Moving up the path (Stealth checks made in secret):
Augrok/Kin Lur/Jorr:
Each of you notices on your own that Medium humanoids and several big wolves have used this path in the last week.
The party leaves the horses tied to a felled tree off the road. After a few minutes walk the keep looms into view through the tree. The party is facing the south side of the keep, with the gatehouse on the east side.
The old keep is in very poor repair. The gatehouse is partially collapsed, as is a section of wall to the south. A small wooden building sits next to the remains of a long-abandoned garden in front of the structure. The walls surrounding the keep are about fifteen feet high, with a two-story tower looming in the southwest corner of the courtyard within. Large boulders lie strewn amid the ruins of the two watch towers of the gatehouse, and a massive human-shaped skeleton slumps amid the ruins of the northern tower. A large club lies next to its bony arms, and it wears what appear to be the remains of hide armor.
Perception checks made for the party.
There does not appear to be any signs of activity or guards. The party is just inside the edge of the forest about 100 feet from the keep.
.
Mijanor awaits word from the scouts glad to be away from those god forsaken horses and their droppings. He's sure, that sometimes, they were trying to aim for him.....
Scouting party:
Kin Lur:
Jorr looks over to Kin Lur and shakes his head "No" in response.
The small building is little more than a shack. Wooden planks nailed and lashed together with a thatched roof.
Scouting Party:
Kin Lur will stop and slowly examine their surroundings, especially potential hiding spots, for watchers and traps. I'll assume the DM wishes to make the rolls in secret, but Kin Lur's going to take his time unless someone hurries him.
Scouting Party:
Augrok let his companions look to the state of the building, trusting them to find things that he would have glossed over or been unfamiliar with. The half-ork (and bear) were keeping an eye on the area that was not part of the keep proper. Vegetation, broken branches, and anything that would be a danger to them in the undergrowth. As a matter of course, he also looked up from time to time, the memories of being stooped upon by something that thought him edible having left a mark.
A shake of his head indicated that he saw nothing yet.
Ergrin looks and listens for any sign of movement but he has something in his eye ... and ears. 1d20+10=16
Augrok and Ergrin:
Kin Lur:
All:
From your vantage point there is a rather large breach in the wall directly ahead of you. You can see into the keep courtyard, several doors dot the walls inside. One inner wall has a large hole in it. The front of the keep, which you can see back on the trail, is smashed to pieces. The gate is flattened and the towers destroyed.
Whispering, "Walking right up to the home of a large, organized force, even if they are goblins... Something doesn't feel right." Kin Lur will start scanning the ground for sign other than the obvious - something that might indicate someone leaving the trail.
"What about that section of wall up there. It's not looking too healthy. Might be better than walking through the front gate."
He thinks for a second. "Or else it could be setup to look that way for a trap. Oh hells either way could be a trap. We should just pick one and move in."
Alexei knows not to leave uncleared areas behind him; he motions Kin Lur to peek in the doorway of the shed, while he and Ergrin stand by as backup. He also points to the half-orc and bear, points to his eyes, and then points to the ruined keep, attempting to indicate that the half-orc and bear should continue to watch for attacks from there.
Cringing at the amount of conversation and clumsy stumbling over rocks and leaves going on, Alexei tries to indicate that further conversation and movement should be kept to a minimum.
Alexei knows not to leave uncleared areas behind him; he motions Kin Lur to peek in the doorway of the shed, while he and Ergrin stand by as backup. He also points to the half-orc and bear, points to his eyes, and then points to the ruined keep, attempting to indicate that the half-orc and bear should continue to watch for attacks from there.
Ergin hesitates but realizes it is safer to only send one person up ahead. He will wait with Alexei.
Alexei catches Ergrin's attention and grins. Military experience has made him adept at motioning actions; he uses this knack with Ergrin now, indicating with gestures that the two of them should:
Mijanor, Augrok, Ur, Vykos, and the kid should stay put .
