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"Well that isn't too funny to be sayin bout someone who knows more of the woods then someone who cuts them." "But looks like you don't even knowin to remove yer pants before doin yer busines either. Tis a shame what they have to hire the days." Faldor just shakes his head and continues on the path with the rest. As well as slowly putting the 'big folk' between him and the crowd of lumberjacks.
The big Jack looks at his 'soiled' companions and lets out a great belly laugh "HEEEAAAAWWWW-HAAA-haaaarrr! You two best be gittin' yer gear changed, We be leavin' fer da next camp up in a minute an' de boss will be REAL mad if'n ye aren't on the shuttle. Hee-Hawww!"
The two men slink off toward the bunkhouse, throwing angry looks back at the gnome, you get the feeling that they are making sure to remember the little gnome's face....
The big Jack wipes some mirth from his eye and says "I'll be headin' in ta tell the boss that you and yer crew will be aboot in the wood, Jaden. Good luck wit' yer herbs and be mindful o' the wood. Heee-haaaa, them two *his voice trails off as he moves toward the office, followed by the remaining 3 jacks in the group*"
On the edge of the camp is a wide trail cut into the wood, leading generally in the direction you will need to be heading. The ground is packed firm from the sleds laden with logs that have passed over it, and ahead, down the trail, you hear the constant sound of axes chopping and saws slicing into wood with the occasional rapid-fire snapping of tree branches immediately followed by the sound of one of the forest's giant trees slamming into the ground.
Keegan's Map
The numbers on the map are as follows:
1. is the Main Logging camp
2. is the suspected location of the Eldest Tree
3. is the Ulizmila's Hut (the witch)
4. is the old dwarven ruins
Pointing at the line in the center of the forest, "What did you say about crossing this river here Keegen?"
"Nossir, not a good idear, I thinks. Th' river's full o' nasties, like. Crawlies n' snakies. Methinks we's be treadin' eastways 'round the big water lake. Feyfolk there, but better than bad snakers in the river, savvy?"
"Cross the river and get eaten, or walk around and take longer. Might as well take walk, alest we might see what wants to eat us." Gives Keeg a look "You want to take point? I will be right behind you. Raphael, you want to bring up the rear? I know are with mud and trees, would not want you to get overly dirty yet." Gives a laugh as he turns to Effan, Hors and Faldor " Anything we else before we start this camping trip?" Checks the action on his crossbow before hanging it on his sholder
Travel up the logging trail is an easy affair. The way is punctuated with the ever increase noise of the Jacks taking down the forest giants. A few minutes into your walk you watch a litter being drug behind a stout mule. The Lumberjack holding his reins gives a polite but gruff nod as he passes while on the litter a man is strapped down, a bloody cloth and rough wooden splint bound around his leg. Seems one of the forest's giants didn't fall so easily.
Several more minutes pass as you walk along and the woods around you are getting progressively thicker with both trees and men. You pass through a centralized area of logging activity, the felling of trees, stripping of branches, and prepping logs for transit, with many stares from the jacks.
Shortly afterward the woods beckon before you and, passing the last of the Logger's Guards, you plunge into the forest.
Fake Healer
(Male Dworc (half-dwarf/half-orc) Monk5/Barbarian1/Rogue2/Jack-of-all-Trades4/Master of None4/Quasi-diety4)
The forest is thick with vegatation but the way isn't too slowing to your pace. Following minor game trails and the natural lay of the land helps keep your pacing. The canopy blocks much of the natural light from above and gives the place a quiet and serene manner(once you get out of hearing of the lumberjacks' work-area).
You see a Dunlied from time to time running from your advance through the wood and even spot a Darkmoon Firefoot, the large-eared fox scampering away also while letting out small yips of alarm.
After a couple of hours of traveling through the woods and you start to see what looks to be a break in the trees ahead.
As you approach you see it is the leg of the River Foam that is indicated on your map. Looking at the river reveals it to be 75 or so feet wide, deep and dark, and much faster running than you would've thought. The forest ends 20-30 feet from the river, leaving a grassy pathway that follow the river in either direction to the west and toward the east and Darkmoon Lake. It is getting near to lunch so you find a nice place to eat and relax for a few minutes before pushing onward.
