"You are quick to assume leadership, friend Corym" said Dorian, not unpleasantly "Under these dire circumstances your familiarity with your own group outweighs any concerns I, as an outsider, may have."

"Besides, any Elf who is so trusted by a beardless Dwarf must have great quantities of friendship and loyalty, indeed!" Dorian said with a smile.

"In the way of skills I am at home in the woods, on the road, in the streets and at court" the Elf shrugged "I must confess that, in this place, I have little to offer against Demons and Devils or the like save my bow, which I prefer, and my swords, if it comes to it."

"If you wish to climb that tower I will 'cover you' with my bow, if you wish company in your climb and reconnaissance I will volunteer to follow you as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Mon 31 Dec 2018.

"I assume nothing but the leadership of those that have already elected me. Kora is my apprentice, but has only just completed her training in arms.  Krackor is young in years, but stout in heart." Corym bows a little to Dorian, "I have all ideas that your name stands higher than mine in our homeland, so I must beg excuse for my lack of formality.  But for now, the time is dear and the danger is near, and formality a luxury ill-afforded." 

"Formality and station count only for gravestones in a place like this." Dorian agreed "You lead and I will follow."

Katarn shook his head at the talk of courtesies and formality in a place deadly like this. Only elves... he thought with a smile none could see.

"So ye were climbing a tower Corym...? If ye fall I can lead these others south if'n that's the direction to exit here." his invisible voice sounding from different parts of the clearing as he walked a circuit.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Mon 31 Dec 2018.

Following Coryms lead now it was established on the immediateness of their situation, Krackor felt it right to follow suit.

There seriousness of their situation made the young Dwarf's face look concerned with a small smile, this smile will have to do for now he thought to himself.

As titles go, I have a few bestowed through my dedication to Gorm Fire Eyes, a High Old One at such a young age, which I don't feel I should have, So I stand by that which I feel I do deserve; Lord Protector Steelfist of Oak Haven, Lord Protector and Guardian of the Dreams of the Ancients Exploration Company.

My foremost role is Guardian, the trainer and more recently, brewer.  I may sleep during the day so I can watch over night, or at least when we have a wagon and horses He sighs a moment as he remembers Greymount, his mount. I suggest further introductions be made once we have a Safe place to do them in.

Looking at Corym and Dorian, he nods, then moves to follow Katarn and Talathel.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Mon 31 Dec 2018.

14:49, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 30 using 1d100.  Climbing .

I’m going to try to scale a tower—something nearby, not the tallest, just y’all enough to get a good vantage.

Satisfied that she wouldn't find herself in a dangerous place all alone, when the talk turned to titles and who was boss of whom, she quickly lost interest. Tucking her pretty decanter away in one of the many pockets in her girdle, she made certain her sword and dagger were hanging where they ought, then pulled out her little crossbow. Prepared now should something untoward happen, Sirenya turned her attention to the ground and the things upon it nearby, starting with the other's feet.

After taking note of footwear and size -- and bearing in mind someone was wandering around invisibly, she pushed the wild mane of red hair back over her shoulder and started casting for tracks in the immediate area. She looked both for signs of recent or regular travel, as well as any evidence of animals. There was nothing better than chatting up the locals to find out if there were any notable threats roaming about, after all.


Tracking check to look for signs of passage other than the party's own, and for local fauna:
20:56, Today: Sirenya rolled 13 using 1d20 ((13))

Corym

Not far ahead of you is a small cluster of towers, each about thirty feet tall. The sides facing you are covered in vines, making the stonework easy to climb. As you do, you try to take a closer look at the construction. Definitely elven, probably dating to a few centuries before or after the opening of the mythal.

The top of the tower has been shattered, and there are several large holes that have been punched into the exterior wall. But you're able to find plenty of hand holds and get almost thirty feet of elevation.

The tower is on the northern end of the grove that contains the gate that brought you here. You have decent sight lines to the south and west. Several other buildings are blocking your sight east, and you can't see north at all. From what you can make out, you're in a decidedly elven part of the city. All of the buildings are graceful stone towers or curving and fluid buildings. Some of the larger trees still have the remnants of wooden buildings in their branches.

It's hard to tell whether you're close to the edge of the city. There are a lot of trees, and dozens of ruined buildings in your line of sight. Things might clear out a bit to the west, but you're not entirely sure.

What is certain is that perched on the roof of a building two hundred feet to the west is a red, reptilian creature. It's six feet of sinewy muscle and looks like someone took a gargoyle from an overly-dramatic human temple and covered it with blood. It's watching the grove, invisible from the ground behind the broken stone of the roof. To the south, you see a pair of gargoyles flying slowly through the ruined buildings about fifty feet above the ground. Their not exactly headed in your direction, but they aren't not, either.

Sirenya

You look around at the ground, but it's all a bit of a mess. It's rained recently, there's thick grass, and while there are certainly some tracks (you recognize deer prints and what could be a dog or a wolf), you can't figure out anything in particular.

((ooc: Half the party has Direction Sense, so I'm just going to start using cardinal directions immediately.))

