AtG Howling Crag (5e PBP) IC

[Snarf Zagyg]

After Doc spoke his peace, he reckoned a little more support for the yung 'un might stiffen the backbone better'n a shot o' the good stuff.

The yu... Doc paused, recollectin' he needed to display sum of them manners he seen in these parts .... Sir Donnell might be parlayin' truth 'bout them tall black hats. The spirits been restless, and they's been sayin' that the tall 'un been fussin' and feudin' 'mongst theysselves.

Doc added nothing further and retreated under his hat and a cloud of smoke from his cheroot. When Doc was able to get the posse out of the earshot of Cain, he told 'em 'bout exactly what he had heard. But he ended with a warnin'.

Lisseen gud. The Sheriff don't speak no lie. But not all truths are the same. The Sheriff's truths always help the Sheriff, and truth ain't the same to all.

 

[Steve Gorak]

OOC: Catch up

Gimlak had gone back under the mountains with his kin, and was celebrated as a true hero. Not a dwarf expected those lost to come back, and he was cheered accordingly.

After counseling with his father, he agreed to Greyfalls Castle, granting the humans the privilege of remaining in the dwarven fortification. He was to act as emissary and ambassador to the dwarven kingdom, and uncover any threats. The giants were of course central to their concern.

He set about with a handful of guards and pages, and was pleased to witness young Donnel's knighthood.

He spent a week or so getting familiar with the surroundings as well as the village. He also helped villagers by reparing their protective wall, accepting gladly the offering of free ale at the end of the daily commute. Before nightfall, he would survey the area magically, and get the lay of the land around the Howling Crag.

OOC: Current conversation

After being silent for a few moments, Gimlak says, almost thinking out loud: "I agree we need to gather information. I can investigate through magic but this will take a day or so. I can also request an audience directly to Thane Arnak, so he may welcome us adequately. As you wish my friends."

OOC: Gimlak will have cast clairvoyance since he arrival, having gotten close and closer to the Howling Crag enough so that he was familiar with the surroundings. He would have also cast multiple times per day wall of stone to reinforce Greyfalls Castle, as well as the protective wall around the nearby village. Finally, he would have cast move earth at least twice a day, to make the surrounding land more accessible, and to help local peasants.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Donnell - Mini-sheet

Donnel Race: Human HP: 86/86 AC: 18/20(with shield)	Pass Perc:15 Pass Inv: 14 Pass Ins: 15 Initiative: +3	Spell Save DC: 15/+7 Spell Slots: 1st[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] 2nd [] []
Channel Divinity: 2/2	Lay on Hands: 30	Echthigern: HP: 25/25
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 13+1(+4) DEX: 16+3(+10) CON: 14+2(+5) INT: 10+0(+7) WIS: 12+1(+4) CHA:16 +3(+6) *saves include aura	Spoiler: Skills Athletics+5 History: 4 Insight: 5 Intimidate: 7 Investigate: 4 Perception: 5 Persuasion 11 Religion: 4 Stealth: 11 Survival: 5	Spoiler: Spells Daily: Divine Smite 1/1 Find Steed: 1/1 Memorized spells 1st : Shield of Faith*, Prot. frm Evil* Cure wounds, Bless, Divine Favor, Divine Smite Heroism 2nd: Aid*, Zone of Truth*, Protection from Poison, Shining Smite

---

Donnell was happy that they were all in agreement and that Doc's information reinforced what Donnell's gut had told him. Despite all the pomp and ceremony in the last few months, Donnell was glad his scout's instincts were still sharp.

"Fortunately, Caine, we weren't completely idle." Donnell pulled several rolled documents from his satchel,

"I sent two of my best men to scout the terrain near the Howling Crag and they brought back intelligence. Things were...touch and go...so they didn't get too close but we now have a map of the area leading up to the Crag."

Ian and his father, Thomas, were his best scouts. Ian was also his best childhood friend. Thomas had known and been a mentor to Donnell since Donnell had been wee-high to a grasshopper. While it seemed awkward to call them "his" men, Donnell felt he needed to demonstrate an air of authority to Caine. To show he had and control of the situation. That he was a leader of professional soldiers and not a rag-tag group of cattle farmers.