"Cross the river and get eaten, or walk around and take longer. Might as well take walk, alest we might see what wants to eat us." Gives Keeg a look "You want to take point? I will be right behind you. Raphael, you want to bring up the rear? I know are with mud and trees, would not want you to get overly dirty yet." Gives a laugh as he turns to Effan, Hors and Faldor " Anything we else before we start this camping trip?" Checks the action on his crossbow before hanging it on his sholder
Keegan suddenly becomes businesslike.
"Righto, then. I'm point. Rafe, Jad'n, you two gets behind me. Gnomers, ah... 'Fan and 'Falderr, you gets the rear with Hoss. You got questions?"
He grins and bows, setting off along the trail at a brisk pace, humming a tune.
Creepy.
Jaden give a loud laugh, and looks to Keegan " Bout time you relax and get to working. I hate when you are studdering"
Gives Raph a good pat on the back "Do not worry your little heart, the dirt only likes lazy people, you should be fine" Gives another laugh and heads up with Keegan on his "fingerquote" marry-way.
The going is easier out of the woods and the group makes some good time considering the smaller folks length of stride. The river widens into a lake perhaps 2 miles wide and twice that in length. The pristine water looks healthy and deep with an occasional ripple marring the glasslike surface as some aquatic creature moves just below the surface.
Serenity. Calm. Majestic. All are words that will pop into your heads as you remember back to this moment. The sun has at last broken through the clouds and the warmth seems to energize you with a renewed vigor.
Suddenly a huge shadow passes over the group. Looking up you can see a huge winged creature that is reminiscent of a giant lizard with wings and legs but no arms.
Knowledge Arcana or Nature- DC20
Fortunately, the creature doesn't take notice of the group and flies across the lake and out of sight to the north.
The group stays low for a bit until the winged creature fades from view then continues on for a while....
As the band begins to follow the curve of the eastern edge of the lake a whining yelp pierces the silence from ahead.
Knowledge nature- DC 15
The yelping seems to be coming from roughly one hundred feet ahead of you in the tall grasses.
Effan gives Faldor a quick grin.
Faldor gives a smile and a small chuckle to his comments. "Oh the songs I could sing of 'gnomers' t'would make there hearts envious."
... a whining yelp pierces the silence from ahead... The yelping seems to be coming from roughly one hundred feet ahead of you in the tall grasses...
Faldor's smile slowly falters as he hears a noise.
Not too sure of his foresting knowledge Faldor doesn't say what he thinks it is but readies his crossbow as a precaution.
Raph grins. Despite the fact he has no idea what the sound is, he attempts to explain the sound in a lecturing tone. "Sounds like a crying imp of some sort. Probably lost his way from Cheliax. Let's go put it out of its misery and be on with it, eh?"
1d20+5=15 Deception check (he's lying through his teeth)
Jaden and Keegan both spot a fox with large ears and bright orange fur, a Firefoot, ahead roughly 50 feet with its hindquarters caught fully in the jaws of an iron trap. The trap is anchored to the ground by a short length of chain attached to a stake driven into the ground.
As Keegan makes his way over a fallen tree in the path, an arrow zips through the trees, drawing a ragged line down his forearm.
1d20+4=17, damage 1d6=3
At the same time a pair of Razor Crows drops from the sky, their hawk-sized bodies plummeting toward Keegan and Raphael, claws extended.
1d20+5=7, 1d4-2=1, 1d20+5=21, 1d4-2=1 The first one misses Keegan as he jerks forward clutching his arm but the other one connects, tearing a jagged line across Raphael's forehead.
Anyone making 18 on the previous perception check DC can spot the general direction the arrow came from and locate the shooter.
Roll initiative, fight on!
quick draw crossbow-free action
shoot at M 15 (unknown attacker)
1d20+4=15 (Damage 1d8=5)
works action, crossbow free action
shoots at unknown attacker again
1d20+4=9Jaden lets his shield drop, and brings his crossbow to aim on the spot were the arrow came from and lets it lose,works the action again and lets another goes in the trees.
Jaden's shot veers low of the mark, the quarrel sinking into the tree trunk, just below the branch upon which the sniper is perched.
Perception and Initiative rolls (1d20+4=9, 1d20+4=9)
"Ah, blast it all! You'll be burning in the pits of Hell very soon, mangy bird!"
With a scowl on his face and an Infernal curse on his tongue, Raphael whips his rapier out and jabs at the razorcrow that attacked him.
attack roll (1d20-1=17)
crit confirmation (1d20-1=13)
damage (1d6-1=3)
As Keegan moves away from the Razorcrow to try to close with the archer in the trees the foul bird manages to score a bloody wound along the back of his neck.
