Roscoe makes his way around the colonnade, starting to the south, then hugging the east wall and making his way north until he can see down another hallway.
He keeps watch while the others come forward.
[dice=perception]1d20+8
Roscoe peers ahead and sees a single lantern sitting in the center of the floor. A door to the west is boarded up with six sturdy pine planks secured into the stone doorframe with iron spikes. An empty silver saucer sits in front of the door, accompanied by a few bread crumbs, and an arched opening leads to the south. A set of stairs in the north eastern corner of the room leads upwards into darkness.
With the group moving forward, Frantino will proceed into the next room and take a close look at the boarded up doorway without touching it.
With the group moving forward, Frantino will proceed into the next room and take a close look at the boarded up doorway without touching it.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 13
The boards are relatively new. Certainly not 2000 years old.
[dice=perceiving for traps]1d20+6+1
Ayita thinks that sounds suspicious...
Is that saucer magic? (she is busy looking for traps)
No traps that Ayita can see.
"It doesn't seem that their Mother went in here, we can investigate this on the way back down. I believe we should keep going up."
Nasir nods his head in agreement with Frantino and follows him up the stairs.
"Let's go get that witch."
Frantino and Nasir climb the stairs until they see flickering torchlight and a landing. A torch hangs on a hook near the western wall of the landing.
Nasir tries to look around Frantino, but can't really see anything from behind him on the stairs.
"Let's keep going, I guess," Roscoe growls.
"Let's keep going, I guess," Roscoe growls.
[dice=perception]1d20+8
The stairs and landing are a tight squeeze. There's only room for Roscoe at the top and Frantino and then Nasir on the stairs.
Frantino glances around the landing and sees a secret door in the wall on the left.
"Seems like an obvious place for a trap. Ayita, can you take a look at this, too?"
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 13
Frantino glances around the landing and sees a secret door in the wall on the left.
"Seems like an obvious place for a trap. Ayita, can you take a look at this, too?"
[dice=Perception of the door and opening mechanism]1d20 + 13
Landing is basically 5x5. No traps that you can see.
Frantino peers into a stone room, bare except for a small pallet of blankets nestled into the corner near an unlit candle set in a silver holder. The rooms smells of candle smoke.
A few books are stacked next to the candle. A set of ruined stairs in the northwest corner once lead to what must have been the second story. The opening is covered by a thatched roof to keep out the elements.
Through the open double doors Frantino can see a campsite spread out on a gentle slope in what looks like, maybe, a hillside clearing. A wide fire pit is visible, and a few thick logs provide places to sit around the fire.
Not seeing anyone in what he presumes is the original Stone House, Frantino will move over to side of the open double doors and look out, hoping to see the old lady and maybe even his mysterious family member, plus the Peacock Manor "scholars" who were presumably headed here. He doesn't plan on stepping out until the rest of the group is ready.
OK. Frantino.
Frantino looks out the door and sees Mother Nightthrush in a wagon, preparing to flee. A horse is near the wagon, but appears not to be completely hitched to the wagon quite yet.
There are several wagons parked around the Roadkeeper fire pit and campsite. From behind one of them emerges a half-elven man.
"Frantino?" he asks with surprise. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be studying in Magnimar?"
It is Frantino's elder brother, Alden. Long gone from the family in Magnimar. His face is clearly related to Frantino's. The nose and chin are frighteningly similar. The cheekbones are different. Higher and more prominent, his face slightly gaunt.
He wears weathered boots, a fashionable green shirt, as well as an amazing peacock feather cloak.
Roscoe looks at the wagon, then at the half-elf, then back to Frantino.
"Wait--you know this guy?" he asks. "What's going on?"
Frantino murmurs to the group, "This is my brother, Alden, whom I haven't seen in quite some time. I had expected that, if a relative of mine were here it might be a cousin, but not him."
He then calls out to Alden, "I haven't seen you in years, Alden, and then I run into you out here in the middle of the woods? I was in Magnimar but I traveled to Riddleport to study the Cyphergate. I still have my fascination with Thassilonian history, of course. Anyway, I settled in Roderick's Cove a few years ago. That's quite a cloak you have on, very stylish. Anyway, what are you doing here? I'm going to guess you're associated with the scholars in Peacock Manor? Wait, don't answer yet, my friends and I have a few questions for Mother Nightthrush first, then we'll have plenty of time to catch up."
Once everyone has cleared the stairwell and is ready, Frantino will walk out of the stone building and head for a point roughly between Alden and Nightthrush while warily looking around for some kind of ambush, assuming the rest of the party will fan out to ensure that she isn't able to escape.
"Wait! You and Dolland were trying to kill my BROTHER?" Alden says, looking at Mother Nightthrush.
Nasir steps out into the camp and positions himself near the fire pit with his weapon and shield still ready so that he can get to Mother Nightrush or support Frantino, if needed.
Amused by the fraternal reunion in hostile circumstances, Nasir bemuses.
Will they fight each other or will familial bonds reconcile this situation without bloodshed? You never know with these foreigners.
Nasir mutters out loud.
"Your brother, Frantino Kaddren? This is a curious situation, no? I expect this to be a good story."
He chuckles mildly at the situation while keeping ready for an ambush.
Listening from a bit away, Ayita considers checking her pack for popcorn, glad that her family dramas aren't the center of attention for once.
