Its "A" Dungeon (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

I say we head for the tower...

"Agree, let's see the tower and make something of our visit here."

Ballar gives the boy a friendly smile and takes out a bag of nachos. Cracking open the satchel the dwarf reaches in, takes out a delicious zesty cheese morsel and munches the chip eagerly. Holding the bag open for the boy to see inside Ballar nods his head inviting him to try a few, Mmmm! Good!
Diplomacy +2 + an extra zesty bonus? :): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Pointing towards the tower Ballar smiles again at the boy, Shall we? Then follows the rest of the group towards the structure.

The boy gives Ballar a curious grin, looks sideways at Kamastra, then at each of you in turn.

Then he gets a whiff of the bag Ballar is holding. he steps closer, then closer, looks at Ballar for approval as his hand hovers over the bag, then he reaches in, takes out a handful of chips and says

Amitabba, turee, Natchos esperexallent

One by one the party begins the slow half mile walk up toward the Tower on the top of the hill

Smiling merrily at his apparent success Ballar exclaims, Oi! Think we're gett'n somewhere! Turning back to the boy the dwarf points to himself and says, Ballar, then points an empty hand to the boy hoping to learn his name.

As they reach the half way point to the tower Ballar gets the boys attention, points to the structure then makes the best terror-stricken face he can asking through some sort of mime, "Is that place scary?"

Niversal will whistle happily up the hill towards the tower occasionally sneaking a cheesy nacho by pointing out interesting items

oi Ballar did you see that red breasted wobbler? sneak

oi Ballar did you see that cloud shaped like an ale flagon? sneak

bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

sleight of hand: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

sleight of hand: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"The area seems awfully quiet and peaceful. I am curious to see how this time period fares without the True Divine in power as he is in our time..." Zae stops abruptly and looks around nervously.

"I should keep such thoughts to myself, the portal linking our home realm to this one doens't mean this time is free from his divine influences."

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Seeing Niversal fail to successfully lift a nacho twice Keryth offers helpfully, He just hands those out to whoever wants them you know...

In response to Zae's comment the wizard asks, Do you think this divinity is eavesdropping on a bunch of random adventurers? Can it not just listen to your thoughts anyhow? I mean this can be accomplished with mere mortal magic after all.

"It isn't necessarily His Grace I'm worried about, but those others in his flock. Many are drawn to his service for selfish reasons."

Interesting, Keryth replies. Do you have reason to believe that we... or you, as it would seem by your concern... would be targets... for surveillance? he asks after a moment of thought, pausing for emphasis.

"I can not speak to each of you and your potential chance of being watched, but I am quite sure there are many beneath my station, and I mean that in regards to my rank in the church not personal appraisal of my self worth, that would think it easier to remove my influence than to tend to their duties as they are sworn to do."

"But I suppose they can go on watching. With our numbers and skill here, I have little fear of my known enemies. Though it does make me anxious over unknown enemies."

Niversal looks at the wizard and says very plainly "the joy of getting a nacho like this is not that it is free but that I might take it without him knowing Niversal says shaking his head saying further imagine finding a spell book of the greatest wizard ever known giving away his whole spellbook or you earning each of those spells through your intelligence and art...

I would gladly accept such a gift, replies the wizard, a slight smile creasing his elven features.

Ignoring the sneaky elf's attempts to distract him with imaginary sheep sightings, the dwarf responds to Keryth's keen observation, Oh aye! Anyone's free ta help themselves ta some nachos, adding with a wink to the wizard, 'course my spellbook's bit hard ta read, otherwise ya'd be free ta use tha as well! Grinning Ballar looks up to the sky and raises his silver tankard in praise of Cayden's ever watchful eye when his mind quickly turns to the question posed by Zaehyra...Mind you, Zae's gotta valid point. An see'n as Cayden's not exact-lay been a god forever - sort ta speak... Looking a little worried Ballar hands the bag of nachos to the boy and scratches his chin. Tis worth pond'r'n. The dwarf stops walking. Staring off into the distance he continues, Now lets say we've arriv'd before tha sacred test o'tha Starstone. Technical-lay Cayden would be mort'l, if He's even alive a'this time. The dwarf counts a few seemingly important points quietly on his fingers then waves them off. Well, no use gett'n caught up in techna-cal-aties; afterall Cayden said, "Don't let rules get in the way of enjoying what is truely good in life." Mean'n, be'n a God spands not jus thas realm but all, include'n time. Therefore, an this is tha most important part, Lord Cayden's ascension tis a bless'n onto us all no matt'r tha century... He is here! Ballar, seemingly on the verge of an epiphany of some sort, pauses. Then looking rather smug with having so quickly convinced himself that Cayden is indeed with him and had never left, Ballar grins happily then rushes up the hill to catch up with his comrades.

Continues walking toward the tower chuckling and says "you might accept such a gift but without true experience craft is less reward and can even get someone killed. The exercise of a craft is the joy and journey of it."

