Old Ways IC

[Valameer]

Stefan checks on the progress of Markos, hoping to see some improvement. He tells the woodsmen to be on their guard, and wishes them the blessing of the gods.

Then he readies his gear and follows the Nathros' directions. With sling and shield in hand, Stefan will walk in the party's second rank.

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor

Brandon walks in first place. He smiles and seems much more confident now that he's rested and the humans in the party can actually see where they're going now.

[Roland St. Jude]

The woods thin as one approaches the river and castle. The approach to the castle is somewhat exposed, particularly if anyone atop the wall or in the towers is looking. The river runs across the front of the castle and wraps around the other visible sides, it seems likely the castle's builders diverted the river to run on both all sides creating an impromptu moat. Perhaps ten feet wide, the river seems clean and flowing. A wooden drawbridge, heavy looking and bound with iron bands would allow entry if it were open, but it appears to have gone unopened for a long time.

The stone walls seem sufficiently high and thick to block both sight and noise from the interior.

[Matthew]

"Looks like a difficult approach. We need to find another point of entry, there is probably a postern or something that the goblins are using to get in and out, or perhaps a damaged section of wall."

[jmbrown]

Jeanne runs her hands through the water to wash her face. "Follow the flow of water. Wherever the goblins are holding up must have fresh running water. I don't smell stagnation or filth in the air."

[Sterngir]

Talsarios looked up and down the stretch of river, and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, shouldn't be too hard to cross a narrow moat like this - I could jump that with a bit of a run up. We could just put a log across it for the armoured types, though."

Gregaros stood in the shade of the woods, peering intently along the battlements of the keep and into the darkened arrow slits.
"It'd be hard work to get a strong log across there with men on only one side. We might be able to find a secret way, if there's a tunnel under the moat - but if there is, it could be anywhere. Otherwise, the goblins probably just put a plank across it."
Talsarios beamed at Gregaros, flashing perfectly white teeth. "Don't worry Gregaros old boy, I have every confidence you can manage a bit of hard work in crossing the moat. Still, best be about it - no point hanging around, eh? Best chop something down out of earshot of the walls, though."

Gregaros slinked back into the woods, examining suitably sized trees.

[Matthew]

Nathros suggests watching the keep for signs of guards.

[Roland St. Jude]

Following around the edge of the castle, a postern of sorts can be found near the far corner, the river, flowing from the north, is diverted into a double section of wall to supply water into the keep. It runs through a large metal grate. No sign of goblins manning the wall can be seen.

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor


Brandon points towards the grate and murmurs, "See that grate?"

"What about breaking through it and entering the castle through there? It might be the least guarded entrance."

Spoiler

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Does the passage look big enough for someone of human size to enter and walk through?

[jmbrown]

"Shouldn't be too difficult to break with some strong backs. Fellas first."

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor

Brandon looks at the water uneasily. He feels the weight of his armor more keenly just this moment.

"Let's see first if we can wade that water. If not, we might have to put stones in the water to walk over and support ourselves."

Holding his sword and shield above his head, Brandon tries to ford his way to the grate. He does not hesitate to move back if anything attacks him or the water gets too deep.

[Valameer]

Stefan follows behind Brandon if it doesn't look too deep, putting away his sling and pulling out his mace, ready to offer some backup.

He'll help however he can at moving or breaking the grate - preferably as quietly as possible.

[Roland St. Jude]

The water is a bit over four feet deep and the current is less strong than it appears on the surface. Upon closer inspection, the grate looks rather rusted and just wide enough for two people to throw a shoulder into it.

Brandon and Stefan find the door can be wrenched open by the two of them.

[Sterngir]

Gregaros returned, and peered curiously at the others who have already crossed the moat.
"So, we're wading then?"
Talsarios shrugged slightly. "Well, those chaps clearly are. Personally I don't plan on getting wet unless I really have to. I doubt Nathros here is too keen on it either!"

Gregaros turned to appraise the mail-clad dwarf and nodded slowly.
"I've found a decent bit of wood, if I can get some help and make use of a hatchet we should be able to get a reasonable log across there in twenty minutes or so."

Spoiler

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Gregaros will be attempting to put something wide enough to cross on top of across the moat, probably by upending it on our side and controlling the fall with a rope.
If noone wants to help do this, he will eventually give up and wade across. Talsarios will do so only if he must - and will make sure to carry everything vulnerable to water damage far over his head!

[Matthew]

"Fair enough. I can give you a hand with that, so long as somebody keeps lookout for sentries. It would be a bad reception if we were to penetrate the walls only to be ambushed by goblins."

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor


Brandon looks a little confused and bothered that a few in the party want a bridge when the water is only 4 feet deep, but he says nothing to that.

Instead, he says, "If you lay a bridge, won't the goblins have an easier time noticing we've come in this way?"

[Matthew]

"Well, I need a float at least if I am to make my way across. The goblins must be crossing the water themselves, I would be surprised if there were no boats hidden nearby. Of course, the drawbridge may be in working order."

