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Callen

The Cleric joins Veryn in his search, taking the opposite path so that he can help encircle the site. He keeps a firm hold on his holy symbol, should the dead decide to interrupt their search.

Rum

Rum looks around for any surprises and stays close to Vann Hector.

The Barrow Mound Graveyard.

Initial searches are made of the area. The elf Vann Hector has a gift for outting his foot in it and literally does so. Stepping in front of an unmarked tomb, the gravel under your feet scuff and you locate a concealed trapdoor. You do not locate any triggers or traps and taking your life in your hands, pull on the iron ring as Rum & Martell guard beside you. It reveals disappointingly perhaps, not a ladder or secret entrance to the labyrinths below but a hoard of ropes, snares, entangling nets and wrangling poles very similar to those used to secure spiders when they are hunted for silk thread collection. These lie inside a small coffin whose resident skeleton seems ignorant or impassive to his eternal resting place being used as a bandits equipment vault.

Callan remains alert to dangers, not just Mongrelmen hybrids but more necrotic undead that may frequent such dismal places. You hear a voice, like a whisper, inviting you. "Come, come, further this way." Peering you can make out a ghostly figure, it seems to wave at you, hushing you with a finger then turns to creep away before standing as an unseen rider rushes by, thrusting a long spear through his back. The man vanishes, but a few moments later the scene and invitation is repeated.

Veryn teams up with Tamson and together you scour the area, noting a few copper coins are placed besides certain tombs and headstones. The copper coins are placed one by the side of a headstone, to the left or right, in front or behind. Perhaps it signifies a path, stepping from one headstone to another. But, do you follow it eastwards or west?

Actions please

Vann Hector

At least the equipment find is proof such a group are active here. I will grab an entangling net and any snares. Maybe we can grab a Mongrelmen too.

As to the ghost, unless it tries to actively lure a comrade away or has any evil intent, I suggest we don't follow its waving.

I guess my feeling is that nothing good ever comes from dealing with undead.

SM: you didn't note my ring of undead invisibility triggering, so do we assume that only Callan saw the ghost.

And I hope it is more of a Poltergeist or Haunt than an actual Ghost as they have a more dreadful affect.

Rum

Rum keeps a close eye on the ghost, but refrains from following. He walks over to Veryn and Tansom to examine the trail of coins.

Callen

"A trap or illusion perhaps as well... the Half-Elf shakes his head and joins the others at the trail of coins whilst making the sign of his faith at the apparition.

"A dreadful fate to befall someone. I pray it is just the work of magic and the not the actual soul of a pwrson."

Veryn

Folks, found some copper coins that are specifically placed in some tombs and headstones. Heading eastward and west. Might be a sign to something. I can scout one way, but which way you folks wanted to scout first?

The Barrowmaze Graveyard.

Callan sights a haunting figure that tries to lead him onwards? astray? It seems very real and visceral for an illusion, on a playback loop with slight differences but all lead to the same tragic conclusion. Perhaps the ghostly figure is trying to tell you something. St Ygg would not have you consult with the dead. You hope your ignorance of its plea does not incur any wrathful response.

Vann Hector fishes out some equipment, first a vine net weighted with hooks, then some snare rigs. Reaching in a third time to grab a coiled rope is anything but, the vault trapped with a venomous snare. Pit vipers, undetected after a failed 'find traps' strike out at the lowered hand.

Snake bites: [1d20]=3 [1d20]=9 [1d20]=20Snake bites: bite damage [1d4+1]=1+1=2

The last latches on to the elf's wrist, injecting a powerful venom into his bloodstream. The damage externally is minimal -2hp but internally, the elf spasms and jerks as the venom takes effect. Save vs Poison at -2 please.

Martell: Battleaxe melee [1d20+1]=9+1=10 damage [1d8+1]=2+1=3Tamson: longbow [1d20+1]=9+1=10[1d6]=4 [1d20+1]=5+1=6[1d6]=1

Martell tries to hack the beast as it is thrown to the ground but his swipe misses to behead it and despite a volley of arrows, the Pit Viper scuttles away into the graveyard niches and burrows.

Deciding on which coin-led path to follow, can be literally a toss of a coin. Heads right, tails left. With the snake and its tail slithering left, you can choose right once the poison affect is resolved with Vann Hector.

Actions Vann, I will update here again as soon as you post so folk can respond accordingly.

Vann Hector

Vann Hector's: save vs poison 13+ [1d20-1]=16-1=15

Hardly a victory shout, he cusses, in Elven and Lizardman and probably a bit of Orcish and home-brew Dwarven. Flinging the viper off his wrist into the undergrowth. He has been caught with his fingers in the biscuit barrel once again.

I will equip the finds and leave the rest, but next time beware.

Sure, follow the path eastwards, it makes most sense and more exploring. Havung the snares and nets, we should each take a look at them and that might, even on a minimal level, help us spot potential Mongrelmen men traps.

Vann Hector intelligence check vs 13 [4d6]=10

A roll in case of anything I can see or hear that might help with detecting things?

glad to see you survive Vann ...

