IC II

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar examines her scimitar blade for any knicks or scratches as they sit around the fire after their first day of searching. (It is, as always, razor sharp.)

"We may have found nothing today, but patience, says Mnencir, is a virtue. I am content to continue our search until we find the tomb or are satisfied that it is not in this location."

[thirdkingdom]

Fourthmonth, Twentyeighthday
Rhea's Ford

Ruefully, knowing that his employer is counting on him, Goshawk turns his back on the festive atmosphere and turns north, heading for Bastion, and beyond that, Alice. He makes it into the foothills of the mountains before retiring for the night in a small roadside inn.

Fourthmonth, Twentyeighthday
Hex 232.118

The night passes uneventfully.

Random Encounter (1-2):: 1d6 4

Fifthmonth, Firstday

The adventurers continue their exploration of the hex, moving in a methodical fashion, gradually working their way south. None of the characters of a priestly bent feel the presence of their patrons, though, and the process is slow. Nothing of interest is discovered during their day of exploration.

Lifestyle costs are due, and are based upon the character's level as of today. Refer to this post for that: viewtopic.php?p=419423#p419423

Costs are due for both PCs and henchmen. Assume that Madame Fleur pays these costs out of what you have left with her. Zellar does not owe CoL for this month.
Rolling to determine the guidance of the gods: https://orokos.com/roll/778040: 1d4 1. Nope. However, the adventurers do continue with their routine, exploring subhexes 0504, 0604, 0704, 0605, and 0505 (they can do five hexes per day, instead of four, due to the use of magic).

Random Encounter (1-2):: 1d6 6

Fifthmonth, Firstday
Bastion

It's a half day's ride to reach the mountatin redoubt of Bastion for Goshawk, and the warrior is greeted heartily by the guards, who still remember him. "Stay the night!" they exclaim, "as you won't be able to make it out of the mountains before night falls, and dangers mount with every passing day." It seems the ogre tribe has yet to be quelled, and the great brutes struck another outlying community two nights prior. "The Barroness has upped the bounty on ogre heads from 25 gold to 50 gold, in the hopes of rousing interest in hunting them."

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"Did you hear the one about the dervish who asked the homeowner for a piece of bread? Ah, it's not very good anyway. They tell it too much around the temple. Anyway, I'm sure we'll find something tomorrow."

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

"This area isn't all that big. We're bound to find it tomorrow for sure."

[thirdkingdom]

Fifthmonth, Firstday
Hex 232.118

Another night passes uneventfully.

Random Encounter (1-2):: 1d6 4

Fifthmonth, Secondday
Hex 232.118

This time, as Zellar spends an hour in quiet meditation, running through her bladeforms, she feels a tugging sensation, though no one is around, dragging her attention to the southeast. She feels as though what they have been searching for is nearby.

https://orokos.com/roll/778130: 1d4 4

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"You know, the only bad part of this tromping around out here in the woods is that we aren't getting paid for exploring it like we did for the Prince. You'd think that there was something to fight out here the way that guy in the last town was talking."

"Maybe we should have a side business of map making and exploring."

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

"You know, the only bad part of this tromping around out here in the woods is that we aren't getting paid for exploring it like we did for the Prince. You'd think that there was something to fight out here the way that guy in the last town was talking."

"Maybe we should have a side business of map making and exploring."

*Looks at wandering monster tables and fixed lairs you guys have managed to miss on this little jaunt*

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar narrows her eyes in the direction of the mystical sensation...

Can I return to camp to get the others, or do I risk losing track of what I've picked up?

[thirdkingdom]

Zellar

Zellar narrows her eyes in the direction of the mystical sensation...

Can I return to camp to get the others, or do I risk losing track of what I've picked up?

I'm assuming you're still in camp, and that you've picked up a premonition before camp is broken for the day

[thirdkingdom]

Fifthmonth, Secondday
Hex 232.118
10:00 am

Rather than continue their exploration westwards, then south, in the familiar zigzag pattern that allows a thorough exploration of uncharted territory, the adventurers, spurred on by Zellar's premonitions and guided by Newton's woods-craftiness, head due southeast. Within less than a mile they find what they suppose to be their goal; a mound of earth, perhaps some twenty feet high and nearly twice that in diameter. It is small as barrow mounds go, and well covered in trees and undergrowth. Set into the northern face is a door of iron, rusted by age, surrounded by stone, and jutting out of the ground before the door are two iron spikes, each nearly as tall as a man; around which are scattered the yellowed bones of some manner of humanoid creature.

Random Encounter (1-2):: 1d6 5

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

"We should see about prying this door open with pure muscle. Failing that, I can memorize an incantation overnight to open it by magical means."

The mage orders the mercs to prepare a defensible position around the door while the adventurers delve.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Too bad I had to give those gauntlets back. But, if they didn't really work on that trapdoor, they may not work here as well. Kinda worrisome that Aldus isn't with us here. Do you think this is trapped?"

[shaidar]

Newton

"traps? just what I was thinking. Zellar, didn't you say you have spells to detect those?"

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"Take a look for traps and then I'll take a shot at it. I have two crowbars with me so maybe Gardo and I working together can pop it open. Wonder what drove the Ironborn from here..."

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"Indeed, I have a divination for just such an occasion."

Zellar casts find traps and moves within range of the entrance to see if anything glows suspiciously.

[thirdkingdom]

The pair of spikes sticking out of the ground glow faintly, as does a square patch on the ground between the two of them. Looking closer, it appears to be a flat paving stone, part of a path leading up to the door of the mound.

[thirdkingdom]

The pair of spikes sticking out of the ground glow faintly, as does a square patch on the ground between the two of them. Looking closer, it appears to be a flat paving stone, part of a path leading up to the door of the mound.

The trap, btw, seems to already have been sprung. One thing I don't want to run into is decision paralysis due to the lack of a thief. I can tell you now that this is a lower level mini-dungeon. I wouldn't think that careful PCs will run any risk of dying.

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

"Well, how about we walk around the trap and get that door open, eh?"

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar stows her coinpurse and readies her holy symbol of Mnencir. She uses her shortspear as a pole to test the ground in front of her, though she won't attempt to (re-)trigger the trap. She'll approach the door and investigate it more closely.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"So you're sure there's no other traps? Ok then...Gardo - Give me a hand with this..."

Feargus carefully avoids the marked trap and then hands a crowbar to Gardo. Using his other crowbar, he then goes to work trying to get the door open.