Expedition: Fingers/Treasure of Yoldessi Plains- 30 Aug 2021

[Alethan]

Bandy looks around, questioningly, periodically glancing up at the unmoving statues on the towers.

"I don't know... we've seen the gargoyles active during the day. So waiting until the full sun to drop us off might have to do with something else. Something that cannot come out into the full sunshine. We should remain cautious," he finally says, an uneasy feeling creeping over him.

"Where do we go from here?"

OOC: Bandy can't wield that staff, I don't believe, because of his size.

[Rusty Tincanne]

If the staff destroys them on contact, then let's have Markd use it. If he gets two attacks per turn with a lower thac0, then threat seems to increase our odds of taking them down faster.

Unless or clerics don't have any magical weapons...

[Marullus]

One reason I don't do maps is because I'm sooo bad at them. I've modified yours slightly - it is was almost completely correct. The only two adjustments are: 1) the big "inner bailey" wall is on the back side of the estates (the courtyard wall is a minor one), and 2) All four gargoyle towers are on the outmost wall. Two are where the keep corners meet the outer wall, two are where the inner bailey wall meets the outer bailey wall. The outer towers are about 40' while the keep towers are 20'. All the towers are connected by catwalks along the top of the outer wall.

GargoyleCity.png (171.43 KiB) Viewed 309 times

[Zhym]

Thanks. Do we have a guess as to how wide the keep is across?

[Marullus]

Markd has an excellent eye for surveying. He surmises that this front face of the keep is about 150' across.

[Zhym]

"Where do we go from here?"

Fingers shrugs. "Might as well go straight to the keep," he says. "Or, well, along the walls to the keep, maybe. That way, if the gargoyles do attack, they won't be able to surround us as easy"

[Alethan]

Bandy nods, "Alright, let's get to it."

He begins making his way to the... western wall... before heading north towards the keep.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie makes herself Invisible again before following the others. She keeps a careful eye on the statues while they walk. She is on edge and cannot help but chatter. That was amazing, rigging the hippogryphs, wasn't it? Too bad they had to leave. I hope we can end the necromancy of this place and get out alive. Mrs. Dash, stay close and out of trouble, just like Sprinkles, okay?

[onlyme]

Markd follows in line.

[Marullus]

Your group decides to get out of the center-courtyard where the hippogriffs felt safest and scoot to the south, getting your backs to a wall, then proceeding West towards the keep.

You pass two of the wrought-iron estate gates - as ornamental as functional - both locked. You can see through them only as far as the overgrown vegetation within.

You come to the ruins of the stables - fire, age, and rot have fully collapsed the roofing, leaving a few sections of wall and stall-doors upright. You see tall grass grown in mounds on what must once have been hay, and the bleached-white color of bones among the detrius.

Shortly beyond is the massive front gate of the keep. A 10 foot reinforced pair of double-doors, it looks both sturdy and intact, still standing closed against the elements. There are no windows or arrow slits until the upper levels.

Date: 10:20am, 04 September 2021
Light: Winnie's continual light; daylight
Effects: None
Injuries: None

[Alethan]

Bandy studies the doors curiously, "Why is everything else all rotten and decayed, but these doors stand intact?"

"I got a bad feeling about this..."

[Zhym]

"For a moment there, when we flew over and saw the stables, I thought maybe we shoulda brought the pack animals," says Fingers. "Looks like it's good we didn't."

He assays the keep, trying to estimate how high the windows are. "I guess I could climb up with a rope or something. You'd Just have to make sure the gargoyles didn't attack me."

[Alethan]

"Well, we can check to see if the doors are locked or not, first..."

Bandy cautiously approaches the doors and examines them tentatively to see if they are locked or not.

[onlyme]

Markd will stand by watching for swooping concrete blocks.

[Zhym]

"Use the front door?" asks Fingers, incredulous. "I guess you could try."

[DavetheLost]

Hengist will also keep watch for incoming gargoyles and falling masonry while Bandy tries the doors.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie stands back, watching the statues, and will inform the others verbally if she sees any movement.

[Marullus]

Watching warily for gargoyles from above, the party waits as Bandy approaches the double doors. Markd puts away his blades, taking out Cathelon's quarterstaff. Winnie becomes invisible. Fingers guages the windows - there are large windows with closed shutters, about 25-35' from the ground. They are on the courtyard face and the front-half of the side faces. There are no windows on the keep at its rear. The keep attaches to the exterior curtain wall, which is 30' high and has a walkway about 25' up. The two towers on the roof of the keep's exterior have further arrow slits.

Bandy's small form approaches the doors as quietly as he can. He notes there is engraving on the stone above the doors - the writing is newer than the rest of the structure but still weathered by several centuries. None can read it, even Markd with his knife. Fingers, however, makes some sense of it.

It is a far-eastern human dialect, seen only occasionally on trade goods, and then they're usually rather sinister. The culture has a reputation for necromancy.

The inscription says, "This way is shut. It was is built by the Dead and the Dead keep it."

Bandy checks the doors and finds that they are not, in fact, barred or locked.

The gargoyles do not stir.

Date: 10:30am, 04 September 2021
Light: Winnie's continual light; daylight
Effects: None
Injuries: None

Fingers Languages (80) [1d100] = 2

[Zhym]

"'This way is shut. It was built by the Dead and the Dead keep it,'" Fingers translates. "Great. More undead." He looks up at the gargoyles, then spares a glance toward the back of the keep. "You think there's a door at top of the wall on the other side of the keep? Might be a better way in. I mean, unless you want to try the big unlocked door with a scary message on it. I'll just wait over there while you do."

He checks the door for traps anyway.

Why do I suddenly have a vision of leading an army of the dead into battle?

[Alethan]

Bandy gulps, "Well, I mean... ummm... if the Dead are keeping it then maybe we should leave it be. Maybe best to not just... er... barge in and interrupt their... ummm... keeping of the... of the way."

He looks back at Fingers and says, "I'm good with checking for other entrances..."