The Church of Alvis

[OOC forgot to mention but when the group left would have switched from his Jesters to ski mask.]

Tony does have a stone, Trinal has the other IIRC

Tony keeps it in his belt pouch and Stavis knows where it is as well just in case things get hairy. Keeping an eye out for signs of passage and also for ambush sites/ambushers

Stealth: [dice]0[/dice]

Perception: [dice]1[/dice]

Sorry for the delay, I've been prepping for live session.

The party continues along the road with the advance party moving along in stealth. This slows down the party some as an errant rockslide or deer coming out of nowhere spooks the advance and has everyone stop. Overall the trip while slow, and cold, and now with a touch of elevation issues, is uneventful. Nighttime is the worst. A paranoia of what is possibly out there has everyone on edge. The next day as you get withing 5 miles of the ruins of the Silverdeep front Gate you start seeing banners in the wind. It doesn't take more than a second to identify them as stylized versions of the Pelor symbol. (The normal Yellow sun on an orange field, however the sun is composed by "Dwarves rope" (think celtic knots) in design). In addition there are weighted Abatis linked with chains (currently open and unmanned).

Stavis will look over the defenses to see if they are being kept up or where built by the dwarfs and have been ignored since their defeat.

Perception
[dice]0[/dice]

Inspecting the defenses they don't look like they've been moved in a while, but there is evidence that they are being maintained. You don't see any rust on the chains. The counterweights to quickly close them look in good shape, there is no sign of rot on the spikes of the abatis and some of the spikes look newer (like they were likely replacements of broken ones).

"I think we found who strung up that drow a few miles back." Victae says.

"I wish Ham hadn't been called away, we could have used him here." Syric muses.

"If the Abatis is open and unmanned we may as well go on in"

Syric takes a moment to retrieve his amulet received from Nicholas with the symbols for Kord and Melora intertwined and make sure it was visable.

He gives it a reassuring pat and puts one foot in front of the other.

"Not the allies I was expecting but far better news if it proves to be true. Though may have the happy difficulty of needing to construct a third gate if they are willing."

"If we wish to continue to scout ahead may want to have someone else scout with Tony. Would hate to have them mistake us for enemies should they learn my heritage before seeing that I mean to aid instead of harm."

As the group proceeds will make his way towards Trinal and whisper "I know you mean well friend but if it comes to it I will surrender myself to the Dwarfs."

He will put up a hand to stop any response before he has finished "This mission must succeed and I doubt the Dwarfs will be as willing to look the other way unless I can prove to them I am an ally and you can not fault them for their attitude to the Drow as they are a very real and present enemy."

"That does not mean I am giving up I will do everything I can to survive and continue to help but I would rather not have this entire parties blood on my hands should the Dwarf be unwilling to let me help."

"But you must understand though you may consider me good, I am at best neutral by worldly standards, among just the Drow I'm probably the closest to a saint. Does not mean that I haven't done things in the past that I regret, even after my escape. I am a realist, if Tony's death by my hands could end the war and bring peace. Despite him being a friend, a rather dear one at that, I would do so without hesitation. Why then should I value my own life above that?"

After saying his peace will linger long enough to allow Trinal to respond before moving towards the front of the group.

To be clear staris, your intention is to "lead" the group to the front gate (presumably where dwarves are) and talk to them, surrendering yourself if needed to allow the remainder of the party to pass into Silverdeep?

"The hope would be that if I have to give myself up it wouldn't be immediately be fatalistic. Either the group proves itself and I am freed or I am able to prove it but first and foremost the mission must succeed and that can not happen by starting a war with any survives on my behalf. Our one advantage is there is an enemy to us both we are heading towards. If we are lucky then and there I can prove myself an ally and if some the stories are to be believed I wouldn't be the first Drow to do so."

[OOC yes though from what we heard at the cabin there was a presumed enemy also this way with the hope being we help kill or drive them off to help prove ourselves allies.]

OOC- I don't think it was the intent to have Staris lead us to the gates- that'd just be asking for trouble. I think having him with us and not hidden is the optimal approach.

[OOC towards the font until we got to the gates or any obstacles as he would still want to "scout ahead" after that would be amongst the group when dialogs would be had.

The next time Tony reports in, Trinal says "When you think it's appropriate, we should probably tighten up and get everyone together as we approach Silverdeep. Use your best judgement and stay safe."

So what's the plan?

tony scouts then main group spproaches?

Go all at once?

Go two at a time like Gandalf and the dwarves to Beorn?

We'll move ahead and group up to approach the place.

Syric looks back at the others from where he was standing past the Abatis, "Are you coming or not?"

The gate into Silvedeep is 5 miles out and the road you are on is clearly wider than what you've been travelling on. Over the course of the 5 miles you start seeing half statues of heroic dwarven legends along the road. Every half mile there is another abatis in generally good repair. occasionally you see footprints and animal tracks in the snow generally looping back towards the city gates. One mile out the view of the mountain is clear. Alone among it's peers in this mountain range, this mountain seems to have had the widest base, and at one time probably stood tallest among the other mountains, but the summit seems to have been sliced off, or more accurately it seems like it was smooshed down. A sunken top to the mountain fills you with a dread of the power necessary to complete such a task. The mountain has a sadness to it. It was once the king of the mountains, but now that king has fallen.

As you get nearer still the large(huge really) front gates to the buried city stand ahead of you with dwarven ropes lining the frame of the gates etched in stone. In front of the gates pointing inward are closed abatis, Between that line and you is some tents nestled against the rock on the sides of the mountain. There is a line of closed abatis between you and this camp. There are is a large fire and the smell of cooking sausage in the air. You see three dwarves near the fire. One with bright red hair and long braided beard, one with dark black hair and beard, and one balding and with silver beard. There are a few Pelor (dwarven rope design) banners hoisted on poles in the camp.

"And who may you be?" The redhead shouts from 60 yards away.

"Greetings friends! We are foes of the Army of Blood and their allies, and friends to any who fight them. We go by the name Phoenix Guard and come to Silver Deep on a mission to hopefully advance the cause of freedom against the dark forces that have swept this land."

Diplomacy: 1d20+20: 12+20=32

It's actually the Phoenix Guard...

Furiel wrote:It's actually the Phoenix Guard...

OOC: My apologies, you're right. Joun, I retconned it to be correct.

"Aight." The Redhead walks over and pulls a lever which cracks the abatis enough for you to enter the camp.

"I'm Zelvo, the silver one is Atrios, the other one (black hair) is Torvo. Come have some sausages." He pauses once he sees Stavis's white hair. "Is that one a prisoner?"