I see I am in the company of true philosophers, he says with a bow. And getting someone killed is many times the point, he adds with a sly grin.

Niversal chuckles and says "more of a craftsman seeking the perfection of my craft then that of a philosopher. While I do not dismiss the belief in the divine, neither do I see the reason to mindlessly follow it or slavishly devote myself to it and its drama."
as he continues to walk to the top of the hill and the looming tower

Somewhere, (is it even the same world?) through the West Portal #1. A countryside, with grass, small trees and low hills.

Day 15 (by the adventurers counting) (turn 56) approximate time of day, 10:10 am

The Story so far

The boy stops following the group, and with a cheerful wave watches them begin the long trek up the hill side. When Ballar turns to make a face trying to get a reaction from the boy on the nature of the hill, the boy smiles, nods his head, and then

Holds his hand next to his own head as if holding a rope, pulls his hand upward, closes his eyes and sticks out his tongue as his head tilts to the side. He then drops his hand, smiles, and waves again.

The hill before you rises to a height of over twelve hundred feet, and is almost two miles across at its top. The top, viewed from below appears flat, and devoid of any vegetation, though large boulders, larger than a mounted man, can be seen scattered across the top of the hill and down the sides.

As you climb you pass small bushes, tall grass and wildflowers, and very few trees which are small, but healthy (occasionally you pass a pear tree with ripe fruit!). The higher you climb, here on the south side of the hill, the better view you get of the area of this land south of the hill.

There is a dark and dense forest of tall trees to the east, and as you climb the hill you begin to see over the tops of these trees and further to the east. You see more hills, closely placed to one another and lower than this hill to the east.

As you come closer to the top of the hill you notice something strange. The ground is clear of bushes, and the grass here is short, as if it is maintained by someone or something.

When you reach the top of the hill you are very near the most southern end of the flat expanse of the hill top. To the north of you there is a castle with one very tall tower, this is the tower you were able to see from the plain below the hill. The castle walls are barely fifteen feet high. It is not a large castle, and from this distance it looks deserted. The one tower of this castle looks to be on the opposite side of the castle and rises to a height of maybe one hundred feet in the air.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Reaching the top and realizing the tower's full size Keryth mockingly comments, Do you think someone is compensating much? Taking in the rest of the hill top for a few minutes he then points to the lawn remarking, Look here. Human footprints, both barefoot and wearing boots, and large boot prints of a humanoid with a foot twice the size of a normal human.

Hmmm, keen of ya Keryth. Doya know, Ah think thas area's off limits. Our boy there pointed ta tha there tow'r an made tha, "Yar'll hang" guesture. Ballar demonstrates the exact move the boy showed him. Checking the patches of grass the dwarf adds, These grounds are kept, Ah recon tha castle's not desert'd. Who ever lives 'ere probably knows we're 'ere an all.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Can we assume you are stopping, let's say half a mile from the castle? or approximately, 2500 feet?

"If I am faced with hanging, I doubt we'll be able to convince anyone that we aren't worth the trouble short of providing adequate proof."

Kind of a mixed message if you ask me. The boy implies we will be killed if we simply go to the tower, yet he himself sees fit to herd his cows in close proximity, apparently without concern for himself.

Uh huh, yeah. Squinting ahead and off into the distance, Ballar half listens to Zae and Keryth then interrupts, Oi, is tha a cat-tapult? Jus' a ways off from tha castle wall. Do ya see there? Ballar points to an object laying between the party and castle; a wrecked machine of some sort about 400 feet from the castle wall. Standing on his toes, Ballar leans an inch or so closer, Sides, tha boy's not act-tue'lay use'n tha hill, jus'tha base. Hey, ya know, looks like tha wall's been damag'd.

Keryth looks in the direction Ballar indicates...
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

While remarking in his usual sarcastic tone, Oh yes. Of course. Only using the base of the hill. That should provide iron clad protection from whatever is within the tower. You know how most villainous creatures respect the boundary of hill top and base.

"Perhaps it is something confined to the tower that will hang us? Maybe it is the same thing that flattened this field..."

That would then make the footprints belong to other visitors like ourselves.

Aye. Ballar bends down to look at the barefoot tracks, Or a prison'r... maybe a slave. Grounds keep'r? Ya know, sheep do a fine job o'keep'n grass nice'n short, suddenly distracted Ballar checks the ground for signs of recent sheep activity.
Perception - That'll do sheep.: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Intuition - Would a more stealthful approach be prudent?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

perhaps the only way to find out is to go in, as what a sheepherder fears may not be as serious as all that and Niversal takes a close look around for not so obvious entrances
(Taking twenty if possible each ten feet looking for a secret way in)

The top of the hill is dead quiet. You hear no bird calls, see no ground squirrels, mice, rabbits, or any droppings from any animals. It is an eerie sort of quiet.

