Spriggy hurried to help bolster Gorrid's poor delivery. The guy meant well, but exciting a crowd into risking their lives didn't seem to be his strong suit. "We have already interrogated one of his assistants, and there is sure to be a lot of interesting magical stuff at this place, if that is your thing." Although, now that he thought about it, boasting a necromancer's profane magics as a selling point probably wasn't the right move...

---

14:04, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 5 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,2.  Aid Gorrid's Aid.
Hahaha, XP!

The offer doesn't seem to excite the guild members you see. Most of them look like they came back from their own adventure, and not eager to jump back on the road. Especially when there's no clear reward waiting at the end.

The only ones you can see that are clearly rested are two guys who always seem to hang around, Russel Albion and Leo Dunn. As they notice you're looking at them, they wave their hands. "No, no thanks," Leo says. "I'm alergic to undeads..."

Before Russel can make up his own excuse, Garth seems to rise behind them, and grab both in a double headlock. "It's been a month since you last did any work. Do you plan on just sitting here and racking up a bar tab?" The two struggle in Garth's grasp, but it's clear they can't break the burly man's hold.

OOC: Russel is a Burglar 2/Warrior 1, and Leo is a Minstrel 2/Priest 1. Both of them will work for a share of the loot... and to get out of Garth's grasp.

The redhead pirouettes on one foot atop the stool to face her companions.  "Weeeell, what say you?  Shall we have this pair join our quest or let Garth rattle their heads and toss them outside in the street?"

OOC: I'm good with those terms.

Also Gorrid, Adept was my 1st inclination but talked myself out of it for some reason.  Probably should have gone with it.

But I admit, I enjoy the hirelings.  Just never know what they'll add to the mix :)

"They are guild members like the rest of us, and we might have use of the extra hands. I say let them come along and start pulling their weight." Spriggy didn't exactly have high hopes for the two slackers, but still hoped they would surprise him.

With your group settled, and your supplies gathered, you set out toward the coast, before heading south into the forest.

Despite having not visited this part of the forest, it doesn't seem too different from the parts you've already seen. The smell of moldering trees is unpleasant as you travel, and you wonder what the furtive shadows darting between the trees are...

At least Leo and Russel stopped complaining once you passed the frontier, though it's more out of a desire to not draw attention than because they warmed up to your quest.

OOC: It will take 12 rations to reach the necromancer's tower. Time to make your Perilous Journey rolls!

Who are your Trailblazer, Scout, and Quartermaster?

Sir Gorrid could feel the tug of the tower like a loadstone in his chest.  That didn't mean it was always obvious what trails to take, but past experience with the forest helped him guide the party along efficiently.

quote:

11:13, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,3.  Trailblazer.

Figure it makes sense for me to take that one given that I've got the direction sense...

So our time to travel is reduced (and maybe rations too?)

The redhead took the lead, moving ahead to Gorrid's direction and watching for any signs of threat.  The trees and foliage restricted all's view so she would return briefly to report or occasionally be sighted ahead along the trail.  Sometimes she was observed skipping, once feeding a squirrel and a third killing a rather large centipede that she claimed was evil and had mystic abilities that "creeped her out".

08:08, Today: Kharla rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,3.  Scout.
✴ On a 7–9, each role performs their job as expected: no one gets the drop on you but you don’t get the drop on them either.

Sir Gorrid did his best to tolerate his 'atypical' scout, but he did try to keep an extra ear out when the thief seemed overly distracted.

quote:

10:13, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 11 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,4.  Aid Kharla.

That'll bump Kharla to a 10, so we get the drop :>

Istvan tries to make sure everyone doesn't eat up all their supplies...

(11:56, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,4.  Quartermaster..

the normal number of rations are consumed)

Spriggy, having loaded his cart up with so many rations, did his best to help Istvan dole out appropriate portions of food for everyone.

---

Let's bump that to a ten too.
12:37, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,5.  Aid Istvan.
Istvan gets +1, but Spriggy also exposes himself to danger, retribution, or cost.

