Radomir shoots the thing with his bow.
Soren glances over just in time to see the thing breaking water, and nocks an arrow, calmly calling out.
Something's coming. Get ready to fight.
Then, he takes a moment to study it and see if he can identify it and figure out where to shoot it.
Radomir's arrow is slowed by the water and fails to pierce the shell of the creature in the water.
The creature bites out at Radomir and his mount, it's jaws latch onto Czernabog's right flank.
Huh...?!
Eduard will attempt to move so that he can catch the creature, and none of his allies, in a Color Spray. He will then cast Color Spray and spend a point of arcane reservoir to boost the DC (DC 18).
What the...? That's a big turtle!
Radomir drops his bow and draws his bardiche! Attack! We're under attack!
He commands Czernabog to attack the beast in the water.
Then, he guides is mighty steed back and swings at the beast with his bardiche
Rd 1: Init 19
Looks like we will have turtle soup tonight! Yummy turtle! Andrea shoots a crossbow bolt
Thaliar gives a sideways glance towards the turtle before moving in with his spear. That shell would surely be of use and he might be able to harvest some of the beast's organs for alchemical purposes.
Eduard casts color spray upon the turtle.
The turtle releases it's grip on Radomir's mount and seems to just float in the water after the wave of colors wash over it.
Alexander inspires courage as he draws his own weapon.
Andrea shoots at, but misses the turtle with her bolt.
Thaliar sticks his spear into an opening in the turtle's shell.
Radomir's mount misses all of it's attacks, but Radomir himself manages to strike true and does some damage to the turtle.
The turtle appears to still be stunned and takes no actions at this time.
Rd 1: Init 19
Andrea dismounts and gets out her spear. To her, the battle looked pretty much over from the spell.
Once again, Radomir swings with his bardiche. Don't let up! The thing is stunned! We have the advantage!
Then, he uses his knees to guide Czernabog in closer to strike with hoof and teeth!
Alexander charges his horse up and swings down at the large beast.
Eduard will draw his crossbow and fire.
Radomir and his horse both managed to land a couple blows upon the turtle, which seemed sufficient to put the creature down, despite the missed attacks of his party members.
The now dead turtle floats in the middle of the river, a free meal for any hungry traveler.
Nothing else happens to your group as you finish crossing the river and making it to the other side. The sun begins to fall behind the treeline as you dry yourselves off from the river.
Nibble
This will make a good stew. Andrea helps get the turtle meat.
Thaliar helped drag the turtle ashore. "Lets see if we can get this shell to the outpost in as good a state as possible. Things like this sell."
While others were stripping the beast for meat Thaliar ended up harvesting parts of some organs. You'd never know what alchemical properties the kidneys or liver of such a beast might have.
So let us finish mapping these southern areas and then determine where to go next.
Well, there are no shortage of odd creatures out in this wilderness. He whistles as he helps Thaliar with the beast.
Radomir dressss his horse's wounds and stands guard while the others plan. I agree, we should be wary but also explore this area. We need to learn what other threats face is in these cursed woods, and be ready to strike them down!
Andrea uses a charge of the Infernal Healing wand on the horse.
You butcher the turtle, taking the parts that you want and disposing of the rest. Once that is done, you continue to explore this area. You manage to make it all the way to the eastern edge of the woods without any more disturbances.
What is rather interesting about the sight from that edge of the forest is that you can see a fort out on the edge of the lake that the river you have been following flows into. From this distance it is hard to make out much in the way of detail, but it does look to be occupied. You judge it to be several miles from where you are currently standing.
A trader's fort like Oleg's? We shhould do a little scouting though.
I don't think so. It's hard to be a trading post if no one knows about it... He squints as he looks off in the distance. Yes, scouting is definitely in order.
He moves his horse back into the wood line. Shall we?
Andrea follows.
Thank you, Andrea. M. Radomir lovingly strokes Czernabog's flanks. He is a brave horse, I would hate to see him suffer.
He mounts quickly and follows Alwxzander. Perhaps this fort has something to do withy the bandits? It must be some source of local power in the forest.
Happs said their fort was where the river meets the lake... Alexander shrugs, My guess is this is it.
Soren, let's keep an eye out for trails and lookouts. With a fort that size they've probably been here for some time.
Alexander helps Soren lead the group closer to the fort, We shouldn't go in too far. I suggest a few of us move in closer and see what we can see. Similar to how we handled the previous camp.
That sounds for the best
Eduard will try to stay near the back of the group, close enough to engage if a fight breaks out, but not so close as to be the primary stealther.
Radomir stays to the back of the group, and astride his horse, ready to charge in should tey be discovered.
After your group has gotten close enough to see some of the men in the fort, you think that they have the mismatched appearance of the bandits from back in the forest camp that you dealt with previously.
The lookout atop the tower appears to have spied either some or all of your party and waves his arms at someone down below him in order to get attention and then he points off in your all's direction.
The gate of the fort is still shut at this time.
Alexander speaks softly, Let's pull back and allow them to come to us. Soren, did we pass anywhere that would be easy to defend?
I doubt they will come charging out at us when they have an excellent defensive position.
I don't think they will either. But so far these bandits havn't been very bright. And I'd rather be caught in a defensible position than out here. Alexander grins as he replies, And if they don't come out, we can just leave and return. He shrugs, We're in no rush to fight them, are we?
Not particulary, once we map more and can secure the area around the fort we cna choke them out if need be.
Should we circle around, my lord?
That sounds like a reasonable idea.
I'm neither a master scout nor a terrain expert. Just tell me where I need to stand.
Alexander nods curtly, Sounds like a plan. Soren, lead the way and we'll circle around. Let's pull back until we're out of sight first, They almost certainly know the terrain better, but I assume, like Andrea here, that they won't be in a rush to come out of their fort to fight.
We'll take our time, feel them out, and see how they respond.
Following Alexander's suggestion, your group turns back the way you came and re-enters the forest. Now out of sight, you angle to come out of the woods at a point of direct sight of the fort and begin to circle around the lake, going first south, then east and then north again to come up behind it.
It takes you a few hours to manage this quietly and during that time, you have yet to see anyone ride out of the fort, though it is clear that they still have a couple people on sentry duty atop two of the towers.
So, a rear attack? I wonder if we could get our more stealthy members up there.
Soren looks back at the trail when Alexander asks about a defendable position.
I agree. If we want to find out more, it's best if just one or two of us move forward and try to listen. Any more than that and we risk being spotted. It'd be harder to pose as bandits if we get caught as well.
He dismounts his horse and slings his bow over his shoulder.
I'll go, perhaps Alexander and Eduard as well? Alexander, you seem to have a way with words, and Eduard has his magic.
Alexander chuckles, Perhaps just you and I. Eduard is excellent with spells but his boots squeak. He looks around, dismounts, and nods towards the fort with bow in hand. Let's head out a bit. Though not too far. Just enough to see how they're responding to visitors.
As you observe the fort in the distance, it appears that they are going with a passive response. All the entrances that you can see to the fort have been shut and the number of lookouts on the towers have been doubled.
You have not seen anyone leave the fort at all.
I'll stay at the rear to charge.
Well they are ready for any visitors that is for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes a few days before we could have a reasonable chance of infiltrating if we go that route.