Roxie looks at your group, the cook, down to the basement then she gives a nod to her cook, signaling him to leave. He rolls his eyes, grumbling and steps out to the main room.
"Yeah, I’ll tell ya, that half-elf Voz over at the Reliant Book Company? She’s a strange one, all right. Paid me real good to keep my mouth shut about this tunnel she’s usin’—her sneakin’ in and out, like she’s up to somethin’. And the magic she messes with? It’s weird stuff. Skulls, bones, all kinds of creepy nonsense. Not the kinda thing I’d wanna get mixed up in, but hey, her coin’s real good."
Stom frowns in frustration. "A secret tunnel, and you never thought to report it? Even after the town fire?" He sighs. "Well, you can help us know. Did you ever see what this Voz character took into the tunnel or brought out of it? Anyone else tag along?"
Once the rest of the party has a chance to ask their questions, Stom readies to make the trip to the book store. "Anyone know this Reliant Book Company? I haven't heard of it yet."
I remember the book store. We went a couple days ago. Let’s head over there now and talk to Voz and see what’s going on. Something tells me there is more to the story here with this tunnel.
"Didn't the halfling also say he was working for Voz..?" the professor adds.
[dice=Society] d20+7
"I remember hearing of a place called Guardian's Way when I was reading through the archives here...," Violant says, "it was a heavily guarded outpost in a wooded forested area not 6 miles from town. Don't remember it being part of Alseta's Ring, though?"
hold on… we found some info in Voz’s store, we have to go to somewhere called the Guardians Way. We should ask Rosie if she knows where that is. I think it’s just outside of town.
Roxie scratched the back of her head, her rough voice tinged with a hint of bemusement. “Uh, yeah... that’d be me, Roxie. Still standin’ right here.” She paused, her brow furrowed as if trying to make sense of the situation. “Guardian’s Way? C’mon now, everyone knows where that is. It’s not quite six miles—closer than that, really. But if you’re plannin’ to take a stroll, I could tell ya how to get there easy enough. Shouldn’t take more than a couple hours, even if you’re draggin’ your feet.”
"I remember that place. We got banned... Doxie likes the taste of books".
"I remember it as well, I spend a fair bit of time there. I'd hope the owner isn't into anything nefarious but... well, given everything, safe to say she is."
"Oh, Voz's store. I've forgotten the store's name. Well, no use sitting here while Doxie eats more pickles. Do we want to check the bookstore before leaving town for the Guardian's Way?"
Leaving The Pickled Ear, Roxie under her breath, thanks you for nothing, before waving a good riddance good bye.
Heading back to the Voz's bookstore, you guys remember your first visit there only a few days ago investigating Calmont's employer. The store was empty but that didn't stop you from letting yourselves in. You found nothing overly nefarious, and really only found evidence that Calmont had stolen a scroll of summon to bring that fire mephit to life and cause the big fire that kicked everything off.
You remember finding some of Voz's notes that described she had set up a research camp at the old ruins of Guardian's Way but at the time had no real reason to investigate her further.
As you arrive at the bookstore you find it in much the same condition as you left it, no one seems to have entered since you guys last investigated the book store.
Lyra thanks Roxie and apologies for the inconvenience they caused as they left the store. Embarrassed by her short memory and attention span Lyra spends the few minutes walk to the bookshop in quiet contemplation. Going over the conversation with Roxie over and over in her mind.
Roxie said Guardians Way is a few hours walk. Let’s head that way if we can’t find anything of note. Especially since we are just here the other day.
Stom joins Lyra for searching the bookstore, making sure that they didn't miss anything on their first search.
Assuming the group doesn't find anything new, Stom suggests making their way to Guardians Way ASAP. "The sooner we get to Guardians Way, the sooner we deal with Voz and hopefully learn more about what's happening at the Citadel."
Violant joins as well, wanting to very much get to the bottom of this.
Taking 20 to 30 minutes to double check your work inspecting the bookstore the first time, you guys find that there was little else to uncover.
Armed with your only clue, your group sets off for Guardian Way, a long-abandoned military outpost that was used during the Goblinblood Wars, 18 years ago.
The couple mile walk remains relatively free of danger, its a well patrolled highway that in a round about way wraps around Citadel Altaerein, following a rough beaten path, based on the directions you have and some of your local knowledge, you find that The thick forest gives way to a meadow, where three sturdy outposts have been built in the trees. A fourth building stands on the ground in the meadow’s center. Behind it, a vine-covered rocky cliff rises up fifty feet to a barren bluff above.
