(053) Moonshine

[waysoftheearth]

OOC: Is this the place we faced that giant?

Nay.

This is the very first ruin you explored, long, long ago. There were dead merchants and a giant spider nest in the upper works. Down below were a series of dungeon cells that hid zombies. Someone knocked the floor out of one of the cells and found a secret drop into a large underground space. From there you found an underground passage guarded by two statues; passing beneath them causes their stone axes to chop downward. But the lower part remains unexplored.

Later, you returned here and fought a body of hobgoblins and warg riders. Ulric put many of them to fire; then you collectively sallied to the hobgoblin blockade on the road and razed the new structures which they were in the process of constructing.

All this occurred prior to your heading off further east and finding the dual gate-house over the ravine (one occupied by Ogres, the other occupied by Saxxon and his troop of bandits), which is where you encountered the giant.

[ehiker133]

OOC: Is this the place we faced that giant?

Nay.

This is the very first ruin you explored, long, long ago. There were dead merchants and a giant spider nest in the upper works. Down below were a series of dungeon cells that hid zombies. Someone knocked the floor out of one of the cells and found a secret drop into a large underground space. From there you found an underground passage guarded by two statues; passing beneath them causes their stone axes to chop downward. But the lower part remains unexplored.

Later, you returned here and fought a body of hobgoblins and warg riders. Ulric put many of them to fire; then you collectively sallied to the hobgoblin blockade on the road and razed the new structures which they were in the process of constructing.

All this occurred prior to your heading off further east and finding the dual gate-house over the ravine (one occupied by Ogres, the other occupied by Saxxon and his troop of bandits), which is where you encountered the giant.

Ah, this is all pre-Desmond, so he has no knowledge of this place.

[coffee]

OOC: Is this the place we faced that giant?

Nay.

This is the very first ruin you explored, long, long ago. There were dead merchants and a giant spider nest in the upper works. Down below were a series of dungeon cells that hid zombies. Someone knocked the floor out of one of the cells and found a secret drop into a large underground space. From there you found an underground passage guarded by two statues; passing beneath them causes their stone axes to chop downward. But the lower part remains unexplored.

Later, you returned here and fought a body of hobgoblins and warg riders. Ulric put many of them to fire; then you collectively sallied to the hobgoblin blockade on the road and razed the new structures which they were in the process of constructing.

All this occurred prior to your heading off further east and finding the dual gate-house over the ravine (one occupied by Ogres, the other occupied by Saxxon and his troop of bandits), which is where you encountered the giant.

They all blend together in the memory.

At any rate, there might be food there. Let's go.

[doctorx]

"If I might be the voice of caution," says Josiane, attempting to distract herself from the gnawing hunger pains in her belly by fussing her owl; "Are we not ill-prepared to make an attempt on another dangerous ruin? We have wounded, some of our number are blind and others are now lacking essential equipment. I appreciate the need for food, but would it not be more prudent to seek it by continuing to hunt as we continue towards Ket? I like not the look of that smoke either, but I doubt the goblins would have fired a place they were so profitably exploiting. Perhaps riots have broken out?"

"Whatever the case, my vote would be to keep moving towards the town."

She sighs.

"But if it be the will of the company we travel to yonder ruin, my sword will of course stand with yours."

She shoulders her pack wearily and makes ready to depart.

[sully]

Dorgan pipes up.

"I don't think we're going delving, Miss. I think we're just gonna scrounge a bit, then pack it in fer the night. With Ket so close, we'd be fools to tarry long here."

[mgtremaine]

Wen laughs "We'd be fools to be out here without food also yet here we are! Still we are not at death's door yet, let us see what the ruins are about."

[waysoftheearth]

The weakened, weary rabble surmount the knoll and reach the ruins as dusk falls.

From this vantage the smokey haze that blots the northern skyline is more troubling than before; whatever it is that is burning is doing so for a good long while. Perhaps it's a good think you can't quite see that far... (the hobbits not at all).

The ruin really is a tumble-down affair. Ulric, Olaf, and Dieter recognise the place grimly from their two prior visits here... in fact, the desicated remains of butchered hobgoblins lie littered about the place, months slain and grown through with grassy weeds. These are especially concentrated around the gate arch, which is one of the few walls still standing to the tiny keep.

It is (or rather was) a square tower with a single gate. Now that it is all fallen down, it is a simple matter to vault and of the two most broken walls--which stand variously from knee to neck height. The gate arch wall and one adjacent are more or less intact to the height of the arch and, amazingly, something remains of a ground floor room, and another on the first level above it.

The three who have visited before know that there is a stair in the room leading up to the first level (where there once were giant spiders), as well as a trapdoor leading down into the dungeon below.

Nothing stirs but the restless wind.

Night approaches... all are extremely tired and hungry. What to do?

[coffee]

Dieter will inspect the ground floor room, making sure it is safe before allowing the rest of the party to enter.

Assuming it is, he'll go up the stairs, just to make sure there's nothing up there to bother us during the night (and to look for food. Long shot, I know, but still...)

Once all that's done, he'll recommend that Josianne lay her bedroll directly over the trap door. That way, if anything should attempt to come through, sh can raise the alarm. (Other than that, she won't need to stand a watch.)

That's my plan anyway.

[mgtremaine]

Wen will use the vantage point to try and determine what the smoke is or any other hints as to what is going on down near Ket.

[sully]

Dorgan will volunteer to lead a very limited foray down the trapdoor to see if there's anything edible below.