Indicating Jorr, Alexei motions tiptoing and lifts an eyebrow in a silent question: "Can you sneak well?"
---
Alexei catches Ergrin's attention and grins. Military experience has made him adept at motioning actions; he uses this knack with Ergrin now, indicating with gestures that the two of them should:
Trail Kin Lur stealthily ,
keep to the shadows , but
stay close enough to the halfling to immediately intervene if he should be attacked .
He makes eye contact with Ergrin to verify that the monk follows the import of his gesturing. Mijanor, Augrok, Ur, Vykos, and the kid should stay put .
Indicating Jorr, Alexei motions tiptoing and lifts an eyebrow in a silent question: "Can you sneak well?"
---
Ergrin nods to indicate he understood perfectly. He follows as quietly as a ghost.
Kin Lur nods to the soldier, zips his lip, and moves toward the shed.
Alexei: Jorr looks at you like you are crazy, then points to his feet - he is barefoot. He then puts his finger to his lips and points at you while grinning.
Kin Lur:
Alexei: Jorr looks at you like you are crazy, then points to his feet - he is barefoot. He then puts his finger to his lips and points at you while grinning.
Kin Lur: Are you investigating the shack?
Being here though doesn't preclude him discussing possibilities with those that are left. If we think of something we can discuss it with the scouts when they get back.
Being here though doesn't preclude him discussing possibilities with those that are left. If we think of something we can discuss it with the scouts when they get back.
Kin Lur: You reach the shack with no interference or signs of a trap. You may make a Perception (Visual) check before you continue.[spoiler]
Party Formation:
Kin Lur and Jorr are currently in FF19-20 ().
Alexei, Ergrin, Augrok+Ur are just in treeline (what would be S-T90).
Vykos, Mijanor, Weylan are deeper in the treeline (around W100).
Kin Lur: Whereabouts is Fourthea?
There is still no sign of activity.
Party Formation:
Kin Lur and Jorr are currently in FF19-20 ().
Alexei, Ergrin, Augrok+Ur are just in treeline (what would be S-T90).
Vykos, Mijanor, Weylan are deeper in the treeline (around W100).Kin Lur: Whereabouts is Fourthea?
There is still no sign of activity.
Drax:
Kin Lur:
Drax:
Alexei and Ergrin, having worked out their actions prior to Kin Lur's departure of the tree line, are close behind the halfling as he arrives at the shack. Hidden behind the shack from view of anyone in the ruins, Alexei motions to include the four of them (Alexei, Ergrin, Kin Lur, and Jorr), then indicates a curving route to the cave-in on the western side of the keep.
To those back at the tree line (including Augrok and Ur), he makes a "stay back" signal.
Mijanor chuckles, "Look at em scurryin all over the place. Won't catch me doin much o' that. Instead I bring down Torag's wrath upon thier 'eathen 'eads, and like em to see it a'commin, so then they do all the scurryin back inta thier stinkin 'oles."
Scouting Party:
You hustle quickly and quietly from behind the shack to the break in the wall. There is no noticeable reaction to your movement. The three of you now stand backs to the wall, out of line of sight through the break.
Alexei quickly steels his discipline and puts his mind back to the task at hand, his pleasant daydream forgotten.
Apologies, work is going to be very busy until next week. The adventure will continue after next Tuesday!
::bump::
Scouting Party: The party has clustered around U23 (logically the other two scouts would be in W23 and X23).
Treeline Gang: You notice no activity as the scouts creep up to the collapsed wall.
Perception, listening beyond collapse, looking for hints of movement
1d20+6=23.
Alexei:
You peer around the corner of the collapse, seeking anything to indicate the ruins are inhabited. You can make out every detail of the open-air courtyard in this light, including another smaller collapse of an interior wall to your left . The interior of this room is dark, but your keen eyes pierce this shadowed room. Your eyes are able to help your ears piece together what you perceive:
A large feral-looking creature, half-man/half-bull, sleeps on a man-made bed covered in furs. A large greataxe leans against the wall next to it. In the middle of the room sit several hobgoblins, apparently relaxing while chewing on hunks of cooked meat.
