Bavick's Perception Take 10 - 18
Bavick listens at the trapdoor, but doesn't hear anything either.
Bavick will of course check for traps - Taking 10 gives a 20 if he can get Guidance from Yolar.
Bavick doesn't find any traps.
Yolar provides the guidance of Gozreh as needed to Bavick (and anyone else who desires it).
Tygrah pushes the trap door open and leads the way!
A trio of beds rest against the southern wall of the room, one concealing a lumpy, bloodstained mass within its blankets. A sturdy trunk lies against the northern wall, while an open cabinet stands to the east. A shoddy door exits to the northeast. Drops of blood mark a trail from the ladder to the beds, and three more spears lie on the floor.
Pai stands behind the rest of the group, crossbow at the ready should something attack them.
Let them lead Rory said. I'm not a child. I can help.
Rory will help search the room for clues. He will also use "Vision of the Gods" (Detect Magic) as he looks.
Bavick searches the room twice for any other clues. He watches the lump under the sheets for a minute, and if it does not move he pulls the sheets aside.
Rory detects no magical auras of any type in the room. Searching around the room reveals nothing other than clothing and expected personal effects.
Under the bloody sheet lies another body. Its head has been removed, but other than that it doesn't display any signs of violence.
Tygrah scowls as she examines the body. "They took the head after they killed him. Can't tell how he died, though."
"Ah! It looks like he was suffering from frostbite. Very strange in the middle of a sweltering jungle."
"These Lizardfolk are cruel. Should we check out the door to the east?" Rory looks down, to the side, a strange look on his face. Disgust? Anger? Determination? It is impossible to tell.
The eastern door of this wooden chamber is caved in, collapsing a makeshift barricade of haphazardly stacked shelves and crates. Three headless human bodies are impaled on the cabinets by crude spears. Flies buzz around the corpses, constantly landing on the crimson morass of gore where the heads were removed.
Searching around the room produces a chest of very high quality construction supplies (nails, rope, pulleys, hammers, saws, and chains).
"Aha! Looks like somebody took off a lizardfolk hand, at least they fought back somewhat. Good on ya."
"Yep, these spears went in after the bodies was dead."
"What should we do with these supplies?"
Replying to Bavick, Rory says, "Well, they aren't doing any good here. Let's put them in the magic backpack--they may come in useful later."
Rory is still shaking his head at the brutality of it all. For all his show of experience as a martial arts master, it appears he has seen little of true war...
Pausing a moment to think, Rory mentions to Pai, "I am a bit confused by the layout of this place. If I understand correctly, we should have found an entrance to the section of the fort under the western walkway by now. Do you think there might be a hidden entrance we are missing?"
Seeing Rory shaking his head, Yolar nods in agreement. "What caused such brutality?"
While he waits for a response from Pai, Rory quickly scans this room for magic as well, then ends his concentration and helps pull away the barricade so the companions can exit to the courtyard. Assuming they find nothing further of interest here, Rory suggests, ”Perhaps the locked door to the east? Didn’t someone find a key or two?”
You all move out into the courtyard again where the rain is beginning to fall heavier and turning the packed earth into mud. Checking the keys you recovered from the commander's quarters, you find one that fits the door to the eastern building.
Opening the door reveals an armory. Wood-and-metal racks — their hinges slightly corroded from the tropical humidity — line the walls, each fitted with an assortment of arms and armor.
Searching through the supplies here you find five short swords, three longswords, four light crossbows, two heavy crossbows, 60 bolts, four suits of leather armor, two suits of studded leather armor, four heavy wooden shields, and a masterwork breastplate. A crate in the corner is packed with straw and contains an additional four short swords, four longswords, and 144 crossbow bolts.
”That crate looks like the supplies sent from the Northwind Smithy in Pridon’s Hearth. Weren’t we supposed to bring those back?”
He also picks up a light crossbow and a quiver of bolts, saying, ”My shuriken only go so far, so this will help with the more distant enemies.”
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"I WILL CARRY THIS!" Ashlion decides, making straight for the breastplate with a covetous gleam in his eye. He starts removing his armour immediately, revealing the fact that his scars are not confined to his arms - they continue across his back and have an improbable number that look like they've been caused by claws, or passionate fingers...
So, assuming we put the crate and as much of the other items in the magic bag that will fit, then are getting ready to go check the dining hall and kitchen, Rory asks, ” Does anyone find it strange that we have found no entrances to the section of the Fort under the upper walkways?”
"I've been pondering on that. It could just be that it is solid wall or filled with material like dirt and rock, less likely to be breached that way. Did anyone happen to notice any arrow slits or anything else along the walls that would indicate that there was a hall or open space inside?"
"So that crate in the corner is to be returned to the smith? But not the armor? Right you go, Ashlion."
Bavick will follow along with Pai and also look for secret doors.
Some of you take a wander around the exterior and interior perimeter of the fort in the rain that's coming down stronger. There are no arrow slits or other openings visible.
Pai remembers reading an account of soldiers building a similar type of structure and the palisade walls were earth-filled for strength.
