Fiene make sure Ermengard is near his person.  "I have a lantern as well, for when it gets darker." He carries his 10' staff  in his left hand, and a well balanced dagger for throwing in his right.

Rolled a 6 notices nothing

Its all old, and not crafted by dwarves, so I don't have much faith in it. I would take care.

Pointing

Those arrow slits would make a fine place to attack us though, unless any foe is bold enough to come at us head on.

Let me find a place for Vitchna to settle.

OOC Looking for a spot for Vitchna. Keeping an eye and ear out danger.

The area around the entry to the canyon is open, Vitchna can be left here but there's little cover for her not to be spotted.

Canyon-entry

OOC Squares = 10'

When you have decided which way to go I will need a party marching order. You can decide this in the OOC thread if its simpler.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:29, Thu 03 Dec 2020.

Maybe it was foolish of him to try and catch up with the other adventurers at the canyon, but Valerian slipped and tumbled down loudly with a clattering of shale behind him. By some miracle he arrived at the foot of the adventurers unscathed.

He stood up and brushed off his robe.

"Good evening! I'm Valerian, apprentice wizard and aspiring adventurer!"

The fighter in plate mail looks at the newcomer, nodding as a greeting, only replying, "Teodore." After a moment, he looks at the others. "If we're ready, then?" He leads the group into the gatehouse.

Siward had smiled and nodded at Barnabas’ assessment of the weather and what it could mean in terms of St. Ras’ blessings. The acolyte had to agree that it seemed a good portent, a small confirmation that they were following the correct path. When they reached the canyon wall, he remained silent, having little knowledge of such things. Trusting in the assessments of his fellow adventurers, he readied himself and fell in step behind Teodore as he led the way into the gatehouse.

As he walked, he greeted the newcomer. ”Well met, Valerian. I am Siward, an acolyte of St. Ras. And I am thankful to have one with knowledge such as yours among us.”

Returning his attention to the dark structure ahead, he took a breath and muttered a quiet prayer, his hand resting on the handle of his war hammer.

The fighter Teodore led bravely at the front, accompanied by Siward the cleric. The pair passed through the gateway, two great ironbound doors had once stood here but now they were lay on the ground before the entrance, rotten and rusted. After the door they walked through the rusted portcullis, the portcullis was down but weather and other adventuring bands had taken their toll. Large gaps were caused by rust, saws and brute strength so that they could be easily passed through.

The passageway became darker the further they penetrated the gatehouse with the light from Ben's lantern flickering in the gloom.

OOC Without know exactly where Ben is in the marching order I'm not sure how far into the building you can see, but you probably can not yet see the middle ground.

Day: 1. Time: 9am. Turn: 1. Weather: Clear. Vision: 30' in darkness centred on Ben. Movement: 20'
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:21, Wed 25 Nov 2020.

As the darkness deepens, Fiene lights his lantern and he and Ermangard take a position behind the front line and lighting their way.

When the third magician had nearly tumbled into them and then introduced himself, Barnabas had just about remarked "another blessing" but then the words had caught in his throat. They could have easily been misinterpreted as sarcastic.

Instead he produces, "I do hope we three don't all intend to put the first to greet us to sleep."

                                                                          ~~~

Barnabas encourages the stalwarts in the lead to keep going, speaking softly lest he disturb any ancient horrors so early in day.

"I don't have that spell at my disposal." Fiene replies.  "I have one that improves my natural charm."  He says.  "If we come across an inhabitant, I was hoping to sway him to our side."

Gatehouse

The passed the central passageway. The gatehouse was in a poor state of repair and had been neglected. Creaking noises were heard above them. The passageway was well lit by Barnabas's and Fiene's lanterns. The passage was around sixty foot long and at the other end they emerged again into daylight.

