Your empire has been defeated, wiped from the map and its people enslaved or worse…
The war has gone on for years and its toll has been great, after realizing the oncoming defeat most people gathered their belongings and have fled far South into the dense woodlands.
You’ve hitched a ride along with a small caravan of 16, trying to find a new home with others. A new home means a new life, a chance for fresh start, an opportunity to gather power..
The caravan has happened upon a small clearing and it seems suitable enough as anywhere else to start, most people being to break camp and set up makeshift tents.
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-This area is unfamiliar..no notable landmarks are close
-A river rushes to the South of your clearing
-The area is a small clearing but is surrounded by dense forest
-The way North is far too dangerous to return without an army..the empire lays in ruins
Workers: 16
Food: 1 week
Supplies: 1 week
Materials: 0
Red dots - represent 1 person
Food and supplies will cover your entire population
Your current surroundings
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2fA9K_irQfvc1hhQWExc2tqXzA
My father was a soldier. My mother died of a fever when I was young. When the invaders came and the war began, my father left our farm to protect the country to loves. I stayed home to protect the farm, work the fields and tend the animals. I practiced archery as my father taught me.
Then, the invaders came, burning as they went. They burned everything my father built- that I was supposed to protect. I should have stayed and fought but I didn’t. I ran, and ran, and ran, into the shroud of the forest. I hid there for weeks, barely surviving on rain water and foraged berries. Alone, cold, and starving to death, a band of rebels found me. Their captain was kind to me and very well-respected by the others. The rebels took me in. They called themselves “The Huntsmen” for the invaders they hunted. It wasn’t the military as my father had described it, but the Huntsmen acted like it was with rank, discipline and courtesy. They trained me as ranger, as one of them. I learned to love, trust and respect the land and bounty she could provide- and the wrath she could inflict. I belonged, and I was strong. We lived as brothers, as part of the forest.
Then, we were found. The invaders attacked by night surrounding our outpost and charging from all-sides by torchlight. I must have killed dozens, and the Huntsmen hundreds more from atop our tree stands and inside bunkers. Eventually, our arrows ran out, and our numbers dwindled too few. We fell back into the forest, though one by one we were hunted, and fell. I ran and hunted, and killed, then ran until I found myself all alone again. I had escaped, but had nowhere to go. I searched for weeks for other Huntsmen who might have survived but found none. So, I stayed in the forest to live as my brothers and I did. Months went by in solitude. Until, I saw a small caravan wobbling down a forest road from the north. Maybe they could take in one more? Is this the new beginning I’ve been waiting for?
I have in my possession:
1 Longbow
2 Quivers with 40 arrows
1 Studded leather armor
1 Trophy Wolf Pelt
1 Pan Flute
1 Explorer's Pack including: 1 backpack, 1 bedroll & rabbit skin blanket, 1 one-man tent, 1 mess kit, 1 tinderbox, 10 torches, 10 days of small game rations, 1 water skin, 50' hemp rope.
1 Lamp
1 hand ax
1 hatchet
1 Leather worker's tool kit
1 carpenter's tool kit
1 Block & Tackle
1 fishing rod & tackle
1 Small-game trap
1 coin pouch
I have light grey eyes with dark brown hair pulled back behind my ears to the top of my shoulders. Across my shoulders and down my back is a jet black shaggy wolf pelt for warmth. I'm wearing studded leather armor with leather boots and crocodile skin bracers on top of traveler's clothes. I have a noticeable scar across my right eye and a short brown beard.
I am Adriel born of House Glory. Their legacy was wiped out by the cunning of House Sorrow who colluded with the Invaders. Separeated during an ambush, my parents left me at a small Ogre village and that was the last I saw of them.
I trained many years with the Ogres, the half-Orc, then the humans. I studied our enemies and when the time came that I sought my parents, I found only a vague letter hastily written by my father. I have a sister.
I never knew, and upon finding this I went in search of her. Sallaviel had been taken in by House Chant and trained to study magic. I feared House Sorrow would find her. Sorrow follows the Nameless God and would force her to follow it as well, turning her to evil.
With the help of the Ogres I found House Sorrow warriors readying to steal Sallaviel. We killed them all and I convinced my sister to follow me.
I am close to 6 feet tall with white hair and pale skin, for my kind, for I am a Tiefling. Some say I am as pale as death. I have amber eyes and pale hair.
I have a dagger from a fallen member of House Sorrow. It seems to be enchanted but I do not understand what it is or what it can do. I wish to find someone to tell me.