"Ugh, horse again?"
"Shuddup, meathead. You wanna wake him? You saw what he did to Skavag."
"Pox on him, Wyrmlord Koth'll tear him a new one if he kills any more of us."
"I heard Koth tell him to keep killin' us, so's to teach us a lesson. Says we can't afford to lose any more patrols."
Alexei makes the sign for a hobgoblin (hunching over in imitation of one) and holds up an estimated number of fingers. He also mimes being a huge, powerful figure, and holds fingers like horns on his head.
Alexei: Your odds would be pretty good, as the bed is along the south wall of the keep. The goblins are in the north/middle of the room, while the bed is along the middle of the south wall.
OK. Alexei motions at himself and Kin Lur, then mimics the horns on his head again. Motioning to the others, he motions for "follow us."
Soundlessly, he flexes his wrists, ensuring the scimitar and short sword grips aren't slippery with sweat.
OK. Alexei motions at himself and Kin Lur, then mimics the horns on his head again. Motioning to the others, he motions for "follow us."
Soundlessly, he flexes his wrists, ensuring the scimitar and short sword grips aren't slippery with sweat.
Kin Lur looks at Alexei quizzically, then nods. He draws his scimitar and readies to move at Alexei's sign.
Alexei charges the hulking sleeper, scimitar lashing down even as the hobgoblins look up from their bickering. He lets out a bloodcurdling scream (hopefully loud enough for those in the trees to hear) as he put eveything he has into the blow.
DICE ROLLS
Attack: 1d20+6+2 for charge = 17 (vs. flat-footed; bonus for attacking prone enemy not included).
Damage: 1d6+3 plus 1d6 sneak attack = 15, plus 1 bleed/rd.
INITIATIVE, to hopefully attack again before the bad guys react: 1d20+6 = 22.
Scimitar attack 1d20+5=24, damage 1d4=4
Kin Lur sprints right along behind Alexei, moving to the opposite side of the large figure and strikes with his scimitar, digging deep into the figure's side.
"I would've thrown a stone to wake 'im, and let 'im do our work for us. But, hey, I guess this could work too." mutters Ergrin as he follows behind the other two. Ergrin attacks with his stone fists, pounding on the man-bull.
Looking up suddenly, "Ya 'ear that lads?! Sounds like one a those flyin critters. Whadaya call 'em.......hawks! That's it! Think they squawk like that when a 'untin somethin." Mijanor looks pleased with himself and his ability to identify these surface critters.....
Just to clarify: On a surprise round you may take a standard action. To attack the sleeping monster during this round, you must charge.
Alexei: As you bolt through the collapsed walls and into the inner room, you suddenly feel a sharp pain in your left foot. Your leg gives out from under you, dropping you to one knee. Take 1 point of damage. Your movement is now halved. You end your turn in R20.
Kin Lur/Ergrin: With Alexei stalled in front of you, you may choose to not charge, or take your chances and charge through his square. Decision?
Other group: You clearly see the three scouts charging towards the breached wall. Alexei screams quite loudly. You may act during the first round.
Jorr fires an arrow at one of the seated hobgoblins, putting it square into his chest (critical hit, 16 damage). The hobgoblin lurches back stunned, but is clearly still up for a fight.
Initiative Order (rolled for others to speed things up):
Kin Lur - 23
Alexei - 22
Jorr - 19
Augrok and Ur - 18
Hobgoblins - 14
Mijanor - 13
Ergrin - 12
Vykos - 11
Large Enemy - 9
Weylan - 8
LiveJournal map is updated.
"What in the hells are they doing? Well we better get our arses up there before they get themselves into trouble."
Vykos moves as quickly as he can without running (double move) towards the breach in the wall, not sure what to expect.