Truk and Andrea you each think you see someone watching you.
The eastern corner of this one-story wooden guardhouse has collapsed, exposing a hallway and a pair of storerooms. The twisted and mangled remnants of what was once an iron gate lie in a heap in the middle of the rubble. The iron gate was once the entry gate to Aberian’s Folly’s grounds — the Westcrown mayoral crest is still somewhat visible amid the ruin. When the explosion occurred, much of the Arvanxi gatehouse was propelled into the corner of this wall here. The rubble filling this
area creates difficult terrain.
I saw something slide down the roofline to the north there. Andrea points to a spot between two pillars of fire.
"Me too. Over there", Truk grunts as he points.
Could be one of the guards hiding out, but we won't know until we get there. We should be prepared for looters in any event.
"We should also be weary of whoever is in the guard house. Turk think you can talk to them this time with out getting shot at?"
Let us not go there again please. Let us just head to the Mhartis and see if there are any survivors there.
John you sense that the energy that is being released is part of the devil's infernal flame and essence. The five roaring pillars of fire are manifestations of the raw infernal energies being leached from Liebdaga and transmitted up into the manor ruins. With nowhere to go and the mechanism used to throttle the energy output destroyed, these raw gouts of flame extend up into the air to a height of 500 feet. The fires themselves create a tremendous roaring
"Not a problem. I'm not wasting my breath on those fool dottari."
You believe you have seen something with wings move on the roof across the way. It had long bow then it disappeared. Ziz cringes, "She can see me...just like Khazrae can." Area "D"
----
Are you going into the guardhouse though the crumpled corner or are you going to look around the building for a door?
"Oh no, we are not chasing after any shadowy figures. It could even be the one from the knot just waiting with that damn crossbow. I would much rather she coming hunting after us that run into another ambush."
"Well, looks like this was damaged by the explosion rather than an actual attack by anything. Which is good. You know, good in that there isn't some giant thing smashing down gatehouses."
Lucrezia looks back towards the pit.
"So is the engine things going to be in the bottom of that?'
Andrea replies to Lucrezia. We will have to go into the manor in order to reach the engine the mayor talked about. We could go in the crumpled corner, but it might be unstable. Let us look for a door.
Edit:
The crumpled corner looks way too close to the column of fire, anyway, let us find a door.
So it seems something is lurking over to the north, and the building here doesn't seem to warrent our attention right now. Let's keep to the outer edge of the fire columns.
Andrea will move with the group when they head out.
As you pass a fiery column you notice that although roaring of the flames
is nearly deafening, no apparent heat radiates from the five towering vortexes when you are within 15 feet of the flame. Assuming nobody is getting closer than that you don't know if there is heat at closer distances.
Lucrezia, once we get closer, would you be comfortable scouting ahead to see if things are clear? Faelyn can use his message spell on you.
"Sure thing. I'll see if I can spot a way in for us."
Lucrezia will move ahead to scout, on the look out for both enemies and an entrance to what is left of the manor.
Lucrezia moves ahead stealthily, or at least she things she is, running and dodging behind pillars and rubble.
The only portion of the manor to have escaped utter destruction is the ground floor of the far eastern wing, you see a darkly clad humanoid in the shadows near the remaining manor. There is a rubble corner access, a center door, and a door at the southern end of the building.
Lucrezia returns to the group, letting them know the three access points and that she saw a figure standing near the manor.
"I'm going to offer the opinion that we try getting in through the destroyed corner of the building. Though it might be a bit unstable, any doors on the place are likely trapped and quite possibly barred from the inside."
You have a good point, I suggest that you, me and Grimm sneak up with stealth and invisibility. I can try to charm the guard to come to us so we can avoid having an alarm raised. If that fails, we can still sneak up on the guard and subdue him(?) John,Truk,Faelyn and Orsin can hang back some and be ready to rush in if needed.
Truk nods and continues waiting in silence.
Lucrezia you see three other guards walking together appear from around the southern corner. They appear to be making rounds.
Grimm goes along with the plan. He readies his shield and checks the weapon cord secured to his hammer and wrist. He closes his eyes and takes a moment to focus his mind on the task of scouting.
(Swap shieldwall for stealth Synergy)
[ooc] When required to stealth with Lucretia, grimm takes either his dice roll or hers, whichever is better)
"I don't think we should waste your spells just on some invisibility to sneak in. Why not try talking to the guards first? There are three more making a round and I don't know that we want to waste time, ammo and spells trying to take them out for just doing their job. We have the contract the mayor gave us. why not show it to them and explain that he sent us to try to contain the engine while he is currently being kept safe by Lord Tilenous? We should also warn the guards about the winged and shadowy figures that we have seen lurking about."
The winged figure with the bow on the roof can see through your invisibility Andrea.
They also might be working for the Majordomo since the mayor said she was trying to steal the contract. Faelyn, wasn't the winged figure on a roof far away?
If you want to go diplomatic, we can still make sure to cover our behinds. Lucrezia and Grimm can sneak up close and hide while the rest of us approach and present ourselves as working with the dottari or even the mayorto search for survivors and have them move out of the manor. If they go ballistic then we will be prepared.
"That sounds workable to me. Maybe you and John can handle talking to them. Surely having a HellKnight with the group gives us some credibility to our story?"
"Come on Grimm, let's hang back."
He has wings. He could be anywhere.
Truk casts an extended barkskin and magic circle and then resumes waiting.
"That sounds workable to me. Maybe you and John can handle talking to them. Surely having a HellKnight with the group gives us some credibility to our story?"
"Come on Grimm, let's hang back."
Just set yourselves up where you can get good shots at them if they go hostile.
Andrea casts Magic Circle Against Evil 10' on herself.
You two go ahead and then we'll follow up, John and me, Faelyn and Orsin and then Truk guarding our backs. Let's go.
"That sounds workable to me. Maybe you and John can handle talking to them. Surely having a HellKnight with the group gives us some credibility to our story?"
"Come on Grimm, let's hang back."
Grimm's face falls as it dawns on him that he could be ranged support when he could be fighting. He puts his shield away and his hammer and gets his bow out as he moves.
He hurries of after Lucrezia.
We should spread out a little as well. Orsin and Faelyn can stick with Truk and benefit from his divine circle while I stick with John.
Don't worry Grimm, I'm sure we'll have to dig them out if they want to fight so lots of room to room fighting.
Andrea will also channel divine energy into her shield.
On thing you do notice Lucrezia the individuals that you see walking around the east wing, are not dressed in dottari uniforms nor any type of house colors.
Checks vs stealth
They do not see Lucrezia and Grimm but they do see the hellknight others approach.
Lucrezia quietly whispers to Grimm. "Well shit. Those don't look like guards after all. Be ready Grimm, this might not go so well.'
Untrained knowledge checks are DC 10 or less. That won't help here.
Remember John, you're the mighty mailed fist of the Hellknights. Scions of House ThruneI think get these bums cleared out.
Andrea is oh so adorable as she shakes her little fists.
From his hiding place, Grimm readies a shot from his bow and takes up a spot with Line of Sight.
You all can see one of the guards slip into the the southern most doorway leaving the other three outside. They all appear to be getting their hand crossbows ready as they fan out.
"Whatcha all want?"One calls out from a distance.