The ravens seem a little agitated, perhaps a scarcity of food in the area is leading to them being a little more competitive.
The overgrown road comes to an end at a pair of rusty wrought-iron gates flanked by two stone pillars. Beyond, the woodlands recede before a large clearing of tall, dry grass, at the center of which looms Xarwin Manor. The building’s roofline rises in the middle to a third level surrounded by a walkway, while the closed dome of what appears to be an observatory rises above. Slate shingles cover the steeply-slanted roofs below this central dome with more rusty ironwork adorning its eaves. The paint along the manor’s wooden walls has mostly peeled away, leaving behind a weathered building clad in creeping vines that looks like forgotten by the world. Even at a distance, the building’s facade seems unusually moist, as if it had just weathered torrential downpour despite the dryness of the surrounding grounds.
You notes the presence of what seem to be hundreds of whippoorwills perched quietly on the manor’s roof.
DC 15 Nature
DC 25 Religion check
I'm not sure Mister Kargos will be too happy with the current state of his inheritance Quisillo says while taking in the dilapidated buildings.
And there are these weird things all over the roof? he adds, squinting in that direction.
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After Quisillo has identified what he can, Morsun adds, "Those are the type of birds that have to do with Pharasma, and dead spirits, I think. Not surprising, really."
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Sazen squints, but can't see what everyone is talking about. She is a little embarrassed that she can't see a sign from Pharasma, so she just nods wisely and stays silent.
Merlin stops at the rusty wrought-iron gates flanked by two stone pillars. The knight looks at the manor, sitting, waiting for something, or someone....
Merlin turns to regard the pointed out avians.
Promising omen.
The Armiger then smiles. He begins casting and he readies his shield and loosens his sword in its scabbard.
The Magus then opens the gate to begin investigating the grounds.
Niven will have his weapon out and ready to cover Merlin as he scouts. by staying back, he hopes to keep a good view on any threats.
Morsun puts his hand up to everyone unlimbering a weapon or otherwise getting ready as he steps in front of everyone.
"Let me check any doors or gates first. Learned this the hard way. I'm not interested in learning it again."
He examines the gate for any traps or other disincentives to opening it.
Quisillo sees everyone tense and prepare, and appears bewildered at the mood change. He hangs back next to Niven, looking at the mansion's grounds with curiosity.
Emri looks around at her pals and (soon to be) pals, still munching away on a sweet bun. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "Yeeesh! Why so serious?"
She finishes her bun, dusts her hands off, cricks her neck this way and that, then scampers off ahead, looking unconcerned but alert.
Sazen follows Emri at a distance with her bow ready, knowing exactly why she was so serious, but not wanting to quell the enthusiasm on the non-jaded types.
Swaths of moist green moss grow on the stone pillars that flank this rusty wrought iron gate. Tangles of blackberry vines weave through the gate’s bars. A rusty metal coat of arms comprised of a series of overlapping circles, rings, and stars adorns the front of the gate.
The front gate isn’t locked, but the thick growth of vines helps hold it closed. A PC can Force it Open with a successful DC 13 Athletics check; alternatively, the vines can be hacked through with a few rounds of work.
Merlin peers intently at the inscription.
Ioseff Xarwin designed the coat of arms on the gate in 4641AR as his official Paracount seal and new family crest.
The Armiger grins.
Quisillo starts looking at the gate, then gets distracted by Merlin's comments.
That's a bit pompous of him, don't you think? I mean, Xarwin was obviously not that great at heraldry; asking for a professional design would have been much better
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Emri gives the gate a bump with her hip, forcing it open.
"Agreed." she says with a chuckle. "Nice stars, I guess. But you know rich people—they think they know better than trained experts." She shrugs. "Shall we?"
Sazen finds the gate interesting, and something seems familiar about it, but she can't quite recall, so she just assumes it isn't that important.
She nods at Emri's prompting, and follows her in, bow in hand.
The overgrown path leading from the front gate splits into a crossroads. To the north, the path leads to the manor’s front door, while to the east, it curls around the manor’s side. To the west, the path leads toward a collapsed building and an algae-choked pond before winding around the manor as well. The rotting trunk of a fallen oak tree lies across the crossroads, almost as if forming a barrier to those who would approach the manor—or perhaps to keep something within from traveling out.
The soggy bark seems to flex and throb slightly in places, akin to a pulse.
