Expedition: Fingers/Ghostly Trial - Part II - 23 July 2021

[onlyme]

same here

[Marullus]

Fingers trails the orcs and finds they seclude themselves in a riverbank cove, hoping to lay-low until suspicion passes. He returns and leads the guards to their location. As he moves back to the party, he hears the screams as they meet a bloody end. His quick and efficient scouting earns the praise and gratitude of the guardsmen.

Fingers has Friendly status with the Frogmorton Ford guardsmen.

Date: 5:00pm, 23 July 2021
Light: Sunlight
Effects: None
Weather: 62 degrees, fair and sunny
Distance: ~1 mile (walked three times)
Injuries: None

The group presses on, the orc problem now handled, leading their mules back across the plains until the rounded hillock of the crypt rises before them, the henge on top and the subterranean door before them at its foot. The sky is ruddy with twilight, darkness will be upon you shortly.

Date: 9:30pm, 23 July 2021
Light: Sunlight
Effects: None
Distance: ~8 miles
Weather: 58 degrees, cloudy and getting cool
Injuries: None

[onlyme]

Do we see gargoyles? wondered if the replacements came yet?
Markd suggests they find their somewhat safe campspot and begin again the next morning?

[Marullus]

Do we see gargoyles? wondered if the replacements came yet?

You don't see them from here.

[Zhym]

"You mean the somewhat safe campsite we got attacked at last time?" snarks Fingers. "I guess it's better than going into the tomb at this hour. Still, maybe I should see if more gargoyles have come to hang out. Anyone got a good reason I shouldn't go scope it out all sneaky-like?"

[Alethan]

Bandy shakes his head.

"Lots of reasons why we should, though..."

[DavetheLost]

Better to know now who, or what, may be waiting on that hill top than find out the hard way tonight, says Hengist

[Zhym]

"Okay," says Fingers, hesitating. "I'll just go alone...unless everyone wants to come with me?"

"Or, hey! Bandy, you could borrow my cloak again. What do you think?"

[Alethan]

OOC: Would moving with a thief in an elven cloak be similar to moving with an elf, for the purposes of Bandy's ability to move with 90% concealment when outside?

[Marullus]

It is worth noting that Bandy's ability doesn't include moving... it requires he be "silent and motionless."

That said, abilities are additive - I'll do all rolls separately. If the cloak fails (1 in 6 chance), I then check Thief/Halfling abilities as applicable.

[Zhym]

I think what Alethan was asking was whether the halfling's hiding ability, which only applies when alone or with other hobbits, would still work if he's with a thief in an elven cloak—i.e., could we both go scout, and both be as hidden as we would be alone?

[Marullus]

Ohhhhhhh... I get it.

That's not a Lab Lord Basic rule. Party composition is irrelevant. Probably because it requires hiding and not moving; therefore you aren't 'moving together.'

[Zhym]

Oh, right. It's the initiative bonus that halflings only get if they are alone or with other halflings.

[Alethan]

OOC: Ah, sorry. Cross-rule confusion.

But Bandy is still happy to go check. Makes him no never mind.

[Zhym]

Okay, let's do that. Fingers will check out the mound with whoever else wants to come.

[Alethan]

Bandy joins Fingers in checking out the mound.

[onlyme]

Markd will as well.

(sorry if that was holding up progress)

[Marullus]

Fingers dons his cloak and Bandy slips into the tall grasses, hoping to discretely approach the henge on the hilltop, Markd trooping solemnly behind. Franken and Allmond remain below with the mules as the others scout ahead in the dusk.

The sun sets in the west, back in the direction of Gaul, as they group carefully approaches the top of the hill. They don't see any sign of roosting gargoyles on the rooflines anymore and the statues at the mausoleum doors remain unmoving. The hilltop is quiet and eerie in the gloaming darkness. In the last rays of the sunlight, red against they sky, they think they see flying shapes (which must be large) over the ruined keep/city far on the northern horizon.

(I'm assuming Hengist remained behind, but his choice if he goes up with Markd.)

Date: 10:00pm, 23 July 2021
Light: twilight (-2)
Effects: None
Distance: ~8 miles
Weather: 58 degrees, cloudy and getting cool
Injuries: None

[Zhym]

"Okay, let's go camp," says Fingers. "I wonder if one of these mausoleums would be more secure. Maybe kinda cramped, though."

[DavetheLost]

for the moment Hengist remaind behind. Facing gargoyles without a magic weapon is not on his to fo list, and he has the stealth of a man in armour.