He handed the documents to Kharu to look them over. Then he Nodding to Gimlak,

"It might take us a day or so to get supplied and ready to leave anyways and the advantage of getting an audience and any information you can provide will be worth the time spent, I think."

Then he turned to give a chance to the real tactician to speak. If Caine hadn't been standing here, Donnell probably wouldn't have talked half as much as he already had. He would have asked the Colonel - The Colonel? - what they should do.

---

Spoiler: OOC

1. Dropping the Theatre for the Clan Hostel. Which gives us a map of the areas leading up to the (assuming Fitz okays the Bastion Facility).
I think it would be cool to roll a dice to see if any scouts get killed going on a map-making mission. The risk/chance of success can be secretly determined by the DM.

2. If we spend 3 extra days, maybe our magic items show up? That gives Gimlak time to scry or cast sending or whatever.

3. I assume Kharu is our main wilderness person who will benefit the most from the maps?

 

[Steve Gorak]

Gimlak bows and says “then let me get to work. We will revisiting asking for an audience in advance once we have more information”

Back in his quarters Gimlak asks one of his pages to go warn the villagers and farmers
that he won’t be able to help with the wall and fields today. He then goes into quiet contemplation and watches the giant’s keep.

OOC: my rough math gives me about 10 castings of clairvoyance with Gimlak still having some dry powder in case of an attack. He’ll watch, listen, get a feel for the inside of their keep. @FitzTheRuke , your call regarding what he sees/listens and learns.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The Colonel stands silently, deferring to Donnell -- Sir Donnell -- as he asserts his newly won authority. He doesn't want to wait further. The castle afforded comfort, luxuries for each of the group, and the promise for more to come. But they were already proving too tempting... providing reasons to stay rather than head off an accomplish the mission.

"Things will be well in hand if we leave now," he nods, offering deferential support, and maybe pushing him to action even sooner. Looking around, he sees the others continue to look to him as a kind of leader, and (truthfully) the Colonel sees himself that way as well. But he's determined to let the young lad find his feet. He doesn't want to usurp that authority, but he's already bristling with the possibility of the delay being stretched out further.

"Supplies will be set, sir," he says, confident that things can be pulled together for the morning. The use of the honorific comes naturally to the Colonel, and wil continue unless Donnell says otherwise. "A group as small as us should be ready to go whenever you are ready."

The Old Soldier is ready to undertake a new role as diplomat. The sooner they get to Howling Crag, the sooner they can put the worries about the giants to rest.

OOC: Let's get going! No waiting for 3 days. We have info from the scouts. Time to set off.

 

[Steve Gorak]

The Colonel stands silently, deferring to Donnell -- Sir Donnell -- as he asserts his newly won authority. He doesn't want to wait further. The castle afforded comfort, luxuries for each of the group, and the promise for more to come. But they were already proving too tempting... providing reasons to stay rather than head off an accomplish the mission.

"Things will be well in hand if we leave now," he nods, offering deferential support, and maybe pushing him to action even sooner. Looking around, he sees the others continue to look to him as a kind of leader, and (truthfully) the Colonel sees himself that way as well. But he's determined to let the young lad find his feet. He doesn't want to usurp that authority, but he's already bristling with the possibility of the delay being stretched out further.

"Supplies will be set, sir," he says, confident that things can be pulled together for the morning. The use of the honorific comes naturally to the Colonel, and wil continue unless Donnell says otherwise. "A group as small as us should be ready to go whenever you are ready."

The Old Soldier is ready to undertake a new role as diplomat. The sooner they get to Howling Crag, the sooner they can put the worries about the giants to rest.

OOC: Let's get going! No waiting for 3 days. We have info from the scouts. Time to set off.

OOC: Gimlak’s spells will be depleted. We can set off in the morning. Now, do we want to formally request an audience? Gimlak can cast Sending, problem is we may get no as an answer. If we show up, they may feel it’s safer to say yes

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

OOC: Gimlak’s spells will be depleted. We can set off in the morning. Now, do we want to formally request an audience? Gimlak can cast Sending, problem is we may get no as an answer. If we show up, they may feel it’s safer to say yes

OOC: it will take a few days of travel so a sending can be sent now or on the road.