1d20+5=23, 1d4-2=1
Keegan takes off into the lightly forested area, dodging around tree trunks as he closes on his target. Finally he gets to within striking range and looking up above him at the shooter he see a Grey-skinned Hobgoblin perched on a branch above him about 10 feet from the ground, drawing another arrow from his quiver....
Faldor and the rest of the party that acts after Jaden or Keegan can see the humanoid creature by tracking where their attacks are aimed, so they can also attack if they wish.
Effan considers his options. He doesn't see the bowman. Slinging stones into Raph and Keegan's melee is likely to end badly.
He reaches into his pouch and pulls out a few rose petals.
Faldor's eyes dart around the small skirmish looking for the sniper.
As stated earlier,..Faldor and the rest of the party that acts after Jaden or Keegan can see the humanoid creature by tracking where their attacks are aimed, so they can also attack if they wish. No rolls needed.
Waiting on Hozs to post initiative and initial action.
Keegan abruptly stops his frontal assault, stealthily disappearing into the thick brush.
Also, all you need to post is your modifiers, Shiny. I got a whole sheet printed for your various rolls.
Keegan lets loose a bloodcurdling shriek, his eyes flaring an eerie red. Drawing a slim, oil-blackened dagger from a hidden wrist sheath, he hurls it at the hobgoblin sniper.
I love the critters they are nice to me.
"Uhmm... that is a large lizard with wings...uhmm... thingy.
"Uhmm... that is a squeely squeel."
Hozs gasps at the cruelty. To no one specific he says "How would you like it if I stuck your foot in one of those huh?"
"Ughh! Filthy scavengers get away from him!" Hozs starts to swing Miss Stick at the ravens. "Go on, Git". After seeing them attack Keegan he continues trying to scare the ravens off with brutal swings.
Initiative chart-
Effan-19(after his held action goes off)
Razorcrows-19
Shooter-17
Jaden-16
Hozs-15
Keegan-12
Raphael-9
Faldor-4
Hozs moves in and tries to help Raph by smacking a crow, but misses. Keegan hoofs it over to the shooter's tree, drawing a dagger as he goes.
Effan is waiting for an opening to sleep the birds. Got it.
Next round....
The shooter in the tree calls out in goblin-
If you speak goblin-
and the 2 night-black birds cease their attacks and withdraw.
As they fly Effan sees his chance when they get about 15 feet off the ground, and lets his spell release.
The one that Raph had injured succumbs to the spell but the other flies on after veering slightly. 1d20+2=22, 1d20+2=6
The one the falls hits the ground, rolling to a stop just before the tree-line and doesn't move. The other returns to his master, prepared to defend him.
The shooter, who can be seen to be a large grey-skinned hobgoblin, tries to climb higher into the tree, drawing a melee attack from Keegan's dagger. Keegan hits, (1d20+1=17 for 1d4+1=5 damage, 8 with skirmish)sticking the dagger into the Humanoid's calf and knocking him free from his perch. Keegan manages to sidestep the falling hobgoblin (reflex-1d20+4=21)without being struck by him, but the hobgoblin quickly jumps to his feet drawing a notched longsword.
Jaden is up.
The remaining bird is in M14, 15 feet off the ground. The Hobgoblin is in M16, at ground level, in melee with Keegan who is in M15.
Jaden's bolt leaps at the humanoid as if guided by a divine hand, piercing the hobgoblin trapper's throat. The creature coughs up some foamy blood and collapses in a pile at Keegan's feet. (A hit but not a crit, he was in melee with Keegan so you had a -4 to hit him so the confirm missed.)
Meanwhile, Hozs chases after the bird, desperately trying to hit the Razorcrow, who keeps out of reach.
The fox, who lets you know that his name equates to 'Yip-yipa-yap', informs you that he hasn't strayed into this part of the wood but a b+&&& once told him that she came from this direction and 'where the trees are really big'. She was called 'Yap-yip-yeeeip-yap' and Yip-yipa-yap seems to have some fond memories of impregnating her and spawning a good litter of pups. His conversation wanders to smells and scents of her before he comes back to the present topic. Yip-yipa-yap also tells you that he is gonna stick around with the 'pink 2-legged fox-friend'.
Fox-friend has nice scent.