Niven is less concerned with the gate than with the potentials for trouble about and stands ready until they move in. As they enter, he pulls up his weapon to ready.
Quisillo pushes past the door, looking with curiosity at the grounds of the manor.
Bit overgrown, isn't it? The place looks like it could be quite nice though, with a bit of work.
Emri cocks her head to the side and points at the fallen tree blocking the way. "That wood's like... throbbing or pulsing or something. Do you think it's alive? Like, moving alive, not normal tree alive?"
Morsun squints at the downed tree that Emri is indicating.
"That's f$*!ing gross." He starts to unlimber and load his crossbow. "I'm going to shoot it and see if it's something we need to take care of."
If nobody asks him to stop, Morsun unloads a crossbow bolt into the tree.
Well... not all living trees are bad, right? I mean, in an *allegedly* haunted manor, chances are that they are not good news but... should we maybe avoid making enemies before it is truly necessary?
Despite saying this, Quisillo gives the tree a worried look, and takes his fiddle out.
Too obsessed with the Heraldry, Merlin looks up at the tree as indicated by his company.
The Armiger nods in agreement with Quisillo.
Morsun twists his mouth as he looks at the tree over his crossbow, but lowers the weapon after a moment.
"You want to try talking to it, then?"
Might be a good idea. Quisillo makes a good point. We don't know for sure if the tree is there to trap us or bad things from the haunted manor. Not sure it can communicate with us either though.
Sazen has no idea if it will work, but she gets closer to the tree and says
We're here to investigate the mansion, and deal with any threats. I don't know if you can communicate, but if you are good with us doing that, then maybe show us a sign. If you're not okay with that, then attacking us would be the way to show that as well.
If there is no reaction, she looks back at the group, shrugs, and continues.
If there IS a reaction, then she'll decide how to react based on whether it is positive or negative, and of course whether she is directly affected.
Quisillo shrugs uncertainly at Morsun's comments, and starts playing a slow pastoral theme on his fiddle to accompany Sazen's words.
I just wanted to get a better look at it, but who knows? If it likes neither speech nor music, there will be plenty of time for your crossbow to sing.
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Emri sticks close to Sazen, so she can punch the tree in its ugly tree face if it tries to hurt her.
With Emri staying close to Sazen, Niven will stand back and prepare to target the tree should it be hostile.
Merlin shrugs. The Knight raises his shield and follows the others to investigate the strange tree.
Exploration mode: Defend
It certainly doesn't seem like any of the trees Quisillo knows of that are more mobile like assassin vines... he considers what else could be the source of the movement. Perhaps a magical creature, a druid or some other kind of external force.
As Sazen talks the bark undulates a bit more quickly until there is a soft snap as the bark gives way and a centipede wriggles out... the gap gets wider and more appear as centipedes swarm out of the fallen tree.
Quisillo
Emri
Merlin
Morson
Sazen
Centipedes
Niven
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As the centipedes burst out of the tree, Quisillo's playing speed increases.
Well, Morson, I guess you were right. No need to talk with these.
◇Lingering Performance
◆Inspire Courage
The music from Quisillo's fiddle then becomes more discordant, and focused just above the groups of centipedes, until at the crescendo of his composition a blast of electric energy strikes both swarms of insects. (◆◆Cast Electric Arc)
Merlin watches with a bit of a sigh as the centipede swarms begin exiting the rotten tree and advancing on their position.
Well, this looks terrible. I suppose allowing them to continue their trek to us is preferable than doing it for them.
The Magus begins to cast a spell on his longsword, while smiling at the swarms.
◆◆Magic Weapon
The Magus then begins a sword kata.
◆Arcane Cascade
Centipede swarm, eh? I'd say that's the indication of an enemy. Thanks for being clear.
She casts Gale Blast as she approaches the swarm(s), finishing as she steps in to make sure they get the full effect (and also to keep the swarms up here rather than moving on to the entire group, if she correctly understood how swarms work).
As the centipedes burst out of the tree, Quisillo's playing speed increases.
Well, Morson, I guess you were right. No need to talk with these.
Morsun gives a nod of satisfaction at being told he's right, but then he realizes that a crossbow isn't likely to do much. He fires it anyway, since it's already loaded.
He looks worryingly at Sazen as she lets the swarm approach her, but he doesn't know what he can do about her situation. He focuses instead on those around him.
