(CSRHoD) Creamsteak's Red Hand of Doom [IC]

[Redclaw]

Larian nods at Siobhan's kind words, and looks sadly at the remains of his companions.I mourn them both, but we should all take strength in the knowledge that their sacrifice may have saved the lives of many innocents. This force was part of an invasion that will devastate the countryside if we don't find a way to prevent it.
He then heads into the map room, finishes his reverie and then studies his spellbook for an hour.
[sblock=spells] Spells Prepared
0- Mage Hand, Read Magic, Detect Magic, Detect Magic
1st- Feather Fall, Color Spray, Identify, Magic Weapon (Trans.)
2nd- See Invisibility, Scorching Ray, Scorching Ray,
3rd- Dispell Magic, Fireball, Haste (Trans)

Spells in Effect
Mage Armor-10 hours

Rod of Extend--2 uses left [/sblock]

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tyrla stood her portion of the watch in quiet thought. While she made only the briefest comments over the loss of their two companions, it was obvious that she felt the loss- both a sadness for two friends lost, and a sense of worry as well, for Gurguannin had been a staunch ally on the field for some time, and Scarlet had been a strong warrior in her own way. With the sort of foes they had faced these last few days, the loss of two skilled combatants might be a very bad sign...

OOC: If we are here at the keep until early afternoon as mentioned, perhaps we want to send Jorr back to town with a message (and maybe a copy of that map)- or maybe Avril can wild shape into eagle form and carry the map back to town and get the villagers started on mobilizing, while the rest of us head back as quick as we can to regroup... Some of this may change depending on what is down in that secret pit, but from the look of that map, we may be pressed for time- I'm not sure when those numbered days start counting.

 

[Pinotage]

She quietly moved towards Scarlet's side once she'd covered her ally Gurguannin in his own cloak. She fell to her knees beside the dog, and started to quietly removed her armor and saddle bags. She placed these quietly to one side, not caring about the rain or getting wet, and only once Scarlet was without any contraptions of man, did she pick the big husky up in her arms and carry her outside the keep.

She returned almost an hour later, covered in dirt and her face ashen and showing signs of crying. What had happened to Scarlet's body only Avril would know, and it was clear she was not going to tell. Her bond to the animal had been private and sacred, built on the power of Nature. Her departure was a private matter between her and Nature's spirits.

She spent the night wet and uncomfortable, but by the afternoon she was dry and seemed in more managable, yet sombre, spirits. The loss of Scarlet had obviously affected her, but circumstance meant she didn't have time to mourn. Or even consider calling a replacement animal companion. She would give Scarlet due consideration before doing that.

Reaching her allies, she spoke, "We have a few choices, but not much time. It would be worth knowing if this war of their had started yet, so we should perhaps consider taking a look at their camp if we can get there. How big this army is would be a good idea. Drelin's Ferry should, of course, be warned, but it is not far to Skull Gorge and their camp, so perhaps we should head there first. Jorr, would you be interested in heading back to Drelin's Ferry and warning those there? I fear that if we bump into the army by nightfall we might be too late to warn them."

 

[Creamsteak]

Jorr responds, "Well, yer payin me already. I could manage to make that trip, if asked." I'm afraid though that I can't get there before nightfall tonight. Too many hours wasted already. If I go now, I'll be lucky to make it back to the homestead. Yer choice though."

 

[Dalamar]

"I think Jorr should be the one to warn Drellin's Ferry," Shiobhan says. "While Avril might be faster, there is no telling if we might not need her special abilities later in the day if the army has already reached the Bridge."

[sblock=Cleric Spells Prepared] (CL 5, +1 for Conjuration (Healing) spells)
3rd - Prayer, Cure Serious Wounds (CL 6)
2nd - Cure Moderate Wounds (CL 6), Hold Person (DC 15), Lesser Restoration (CL 6)
1st - Bless, Cure Light Wounds (2) (CL 6)
0th - Create Water, Cure Minor Wounds (2) (CL 6), Guidance, Light
Domain Spells 3rd - Keen Edge, Magic Vestment; 2nd - Bull's Strength, Heat Metal; 1st - Enlarge Person, Magic Weapon[/sblock]

 

[Creamsteak]

"Well alright then. I'll head off now if you want."