Corym scampers back down the tower and hurries back to his party.  DM: I'm trying to move silently, but doing so quickly--taking a penalty if necessary.  12:15, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 22 using 1d100. In a furtive whisper "There are a pair of gargoyles flying this way from the South--we need to find cover from the air! This grove is watched from the West"

He saved the remainder of his recommendations until everyone was secured.  He knew that the party could likely defeat the gargoyles, but the struggle could easily rouse the attention of the devil surveying the grove.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Tue 01 Jan 2019.

"A fiend already eh? That was quick... I don't fear the gargoyles, but 'm not lookin' ta fight a devil. I kin use silence to shroud a battle against the gargoyles if'n it comes ta that. I kin also call a magical barrier again' evil, but it only lasts a short time."

With that Katarn, though invisible still, searched about and sought cover, unsure of what fiendish eyes could and could not see.

No sign of badgers or bunnies or even ground squirrels; Sirenya was a little disappointed there was no one around with whom to talk. She wasn't sure if the area was too dangerous for such gentle creatures, but surely if there were deer, the smaller animals would be present somewhere, too.

Fiend? Gargoyles? She turned around, hearing that, looking for but not seeing who was speaking. Sounded like a dwarf, though. She didn't like the idea of either creature he mentioned, and hurried back to where the others were clustered. Looking toward the elf who she'd seen climbing the tower, she asked, "Can we hide in that tower?"

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 32):

Observing Corym's return and words. With Gargoyles around, now I'm glad our mounts are not here Corym.


Krackor double checks his crossbow, it may not be his repeating bow but at least he has it.  Then he remembered other fights.  Has anyone fought these before and know how to beat them?

Kora looks up and around, searching the rooftops for a sign of what Corym is describing. "Flying fiends? Do you think it's going to bring more down on us?"

"Yes, my original bands faced a flight of gargoyles once.  As in all such encounters, it helps to have a berserker Calishite cavalier with an heirloom blade."



"To the west perched atop a cracked tower was a blood red winged fiend, it's gaze focused on the grove we popped up in.  My guess is that we're not the first to have emerged from that gate the fiends of Baator are rigidly hierarchically structured.  It certainly has superiors to report to, and support to summon."

"If our rangers have no better solution, it may soon be our only one."

Either of ya'll have the camoflouge proficiency?

No berserker Calishite here by the looks of it, does anyone have an heirloom blade?  If that means magical, I have my dagger and can summon a Guardian Hammer.


The tall Dwarf's customary beaming smile then returns. Not a small red dragon then! That's a relief
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Wed 02 Jan 2019.

"We should move, then." Dorian agreed as he readied his Long Bow and moved like a shadow toward the tower.

((ooc: Dorian, there are ruined towers in all directions. Which way are you moving? North, south, east, west?))

OOC: Oh sorry.  The one Sirenya mentioned and Corym climbed.

"I've the morningstar of me ancestor Frór, it is imbued with magics, though nothin' spectacular. Let's get to that tower if'n that's where we're goin' ta hunker." said Katarn's invisible voice. He tried his best to walk stealthily, but he'd never learned that knack, especially with his ring shrouding his form.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Thu 03 Jan 2019.

Once people started moving, Sirenya didn't linger to hear more. She hurried forward toward the tower, keeping close to whatever tree or bush promised some cover from being seen from above.

When she could see the walls of the structure itself, though, she slowed and grew more cautious. Was there a doorway, or opening broken into the building on their side? More importantly perhaps, did it look as though anyone else was using that for passage?

Cohn followed Dorian.

You run toward the tower. It has an open doorway facing the open space you arrived in; any door it might have held is long gone. Nothing bars your passage.

Inside, the tower's first floor turns out to be a single, open room about thirty feet in diameter. The ceiling is about nine feet high, and a partially-destroyed staircase wraps around the back wall. The room's use isn't immediately apparent; there is a layer of dirt and fallen leaves covering the floor, the walls are bare, and there is nothing on the ground aside from a few pieces of broken masonry and some shattered wood that might once have been furniture.

There are also two additional exits. One was once a back door. The other is a gaping hole six feet wide and tall that is punched through the east wall. They, along with several windows, provide plenty of light, though one of the windows seems to be filled with what on the inside looks like a light mist.

Dorian takes the tower in with a quick glance before stepping to the side for the others to enter.  The mist seemed out of place so he pointed it out to whoever followed next "Mind that window." he hissed.  Once everyone was inside he took up a hidden position at the door, with bow ready, in case their rapid flight was followed by unfriendly inhabitants.

Katarn sets himself against a wall as opposite to the mist filled window as possible to keep an eye on it, then set himself to wait. His mind wandering over the many caches and such that he would leave unfilled on this trip and what his fellow Trailblazers would think of his absences in the coming days and weeks. Hopefully I can get out of here and get them a message soon enough some time, he thought to himself as his invisible form rested against the tower wall.

He turned his ears to listening for what noises he could in this dreadful and dreary place. "Surprised this city isn't haunted by more than fiends..." he muttered quietly.