Age of Ashes In-Game Group I

[stack]

"There is no need to hurry about exploring further and I would rather not trouble the goblins with a prisoner."

[DarkOne-Rob]

Corry nods and agrees, saying, "Alright, let's do this, then. Get Calmont back to town and get back here to clean out the goblins' home. We should also bring our late companion's body back for burial...If we start now we can be back before dark."

[rogue_alchemist]

Spoiler: OODM

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Where are you taking him in town? nearest guard? jail? town hall?

[DarkOne-Rob]

Spoiler: OODM

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Where are you taking him in town? nearest guard? jail? town hall?

Spoiler: Details

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Whatever is easiest but will ensure Calmont is treated appropriately. I don't want him to become a victim of a lynch mob or anything, so an official we can trust to keep him safe as he is placed in confinement where he cannot hurt anyone.

We know he used magic to summon fire outsiders already, so they should be aware of that and able to prevent things like that from happening again. If we need to RP those interactions, I don't think anyone will mind.

[rogue_alchemist]

The group ties Calmont securely to ensure he doesn't try to escape, and then escorts him back to town. Along the way back through the citadel, you stop and recover Olarn's body to bring back. Calmont doesn't try anything and walks along meekly, with his shoulders slumped and head down. When you reach the gate, the town guard accost you to record who you are and what you are doing. Upon explaining, he immediately sends someone ahead to assemble the town council and a second guard to escort you to the town hall. The guards offer to have a priest fetched to start preparing Olarn for burial while you finish your report. You make it to the town hall with no trouble and pass the burned out hull of the building to see that the town council is setup in a temporary building to the side that has been repurposed for their meeting use.

The town council greets you, with Greta still taking the lead. She says "Well I see you have returned, and with Calmont I am told. Let us hear a full report of what happened." She sits back and waits to hear the tale. A few more guards have appeared to guard the single door and ensure Calmont doesn't try anything, though he appears subdued.

Spoiler: actions

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If you don't want to type a summary of your adventure, you can just say you recount it, specifying which details you share or hold back (if any).

[DarkOne-Rob]

Not wanting to get caught up in a long discussion, Corry briefly summarizes events. "Well, Ma'am, we got to the keep, began exploring, Olarn was ambushed and killed, and then we found the goblin tribe. They were being threatened by Calmont, but we were able to get him to turn himself into us. The tribe is waiting for us to return and try to clear out their home so they can return, though, so we must be going shortly. If you like I am sure we can provide more details when we are done. Will that be alright?"

[rogue_alchemist]

"Well it seems you have fulfilled both of your contracts. Just one more question for confirmation? Who is the chieftain of the goblins and what do they look like?" Greta asks

After one of you successfully identifies the chieftain as Helba and give her description (which is mostly of any goblin, though she does have a distinctive notch in her right ear), Greta continues:

"Very good, I am satisfied, here is your 20 gp for completion of both contracts. I am sure your fame as local adventurers will spread quickly too. We are very thankful for your assistance in these maters. I will leave you to your own devices at this point. You may do as you wish, including returning to Citadel Altaerein and helping the goblins. They have been peaceful to us for a long time now, and we would like to see this continue. Good luck out there!"

A guard steps forward to take Calmont from you, and puts manacles on him before giving you back your rope. They also gag him to prevent him using a verbal spell. Greta reassures you that he will be treated fairly and given a trial and chance to defend himself, but the evidence against him is pretty strong and he will likely not be free anytime soon.

As you leave the small building, you find yourself back in Breachill, near the town square. It is getting on towards evening, so you have a choice of spending the night in town or going back to camp near the citadel.

Spoiler: actions

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You receive 20 gp total, to be split among the 4 of you, so 50 sp each if split evenly, or you can buy some common group gear with combined funds. You can shop tonight and stay in town or you can head back to find the goblins' secret entrance. You have enough information to find it without any trouble. Just let me know what you want to do.

[samduke]

Ophillia collects her 50 sp and continues to follow corry around

[DarkOne-Rob]

Corry nods and gratefully takes his reward. "I think we should get back to the citadel - they still need our help. Who's coming with me?" he asks, not needing to purchase anything with the coin he has.

[stack]

Algar holds up a hand, "Tomorrow. It is too late to do anything there yet today and the goblins are not in the building any more. Leaving now and camping the night makes us vulnerable. Better to stay here, then go back in the morning."

[DarkOne-Rob]

Corry makes a face, but nods. "I guess that's true - I'm not sure I will sleep much tonight, though. I'm too worked up from all this excitement and want to be sure the goblins' home is theirs again soon. I suppose you're right, though...Meet at the gate in the morning, then?"

[samduke]

Corry nods and gratefully takes his reward. "I think we should get back to the citadel - they still need our help. Who's coming with me?" he asks, not needing to purchase anything with the coin he has.

Ophillia looking at Corry, I am with you

Corry makes a face, but nods. "I guess that's true - I'm not sure I will sleep much tonight, though. I'm too worked up from all this excitement and want to be sure the goblins' home is theirs again soon. I suppose you're right, though...Meet at the gate in the morning, then?"

