Barrow Mounds: A Clamour of Harpies.

[Spearmint]

This expedition is set up for the group trekking to the Barrow Mounds and a suspected Harpy lair.

The expedition will leave Helix on June 5th 1066.

It is led by Moriartus and ably supported by characters Cadeweed, Dougal, Durgo, Fydmar. Also joining the expedition are a trio of mercenaries. Two-Birds, the half-elven cleric of Silvanus and apprentice rogue, Rickford and Duval, previous hires who journeyed with you.

Lastly, Jorly, an elderly but very spritely scholar joins in the hunt.

information on them is as written in the NPC thread.

Just waiting on new players and returnees to confirm possible interest, then I will open this up.

[Spearmint]

Helix Village, Duchy of Aerik.

June 5th 1066.

After a hearty breakfast at the tavern, traditional porridge eaten standing up with swirls of fresh milk and heaps of sugar, eggs fried sunny side up with the seasons green tomatoes more sausages than you can eat; the excess wolfed down in equal measure by wolf Smokie and wolfhound Conmhaol. Despite the cameraderie between the characters, the familiar and the animal companion do not get on, especially so when canine or lupine introductions usually include the sniffing of each others balls.

Two groups set out, supporting each other across the Barrowmoor with an agreement to part ways at the field of mammoth bones.

Arriving unhindered by midday, each group has a particular focus. One to locate a harpy lair, the other to explore among the scouted barrow mounds. You wish each other godspeed and success and part in different footpaths leading into the misty meadow of tumuli.

actions and comments for those in Moriartus group.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

The thrill of setting out on another adventure gets the blood going, ay? These harpy things fly right? Probably best to keep our heads looking up. Best to look down and all around. That was some breakfast feast...I'll march wherever you want me at..Durgo has his bow out ready to go and his shield on his back..I hope we have some good weather.

Durgo looks around often and stretches as he walks so his muscles stay loose.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

During the march to the barrow meadow, Moriartus confers with Two-Bird's for assistance on the basic pronunciations and verb usage of the hobgoblin language. When the combined host reaches the whale bone yard, he bids Sven and Orgoth good hunting and suggests they meet again at the Strumpet to discuss any findings and explore future opportunities together.

He points north. "Our path is directly east from the stone pyramid, past the mummy mound, several hundred yards. First is another mound surrounded by large standing stones, then an old graveyard. The latter we'll need to take a wide berth to the south to avoid mongrelmen and their traps. To the east of that is a mound topped with a stone dolmen. It is there we heard the calls of carrion birds to the northeast."

[Karaunios]

Dougal enjoys the travel through the land, even if it's swampy terrain. He wishes the best to Sven and Orgoth and hopes he will see them again soon.

When they're headed to the harpy's nest, he reflects on Durgo's comment: "Aye, but it's dangerous. Mr. Moriartus suggested that we fill aur ears with waex. They will charm us if we hear their faul chanting.

If ye daen't, I have a candle. I'm suir there's more to than enough faer the twa of us."

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Before we go we should make sure that all people coming have candle wax for their ears, as well as a some hand signals to communicate when we cannot hear.

I would propose

• Hand up for Stop
• Motioning with four fingers for come here
• Flat hand to ask are you under mind control
• Closed fist with thumb and pinky extended to the I am doing well.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

"I have five wax candles and Dougal has a similar number, so we are good there. I like the hand signals, too. When we're ready to ... wax up ... we should also operate in at least pairs to cover each other's backs."

"The advantage of surprise will also be crucial. As we get close, I can render at least one other invisible for scouting. Miss Two-Bird's and myself have our cloaks which make us nearly so."

"If Valeron is right, the harpies should be nesting and more reliant on their guards, especially the vultures. We must be extremely careful not to alert them prematurely."

[Cwreando]

Dougal enjoys the travel through the land, even if it's swampy terrain. He wishes the best to Sven and Orgoth and hopes he will see them again soon.

When they're headed to the harpy's nest, he reflects on Durgo's comment: "Aye, but it's dangerous. Mr. Moriartus suggested that we fill aur ears with waex. They will charm us if we hear their faul chanting.

If ye daen't, I have a candle. I'm suir there's more to than enough faer the twa of us."

Durgo
"I did not get any wax and I would appreciate a stick if you don't mind.. Thanks Dougal.. I like the hand signals to Cadweed. I'll do my best also Moriartus.

Durgo accepts the wax from Dougal and puts it in his ears as instructed. Durgo uses his fist and taps on his new helm he purchased and notices the noise reduction.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Candles, that's a good idea. Alas, I have none. He will have his X-bow loaded and will do a lot of glancing upwards. If we see any vulture spies, shall we attempt to hide 1st, take them out 2nd, or the other way round?

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

"Not too worry, Mr. Fydmar, I have extra candles. If you should see any giant vultures, shoot first. If we attempt to hide, we cannot be certain of success."

[Spearmint]

It is late past midnight now, I will update this scene later. Thank you for your patience.

[Spearmint]

Barrow Mounds, Duchy of Aerik.

June 5th 1066.

The group warily trek past the mammoth bones, entering the wide field of scattered burial mounds. The tumuli built to honour deity or demon, common merchant or noble knight, earthen mausoleums to venerate holy priests or to remember those who dabbled in necromantic arts. Each hillock unique in the secrets it holds, few mounds have been pillaged raw of the treasure, wisdom and undead dangers sealed away for centuries from those foolhardy enough to raid the tombs. The graveyard you pass testiment to some explorers finding only the celestial glories of a halo or harp and hopefully a quick death.