The canyon was flanked on both sides by limestone walls that rose two hundred feet up. The floor of the canyon was a grassy meadow, interrupted by ruins and small stands of trees. The sound of falling water could be heard and cave mouths were visible on the walls of the canyon, some natural and some man made. Near to the closest tree a rabbit sat motionless atop a tree stump.

View from gatehouse
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:30, Thu 03 Dec 2020.

Fiene nods towards the rabbit.  "That is a good sign.  Something lives here anyway."

"I, too, can resort to such beguilement," Barnabas admits.

He adds, "I do not intend to do so today and I did not do so yesterday," while looking solemnly at Nerida.

When they emerge from gatehouse passage into the melancholic meadow with its juxtaposition of decay and verdure, Barnabas pauses to relish the scent of the valley air. Then, on a whim, he makes for the rabbit-occupied stump to give it a once over.

Urkov shouts

Wait don't go near that stump, that rabbit is unnatural.  It doesn't move nor breathe nor blink.  Something is wrong.

Teodore readies his sling and sends a stone at the stump, just to startle the rabbit into running.

OOC: Should I roll to hit it?

"You mean the rabbit?" Fiene asks?  "Dwarf eyes are good enough to see it blink from here?"

Proving himself to be rather reckless Barnabas entered the canyon and began to walk toward the innocent looking rabbit. The very young Nerida followed at his heels. The shout from Urkov gave her a fright and she froze on the spot as Barnabas continued alone.

Then the warrior Teodore skilfully readied his sling and fired a shot at the tree stump. The sling bullet struck the stump with a thwack loud enough to echo around the canyon. The noise was enough to scare the rabbit which hopped off the stump and dashed away to hide in the nearby ruins.

Day: 1. Time: 9:30am. Turn: 3. Weather: Clear. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

"Dwarf eyes aren't so good, I guess."  Fiene comments, mostly to himself.   "What did you think it was, Urkov?" he asks.  He blows his lantern out, saving the oil for when it gets dark again.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Fri 27 Nov 2020.

Urkov shakes his head mumbling. His thick fingers across his eyes rubbing his temples.

At the sound of the dwarf's cry, Barnabas's movement becomes arrested in mid-stride. He poses there as if petrified by a gorgon's glare. Then he winds back his movement, reversing his stride in an unintended comic fashion. Before long he's back with the group, as if nothing has happened.

He motions to the northeastern ruined building, waiting, this time, for the two warriors to lead.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:39, Fri 27 Nov 2020.

From what the party can see as they look over at the ruins Barnabas points to is that they consist of tumbled stone walls, rotten timbers overgrown with weeds covered with drifts of fallen leaves.

OOC North is the top of the map. Did Ben mean to point to the North west?
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:15, Sat 28 Nov 2020.

Teodore readies sword and shield and heads for the ruined building Ben points out. He watches that little alcove to the north as he does.

Becoming a leader of sorts, or at least someone who demonstrated the party's wants Barnabas's wave of hand had the fighter Teodore headed in the indicated direction. Teodore had to walk about eighty foot to reach the ruins. All that remained of the ruins were tumbled down stone walls, rotten wooden timbers, all of this covered in a thick growth of weeds. The remains of the building were square in shape and fifty foot by fifty foot. Eighty foot away to the north Teodore saw a man-made entrance into the canyon wall, which he wary kept an eye on but saw nothing. Eighty foot to the west was another ruin, however that ruin had survived the passage of years better than the rest. The walls although fallen in places but still rose up to support the buildings roof.

Whilst Teodore began his exploration another adventurer walked through the gatehouse passageway and into the canyon.

OOC Introducing the newest member of the party Anfinn.

Was he psychic? Was he a bit ducal? Or was he just impetuous?

Leaving the first ruin to time, Ben nods toward the one that appeared to have been less bowed by its passage (the one 80' to the west). If he has noticed that another adventurer has slipped into their group, he gives no indication as he moves further westward.

Siward falls in step with Teodore, tightening his grip on his shield and hammer as they approach the ruined structure.