My name is Sallaviel. I owe a great deal to House Chant who raised me as one of their own and opened all doors to me. Still, I have felt alone. I was treated more as a student than a family member. It became clear why when I was given a letter. It was written by my father before he and my mother disappeared. It have the name of a person from House Glory who helped them escape--if they truly did.
I have a brother?
I learned that House Glory is gone and believed I was truly alone when a few months ago I was told I was to pick up supplies. Leaving the manor house I was stopped by a young man, a man who said he is my brother and had come to keep me safe from House Sorrow.
I left House Chant promising I would always be there if they needed me and that I would search for the pieces of the Arcanum that they believe the Invaders were collecting.
I fear House Sorrow now. Before they were only a name. Adriel has taken care of me. We work to help others seek protection and to raise money for my studies.
The letter I have did not say I had a brother--could they have wanted to protect each of us if the other were found? I keep the letter close, Adriel has never asked, but there is something else written in it.
I am a small woman, slight with amber eyes and a pink-tinged tan skin. Oh, and of course dark horns that curve back from my forehead in my pale hair. I also have a tail. When I am worried I tend to figit with it, tugging at a length of hair and twisting it around the tip of my tail.
Standing in the clearing, this looks like a good a place as any to start a new home. There's plenty of land for crops, a flowing river nearby, game, and trees for cabins. Not sure if it's safe yet...
"Rex, take a look around, see if you can find any trouble. Don't go too far, and howl if you find anything? I'll set up camp here."
Rex is dark grey timber wolf. While he's the same size as an average wolf his age, he somehow looks brawnier, and regal as a lion does. A thick mane-like scruff surrounds his back and chest with black fur that bleeds into the grey along his back. There is something special about this wolf.
With Rex busy, I do my part to check for safety. I kneel down in the center of the clearing and place my hand flat against the earth and concentrate.
Primeval Awareness
Beginning at 3rd level, you can use your action and
expend one ranger spell slot to focus your awareness on
the region around you. For 1 minute per level o f the spell
slot you expend, you can sense whether the following
types of creatures are present within 1 mile of you (or
within up to 6 miles if you are in your favored terrain):
aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends,
and undead. This feature doesn’t reveal the creatures’
location or number.
I begin to set up our campsite. I pitch the tent that Rex and I share and collect firewood for nightfall. I take a trip down to the river, refill my water skin and bring back some water in my mess kit for Rex. Otherwise, I remain in camp, foraging berries from the tree-line for the other settlers waiting for Rex to return.
Raised by an order or Druids who worship the circle of the Moon, I spent my youth and young adulthood training in the Druidic ways of my people. With my parents being elders of the tribe and coming from a long lineage of Druids my training was more fierce than most.
When my time came to commune with nature, a right of passage for our tribe, I left my home to live as one with the forest of old. Years were spent there listening to the forest and leaning the ways of the beasts.
The Invaders of the North came with their war machines destroying everything in their path. The forest in which I spent my pilgrimage was mostly wiped out and the life that lived in the forest was butchered to feed their domination of the North.
I was forced to flee south where I came across a small caravan along the road. Knowing the revenge I sought after would not be won alone, I ventured forward to join their group.
I am an average size man with long brown hair, matted and disheveled from my time spent alone. My eyes are an unnatural bright green that call back to my Druidic lineage. I wear very simple leather armor and carry with me only a short sword, walking staff and enough provisions for me to live off of day by day. Finding whatever I normally need to survive among the woods.
Flint opens his mind to his surroundings, using his "Ranger Vision" to try and discern if anything threatening is near by...
The forest goes silent as he continues to focus, only a faint dark echo can be heard far in his mind. It is a silent scream of restlessness, Flint knows this feeling as to the presence of Undead...
The group prepares camp and provision supplies to everyone. Seeing the Ranger just..squatting and touching the ground a man musters up the courage to approach him.
"Master Ranger..what..is it that you're doing?"
Is he Praying?
From the fringes of Flint's vision he sees a person moving closer.
"No, Sallaviel. He is searching."
The figure strikes a relaxed pose, thumbs in a sword belt. "Apologies. My sister has been...sheltered."
I shoot Adriel an appreciative smirk as I stand and ask the group to gather 'round.
"Everyone, this is not yet an emergency, but I feel obligated to share some information. Master Adriel was kind enough to point out that I was searching our area. Specifically, I was searching for dangerous creatures. During my search, I've determined that the undead are present here, in this forest. I do not know how many, or exactly where they are, though I expect Rex back any time. He may yet know more. It is not for me to decide what we should do about the presence of any unpleasant thing, though Rex and I will likely hunt down the undead, to determine how large of a threat they may present to our group."
I'll go with you when you are ready. We will need to keep the camp secure.
