The Outer Grounds of the House
D'ogryan
Rabalar (+2 Goblin/Favored Enemy)(-3 ACP / 0 ACP w/o pack)
Perception rolls
D'ogryan
Rabalar
Rabalar (+2 FE - Goblin)
Rabalar stops D'ogryn when the two stone trails go left and right of the house just twenty yards in front of the house. Rabalar looks to D'ogryn as he inspects the trail. In a low voice he tells D'ogryn "I can't find their trail...there are marks on the stone going that way. He points East. "But some of these foot prints wander and move all about...some to the west but they stop...I think they went that way." He again points East, D'ogryn looks down at the trails and he can see what Rabalar is talking about as he glances back at the house and the windows...checking for movement.
D'ogryn looks at the area as Rabalar seems to confirm what he sees and in turn with a muffled voice "If we move to the east or west we should move them up. We will go out of their sight either way with all this grass and scrub. They can move up to those bushes." He points to a copse of bushes just ten feet away from them. It has a clear line of sight to both sides.
The house is still and neither see any movement from the windows or the door. Another flash of lightning and a clap of thunder goes off. It starts to rain gently but there are thick sheets of rain off in the ocean not far away.
D'ogryn Looks at the house and then out to sea and the lightning...
He looks at Rabalar and then back at the house.
Before we get everyone together...when the lighting strikes again, we use it to check out the house. This may help us spot anyone in the windows when the flash strikes. If all is clear then we get everyone together and take the Nesh way in. It is not much to go on but it is the best and only information we have on the house. We might as well use it.
Thout observes Rabalar and D'ogryn as best he can, trying to memorize the path they take. He stares at the house, taking it in. The imposing structure, silhouetted by the building storm makes him uneasy, and he wipes his hand while regripping his throwing axe. The dark beauty makes him pause for a moment. "What secrets do you hold?" he thinks to himself. He refocuses, scans the yard for goblins, and waits for a signal.
"One last check? Why not?" The olf turns to face the building, trying to force himself to be looking in the right direction, in the windows as best he can, when the next flash lights things up.[/b]"
Rabalar and D'ogryn wait for the next strike of lightning and the clap of thunder. They look at the windows hoping to see a glimpse of silhouette in one of the windows. Rabalar is sure that the house is still there appears to no one standing in a window looking out into the yard.
The rest of the party can see both scouts staring at the house as the lightning strikes the ocean in the background. Naia can see that the storm is blowing in and will be on top of the party in ten minutes are so...maybe less.
A clap of thunder goes off then another lightning strike, this one closer, and directly behind it the loud crack of thunder follows it.
As Rabalar and D'ogryn search the windows and the doors they still see no signs of movement or anyone spying on them.
Naia, Thout, Soros, and Edan wait hold their position waiting for the two scouts to conclude their search and signal to move them up. The grass, bushes, and trees sway and rock back and forth from the gusts of wind beating against them. The rain has now picked up to a steady but light down pour. The heavy rain is starting to come in and in ten minutes are less the entire area will be covered in a down pour of rain.
Another crack of ligtning from the southwest followed by a quick clap of thunder.
Soros puts his hood over his head and tightens his cloak around him but Edan holds firm trying to focus on his two companions out in the open.
Frowning, the olf looks at the cook. "Not seeing anyone or anything. Doesn't match how well organized the goblins were. Can't sit here forever, though." And with that, he waves the others forward.
I agree.
As he waits for the others to join them. He runs his hands over his equipment taking mental note of the location of certain items. His hands roam over small pouches and across the hilt of his weapons.
Edan
He pats Naia and Thout on the shoulders. Rabalar is waving us up! We should go.
Naia nods, her face a mirror of the glowering sky. She takes a last look toward the sea, then too heads toward the house, crouching instinctively, elven bow nocked.
The Outer Grounds of the House
As Naia moves forward on Rabalar's signal Thout immediately follows in sync with Naia's movement. He stays low as well with axe and shield moving in line with Naia to cover her near flank. Soros and Edan moves up behind the two warriors with Edan behind Naia but just off to her far flank from Thout. Soros creeps in behind checking their back as they move away from the gate entry into the yard. Rabalar and D'ogryn wait for them to move and the two small groups become one.