 

[Kobold Stew]

OOC: We cold also send a message now saying we will be seeking an audience at the quarter-moon, or whatever 3 days from now is. Not asking, but signalling we are heading out and going to ask. That way if they say no, we;ll know we have to do something else to, um, grab the Thane's attention.

 

[Tonguez]

Kahru looked over the maps orientating himself to the familiar landmarks, then tracing the path of the river from the Greyfalls up through the Sanctuary and in to the hills. He had explored across that range, using both his human senses and also those of the bear, the wolf and the hawk, each perspective a thread in the tapestry of the landscape woven in his minds eye.

The way to the Howling crag was less familiar to him, but at least the map gave clues to the topography, and perhaps Vadasz, his spirit-bonded hawk, knew the winds and cliffs of that way better, the northman might yet share the vision of his hawk-brother as they surveyed the approach to the steinjotenens domain. Kahru was ready to go, he could feel the call of the wild, pulling him to transform and take wing across the mountain trails, hunting for supplies and resting where he could.

Waythe was also there, nagging at the back of his thoughts, urging him to decisive action. The great sword was thirsty for battle and bloodshed, not the niceties of another “diplomatic mission” and so she focussed the barbarians attention on the deadmans cryptic forboding - madness and betrayal, that was something that Kahru could deal with, while the dwarf prince and young Donnell dealt with double-tongued diplomacy.

“Do you know these mountains dwarf?” Kahru addressed Gimlak as well as the others as he pointed at the map “if the map is accurate we should make fair way along this path, or do you know a better trail? I sometimes forget to account for those who can not travel the hawks-way ”

OOC: @FitzTheRuke Do we have a wilderness map or are we winging the wilderness section? Looks like we have lots of scouting going on, so do we notice anything interesting? Im looking forward to seeing how this adventure unfolds

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Donnell - Mini-sheet

Donnel Race: Human HP: 86/86 AC: 18/20(with shield)	Pass Perc:15 Pass Inv: 14 Pass Ins: 15 Initiative: +3	Spell Save DC: 15/+7 Spell Slots: 1st[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] 2nd [] []
Channel Divinity: 2/2	Lay on Hands: 30	Echthigern: HP: 25/25
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 13+1(+4) DEX: 16+3(+10) CON: 14+2(+5) INT: 10+0(+7) WIS: 12+1(+4) CHA:16 +3(+6) *saves include aura	Spoiler: Skills Athletics+5 History: 4 Insight: 5 Intimidate: 7 Investigate: 4 Perception: 5 Persuasion 11 Religion: 4 Stealth: 11 Survival: 5	Spoiler: Spells Daily: Divine Smite 1/1 Find Steed: 1/1 Memorized spells 1st : Shield of Faith*, Prot. frm Evil* Cure wounds, Bless, Divine Favor, Divine Smite Heroism 2nd: Aid*, Zone of Truth*, Protection from Poison, Shining Smite

---

"Things will be well in hand if we leave now,"

"Supplies will be set, sir, A group as small as us should be ready to go whenever you are ready."

Donnell nodded to the Colonel, a little unused to the formality.

It was true: it wouldn't take long to pack. Even though the young man was enjoying the camaraderie with the people at the Castle and the village, there was something niggling at the back of his mind. Things had changed and, except for his closest friends, people weren't treating him the same way. Sometimes things felt too strained and formal. It was like he'd turned eighteen and the world around him had flipped.

The fact of the matter was, after he'd sent the scouts out, Donnell had started preparing and had most his things packed for almost a week now. He was relieved the Colonel advised they leave immediately. Looking around at the others, he was positive Kharu could, literally, leave without a moments notice. And Doc, with his strange get-up always seemed like a transient sort.

"You're right. Good advice as usual. Gimlak, please send the Thane a request for an audience. There's still plenty of day left if we want to leave today; I'll have the horses packed and we'll be ready to go."

Oh, gods, that horse...why did they give me that horse?

---

OOC: @Tonguez see my post in the other thread regarding the map. Happy to leave as soon as possible. @Steve Gorak the range of clairvoyance is only one mile so you probably don't need to cast it right away. you'll have to wait until we're closer to the keep. Unless you have Scry.