D'ogryn sees that the cave doesn't go very deep at all. Maybe six to seven feet back and is only four feet high to maybe five at most in the back. The ground is uneven and pitted in spots and it is obvious to even the untrained eye this was caused by water rushing through this area a long time ago. Like the side of a rain ditch that has had rain water flooding it at a high rate washing out spots so that the water could precede on its current course.
The place smells musty and foul as some of the things laying around the ground or hanging on the wall were once alive but in various stages of decay. Frogs, lizards, small birds and such are hung at various spots on the wall and there are half eaten parts lying on the floor by each of the beds.
Naia likes not the glen, she decides. While Thout might find this all very adventurous, and full of findings, Naia would be away. Anywhere. She stands grimly keeping watch, her shortbow held, arrow nocked.
The olf watches D'ogryn dance down into the small cave, wondering if his quick jaunt will matter, even as he enjoys the simple display of competence.
D'ogryn takes his time sifting thought the bed. His attention eventually wanders to the two clay pots. He looks them over before he decides to touch the lids.
Not that I would expect them to be trapped but I would rather be wrong the dead. They are most likely just clay pots.
He slowly skirts the lid of the clay pots with his dagger, hoping that his sense will pick up anything foreign object before he disturbs it. He then does the same thing with the base of the pots. When he feels all is clear, he lifts the lids up to see what is inside.
D'ogryn moves swiftly but carefully through each of the six beds.
Perception
Appraise
D'ogryn searches each of the six beds and finds a crude leather pouch in each one. Between them he finds 49 cp (all Keoish) and 21 sp (a mix of Keoish, County of Ulek, and the Hold of Sea Princes). He also finds seven fresh water pearls stashed in a pouch in the far bed. He is not sure how much they are worth as they are small but in good shape.
The clay pots have dried herbs in the them and one is a 1lb of salt which had to come from someone they robbed on the road.
There are two torches wrapped in oil cloth and a pint of oil in a corner. There is nothing else in the cave of any importance.
Picking all the items up and placing them in a pile as his continues to search, D'ogryn is content that all is as it is and nothing different will be found. He looks down at the items he has collected. I think I can get all these things up top.
He places the largest items in his satchel and tucks the leather pouches in and around the clay pots to help protect them from any possible breakage. He then takes the pearls and puts them in his belt pouch. The oil pint goes into a pouch along his sash. Finally he places the torches in his satchel so that they stick out the top. Patting himself down, he feels he is ready and that all items are secured.
When D'ogryn comes out of the cave he looks back up the rope at the others and smiles. I am coming up. Nothing more down here. should take my time climbing up...
He brushes his hands off and starts to climb up the rope. A slow and careful climb.
once at the top he pulls forth the items from all over his person. Gently placing them in tidy pile in front of his feet. I believe I have found everything that was of value down there. I am guessing that we could get maybe a couple of gold for the pearls...maybe I am not sure. The coins are mix from different areas.
He pulls forth the clay pots and opens them up
Salt from a merchant..maybe but definitely not something goblins would produce. Now that I am out in better light...I may be able to tell what these are.
D'ogryn holds up the dried herbs. He looks them over trying to identify them by sight and smell.
D'ogryn checks the herbs and they are simple cooking herbs from the surrounding forest. They are probably four to five days old since they were harvested from what you can tell.
"If nothing else, the two of you have proven that loot form their raids IS in this camp site. Good. Reduces the chance of a larger force being near at hand. If nothing else, that has made this trip worth the time, I think." He ignores the material D'Ogryn brought up, turning to start the effort to follow whatever paths he can find . . ..
Rabalar searched the area and manages to find an odd trail. It looks like the group that came from the south circled their campsite and then headed east following the scattered trails of those goblins that broke during your battle. Odd because the goblins that did scatter seamed to circle back and regroup sometime after the south group left heading east. They turned east as well but didn't seem to be in a rush to rejoin the group.
Soros Soll
He stares at the items D'ogryn pulled up from the cave. From what Thout and D'ogryn pulled out of those caves it seems like they were just scratching out an existence here. Attacking a small wagon or lone farmer to get whatever they could and run back into the woods. This doesn't appear to be a big raiding band of any sort.