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tyrla gives the old forester a respectful nod before he leaves. "Be careful, and be as convincing as you can- I think you've seen enough to realize this threat is real. Hopefully the townsfolk can be convinced as well. Once we've seen what we can, we will try to head back with our findings- if we don't come back, it will mean the danger is that much more of a problem..."

Once the old man was on his way, Tyrla waved in the direction of the hidden pit. "So, shall we see what is down there, and then be on our way?"

 

[Creamsteak]

Johr heads off through the trail, albeit reluctantly. "Be careful, even if you can fight off hobgoblins and the skeletons of giants, there might still be surprises in the Witchwood."

 

[Creamsteak]

I'm going to work under the assumption the group at least goes down to inspect the pit.

The hidden vault is the room marked 12 on the original map.

The walls of this small vault are worked stone, the ceilign twelve feet overhead. The air is thick and smells stale and slightly smoky. Three alcoves have been cut into the walls, two to the north and one to the east. Each alcove is sealed by an iron gate and locked with chains and a large padlock. Beyond one alcove are several shelves bearing no less than ten small iron coffers. Beyond the second is a small desk and a single large trunk.

A human skeleton lies slumped against the eastern alcove's gate. The skeleton is still dressed in black-scale armor of some kind and feebly gripping a fine longbow. It's ribs and skull are both cracked in places, and it looks like one of the legs was mostly shattered.

This skeleton looks to have been down here quite a long time. The remains of the body have otherwise been picked away by decay. The armor he wears isn't markably familiar, but the bow is familiar to Avril and Warren as matching the make of the longbow held by the archer that assisted in the battle against the skeletons.

Each of the three alcoves are sealed off by bars and locked. The skeleton is in the south-east corner. It doesn't seem to pose any threat.

[sblock=Skeleton]SKELETON
dragoncraft (black) hide armor - [light armor, Armor Bonus (+3), Max Dex (+4), Armor Check Penalty (-1), Arcane Spell Failure (20%), Acid Resistance 5]
magic mty [+4 str] composite longbow, emits a soft white light in a 30 foot radius when held by a living creature
magic gauntlets, red steel marked with a stylized letter 'V'
magic boots, leather and rubber materials with excellent traction[/sblock]

Looking past the gates to the north-west guard what looks to be 10 iron coffers, each with a keyhole and featuring a stylized 'V'.

Looking past the bars of the north-east alcove contains a number of books, a small desk, and a number of notes and pens.

The south-east alcove is also sealed, and inside it looks like a single large trunk is the only occupant.

 

[Creamsteak]

It looks like Warren can manage all the locks by taking 20. In order to expediate things, I'll assume he does (no traps or such on these).



It takes Warren quite a while to get all the gates open, then the large trunk, then each of the successive coffers.

[sblock=Trunk]TRUNK
Skull of a young adult black dragon.
Two dozen huge teeth (giant sized) on a thick string.
A goblin warchief's +1 shortsword. (small sized shortsword with goblin markings)
A large-sized magic spiked gauntlet made from bulette's teeth and claws. Embossed on the back of the gauntlet is a distinctive symbol that looks something like a frowning tusked mouth.[/sblock]

[sblock=Coffers]COFFERS
Six of the coffers contain coins.
2,500 sp
2,100 gp
120 pp

The remaining four contain various pieces of paper including the deed to Vraath Keep. The holder of this deed is the legal owner of the ruined keep, at least according to the document itself.

There are also a large number of expired unclaimed letters of credit and other receipts, essentially worthless now.

There are also four scrolls.

Divine
scroll of divine power
scroll of call lightning
scroll of bless weapon

Arcane
scroll of hold monster[/sblock]

The desk and books appear to all be records related to Vraath Keep, including the previous owners journal. The man's name was Amery Vraath, and his journal details his gloating and triumph over the giants of the Witchwood. Amery was alive during the time of Rhestilor (the old kingdom here) and claimed the forest. He then attempted to conquer the strongest force of evil in the region, the Twisktusk forest giants. He led his forces against them, killed their chieftain, and scattered the tribe. The soldiers burned the giants steading to the ground and returned home to have a victory feast. Amery's ambitions were vast, and he eventually hoped to solidify his hold in the Witchwood, conquer it, build a city, and then move on to the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. His last notes are gloating about having permanently solved the problem of the giants.