Ballar feels a tingle run up his back when he starts to think about approaching the castle casually. Niversal stares into the distance, looking for entrances to the castle, but at this distance, half a mile away, all he can make out is a break in the castle wall facing him.

The castle is not large, and should probably be called a Keep rather than a castle. There appears to be a single wall, a large Keep like structure to the west, and a single round tower on the northeast corner. The whole structure, as far as you can tell from this distance, is less than 200 feet from east to west. The large boot prints are Ogre sized, not Giant sized, if I was not clear about that

Ah think a more cautious approach lads, Zae can ya send Kama wit Nivers ta scout ahead?

Kamastra and Zae are linked so we should be able to get a play by play, right?

Keryth looks at the mostly featureless and flat terrain between them and the keep. Well, that is cautious for us three at least.

if we circle around in the cover we have we might get close enough for me to sneak up and have a look see but not over an open half mile

Looking left and right there are some, few, large boulders between here and the castle, but as close as the wrecked catapult, there are none. A group of people could try to run from one bolder to the next, in a zig zag like manner and hope that they would not be seen, it is risky and will probably take time.

Keryth sighs. Or we could use magic to render ourselves invisible...

Keryth is actually more stealthy than Kamastra when not in undergrowth. Not that he is volunteering. :)

Kamastra and Zae are linked so we should be able to get a play by play, right?

Wrong kind of link, Kamastra isn't a familiar he is my cuddly animal companion. Only makes him easier for me to direct with +4 handle animal and wild empathy checks. That fact that he is literate is amazingly generous of Terquem, reading and writing is a very powerful skill for creating and pursuing opportunity.

Zae gives Ballar a wide eyed horrified stare. "I don't like the idea of sending Kama out to scout. He is safer with me."

"If caution is prudent, then Keryth's suggestion to simply be invisible is the best bet, especially since I doubt anyone here has hellcat blood in their veins. In which case, I suggest Nivers use his new wayfinder I made for him to invisibly sneak up and do whatever it is we need him to do." Zae pets Kamastra reassuringly.

Looks at the distance and back and says I will take an invisibility spell for the trip going there and use the five minutes on the way back

Ballar spreads his arms in a long stretch, Sounds like a start, then finds a place with a good view of the keep to sit down and watch what unfolds.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Awaiting the outcome.

Assuming you successfully scout out the keep, without getting caught by presumably whatever unfriendly inhabitant or inhabitants that reside within and return to us, we would still need to expend considerable resources to get us all safely over there unseen. Including a third casting of invisibility even on yourself.

Perhaps we should just all go invisibly the first time. Save some resources and stay together. Safety in numbers and all that.

If you want to scout ahead once we are safely hidden closer to, or even within some part of the keep, I have no issue with that.

"Let's do both maybe? Send an invisible Nivers to the hole in the wall and then when he appears he can wave us in or decide instead to sneak back and tell us about the boogie men we might not want to be hung by."

A reasonable comprise indeed.

how about a spell that lets us talk from a distance, do you have that so I dont have to come out at all?

"I do not possess such a spell."

I have not memorized that particular cantrip today and its range is limited to just over 150' at any rate.

Yawning and rubbing his eyes the dwarf pipes up, Why not jas use hand signals? Ballar raises his arms and starts waving.

"Without further delay then, whenever you are ready Nivers, just give the word and I'll grace you with a spell that bends the light around you and projects reality onto you retinas so you'll still be able to see. Simply wave to signal that you would like us to join you. Otherwise we will give you about a quarter of an hour to return to us and warm us if anything awaits to Shepard is to our doom."

When you see that it is safe, make a sound like a wounded giraffe...

Are we boring you master dwarf? Is the safety of one of your comrades of little interest or concern to you? Hand signals you say? Like Zae suggesting Niversal could wave us in while you were apparently dozing off? Besides, at this distance even recognizing Niversal will be difficult, let alone communicating with him via gestures.

Technically, according to the RAW, the base DC to even spot Niversal at this distance (2500') would be 250. Of course that works both ways. ;)

I have already made the suggestion that we all go together under the cover of invisibility but it has been rejected. Niversal seems bound and determined to scout out the place alone and with help as far away as possible. That is his choice, as reckless as it may be.

So as Zae says, cast the spell, begone, and we will wait for your return, signal or follow in due time.

Rubbing his eyes Ballar looks twice at the wizard, Wha?! Ya mean ya can shroud us all, than go togeth'r? Unseen? Standing up enthusiastically the dwarf swats the elf on the back, Ya really need ta speak up lad. All ya mumbl'n s'gonna land us in trouble one o'these days. Ah vote we let Keryth magic all o'us. Stick tageth'r, thas tha safest, eh!? Ballar beams a smile at Keryth then nods his approval of the wizard's suggestion.

if you can do everyone or some sort of illusion then lets all go together since you insistNiversal says with his own wry grin and a nod as if saying he was party out voted