RED OAK: Return to the Pass of the Hounds

[Woe]

"I can't believe you missed that shot. You are a complete klutz!" Freya slaps Anna. Unfortunately, she misses and hits Kilian in the back of the head. "Oof! What is up with you?" Kilian swings back but as usual, misses and this time hits Talin. Talin is frustrated by both of them and swings at one, kicks the other.

Ding! Level 4!

Freya will rest two days, in the highest floor of the tower with the ladders pulled up (so no ladder on the first floor). Abigall will stay with her. The rest of the party will explore. Whee! Where's that map again? 2EP in M16, 3EP in L16, 1EP to get back to L15.

[Longman]

Above you on the mountain in L15 (south) is a small lookout tower with a road leading to it. Consider that explored free seeing as you have already spent so much time in the hex. You do not see any unknown terrain from it in any case.

Into M16 this does not take in the high alpine but skirts around the base of the mountain.

Kilian spots what looks like a silver nugget in the ground near a creek. It's not very big, but there could be more around here if you wanted to stop and check. Otherwise you head down into the valley of L16.

Incidentally, N16 didn't look to bad but the O hexes beyond that look very hard going - a few extra EP to push through those, and some parts may be totally impassable or inaccessible.

[Woe]

I'll want to explore that lookout tower, at least for one EP (90 minutes). Anything interesting? They'll proceed cautiously in case it is occupied. How defensible would it be?

How can Kilian and Bruce resist the chance to find a silver vein? Sure, it's not mithril, but dey cannae stop demselves!

I want to save 1EP to head back to the castle, so that would leave 2EP for each of M16 and L16. After the exploration of the tower, M16, and the silver nugget; they'll go down into the valley. They'll be very cautious. They don't have their scout and the nisha are allegedly around here.

[Longman]

I'm giving you the lookout post free. There's nothing there that you can find. It does give a good view of the valley though, if you ever need one.

So you are spending an extra EP in M16 (silver hex) and locate some more silver in the same area. It is not much so far (4gp) but if you came back with digging equipment and someone who knew something about mining you could clean up, maybe.

Into L16, and nothing. It's a pretty river valley with mountains on all sides, and you feel a bit boxed in. This is the closest you have ever been to Widow's Peak and it looks pretty impressive. Definitely extra EP to get up there.

Then back to the castle and stay the night.

During the night, it is new moon and very dark. How do you organise yourselves?

[Woe]

During the night, it is new moon and very dark. How do you organise yourselves?

Safely.

Everyone has an extra EP save Kilian, so can that be converted into extra watch time without penalty?
Tiana and Anna
Anna->Bruce and Abigall
Kilian and Bruce
Talin, Abigall->Tiana (and Fido)

No fires, and everyone on the top floor of the tower with the ladders pulled up. How hard is it to climb into the second and third floors without a ladder?

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The point wasn't to mine in M16, but get an idea how big the claim would be. It sounds "big enough."

[Longman]

Claim could be big. Maybe?

It's a tight squeeze to fit all all on the top floor of the tower, which doesn't have a full floor anyway. I'm saying you are mostly on floor 2, with one or two of those on watch up above on floor 3.

Watch 2: Anna (top floor, with Abigall) sees a lone dog-man creeping into the courtyard below. He's almost invisible at dark moon, and it was a lucky spot to see him (19). He is in the form of a human plus an accompanying dog, and he is acting very cautiously. You don't think he knows you are up in the tower. He looks like he is exploring, warily. Abigall can see him now, too.

For thieves etc, it's an easy climb up or down the levels in 1 round. For the others, a climb roll and a full 1 or maybe 2 rounds required.

[Woe]

Anna continues to watch. They haven't been a problem for the party, save poor Jane.

Everyone else can stay asleep unless the dogman becomes aware of the party or nears the tower.

[Longman]

The dogman moves out of sight of the tower, and does not reappear. An hour passes and you think it has left, but might still be exploring around somewhere.

On the next watch, Kilian sees a light, probably a torch, moving along to the south west of the castle. It is not on the south or west road, but coming over the wooded hill in between the two roads. On the castle hex map (Maps thread), it is in hex V02. Still a pretty long way off. It is coming towards the castle.

[Woe]

Elves and dwarves have the same eyesight, right? Kilian will wake Tiana if he thinks she will be able to identify the torchbearer. Otherwise, he'll point it out to Bruce and the two of them will be on heightened awareness, both for the window as well as the floor(s) below. Crossbows cocked, but nobody else wakes up quite yet.

He has an odd idea as well. Wondering whether the goggles will help him see distant things closer, he'll see if they help. I know, but you can't blame a dwarf for trying!

[Longman]

Darkvision range 60 feet. Torch is way more distant than that. You can just see a light, that's all. Check the scale on the castle hex map.

Tiana, Bruce and Kilian on high alert, everyone else still getting shut eye.

A good idea to try the goggles out in a live situation. But no, they do not seem to help you see further.

The torch keeps advancing and is now in T03. They've moved about 60 yards since you first saw them.