The Balance of Power

[sageaqua]

"So, your basically saying as far as we are concerned the cloaks are just magic shields." say's Ka'lion removing his shield and leaving it on his horse.

[rhinobullet]

While they are formulating a plan, Garrot will see if he can spot anything unusual on the approach up to the manse.

Spot:
CqCNX9UYp_1-20
+4=231-20

[at]

"Well you can use it like a shield, but if you have an actual shield that would be better wouldn't it?"

Garrot notes that the large set of steps up towards the mansion appear to be a more recent addition (though several years old) with a wide sweeping hill path past the ponds the original route around.

There is no sign of life here.

[sageaqua]

"Not really. Sheild's are heavy. A cloak issent. Or at least most of them are not and I'm all for getting rid of any excess weight. I don't think the castle was the only place that was hit. Runaway, you stay here." say's Ka'lion, "Caption I'll be back." Ka'lion turns into a wolf and charges the mansion keeping as much cover as possible.

[at]

There is a medium sized building to Ka'lions left as he enters the large garden clearing. Beyond it steps lead up to the larger building and Ka'lion can see that part of the clearing behind and to the left of this larger building has been fenced off with a high log wall.

To the right the clearing is mostly open with a sloping path, ponds, and scattered trees, some of which are unknown to the barbarian.


Where do you want to go, directly to the large building?

[sageaqua]

To the large building - a stairway or a climb able location would be ideal. Do I spot anything in the windows?

[at]

One Ka'lion gets closer he finds that what appeared to be a building from a distance as infact a covered gateway, the buildings and rooftops beyond completing the illusion of a large structure to those below.

The gates are ajar and the gateway opens into an enclosed courtyard with pools on either side of a wide path. Across the courtyard a sits a large building, wooden, essentially a well built barn with windows that have mostly been broken in.


Back near the entrance Lynette points out the lay of the land to the others, stating that the large building was a mix of training room and guest house, the nearby building for travellers or visitors that the mage did not want within his compound, and beyond the wall his home and several other smaller buildings.

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion keeps moving told the main structures.

[harknail]

"Have you ever seen it this quiet?" asks Vadania as she searches for tracks outside of the wizards compound. She suspects that she may find two legged goat tracks...

[at]

Lynette looks up towards the main building, "sometimes. Melwyn isn't always here. He said he had the wall built after someone ransacked the place years back - too high to lift his furniture over was the explanation. He might have gone south or he might be hiding out somewhere."

She looks into the nearby building and attached stable, "no one here, no horses either"


Atop the hill Ka'lion creeps through the entrance to the large structure - it is as it appeared from the outside a largely empty barn-like building with a partition roughly half way back. It's quite a mess where plants and decorations have been knocked over the floor.

Moving through the room Ka'lion peers through one of the two doors in the partition wall and finds that it hides a open dining room that has been smashed with tables and chairs overturned and scattered around. There is a single exit at the far side of the room, also smashed open, from which Ka'lion can see light streaming in.

May 20, 2014 23:24:48 GMT -5 harknail said:

"Have you ever seen it this quiet?" asks Vadania as she searches for tracks outside of the wizards compound. She suspects that she may find two legged goat tracks...

Vadania does find Ibixian tracks, but needs a survival check for anything more

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion returns to the party to report.

[at]

As Ka'lion turns and moves back towards the entrance he spots a figure in the doorway - a large but spindly black cat with a pair of strange protrusions on it's back.

It blocks the door and stares at Ka'lion with baleful yellow eyes but does not flee or approach as he turns.


(Knowledge check to identify and hard spot checks for those all the way down the hill. And Vadania to make her survival check)

[sageaqua]

knowledge skills
roll:nnqU5hL6p_1-20
+5 religein

+6 nature
+6 arcane

Ka'lion returns to his own form. He thinks the cat may be the wizards familier.
1-20

[sageaqua]

Oh boy. I just realised what it really is. "I'm looking for the wizard. Have you seen him?"

[at]

Far too big to be a familiar, at least of any normal wizard. Ka'lion believes it may be a breed of magically bred or twisted animal but he has heard so many stories that he could not pick one from the other - for all he knows this thing could spit fire or sprout wings. Either way it's no ordinary cat.

The animal replies to the question with a loud hissing sound, combined with a slight warbling and other noises mixed in. Ka'lion isn't sure if it's trying to communicate or threaten him (listen check)

[sageaqua]

listen check for Ka'lion
+5+rollUO_Tv7qpp_1-20=1-20

[at]

Ka'lion can't make out anything useful, the hiss fills the room and hurts his ears.

(pause to allow other players to act)

[rhinobullet]

Spot check:
x0euirn5p_1-20
+3=91-20

[at]

To Garrots eyes this looks like a smash and grab, though with all the gates and walls whoever was inside would have some warning if they had somewhere to hide.

He cannot see Ka'lion who has disappeared up the steps and into the building above quite some distance away and is surprised, though only slightly, that the barbarian would go quite so far. Likely he was confident in his speed or perhaps hoping to find something before the others.

[harknail]

Vadania Survival: NhpfaBURp_1-20+9=14
Vadania Spot: p_1-20+13=141-20�1-20