"I'll take a closer look at where our prey went, and see what sort of guard they've left. Happy to have company by any other light of foot." Kali draws his cloak closer around him.
"Whilst I'm gone you guys can decide which of you is best placed to lead us, and let me know the outome when I return."
Kali turns to leave, but at the last moment looks back "That way I'll know whose orders I'll be ignoring!" Kali grins, even on the verge of a chuckle, then turns, serious again, and heads on using the thicker parts of the vegetation to conceal himself.
OOC:
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Enter Aspect of the Soaring Hawk to increase perception, and move slowly forward, aware that there may be more goblin guards or spotters around than those that might be close to the smoke.
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Yes Kali, scout ahead. I shall scout also. In my way.
Reaching out with his mind, he treads carefully, searching for any sign of traps of the arcane kind or rituals being held.
I was imparted information about your lands during my training. Let me see...
Viator shuts his eyes and runs the paths of his mind. The memories fly by as if riding down corridors as he seeks the necessary information.
Freggo hops from one foot to the other upon seeing the mysterious ruin before them. "We're HERE!" Freggo whispers quietly and exuberantly.
Freggo shrugs at the suggestion of a leader from Velani. "I guess we could use someone to negotiate with anyone we meet. I did a bit of that back at the inn, but ah, I'm a bit new at this." Freggo smiles companionably. "Is that something you think you could help with, Ms. Velani? Negotiating and whatnot? That'd be great, and I could learn from you too. I've had lots of teachers! Never lasts that long though... ah, never mind." Freggo blushes a bit at his inadvertent mention of past failures. Freggo mumbles, "See, there I go, always saying too much..."
Freggo is very interested in what Viator does with his magic. "Ooh, that's neat. Maybe I can help a bit..." Freggo tries to lend some of his own amateurish magical energy to Viator's efforts.
Freggo places his ever-burning torch into his lantern (at least the burning portion) and shutters it, ready to deploy a light as needed but not wanting to draw attention until they come up with a plan. "I say we go check it out tonight! I'm too excited to sleep anyways!"
So here goes-
Kali moves silently forward, through the long grass, only from above could anyone hope to see him- thirty or so yards in he comes to a stop.Waits a while- nothing stirs. Ahead and to his side areas of fallen masonry- the side walls of the Castle in fact- however much of the stone and ancient mortar has been eroded by time, but that's not the interesting thing, slightly ahead the tall grass ends, or else the grass is bent down and trampled- a clearing, in the centre of which is a set of ancient stone steps that lead down, a whisp of smoke escapes from the opening.
[sblock=Kali]
A Perception check needed for anything further, the above info courtesy of your passive perception.
[/sblock]
Viator (with help from Freggo) stand statue and scan the area ahead for magical forces and/or traces, alas even their combined efforts are not enough... but wait, a trickle of power- the source and type you are unable to detect comes from some where straight ahead (latter when Kali reports you will work out that it comes from the direction of the opening). The pair are too far away to detect anything other than a sizeable source of magic, the opening is still over 150 feet away after all.
Still perhaps this skill could be of use a little closer, there's certainly something there...
Viator's historical knowledge is much easier to recollect- the Castle is indeed ancient, a relic of the Nerath Empire- a sprawling empire that covered the Nentir Vale and most of the known lands. Rivenroar was, in its hayday, home to Lords and Dukes- rulers of the Vale, this when Fallcrest was only a muddy settlement by the Nentir Falls. Viator recollects that a number of families have ruled the surrounding lands from Rivenroar, holding court there. Alas the names of the families escape him however (higher History check needed), they were however martial rulers- not tyrants, but men and women of action, used to fighting the myriad humanoids, and other factions, to keep their place in power.
Kyalia completes a circuit of the ruin, keeping to the shadows and the vegetation- there are few signs of activity, or even of creatures passing- a few half-hearted trails perhaps that swiftly peter out and lead to nowhere much.
The Elf deduces that the Goblins have not been in the ruins long, or else they are particularly lax at posting guards- the place appears to her to be abandoned, another ruin- inadvertantly the Goblins with their lazy ways have not been detected, mostly, by not venturing far from their lair.
Returning to her start point Kyalia also spots the clearing (but not Kali), she edges forward and confirms the details so far provided by Kali above.
[sblock=Kali]
Another Perception check specifically in this area may garner new insights.
[/sblock]
Freggo helps Viator of course, but also strains to see ahead, if there are lights then they are well disguised- or else hidden beneath the ground (down the stairs), Freggo can make out little from where he is alas.
And so twenty or so minutes pass with you creeping about, watching, waiting- straining to see or hear, which leaves only ten minutes of half-light left.
[sblock=In conclusion]
The only thing of note is the clearing and the stairs down, the rest is woodlands and mostly ruins and fallen stone. Any checks you make in the last ten minutes would be best made close to the clearing, and it seems there are no enemies to impede your progress to the area.
A few more checks and RP please (if you wish), and then an answer to the question- what are you doing next, enter now or wait until tomorrow?
Excellent play, I'd award XP but it keeps telling me I have to spread some around before it will let me award any more to you guys.
You've got Freggo nailed- top work, big dog in a small room, I think before the end of the adventure things are going to get knocked over and Freggo is going to stick his nose somewhere it doesn't belong. Excellent.
[/sblock]