As they do they get a sense of the inner yard that has not been kept up for a very long time...probably a decade or more. The yard is filled with tall grasses, wild bushes, and trees that have popped over time but are not fully grown. The house is even more foreboding as you close in on it. As you do the CLAP and BOOM of lightning and thunder rip across the sky. The rain is not hard but is coming down a bit more now than a few minutes before. Each of you are not soaked but your clothes are damp and your hair and face are covered in water. The sound of water hitting the slate roof and running off onto the ground is as loud as the rain itself. Southward beyond the house it is pitch black except for the multiple strikes of lightning that light up the sky in the distance and nearby...CLAP and BOOM another hit of lightning and thunder go off...this time striking somewhere nearby in the woods off to the west.
Thout sees the signal and hears Edan's words. He looks at Naia and gives a grim smile. "Time to get out of this rain." He raises his shield, and with a crouched hustle, he moves up to Rabalar and D'ogryn.
"Time to find a way in, before we have to swim past the house . . .." Rabalar starts moving forward again, heading towards the East, looking for an opening, even if it is goblin-sized.
A simple nod and D'ogryn follows.
The Outer Grounds of the House
The two groups once again merge under the cover of rain, thunder, and lightning. Rabalar nods to the four as they come up as does D'ogryn.
Rabalar points to the remaining tracks that seem to be disappearing amongst the water and dissolving as the ground becomes saturated with water. Quietly he gives instructions to the party.
"They go east around that corner...I plan to take us around back. D'ogryn you pick up the rear Naia and Thout one of you to the front and one of you to the rear. Edan behind me and Soros you behind Edan...keep close to the house. Pass under windows if you can."
Frustrated by the rain but not deterred he moves off towards the edge of the house. staying low. He and the rest of the party reach the corner and begin to work their way around the east side and what appears to be a stone chimney and several windows. Rabalar passes the stone chimney and ducks quietly under the window as he checks if anyone is peering outward. D'ogryn, the last in the line, puts his back to the house and his eyes to the party's rear.
The Outer Grounds of the House
Rabalar comes to the eastern back edge of the old decrepit house. He puts up a hand to halt the party. He takes moment to listen trying to filter the noise of the rain beating against roof. As the lightning and thunder go off he quickly peeks around the corner. He doesn't see anything...the back of the house is just as still as the front yard. The storm seems to have ensured their safe travels towards and around the house. All of you can hear the crashing of waves against the cliffs just to the south. Rabalar figures it might be fifty to seventy paces or more. It is hard to tell by the horizon how far the drop is to the ocean but it is not far from what he can tell.
Rabalar can see that there is paved patio right by the eastern edge. It is cracked and weeds are growing through it in many spots. There is a small border wall around it that is maybe two feet high and built with mortored stone. It is covered in vines and cracked and falling apart in many places.
"I'll take the front" says Naia firmly. She stows her bow and takes up her harpoon, the crashing waves of the sea a reminder of her true calling. She looks to the south, feeling a slight wave of vertigo - even though it is aways off, still the fall would be perilous.
A ship's deck be closer to the spray...
Edan
He places his hand on Naia's shoulder as he stands behind her. He notices her starting to tilt slightly. In a lowered voice he tells Naia over her shoulder. Don't forget that door...D'ogryn said something about it being booby trapped.
"Huh? Oh. Well, someone well versed in not being crushed, implaed and bruised should check it out and disarm it. Obviously not me." Naia breathes, flustered and starting to pale somewhat.
D'ogryn steps forward and stand before Naia. He looks at here and then at the door.
A good chef knows that it takes more than just a good cook to run a kitchen. They delegate and count on those that they work beside. Look to all of us to help you and each other.
He nods at her and the steps towards the patio.
Growing up my father used to buy the odd adventurer chests that were left behind at the old inn. They never came back for them and we got to keep what was inside. I remember playing around with sticks and my mothers good boning knife once....boy was she made at me. Sometimes I was able to open the lock but most times I just broke what ever it was that I was using. It took many years but I started to get good at it and picked up on a few things here and there. You know sometimes people are so afraid of someone else taking what is in the chest that they place harmful things inside the locks. Crazy...I know. Why would someone do something like that. Anyway let me see what I can do here.
He motions for someone to keep their eyes on the window as moves slowly forward. His movements are purposeful to make sure his footsteps are coming down where he wants them and how he wants them to land. He lowers his frame to keep the border wall in between him and anyone that may be looking out to the patio. His head moves from side to side and then up and down as his eyes dart everywhere. The rain makes it hard for him to spot anything but it just might help him. Water could drip from a trip wire or puddle up on a pressure plate. It might even cling to some form of arcane powder that was used to make a magical ward of some kind. As he moves, he pulls forth a very small pouch. Sticking outside of the pouch is a skeleton key. Small in size but still a working key. His thumb rubs over the key as he moves closer toward the patio. His other hand continues to grip his dagger. Never again will I be a slave
Dalt...
