As you both move into the middle of the room you hear the quiet murmur of voices over the trickle of the fountain, coming from beyond the western door.
A purple haze of energy settles around Armband as he flees down the dirt road. Suddenly a burst of energy slams into his back and he stumbles forward, drops to one knee and then falls forwards into the dirt. The purple haze dissipating.
Hunkered down in the overgrown gardens outside the manor, all seems quiet and still to Iago...
Arvhil Y
Felicia N
Iago Y
Ràghnall Y
Rothwillian N
[Spoiler= PC Tracking ]
Arvhil: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Iago: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Ràghnall:
Felicia:
Rothwillian:
Roth signals toward the western door, then tilts his head in a question. If Ragh catches on, he moves toward the left side of the door and lets Ragh have the right. He listens carefully to make out the words.
Felicia walks over to Armband and searches his body. She will remove the armband regardless, and will try to move him off the road wherever she can.
As she walks away, she sends her voice into Arvil's mind.
One moment, I'm going to quickly make sure this lout isn't found near to us. Then we enter and talk with those inside, yes? Just put an arm in the air if you agree.
Hearing Felicia, Arvhil puts his hand up. He keeps a keen watch on the enterance of the tavern for any more thugs
Ràghnall nods to Roth and moves toward the right. He tenses the drawstring on his bow.
Roth and Ràghnall approach the door, stepping softly on the stone floor. Listening at the door they hear two men playing at dice and talking crudely about women, after a moment they hear a snore and then the two men laughing and waking a third.
Back in town Felicia searches Armbands body, removing his armband and finding a pouch, a dagger and a shortsword... the pouch jiggles with coin and has 15 Silver and 4 gold pieces inside. The man is wearing studded leather armor... She drags the body off the street into a crumbling and abandoned house.
Meanwhile Arvhil watches the entrance of the Sleeping Giant, the tavern seems fairly quiet. Once Felicia is finished the two half elves enter The inside is dimly lit by candles on tables, all the windows are covered... it's empty except for the surly looking she dwarf standing behind the bar and a snoring human man slumped over a table...
The dwarf looks up when you walk through the open doorway. " You shouldn't be here, get out if you know what's good for you... used to get plenty of miners visiting before the Redbrands took up here, if they find you here they won't take to kindly to you... "
Time seems to draw on for Iago and he begins to wonder if something may have happened to Rothwillian and Ràghnall, though he hasn't heard a thing since they entered the mansion.
Arvhil Y
Felicia N
Iago Y
Ràghnall Y
Rothwillian N
Arvhil: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Iago: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Ràghnall:
Felicia:
Rothwillian:
Roth throws a look toward Ragh and makes a 'Should we go in?' motion.
Although Iago was getting tired of waiting and still felt a little stiff from the march he was determined to keep his vigil to ensure that the infiltrators flank was guarded. He felt sure that Roth and Ràghnall would come and signal him when they had need.
Felicia walks over to the bar and drops the armband down on the bartop.
Frankly, my dear, I would sooner walk through Hell than care what these blackguards and thugs care.[b] Felicia says sweetly. [b]You are a functioning establishment in town, yes? I'd like whatever smoky liquor you have available, please. she finishes as she sits properly on a stool, waiting.
The Dwarven barmaid looks at the armband and then back at Felicia and shrugs. " Well suit yourself I guess, but in a few hours this place will be full of those thugs and if they find out what you've done... well I don't like your chances. " she pours your drink and sets it down in front of you. " On the other hand it's nice to have a paying customer... that will be 4 silver. "
Felicia smiles at her and slides 6 silver pieces across the bar top.
I appreciate your concern. I wonder, if some more currency where to make its way to your personal coffers, would you be able to gather some information for me? Namely, looking for where these thugs hole up when they aren't here draining you dry and any semblance of a name of who leads them. Anything at all to go on would be lovely. she says, smiling sweetly at the dwarf. I'll drink and my friend and I will be on our way. Perhaps I could stop in tomorrow and hear what tales you've heard? Unless you have this kind of information now?
Arvhil continues to wait outside with the wounded thug. He begins to get a little worried the longer Felicia is in the tavern.
Ràghnall gives Roth an affirmative nod and steps back a few feet to give himself good range. He waits for Roth to open the door and keeps his bowstring tight.
The dwarf takes the silver off the bar and glances at the unconcious man drooling on the bar a few seats down and then at the doorway, as if making up her mind whether to say anything or not. Finally she gives a grudging sigh and speaks.
