D&D 5E CB's Stonefast IC -- COMPLETE

Last week, on the 19th of Kythorn, Shivanni Gardpeck tacked a notice to the bulletin board of The Cutlass, a well-known but seedy tavern and inn in Luskan:


At the New Red Dragon Trading Post, Oxtieff Nedrunn spoke on behalf of the High Captains, requesting that a hardy group of adventures accept a commission to investigate reports that orcs are once again invading the Southern-facing range of the Spine of the World, the mountain range a week's march north of Luskan. Each of you responded to the notice and were offered paid employment by the High Captains. Oxtieff has promised 50 gold pieces to each of you for investigating the long-abandoned and ruined dwarven stronghold once known as Stonefast. Oxtieff met you at the northernmost Illuskan gate last week as you set off for the Spine of the World with this parting advice, "Bring back the ears of any orc you slay. The Cap'n's want proof o' yarn kills. We'll give a 200 gold piece bonus ter each o' yarn, if'n you clear out the nest o' orcs in Stonefast. An' anything you find's yarn ter keep. No questions asked."

Guran is the first to spy a small tunnel set high on the side of the Southern range. With Guran pointing the way up the mountainside, the group treks upward several thousand feet into the alpine hills. Patches of white snow dot the landscape. The ground is hoary with frost this morning, but the sun glints fiercely off the rock, promising more warmth than the days prior on your weeklong trek from Luskan.

To the south, everyone sees two brass doors. The one on your right has been ripped from its hinges to the floor. There are deep gouges in the metal that look to be claw marks. The door to your left is intact, and covered in runes.

"If they had told us it would be this cold I would'a asked for more money." Eldon says as he climbs up to mouth of the cave. He twists and contorts his neck letting several cracks and pops and says "Let's see what is special about these doors shall we."

OOC: Eldon plans on searching the doors to see if the one still standing is trapped or if their are traps anywhere around.

After Eldon moves off to check the doors, Colden steps over to the shattered door and examines the claw marks, trying to determine the size of the creature that did this.

"Do we get paid extra for this?"

"Aye, I think Oxthief said we get paid in yarn," Guran joked at Colden.

Guran then took a torch out of his pack and lit it with his tinder kit before stowing the kit in his pack again. "For lack of magical lights," he explained to the others, then went to the rune-carved door and attempted to read the inscription(s) upon it.

Fulgrim found the jaunt to Stonefast mostly pleasurable. As the trek from Waterdeep to Luskan had largely been made on well-trodden trade roads, it had been some time since he had found himself wandering through the mountains. The experience brought back memories of his youth in the Sword Mountains, some good, some not so good. As Guran spotted what appeared to be the entrance to Stonefast, the mage tightened his grip on his warhammer.

As his companions complained about the cold, Fulgrim said, "What did you expect? The higher you climb, the further away from the fires at the heart of the world, thus the colder it gets." While Eldon moved over to the door to inspect it for traps, Fulgrim joined Guran to inspect the runes on the door. At his fellow dwarf's joke, Fulgrim chuckled. "Good one."

After reviewing the runes, the mage said, "If we have a few moments, I'd like to cast a spell to detect emanations of a magical nature. It should not take long." Having stated his intentions, the dwarf pulled out his spellbook and started preparing the ritual.

[sblock=OOC]If the party has no objection, Fulgrim will conduct a ritual to cast Detect Magic. The ritual requires 10 minutes and will last for 10 minutes or until Fulgrim's concentration is broken, whichever comes first. The spell reveals magical emanations within 30' of the caster.

Additionally, here is a History roll for the door runes, assuming we can read them.
Examining Door Runes [+2 Int, +2 History] (1d20+4=15) + Guidance Boost (1d4=1) = 16[/sblock]

Eldon Wisdom(Perception) check 1d20+3=11

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4741655/

"Take your time, Fulgrim", Meriene speaks, patting the dwarf on the back as she moves towards the rest of the party. "And I trust, no one objects to a quick blessing while you look over these doors..."

