VII. Hunclay's Manor

[dmw71]

This is just a placeholder. The actual encounter will be played out in the private forums of the players involved.

[dmw71]

After Ingroc has been accepted into the group by Sylvan and Sparrow, he briefly departs in order to stable his mule at the the 'Dodgion Livery' (#17) next door (the inn is #4).

Dodgion Livery.png (88.26 KiB) Viewed 1321 times

After Ingroc returns, the trio set off to see what, if anything, they can learn by paying a visit to 'Hunclay's Manor' (#28). Just beyond the property, the ruins of the now collapsed tower lie mostly in shambles. 'Hunclay Manor' is the newest building in Belhaim, its two stories built of heavy blocks of stone at least two-feet thick.

Hunclay Manor.png (133.21 KiB) Viewed 1321 times

The grisly remains of a kobold, the flesh charred badly and limbs contorted by fire, still lie on the doorstep of the manor house.

[dmw71]

Sylvan suggests that they circumnavigate the manor. "Let's not get too close. Perhaps after we scout the area we can announce our presence to Hunclay."

[dmw71]

"I agree Syl, let's take a look around." Sparrow offers. "I'll start this way," he says, pointing to the left and indicating he will start his search in a counter-clockwise manner. Ingroc nods his agreement and, staying approximately one hundred yards away from the manor, starts to circle it in the opposite, clockwise direction. Sylvan keeps his eyes peeled on the front entrance.

The two men perform a wide-arching path around the manor, meeting on the opposite side, and neither report finding anything unusual. Once on the far side of the manor, closest to the tower ruins, Sparrow begins intently looking for tracks, and does manage to find two sets of small, reptilian footprints which lead from the direction of the tower towards the front of the manor. Sparrow and Ingroc follow these prints and they lead to the front door, where the charred remains of a kobold is found. Only a single set of the tracks is shown leaving the manor, and heading back towards the tower.

Once the trio is reunited near the front of Hunclay's Manor, Sylvan calls out for the wizard but there is no response, and no sign of activity from within.

[thirdkingdom]

From the private forum:

Ingroc the Impavid

Ingroc attempts to discern where exactly the footprints leaving the manor lead, with respects to the ruins of the tower.

[dmw71]

Ingroc and the rest can see that the single set of footprints leaving the manor appear to be leading directly back to the collapsed tower.

[AleBelly]

Sylvan looks around for any pebbles...preferably ping pong ball-sized. If he finds any, he will toss them near the charred kobold. If nothing happens, he'll toss them at the front door of the manor, staying at least 50' away.

He'll also try to determine if there are any windows he can use to see inside.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow looks for charring on the walls and roof near the entrance, trying to discern where the deadly fire came from. He also checks for any arrow slits or other defensive construction.

He watches the Druid taking his target practice but doesn't get any closer than him at this point.

[thirdkingdom]

Ingro the Impavid

Ingroc watches the proceedings, leaning on his sword and chewing a blade of grass. He is purposefully several yards away from his companions, and positioned in such a manner to keep an eye on both manor and ruined tower.

[dmw71]

Sylvan tosses a stone near the charred kobold while Ingroc casually looks on. After the solid projectile bounces off the kobold without effect, he tosses his next stone at the front door itself. Again with no effect.

Nearby, Sparrow studies the walls and roof near the entrance, trying to discern where the deadly fire came from, but the only scorching detected is limited to the door itself, focused on the area of the door handle.

Expanding his search, Sparrow doesn't detect any arrow slits or other defensive construction on the manor.

[AleBelly]

Sylvan strides forward to grab the kobold, pulling him several feet from the door. He will then search the body. Under no circumstances does he touch the door.

[dmw71]

Sylvan cautiously approaches the front door of the manor and, careful to not come into contact with the front door, drags the nearly incinerated kobold form away from the door in order to search it, but finds nothing of value, or at least nothing of value which escaped the fire damage. Just as Sylvan is concluding his inspection, a man with a stained apron and carrying a shovel passes Ingroc before arriving at the front stoop of Hunclay's Manor. The man, who arrived from the south, simply states: "I'm here to collect the body," he says. "But you can finish up, if you still need some time."

Calladastina Honas.png (29.98 KiB) Viewed 1291 times

The man, who identifies himself as Calladastina Honas, the town's undertaker, informs the trio that the body will be taken to the 'Sunset House' which, when he points, is clearly identified as the single story wooden building with the stone fences surrounding a cemetery (#25) just south of the manor itself.

Sunset House.png (81.42 KiB) Viewed 1291 times

[AleBelly]

"Looks like it's already been cremated" replies Sylvan in a rare moment of jest. "I'm Sylvan, dweller of the emerald wood. What, good sir, can you tell us about this Hunclay fellow? Are you aware of a way to contact him?"

[dmw71]

"Strange guy." Calladastina says, shrugging.

He lowers his shovel and carefully scoops up the toasted remains, depositing them into a large burlap sack he had fastened to his waist. Without another word, the quiet undertaker turns and begins to casually make his way to the 'Sunset House' where he works.

[thirdkingdom]

Ingroc the Impavid

Ingroc continues to keep a watchful eye out. "Any reason why we couldn't do this with the rest of the party?" he asks, "'cause it looks to me like we're going to need to try and breach the tower, and I don't fancy the three of us trying that."

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow also speaks to the undertaker before he departs.

Hello good sir! You're in an interesting line of work. Can you tell us if you've seen anything out of the ordinary around here or had to bury anyone that seemed unusual to you recently?

[dmw71]

The undertaker, at Sparrow's question, pauses his work briefly and considers the query. He shrugs. "Not really," he says matter-of-factly. "This here 'bout the only unusual thing I called to clear out in quite a while," he says before resuming his work and ultimately carrying the crumbled creature away.

[thirdkingdom]

Ingroc the Impavid

"If we have accomplished all we can I propose we return to our companions and try to determine our next course of action. "

[AleBelly]

"Yeah, let's go. We won't accomplish much here."