[PbP] The Heroes of Silleria

[Guilt Puppy]

"Ya can stay on the scow! Try to keep the rats from gettin' on in the night, though."

"But I thought you wanted us to keep you fed!" Said with a smile -- the old man has no doubt already noticed the big bundle of food under his arm.

Oren offers to stay up and keep watch -- for rats and scoundrels both -- all night, provided he's let to sleep through the morning. During that time, he'll try to get acclimated to the smell as much as possible.

 

[MerakSpielman]

You spend the night kicking rats off the barge. You suspect largely that the task is futile, but you figure the fewer rats, the better.

In the morning, the barge departs to the north. It is propelled by the boys rapidly cranking a pully mechanism that is connected to some sort of underwater propulsion beyond your limited knowledge of seafaring. When two boys get tired, the other two start cranking while the first two rest, and so forth. Sharl Softswain spends his time steering the craft.

You quickly learn to stand on the upwind side of the barge to keep the worst of the stench out of your faces. The trip is not unbearable, and eventually becomes dull. The ocean is featureless, the fishing villages mangy, and the landscape bleak and hilly, with lots of cliffs and (you suspect) hidden coves.

 

[Uriel]

Norynth keeps alert, his crossbow at the ready as the Scow makes it's way along the Coast.
Titus keeps himself busy chasing rats, while gert sleeps quite a lot.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Moving right along then.


After several uncomfortable days traveling north, you see the ruins of the surface fortifications of the Keep atop a seaside cliff several hundred feet tall. You can see no sign of activity from your angle.

From the little you heard from Trevor Idolspear, you manage to direct Sharl Softswain to the base of the cliff. The barge is ill suited for such intricate maneuvers, but the old captain manages. Eventually, you spot a slight depression where you can tell you will be able to disembark.

A search reveals the faint outline of a secret door, though it is covered with slime and salt.

The barge, having fulfilled its purpose, moves slowly away and to the south.

 

[Imerak]

Foran spends most of his time on the scow away from others, writing something on the parchment he bought.

When they arive at the keep, Foran is the first to step off. "Now this, my friends." he says. "Is where the real adventure starts."

 

[Uriel]

Norynth tells gert and Titus to Stay , then, moving with all Stealth that he can muster, the Ranger heads towards the door, his crossbow ready in case any nasties feel lucky today...

 

[dpdx]

Kerith departs the scow third, making no particular effort to move stealthily (take 10 on Move Silently?), but not talking, either.

Once the secret door is indicated, he'll move up quietly and Listen at it, before checking for Traps.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

(OOC -- How long did the journey take? 3 or 4 days? Makes a significant difference in rations.)

Oren waves casually to the boatman as he heads off, then turns his attention to the task on hand. Once the door is found, he takes to surveying the area for any watchpoints along the cliffside. Once Norynth takes his position, he taps on Grimbard's shoulder, speaking in a low voice.

"Perhaps you should take a position beside the door, in case something comes running out? I don't imagine anyone's sitting behind there just waiting to pounce, but you can't be too careful."

He personally tries to take a position to the side of the door, between fifteen and thirty feet away, hiding behind whatever loose rocks he can find as Kerith does his thing.

 

[MerakSpielman]

OOC: You can't take 10 on move silently, since there is a possible penalty for failure. Also remember moving silently is at 1/2 regular speed.

OOC: The journey took 3 days - rather, you have arrived mid-way through day #3.

Kerith: You listen at the door, but hear nothing. You find no traps. Your search does reveal the door-opening mechanism: a weathered lump of stone that can be depressed.

You take your positions outside the door. (OOC: I'm getting a visual of a SWAT team...)

 

[dpdx]

[OOC: Oh, gawd, please don't say 'SWAT team' - my regular group uses that term for our regular door-busting routine and it drives me nuts... ]

Kerith looks back to make sure the others are all in position, and once so, presses the lump to open the door...