OOC: You manage to drop the ration cost to 10, but...

Spriggy thought he had a brilliant idea to reduce the strain on their rations by asking any animals he saw for food they could eat. And the animals have been quite helpful, too. Unfortunately... those animals aren't too familiar with what humans normally eat, let alone elves. So unfortunately, the bard find himself forced to make an emergency potty break to deal with his digestion issues.

That wouldn't be so bad, if not for the large gray humanoid that seems to have noticed the smell, and is heading toward him...

While the group waits for the Spriggy to return, Gorrid decided to stay rather close to the elf, in case of trouble. So when Kharla heard something moving through the bush, the paladin found himself in the perfect position to ambush the creature.

OOC: So a Gray Render has caught Spriggy with his pants down, while Gorrid is has the surprise for his first action. The rest of the group has to run in to intervene. What do you do?

Sir Gorrid muttered a quick prayer to Gianam to strengthen his sword, then stepped out from behind a tree once the deadly monstrosity had passed.  "Your death to Gianam's glory"  His stroke was quick and precise, stabbing deep under the creature's arm-pit as it turned, claws outstretched in response to his words.

quote:

15:03, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,3.  Cast magic weapon on my sword.
15:03, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,3.  Hack & slash.
15:04, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 17 using d10+3d4+1 with rolls of 8,4,3,1.  Damage.

"That's the last time I trust a brown berry brought to me by a toad," Spriggy muttered as he grabbed yet another leaf. Then he heard a crashing sound and looked over to see Gorrid attacking a gray monstrosity that was frighteningly close to where the bard was sitting.

"Ah! By the blood of Brightmoon, what is that!" Spriggy was almost glad that he had already been squatting over a hollow stump. Because if he hadn't needed one before, he certainly would have needed one now.

Whatever the creature was, he was glad that Gorrid had "grabbed its attention" so that Spriggy could focus on getting his trousers back where they would be needed for running purposes.

Kharla shadowed the Gray Render (she knew it was there!  prove otherwise!) and as Sir Gorrid attacked she chose to make her own assault upon it's unguarded backside...

If the beast is focused on Sir Gorrid and not expecting any attack from its backside, will just take the default from Backstab+Cheap Shot, +1 Piercing (because +1 Piercing!):
16:33, Today: Kharla rolled 12 using d8+d6 with rolls of 8,4.  Backstab the Gray Render.

Oooooor....if it's aware and a Hack and Slash roll is more appropriate...
16:35, Today: Kharla rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,5.  Hack and Slash with Rapier, +1 Piercing.
- eat it Gray Render!

16:37, Today: Kharla rolled 1 using 1d8 with rolls of 1.  Dmg Hack & Slash.
-eeeeeeeeh bite me

The beast stumbles under Gorrid's blow. As it turns to fight back, Kharla slips behind it, jabbing her blade between two of it's vertebrae, felling the creature. Judging by it's tracks, the creature was traveling alone, though you can't tell where it came from.

Once Spriggy is ready to travel once more (the scare did a good job of cleaning his bowels), you resume your travel through the forest.

A few days later, Lady Seraph starts to correct your course, as despite Gorrid's divine guidance, the magic in the area manages to get you turned around. Finally, you find the tower you seek.

Strangely enough, you don't see any defenses around the exterior.

Sir Gorrid scanned the area trying to get as good a sense as he could of what they were up against.

quote:

19:36, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,4.  Discern realities.

What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is useful or valuable to me? - in terms of approaching/entering the tower undetected
What here is not what it appears to be?

There's little cover to approach the tower, though it looks like you could try using the plants covering some of the windows to be harder to spot. But you have a feeling that the necromancer must have magical defenses that are far more likely to give away your presence than being spotted will.

"I don't see any physical defenses, so I'm guessing we're looking at magic.  Spriggy, can you spot anything?"

