After traveling for about 2 hours, and estimating that they have put about 20 miles behind them, the group stops and Violet Duchess scans for minds in the vicinity. She picks up a cluster of them a short distance to the north. The team heads in that direction and, a short time later, sees a cluster of wooden buildings just ahead on the shore of a lake. Visibility has improved a little - just enough to be able to pick out the largest of the buildings, almost certainly the lodge.
GM: Let me know if the group is going to simply head into the lodge or scout around a bit first.
IRON DUKE (TECH): I think scouting a bit before entry is a given. Stealth 13. Here's a roll if I need it. Stealth roll = [rolled 11]
VIOLET DUCHESS: Duchess will attempt to unobtrusively determine the mood of the minds in the lodge.
INDIGO BARON: Definitely scout around first. IB can fly around the lodge, taking a look for any obvious recent activity and getting an idea of the layout of the buildings.
GM: There is a map of Colville Lodge available on Maptool. I revealed the area around the lodge based on scouting by Indigo Baron and Iron Duke. The area around the lodge is mostly clear except for a few trees. Beyond the lodge is mostly wooded. The storm continues to blow fiercely occasionally obscuring vision. The wind is blowing at 50 to 60 MPH regularly with gusts up to 100 MPH. Precipitation continues to fall.
Violet Duchess sneaks forward the peers through some of the windows. Most are shuttered against the storm but she finds a few cracks that allow her to see the dimly interior. The illumination is coming from candles, lanterns and a couple of fireplaces. She sees about 15 people in the great room huddled around the fireplace. Some appear to be worried about this unnatural storm. She uses her telepathy to confirm this mood. She finds no other causes for concern beyond the storm and the fact that they have lost all power.
VIOLET DUCHESS: Duchess will report back on her findings. "I'm thinking we just go in and talk to them to find out what they've seen. Maybe a couple of us should stay outside to keep an eye on things."
The team regroups in the woods at the front of the lodge and Violet Duchess reports what she saw. As she is doing so, the team suddenly sees a group of four strange creatures leap out of the woods to the northeast and bound towards the lodge. They are too far away, and the visibility is too low to make out details except to note that they seem to be quad pedal and their movements are exactly synchronized.
GM: I will update Maptool this evening (though it will be down for a few hours later tonight when some of us play our Thursday night session). Once I place the creatures, we will start combat at turn 0, phase 12. |