The only anyone notices of interest is when you're passing by the well in the courtyard, you notice a dagger embedded in the wooded bucket sitting on the stone edge.
While the others are searching, Rory lines up the weapons and ammunition for putting into the magic bag. The armor and shields might not fit, but the weapons should be fairly portable.
When the others find the masterwork dagger, Rory goes over to the well. Curious as to what might be below, he performs a quick kata and lights a torch, using "Mind over Matter" to lower the torch slowly into the well. "Let's see if anything interesting fell in here..." Rory says, as he concentrates on the moving the torch (mage hand).
After he finishes his investigation, he joins the others when they are ready to search the next room.
Tygrah takes the time to admire her husband's muscled physique as he changes armors. She follows along behind the others, weapons at the ready, eager for action.
Rory's torch descends to the surface of the water - about 25 feet down. Below the surface, he can faintly see the glimmer of ... something.
At the limit of his reach with “Mind over Matter”, Rory exclaims, ”There is something down there, but I can’t quite reach it!”. He tries to reposition the torch to get a better look...
Tygrah steps up to the well. "Allow me." She carefully clambers down the rough walls to the water, then takes a deep breath and swims down to get the shiny thing!
Rory keeps the torch in position to provide light for his bold companion, taking care not to singe her. He comments softly to Ashlion, ”Perhaps you could have a rope ready if things go poorly.”
Tygrah discovers that the clear and pleasantly cool water isn't very deep. About five feet under the surface, she finds a torn bandolier with three potion vials on it and a torn coin pouch. There are gold coins scattered on the stony ground under the water. Along with the bandolier, the ranger finds a terbutje with one of the teeth missing.
Tygrah clambers back up with her prizes, placing them on the floor before hauling herself out of the well. Her dark hair is plastered to her shoulders, and water drips from her muscular frame. "There was some good stuff down there! And the water was refreshing!"
”It would seem we have many forms of evidence to prove this attack was perpetrated by the Lizardfolk. Let us investigate the last few rooms and get about the sad business of burying the bodies before we head back to Pridon’s Hearth.”
Rory will have “Vision of the Gods” (Detect Magic) ready to go when he aids in investigating the next room.
The only two rooms remaining unexamined being the mess hall and the kitchen, the group moves out of the rain into the northwestern building.
Broken halves of a large table lie askew in the center of this room. Half a dozen four-foot-long spears protrude from one half of the table, and brown bloodstains mar the floor. A basic map of the region covers most of one wall, hanging next to a picture of an austere-looking man.
The large map is heavy cloth and looks to be easily removable from the wall. It depicts the coastline and rivers in great detail, but the only locations labeled on it are Pridon's Hearth and Fort Breakthrough.
”Bavick, does that portrait look like it is not sitting flat against the wall to you? There might be some kind of compartment behinds it, do you think?”
Turning to Pai, Rory asks, ”Should we take that map with us? It looks like it could prove useful.”
"It could be useful, but it isn't exactly ours is it? We weren't paid to come ransack this place for anything not nailed down."
Pai takes some time studying the map and considering the problem. A mischievous grin lights across her face
"Its too bad your girlfriend isn't here, Rory. She could probably make a copy of the map for us in that little book you bought her."
”Yes, she would be able to...” starts Rory, stammering to a stop as the implication of Pai’s teasing dawns on him. Staring to form several different replies at once, he quickly surrenders with slumped shoulders and just makes a different observation, ”As everyone here is dead, perhaps taking the map back to the sheriff would be helpful. At the least, we can see if our rescued Songo halfling can point out the locations of his home and the place his patrol was intercepted by the Lizardfolk.”
"I agree with Rory. We ain't here ta steal, but with nobody to guard the fort all of this could be taken by whoever happens by next. Least if we return it to the town, good and honest, they can keep it safe til there are new guards here."
"Ayep, there's a stash behind the portrait. Smells like... 'bout a hundred gold coins."
Bavick looks behind the portrait and takes the moneybag.
"For safekeepin'."
Assuming we are done with exploration, Rory asks, ”Would anyone like to help me dig a grave for these unfortunate souls?”
You find an appropriate spot outside the fort that would make for a suitable grave and spend the next hour digging in the fertile soil. After interring the deceased Yolar offers prayers over them.
Once you've finished the somber task, you show the map to Muhdzuzi hoping that he can indicate where his village is located. Unfortunately, the hunter has no experience with maps and indicates in Polyglot that he can lead you to his village, but he's unable to show you where it is on a map. In that vein, he indicates that you would need to head north first - which, coincidentally, is the direction you need to travel back to Pridon's Hearth.
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The trip back is a little wetter than the trip to get here as the rain continues throughout the day. By the time you catch a glimpse of your new home, you are all thoroughly drenched and the rain is coming down in buckets.
Yolar tips his head back a few times during their trek back to Pridon's Hearth to let the rain wash over his face. "This region is not as peaceful as I was hoping to find it...", he says out loud. "Why would the lizardfolk do such a thing? Such violence for such a mysterious purpose...any ideas?"