Watch over me. Grant me the knowledge to see what is there and what is not there. To find and unlock this secret.
The olf moves up with D'Ogryn, going past the door and settling into the corner, bow ready, watching the windows on the wall with the door.
The Stone Covered Garden
Rabalar and D'ogryn settle in by the door. D'ogryn begins to inspect door as Rabalar keeps an eye on the boarded up window and the grounds past the garden. The wall has fallen in several places but the rain and flashes of lightning impede Rabalar's ability to see more than twenty or thirty feet out now.
D'ogryn's inspection of the door as he checks not only the ornamental door handle but the door, door jam, and hinges can see the door has not actually been opened in a very long time. Rust has corroded the seems of the hinges and there are moss and vines growing on the bottom and lower sides of the door. D'ogryn is not 100% sure but he is guessing the door handle is probably rusted shut so they will need to force it to get it to open or he will need to work some of his magic on it from the inside to get it to open.
Rabalar taps D'ogryn on the shoulder gently as he notices that the ivy vines covering the corner by the window have been disturbed. It appears the goblins..maybe two to six in total came up to the window near the door. He points it out to D'ogryn the trail marks. He whispers..."Maybe six at most not sure with the rain...but they did come this way."
For the rest of the group it appears quiet except for the sounds of rain and thunder as the water comes off the roofline in waves. The old gutters leaking water all along the roof.
The door is a no go for the moment. It would take too much time and create too much noise from me to open it. Let me look at that window.
D'ogryn slides slowly over to the window. Look up each side and across the top and bottom of the frame.
The Stone Covered Garden
D'ogryn begins his inspection and he notices that two of the bottom boards actually are only hanging on the old nails on the left side. They can be easily lifted off and a small creature could slip through. The window itself is long broken and the glass has since long been shattered from the outside in. There are no glass shards on the outside around the bottom of the patio.
The Corner of the House
Naia, Edan, Soros, and Thout wait at the edge of the corner. The rain is falling a little harder. The lightning and thunder is all around you as the storm has blown in and is not over the entire coastline. You can hear under the sound of the falling rain and storm the two scouts discuss the door and the window.
Thout sees no sign of any movement around the side and the front of the yard he can see. Naia sees nothing in the back except for the lightning far on the horizon that lights up the heavy waves on the ocean.
Soros looks around at their circumstances. "It would nice if we could get out of this rain...sooner rather than later. I am soaked to the bone now!"
Edan turns to Soros. "Best to ignore it for now and keep your eyes on the task at hand my friend. Rabalar and D'ogryn will get us in the house if that is where the goblins did go."
D'ogryn points at the boards and at the window.
I may be able to squeeze in through the boards.
"Maybe, but the dwarf will never fit through that hole. Gonna have to make it bigger or find another way in."
We could continue to move along the back of the house to see if there is another entrance?
"We could, but there's been no evidence. No sign of trails leading elsewhere. Doubt we're going to find any better than what you've got right here. Just going to have to open it up more."
Well no trial could be a good thing or a bad thing.
D'ogryn shrugs
Let us bring everyone over here and I will start to squeeze through the opening. I will secure the other side and then see what I can do to get the rest in here. I am thinking one or maybe two more boards should do the trick.
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"You sure? Don't get caught with your knickers stuck on a nail."
Not much of a choice.
D'ogryn proceeds to slowly run his fingers around the boards, feeling for any object that may be attached to the boards. Remembering the craftiness of the Goblins, he hopes that there is nothing more than a rigged a simple string of pots to create noise if someone entered. Once he feels the boards are clear, he lifts the boards to hang from the nail on the left side. He lets he eyes scan the immediate area inside the room. With no threat seen he peers from side to side in hopes of seeing anyone or anything off to the side of the window. Certain it is safe to proceed, D'ogryn returns his tools and dagger to their proper places. He proceeds to slowly squeeze himself inside the window and carefully lowers to the floor where he draws forth his dagger yet again. His eyes flow to every corner of the room.
The Party - 3rd Day of Readying, Moonday
D'ogyrn closely inspects the window and the surrounding framing. He doesn't see anything that leads him to believe the window or surrounding area is trapped on the outside or inside. After removing four boards all of which are very easy to remove due to dry rot he slips through the window with ease. Rabalar notices that D'ogryn is rather good at being "quiet and unnoticed as well as highly perceptive for a cook". As D'ogryn slips through he moves to the corner and calls Naia to the patio.