He sees Rabalar carefully walking the eastern perimeter checking the ground, a broken twig or limb, or looking at leaves on a fern or bush.
Soros calls to Rabalar:Find anything?
Rabalar grunts and frowns. "East. The traffic goes East. They weren't in a hurry, though. Can't really tell how many, as the trail's been used."
Dogryn reaches the top and pulls out the items. When he mentions the pearls, Thout says, "No pearl expert, but I can take a look. Now gemstones? Them I know a bit better."
"Yeah, no idea."
---
Thout finishes coiling his rope as he listens to Rabalar, "Then east we go." He packs the rope and puts on his pack. "Two groups is concerning. Too many questions and possibilities. Are they one group? Or independent? Are they an advance party? But really... they're not from here, what is going on that they are here at all?" He pauses, "Could they all have come here, lookin' for the house?"
Naia nods a supportive sign to D'og, and looks at the pearls to see if she can ascertain their worth or their provenance.
"Eh, I don't teally know much about pearls..." she smiles weakly.
Then, listening to the back and forth:
"Do we have any clear indication the goblins are at all linked to the hauntings of the house? Regardless, the weather sours and the shelter the house might provide could well be welcome, and soon. Rabalar, let's go!"
"Do we have any clear indication the goblins are at all linked to the hauntings of the house? Regardless, the weather sours and the shelter the house might provide could well be welcome, and soon. Rabalar, let's go!"
Thout turns to Naia, "Nahh, but hauntings and goblins seem like they would go together. Tricky, you know? Best way to find out? Go and see first hand!" He looks at the sky, "Shelter sounds nice, too." With that, Thout falls in as Rabalar leads the way.
The Party
Rabalar leads the party eastward following a small game trail. It is apparent that a larger group was using the trail and has Rabalar leads the party and stops checking signs each of you can begin to see some of the obvious patterns he is looking for while tracking.
After an hour of travel in the wooded hills you come to a treeline. Less than a hundred yards there is an old stone wall about 8 feet high or so and at certain points, along the wall the top edge has collapsed or cracked off. There is no gates or openings along the west-facing wall and it appears to run north and south with the wall ending at the southern edge on the cliff line. The wall does seem to slope gently down to a few feet at the cliff. North the wall goes about forty to fifty yards and then takes a ninety-degree turn east. You can see the Sea Coast road sitting a top of the small hill you are on and a portion of the drive that joins the coastal road with the house.
Over the wall you can see the old slate roofline of the house. It is now five to five and half hours past noon. The wind and dark skies have settled on the coastline and the wind brings the light droplets of rain.
Thout sees the edge the treeline defines and is immediately concerned about stepping out into the open. A hundred yards is a long way to run without any cover. He stops at the treeline, before they are exposed to anyone watching. "Rabalar," Thout whispers, "which way did the goblins go?"
Thout looks out east towards the wall and he sees nothing but tall grass blowing north. There are few small trees (no more than 10 to 20 feet tall) near the facing wall. Thout doesn't see any obvious trails going towards the wall but the blowing grass make finding a hard trail difficult.
The party gathers on the tree line with D'ogryn bringing up the rear as Rabalar kneels at the tree line inspecting the tracks he was following and then slowly following them into the grass line. He seems to peer up and down the tree line a few times and even stands up to look south and back to the north and then kneels back down to pick up a few over turned stones and leaves as he looks at the grass field.
Soros Soll
He watches Rabalar and turns to look at Naia and the rest of the group. As D'ogryn walks up he gives him a quick smile and nod to the east.
In a hushed tone he points out to D'ogryn what they came upon. Well, we now have the house before us. Across the field. He points to the stone wall.
"Does look like they were right about where the buggers went to ground. Don't get caught up in excitement about knowing where they are. Keep your eyes on the tracks, and know what they did instead of what you think they did . . .."
The olf continues following the tracks, not taking the obvious shortcut.
As the wind picks up and the grass bends north and then back it presents a challenge for Rabalar. He can tell that the goblins head towards the wall. But he can't discern if they go right to it or turn to the north or south. After inspecting the wall for a few moments Soros suggests that they probably just went to the front by following the wall.
