After several hours of tearing through the backwoods trails southeast of Phandalin you spot a castle like straight out of a fairy tale book. Anyone with a history +12 recognizes the construction style of old Phalorm: this world's version of King Arthur and Merlin. The castle must be 500 years old at least.

It's a wonder this place isn't a tourist trap; until you drive by skulls on pikes and signs that say "Cragmaw Castle" in purple neon.


You  pull over before the truck gives you away, and Daniel's drone gets you a layout of the exterior. Drone imagery: https://www.dndbeyond.com/atta...9/850/592/lmop06.jpg
You detect the main entrance at 1, south entrance at 10, and north entrance through a cave in at 11.

"North entrance looks like the hardest to defend with that broken wall and fewer sniper's nests. What do you say?"

Hayes rubs the stubble on his chin.  "Either north entrance or north-west corner.  Main concern for me about the north is the path walking right up to it, so they might expect foot traffic.  Not so much north-west."

After Daniel kindly deployed the drone, Ember looked over the photos with interest. She leaned back on the truck and joined the discussion. “We don’t know that the cave isn’t defended, but it’s least likely to have a full unit on watch.”

"I'm here for whatever you need. Support. Distraction. Uhhhh...I could grab the truck and be a tank. Yeah. Just let me know what you decide."

Roxy gives her $0.02

"Northern entrance, it is." Jarod lead the way inside.

Never much of one for dialog Yvonne votes with her whole self, and follows in the first person to start moving in the direction of the castle, at this point that seems like Jarod and, and the both of them are headed to somewhere north of the castle to start their approach.

You hoof it on foot through the forest to approach the north side, when you near the ruined tower you see that the Cragmaws have put up several waterproof tarps to keep the weather out.

Tarps can be pretty noisy if you're not careful.

Stealth Check DC14.

Jarod moves through like it ain't no thang.

12:51, Today: Jarod Negan rolled 17 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only.  Stealth.

Hayes closes his eyes for a moment, whispers a prayer/command to his optic, and reopens them to survey the path before him.

After all this time, Google Maps still comes through in a pinch.

LEDs display a dotted line, factoring in terrain, obstacles, wildlife, and proximity to the nearest coffee joint (way too far), and overlay it on the scene before him.  The man dutifully follows said path, waiting one moment while the message "recalculating route" blinks across his field of vision, then guides him away from a potentially noisy patch of loose gravel.

---

WOW.

21:02, Today: Daniel Hayes rolled 16,18 using 1d20+2,1d20+2 with rolls of 14,16.  Stealth (Disadvantage) (DC14).

Although the Elvish blood may run thin, it still coursed true in Ember. She stepped lightly over the tarp, almost as if she didn’t even touch the rustling material or any loose gravel. She didn’t need any flashlights, either, thanks to the Darkvision that also came with the Elf DNA. Ember kept an eye on Daniel as they walked.

Daniel heard her voice in his mind. We can talk with Psi-Speech when it’s time for the heavier Stealth mode. Do you detect any traps?



OOC:

14:45, Today: Ember rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  Stealth .

While generally not the stealthiest member of the group Yvonne occasionally uses her smaller size to avoid a problem entirely, this time she enters the castle by stepping between the tarps without touching them at all as they are still closing in the wake of one of the bigger people.

"ez pz lemon squeezy."  Roxy whispers as she tip toes lastly into the first room

11

This tower has almost completely collapsed, although the ground floor still has a little open space. Rotting crates and ancient barrels remind you of a time before technology.

"This is some legit king arthur shit."

1. An intact wood and iron door leads east. (to 12)
2. A heavy duty digital security curtain blocks a crumbling area to the south. (requires an arcana dc15 check to hack and turn to friendly mode. trying to pass through without this will result in system contagion. this leads to the southern section of 11)
3. To the north, a short passage through the rubble ends before a camo canvas tagged with neon spray paint. Roxy stops in front of the rubble to admire the graffiti. (this takes you to area 14. I suggest a perception check)

https://www.dndbeyond.com/atta...9/850/592/lmop06.jpg

“This is, like, ‘Oh My Goth’ level of Darkwave,” Ember muttered as she surveyed the dilapidated tower. “We’re taking some Ravenloft kind of shit here.” She smiled. ”I would so open a club here.”

While Roxy admired the graffiti, Ember eyed the digital security curtain. “Hmm. What are YOU hiding?” She sauntered over and examined it with the intention of hacking the code.

OOC:

00:12, Today: Ember rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Arcana check .

Stuart appreciates that sentiment.

The digital curtain let's you see through it, the south area of hall 11 leads to doors that lead to 8, 7, 13, 12.

The walls near 13 have large claw marks.