Lalandar looks around.. Will try to sneak up to the edge of the keep gate. He will try to perceive any sound there.
No alarm is raised in response to either Bose’s investigations or Lalandar’s movement. The woods are unnaturally quiet - perhaps because of you lot - and no sound issues forth from the keep.
Jaonos under his breath to himself Life is not meant to be this quiet.
Jaonos didn't like waiting for the group to decide what to do next. He was used to traveling alone or just with Frenhir. It took all of his self control to remain patient and push back the feeling of being exposed. He reached down and rested his hand on Frenhir's back. Frenhir's fir was standing. This didn't help Jaonos. He collected himself by saying a soft prayer.
As he finished, he turned to look towards Lalandar, hopeful that the other Elf was ready to move onward.
The quiet is indeed unnatural. Perhaps the allies were causing the animals to fear, something the cleric personally had little issue with. Ferrum, for sure, did not seem to belong. Jaonos can almost feel the heat of the sorcererous elemental flame burning within the half-orc, but that particular force of nature will do little to put the natural residents here at ease...
In a whisper, would we like to enter.. or we can see if they could be drawn out. looking at Jaonos, Can your pup fake an injured sound?
Growing increasingly weery from waiting, Jaonos, with Frenhir by his side, began to slowly make his way towards Lalandar. Frenhir moved carefully. From their years of experience together, the two moved together it of instinct.
Ferrum does indeed oblige, crouching down in the designated spot in an almost-comical attempt to hide in plain sight. Knowing that Bose is watching inside the keep, his old partner focuses on outside the keep, looking for threats among the trees instead of within the building.
Bose is pretty confident that his movement was undetected.
Jaonos and Frenhir approach the gate and are close enough to converse quietly with Lalandar.
Bose examines the portal before him before he dares enter. He can see that the keep once sported what must have been very heavy doors. The remaining hinges, both high on the right side of the gap, have chunks of wood hanging from them, but that appears to be all that remains of the doors that once secured entry to the keep.
If Bose does not perceive a threat, can can see the way to mount the watchtower, he will signal to Ferrum again to move to his position and he will slip into the gate and towards the watchtower.
Bose can see a trail of footprints leading just out of his sight, so he presumes the entrance is over there. He does not perceive any threats. Ferrum will move as directed if that is still the plan. Where do you wish Bose to end up?
as far along the inside of the wall as he can move with stealth. Normal speed is 30 ft.
The rogue waits for his tusked cohort to join him by the wall, then slips inside. Working along the wall to the right, he comes to a nook in the wall just before the final corner to the watchtower entrance. He pauses to listen for indications of alarm once more.
Sliding into the darker shadows as he comes across a corner in the outer wall, Bose listens and looks to see if he can discern anything more about the environment.
Seeing the others move in, Lalandar will try to mimic his crewmates movements to enter on the opposite side.
Lalandar waits a few moments for Bose to make his move and settle down, then performs a similar maneuver in the opposite direction. Slipping along the wall almost as silently as Bose, he comes up near the corner of the donjon where he can scan the courtyard and keep an eye out for any threats that might concern the rogue.
Jaonos and Frenhir, meanwhile, move up to the edge of the gate opposite the half-orc, and peer in for their first view of the keep.
Bose detects an indistinct murmur of voices. It's not clear where they are coming from or what they are saying, but he thinks he detects an accent in one of the speakers - similar to many of those in the bar last night. But - he can't be certain.
It's far from night, but the sun has begun to settle in the sky. The thick woods, never brightly lit at the best of times, are beginning to settle into a dim twilight.
Bose will carefully peak around the corner to see if he can discern the best way to access the watchtower, and if that entry is guarded.
Bose (and Lalandar, who has seen it before, anyway) can see a heavy door in the wall at the base of the tower. There is no guard apparent.
Bose will move to the door and listen. If he does not hear a threat he will check it an unlock it if he believes it safe to do so and it is locked.
He will motion to Ferrum and Lalander before opening it.
Lalandar will follow up and take position on the opposite side, drawing his black blade.
Jaonos will follow the group but stay back far enough to take a shot if something pops out, bow drawn.
Lalandar will follow up and take position on the opposite side, drawing his black blade.
Lalandar hustles across the courtyard in a crouch, coming to a stop on the left side of the watchtower door.
Bose hears murmured conversation through the door. It is a stout wooden door, banded in iron. There are scorch marks on the iron and on the stone around the door as well as indications that a heavy blade has been used against it, but without success. A heavy-duty locking mechanism is built into the door, but after a brief examination, the rogue determines that the door is prevented from opening somehow and this lock is not the reason for it. It doesn't provide a view into the room beyond, either.
Ferrum slips into the keep and up to Bose's earlier position. Compared to the stealth of the elves, he's like a brass band entering the courtyard and both of the scouts can only wince at the racket he's making.
Jaonos and Frenhir pad softly through the gate so they have line of sight on their companions and can provide aid as necessary.
Bose will pull 2 arrows and climb towards the windows, trying to move between the arrow slots if possible. He will try to listen/look before climbing in said window assuming he is successful.
Bose begins to work on the climb up the wall. After a false start , he makes good progress and is just below the arrow slits on the second level of the tower.
If that second check gets Bose to the window, he will listen and then peak over the edge before entering.
Bose fails to make progress as he looks for a way up that doesn’t expose him to an arrow slit, but he is able to make it up to the window with his next effort.
Bose will go to the door and examine while checking for signs of life.
If it locked and he believes the coast it clear, he will unlock if needed.
Bose doesn't hear anything at the door, but when he tries to open it quietly, the old hinges groan and an irritated voice, quite nearby, says, "You morons forgot to latch the door when you were gawking at the little monsters last night. Get over here and close the door, 'cause if I have to do it, I'm going to kick someone's --" Another gruff voice cuts him off, "Awright, awright, I'll get it. Never mind it's right beside you, you're the boss, right?"
Quickly anchoring feet and fingertips to breaks in the tower wall, Bose is no longer standing before the door when it opens a bit farther, then closes and latches once more. He notes that he didn't hear a lock turn or a bar fall into place...
I am assuming that those first 2 sets were not good enough to move him further up.
Bose starts up the wall once more, but the ancient mortar gives way as he puts his weight on it and he slides down the wall rather noisily.
Bose lands hard, largely because he runs out of wall to slow himself with as he passes in front of the door. He takes points of damage. The damage to his pride is less easily measured.
As the rogue loses his footing, his long-time half-orc ally rushes forward to try and catch him, but is too slow.
As Bose comes to a stop, lying on the ground in front of the door, you can hear the sound of a bolt or bar being moved and the door is being opened.
Readying for an attack after his last experience in the keep, the blade will be ready. He prepares a spell ready to cast as soon as the targets attack.
Bose will quick draw his bow and fire if he sees a weapon.