a slight impetus.
Gathroc surveys the area around the barn, trying to see if there's anything he can use to their advantage.
"So are we going to let them get inside then tear it down, or what?" Vesta asks incredulously.
"sounds good to me, unless it is magically reenforced. That would give us a huge advantage since vampires are somewhat allergic to sunlight. We cannot assume that all of their minions are killed by sunlight however."
Sounds like a plan to me. Do we need to prepare these Braces to be easily destroyed, or will they be fine as-is?
"Let us do whatever it is we plan on doing and have our scouts head out. Standing around talking is getting us nowhere."
Vesta and Gabriel slip through shadow, coming out a safe distance from what they understand is the first stop for the meat-wagon. The tavern is of a reasonable size and well maintained from this distance, with an attached barn and stable that would be large enough to house the meat wagon. Windows are boarded up against the sun.
There is activity around the building, but you are too far to discern real detail.
I will attempt to rig the structure to collapse with Ignac and Gathroc's help, disguising our sabotage.
After we are finished with the above.
"I feel that the vampires would not be as foolish as to spend time in something that is so poorly constructed during the daylight hours, let us search the area for a basement for them to retreat to."
With that I begin searching through the ruins for a trap door of sorts leading down.
Daemon finds no trapdoor - even after enlisting the assistance of the others and spending a large amount of time painstakingly searching.
Gabriel turns to Vesta.
What do you think? Shall we sneak forward, and take a look? I doubt we will gather much in the way of useful intelligence from back here...
Gabriel turns to Vesta.
What do you think? Shall we sneak forward, and take a look? I doubt we will gather much in the way of useful intelligence from back here...
Vesta would have left the shadow realm far enough away that they had zero chance of seeing them (probably behind something). Then we'd invisibly and mostly submerged into the earth sneak up on them to investigate.
Stealth <--Didn't include 3/4 cover bonus.
Gabriel goes along for the ride, keeping an eye out for trouble...
Approaching the waypoint you find nothing external of any real interest. There are a few undead servitors waiting patient as stone for when they might be needed.
Approaching the waypoint you find nothing external of any real interest. There are a few undead servitors waiting patient as stone for when they might be needed.
Corect. Just looking for general intel. Strengths, Weaknesses, opportunities, threats. ?
Edit: and just for good measure I'll throw in a detect magic sweep as standard practice.
Gabriel and Vesta remain as silent vigil awaiting the arrival of the meat-wagon, and take stock when it does. The wagon itself is a large monstrosity - pulled by skeletal steeds and big enough to carry roughly thirty souls crowded into the open cage upon it's back. The empty expressions of the cargo bely some degree of broken mind or spirit, as they do not react to their surroundings as normal humans would.
Riding on the outside of the wagon are a group of roughly a half-dozen vampire spawn, they are dressed simply enough - but the way they move suggests that they have been spawn for some time and are well aware of their abilities. Still, next to your companions, they would likely not stand long. The coach driver and his fellow passenger on the cab are the ones that draw your attention more fully.
The driver is the expected vampiric escort - a powerfully muscled specimen that was Mwangi before he was turned. He lacks any respect for the finer graces of vampiric life, and Vesta detects an array of enchantments upon his trappings. The sheer brutal simplicity he projects makes you think he will be most content in close proximity.
His companion is a skeletal form filled with a sickly coloured mass of swollen entrails that you recognize to be a mohrg. It has no possessions, but the skeleton look old... so the mohrg must have accrued much power to have survived so long in one form.
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
Spellcraft
Vesta can determine magic on the man's neck-chain, clothing and a pair of thin gold bands around his wrists. There are also some minor magics in a small sack upon his belt. They appear focused on increasing his martial power.
Vesta can determine magic on the man's neck-chain, clothing and a pair of thin gold bands around his wrists. There are also some minor magics in a small sack upon his belt. They appear focused on increasing his martial power.
Telepathically to gabriel
::That guy is wearing a bunch of magic gear for increasing his phycisal prowess. If we have enough intel we can go back and tell the others.::If Gabe agrees we'll head back through the shadow pland and report to the group everything we found.
Fair enough. Let's head back to the others.
Fair enough. Let's head back to the others.
Off we go. Vests quietly walks into the shadow and returns to report to the group.
Vesta is fully prepared to telekinetically tear the place apart to cause a bit of Chaos.
"I am not gifted in the art of illusions, therefore anyone unable to hide or noisy should be far enough away to go unnoticed. Everyone stealthy can hide closer to the barn, we will need our martial characters to focus on the leader. Let us make preparations and face this group."
Very well, I'll go find a place to start from. When this starts, I may be able to simply take control of the leader. If that happens, we may be able to take control of the rest, and simply have them deliver the poison. This is, of course, only speculation at this point.
Ignac brings his hand to the ground, and the summoning circle appears once more, bringing his steed up through. Hopping on, he goes to find somewhere he won't be seen from, but can still watch from.
Gathroc, leaning slightly on Zhennuelge, thinks for a moment or two. "I will stay here, I think. If all that they see is just a lone warrior, they will not suspect a thing. Of course, I won't be alone. Gabriel can perch on my shoulder and Vesta is the queen of stealth. She could be right in front of them and I doubt they would ever notice her." He says complimentarily to the ghost.
Gathroc, leaning slightly on Zhennuelge, thinks for a moment or two. "I will stay here, I think. If all that they see is just a lone warrior, they will not suspect a thing. Of course, I won't be alone. Gabriel can perch on my shoulder and Vesta is the queen of stealth. She could be right in front of them and I doubt they would ever notice her." He says complimentarily to the ghost.
Vesta curtsies.
Vesta will assist with hide rolls as needed. She'll be mostly submerged in the wall.
I will hide outside of the barn and provide a support role to everyone.
Stealth Plus whatever the 3/4 cover bonus is.
Stealth- 33+20 for invisibility
Vesta touches your forehead with a creepy wisper.
Poof. You're invisible. Add +20 to your stealth. ;-)
+40, Once I'm up there, I'm not moving till we go. And I would imagine this would be just a little while prior to them coming.
And now, I wait.
The carriage rumbles towards the barn in the pre-dawn, roughly an hour before the sun would crest the horizon and cast it's rays of burning light through the gloom that seems everpresent atop Geb. Those of you in hiding can hear it approach silent but for the rumbling of wheels on axles.
It stops about thirty feet shy of the front of the barn and two of the vampire spawn that have been riding on the outside of the carriage lope forward to the doors, casting them open.
The mohrg and vampire driver see Gathroc shrouded in the form of a travelling aged elf and immediately turn to suspicion. Standing in place where they are atop the carriage and behind the skeletal horses the vampire calls out "You are in the wrong place fae... It would do you well to move on."
Gathroc assumes his most humble facade and replies in a humble tone as well "I beg your forgiveness, but my tired old body needed a rest and I did not know this barn belonged to anybody"
The vampire looks at Gathroc incredulously "Do not toy with me. Leave this place now and I may let you..." clearly sensing something is not as it seems.
Vesta is going to shift inside the walls to B11, so she can see outside, but easily access inside as needed. Plus it puts her just a little bit closer to the spawn whom she may possess.
Most of the movement is inside solid matter, but here's a Stealth roll for when she moves her face outside the wall just enough to see outside.
Stealth (Plus 3/4 cover bonus)