(03) Scouting the Ruins

[waysoftheearth]

Thanis and Tass depart the moat house on their scouting mission.

The pair soon establish a good pace, halfway between a march and a run, and make good time as they skip from one island to another, one patch of thatch to the next, avoiding the larger puddles of standing water. However, there is no avoiding the mud and water, and Thanis is soon wet to the shins; Tass to the knees.

Visibility is relatively poor in the mist, which helps to hide both them and anyone who might be out there, so they both keep a sharp ear out for the tell-tale sound foot falls in the mud. But having seen the shadowy ruin in the mist from atop the moat house earlier, Thanis has a good idea of which way to head and, within perhaps ten minutes, the pair espy the dark bulk of the ruin looming up ahead of them in the mist.

Even obscured in the mist, it's clear that the main building is not a small one, and that it has at least one tower reaching upwards. It is maybe 40-50 yards away from their position...

[sully]

Are Thanis and Tass aware of what's happening back at the moathouse?

[sully]

Much like last time, Thanis sits silently and watches the building and tower, looking for any movement or patrols.

[waysoftheearth]

Our pair of scouts watch and wait... and their patience is rewarded.
As the morning mist slowly rises, they hear feet moving about, and then low voices as the morning's activities around the building get underway...

Visibility improves as the mist slowly burns off, and it becomes clear they are looking at an impressive church. Nay, cathedral! Albeit in a ruinous state. There are several smaller buildings surrounding, but these are in an even worse state than the main building. The cathedral itself appears to be in the process of being rebuilt. It is a cruciform structure, with a timber scaffolding clinging to it so that men might tend to collapsed parts of the walls and especially the ceiling over the nave. The main bell tower is three stories tall, but in a perilous condition.

Thanis and Tass catch the unmistakable scent of... cooking. Smells like toasted bread, with eggs and crispy salted ham.

After a time, they see several men moving about around the structure, and other voices heard calling out intermittently. They appear to be a work crew, finishing their breakfast and gearing up for the days labors...

Are Thanis and Tass aware of what's happening back at the moathouse?

No, Thanis and Tass are in their own parallel situation a couple hundred yards away, screened by the mist.

[sully]

How many men does Thanis see in total, and how many look armed vs. unarmed workers?

[waysoftheearth]

The longer Thanis and Tass look on from their hidden position, the more activity they see.

There must be a crew of approximately 20 men spread over the impressive side of the cathedral, plus a handful of hooded monks seen entering, but not exiting.
None are armed, unless carpenters and masons tools are counted. All these men were apparently accommodated in the other ruined buildings nearby.

[mgtremaine]

Tass would whisper to Thanis "They don't look dangerous, but who are those robed guys and how do we get a closer look?". He tries to spot a path closer that would allow for the most cover.....

[sully]

I don't think we need to get that close, Tass. Tass? Tass, come ba... oh, crap.

Thanis follows Tass as quietly as he is able.

[waysoftheearth]

It looks like efforts have been made to clear the immediate work site around the cathedral, so there isn't any natural cover remaining.

However. There are numerous stacks of lumber, masonry stones, and building materials about the site, so... Tass thinks to himself, if one timed it just perfectly, it's plausible that a clever Hobbet could nip here and scoot there and sidle in through the main entrance unseen. Anyone's guess who might be right inside though.

That said, there is a rough perimeter of outbuildings in various states of ruination and subsidence into the mire that--loosely speaking--encircle the cathedral. At another time they might have been part of a grand plaza or similar, but now they're makeshift accommodation for the workforce. Certainly, some of these outer structures could be accessed without being seen.

Meanwhile, Thanis notes--through the evaporating mist-- that the ground isn't exactly... flat. Or dry. There are plenty of muddy puddles, and the land seems to slope generally downward to the far side of the cathedral. Part of the workforce seems to be focused on propping up the cathedral foundations, while another part works on reconstructing a partially collapsed outer wall...

[sully]

Thanis decides not to pursue Tass any further into the complex. He finds a spot at the top of the slope where he's got a good point of view and hopefully doesn't stick out too much, and lies down in a spot that's as dry as he can find.

While waiting for Tass' return, Thanis looks for anything that appears readily flammable, like a pile of straw or a barrel of oil. Always good to have something he can light on fire as a distraction should Tass come out with a gaggle of hooded monks hot on his tail!