With food and horses finally acquired, the four heroes are ready to leave Westbank for the northern trail and, eventually, the caves where they first encountered Makik, the hooded man and murderer of Morlough Merris.

It is afternoon when they depart. As luck would have it, Celador and Thorfire are stuck riding stubborn Ol' Charlie again. the horse does his best to throw the pair for a while before finally giving up and plodding along at a steady pace.

Therarak, having overslept for the entire morning, catches up with the party just as they are leaving and joins Lazaret on his slightly more cooperative steed. The stranger with the strange accent, however, is nowhere to be seen. Presumably, he went on his way south in search of more answers... and more orcs. Still, his brief appearance with the party was enough to save them from prison and potentially save the village from whatever the hooded man has planned.

As they trot out of town, a host of curious villagers observe. Most smile, although some still sneer.

Bobbin Glenfellow scurries alongside Lazaret for a moment as he rides. "Take good care of Cornelius. Don't let him wander off without telling you where he's going."

Harriet Livingston, the sickly young girl who they met on the trail some five days ago, scurries up to riders and hands them each cluster of daisies. She looks healthier than when they first met her. Whether it is from her own tough northern resilience or the healing help of Brother Walword is hard to say. Regardless, her smile warms day as the riders depart.

And Blackwing, as always, sits atop the head of Staal Stronghammer with a watchful eye on the horsemen. He caws twice as they depart, then turns his focus to other matters around the park.

The party makes good time on the northern road. They meet a few travelers heading south, but none have anything of particular value to tell the heroes. Nonetheless, Lazaret speaks to them at great length, and it is all the party can do to keep the tabaxi pointed north.

They reach the bridge at about sunset. Signs of the battle that they spotted last week are hard to identify now, as nature resets the once gruesome scene. The bridge, of course, is the place to turn west if returning to the cave. Finding the exact path there in the decreasing light, however, will prove difficult.

OOC: it is pushing 8:00 pm. You are at the bridge. Up to you whether to spend the night here or press on. There is a chance you will miss the cave altogether looking for it in this light (say DC 21). Finding it in daylight will be auto-success. But it's your call.

"It is getting late. I suggest we find a place to set up camp for the night," comments Celador as he dismounts his disagreeable steed.

"We should try to conceal our location in case our hooded friend is watching," he adds.


I say we wait here until tomorrow and then find the cave.

22:49, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 16 using 1d20+3.  survival. scouting a safe location for a camp.

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 3):

Good idea my pointy eared friend, we should set a watch too. I'll take the first watch.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 23:19, Sat 10 Feb 2018.

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 3):

I will help with the camoflauge to hide our location.

17:25, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 21 using 1d20+1. Survival, Camoflauge.

With the sun setting, the party finds a suitable spot to set up camp, away from the road and out of sight. Though chilly, they opt against a fire so as not to draw attention to their secluded position.

Thorfire takes the first watch, followed in turn by Therarak, Celador, and finally Lazaret. Aside from the occasional twitch of an animal in the wilderness, the night passes without event.

22:47, Today: DM rolled 36 using 1d100.  20% chance of random encounter overnight..

Morning comes and the four break camp and head west toward the cave they first visited a week ago. Celador recalls the landmarks and within a couple hours you easily ride to the final hill before the cave opening. From atop the approaching rise, you will be able to look down onto the cave in the face of the opposite hillside.

OOC: cave mouth will be facing you from the top of the hill.

In reply to DM (msg # 6):

Let us proceed with caution, who knows what kind of trap the hooded man has devised now that he knows we are on his trail.  Thorfire checks for traps as they approach the cave.

10:11, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 11 using 1d20+6, rerolling ones.  Sleight of Hand, checking for traps.

In reply to Thorfire Shortankard (msg # 7):

Good idea Thorfire, I will help check for traps too.

10:13, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Sleight of Hand, checking for traps.

