Ariella completes her circuit back to the door where Rikka is.
With Maeltheron and the priestess taking up flanking and cover positions, Alenthyn stays near Rikka as she knocks, bow casually in-hand.
Ariella completes her circuit back to the door where Rikka is.
The house itself is in terrible condition, you'd be hard pressed to find a section that is intact. There no intact window panes to speak of though a handful of sills still have shutters. The roof is breached by a large tree growing straight out of the center of what would be the living room and everything inside is quite moldy.
"Hm... perhaps it is abandoned? I see no great reason to rifle through the ratty furnishings. Shall we press on after the horde?"
Yes, let's keep moving.
"Agreed. Whatever happened here obviously continued onward." Ariella says.
Maeltheron steps into the deep forest to the right side of the swath of destruction, drawing up his hood, and melding into the trees to cover the flank of the party as they advance.
Stealth:
Perception:
Alenthyn watches them leave skeptically, "It might give us a clue who or what we're following. Even a cursory look around may shed some light on what we may be dealing with." He looks around to see if his ideas have any support.
If they have none, he'll follow the group without protest, bow at the ready.
Alenthyn watches them leave skeptically, "It might give us a clue who or what we're following. Even a cursory look around may shed some light on what we may be dealing with." He looks around to see if his ideas have any support.
If they have none, he'll follow the group without protest, bow at the ready.
Everyone else seems to be of a mind to continue on so I'm assuming you follow. Proceeding ahead you come to a clearing in the woods, upon a hill near the center of the clearing a ramshackle fortification sits on a small hill. It's a very simple affair and is missing some of the features that usually define a fortress. It lacks a stout gatehouse, crenelations or an upper floor for it's one and only building. It sits at the crossing of several small streams, it's walls are coated in a thin veil of green that stretches over every visible surface. The things that might have once been the barred doors lie sideways within the threshold half rotted. Coming towards the fortification from the north you a road that leads away from the fort into the woods to the east. The trail you've been following through the woods cuts a clear path across several streams and follows that path. The trail over the open ground looks like a plow tilling raw earth.
Rikka nudges her horse into a slow walk towards the hill, looking for signs the foot/hoof-prints of the other adventurers' separated from the 'tilled earth' of their quarry and possibly head towards the strange fortress.
Ariella continues to follow the elves. Examining the fortifications as they pass.
Maeltheron enters the clearing and approaches Rikka while examining the ground for signs of a similar nature as she - tracks separating themselves from the "tilled earth".
See anything, Rikka?
Perception:
As the group follows the strange trail of upturned earth and destruction, the gangly elf stays mostly stooped over in his saddle, looking at the ground as much as anything else... though he does attempt to keep an ear on their surroundings.
He watches for a number of things. He watches to see if the tracks they had originally followed deviate from the bigger, 'tilled earth' trail. He watches for any details about what creature could make such a trail -- as well as any details he can recall about such a creature. And finally, as the group approaches within sight of the strange fortress, he tries to determine from a distance what the green on the walls is, and if it can give him any clues about the place's age or occupants.
Perception: 1d20+11
1d20+10
Rikka doesn't notice it, but Maeltheron, a ways off from the stream there does seem to be a set of tracks that forks off to the right.
Ariella continues to follow the elves. Examining the fortifications as they pass.
The fortifications seem to be in a state of ruin, as you pass closer to the front you can see the front gate was battered down at some point and no replacement was made. Strangely some of the crenelations seem to be free of the creeping green that plagues the rest of the wall.
You hear and see nothing out of the ordinary.
Survival (tracking) - to see if their original trail diverges the new, bigger tilled-earth one... 1d20 + 10
It's hard to tell, the earth has been turned over and the dirt thrown up by it's passing seems to have obscured whatever other footprints there may have been immediately next to the tilled path.
Knowledge: Arcana, Dungeoneering, & Nature (to identify the creature that made the trail and its abilities/weaknesses)
Arcana 1d20 + 12
Dungeoneering 1d20 + 12
Nature 1d20 + 12
While it could be a number of things you think and crosscheck with all the creatures that may have left tracks like this. Judging from it's tracks it is most likely a tree of some kind. Whether an animated tree, awakened tree or just a simple treant it's impossible to say from just it's tracks though you narrow it down to a creature of the arborical variety.