Without waiting for a response from anyone, Meriene utters a quick prayer for each of the members of the group. Touching each in turn while they look over the respective parts of the doors. Then she turns to the claw marks with Eldon. "Now, now Eldon, I wonder how recent these look. If we are going to be getting paid extra, I hope we get the chance to fell whatever beast emanated this door to shreds!" The smile on her face growing large at the use of such a large and powerful word. She makes a mental note to thank Fulgrim later for teaching it to her.

[sblock=OOC]Meriene casts Guidance for each member of the party. You may roll 1d4 and add the result to any ability check.

Survival Roll to determine how recently the door was scratched and what may have made them gaining a bonus from Guidance.[/sblock]

Guran and Fulgrim, who both speak Dwarvish, recognize the runes and an older form of Dwarvish. The runes read, "Stonefast, Glidden's Bane." While everyone is busy in the tunnel, Meriene intones a quick prayer, gently touching elfen hands on the shoulder of each party member.

[sblock=OOC, for all]Meriene casts guidance five times, one casting for each of you. [MENTION=80463]Rabbage[/MENTION], you may wish to consider telling them that they have up to one minute to use guidance before the spell discharges. Invisible Castle: 3 (Eldon), 1 (Colden), and 4 (Guran). Fulgrim already noted that his roll result was a 1, and Meriene's result was a 2.[/sblock]

[sblock=Perception DC 10]Orcs and goblins have recently been in the tunnel and have passed through the cracked door.[sblock=Perception DC 12]No ordinary orcs or goblins would have been able to make some of the markings littering the broken door. Deep and jagged claw marks indicate brute force of an unusual nature, though the size of the creature is indeterminate.[/sblock][/sblock]

[sblock=Eldon]Eldon (who benefitted from Meriene's guidance spell and can add +3 to his Perception result) searches the door that is still standing, checking for traps, but finds none. After searching the remainder of the tunnel leading up to both doors, Eldon is further satisfied that neither the exterior of the doors nor the tunnel are trapped. Also, not all the claw marks were made by orcs and goblins; some of the marks are deeper and more jagged, indicating that something or someone with greater than normal force made their way through the cracked door.[/sblock]

After Eldon moves off to check the doors, Colden steps over to the shattered door and examines the claw marks, trying to determine the size of the creature that did this. While Colden quips a moment, Guran removes a torch from his pack and uses his tinder kit to light it. The torch gives off shadowy light in the tunnel, illuminating both brass doors carved with runes better than did the dim sunlight filtering down through the mouth of the cave.

After Eldon checks for traps, Guran and Fulgrim approach the doors, intent on examining the runes. After a moment, Fulgrim begins a complicated series of vocal incantations and hand movements.

[sblock=Fulgrim]Fulgrim casts detect magic. No magical aura glows in the tunnel, on either brass door, or on the person or gear of any of the party members. The spell will last for 10 minutes or until Fulgrim's concentration is broken, whichever comes first, and reveals magical emanations within 30' of Fulgrim. Please remind me in subsequent posts whether Fulgrim continues to concentrate on this spell.

Fulgrim's History 16 helps him recall that Glidden Rockcurler was one of two dwarves who founded Stonefast.[/sblock]

After encouraging Fulgrim to take his time and breathing a quick prayer for each member of the group, Meriene turns to examine the claw marks on the broken door and its lintel.

[sblock=Meriene]Survival 16, including the +2 from her casting of guidance. Orcs and goblins have very recently tracked both into and out of the broken door. The freshest of these tracks were made just a few hours before the party's arrival. The oldest of the tracks that Meriene can date are from within the last week, but there are tracks that look to be older. The claw marks on the broken brass door, however, are of a different nature; they are deeper and more jagged, and were gouged by something other than a mere orc or a goblin. Meriene is unable to determine the size of whatever made the claw marks.[/sblock]

Everyone needs to make a Perception check. Also, I need a marching order. Please use the OOC thread to work out your default marching order.

...

Colden steps forward over the borken door with handaxe in hand his eyes sweeping the gloom left and right looking for threats.

[sblock=Perception]Perception check = 12

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4742855/[/sblock]