Once back with the others Spawn fills them in on what little they know... and awaits their intent.
"We could scout around the other way. See if there's any more breaches, or another gate."
Hawk offers up the suggestion after a long uncomfortable silence.
Was there some reason the hole you found in the wall was not useful? Did you find traps barring entry?
The hole looked . . . suspicious, too easy if you will. I asked Mrrith I reach up and scratch Mrrith's chin. to see what was on the other side. She said it smelled . . . funny, not right. My guess is that there is something in there, but I do not know what.
Hocking up a loogie to spit to the side "Probably just a pit of sh*t knowing gnome humor"
"Or the twenty foot pit on the other side of the wall could be housing something that we would rather not tangle with before we enter the compound," Candy said, frowning at Spawn's primative behavior.
"Twenty-five foot wall, unkempt and likely clogged pit on the other side. Difficult to move in, facing unknown entities, perhaps several, or some manner of magics on the gates... Obviously an alarm spell of some sort..." Candy tapped her lips.
"I purchased a wand for mundane healing, but there is little I can do against poisons or diseases, the first of which is more prevalent in our field, and... I suppose Hawk is the only with any sort of knowledge concerning the natural elements which may harm us here?" she inquired then looked to Smoke. "You've all manner of unguents about yourself. We were to tangle with some horrible black bile spitting beast in its den, do you favor our odds?
"Sadly, at this moment, I consider the hole the most favorable option. Climbing got us no where fast last time, and none of us are engineers or advanced magicians to prepare spells to allow us to climb over the wall and avoid this pit as a group."
Smoke chuckled wryly at Candy's question. There are any number of things that could drop us with but a scratch, it would be impossible to know them all. I would need to see a sample of any particular toxin to gauge its lethality. So for now I know about as much as you do unfortunately.
Well, lets go and survey this tunnel. I can put an animal or bird to sleep and then we can toss it in as bait to see if there is something in there.
Gethric adds nothing to the talk, content to remain a follower.
*poke*
We head back to the tunnel. Along the way, if we see some small animal, rabbit, squirrel, bird, I will slumber it and then Gethric or Hawk can bind it. Once we get to the tunnel, we will toss the animal in to see if something reacts.
Gethric will follow, but leaves the rodent catching to the others.
It doesn't take long for you to subdue a small victim and toss it into the hole. It hits with a wet thud on the darkness inside but otherwise you hear no alarms nor make out any movement in the shadows beyond.
"Can anyone see in there or get a light?"
Hawk pulls her pack around and fishes out a sunrod.
"I have these, but I'd rather not use them if I don't have to."
I didn't memorize a spell to create light today.
I look to the others to see if anyone can create light.
Gethric crouches at rest, and after hearing the wet thump thinks Told you so, hole's full of sh*t.
Well scouts, who is in first? Spawn or Hawk?
I turn toward Smoke - Unless you would like to go first again?
Raising an eyebrow at Squid's definition of him as a scout, Gethric makes no move from his crouched position.
"We could allow me to crawl through," Candy suggests. "We're far enough from the villa, and I believe that I've practice not screaming when I take a fair amount of pain."
Candy's chuckles at her own jest, but being the creature with the greatest confidence in the group, she will follow through when she volunteers. And she does have the ability to heal herself should she take damage, or anyone else that comes through the tunnel.
Squid just shrugs. I can see in the dark as can Spawn and Smoke. I however I am not physically the most qualified to lead.
"I'll go."
Hawk moves her pack to a more comfortable position and strikes the rod against the wall and quickly scurries in.
Smoke looks to his companions before shrugging. Maybe something ate her.
Perhaps her real name is "Bait".
Hawk crawls back out and relays what she saw. (First spoiler)
"I don't think going that way is going let us do this with any modicum of stealth."
We gotta get in. Unless someone else has a better way of getting into this place. We can go back and try the alarmed gate, but I think we should take our chances with this route.
Gethric pulls one of his new acquisitions from his backpack, a heavy leather glove that straps halfway up his forearm and is fitted with metal blades protruding from the knuckles.
Flexing his fist until satisfied he hasn't lost the use of his hand, he waits until someone asks him to move through.
"What about going around the wall the other way? We haven't even checked it."
Hawk's voice gets quieter as she speaks, and by the end it's just above a whisper.
I think this is the option. The area looks fairly deserted. My guess is that they do not check things too often and have just missed this tunnel. I doubt there will be another tunnel, like this. But, if you all wish, we can check the other side.
Squid then waits for someone else to make the decision.
"And if we do succeed in killing him, we can be sure to show the property to a prospective buyer with extreme confidence. Unless we're to take turns disguising ourselves as dwarves? Or were it a halfling?" Candy taps her lips as she considers their charge.
"In any case, I am a bane to you in the stealth arena with my eyes and my stick," she says. "And the lot of us attempting to sneak as a group," she chuckles and shakes her head. "Nay, you'll find me here, enjoying the bird song, and the sh*t, too. Lovely."
Gethric looks around at the many indians trying to find a chief.
1. The gate appears to have afake skeleton hangining from it. The gate and the skeleton appear to be magical in some way.
2. "something" is living in the hole in the wall. Just what it is has yet to be determined.
3. The grounds appear ill kept and no servants or even work animals have been sighted so far.
4. You have not explored the northern or western part of the wall (the gate being east and your position being south)
5. You know the target was a talented entertainer and illusionist. And a gnome. Make of that what you will.
Hawk begins following the wall west. She sticks to the treeline and tries to pick her way carefully to avoid arousing suspicion.
The group goes fully around the wall discovering more wall for the most part. A stroke of luck finds a tree fallen over the side of the wall on the norhtern side making an easy climb to the top and a short hop across the haha.
The west wall is relatively bare and plenty solid.
Perception:
Gethric moves to where the tree lies and gives it a speculative scrape with his cestus. His fears are confirmed as the wood comes apart rotten to the touch "Best not to climb" though as the group makes their way back to the hole he spies something of interest upon the Western flank of the wall. Eyes narrowing, he walks to the wall and kicks at a few stones, before nodding "We could make a hole here."
"If we can do it quickly and quietly, then this is going to be our best option."
Given the lack of objection, Gethric makes a hole where the loose rocks lie. He then crouches down to take a quick look through it...
Perception:
...before slipping through himself.
Hawk looks at the others before shrugging ad following the half-orc down the rabbit hole.
Gethric manages to kick a hole big enough for him to squeeze through and within a moment finds himself standing in the very tall haha. Soon the others follow.
Smoke looks around as they enter into the target's grounds. He gives Gethric a small nod. This is already going better than last time. Good catch with the tree and the wall.