The Heart of Darkness... [Main Game Thread]

[Nocturno]

"Sorril my good man, I wonder how long we will wait and taste the soils..."

[Squirrellord]

Bryce will move forward along with Tabby. He will keep a 10 foot distance between the 2 of them and be moving at a slow pace constantly twisting his head back and forth checking to see if he can spot any cleverly hidden traps.
"I don't think there will be traps out here, more likely to find inside I think. But better safe than dead eh?"

[TristenC]

Sorril watches the scouts with an even gaze, his powerful armored arms folded over his chest. As long as we must. Though I suspect this endeavor will require its share of both caution and boldness at times... The important thing is that we find the heart of this menace and end it. Wouldn't you say?

Tabby and Bryce lead the way afoot, checking the surrounding slope. As they progress they find only the natural harassment of the thorns and thistles and briar patches growing on the hill in opposition. Testing the ground and keeping a sharp eye reveals no hidden hazards and the scouts crest the slope to the flat top of the mound.

The massive monolithic stones organized about the plateau stand a good 15 feet high in the organization of a grinning skull as observed by their skyward companion... A faint, warm breeze wafts through the area carrying with it the pungent stench of the swamp and the threat of another blistering and thickly humid day on the rise. Already the buzzing biting insects have begun their now-familiar activity...


===
What would the group like to explore next?
Anyone who wishes may climb the south slope in the scout's footsteps to the top of the mound without incident

[BishGada]

Galan gestures to the main group to join them up the slope and flies back to the ground. "So far so good eh.." he smiles. "Let's push on and find the entrance. Maybe start with the mouth of the crude skull." he suggests and looks at his old friend, Faladair, eyes. "Bryce, will you please lead the way?"

=============================================================================
(OOC: Is the entrance obvious to see or we need to search it?)

[TristenC]

[ no obvious entrance anywhere]

[Nocturno]

Van will climb the slope.

[counterkid]

After investigating the North side of the mound. Zafron will suggest we move to the south side.

"I think we are done hear. Let's move to the south side. If we find nothing there we should try the East and than the West side."

[TristenC]

[the party started on the south slope, so i will take the obvious intent of Zafron's comment]

If/when someone examines the Northern slope of the mound, they soon find a marked difference. The north side of the hill has a crumbling cliff of sand and gravel about 20’ high in about the middle of the slope. A low stone ledge overhangs this eroded area, and shrubs and bushes obscure it from observation at a distance or from above. A quick glance at the East and West slopes confirms that only the north slope has the new feature...

====
crude profile of the north edge; weedy slope for 20 feet, then 20 feet of crumbling sandy earth and gravel, then 20 feef of weedy slope leading down to swamp

\
\\
\\\
\\\\
[[[[[[
[[[[[[
[[[[[[
[[[[[[
\\\\\
\\\\\\
\\\\\\\
\\\\\\\\~~~~~~!

[BishGada]

Galan looks at the surrounding a bit worried. "Let's explore these stones and if no clue will reveal itself, try the bushes at the northern slope."
======================================
(OOC: but what of the stones that shape the skull? Its just there? nothing under/behind it?
If appropriate Galan may use the probable path ability.)

[TristenC]

[no one has investigated the stones yet. does galan want to do it or ask Faldair to?]

[counterkid]

Tristen, are you able to draw a map of the area for us to view? Where are we standing when see the weedy slope and crumbling sand? Can we maybe walk on the cliff of sand? Does it look dangerous?

[the party started on the south slope, so i will take the obvious intent of Zafron's comment]

If/when someone examines the Northern slope of the mound, they soon find a marked difference. The north side of the hill has a crumbling cliff of sand and gravel about 20’ high in about the middle of the slope. A low stone ledge overhangs this eroded area, and shrubs and bushes obscure it from observation at a distance or from above. A quick glance at the East and West slopes confirms that only the north slope has the new feature...

====
crude profile of the north edge; weedy slope for 20 feet, then 20 feet of crumbling sandy earth and gravel, then 20 feef of weedy slope leading down to swamp

\
\\
\\\
\\\\
[[[[[
[[[[[
[[[[[
[[[[[
\\\\\\
\\\\\\\
\\\\\\\\
\\\\\\\\\~~~~~~!

[TristenC]

======
Imagine something like this. the party is in the grassy area above (but no trees like the picture). They can reach the Sandy slope climbing down a little. There is no risk of falling into the swamp because the 20 feet below the crumbly slope is Grassy like the rest of the Hill.

Actual maps and things will come once the party finds their way inside

[BishGada]

"Bryce, Tabby, you take few steps ahead of us. I'll fly few feet above. Faldair, you lead the rest of the group after us." Galan says quietly squinting at the stones.

====================================================
(OOC: And the stone are on the top of the hill?)

[counterkid]

Zafron looks at his brothers and says. "Let's go down this sandy slope and start pocking around. Looks like a good place to hide an some treasure."

[TristenC]

[Bish, keep in mind that Griffons cannot hover. When mounted it is maneuverability class D, so if Galan is going to keep riding the griffion he has to keep flying past and circling around over and over to interact with the others or the ground in any significant way]