"Let us be stealthy as we approach. You are correct in assuming that the hooded man will be expecting us," Celador adds as they reach the top of the hill overlooking the cave entrance. Celador takes his longbow and readies an arrow.

"Laz, you seem unusually quiet. Dare I say, 'cat got your tongue'?" he adds with a wink and a nudge.

23:47, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  stealth.

Do we see anything as the cave entrance comes into view

At the top of the hill, Therarak spots something standing in the cave mouth. Hidden partially in shadows, it stands with a slouch, yellowish gray flesh sagging from its limbs where they are not covered by tattered clothing. Slowly it rotates toward you, revealing the pathetic sentry has only one arm which hangs lifelessly from his left shoulder. In his hand he holds a large bell.

Back and forth the sentry rotates with a lost look upon his face.

OOC: Still about 200 feet to the mouth of the cave from the top of the neighboring hill where you now stand. There is no indication that the one-armed bell carrier has seen you.

In reply to DM (msg # 10):

Cover me lads, I am going to hobo kill the bell carrier.  I will call if I need help.

12:53, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 20 using 1d20+8, rerolling ones.  Stealth.

Assuming that a 20 stealth is sufficient to get the drop on the doorman...

12:55, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 17 using 1d20+6, rerolling ones.  Attack with Rapier.
12:57, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 13 using 2d8+4.  Rapier Damage (All hits on a creature that is surprised is a critical hit)
12:58, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 7 using 2d6.  Sneak Attack Damage.

As a bonus action, I will attempt to hide in plain sight.
12:59, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 21 using 1d20+8, rerolling ones.  Hide in Plain Sight.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:00, Wed 14 Feb 2018.

In reply to Thorfire Shortankard (msg # 11):

"And I am going to get that bell!"

Lazaret sneaks up to about 100' from the doorman. Once Thorfire begins to swing his rapier, he sprints forward using his cat's speed and grabs the bell from the zombie.

As Thorfire moves in, Celador continues to approach the entrance to the cave. He watches as the halfling does what a murder hobo does best. Celador pulls the bowstring taught and prepares to help finish the sentry off.

Celador moves to 100' and will fire an arrow if Thorfire doesn't kill him outright.


23:51, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Attack with long bow. NAT 20 (none of that rogue assassin BS)

23:52, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 16 using 2d8+3.  damage with long bow. CRIT DAMAGE

36 points of damage? I assume the zombie is dead before he hits the ground.

Thorfire sneaks easily across the valley and up the hillside toward the mouth of the cave. The halfling assassin pauses briefly when the sentinel's predictable gaze crosses his path, then returns to motion, progressing quickly to a position above the mouth of the cave.

By this time, Celador and Lazaret have also moved up, finding cover behind a outcropping of rock.

With a smile, Thorfire nods to Lazaret and Celador, then springs into action. The halfling's rapier strikes deep and produces a large moan from the shriveled, walking corpse, but it still stands. With another moan, it rotates toward his attacker with bell raised.

Before the rotten remains of a man can strike, however, an arrow strikes it through the neck, neatly decapitating it. As the head falls to the ground, so does the bell in his only arm, certain to make a clammer when it hits. But the noisemaker never reaches the ground. Instead, it falls into the diving hands of Lazaret, who catches it an inch from the stone floor with little more than a whisper.

Eventually, the headless remains from the rapier and arrow attacks slump to the ground alongside Lazaret.

From their position in the cave mouth, those with darkvision can see into the first room, some 30 feet down the northward passage. Nothing stirs within the chamber that they can see.

OOC: Map of the cave is back online as the main map. You are currently at the mouth.
Good teamwork nullifying the zombie sentinel.
Don't forget Therarak - unless I hear otherwise, I will assume he's moving with the group, staying at the back of the party.

 To silence the bell, Lazaret tears a piece of the zombies rags and wraps it around the clanger.
"I will shiny this up later. Now let's go inside and finish our work."