" Alright, I've heard plenty of thier talk... they all live in a basement level that's under the ruins of the Tresendar manor. There's a tunnel they use to get in and out, apparently the entrance is in the forest south of the manor but I've never seen it obviously and I don't know where it is exactly, so don't hassle me about it. As for their leader, well his name is Glasstalf, a wizard I've heard. "
---------------------------------------------------------
Roth swings the door open, This appears to be a storeroom pressed into service as living quarters. Two double bunks stand against the wall near the door, while barrels and crates fill the southern half of the chamber. Two men look up in surprise from a game of cards they're playing by candle light, one has a red scarf, the other a red woolen hat. A third man snores on one of the bunks.
Arvhil Y
Felicia Y
Iago Y
Ràghnall Y
Rothwillian N
Arvhil: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Iago: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Ràghnall:
Felicia:
Rothwillian:
Roth moves into the room, ignoring the sleeping man and stabbing at the nearest one!
or for damage!
Felicia slides five gold coins across the bar to the barmaid as she tips back the small glass of liquor.
Your services are much appreciated, plus this liquor is just delightful. Felicia says, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. With a quick motion, she tucks the armband into one of the many folds on her dress, securing it to her belt in the process.
Now, I'll be on my way. Keep that chin up, good will prevail. she finishes, before sweeping her way out of the bar.
Once outside, she taps Arvhil's shoulder.
I have some information to share, but we should be away from this place sooner, rather than later. Not sure if we want this one able to tell tales, but I'll leave it to you. I'd as soon see him dead. she whispers, pointing at Sash.
"Let us turn him over to the local authorities. We will be dealing with the others soon anyway, so keeping out of action for the short term should work. Plus I think this thug should be made to pay the people of this town back, and he cannot do that dead!"
True enough! Then come, let's get him back to the authorities, and hopefully they aren't in the Redbrand's pocket.
Ràghnall casts hunter's mark now that he can see his enemies. He finds the man along the back wall, sets the mark and fires straight over Roth's head.
Roth dashes into the room driving his dagger deep into hat's side! The thug yells in pain as blood spurts from the wound!
Ràghnall releases his readied arrow, it slams home into scarf's head right between the man's eyes! He slumps forwards onto the barrel the men were using as a table, quite dead!
Hat spins as he stands draws his sword and swiping it down at his halfling assailant!
He manages to hit once the blow cracking Roth's leather breastplate and leaving the halfling feeling winded.
"Hey! Wake up!" he yells at the Sleeping man.
Arvhil and Felicia agree to hand their prisoner over to the authorities, such as they are, but with no watch or militia that means taking the man to the Townmaster's hall.
Harbin answers the door and just shakes his head. "What have you done! Oh no no no, I won't imprison this man! If word gets out the Redbrands will retaliate! Things will only get worse! " He slams the door in your faces and a moment later you can hear Sildar and Harbin arguing.
Sildar opens the door and steps out. "Agh, the man is ridiculous! Come with me. " He leads the way across the road to a house. " This was Thel's house, so I've been told... word has it he was murdered by the Redbrands and now his wife and children have gone missing too. I can only hope they left town to seek a quiet place to mourn their loss. Yet Harbin stil won't stand up to these thugs! " Sildar swings the door open and leads you into the house. He picks up a chair in the dining room and sets it right before tiring your prisoner to it. "I'll stay here and guard him for you. Please don't delay in bringing the fight to the Redbrands... While Harbin is wrong about avoiding this problem he's right that things will get ugly if this gang isn't brought to justice quickly! "
Roth snarls as the pain hits him. He attacks again!
for damage!
"Indeed, we shall gather our comrades and make a plan to put an end to this threat. Come on Felicia...lets find the others and tell them what you have learned!"
Roth's rapier slides straight through the thugs armour, leaving a nasty bleeding wound in the man's chest. The thugs legs almost buckle underneath him but he growls and starts to raise his sword...
The man in his bed begins to stir.
Ràghnall reloads and fires at the man fighting Roth, moving his hunter's mark.
He calls to the stirring man.
"I'd stay put if I were you."
Let's head back to the inn. When they return from their scouting mission we can all share information and then formulate a good strong plan to go end this threat. For good. Felicia says, that same feral smile that graced her mouth in the caves making a dazzling return.
"Agreed! I hope they are OK. Those thugs we dealt with were more interested in fighting than talking...and did not suffer anyone in their territory."
The Sleeping Redbrand thug awakes to find an arrow and a rapier pointed at his face and quickly puts his hands over his head surrendering...
"Wha? Woh!"
Felicia and Arvhil head back to the Inn, finding it completely deserted... a note has been left on one of the common room tables which reads:
Tolben,
I didn't feel safe after you went missing.
