"It seems like a good idea, but we better be quick before reinforcements arrive. I think those would be found within the castle itself."
"Agreed. Let's move out quietly..."
With a silent nod, Lyraesel begins to move, heading back up to begin their scouting of the perimeter of the walls.
Climbing back up Lyraesal peeks out from the hatch, currently no enemies are nearby. As she climbs up and looks around the walls she doesn’t see any other creatures patrolling at the moment.
Byron will move up as well and then begin heading clockwise around the wall.
Shall we just say we all follow? Unstealthy ones trailing behind?
Aiko nods and sneaks up quietly with Byron.
... or not.
"Wait..." Too late it seems as the climbers went on their separate ways. "Will anyone have trouble getting up there?" he asks.
Everyone is easily a belt o climb up the ladder and with the first three sneaking out the small room and going clockwise along the wall they start moving carefully along. Trailing behind the four other get to the middle of the gatehouse with Kelda taking point now more confidant having spilled blood.
The three sneaking foreword continue along to the next tower. Taking a moment to listen they hear nothing below. Looking down inside they see nothing but an empty dust covered room.
"Empty," Winsome murmurs helpfully, "apparently. Should we see what is d-d-down there? If these are guard towers there m-m-might be valuable intelligence to be f-f-found."
"I think we stick with the plan and clear all the towers, then we can clear all the ground floor. If we get side tracked every time we see a space we will constantly be drawn off course." Byron says as he continues on.
"Better clear the room. Nothing comes up behind us that way." Lyraesel comments, looking down into the dusty room.
"If it's dusty, what could be in there? But I'll wait for you. I know you're fast and quiet."
"We might as well, but we still need to be quick about it if we don't want to be overwhelmed."
With a nod, Lyraesel quickly drops down into the room, giving it a brief inspection for any signs of activity, weapons or other objects of value.
Aiko slides down as well and keeps an eye on the corners.
Searching the small cramped room leads to little other than a few crates and barrels, rotted and empty. A door leads out into presumably the courtyard. As you all climb up and then continue on to the next tower you get to the bottom and see a similar sight. Though the door doesn’t have sunlight peaking underneath like the one leading into the courtyard and the slight sound of clicking and other strange noises can be heard. Though it’s hard to say what it is, exactly the noise varies in frequency tone but remains at a full whisper beyond the door.
"If you all want to ready your attacks, I can be the one to throw the door open. Do you want a blessing first?"
"Good Idea" Lyraesel says in a hushed tone, drawing her sickle.
Zaraleva loads her crossbow and moves to the side of the door handle. When everyone has their weapon out and buffed as wanted, she will throw the door wide.
Readied actions?
I updated the map, probably badly.
"That would be nice if you could," Adrian brings out the temple sword this time around and awaits the time when the cleric opens the door.
Byron readies his spear and nods.
Naginata up.
Beyond the door is an aged and old stable, with a cold and quiet forge beyond. Strings of web hand on the walls and ceiling as well as the floor. At the door is a two legged but is pinkish with the face of a spider and two sickle shaped claws. Behind it are two spider the size of Great Danes. The two legged creature sees the door open and screeches pointing at you all.
Turn Order Lyrasael, Aiko, Zaraleva, Byron, Winsome, Enemies, Adrian
As the bizarre spider-man screeches out, Lyraesel utters a phrase in druidic as she pounds her palm against her chest, taking a deep breath as the magic of nature flows through her, a dark, barklike texture beginning to spread over the exposed expanse of her skin in a protective layer.
Zaraleva would shoot the crossbow at the nearest spider-icky-thing that isn't in melee.
The bolt catches the creature in the shoulder, it howls and points it’s sickle arm at you all.
Turn order Lyrasael, Zaraleva, Aiko, Byron, Winsome, Enemies, Adrian
Aiko moves to the edge of the doorway, holding her naginata in position to intercept anything that tries to move through.
Winsome uses one of his Arcane Bolts.
Winsome’s blast of energy goes wide hitting a bit of webs that sends a tuft of dust scattered into the air.
Adrian shakes his head, seeing that he his ranged deficiencies are holding him back yet again. He holds a readied position with his weapon instead and waits for the spiders to come to him.
Byron steps into the room and studies the strange humanoid creature before stabbing at it.
The two legged creature scuttles up and attacks Byron, while it pushes screeches and the spiders go towards the door. The two legged creature goes to bite and slash with its 2 claws.
It however misses is unable to get close enough to bite with Byron waving his spear, but is able to catch him with the tip of its claw for 3 damage.
The spiders bite at Byron since he’s in the way for one and aiko who holds her weapon menacingly. But neither is able to get close enough to get a bite in.
@aiko & Byron you both would get an AOO on the spiders.
@Adrian you may take your turn now with enemies now much closer.
Turn Order Adrian: Turn 2, Lyrasael, Zaraleva, yet to go Aiko, Byron, Winsome, Enemies, Adrian
Byron stabs at the spiders as they comes in. He then drops the spear shifts forward to avoid being surrounded as he whips out his greatsword to strike at the two legged creature.
Even within range of the spiders, it would take a bit on maneuvering to get past the one facing them. Adrian seeks to jump over that one spider.
Once that works, he sought to take down the spider with the help of Aiko.
@Byron, you would get one on each. Forgot you had combat reflexes. Take that AoO when possible.
Between the Aoo from Byron and Adrian’s attack one of the spiders is killed, no longer moving.
Lyraesel stalks forward, slashing at the nearest spider's underbelly with Ironfang.
Zaraleva has no choice but to fire into melee, it seems. "Hold still, Byron!" She targets the boss. (?)
"Nope!" <sigh>
Byron tries to stab another spider.
The spider scurrying past Byron doesn’t see the spear come down on top of it. The spider squirms but it’s all for nothing as it it already dead.
Adrian moves forward and flanks the two legged creature, giving it two quick punches to the face stunning it. Allowing Lyraesal to creep forward and opening up a gash along its stomach. It starts to look for an escape but as it turns to back away Byron’s sword skewers the creature. It slides off and bleeds off silently.
You all breath a sigh of relief with the creatures now dead.
Casting Detect Magic and looking around...
"Phew. That could have been worse." Adrian stretched his back and looked around for any signs of where to go next.
"Surprisingly simple when it came down to it."
"There's plenty more danger in this place."" Lyraesel comments, checking the surrounding area.
Byron will quickly search the two legged creature for any notes or treasure.
You search the creature Byron but it doesn’t have anything of note on it to peruse making it quick.
The rest of you move about the stables but find nothing more than webs and what looks to be animals that have been eaten by the occupants, mostly deer and other simple prey but none of the bird people you have seen. As you get to the north side the doors are shut and taking a peak outside gives you relief that there are no new enemies yet. However you would hear nearby from the door the the castle a hissing sound of some kind, it fades after a moment.
Considering the unknown dangers that lay ahead, Lyraesel quietly chants a druidic invocation to herself, compleating the spell with a deep breath as a new world of sensation burst alive for her.
Moving to the door she crouches down, bringing her nose to the base of the door and breathing in deeply, trying to catch the scent of whatever made the hissing sound.