As the centipedes burst out of the tree, Quisillo's playing speed increases.
"Well, Morson, I guess you were right. No need to talk with these."
The music from Quisillo's fiddle then becomes more discordant, and focused just above the groups of centipedes, until at the crescendo of his composition a blast of electric energy strikes both swarms of insects.
Emri moves up and starts stomping on bugs.
Merlin watches with a bit of a sigh as the centipede swarms begin exiting the rotten tree and advancing on their position.
Well, this looks terrible. I suppose allowing them to continue their trek to us is preferable than doing it for them.
The Magus begins to cast a spell on his longsword, while smiling at the swarms.
The Magus then begins a sword kata.
Morsun gives a nod of satisfaction at being told he's right, but then he realizes that a crossbow isn't likely to do much. He fires it anyway, since it's already loaded.
He looks worryingly at Sazen as she lets the swarm approach her, but he doesn't know what he can do about her situation. He focuses instead on those around him.
She casts Gale Blast as she approaches the swarm, finishing as she steps in to make sure they get the full effect.
While the centipedes are blow back and some die the rest rush back towards Sazen and Emri.
Niven
Quisillo
Emri
Merlin
Morson
Sazen
Centipedes AC18 Red -8, Green -13
Niven begins cursing in gnomish. Guns typically didn't do well against swarms. Still, he'll shoot to try and disrupt them.
After that he'll reload.
Tilting his head, Quisillo carefully considers what attacks might be effective against the swarming insects, all the while keeping his fast-paced tune going.
◆Recall Knowledge
(pass)
(pass)
Sazen walks out of the swarm again, casting Gale Blast again once she was clear of the swarm, glad that she had calculated correctly and she was keeping them here rather than having them engulf the entire party.
Merlin ◆Strides into melee with the roaming centipede swarm (Green). He attempts to slice and dice as many of them as he can! The Magus cast a spell into his longsword before bringing it down!
Cutting, yes... that should be slightly better here Quisillo says to no one in particular, while briefly stopping in concerto.
The music then takes a more eerie tone as a particularly sharp stone starts to hover next to the centipedes, before slashing back and forth across the swarm.
Cutting, yes... that should be slightly better here
Morsun sighs deeply as he draws his new dagger. He strides to the edge of the swarm and tries to slice as many centipedes as he can with wide slashing motions.
Emri pummels some more bugs, then dashes back up and out of the Sazen's way.
Niven begins cursing in gnomish. Guns typically didn't do well against swarms. Still, he'll shoot to try and disrupt them.
Tilting his head, Quisillo carefully considers what attacks might be effective against the swarming insects, all the while keeping his fast-paced tune going.
"Cutting, yes... that should be slightly better here" Quisillo says to no one in particular, while briefly stopping in concerto.
The music then takes a more eerie tone as a particularly sharp stone starts to hover next to the centipedes, before slashing back and forth across the swarm killing a great number of bugs.
Emri pummels some more bugs, then dashes back up and out of the Sazen's way.
Merlin strides into melee with the roaming centipede swarm (Green). He attempts to slice and dice as many of them as he can! The Magus cast a spell into his longsword before bringing it down! In one perfect stroke the rest of the centipedes are carved up.
Quisillo's playing slows down as the last centipede is taken down by the combined blows of Emri, Morsun and Merlin. He cautiously approaches the tree, peeking at it from behind Morsun.
Well, so much for the excitement of meeting a living tree.
And despite his light tone, Quisillo's disappointment at the mundane nature of this threat seems palpable.
Do you see any more of those insects in there? he adds, while taking small jumps to try to inspect the top of the tree.
Quisillo does however appear more concerned about hiding behind Morsun than about truly looking for more centipedes...
Do you see any more of those insects in there? he adds, while taking small jumps to try to inspect the top of the tree.
If no more danger seems to be coming from the tree, Morsun moves past it to cautiously approach the house. He knows what to look for when about to enter a house uninvited, a fact he doesn't share with anyone in the group.
Merlin smiles at the defeat of the swarm of centipedes. The knight begins peering about for which way seems more promising to continue.
Niven says nothing, wearing his disquiet on his sleeve.
As Morsun and Merlin start canvassing the area, Quisillo sits down next to Niven, tuning his fiddle.
You've been quiet, Niv'. What's going on?