Cold Truths (part 1: The Missing Duke)

[mps42]

Abanoning the barracks leaves a nagging doubt in the back of your minds 'what happened there, what was it that i saw and will it return?"
But, there are appointments to keep so, crossing over the small streamlet, you press on over the small hillock, ever northward towars the lands of Duke Baerd.
Several long, cold hours later the sun is low on the horizon when the fortified keep of the Duke comes into view. It is imediately clear that something is wrong.
You cautiously make your way a bit closer and the sight infront of you gives no promises of warmth or comfort: The once-proud walls surrounding Baerd manor have been pummeled by stones and ave been breached in several places. to the west of the walls there is a large pile of round stones that would appear to have been the ammunition that was used and the sturdy wooden gates hang limply on their stout iron hinges.
From your current vantage point you cannot see the Manor, the south or east sides of the defensive walls.

 

[Lazlow]

"Looks like it's time for a little reconnoitering," Swipe says.

OOC: Do we hear or see anything going on in there right now? If not, are there any signs of recent activity, like in the last hour or so?

 

[taitzu52]

Uri begins moving around the west of the keep, looking for signs of where and when the siege force was here. He says, "This bodes no good. I know little of politics, who could have done this?" He continues to search for any more physical evidence before he approaches the keep.

 

[Mimic]

"Great...." Aleran sighs under his breath as the view of the walls.

"Looks like it's time for a little reconnoitering," Swipe says.

"That would seem prudent, go check it out, try and be back in about 15 minutes. I don't want to be out here when the sun sets, who ever did that still might be out here." He tells the halfling, turning towards the Woden. "You might want to scout as well, you are stealther then the rest of us, just stick to the tree line and watch your back."

ooc: I don't have a problem with posting every couple of days except for the weekend

 

[Lazlow]

"Sounds good to me."

Swipe makes with the sneaky and heads for one of the breached areas, rather than walking in the front door, searching for any signs of current occupants. (Hide, +11; Move Silently, +9; Search, +4)

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Tyler looks around as much as he can from the area where he stands. This is not a very good omen.

ooc: how old does the destruction look? Was the battle today/ yesterday? Last month?

 

[Ferrix]

Gerard nods in agreement, "doesn't seem like such a regal house anymore..." he trails off, a hint of cynicism and irony in his voice.

 

[mps42]

"Looks like it's time for a little reconnoitering," Swipe says.
OOC: Do we hear or see anything going on in there right now? If not, are there any signs of recent activity, like in the last hour or so?
There is very little noise of any kind, except for the wind howling through the holes in the once-sturdy walls.

Uri begins moving around the west of the keep, looking for signs of where and when the siege force was here. He says, "This bodes no good. I know little of politics, who could have done this?" He continues to search for any more physical evidence before he approaches the keep.
Walking cautiously around the north and west walls reveals little other than several deep tracks. they are around a handspan deep in the hard earth and appear to be parrallel around 8 to 10 feet apart. It seems something big and heavy came this way.

"Great...." Aleran sighs under his breath as the view of the walls.
Quote:
"Looks like it's time for a little reconnoitering," Swipe says.
"That would seem prudent, go check it out, try and be back in about 15 minutes. I don't want to be out here when the sun sets, who ever did that still might be out here." He tells the halfling, turning towards the Woden. "You might want to scout as well, you are stealther then the rest of us, just stick to the tree line and watch your back."
ooc: I don't have a problem with posting every couple of days except for the weekend
Ooc: that's cool. I'm just trying to avoid the one-post-a-week syndrome...

"Sounds good to me."
Swipe makes with the sneaky and heads for one of the breached areas, rather than walking in the front door, searching for any signs of current occupants.
OOC: Which way? Forward towards the west or north walls, or circling to try to get to south and east?

Tyler looks around as much as he can from the area where he stands. This is not a very good omen.
ooc: how old does the destruction look? Was the battle today/ yesterday? Last month?
With the cold conditions it's difficult to say for sure but the destruction looks fairly recent, probably not more than 2 to 3 weeks old.

Gerard nods in agreement, "doesn't seem like such a regal house anymore..." he trails off, a hint of cynicism and irony in his voice.


Woden: Skaris seems very reluctant to go any closer to the structure, very close to outright disobedience.

 

[taitzu52]

Uri will do one last sweep of the outside, and go to find the rest of the group.

(OOC- looking for any trash soldiers may have left behind, especially and house colors, identifying marks, etc.)

"OK, Tyler. Rally the troops. We may as well take shelter and get a fire started.", says Uri, looking for a good place to approach the keep.

 

[Lazlow]

"Sounds good to me."
Swipe makes with the sneaky and heads for one of the breached areas, rather than walking in the front door, searching for any signs of current occupants.
OOC: Which way? Forward towards the west or north walls, or circling to try to get to south and east?

I'll circle around to the back (south and east), since the rest of the party is exploring the immediate vicinity.