Drasven nods at Zavar's suggestion.
"Not a bad plan though the events of today indicate that our foes are indeed powerful and deadly. It was suren by the grace of the gods that we escaped that dastard of a building." looking thoughtful as he says this, leaning upon his axe.
Windom will destroy the scythe with holy water after thanking the priest for returning his vitality.
I would be most happy leading us back to that haunted place as Zavar had suggested. I would like to pray for a bit and will be ready shortly to re-attempt harrowstone.
Windom will pray and rest to regain his spells. He will check in on Kendra and assist her with her recovery. Windom will not cover up the scar on his neck that almost removed his head.
"Master Drasven has already dealt with the vile farm implement."
After resting and recovering channels, and a spell or two, Cassandra is ready to re-enter The Harrowstone.
"It would seem as though someone outside of Harrowstone does not appreciate our presence" "Perhaps we will find more information regarding who within the town has sided with the vile monstrosities within Harrowstone as we continue to delve deeper into that place."
"Shall we head back into the den of evil?"
Lets.
Ready when the group is.
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You approach Harrowstone in the early afternoon after a hearty lunch, a good night's sleep and a visit the church to check in on Kendra and update Father Grimburrow on your progress. The haunted prison appears slightly less menacing under the cloudy skies instead of the black of night perched on the horizon's hilltop, but it does not welcome you.
A cold rain starts pelting down on your backs turning your gaze downward to the mud and gravel impeding your journey. The broken trees without leaves groan against the wind. A crack of lightning strikes one of the abandoned guard towers flashing a silhouette of a humanoid for an instant. You get the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach of being followed. However, the only footsteps that you hear are of your companions.
How would you like to approach Harrowstone?
"I suggest going back in the same way we previously entered, since we have started clearing that area."
"As I recall, Windom was on point, followed by nD, Cass, Zavar, and then Master Drasven. In that alignment, Master Drasven would have Zavar's rear covered. Thus, if someone were folowing us Drasven would be able to beat them senseless, thus saving poor squishy Zavar"
Confirmed marching order. Windom is stealthily looking for enemies and traps 10 feet I front of the group.
Suggested order of things in the area we can currently see:
1) Windom, Perception on the door leading to T3. If detecting nothing, check to see if the door is locked. If not, open the door. If no creatures within the room, search the room.
2) Search T2
3) Check (perception doors, open doors, search roomw) the small rooms (cells?) where the skeletons appeared to come from (T4 and T4a).
4) Continue towards T1. This appears to be an interesting area, so proceed a little cautiously, If required, do Perception checks. (Are those doors on the edge of the fog of war? If so, Perception those, check if locked, open, search)
5) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T7. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
6) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T6. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
7) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T1a. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
8) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T5. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
That appears to account for everything in the area that we can currently see.
Sounds good thank you
The next few days may be difficult for me to post please make me a puppet.
Drasven does nothing but nods absentmindly. Taking the rear, he contemplates the day's events so far.
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Privy (T3)
This is an empty privy once used by the guards. Nothing of interest remains within today.
Mess Hall (T2)
Wooden benches once lined this large hall, but several are now stacked in a jumble and others are overturned in disarray. Weakened by fire, the entire east wall has collapsed away, creating an unintended entryway to a wooden deck beyond. The view of the lake beyond would be beautiful if the silence were not so eerie.
The Western Cellblock (T4)
Row upon row of ten-foot-square prison cells line the walls, each separated from the passing hallway by a series of iron bars fitted with a narrow iron door. Skeletons slump in many of the cells, the bones scattered where they lie and coated with a mixed layer of ancient ashes and fresh mold.
Area T4a is not a cell—it once provided access to the highest balcony above (the same place you saw the shadowy figure from afar). While the wood and iron ladder leading up to the trap door above remains sound, but stuck.
Guard Post (T1)
This guard area is blocked from the cellblock by an arc of iron bars. Within sits an old wooden table and a few chairs. The stairs at area T1a lead downstairs to the ground floor. The doors south of this room are unlocked. You open the doors and it leads to a balcony above the main entrance to Harrowstone.
4) Balcony. Specify who enters this area.
5) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T7. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
6) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T6. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
7) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T1a. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
8) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T5. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
"Windom, kindly give that trap door a shove and see if you can break it loose."
"I do not recommend a heavily armored individual steps out on that balcony. It does not look as though it will support our weight well."
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As you climb the ladder to pull on the trap door (area T4a), your feel a pinch on the back of your neck. A tingling sensation runs down your spine to your fingers and toes. The trap door in the stone ceiling is a quarter inch uneven. The reinforced wooden door is warped by prolonged exposure to the elements. You tap on it twice on and it does not echo as expected. Solid thumps indicate it is a collapsed entrance and removing the unstuck door would prove hazardous to those underneath it. You are not skilled in disabling such a trap, but there is one in your party who is.
"Drasven, did you get it?"
"Windom, I do believe you had some skill in that area.
Let me test my luck. Everyone should move back.
Windom still feeling cocky from the last night of breaking and entering when he popped the entrance lock without even applying strenuous effort. He climbs up to the trap door and eyes the problem. Waiting until everyone is a safe distance back Windom sets a piton strategically into the stone next to the wooden door tapping into place with a hammer, then he ties a rope to it. He backs away and gives the rope a solid tug pulling the piton out of the stone and hopefully disabling the hazard.
Drasven nods to Windom and pats him on the back invoking a brief prayer of blessing upon his companion. Moving a safe distance, he waits with the rest to see if Windom is sucessful.
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The piton slips out of the trap door and unleashes a ton of rock and debris cascading down into the room forming into a pyramid. A cloud of dust billows into the hallway. A very large nest made of twigs and branches follows the rubble pyramid clinging to its top like a tree ornament.
The upper guard post has collapsed, filling this area with stone and wood rubble and burying the trap door that once led to area T4a. The rubble-strewn chamber was the lair of a single stirge of prodigious size—bloated to nearly the size of a halfling. Some of you may have a chance to surprise it. Check to hear a flapping of wings after the rubble falls.
They come in child size!?
Windom takes a 5 foot shift to the open space, this will allow everyone to attack when this thing moves forward. He also readies his attack vs momma stirge, that will ultimately miss.
"Big un, it seems. Easier to cut at." Drasven muses as he readies his own weapon.
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Cassandras slices its wing and breaking several bones. nDevere knees the soft yellow underbellie and it screeches in pain! Zavar's bolt of force hits it squarely between its eyes.
If it survives the Drasven's readied attack (include -4 cover penalty), the stirge leaves the trap door room and latches on Drasven's head while sticking its needle nose through Drasven's eardrum drawing out a sticky yellow fluid. The pain is excruciating!
Drasven swings as he grimaces.....
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5) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T7. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
6) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T6. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
7) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T1a. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
8) Check doors (perception, check for locks) leading to T5. If nothing detected, open doors and search room.
Cell X (T7)
Although this cell is rather spacious, it contains no concessions to comfort. A skeletal body dressed in the rotting remains of a prisoner’s robe lies slumped against the eastern wall, wrapped in numerous chains on which are affixed numerous weights emblazoned with several different holy symbols.Eastern Cellblock (T6)
Each of these cells contains a prisoner’s skeleton.
In Cell T7