There’s a rope hanging from a pulley shaft of the well and it goes straight under the water level. The rope is in tension, so at the end there must be a weight, and it is in good conditions.

[OOC building #1 is the south entrance to the tower, i.e. the passage you used to get in, the one that was closed with a rusty iron gate ;) ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:12, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

Galendra stays with Rorn at the well.

The rope is in tension, so at the end there must be a weight, and it is in good conditions.

"Sir Roland, hold a moment," Rorn calls out.  He hands Gal the torch, grateful for the fisherwoman's nearby presence in the desolate tower.

He then starts cranking on the winch, using the rope-and-pulley mechanism to lift the bucket out of the well.

Assuming the bucket is simply full of water, Rorn lets it drop back down with a shrug and then re-joins the knight and the elf for further explorations.  "Check the stables?  We should be able to tell how long Sir Gallaharn has been gone from how unused it looks?"

On the other hand, if the bucket has something of interest, he pulls it up entirely before investigating said clue with the help of the torchlight.

My mental map
#1  Entrance
#2  Well
#3  Outside the tower (unexplored, but also uninteresting flatland?)
#4  Stables (unexplored)
#5  Door to interior .. perhaps stairs?  Should check that out next




This message was last edited by the player at 04:00, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

The bucket emerges with a small but relatively heavy iron casket. Oilskin is trapped under the lid, as if for maintaining the contents dry while the casket was under water.
You can appreciate that the rope isn't significantly damaged by staying under water.

Sir Roland squeezes his eyes shut for a moment and shakes his head, as if to clear the exhaustion and tension clouding his mind. Noting that Rorn has found something at the well, he stays where he is but takes a quick look over.

"What's that you have found Rorn?"

OOC - Sorry guys...don't know how I could misread the map. But yeah, let's see what's this oilskin thingy at the bucket, then look to the stables.

The casket contains:
❖ A leather pouch with a small emerald inside.
❖ An ivory amulet with the effigy of a woman (Sir Roland recognizes it as Sir Gallaharn’s wife).
❖ A piece of parchment with writings on it:


[OOC don't worry, I just realized I misread the map early on... ;)
That's just the courtyard: the tower itself is past door #5, to the east - apologies.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:38, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

Sir Roland's heart thuds heavily. The bold handwriting is unmistakably Sir Gallaharn's. A grim look on his face, he looks up at his comrades. "This is Sir Gallaharn's hand. Now we know why there had been no news from him." The knight takes the whole oilskin package from Rorn, wraps it back carefully, then places it in his own backpack.

"The hope of rescue of Sir Gallaharn is now but a sliver. I am afraid he is likely already succumbed to the evil. We might even have to fight him to vanquish this evil beast..."

"I have not heard of this beast, this Fiend. Have you any knowledge friend Garl? Or any of you?"

OOC - I am assuming Sir Roland recognizes Sir Gallaharn's handwriting. Would you allow that Director? Of course I am also assuming this letter is indeed written by Sir Gallaharn.

Here is a (successful) magic lore roll, in case it is appropriate.


01:07, Today: Garl Ligoosh rolled 8 using 2d6.  Magic lore.

Garl can't recognize nor detect any magic.

[OOC Sir Roland, although not very used to reading and writing, can recognize his friend's handwriting.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:09, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

Galendra tells you that at Gallows End there are bedtimes fairytales about "winter demons" hidden near Hellwinter Peak, discouraging children from wandering too far from the village in winter.
However, there are similar ones about "talking wolves" in the Forest of Brom, still discouraging young ones from wandering in the forest in autumn...
She guesses that everywhere there are bedtime stories trying to scare children from walking away from home...

Sir Roland takes a moment to survey the company's status.

OOC - How badly are we wounded? And for Garl, how expended are you in terms of magical energy? Do we need a rest for the night?

Sir Roland is fresh.

If we are relatively fresh, I thought we should push ahead by torchlight to explore the keep.

“I still possess copious amounts of magical energy, for the time being.”  Garl folds his arms and twitches his nose.

