The Unseen Servant forums

The Distance

Deciding they better get back to tracking these prints through the desert before they fade from sight completely, the group presses onward into the dry, sandy wasteland.

The tracks eventually intersect with a deep rut in the ground that suddenly appears from a completely different direction. It seems to the group that this boulder creature must have found the prints as well, before following them to where you discovered its ambush attempt. It seems possible that you weren't actually the target of the bizarre monster, but came across it totally by accident, while it was awaiting whoever made the tracks in the first place. That's Hyperborean luck, for you. Fortunately, you encounter no more of these oddities, or anything else for that matter.

The footprints in the sand do indeed eventually fade from your vision, after a good three hours of searching, but by this time, when you climb up the taller dunes, you can now make out a dark structure well off in the distance. With the rays from a bloated Helios still slowly floating across the distant horizon shining in your eyes, it is impossible to make out any details of the structure so far away.

Actions?

Xenos AC:6 11/12 1st:2/2
Akhilleus AC:4 32/32
Drest AC:7 16/16
Cyril AC:8 5/5 1st:1/3
Snorri AC:4 11/11
Valkrina AC:7 13/16 1st: 2/2

Drest

"We better make for the structure before we loose sight of it."

Drest leads the way to the structure.

Akhilleus makes a silent prayer to the sun god for his clemency and follows Drest. Now the group has a landmark they can go to and that won't fade away.

Xenos

"Let's keep moving, but be wary. With what's been going on I doubt it's unoccupied, and the sun doesn't make it easy to see much."

Valkrina

Sure, we need to undercover by dark just in case more creatures come out to hunt.

Snorri

The Viking merely grunts and trudges onwards.

The Structure

Continuing towards the dark structure in the distance, Drest eventually locates the tracks in the sand again, and they appear to lead directly up to the exposed front entrance to this lone, half-buried, dilapidated edifice.

By the looks of the dunes which have enveloped the entire rear portion of the building, this place may have been recently uncovered by the shifting desert winds. The front portion of the once opulent palace looks mostly intact, but there is obvious degradation in the construction. There are holes knocked in the sandstone outer walls and the once tall marble towers that flanked the building have long since given in to the centuries of abuse from the mighty Zakath.

You can see a once ornate blue glass dome has caved in over the many years, with other destruction visible in many areas. The bloated mass of Helios makes an impending backdrop to the entire scene. Other than the constant howling of the indomitable winds, you hear no sound coming from beyond the remaining standing walls.

Actions?
Xenos AC:6 11/12 1st:2/2
Akhilleus AC:4 32/32
Drest AC:7 16/16
Cyril AC:8 5/5 1st:1/3
Snorri AC:4 11/11
Valkrina AC:7 13/16 1st: 2/2

Drest

Drest will search over the doors and see if there are any traps etc. Can he tell if whoever left the tracks went in?

Cyril

Cyril stays off the tracks, trying to discern now that they are visible again how many people would be required to make them.

Snorri

Now alert, Snorri will carefully make his way around the structure, yet far away to be out of bow range. The viking is looking for signs of life and other openings beside the one in front. Of course, he'll have an eye out for other tracks and be cautious of ambushes.

Valkrina

"Well here is the lost Ixian fortress though by the look of it, the place has been well found long before we got here."

Valkrina: uses Bard Folklore knowledge to gain insight? vs 15 wisdom. [1d20]=17 or % chance [1d100]=78

Perhaps on viewing the place she might recall any snippets regarding Ixian warlords and particularly infamous ones.

Xenos hangs back, keeping a broader eye on the structure as the others go to investigate.

Akhilleus walks slowly after the scouting members. He knows it's not his line of expertise. But he remains alert in case something attacked them.

The Ruined Palace

Valkrina has no memory of this place.

Cyril guesses a small number of people made the tracks leading directly up to the front doors of this ruined edifice.

Snorri circles from a distance, constantly climbing over small dunes of sand as he circumnavigates the area. Getting a closer look at the once opulent but now tattered remains of the half buried palace, it’s former splendor becomes even more obvious. The upper floors and corner towers appear to be in complete ruin, but the remaining 20’ high mud-brick and stone walls are striped with lines of green sandstone, suggesting exceptional craftsmanship despite the years of degradation.

Xenos wisely watches over the others as they search, looking for trouble that may come from any direction. Snorri learns that blowing sand has piled up over the tops of the back walls, covering the ruins of the second floor. The huge Viking notices one area beyond the leftmost tower that appears open to the elements through a large hole in the ceiling, but it is littered with rubble. Can I get a [4d6] roll from both Snorri and Xenos, please?

The groups surly scout moves in to inspect the front entrance while Akhilleus stays close, spotting signs of recent excavation of sand from the stone stairway. Flanked by stone columns portraying ornately carved predatory eagles, two-headed serpents, grinning masks, and other beastly figures, the massive 10’ high double doors are constructed of yellow cedar and bound with heavy iron. The fact that they appear newer and don’t match any of the rest of the structure is obvious to anyone looking. The front walls are dotted with arrow slits that suggest a history of battle. Drest find no traps, and also no way to open these huge doors.

Actions?

Xenos AC:6 11/12 1st:2/2
Akhilleus AC:4 32/32
Drest AC:7 16/16
Cyril AC:8 5/5 1st:1/3
Snorri AC:4 11/11
Valkrina AC:7 13/16 1st: 2/2

Xenos

[4d6]=15

Drest

"I am going to need some help with these doors, I can't seem to find how to open them."

Snorri

[4d6]=12

Map is up!

Xenos watches Snorri trudge around the northern side of the ruined building, where the rugged Viking suddenly gets a whiff of what he thinks might be smoke.

There is another odor as well, one that reminds him of the abandoned camp they found earlier.

Drest

Drest will move over and check out the open area, "Lets check out this open area, maybe easier to get in then the weird doors."

Akhilleus

"Yes. Let's do that. Someone is here, that's obvious since we saw the footprints. I don't thing they'll just open the gate of we start knocking." The Krimmean warrior follows the Pictish scout to the open area.