You can see them, can't you?
*Makes a sweeping gesture towards the trees.*
It is better to plan a hunt than to blunder in the forest and fail to find them all.
"I cannot see the undead, not exactly. Still, I can feel their presence through the forest. Rex and I will be able to track them easily enough. I welcome your help with this Master Adriel. The area is unfamiliar to me, and I'll feel better with more in the party. We can observe the undead from a distance and see if it's a fight worth fighting. If not, we come back to camp and consider our options. .
I take a moment to look around.
I was expecting one more...and hoping to get his opinion. We will need his help...
People murmur among themselves and question if the area is safe, but where else will they go? The North is ravaged and they know nothing else of the lands in the South. The man who approached Flint goes back to the group to ease their concerns and to get people back to working on the makeshift camp.
Your options are to either head East, West or South of your position to scout the area and try and find the looming threat.
Of course you can always take perception, knowledge or nature checks to try and discover any additional info that may help your cause!
Favored Terrain (Natural Explorer)
You are particularly familiar with one type o f natural
environment and are adept at traveling and surviving in
such regions. Choose one type o f favored terrain: arctic,
coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, swamp,
or the Underdark. When you make an Intelligence or
Wisdom check related to your favored terrain, your
proficiency bonus is doubled if you are using a skill that
you’re proficient in.
While tracking other creatures, you also learn their
exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they
passed through the area.
I also call Rex back with a long whistle and see if he can sniff out the undead.
Keen Smell. Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Adirel attempts a Perception check.
Sallaviel roles.
It had been too long since I had spoken to anything other than beast, my social skills may be a tad rusty. I see a group discussing our current situation and decide I should join in.
Hello all, It seems you have all felt an uneasy presence as I have and I wish to help in any way I can. These forests are not mine but all forests I have a connection too. I feel we should look into what may be here with us before making any decisions on packing up the entire camp. I can head to the tree line and see if I can gather more information about our surrounding woods.
Sol BearSkin uses his Druidic powers and knowledge to assess their current surroundings... And finds nothing remarkable
Sallaviel peers into the treeline searching for anything... But may be trying to just fit in, she finds nothing remarkable
Flint's tracking ability surprisingly pays off, as he looks about and peers closely to trunk and stone he sees signs of a past camp from many moons ago, months maybe years?
Flint's companion Rex sniffs the ground furiously, but seems to be going in circles
Adriel peers closely about, checking under brush and branch... He soon finds stones carved with..strange runes? Perhaps to ward off spirits, to warn of danger, or just for art? The language is unfamiliar but the stones seem clustered towards the South of the camp
Sallaviel comes closer and peers under the brush, studying the stones using her Arcana and Investigation skills while twirling a lock of hair with the tip of her tail.
"Hmmmm...."
She has a +4 to each of her skills.
Arcana:
Investigation:
Sallaviel thinks back to her days at House Chant, trying to recall anything she learned of the Arcane...
She is able to determine that the stones are markers of some great battle long ago and that they warn others away from something, they seem to act as a sort of border. Wind and rain has taken much off, she cannot determine anything else.
What ever may trouble the camp lays past these stones..
Sallaviel, is there some evil about these stones? I say we venture on past these stones and confront any potential threat to this camp. These people have been through enough and I will not stand for any unnatural creature to inhabit the woods. I will be meditating and preparing if anyone needs me.
I return to my camp to prepare my spells for the day.
Master Bearskin is right. If we occupy these woods, we are obligated to protect them. Rex and I are in.
I standby near my tent resting but ready to depart the camp to pursue the enemy when everyone is ready.
I agree. We must assure our borders so the people with us are free from harm.
Adriel checks his sword, his pack and then check's Sallaviel's.
Sister, have you any healing spells that might aid us?
Sallaviel nods.
I shall ask the people in the caravan if anyone has healing items. I purchased a Healer's kit.
Healers Kit.*** Pg 151 PHB, right hand side. This kit is a leather pouch containing bandages, salves, and splints. The kit has ten uses. As an action, you can expend one use of the kit to stabilize a creature that has 0 hit points, without needing to make a Wisdom (Medicine) check.
"If you all agree, I'll take point? Rex and I are familiar with this terrain, and are comfortable moving stealthily when necessary. We still aren't sure what we're dealing with, and I'd rather not jump into a fight we can't win.
Should one of us be wounded in battle, I am adept at healing, though only minor wounds."
I notify the other settlers that we are heading out and that we will return once we know more about this threat, or have eliminated it.
Assuming everyone is ready, I go passed the stones onward towards our prey...