Ophillia will get a room next or near corry's and continue to escort/follow in the morning to the gate

[Farmerbink]

Brek only grunts at Corry's question. Somehow, the monosyllabic utterance conveys both acknowledgement that he'll join and offense that there was ever a question. He finds himself retiring to a simple enough room at the local inn, reflecting on the loss of Olarn and the plight of the Goblins.

[rogue_alchemist]

Everyone passes a restful night in town, and wakes up feeling refreshed. You all gather at the town gates to return to the goblins secret entrance. In the daylight, you can see that the town is continuing on with business as usual. You make the trek up to the citadel with no problem and walk around the back where Helba indicated. It is built into the hillside, and would be easy to miss if you didn't know where to look.

Spoiler: map

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Spoiler: actions

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Don't forget you all healed Con mod times your level (should be level 1 still) while sleeping last night. You also see another collapsed wall back here that could be used to enter the north part of the castle. So just let me know that you are going in. I just wanted to give you all a chance to say anything like standard marching order or if you changed out your items or anything. It will be a tunnel down to the other end of the secret door, then you will be underground for the rest of this section.

[stack]

"I will take the lead. Stay together." Algar volunteers, recalling the fate of their late ally who wandered off the day before.

Spoiler

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Defend exploration activity to have shield raised at battle start.

[DarkOne-Rob]

As he sees his companions start to get ready to go their separate ways, Corry says, Come along everyone. If I cannot find a bed for you then I will eat my shoe. Brek, I had a tall cousin who used to live with my family and we still have his bed made, with fresh sheets. I doubt any of the humans will be comfortable in my home, for obvious reasons, but you should be able to fit comfortably. Everyone else, I have neighbors that should help you out. Come along!"

After seeing to everyone's accommodations, Corry settles into his halfling-sized home for the night, but cannot seem to get comfortable. "I feel bad for those poor goblins, displaced from their homes. Maybe I can help with some blankets...yes, that will do!" he murmurs before taking to some yarn and knitting needles. He then spends much of the night quietly knitting.

In the morning he is burdened with a prodigious amount of halfling-sized blankets, which he divides out among the party. "Before we go inside, I want us to deliver these. That way, even if we fail or it takes too long, they will have some comfort tonight. I had several extra and made a couple last night before falling asleep. Now, let's go!" With a cheerful step, he begins to walk back towards the citadel, whistling tunelessly as he goes.

Once ready to descend into the cave, he nods at Algar and places himself in the middle of the party.

[Farmerbink]

Brek finds himself unusually moved by Corry's apparently boundless positivity and compassion. He begrudgingly allows himself to be led to his significantly smaller, but only slightly shorter friend's home. He mostly stays to himself, answering questions with barely-not-impolite, brief responses. While he doesn't suffer from Corry's empathic insomnia, the bed is clearly not built for someone of his stature. Still, he manages, and trudges along contentedly helping to haul an unreasonable number of blankets to have come from one small cluster of homes.

Outside the cave, he eyes Algar curiously. "If you figure you can see well enough, I won't stop ya. Might be better for me to take lead, if you don't want to announce yourself with a torch."

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm not gonna press the issue, and Brek is not a good scout. He's just kinda crotchety, and wouldn't shy away from the potential conflict.

[stack]

"The darkness does not trouble my eyes, thank you for the offer though." Algar replies, graciously.

[rogue_alchemist]

After standing around for a minute a few goblins carefully come out of the woods and say, "You are our friends from yesterday. Helba sent us to show you the secret entrance. To open it, you just push on this rock." He then sticks his hand through a small hole barely big enough for a human sized hand, but plenty big enough for his small goblin hands and you hear a click as something is pushed. The rock face, where you had spotted the secret door, unlatched and sprung forward just slightly, creating a human sized entrance down into dark tunnels.

Spoiler: Corry

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Feel free to present your blankets and such, I am just going to go ahead and have the team enter the tunnels (with you) so we aren't waiting around all weekend on me to update.

Algar leads the way, not using a torch at all. Corry and Ophilia go in the middle, carefully holding hands and feeling along the walls, as quietly as possible. Brek brings up the rear, watching for any dangers that lurk or try to sneak up behind them. The other end of the tunnel leads to another secret entrance that is quite obvious from this side, with a lever to pull. There is a small slit to see into the hallway beyond, and you see two large birds wandering up and down the hallway, occasionally pecking at the ground. The wide, empty stone hallway is oppressive and dark. To the east, the hall ends at three separate open doorways, while six additional corridors branch off to the north and south. A mass of rubble spills out of a clogged archway in the northeastern portion of the room. You see the birds occasionally stop and study the darkness of the 3 northern hallways as they pass by. These birds are obvious intelligent.