[Altair_the_Vexed]

Looking at the strong folk working on the river gate, Talsarios whispers, "If we're going to sneak in through that grill, we don't need a bridge - and we're going to have to get wet after all. Perhaps, Nathros, we can help you keep afloat?"
Talsarios rolls up his travelling cloak and stows in on top of his pack, and pulls off his boots. The water looks cold, but Talsarios looks determined.

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Assuming no other plan is presented, Talsarios will wait until the grate has been broken, then get in the river with his boots and pack held above the water, and try (feebly) to help Nathros stay above the water too.

[Sterngir]

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Gregaros will either help Nathros with bridging the moat, or else jump over it.

On reaching the keep side of the moat, Gregaros attempted to scale the wall quietly and peer over the top.

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Climb Walls 87
(1d100)[53]

[Roland St. Jude]

Making a float seems harder that expected, but the unarmored woodsman are willing to wade throught and bear their temporary employer across.

Gregaros climbs the old wall with ease finding hand and footholds in the cracked stone. Over the top he spies a small courtyard, mostly cleared of brush and debris, which is piled in a far corner. Twenty or so yards from the river entrance below, four goblins work at clearing the brush and one stands watch, though he mostly seems to be watching the workers.

Beyond lies a small keep, its portcullis open. One corner tower looms nearby, unmanned or manned by goblins keeping their heads down.

[Sterngir]

Swabbing the decks. Maybe this goblin king is planning on rebuilding this place.
Gregaros swept his eyes across the goblins below, and carefully lowered his head back below the top of the wall. He slid back down, dropping onto the bank hugging the wall.
"There's a work party of four clearing the courtyard in there. They've got a sentry watching them. The entrance to the keep is open at the moment, I didn't see any guards from where I was - and the tower looks like it isn't occupied," he gestured over his shoulder at the tower while he spoke.

[Matthew]

Nathros grumbles about being soaked through, sure he will have to replace the gambeson beneath his mail after this.

[Valameer]

Stefan adjusts the bullet in his sling and says quietly, "Well, maybe we can catch them by surprise. The most dangerous thing would be if one got away to warn others."

[Roland St. Jude]

The woodsmen gather just inside the keep's outer wall, having done they're duty as porters and then some. The sound of working goblins, chattering away, and their supervisor barking orders echoes through the courtyard and can be heard, if barely, over the sound of the river rushing by.

[Altair_the_Vexed]

Talsarios points out the goblins and quietly suggests a plan: "Let us be sure to coordinate our attacks to take all of them out swiftly. Jeanne, our surest shot, should aim for the overseer, while each of us aim for a different worker. Our woodsman friends should similarly aim, so that each goblin is likely to be hit twice. Agreed?"

Aside, to his retainer, Talsarios whispers, "Gregaros, do you think you could get behind them to surprise them? I'm sure you can deal with the overseer if the shot go astray. Also, you can start hiding the bodies if all goes well." He pats the gruff man on the back with a smile.

Without waiting for Gregaros's answer, he says to the others, "We should wait until Gregaros has got behind them before we attack."

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Assuming this plan is adopted, Talsarios will aim his sling at the left-most goblin. He won't dictate who aims at which goblin any further.
If the plan isn't adopted, he will roll his eyes and "Tut!" impatiently, before checking himself and contributing more diplomatically.

[Frivolous]

Brandon Bor

Brandon nods silent agreement to the plan as described and puts an arrow in his bow, preparing to loose.

[Matthew]

Nathros is eager to enter the fray, and hefts his spear for a throw when the attack begins.

Spoiler

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Nathros, Level One Dwarf: AC 5(3); HP 4; THAC0 19.

Attack Roll: (1d20+1)[6]
Damage Roll: (1d6+1)[7]

[Sterngir]

Gregaros returned to the wall, and attempted to circle around the goblin work party without being detected. He moved with painstaking care, patiently crawling ever so slowly around to minimise any noise he was making.
I hope I don't get hit by my own side...

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He won't enter the fray unless he can do so with a sneaky backstab, or else to try and prevent a goblin escaping into the keep.
Gregoras: AC 6, HP 1, THACO 19

Move Silently chance: 20% (what could possibly go wrong)
Move Silently roll: (1d100)[29]

[Valameer]

"Godspeed."

When the signal is given, Stefan is ready to attack. He attempts to sneak up as quietly as possible for a clear shot with his sling.

He uses whatever cover is available to protect himself from return fire as he readies a new bullet.

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HP: 2/2 AC: 2 THAC0: 19
Attack roll: (1d20)[12]
Damage: (1d4)[3]

[Altair_the_Vexed]

Wide-eyed, Talsarios loads up his sling ready for the attack.

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The best laid plans... :shrug:
Talsarios, level 1 Magic-User
HP: Current = 1 /Max = 1 AC: 9 THAC0: 19
Sling - (1d20)[15] (attacking the left-most goblin)
Damage - (1d4)[4]