While traveling for an hour or more in your favored
terrain, you gain the following benefits:
• Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel.
• Your group can’t become lost except by magical
means.
• Even when you are engaged in another activity while
traveling (such as foraging, navigating, or tracking),
you remain alert to danger.
• If you are traveling alone, you can move stealthily at
a normal pace.
• When you forage, you find twice as much food as you
normally would.
• While tracking other creatures, you also learn their
exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they
passed through the area.
The party trudges along in the thick brush, swatting away branches and looking about passively. As far as anyone can tell these woods are...well, just like any other woods to be found? The warning stones may of been a bit much...
You enter a another small clearing, moss clinging to heavy rock and a small stream trickles through. Propped up against a stone is a skeleton, its armor rusted and belonging to an age long past...
Adriel looks over at Sol who is rising with a nod, prepared to leave.
"Flint and Rex are point. Sol and I can flank slightly behind as not to interrupt their vigilance. And Sal..." he pauses, his face a study of calm. "Sall?"
Sallaviel is holding her focus, a curious, ugly lump that looks like a piece of coal. "Are you going to invite them?"
Adriel muses for a moment. Turning to the camp he announces, "I am Adriel of House Glory, With the loss of my House I shall form a new one. I will be the first of House Mastery. All are welcome from.." he glances at the Druid, 'the camp of the...um....The Quick Ravens!"
This appears to appease Sallaviel. Adriel adds, "This means we offer you our protection as well as our companionship."
I'm ready,Sallaviel announces. "Let the darkness like the Raven's wing hide us from our foe."
Apprehensive about the skeleton and armor, I have Rex stay hidden within the treeline, in case we need him.
Rex, I'm gonna go check out that skeleton yonder. Hide here in the bush in case there's any trouble? Tear apart anything that attacks us.
I move in towards the skeleton, looking for any clues about the past battles, or the undead we hunt- anything remarkable at all.
Sallaviel studies the armor, then turns to scan the tree line around them.
Adriel studies the ancient armor.
Sallaviel and Adriel notice other bodies strewn about, but they're unable to recall any history about the armor..but Sallaviel does notice the stream seems to glimmer in the sunlight the same way a precious gem would. It does this because there are precious gems strewn through out the stream!
Flint gets close to the skeleton and stares at it..the peaceful stream rolling behind it. Whoever it was seems to of taken an arrow to the chest, stayed here and died..Flint almost feels bad, until the head of the skeleton slowly bends over and looks at him with its empty sockets! Flint stumbles back startled by the movement!
As soon as the skeleton sees the party others begin to clamber out of the moss!
10 Skeletons surround and are mixed in between the party, initiative!
Skeletons
My apologies. I have 0 idea why I asked for initiative order knowing it creates a cluster mess on PbP. Players can go first and monsters will react
AC to meet is 13 for the skeletons and there are ten, I'll just go down the list and assign two to each of you. When attacking be sure to number which skeleton you're attacking i.e. "Flint strikes Skeleton(1) with his sword"
Flint - Skeletons 1 and 2
Sol - Skeletons 3 and 4
Sall - Skeletons 5 and 6
Adirel Skeletons 7 and 8
Two 'wild card' skeletons 9 and 10
I spit at the ground before drawing my short sword and piercing it into the skeleton's chest. (Skeleton 1)
Adriel swings at Skeleton 7
Seeing the unnatural monsters approach me I become overwhelmed with anger for them trespassing in any forest. I focus my Drudic powers, reshaping my body to the form of a massive Brown Bear to dispatch the abominations.
I charge the nearest Skeleton (3) and attack.
Multi Attack: Bear makes two attacks, one with its bite and one with its claws
Sallaviel will cast Eldritch Blast at Skeleton 5
Eldritch Blast
Evocation Cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
A beam of crackling energy streaks toward a creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On hit, the target takes 1d10 force damage.
**my question is do I roll a 1d20 plus my Charisma for this?**
Thank you!
Skeletons 1 and 2 shamble towards flint and swing their rusted blades!
Skeleton 3 bursts apart! Skeleton 4 swings at the might bear!
Skeletons 5 and 6 swing at Adriel bones clattering against rusted armor!
Skeletons 7 and 8 swam against Sall, bringing their rusted weapons to bare
Skeletons 9 and 10 shamble towards Flint!
1 - 5/13
2
3 - Dead
4
5 - 3/13
6
7 - 1/13
8
9
10
I grit my teeth and pierce the undead with my short sword once more! (skeleton 1)
We've stumbled into quite the ambush...we still have Rex as our ace-in-the-hole...
I recoil and turn on the second skeleton (4) with another barrage
Curse you!