And finally, a Kniwledge (Nature) roll to see what information can be gleaned from the green on te walls of the fort.
Knowledge: Nature 1d20 + 12.
It's moss, judging from the amount that's growing it must have been years since the walls were scoured.
Frustrated with the confused trail and gauging the dwindling daylight, Rikka slides from the saddle. "Let's scout around. If we are forced to camp tonight, this could provide a defensible location."
"Yes, we should at least glance inside. Did we lose the trail?" Ariella agrees with Rikka, before asking the elves.
I think not, Ariella. Alenthyn, there appear to be some tracks leading off over there to the right. Can you pick up the trail?
Alenthyn nods, "I believe so. Whatever made these tracks -- and it seems to have been some kind of tree animal -- it's made the original tracks hard to read. But I've seen no tracks deviating from the tree-creature's trail until those up there."
He nods at Rikka's suggestion, but his long face wrinkles up a bit. "Better than nothing. Though I'm surprised how often abandoned structures attract often dangerous squatters. Looking around is smart, and a careful search of the fort is in order as well." He takes a quick look around, "Pay special attention to the trees and plants. I'm not sure what to look for, but that's my best guess on this big trail."
"So we do the searches in teams? Maeltheron could be useful when checking out the structure... if I remember you always had a way with staying out of tight spots?"
Sounds good, Alenthyn, I will take a look around inside. Be sure to pick up these tracks that I showed you. It will serve us well to know where they ultimately go when we are done here. Who will join me inside? Rikka?
"A sound plan. I will accompany you Alenthyn." Ariella replies.
Sounds good, Alenthyn, I will take a look around inside. Be sure to pick up these tracks that I showed you. It will serve us well to know where they ultimately go when we are done here. Who will join me inside? Rikka?
Rikka wraps her horse's reins over a branch. "Certainly. This should be fun." She pulls her sword a quarter inch from its sheath, debating whether to draw it out. She hilts it firmly instead.
Maeltheron grins at Rikka as they move forward into the ruins.
Perception:
Alenthyn nods as Rikka and Maeltheron head towards the castle. Then he turns to Ariella. There are a few awkward moments where he just looks at her. Finally, he shrugs and dismounts, wrapping his own reins around a branch with enough slack for the horse to crop at its leisure.
Bow in-hand as always, the lanky elf (without preamble) heads off to where the second trail seems to diverge from the tree-trail. Along the way, he's quietly careful, feet whispering over the wild grasses. After some careful inspection of the immediate area, he follows that trail for ten minutes, getting its general direction before doubling back.
When he gets back to the clearing, he takes a slow circuit around the area. He looks for game trails. He looks for predator territory markings. And he looks at the area in general to determine what kinds of threats might naturally live in this area.
Ariella follows Alyn, as unobtrusively as she can.
Oh you're Ragar! Hehehe. Sorry for starting all the trouble, but Ranus is just that way.
"Yes, I am a servant of Sarenrae. How do you earn your living when not hunting shadow beasts?" She replies.
He picks up a leaf, sniffs it, touches it to his tongue, then drops it before replying. "Hunting other things, I suppose. Not sure I could call it a living, but there's always something that needs finding. Or creatures that need hunting. Sword arms are easy to find... skilled trackers? Not so much." He shifts subjects without missing a beat, "Much money in priestessing for Sarenrae?"
"Depends. My parents were also clergy, very wealthy ones. I was raised in Kep in all the luxury I could ever want. But I've chosen to only take what I can use to better help others. I am a priestess itinerant, dedicated to helping the simple folk of the land." She hesitates for a moment before continuing, "So you normally hunt people?"
Your assumption is correct. and yes, you have lost the dwarf, he had other things he would rather do.
Beyond the human element, Jackal's Folly isn't known for any particularly viscious predators. They have a few of the normal ones, wolves, badgers maybe. They usually stay well away from any humans. You come across no animal signs.
On the topic of that deviated path. You follow the tracks into the woods to the south. It leads into a growth of thornvine but it looks like a path has been hacked out. Behind the thrornvine there seems to be some sort of old game trail leading deeper into the woods. About a half mile of winding switchbacks later you come to what was obviously an encampment at some point nestled in the hollow of a rather large tree. Scraps of cloth, apple cores, and animal bones litter the area and the remains of a campfire sit near the west edge of this camp, the coals at the very bottom still have some heat in them. At this point the sun is sitting fairly low in the sky, there is perhaps a few more hours of daylight before the sun sets.