Soros: I would think there is a gated entry at the front facing the road. Most of these old sea cliff homes had a gated entry for carriages and wagons to enter. Seeing Rabalar's frustration he then pats him on the shoulder and follows that comment up with what he thinks is sound advice. We might be able to pick their trail back up near the wall or at the very least at the entry if they went that way since the ground will be less covered...maybe more forgiving.
Thout nods his head at Soros' comments. "I say either head straight for the wall and hug it as we move northward, or send a sneaky scout to look around the corner for us. The scout can signal if all is clear." He looks at Rabalar and D'ogryn to see if either volunteers. "We better get a move on. Don't want ta get caught in the rain." He readies his shield and takes out a throwing axe.
D'ogryn stops and looks about. he starts to mumble some words that are barely heard.
road going south to the house...chain on gate loose...went around the back...west side...stone is on the ground...old door was unlocked
He pauses for a moment and then continues.
Screams..laughter...cackling...someone came at him...living room...rotten smells...
Sighing, the olf turns to follow the wall around the back of the house, not the front. "You're right, it makes sense to skirt the fence and see if there is any other sign of them. But I would rather verify they did not do the unexpected than assume they did the obvious."
He starts walking the fence line, looking for evidence of other traffic, and to see if the fence itself reveals anything.
He hesitates. "Or do you all want me to scout out the area first? I'm willing."
Soros Soll
He looks at the rest of the party. This is your area of expertise Rabalar. I will differ to your wisdom.
He turns to D'ogryn. Is that the story from Nesh? If so and looking at that wall he must have made his way up the cliffs somewhere walked to the road and saw the road going to the house and made his way to the front gate.
Rabalar, as he listens, takes his time and retraces his steps back a few feet and then turns left and then right and seems to move off to the north for a bit. "Ah...here we are. I lost the trail in the grass but they turned north for a bit before crossing the field. The trail goes northeast that way. He points to lonely ash that is about twenty feet from the stone wall and only ten yards or so from the northwest corner of the wall.
"There are maybe four, five goblins at most heading to the wall. Not sure where the other group went. The larger one if you recall."
Thout takes in what D'ogryn, Rabalar, and Soros say. He looks down at the ground in thought, then looks up at the house and wall. He turns his head, tracing his eyes southward along the wall. "OK. How 'bout this? There are 2 groups. One went to the ash o'er there." He points northeast towards the tree. He drops his arm and continues, "The other, the larger one, we don't know. I think they're all in the house, so no need to track right now. The question really is, how ta best approach the house? We're probably outnumbered, so surprise is our friend. Let's send a scout to the wall, let him move south a few yards, then peek over to spot guards and lookouts. He can signal us to join him if all is clear." He looks at everyone to gauge their responses.
D'orgryn stops and looks at the house as his mind wonders back to the words that Nesh spoke to him. His finder pointing at this or that as he remembers Nesh's words.
Yes Nesh was forthcoming with some information but I was not able to get much more after that. He went out in his boat. The seas were rough...The winds and waves pushed him right back to the shore...He got himself beached; had to walk up the ridge. Took him some time to get up here. He found the east road and started walking west. He looked for cover to get out of the rain. He found the house...this house. Enter by way of a gate...he said it wasn't that hard as the chain on the fence was loose. He had gone around towards the back of the house to the west side. He said there was some stone on the ground. An old door was there and it was unlocked. He had enter that way.
D'ogryn stops and looks at the rock wall and house trying to figure out where it is that Nesh was talking about. He lifts his fingers and points towards the house.
He..opened the door and entered the house. He heard some noise...screaming and laughing...and some old person was coming towards him. He fled the house in terror. He said something about the smell in the living room, like a rotting ship.
He shakes his head.