The casket contains ...  A piece of parchment with writings on it

Like most of the great un-washed, Rorn's ability with letters to limited to the local pub's common menu and writing his name and maybe a few other common things.  As for reading, well, he listens closely to Sir Roland's narrative.

the Fiend came from the Crystal Cage

Fiend? Cage?  That didn't sound good.

The emerald and amulet look like significant treasures; who knows what other wealth was lying around this abandoned tower!?  Not greedy, Rorn is still practical.  Also pragmatic: Sir Gallaharn sounded most certainly dead or fled.  Hopefully the latter!

I am afraid he is likely already succumbed to the evil. We might even have to fight him to vanquish this evil beast..."

"If we must," Rorn says, more grimly than he intended as the horror of a possible possession strikes home.  He can tell from Roland's set-of-jaw that they were not going to be heading back to his superiors with the news.  No, it definitely looked like they would be investigating said Fiends and Cages.

Sir Roland takes a moment to survey the company's status.

Still bruised from falling in the pit and then the goblin "rains", Rorn will be fully recovered after a good night of sleep.

Down 1 luck point and 11/14 Stamina so far.  My vote is to rest up

"Clear the stables, get an early rest and then rise early as well?" Rorn suggests hopefully.  The idea of further exertions after the long day of travel and seemingly endless climbing felt daunting.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Fri 26 Jan 2018.

Sir Roland considers Rorn's proposal and nods.

"We shall clear the stables and rest the night in there. The walls are good solid stone. Hopefully they will shelter us from this infernal cold and freezing wind."

"What say you friends?"

“I suggest that we search those walls very thoroughly first.”

[OOC: Gal down two STAMINA points, Larson down one point and Rorn down three points. Everybody lost quite a few points of LUCK, but they will come back at the end of this adventure anyway and not after a night of good rest. Overall not too bad.]

Sir Roland glances around at his companions, noting their exhaustion and their wounds. We could all do with rest.

"Then let's clear out some space, and have ourselves some rest for the night, out of this abysmal weather." He motions for the party to follow his lead, then turns back to nod at Larson, before making his way towards the stables.

OOC - Formation as follows: Larson and Sir Roland 1st row, followed by Garl and Galendra, and Rorn brings up the back.

The doors are broken and rotting, even in this cold climate, so you can peer inside. From outside, you don't hear nothing and you can't see anything that does suggest this is not a stable in miserable conditions, although you can't see it all. What really hits you even from the outside, is an horrible smell.

Torch held high, Rorn stands in the stables doorway and looks around.  He walks in slowly, assuming the bad smell is coming from dead animals and/or rotten food.

Actions
Go in about 10 feet
Look all around
Awareness: 9

11:21, Today: Rorn rolled 9 using 2d6.  Awareness, scan stables.

Garl keeps looking over his shoulder... just in case.

As soon as Rorn steps into the stable, he realizes that on a corner there is a big horse that, despite being decoposing, is still standing perfectly still and silence!
The horrible beast suddenly turns its head towards Rorn, that can feel his goosebumps, and attacks.
[Private to Sir Roland Halfstaff: This dead beast still moving reminds you Sir Gallaharn's loyal warhorse. You can't be 100% sure, however, due to the conditions of the animal.]

Unless surprised, or otherwise rooted to the spot, Rorn flees the hell-stable before the dead thing can get close.

With a (somewhat girlish) scream he steps behind Lars.  "Zombie horse!!"

OOC - Looking at the state of decomposition, can Sir Roland determine how long has the horse been dead?

11:03, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 7 using 2d6.  Attack dead horse. 7+8+2 = 17
11:06, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 3 using 1d6.  Damage. 3

"Back to the Abyss foul beast!" Stepping forward, Sir Roland makes a mighty swing at the creature's rotting head.

Gal unsheathes her sword and helps Sir Roland.

[OOC 21:23, Today: The Director, on behalf of Galendra, rolled 7 using 2d6.  sword attack.]

Sir Roland and Galendra attack the dead mare, but Sir Roland can't hit it, while Galendra is hurt.

[OOC Sir Roland estimates that the horse died few weeks ago.]