As D'ogryn slips down on to the floor and in a low crouch he quietly draws his dagger as he lets his eyes adjust to the lack of light in the room. He waits for the flash of lightning to quickly inspect the lay of the room and to see if there are any actual threats in the room.
A door in the south wall leads onto the small paved patio,
the paving now cracked and over-run with weeds (where you came from). There is a pile of refuse in the northeast corner. Otherwise, the
room is bare and empty. The lighting is very poor being almost dark with only the constant flash of lightning providing some sort of light in the house even during the day. The place smells of mildew, mold and rodent waste is heavy in the damp air. The room is covered in cob webs, dust, and dirt with fallen plaster all about the floor.
D'ogyn notices the small muddy footprints that turn west and follow the wall up to the door on the west wall. There is a fireplace on the east wall and it looks like it has not been used in a decade.
Naia approaches, silently gesturing a thumbs up to D'ogryn with a shrug of her shoulders and a questioning look on her face.
Edan
Edan follows Naia and turns and taps Soros, who is absolutely miserable due to the rain, to alert him they are moving into the patio. Soros shrugs him off and turns and alerts Thout of their movement.
Edan moves to the far corner of the patio wall and keeps his eyes on the yard and the garden.
Certain that all is clear for the moment he motions for everyone else to enter. He motions for Rabalar to come first then the others. In a low voice.
I think his eyes will be best to cover the rest of us.
"Makes sense, I guess." He looks at Naia. "Send the others in after me. You follow them in."
Then he scrambles through the window, also trying to maintain silence as well he can. Getting a feel for the room, he readies his bow, focusing on the door the muddy prints lead towards.
:facepalm:
The Party - 3rd Day of Readying, Moonday
House 1st Floor Map
D'ogryn draws his daggers and moves off to the east wall by the nearby window. As he does Rabalar slips in through the window but as he does he manages to bump the board just above him causing to scrap and bump upwards to the last board..causing just a bit of noise. D'ogryn turns looking at him and the window and back into the room and at the door across the room clunching his daggers. Rabalar lands and gives him a quick look and then lets his eyes adapt to the surrounding light. He sees the same things D'ogryn did.
Outside, Naia moves up to the door and puts her back to it and signals the last to come into the patio area quietly... Although the noise Rabalar created while not loud would be heard by someone or something close by.
Soros sees her signal and as ready as any soaked man in a robe would be he taps Edan and Thout pointing at the window as he begins to make his way towards it. Thankful to entire a possibly haunted house with a serious goblin infestation over being soaked to the bone by the mother of all storms.
As Rabalar settles in and Soros looks inside the window D'ogryn and Rabalar hear something from above somewhere in the house. Like something falling on the floor or bumping into a wall. It was loud, solid THAWK...and then it is quiet again except for the thunder and rain. It could be something moving around in the house or something falling due to the wind or the rain coming into the house...hard to tell.
1stHN
2ndRE
Soros
Soros peeks in and as he does he hears the noise. "What in the nine hells is that? He says as quietly to Rabalar as he can and he looks inside and reconsiders if it is worth getting out of the rain as he hears that noise.
Edan
Edan moves up as Naia and Soros moves towards the house. He wipes the water from his face and looks back as Soros stops in mid-stride of going into the window. Edan hears Soros says something but doesn't really catch it. He keeps his eyes on the young wizard waiting to see if something happens from the inside and measuring if he and Naia can get into the door quickly if something is happening.
The Docks of Saltmarsh
3rd Day of Readying, Moonday - Midday
As the White Winds tied off at the docks the passengers on the small coastal merchant ship watched ready to take their leave of the ship. The ship had to pull away from the coast more than usual due to the heavy currents pushing the ship towards the shoreline. The captain was concerned about getting stuck on a rogue sand dune or shallow water. With the arrival into Saltmarsh the three passengers who took passage in Seaton for various reasons had to time to introduce themselves on the ship.
Brother Peran didn't know what to expect. His mission to preach to the villagers of Saltmarsh and to gather tithes and donations for the church was not a mission he wanted but one of need for the greater good. But he took solace in the words Canon Nathan gave him. Look for ways to assist the good people of Saltmarsh...."Appreciation and donations comes from the sacrifices we make to the will of St. Cuthbert and the people in need brother Peran." For Peran it left some wiggle room for him to find something that would make use of his skills and possibly garner some coin for their struggling church. He looked at the two other passengers that paid their way to Saltmarsh and wondered if their paths had crossed for a reason.