It seems like he ran into someone or a group of someones and they scared him away. The smell could just be an old house rotting away or it could be something like those arrows the goblins were using...maybe but what ever it was was ready for him. Somethings stand out in his story...things that he did not say that make me wonder. He never mention anyone by a race. If he had seen Goblins he would have mentioned that. So it leads me to think that what he saw inside was a group of humans or close enough to pass for humans. The group we noticed on the road the other day. The ones that were not handling there horses well...Could that group be mixed up in this?...or...maybe...it was some bad weather that day...heavy rain and wind that was creating waves high enough to beach his boat. If the weather was half as bad as he made it out to be...not many people would be out watching for strangers to come by. I would think they would be hunkering down to keep warm and dry. I think that the door or entrance way was trapped. He entered the door, triggering the trap that brought about the noises and maybe even that old man. Enough to scare him off.
He stands a little taller and looks at the others.
Someone may be using the house as a staging area or a refuge of some sort. Someone may have set those traps to ward off anyone coming in to investigate. In town the rumors are all over about this house being haunted. That in of itself is enough of a cover to use the house as some type of operation...or something. Like raiding caravans up and down the roads. A good place to hide out in between attacks. I think we knew this but now that we are here, everything seems to fit the puzzle a little better.
He looks at Thout..
I say we go in the way Nesh did. I would think that if they are warding the door, they will not be watching it. They also will be watching the road and not the sea. If we come in from that direction we should be able to approach undetected. I hope at least. Rabalar and I can take a look and once we are certain that the approach is clear...we get the rest of the group up to us.
I know I am taking a lot of information from a drunk but even a drunk tells the truth as they see it. You just need to sort it out.
Thout rocks back on his heels while D'ogryn talks, but rocks forward again upon hearing about the horsemen. "So there might be 3 groups in there?" he says with some surprise. "We definitely need to scout this out first." He looks at Rabalar, "I think we should take you up on that scouting offer. Like D'ogryn said, how 'bout you and D'ogryn get a view over the wall and signal us if we can approach; otherwise, come back. We don't want to get too spread out."
Edan Crosier
Edan listened to the remarks back and forth. His experience with Rabalar on countless occassions lead him to trust the Olf's instincts. He knew if Rabalar's instincts pushed him to suggest a course of action he was willing to trust that course of action.
"It would do us well to have Rabalar and D'ogryn get their eyes ahead of us before we make a move. He turns his attention north to the road and back to the house for a moment. "From what I can tell the large group of goblins that came from the south back to the camp is the group we are not sure about. It doesn't appear they are near the house. Rabalar never saw their trail only the smaller groups trail." He turns to Rabalar for confirmation as he his not 100% sure of this. "Is that correct my friend? If so there is a good chance the only group of goblins around this house...,or in it, is the lone group of survivors that fled and regrouped. I can't say for sure what that group of horsemen were up to the day before. It could of simply been a group of farmers or it could have been someone with more nefarious intentions but I am not sure we can tie them together. It could be townfolk or guildsmen just insuring we actually did our job. I have found they tend to like to know their coin is put to good use when they hand it out. He makes a low laugh at his last remark. "What we do know is that your fisherman friend went into that house and left it in a hurry. I am not one to believe in fairy tales and ghost but there are dark things afoot and these are dark times. It is best we be cautious of what we get ourselves into." He looks back at Rabalar and back at that house. "I am not concerned about the goblins with this wood olf by our side but the house gives me concern...whatever it be that is in there."
"So many variables. More than expected anyway." Thout is disturbed by the possibilities. "So we lost the trail of the larger group? When did that happen?" He reflects a moment. "Doesn't matter right now. We're here. They're there. Let's go get 'em. First, the scouting, next, well, that depends on the scouting." He gives a wry laugh. "Signal when you have something." His visage turns hard and serious as he wishes D'ogryn and Rabalar good luck, "May your enemies be deaf and blind."
As Edan talks, the olf slowly starts shaking his head and grinning. "So, basically, we have no idea what we're getting into. That's how most of this goes, isn't it?" He laughs, quietly, conscious of their proximity to trouble. "Stay worried and alert. That will help you survive more than I ever could."
He looks about, settling on D'Ogryn's face. "You ready? Let's go take a look."
Bow in hand, he begins moving quietly forward, and around towards the back . . ..