I will edit here tonight with an update.

Veryn

Veryn tenses for a bit but, quickly relax that Sir Hector manage to resist the poison, unlike him. Before he heads to scout, he will inspect the trap components that Vann Hector retrieved from the trap door, putting it into memory as he will expect to search for this in his duty.

For the party: Do you guys still wanted to do something here? Because if yes, i will be scout eastwards for 10 minutes, 5 minute ahead, 5 minutes back. No sign from me after that time, do expect the worst. If not, do march behind me about 10 feet as i will check the ground and around for hidden traps and ambushes."
He will use his trusty 10 foot pole to tap the ground, detecting these traps before the trap got to the party as he scout sneakily and carefuly ahead eastwards.

Veryn sneaks vs 15% [1d100]=18 and find traps vs 20% [1d100]=43


Should i roll both move quietly & find traps or should i choose one for this action?

Should i roll both move quietly & find traps or should i choose one for this action?

You can roll both and I will resolve any results and add in any modifiers as neccessary. I prefer character thieves to make their own rolls.

Sneaking around the Graveyard

What Veryn lacks in racial bonus to Thieves skills, he tries to make up with keen observations and intuition.

Sneaking ahead, he follows the trail of copper coins, skipping from one headstone to another. A quartet of copper pieces placed among the roots of a spreading Yew suggest a trap or another hidey-hole niche. In the trunk hollow you find a trio of javelins. Wary that this may be trapped, you check but detect none. Though snakes hidden in the unseen depths or other dangers may make you think twice about taking one (or all). action if you do

Pressing on, more coins, each a few yards apart. The graveyard follows a roughly hexagonal area which would fill the Mound hex, and you traverse the perimeter.

Looking back you can make out the shadowy form of Tamson the young ranger, probably twenty yards behind and really on the edge of any vision or sense you have. Others will file behind him. You note several newer graves. Shallow dug with just a hastily erected wooden marker. Inscribed on them a few 'wilderness' sounding names, Moon-dog, Caw-of-a-Crow, Slender-as-the-Sun's-rays, Hatchet-Claw-Clubfoot. among others.

Mongrelmen men graves lined in a row between two straggly trees that look as broken trunks. On the lower branches hang ribbons and trinkets, similar to those placed on the Mammoth bones.

There doesn't appear anyone else around.

actions Veryn please.

Question, how big is the trunk hollow, i assume the javelin is put in the fashion of like a weapon rack, correct? Also, how lush is the yew tree? And just to clarify, is the yew tree like in the picture?

Yews are typical 'graveyard trees', gnarled trunks with rib like bark and often hollow as in the picture. There are no big trees in the Barrow Moor, some copses of trees growing closer together, but in the main they do not thrive because of a lack of sunlight filtering through the Mist. In this graveyard area there is a thin canopy of branches and overhead foliage, enough for a slim or small person to camouflage themselves if they were skillful enough.

Veryn

Seeing what's inside the yew tree, Veryn takes a step back and return to the party and mention his finding.

That must be the weapon stash for the mongrelfolks, based on the fact that there is copper coins laid there. Should we take the javelins and add it into our arsenal? I dread another viper attacks though, and if these mongrelfolks is as Sir Hector said, which if i recall, is a amalgamation of animals and man, i wouldn't be surprised if there is an guardian camouflaging somewhere near the yew tree.


If the party decide not to take the javelins, i'll skip the yew tree and proceed to the newer graves and tell the party the same, noting that one, the resident place for mongrelfolks is near based on the graves and second, there might be an entity that hunted down the mongrelfolks, he will then consult to them on where should they headed next.

Vann Hector

The newer graves, is a comparative with headstones being decades or centuries I presume, and these being weeks or days (rather than new grave suggesting today or yesterday?).

I am going out on a limb here, figuratively speaking.

if there is an guardian camouflaging somewhere near the yew tree.

or even camouflaging as a tree!? The description of the

two straggly trees that look as broken trunks.

I am not familiar with 'tree creatures' except some random Treant knowledge. Anyone else met a tree creature. Maybe I am 'barking up the wrong tree', but I would like to sneak up behind one of those trees and using the entangling net, capture it.

(Which might all sound really foolish, creeping up in a tree ... but if it contains a hidden Mongrelmen or is a camouflaged Mongrelmen, I would like to find out).

Vann Hector tries to move silently vs 32% [1d100]=19

Vann Hector: throws Entangling Net. [1d20+1]=3+1=4 not sure you need adjust for distance or weapon proficiency, but I figure at miss!

Veryn

Veryn will guard Sir Hector advancement and attempt to catch the hidden mongrelfolks by readying his handheld crossbow, he will shoot at an entity who aggresively attacks Vann Hector

Callen

The Cleric stands at the ready, prepared to rush to Sir Hector's aid, if need be.

Sir Hector's

Vann Hector please, there is no Sir title to my name. In less reputable circles I might be name as 'Ghosthand', but I am not yet blessed by noble knighthood.