The lower portion of this large, two-tier wooden platform is supported twenty feet off the ground by the trunk and branches of three large trees. A pair of rope ladders provides access to the platform’s lower tier, while another rope ladder provides access to the upper one, ten feet above. The branches of the central tree hang down low, obscuring the contents of both platforms.
Samael will approach stealthily, using the trees to the south for cover.
You are one with the trees and shadows. As you sneak around and observe the outpost you see three guards lazily watching for danger on the central platform. They don't appear to be actively engaged in their duty though. Additionally, there is at least one more on another raised platform to your East, toward the cliff face.
You think you see movement in the small house but its hard to tell from so far away
Before Samael moves quietly through the trees to the south, Stom talks tactics with the group.
"I'll be seen or heard right away, so I will hang back just at the edge of this clearing. Whenever we want to trigger the attack, I'll rush up to the platform. My legs should get me there quickly enough. Samael, do you want to trigger the attack? Or, stay quiet for a bit?"
"I'm willing to trigger the attack. I'm gonna sneak up on them, and try to take out one, while drawing their attacks. It should be obvious when to start."
Samael will sneak as far east as possible, then try to surprise attack the foe to the east.
RAW says we cannot have weapons out without spending an action, but, I'm going to plead special circumstances that Samael will have his dagger already in hand.
Oppa stands back with the remainder of the group watching to see if there is anything else noticeable about the layout. He loses site of sneaky Samael as he disappears into the forest. He rests his hands on Doxies head which they have worked out as "Don't start anything, stay here, and keep quiet".
Samael will try and sneak up as close as he can to the small outpost, Four smaller trees support this wooden platform ten feet off the ground. A rope ladder hangs from the side to the ground below, the guard there is sitting on the edge of the platform eating a ration, oblivious to Samael's creeping.
Round 1 - Ambush at the Outpost
Oppa/Doxie
Lyra
Red Half Orc
????
Samael
Stom
Violant
Grey Half Orc
Blue Half Orc
Yellow Half Orc
Red Half Orc
White Half Orc
◆ Sneak up the tree right next to Mr. Grey.
◆ piercing sneak attack damage.
◆ piercing sneak attack damage.
◇ "Hey! I'm a gonna kill you all!" Samael shouts.
Samael will instead attempt to hide.
Stom nearly starts running as he sees Samael drop the first orc. But, he restrains himself as it becomes clear that the orc doesn't scream out and the others don't yet notice. "Hold", he says very quietly, mostly to convince himself.
Violant holds as well.
Its hard to tell but, Samael appears to be sneaking through the enemy lines, you can barely tell but so far no alarm has been raised yet and the Half Orcs on guard are sitting with their legs dangling off the edge, starting to eat some lunch.
After killing one guard already, Samael attempts to blend back into the shadows.
He feels he is one with the shadows once again.
Round 2 - Ambush at the Outpost
Oppa/Doxie
Lyra
Red Half Orc
????
Samael
Stom
Violant
Blue Half Orc
Yellow Half Orc
Red Half Orc
White Half Orc
Violant takes out her dagger and prepares for the worst.
Samael, after dispatching one half orc guard, attempts to slink by the house to make his way to the other watchtower with a lone guard.
Samael, as you are crouched down, sneaking past the house, in a series of unfortunate events, you end up slipping, knocking over a bunch of old boards, causing quite a commotion, as you look at the nearby window, all you see is an angry gray Hobgoblin glaring at you through the window, she shouts, muffled, "What are you doing, intruder!?"
Her voice doesn't reach much beyond the house, as she is yelling at you through the window, you get the feeling your cover is definitely blown and that the jig is up.
Round 3 - Ambush at the Outpost
Oppa/Doxie
Lyra
Red Half Orc
Gray Hobgoblin
Samael
Stom
Violant
Blue Half Orc
Yellow Half Orc
Red Half Orc
White Half Orc
Oppa and Doxie continue to delay to see what Samael is going to do.
Samael, causing a commotion, raises the alarm signaling to his fellow party members that the jig is indeed up and he could use some help.
Round 3 - Ambush at the Outpost
Oppa/Doxie
Lyra
Red Half Orc
Gray Hobgoblin
Samael
Stom
Violant
Blue Half Orc
Yellow Half Orc
Red Half Orc
White Half Orc
Lyra moving forward begins to loudly speak in Orcish. The holy symbol on her shield begins to glow. ” Kiggitha bluutiry fullip ahrikkk"
"We've got to get closer Doxie. Run up behind that big tree".
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Command Doxie
◆ Stride
◆ Stride