Naia listens with half an ear, the light wind whipping at her wet hair. Her elven shortbow remains in her grip, and she peers neevously from gate to house to well and back to the wall.
Hunting by sea is much more preferable than all of this.
"Please let us be quick. Whichever of the thousand sons of horror we think are out here or in there, right now we are too exposed."
D'ogryn follows after Rabalar as he keeps his eyes scanning the area. His pace is slow and purposeful as he moves through the grass.
Soros Soll
Be careful! Comes out of his mouth as quietly as he can as Rabalar and D'ogryn makes their way to the wall.
He turns to Naia and looks at her bow. If Naia is half as good with that bow as she is with that harpoon the two at least have some cover if they need get put upon.
Edan Crosier
Edan draws his short sword and moves up to the edge of the treeline and takes a knee behind a tree. He looks to his left and right and can see that his three remaining companions all watch closely as Rabalar and D'ogryn skirt along the grass, staying low, and following the trail that Rabalar believes is the goblins.
The House
Rabalar and D'ogryn move quietly through the grass as Rabalar follows the goblin trail and verifies it midway through the field. He stops D'ogryn and they kneel in the grass. He is still unsure of the exact number of goblins but it is no more than five.
D'ogryn looks to the wall and the surrounding area and doesn't see anything to the north and he doesn't see anyone on the wall or in the trees.
A minute later Rabalar pops his head up and points to the wall. It goes northeast... To that copse of trees along the wall.
Rabalar pops up to a crouch and moves off to the trees by the wall with D'ogryn trailing. Once they get to the trees and the wall Rabalar sees a clear beaten trail along the wall. D'ogryn sees it as well and can see it heads north to the edge of the wall.
Rabalar pats him on the shoulder and points north and they stay tight to the stone wall and move up. The ground is soft due to the rain and their caution makes their footfall perfectly quiet as they approach the edge. Once to the edge Rabalar stops them and looks to the tree line. He then peeks around the corner and sees the small dirt road leading up to the gate and he can see a side profile of the opening but he doesn't see anyone or anything on the north face. He pats D'ogryn on the shoulder and points to his eyes. All clear from the looks of it. In a low voice and he nods his head to the corner. D'ogryn nods in approval. Let's go! You lead and I will follow.
Rabalar presses his body against the wall and slides around it with his bow ready. He moves up slowly to the gate and D'ogryn follows in trail looking north and then up to check the wall above them. A few minutes later they reach the gate. Both can see into the grounds and old broken down home. There is no chain on the gate and the right gate door is missing...or laying on the ground. It is hard to tell as the grass is tall in the inner grounds.
Edan Crosier
Edan looks at Naia as the two trackers move away from them and towards the center of the north wall around the house.
I think it would be wise for us to move up to our friends. He points to the corner of the wall that Rabalar and D'ogryn came to as they went north and turned east. It will give us cover if needed to support them. Although from the look of the olf's stance I don't see much danger coming our way...
He looks back to the south and Naia can see him tracking his eyes down the length of the wall going south to the cliffs and slowly back up to the north corner. Naia can tell that Edan doesn't say much unless it has purpose. It was only the second time she had seen him draw his sword; the first time being at the glen.
Turning to D'Ogryn, the olf whispers "Go back to the corner and wave the others forward. I'll sit here and see if that sparks any activity. If not, I'll wave you and them back up to here before we go in any further. Work for you?"
With a simple nod, the cook turns and makes his way back to the corner. He slowly waves the rest of the party to join him.
Thout looks at the others, "Are ye ready?" He waits for the others, "Naia, can you be last in formation and be ready with your bow? I'll take point. Edan, Soros, keep your eyes peeled. Let's go."
He shakes his axe and moves from the treeline into the field, doing his best to follow the path he saw Rabalar and D'ogryn take.
The House
Thout moves off to the edge and Edan follows then Soros. Naia turns and checks their rear and flanks and then follows as she keeps a keen eye on the party's flanks and on Rabalar. They keep a low profile and after a few moments they approach the northwest corner of the wall. D'ogryn nods and as they come up.
[b]Follow me and try to be as quiet as you can. The inner grounds are covered in high grass so we are not sure what we are walking into when we enter the walls.
