Chapter 2A - A Jaunt Into The Country

[Squirrellord]

"Campfires? I suppose they are fine if you like keeping watch so you don't die in the middle of the night. I have to say I prefer a nice solid hearth in a cozy stone room... Unbar polishes off the last bit of his meal and replies to Vic "Aye, let's go take a look."

[Chris1234]

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Anything else anyone wants to do or say before the meal finishes?

[Squirrellord]

nope - Unbar is good to finish

[Nocturno]

Vic finishes, stetched, and moves to the door.

[counterkid]

"Isaril, what do you means there are heads bobbing along the top of the castle? I thought we cleared out everybody as we searched all the buildings." "I think we should investigate before going to bed."

[Nocturno]

As Vic goes to exit the door.

"The Keep across the broken bridge. I'm curious to see if we can get an idea of who is there by any light they give out."

[Chris1234]

Isaril nods," Keep, yes, tiny castle."

Kella asks, "Who's watching the town's drawbridge? In case we get renforcements?"

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The keep is locations #12, #13 & #14, just to the south of the broken bridge [#11].

[counterkid]

"Unbar, how is your bring coming along? I say we have the elf keep watch most of the night and we try to get across in the morning." "I can't see in the dark and a light source would give my position away."

[Nocturno]

"I can offer to cover the watch for the first couple hours. But I need the rest to recover my spells in the morning."

Vic heads around the buildings to see what he can see about the inhabitants of the keep while it is dark.

[Chris1234]

Kella can be heard grumbling about men and dishes as Isaril heads back to the western watchtower [#2A] that overlooks the drawbridge [#1] across which the group had entered the village.

***
Vic heads south to the edge of the broken bridge [#11].
Through the darkness he can just make out the top of the paired stone towers of the keep's gatehouse [#12] standing atop a forty foot high stoney mound.

Broken bridge [#11] to the gatehouse [#12].png (249.29 KiB) Viewed 4824 times

The towers are twenty foot tall, windowless and topped with wood-shingled high-pitched rooftops.
Between them are a pair of sturdylooking oak doors. They are closed. There's no one in sight.
The fifteen foor long gap in the bridge has obviously been smashed violently from above; presumably the work of another falling rock.
There are plenty of places on the bridges support legs to rig up a two or three line rope bridge to span the gap.
No use for horses but humanoids would then find the crossing easy.
For those with access to the marvelousl Mage Hand, no one would even need to go swimming.

[Nocturno]

Vic will stand and watch for any movement against the night sky, or any sign of light. He will do this for about 10 minutes.

Then he will go check on the elf in the tower.

[Chris1234]

There is a faint glow coming from behind and above the southern gatehouse tower, presumably from the keep itself.

Whilst keeping vigil Vic sees a different light moving along the road that runs west of the river, the same road that Vic and companions had followed to reach the village. The light from the south draws steadily closer.

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Vic's choice of Nature or History skill check, please

[counterkid]

Val will be ready. I'm assuming Val doesn't see anything has he is still in the inn cleaning up.

[Nocturno]

History(Int): [1d20+4] = 2+4 = 6

USS hates these characters...

[Nocturno]

Once the horse and rider are approaching bow distance Vic will wake Isaril if he is sleeping, and point it out.