Spoiler: map

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Spoiler: actions

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Feel free to roleplay interacting with the goblins. These are just a couple of average goblins from the tribe that Helba sent to make sure you found your way in without any issue, though they did live down there and experience everything of the escape. Once you go down in, you see the two birds. You can try to identify them with Nature check. Since there is no light in the hallway and you are not using any torches, everything is black and white vision only (hence the desaturated tokens for the birds). From the way the birds are wandering around it doesn't seem like they have great vision in the dark hallways, so you feel pretty confident that you could sneak out of the secret tunnel without them noticing you, but they are definitely on high alert to every little sound. This also means Corry and Ophlia cannot identify the birds, as they can't see anything.

[stack]

Outside Algar thanks the goblins for their aid, wishing them well on their return to camp.

Inside Algar stops the others, watching the birds for a moment. Why would birds be here where they cannot see?

[stack]

Algar gently pushes the others to get them to back up a bit to remain unheard, speaking softly, "Two birds, they do not seem to see well in the darkness. We can maybe go by unnoticed into a side passage. Thoughts?"

[Farmerbink]

Brek allows himself to be ushered back further into the hallway. "I'm not sure how good a look I got, but I think I've seen those things before... At any rate, I'd expect them to attack or sound an alarm if they see us- they weren't actin' like animals, exactly." He hefts the Warhammer meaningfully and grunts.

"Better be ready for a fight, but best to avoid it. Be careful."

[DarkOne-Rob]

Corry delivers the blankets with little fanfare, instead ensuring the goblins that they were welcome to them and not to worry about payment. "I could barely sleep at all last night, thinking about all of you kicked out of your home. If we can get you settled again you can 'pay it forward' and help the next folks you see in need. In the meanwhile, we'd best get started..."

---

Generally unable to see and deliberately avoiding light that would give away the party, Corry allows himself to be led and listens to the discussion about the birds. "I'm not afraid of fighting, but would prefer to avoid violence if we can...especially to innocent animals. It's not like they are likely to be villains or anything, right?" he whispers.

[stack]

"So we try the side-passage, avoiding them?"

[rogue_alchemist]

Spoiler: OODM

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I assume Brek shares his info, so I am cutting down on time by just posting it here.

Brek knows that these birds definitely don't belong underground and have been placed there for a purpose. As such it is reasonable that they are guards (much like dogs), though their pattern of wandering around suggest they are just as bling down here as any normal person. They can hear, but not see and aren't following any pattern of moving around, just keep walking around randomly until they bump into a wall or something, then turn around and walk in a different direction. With careful watching you can time your departure so that they are far away from you and you can sneak into the immediate hallway either North or South of the secret tunnel you are in, so long as you are quiet.

Spoiler: actions

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If you want to sneak roll a Stealth check and try to sneak by without making too much noise. You also don't know how much noise the door will make, though it likely opens out. There is a lever to pull on your side that will release it, likely with a soft click mechanism, but so long as you are waiting for an opportune time you can be reasonably confident they won't notice (basically so long as no one rolls a 1 on their stealth).

[DarkOne-Rob]

Corry continues to silently follow his allies, moving with careful steps in spite of the darkness...

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Corriander is trained in Stealth, so might as well roll - (1d20+5)[12]

[stack]

Algar does his best to not make too much noise, taking the passage to the right.

Spoiler: stealthish

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1d20-1[/roll] 13 rolled OOC

[Farmerbink]

Brek frowns, unhappy and unsure about their odds of success. Nonetheless, he nods resolutely, and quietly guides Corry through the doorway into the nearest side door, after sharing his knowledge of the birds' abilities. He steps out smartly at the Halfling's heels, and urges his companions into the next room while watching the guard birds.

Spoiler: stealth

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(1d20)[11]

[rogue_alchemist]

Spoiler: stealth

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Ophilia rolled a 19 for stealth. The birds rolled a 7 for perceive, so they don't notice anything. Just as a reminder, when operating in total darkness without darkvision, normal terrain becomes difficult terrain (meaning you have to move at half speed), you automatically critically fail anything that requires vision, and you take a -4 penalty to perception checks if your other senses might help (smell, hearing, feel, taste). So Corry and Ophillia have very little idea what is going on, and are being guided by the hand to the side passage and then have to feel the walls to walk down the hallway.

Algar continues to take the lead, leading Ophilia by the hand to the passage to the right. Brek puts his hand on Corry's shoulder to lead him to the passage on the right as silently as possible. No one makes too much noise, though there is a lot of hand flailing and motion that looks quite humorous to Brek. The group makes it down the first passage on the right several feet and feel that they have made it far enough away not to be detected by the birds, unless they make a huge amount of noise. After 35 feet the passage ends in a wooden door.

Spoiler: map

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Spoiler: actions

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The door isn't locked if you test it. The birds will likely move around new time you go back into that area and it will be harder to coordinate your movement so that you avoid them, but you have successfully avoided them this time. The birds rolled really low, but have been chosen as guardians for reason and have a relatively high bonus. Do you proceed on? No sounds can be heard through the door, but someone, somewhere left those birds for a reason.

[stack]

Algar tries the door, slowly, keeping noise to a minimum. His shield stays high, covering the gap as the door opens.