She wonders if Ter is near! She's been missing Ter.
Where is "a bit away"?
"Wait! You and Dolland were trying to kill my BROTHER?" Alden says, looking at Mother Nightthrush.
"Well, DOLLAND was the one leading that job. And it wasn't so much 'killing' your brother as it was taking his stuff. That's what we kinda do here, my dear," she responds in her old lady voice.
Roscoe folds his arms across his chest as the siblings reunite. He isn't quite sure what to make of all this.
He watches Mother Nightthrush carefully.
Frantino's eyes narrow.
"Sure seemed like you were the one giving orders in there, and left Dolland behind while you ran away. Now, surrender and come along quietly. Or not."
Is she trying to signal Alden about a job and taking our stuff? I'd better keep an eye on how he reacts and what he does. I sure wish my friends would get out here soon, Nasir and I are a bit exposed by ourselves.
Nasir continues to look beyond the wagons for the rest of the bandits to ambush the party.
Sense motive on Alden: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Something is up, definitely. What exactly, is difficult to determine. But Alden and Nightthrush seem to know each other, have spoken previously, and have discussed Dolland and what he's been doing.
Alden listens as Frantino orders Nightthrush to surrender. And not-so-subtly threatens her.
"Wait, Nightthrush," Alden says, holding his ink(?)-stained hand out to the old woman. "It doesn't have to be this way, Brother. Just give me what I want and you and your friends can be on your way."
Alden's narrow, kind face, frowns. And he fans his hands in a tight, controlled gesture. And exact duplicates of him step out of his body.
Nightthrush hums to herself, closing her eyes briefly in some sort of meditative moment. The fingers of each hand are held together in a "talk-to-the-hand" pose.
"Give you what you want? What is that? Something in the vault that Dolland couldn't open? We've only been down there for a few minutes, I'm not a miracle worker. Let's go figure out how to open it."
"Give you what you want? What is that? Something in the vault that Dolland couldn't open? We've only been down there for a few minutes, I'm not a miracle worker. Let's go figure out how to open it."
Nightthrush snorts. Alden sighs.
No, you have not.
Frantino doesn't want to have to fight his brother, but won't give him the gauntlets, either. He steps over to grab him. "I need a hug."
Roscoe is beginning to get upset by the standoff.
"Look, are we going to work together and hug, or come to blows?! I don't have a lot of patience right now!" the mercurial halfling exclaims, his ears turning red.
Frantino doesn't want to have to fight his brother, but won't give him the gauntlets, either. He steps over to grab him. "I need a hug."
Frantino stumbles and misses, his outstretched arms hugging air.
Sorted Initiative ROUND ZERO (?)
-------------------------------------
Ayita - doesn't see anything, but can take an action
Yazhi - doesn't see anything, but can take an action
Nasir - see Frantino try to hug Alden
Roscoe - sees Frantino try to hug Alden
Doc - sees Frantino try to hug Alden
Alden+ - whispers to Frantino; Nightthrush waits, uncertain
Frantino -
may go!
As Frantino stumbles close to his brother, Alden leans in and whispers quietly to him.
It was shortly after Mr. Sharps was found dead, dissected upon a fallen menhir outside of Maginmar, that Alden was banished by the Kaddren family, never to be mentioned again. Frantino had never put those two things together, the death of Mr. Sharps and Alden’s departure, until this moment. And now, the sudden addition afterwards of small shrines on the Kaddren estate, dedicated to the Faerie Eldest, the trickster Lantern King, now makes more sense to Frantino. He once heard his mother mention the family’s “sacrifice to the Lantern King,” but always assumed she meant Mr. Sharps. Perhaps that sacrifice was the banishment of Alden, instead.
Upon hearing his brother’s words, and realizing what he means, Frantino is briefly shaken to his core.
Nightthrush hesitates, uncertain.
Nasir sees the odd stumbling of Frantino toward his brother and shakes his head.
What is Frantino Kaddren doing? We are in a hostile situation, and he's stumbling around like he's had too much wine?
NOTE: this map is littered with obstructions. Clearly, the wagons must be gone around or over. But the other stuff, like the fire pit and the benches and seats, are difficult terrain, requiring double movement to pass through.
The rows/piles of wood provide partial cover, if somebody were to crouch down.
Frantino, his eyes opened to his brother's true nature, speaks angrily and swings his greatsword at Aldren.
"Banished! You were banished, and now I realize why! You're still evil through and through, as further evidenced by the company you keep. Once you've been subdued, I'll take you back to the family for further punishment. Either way, you're not getting the book we found in the vault."
,
[dice=greatsword w/ PA]1d20 + 6 - 2, [dice=damage]2d6 + 9 + 2
Nightthrush, seeing Frantino strike, points at Frantino and says, "Be still!" She is too late to stop the strike, however.
ROUND ZERO (?)
-------------------------------------
Ayita - doesn't see anything, but can take an action
Yazhi - doesn't see anything, but can take an action
Nasir - see Frantino try to hug Alden; can't hear what Alden says
Roscoe - sees Frantino try to hug Alden
Doc - sees Frantino try to hug Alden
Alden - whispers to Frantino; Nightthrush waits, uncertain
Frantino - strike at Alden; misses
Nightthrush - Comes out of delay; Hold Person on Frantino
Any actions the rest of you would have taken, prior to Frantino swinging?