Along the side of the graveyard, several newly dug graves. A single notched stick making do as a headstone, a ribbon or trinket attached to each.

Cadeweed and Moriartus can reflect on their last encounter with the Mongrelmen bandits who took refuge here.

You climb the barrow with the dolmen. Here were the two descriptions of this location.

The dolmen is climbed by an intrepid adventurer, probably Cadeweed. You might have got a scenic vista in normal circumstances but the mist is all pervading and beyond a 60'ft radius you struggle to make out shaped and figures. Even the sunlight only filters through in faint rays of orange.

Standing on the plinth does give one advantage which is to catch the faint squawking of avian calls. The mist catching the sounds of squabbling critters which by your experience may be more carrion birds, the noise drifting on the breeze from the north east.

You also note another stone edifice which is on the south edge of the mount summit. This looks like a large carved throne and sitting in the chair is a large skeleton. The figure looks to have been made to pose in position (rather than it is a skeleton who just happened to take a breather and sit down), one hand resting on the hilt of a large blade which is partly buried in the ground. His gaze focused over the entrance to the barrow which is on the south face of the mound.

How far away the gaggle of squabbling vultures are and who the victim of their feasting is remains a mystery, hidden by the mist. In this eerie atmosphere you know sounds carry in strange ways, whispers whispered a hundred yards away magnified much greater than a conversation behind you.

Scrambling off the raised plinth you can have two casual observations about it. It is large enough for a giant figure to lie upon being as it is at least 12'ft long. It also slanted for the supporting stones are taller at one end than the other. The noted embers of a camp fire are within the eaves under the plinth where a small group could shelter from the elements. A rusty spoon, old firelight flint, empty tin can confirm the lunch spot. You decide not to encroach upon the skeleton poised in contemplation on the stone throne.

With incident, the group make it to the dolmen and take their bearings. Despite listening hard, there is no telltale giveaway of squabbling vultures nearby. An eerie silence has befallen the mounds and thick all-veiling mist closes in on every side.

Actions please

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Cadeweed will make sure that he has his wax at the ready, but will not be putting it in quite yet. Know the way to the top of the dolmen Cadeweed will focus in the direction that he last heard the sounds several nights ago.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Will climb to the top of the dolmen if possible and see what he can see. First looking up, then looking out in each direction.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

"We heard the carrion birds to the northeast. So, could be several dozen feet to several hundred yards. I propose the following. I will render Mr. Cadeweed invisible, and along with Miss Two-Birds and her cloak they will scout ahead at about 120 feet."

"At each 120 foot interval, if the area is clear, they will signal back to the main group to proceed, a different signal if not. Perhaps animal calls of some kind."

"Remember the hand signals, too."

• Hand up for Stop
• Motioning with four fingers for come here
• Flat hand to ask are you under mind control
• Closed fist with thumb and pinky extended to the I am doing well.

Casts Invisibility on Cadeweed.

Spell Retention (17): [4d6+2]=9+2=11

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Being invisible Cadeweed will reply with "OK - 'Two Whos' of a Barn Owl is all clear, 'Three Whos' is come quick we are in danger and a Sheep's 'Nay' is we are coming back."

Let us head out Two-Birds.

[ravenn4544]

Jorly, with a bit of a smirk as he puts candle wax in his ears, takes it in stride.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo stays in formation and has his bow out and arrows notched but not drawn. If visibility is limited, he switches to shield and sword.

He stays alert and having placed the wax already he watches the others for hand signals and signals the others he's on sight signals and can't hear.

[Karaunios]

Dougal stopples just one ear for the time being. He wants to be able to hear Cadeweed when he who or nay. The other wax ball he holds in one hand. His bow in the other.

Sorry it took me longer to post this time. Have been very busy. I've spent the last month visiting friends and family back in Spain. Half the time on vacation and the last two weeks working from home. These last days I've tried to spend with my people as much as possible. Now going back to Germany by train through France.

[Spearmint]

Sorry it took me longer to post this time. Have been very busy.

that's ok. I was half dead for two weeks, five days just looking up at the ceiling from the hospital bed, waiting for the antibiotics to slowly work.

Barrow Mounds, Duchy of Aerik.

June 5th 1066.

Deciding to use stealth to scout ahead, an invisible halfling and two cloaked spellcasters sneak down the dolmen topped mound, heading vaguely north-east.

Fydmar, from the top of the dolmen you can only see the figure of the giant skeleton on the other side of the top of the mound. The mist makes visibility difficult, even at midday during summer, the thick swirls of fog drifting from the Barrow Moor cover everything even to a bowshot high. So you can make out your firebrand torches but little else beyond 60'ft. The mist too makes sound swirl, the barking of Conmhaol sounding a little farther away than the dog really is then switching as the breeze blows to suggest he is closer by. Dougal, Durgo, Jorly wait in expectation of alerts from the scouts.

Following a trail of hoots and neighs and perhaps some directional marking of the ground bearing in mind how sound deviates. You come to the foot of a collapsed mound, maybe 500'ft (four hexes) north east of the dolmen mound. This mound has a ring of standing stones and exposed boulders which seem to have rolled down its steep sides. The standing stones are well graffitied with random scrawling and caricature pictures. Some have been pushed over. Next to one are two fresh graves, the grass yet to re-seed over the shallow burial. Wooden markers simply etched with Luca 'the filcher' & Dardo Langlois, 'daddy longlegs': the gang remembers.

The two graves look recently churned up.

The top of the mound is flat and surrounds a gaping hole. Many stones piles in the centre of the floor some forty feet below.

actions please