I've taken the children and gone to hide, you know where.
I hope and pray that Iago and the other find you well!
Love Trilena.
Arvhil Y
Felicia Y
Iago Y
Ràghnall Y
Rothwillian N
Arvhil: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Iago: 1 levels of exhaustion:
Disadvantage on ability checks (skills)
Ràghnall:
Felicia:
Rothwillian:
Well, it would appear that the inn is deserted Arvhil. Shall we wait here for the others, or do we want to head toward this hideout of the Redbrands? Felicia offers, smiling.
:Lets wait for awhile...they have not been gone long."
Iago begins to wonder whether his hidden vigil is paying off. He eases his aching legs, shifting into a more comfortable position amongst the tree branches.
'Surely they'll signal me soon..?'
Just as Iago's patience is beginning to wear thin, Ràghnall and Rothwillian emerge from the doorway of the mansion leading a bound and gagged prisoner dressed only in a pair of grubby long-johns.
The trio and thier prisoner head back to the Inn, hoping to find Arvhil and Felicia so they can swap information, perhaps interrogate the prisoner and plan their assault on the Redbrand's underground lair... arriving they find the two half-elves sitting in the empty common room.
- There is a disused entrance from the ruined kitchen of the manor to the basement level.
- There is a tunnel that the Redbrands mostly use to come and go, it's hidden in the south wood somewhere.
- The Redbrands leader is known as Glasstaff, a wizard.
Welcome back, friends! Felicia says, waving at the posse as they tramp into the Inn. How did you all fare on your trip? We found out a bit of information regarding their leader. A name, at least.
Well i feel like I've missed out on some excitement, says Iago as the others update him on what happened while he lurked in the trees.
Interesting. Glasstaff eh? Tresendar Manor. But do we go to Alderleaf Farm in search of advantageous information? Or back the way Ràgh and Roth went?
After a short discussion the group decides it's better to strike now before Ràghnall and Rothwillian's incursion is discovered! The party leaves the second Redbrand prisoner with Sildar at the old woodturners house and then head back up to Tresendar Manor and back into the basement!
A large cellar, with stone steps descending to the floor in two short flights. Another door stands beneath the stairs to the north. A large stone cistern occupies the western part of the room, whose walls are lined with kegs and barrels.
You spy a submerged rope hanging from the southern wall of the large cistern, upon investigation you find a waterproof haversack is tied to the end of the rope!
Within it is:
Potion of Healing
A clear Potion marked simply with capital I
A clean set of travelling cloths
And 50gp
Felicia walks over to the cistern and looks quickly into the water. Seeing nothing, she continues her inspection of the room, checking behind barrels and the like for anything useful.
Perception:
Perception (Dis):
Arvil also examines his surroundings, but finds nothing out of the ordinary.
Roth moves in with his shortbow out and nocked, checking the barrels to see what they hold.
Ràghnall looks around and peeks into the water and also fails to notice anything.
"I feel like we're missing something obvious here. Maybe it's the lousy lighting?"
Hefting mace and shield Iago waits for the party members that have been here before to show him the way. While he waits he looks around
Searching the room, Rothwillian finds that the barrels contain food supplies, salted meat, apples and other things, one small seems to be full of liquid, turning the tap he finds red wine.
While searching around the southwestern corner Arvhil finds a section of the wall which swings on hinges, but otherwise blends in... a secret door!
Roth looks with interest on the secret door. "I always say if you want to know someone, see what he's concealing. I vote for the secret door!"
"Sounds good to me as well! Lets go."
The paladin moves through the door first.
Felicia nods to the group, moving to take a middle spot in the ranks.
I'd prefer to not be first or last through the breach!
"I'll bring up the rear. Lead the way, Arvhil."
Ràghnall loads up an arrow into his longbow and prepares to encounter the worst.
The group moves through a hallway that suddenly opens up into a large natural looking chamber. A cold breeze fills this large natural cavern, carrying with it the faint scent of decaying flesh. A crevasse divides the cavern and is flanked by two rough stone columns that support the twenty-foot-high ceiling. Ahead Arvhil can see an arched wooden bridge that spans the chasm. A similar bridge spans the chasm about 60 ft to north...
Shield raised, Iago watches carefully for danger as he moves to inspect the bridge.
This bridge will collapse if some weight is put on it, Iago whispers back to the group. Do you want to scout the bridge further up..? he says in hushed tones whilst pointing to the other bridge to the north.
"Good eye Iago. Yes, lets continue north and see what we can find there. Agreed?", the paladin whispers back.