Rolls:
As Elwin slips in and right, Tyhal nods and slips to the left, but his efforts at stealth are for naught. the first two doors are in the corner of the L. Listening at the first, he shakes his head and moves to the second.
Search Posts
Roll:
Moving carefully, Tyhal manages to open the old door almost soundlessly enough that each member of the party can squeeze through, but stops as it begins to rub on the floor. He quietly releases a breath he was holding with a relieved grin at Elwin. Slipping through, he looks around before waving the others through behind him. Rolls:
Tyhal reaches for the latch, looking at the rest of the party with a questioning look on his face. Ready?
"OK, there's no way for us to check that end of the hall, then this end of the hall and know if something followed us down there or not unless," he looks out the door. "We used to prank our friends with flour spread across the floor, remember, Rhasa? We could use some dust from the yard to make it clear if something walks down the hall after we clear it."
"And the stair in the feasting hall. The one that led upward." He shrugs, "But the goblins didn't come from there because we were in that hall when they appeared making noise at the front door."
"I think someone or something is within the tower and has secured the door. Friend or foe, I have no idea, but I'm inclined to let them be for now. Let's return to the donjon and show our new friends what little we know, eh?"
Rolls:
Her brother sneaks forward, keeping across the road from the new fellow, but not as quietly as he would prefer.
Tyhal moves to where the bear disappeared after the sounds have faded, listening intently. "I think it's gone. Let's keep going in case it returns."
Tyhal nods in response to Elwin's suggestion, "It does not sound like goblins to me, more likely an animal. A big one. My choice is to give it room and let it pass by." That said, he readies his bow and confirms that his sword will slide from the sheath should it come to that. And waits.
Travel time:
Tyhal nods, "Watching behind can be as important or more so as watching ahead. I can take point."
"I see well in the dark. I can take the deepest part of the watch, when it is the darkest. Shall we pair up?" He looks at Ashia and then at Talaledar and Lalandar, "My sister's Art requires that she get a full night's sleep to recover the energy to use it again the following day. Is this also a concern for you? I suspect Elwin is not so constrained, am I right?"
"Well met, then. We will accept your offer and return to our delve in the morning. We have done each other a favor - that's seven fewer goblins we need to deal with when we return to the keep tomorrow." He looks at the meager pile of gear that was obtained from the ambushers. "What should we do with these? I don't know that anyone can use them - the swords are a bit off-balance to use as daggers, but could work in a pinch." He looks at the other pair of siblings, "Unless you two are in a rush to return tonight?"
The dusky-skinned elf nods in gratitude as Ashia applies her healing hex. "We had a hedge wizard where we grew up with a similar gift. My thanks that you would share it, Miss...?"
Tyhal shakes his head. "Whatever you heard in the trees, master dwarf, it wasn't us. We were tracking the goblins and didn't get here until well after the first shots were fired, judging by the roar of anger you unleashed as we approached." He offers a hand to the dwarf and a wave to the elves, "Tyhal Dancingbrook. My sister is Rhasadinar. We are not healers, but one of our friends might be able to aid you." "Your fourth is leaning against that tree over there, wondering how you can't see him standing there, I'd wager."
Tyhal shrugs his shoulders and looks at his sister. "Give me a hand, would you, Rhasa?" He takes a hold of one corpse and motions to a second, dragging them into the campsite and toward where the other bodies were taken. He comes back into the clearing carrying the meager possessions of the fallen. "Anyone happen to pick up my dagger?"
Tyhal moves forward, drawing his sword as he goes, and attacks the goblin on the right , but he misjudges the shorter creature's speed and is avoided easily. Rollin' dem bones:
"I don't know where they came from, but I know wherever they are headed, it's up to no good." He opens the door slightly and peeks into the hallway. "I don't see or hear anything. Be ready to pull the door shut behind me if I come back in a hurry, would you?"