"So you normally hunt people?"
The gangly elf answers as he looks around the hidden camp they've discovered. "Hunting's probably not the right word. There's always people looking to find.. and kill... other people. Thieves, murderers, highwaymen, monsters, people that act like monsters, monsters that act like people. The skills for tracking are nearly identical to those for hunting." As he talks, his senses cast around for a few minutes, seeking any answers in the evidence of the encampment.
"I see. There are certainly men and beasts that need hunting and killing. This world the gods saw fit to leave us is far from perfect, but we can only trust that they will protect us. The sun will always come up tomorrow, you can bet your last gold piece on that." She pauses for a moment. "Oh my, listen to me. I sound like a children's song. Anyway, I'm glad I'm working with you and not your quarry." She says with a smile.
Rikka takes in the carpet of flowers, the enchanting smell, and the semi-built fortress. She puts a restraining hand on Mael's arm and shakes her head. "Something smells wrong here." She casts her eyes about for any fresh tracks, evidence of a subterranean entrance, or something to explain the seemingly unnatural flowers.
Just fyi, I'm separating the posts into spoilers at this time simply to make it easier to understand who I'm talking to, if you're curious you can take a look.
You see a couple boot prints but mostly bare feet. The tracks here in the ruins of this little camp are far better preserved than those you found out in the open.
Maeltheron steps back, and notches an arrow upon Rikka's warning.
What's the problem here? I see the remains, but I do not understand the siggnificance of the flowers. Are these buruial mounds?
Maeltheron pushes aside the flowers of some of the closest mounds to determine if there is any subterranean entrances under them.
Perception:
Knowing only the legends of the gnarled and strange plants that live in her barren homeland, Rikka can only guess at the exotic flora here. "The dead are usually below their mounds, not atop them. These plants may feed on death or look to snare a living meal. Tread carefully."
Rikka keeps on watch as Mael searches, her hand resting lightly on the long hilt of her katana.
Maeltheron steps back, and notches an arrow upon Rikka's warning.
What's the problem here? I see the remains, but I do not understand the siggnificance of the flowers. Are these buruial mounds?
Maeltheron pushes aside the flowers of some of the closest mounds to determine if there is any subterranean entrances under them.
Perception: 1d20+11
You find no subterranean entrances, you do find that many of the mounds are corpses, almost fully decomposed skeletons. Pushing aside some flowers you find that these roses have no thorns.
Rikka hrumphs and toes the roses out of her way to get a better look at a few of the corpses before turning her attention to the building. "I'll check there."
Rikka hrumphs and toes the roses out of her way to get a better look at a few of the corpses before turning her attention to the building. "I'll check there."
1d20+10
If you decide to pull apart the rosebed to find out there is indeed equipment beneath, though most of it is in pretty bad shape all the blades carry a smattering of rust. The clothed skeletons wear garments that have been slashed to pieces at some places but the bones themselves for the most part are unmarked.
Within the building is a common room partitioned by several screens. To the right of you as you enter looks to have been a cooking area, over a firepit is a blackened pot filled with some sort of burnt gruel swarming with flies. To the left of the entrance is a weapons rack filled with an assortment of swords, axes and spears, most of them in poor quality with nicks and chips. Behind the screens there are an assortment of pallets in various states of dishevelment, a number of them with chests at their feet. Aside from the mice you hear squeaking when you enter there seems to be nothing else here.
Maeltheron will search the chests for traps and to determine if they are locked.
Perception:
Maeltheron will search the chests for traps and to determine if they are locked.
Perception: 1d20+11
They are not locked and not trapped.
Maeltheron searches through the chests for anything of value.
Looks pretty deserted Rikka. Let's grab what we can and get back to the others.
Maeltheron also checks for below-ground entrances from inside the structure.
Perception:
Rikka regards the pitted armor and weapons, "There seems little of value here. I'd wager these men were nothing more than outlaws." She leaves the dead alone and walks out with Mael to catch up to the rest of the party.