Not Out of the Woods Yet: Solo Play

  Continuing the (mis)adventures of the villainous and egotistical Jorven Master of Beasts. Jorven continued to make poor rolls and get lost, he finally found a trail, but chose the wrong direction, which is so like him.  He also was oblivious to the fact that he was being followed and carefully watched from above. He almost noticed a danger in the manor, but almost wasn't enough...I think Jorven is in trouble! 

     Jorven, tired from his trek and basically lost in the Ravenwold, continued along the old path he had stumbled across. He could see an opening amidst the ancient oaks just ahead and could barely making out a stone structure between the trees, breathing a sigh of relief. "At last, civilization!"...then coming to the edge he gave an audible gasp...he was not out of the wilderness after all...

     

Before him at the end of the old path was a massive stone manor house, no doubt an impressive structure when it was built, but by the look of the place it had been abandoned for a quite some time. Nature had taken over much of the place, vines and branches entwined about it. Still, it was a sign of civilization, he had to be getting near the edge of the Ravenwold, had to be close?..

     For a brief moment he thought he saw a figure moving about on the second floor of the manor house, a shadow passing by a window, but then it was gone, probably just a trick of the light? It would be getting dark soon, his trek through the woods had taken him much longer than he had realized. Perhaps having the crossbowman carry most of their gear hadn't been the best decision.  He had a few torches at least, but wandering in the woods at night by only torchlight, seemed like a bad idea. He would scope out the old manor, try to find a mostly intact room to shelter for the night, then take the path back the other way in the morning. 

     He made his way to the old decrepit manor house. Yes, his luck was turning around, he would find shelter for the night and make his way out of this damnable forest tomorrow morning. He would be back with Mistress soon, very soon. 

     Avian eyes watched the man leave the shelter of the woods and approach the old structure, that was so out of place here in this natural setting. She scanned the structure, noting a stumbling, shambling figure moving in the shadows of the second floor.  The wind shifted...what was that smell coming from the place? A whiff of rot and? a heavy musky sweet smell? 

to be continued...