"Hmm. Give me a moment." The bard began looking over the tower for any clues about it's history or purpose. As well as the surrounding terrain. He wanted to try and suss out exactly what level of peril they were about to walk into.

---

I would like to use my Elf move: "When you enter an important location (your call) you can ask the GM for one fact from the history of that location."

I would also like to use Bardic Lore: Spells and Magicks, since this seems like an important magical location. My question is, "What kind of resources would need to be expended to justify getting a setup like this place?" Like, is this guy super rich and well-connected? Because he sounded like a recluse. And if his defenses are extreme, it would mean whatever is inside is probably worth such extreme measures. I probably could have asked a "better" question, but this one seemed interesting to me.

Kharla reappears from scouting and relates what she's found

13:40, Today: Kharla rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,1.  Trap Expert + Cautious
When you spend a moment to survey a dangerous area, roll+DEX.
✴ On a 10+, hold 3
• Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?
• What does the trap do when activated?
• What else is hidden here?

A hidden entrance?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Sun 14 Nov 2021.

Looking at the tower, Spriggy can only conclude that it's not actually a major landmark. The building is reasonably solidly made, but will little or not major skill. It's likely the necromancer built it with reanimated help and a bit of shaping magic thrown in.

As Kharla examines the area, she find multiple magical traps... that are all shut off. The trap should activate as soon as someone living comes close to them, but it seems they're all 'powered off' at the moment. As for what they would have done, the effect varies between causing irrational fear, to causing blindness, to draining the victim's life energy. But right now... it seems the path to the tower is completely unguarded.

From what you can tell, short of climbing the tower, there's no entrance other than the front door.

Sir Gorrid nodded.  Magic made sense - and he was glad there were people along who could find it.  "Do we sneak or do we all charge in and hope we can make it past the triggers before things get activated?  I'm not sure how good we all are with sneaking..."

Does the tower look climbable (with appropriate equipment)?  Are the windows large enough for a person to enter?

My 'senses' should be attuned to the location of the necromancer.  Can I get confirmation that they are actually in the tower?  Can I tell where within the tower?

The redhead frowned toward the structure and without turning to Gorrid suggested, "Unless Lady Seraph has been busy disarming traps, I'd say we've been invited in."

She shrugs, "That's always the worst kind of trap."

Looking round to all she motions toward the tower, "Best make our preparations now and head inside."

Seraph shakes her head. "I've been keeping watch for creatures, but I have no familiarity with magic. I wouldn't know how to disarm such things even if I could find them. The most I've felt is a strange tingle..."

Leo raises an eyebrow at that. "Like... in the back of your ear? Like a small tickle on the inside?" Seraph nods at the bard's description. "I think that's a passive detection spell. I've come across something like that a few times when visiting merchant houses..."

"Does that mean they know we're here?" Russel sighs. "Just great..."

The tower could be climbed by Kharla or Russel, but the windows are far too small for anyone to slip in.

Gorrid, as you looks at the tower, you frowns. You're sure you felt the necromancer was there a moment ago, but now... you can't locate him. You know he's somewhere, but you can't figure out in what direction that somewhere is.

Feeling the disconnect with he necromancer wasn't a good thing, nor was the news that he likely knew they were there.  The paladin prayed for guidance in the hope there might be some sign as to the safest way to approach, not that any approach was likely to be totally safe.  My Lord, we come with your companion's spirit to a place where the spirits of the dead are most at risk.  I would ask for a sign of how we should best approach our quarry to keep both her and your humble servants safest from Evil

Then he prayed further for the support of his God in the combat he knew was to come.

quote:

21:12, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,3.  Cast Guidance.

Will forget the spell

Also using the 'Detect Evil' spell

quote:

21:13, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,3.  Cast bless on self.

Will forget the spell

quote:

21:14, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,4.  Cast magic weapon on my sword.

And forget that one too :)

If we're not moving 'imminently', I won't cast those latter two spells until it's actually time.