Unfortunately, the door scrapes the floor quite loudly as it opens and all of you freeze, listening intently. Cautiously proceeding, Tyhal disappears from sight for a minute, maybe two, before returning. "I think they went directly out the gate. It's getting on toward dark - if they are the reason those travelers disappeared on the trail, they might be a hunting party."
Trying again, Tyhal seeks more handholds.
But he loses his grip and falls back to the ground.
Sitting at the base of the wall, he looks up at the other elf sheepishly. "Maybe we should find a different path. What do we know of the people within?"
"Much as I'd like to say so, I'm not seeing a route, either. Perhaps around the corner..."
The elven slayer makes good progress at first, but finds himself searching for a route forward from there.
Tyhal shrugs, "One door is likely as good as the other. We can investigate the donjon first if you wish. How do you want to proceed?"
With some distaste, Tyhal offers, "Looks like goblins to me. Could be a scouting or hunting party or it could be the entire tribe."
Tyhal nods, checks to see if his sister is ready, and moves forward, keeping to the right and watching for traps or guards.
Tyhal visibly cringes at the racket made by the near-sighted priest, but finds that he's no more satisfied with his own movement.
The male Dancingbrook snorts quietly, "Yes, stealth. Which is fine until I ask my sister to move quietly with all her gear. I can fight and I can sneak. We together, not really." "I see no reason to abandon the original idea, honestly. Another blade," gesturing to Lalandar's, "and more eyes and ears will help us greatly. No one is asking us to clear out the keep, just determine what's going on here." "Of course, if we can improve travel in the area by getting rid of some bandits or goblins or something like that, we might get some sort of reward from the humans nearby. And maybe they will stop treating us like children back home."
"Yes, sister, but I'm sure the reduced vegetation is related to the original keep's construction and defenses. I doubt that they had anything significant outside the walls, though. If there are traps to be wary of, they are of more recent manufacture. Which likely makes them more dangerous than something left unfound for dozens of years."
"Let's continue, then, quietly." He takes the lead, handing his shield to his sister before moving onto a barely-visible game trail.
"We know little other than the location. Observation seems wise, but if you have another suggestion, please share it. There is a big difference between the two of us investigating vs. four of us investigating. The old plan is really not applicable any more."
With a shrug, "Perhaps human bandits as they have been seen in the area. Or perhaps the goblins are enjoying a resurgence."
"It is not far. Some human adventurer decided to build a keep so he could retire with his family. Unfortunately, even the stupidest goblin can occasionally find cause to work as part of a team. Seems the goblins of the Bad Moon actually forged an alliance with the orcs of the Broken Arm and they invaded the tower and killed the man, his family, and his allies." "For humans, this is all ancient history because it happened decades ago, but we remember. We elves did not come to the man's aid because he never asked for it. He was quite successful, actually, destroying one of the goblin tribes utterly. He should not have stopped, however - his unfinished business led to his demise." "Rhasa and I have talked about exploring the tower for years, but the elders have always refused to give us permission." With a smile, he adds, "We are old enough now to make our own decisions, whether they like it or not."
"You have heard of the Folly? The tower built by the human amongst the goblins and orcs, only to fall when they became organized? We thought to see if the tales were true or just more stories to scare the children."
"It's been many years, but I remember you Lalandar, and you, Talaledar. You were beginning your studies and my sister," he gestures to the other woman, "Rhasadinar and I were leaving to begin our own. I was not successful - I am more of a hunter than a mage - but she has done well. I am Tyhal."
With a grin and a salute at the other elves, the dark-skinned steps into the clearing and approaches the new pair.
Suddenly, you realize that off to your right, where you swear no one was just a moment ago, there is a second elf. This one is dressed head-to-toe in black. His skin is duskier than typical for an elf and he is not as tall as many male elves, but he is still slightly taller than the female and his ears have the same point. He wears traditional elven weaponry - longsword, longbow - and he carries a heavy wooden shield strapped to his back. |