Ferona Ardomil had made her way to Chathold in the Great Kingdom and took a ship out of the Relmor Bay and into the Sea of Gearnat. It was in Scant she found a ship to take her across the Azure Sea after waiting nearly a month for the winter storms to die down. The crossing was not without its own peril with pirates and privateers on the prowl the crew was on constant watch. She had also heard rumors that slavers roamed up and down the coast line of the Pomarj. When she had arrived in Gradsul and made her way to Seaton she started to feel better about the journey. She had spent so much time on ships that she had become accustomed to the up-down, side-side motion it no longer bothered her. Now on the final leg of her journey she looked around at the small fishing village and wondered why her mentor told her to go to this place...to see this friend of his. There was much to do but something told her that it was not going to be easy this last leg of this trip.
Ferona looked to her left and right and it was an odd mix of passengers the three of them. For her part, she played the part of a traveling sage in search of knowledge but the two standing next to her stood out as holy men. A priest of St. Cuthbert and a Holy Warrior of Heironeous. She knew she had to walk lightly when it came to her abilities. Not knowing where they stood on the arts and what was occurring around them they could easily accuse her of being heretic and have her cast in the ocean. That never happened but then she never claimed to be tied to the arts.
Antas Di Santos had been plagued by dreams for more than a month before he decided to take this journey to Keoland. Something was driving him towards this place something unexplained but strong. He was unsure of what or why but as the boat was being tied off the feeling as if there was purpose was all about him. His adopted father told him to not ignore these visions. "Listen boy! It is in these times that life gives you purpose." and with that he said farwell to his adopted family and made his way across the Azure Sea into Gryrax, Seaton, and now Saltmarsh. It was here in Saltmarsh that he felt that same little twinge of purpose.
The ship was tied off and the First Mate called out that the deck was clear and the loud thud of a plank being secured to the ship from the dock could be heard. The crew was all about getting ready to offload their goods once the Excise officers gave them the go-ahead to do so...
Keen to get out of the rain, Naia follows Rabalar in.
[+2 Dex, - 1 armor]
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Antas looks at the two who had been on the voyage having particularly enjoyed religious debate with the priest of St Cuthbert on the journey and knowing the lady was meeting some friend of a friend he said Peran lad whatda ya say bout givin the Lassie here a right an proper escort to this strangers place before we be on our way? He makes a sweeping gesture with his hand in a knightly fashion.
The Docks of Saltmarsh
3rd Day of Readying, Moonday - Midday
The first mate comes by the three young people. "Bess ya make ya ways off! Tha be a storm a brew'in out there! He points to the south and you can see the dark line of black clouds filling the horizon. "Get ye selves inside quick if me noise is right this be a big one!
As he says that two men arrive in front of the boat. "Permission to come aboard!" The first mate turns to the plank going down to the dock. "Who be asking first!" The young man below pipes back. "The Harbor Master of Saltmarsh and the Sergeant of the Excise Watch.." The first mate turns back to the three. "Well that smells of trouble and taxes!" He gives them a wink and walks over to the entry. "Come aboard then!
Two men walk up the plank and shake the first mate's hand and seem to introduce themselves.
Soros
Soros feels Naia nudging him and lets her go by. Comforted by the ledge from the roof offering a brief reprieve from the rain...
He moves out of the way of the window to let her by.
The Docks of Saltmarsh
3rd Day of Readying, Moonday - Midday
The trip to Saltmarsh had been a bitter-sweet journey for the young priest. He was excited to be out in the world, and finally being given a mission to help his brethren and the chapel, but being on the ship also reminded him of his youth and fishing with his father. The sway of wind and wave came back to him swiftly, and he even helped out with the crew.
Now he was in Saltmarsh, and he knew he should waste no time in starting his preaching, but Antas' suggestion of travelling with the sage Ferona struck a chord deep within him.
"Well...I should be starting my sermons to the people of the village...but as you say a proper escort to her destination would be the right thing to do!"
D'ogryn keeps his response to himself as the noise; albeit minor; in his mind echoes to every corner of the house.
F+&*! Easy, no ones fault...it could have been me that caused it...
He turns towards the others as they start to enter. His hand rises to his mouth and extends a single finger while holding the dagger. No noise come forth but all should be able to understand the simple gesture....be quiet.
Then as he lets his hand fall back down, his lips form some simple words of instruction..."slowly, take your time".
The young cook looks around the room trying desperately to hear where the foreign noise was echoing from. Eyes closed with his head leaning to the side, D'ogryn lets his senses take over. Trying to follow the noise back to its source. Then as if nothing was wrong he opens his eyes and very slowly moves to the side of the door. As he passes the pile of refuse, he gives it a quick look over to make sure there are no threats within the pile.