Rabalar sees the remaining group make their way to the corner and he moves up quietly to the iron portion of the gate. The wood olf can hear Thout coming from a mile away...but then Dwarves are not known for their subtlety.
D'ogryan
Edan
Naia
Rabalar
Soros
Thout
D'ogryan
Edan
Naia
Rabalar
Soros
Thout ACP -2
Naia's nose scrunches up at being made the sweeper, but she drops her truculent pique almost immediately. She waits for the others to leave, then fans out with her bow on imaginary targets - wall, fountain, gate, rock, tree, wall...
Satisfied by the lack of response, Rabalar waves the group on to his current position. Once they all move up, including Naia, he flattens his hand and pushes the palm towards the group, then he points at D'Ogryn and himself before pointing into the yard.
Once he sees some sort of acknowledgement, Rabalar will start working his way towards the back of the house, verifying the trail if he can.
D'ogryn looks around the area as the group talks about their next move. He digs around the ground and comes up with some dirt. Rubbing his hands in the dirt, D'ogryn wipes his hands off on his pants. A knife comes into his hands with ease as the cook follows Rabalar.
Soros Soll
Soros follows Thout and Edan maintaining a close watch on the wall and trees as they move up. His fingers wave back and forth as he practices the handwork of a minor spell encase he needs it and recites the ancient mystical words in his mind in preparation to use it. His arms close to his side as he does.
As they close on the corner of the wall he can see Rabalar looking inward to the grounds inside the walls.
It is when D'ogyrn moves up an has them follow him down the north face of the wall to the gate and the entry to the inner ground of the house that he realizes they have just begun the dangerous journey towards the house.
Thankfully I have prepared a good list of spells for just this occasions.
Edan Crosier
He moves up with Thout and keeps profile low to the grass as he moves up to the wall. Keeping an eye on his old friend and the trees to the north as well as the nearby corner of the wall.
He sees D'ogryn come up and talk to Thout nodes as both start to move down the side of north wall. He keeps his near shoulder on the wall and his eyes to the north and northeast to ensure they are not ambushed as they move towards Rabalar.
Once there he goes to the left side Rabalar and pats him on the shoulder as he goes by.
"What do we have my friend? Is it as bad as you make it out to be?
"Worse. I see nothing. The most dangerous option. D'Ogryn and I will get to the door, and then call you all forward. This could be a bust, but thinking that way could get someone dead if it isn't."
The Inner Grounds
The front of the house is in poor condition. Most of the windows are covered in old wooden boards. The door has two or three boards nailed across it. The roof is missing slates in a lot of spots. The yard is in even worse shape... Overgrown with tall grass, out of control bushes and small scrub trees. There is a gravel path to the front and it appears two stone paths go to the right and left around the back of the house.
Rabalar takes the lead with D'ogryn again in trail. As they move off Naia notices how they seem to becoming in sync with each other. D'ogryn might be a cook but he is far more skilled then he lets on in the arts of stealth. Rabalar's graceful movements as he moves into the inner yard and through the wild grass, scrub bushes, and weeds is like watching Okware. The olf moves as if he was born in the wild and made to stalk prey.
Naia and Thout each take a position on the left and right side of the gate with Sors behind Naia and Edan behind Thout. Soros and Edan at times check their open flank and their rear while the two scouts move up to the house. It is about one hundred yards to the porch from the gate. Naia figures it will take them a few minutes to move to the porch quietly. Her eyes scan the windows, first floor left to right, second floor left to right, roof left to right...nothing.
Thout watches the two make their way towards house. Rabalar is taking them east as if the goblin's trail moves that way. Thout scans the yard from the west to the east slowly checking each little copse of bushes and small trees. The yard is quiet and except for the wind and sounds of the incoming storm there is nothing to alert the half dwarf of danger.
The house is quiet and the yard is dead still...to still...the skies have darkened and are grey with clouds that are thick and filled with rain. The wind has picked up and the air is full of moisture. It makes the appearance of the house more menacing and sinister.
In the distance several miles into the ocean a flash of lightening and a few seconds later a loud clap of thunder echos across the cliff.