"Hrmmm... this one finds it unlikely that our little brother over there... hrmmm... hopped his way onto this trail and then... hrmmm... returned to the earth. This one recommends... hrmmm... caution, friend Rogan."

Omen will then began scanning the surrounding wood before approaching any closer to the dead rabbit. For kicks, he will also cast Detect Plants or Animals.

However, as that particular level one spell is not in my Pathfinder Beta PDF and as I am also unable to access the SRD online at this time, I have no idea what that will do for Omen.

"Hrmmm... this one finds it unlikely that our little brother over there... hrmmm... hopped his way onto this trail and then... hrmmm... returned to the earth. This one recommends... hrmmm... caution, friend Rogan."

Omen will then began scanning the surrounding wood before approaching any closer to the dead rabbit. For kicks, he will also cast Detect Plants or Animals.

However, as that particular level one spell is not in my Pathfinder Beta PDF and as I am also unable to access the SRD online at this time, I have no idea what that will do for Omen.

You will basically detect the number and condition of whatever animal/plant you are trying to detect.

Can I roll a Knowledge (Something) to see if I might think of any kind of predatory animal that might leave a dead rabbit lying on the ground? Then the very same question, just replace "animal" with "plant". Additionally, I will think of razorcrows and those saingrist's crawlers, since Milon mentioned them. Won't bother with a Slurk since it's not an animal =\

Can I roll a Knowledge (Something) to see if I might think of any kind of predatory animal that might leave a dead rabbit lying on the ground? Then the very same question, just replace "animal" with "plant". Additionally, I will think of razorcrows and those saingrist's crawlers, since Milon mentioned them. Won't bother with a Slurk since it's not an animal =\

jammin'!

Knowledge (Nature): (1d20+5=22)

jammin'!

Knowledge (Nature): (1d20+5=22)

What about a plant? This place is whacky with whacky plants. And I've run afoul of your assassin vines before, mister.

What about a plant? This place is whacky with whacky plants. And I've run afoul of your assassin vines before, Mr.

Shambling mounds, while quite intelligent, are not known to bait.

Fungus shriekers and violet fungi are known to bait, but only working together and they will then kill/feast on their prey.

So what I'm hearing/reading... is that we are likely being baited by a non-animal/non-plant and that a cute little bunny died for this nefarious non-animal/non-plant plot. Wonderful.

"Hrmmm... this one does not know what would leave dinner behind. This one does not trust this way and suggests we... hrmmm... continue north by another route."

So what I'm hearing/reading... is that we are likely being baited by a non-animal/non-plant and that a cute little bunny died for this nefarious non-animal/non-plant plot. Wonderful.

Dead bunnies in the middle of happy, woodland game trails are creepy. My conclusions, which incidentally are Omen's, are to get the crap outta Dodge. So yeah. I'm creeped out. Is all I'm saying.

Dead bunnies in the middle of happy, woodland game trails are creepy. My conclusions, which incidentally are Omen's, are to get the crap outta Dodge. So yeah. I'm creeped out. Is all I'm saying.

Rogan follows behind as Omen veers off the overgrown path so as to avoid the conspicuous rabbit corpse near the center of the path as they continue their journey to the witch's hut.

The forest canopy becomes much thicker and even in mid-afternoon, the darkened forest becomes difficult to navigate, however your keen eyesight is enough to get through without any extra light source.

As mid-afternoon gives way to evening, the trees part opening into a small but almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood—all typically sturdy woods—twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots. At the glade’s center squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen small thatched fetishes—each shaped like a tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent—stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.

Would I be able to detect Rat Tail with my Detect Plants or Animals or does that only work on living plants? Not that it makes much difference now since that spell has already been cast, but knowing can't hurt me later.

Omen will begin walking toward the hut slowly and cautiously, the charms dangling from his shortspear rattling harshly in the eerieness of the clearing with each slow and deliberate step.

Would I be able to detect Rat Tail with my Detect Plants or Animals or does that only work on living plants? Not that it makes much difference now since that spell has already been cast, but knowing can't hurt me later.

Omen will begin walking toward the hut slowly and cautiously, the charms dangling from his shortspear rattling harshly in the eerieness of the clearing with each slow and deliberate step.

The eerie quiet only seems to increase as you move closer to the hut. The rattling sound of your charms seems to be amplified along with the soft crunching of your footsteps across the dried leaves and broken twigs.

Omen will approach to within 20 feet of Ulizmila's door, then utilizing Mage Hand pick up a stone or bone or larger stick and knock on the door frame with it from a respectable distance.

Omen will approach to within 20 feet of Ulizmila's door, then utilizing Mage Hand pick up a stone or bone or larger stick and knock on the door frame with it from a respectable distance.

Omen turns and walks back to stand beside Rogan, turning to face back over the clearing toward Ulizmila's rickety abode. "This one does not think that she is home, friend Rogan. Hrmmm... but this one is sure that she has one of the items we need."

He gazes over the unpleasant clearing.

"The light begins to grow dim. If you wish, we may look for the one called Ulizmila elsewhere or... hrmmm... we can linger a while longer in this... hrmmm...," his eyes roam around the view in front of them, "unpleasant place. This one... hrmmm... defers to you."

Holy crappers! You men are machines! First things first - divvy the spoils: 50 silver pieces to Omen, and Rogan informs him that he is more than willing to split the profits from the gem or donate it to a good cause.

Rogan says nothing for a quite some time, taking in as much of the clearing in the failing light as he can. His keen elven eyes focusing on every detail, disdaining the dusk that seeks to hamper him to no avail.

"I say we wait here until just before dark. If she doesn't show, perhaps we should hail the hut. She may exchange what we need for the gem. I don't think we should leave until we know for a fact that she isn't here."

I'll be away for a few hours again. We're going to Bible Study. I'll be back around 8:30.

Agreeing to Rogan's suggestion with a nod of his head, Omen retreats a short distance from the edge of the clearing to within the tree line and sits down in the dirt facing the rickety construction, leaning back against the trunk of a tree. He pulls off the leather cap he has been wearing and shakes his head vigorously, his dark, shoulder length hair thrashing with the motion. Crossing his legs, he lays his cap along one thigh and then begins to play a soothing melody of far away mountainside forests on his ocarina, trying to fend off the discomfort of the environment with the music of memories.

Rogan retreats in similar fashion to the tree line, listening to the sound of Omen's ocarina with a slight smile. He leans against one of the deformed tree trunks, appreciating the relaxing position that its lean affords. His newly acquired shortbow sits loosely in his hands, with no arrow nocked. He simply waits, watches, and listens.

Should darkness begin to fall without Ulizmila's return, Omen will gradually let his music cease and then sit with his eyes closed for a few moments. With eyes still closed, he will address his elven companion.

"Hrmmm... still no sign of the one called Ulizmila. This one thinks we have come to the time to... how did you say... hail the hut? This one also believes that... hrmmm... it is your turn."

He slowly opens his eyes and turns toward Rogan, a slight smile playing at the edge of his lips.

Should darkness begin to fall without Ulizmila's return, Omen will gradually let his music cease and then sit with his eyes closed for a few moments. With eyes still closed, he will address his elven companion.

"Hrmmm... still no sign of the one called Ulizmila. This one thinks we have come to the time to... how did you say... hail the hut? This one also believes that... hrmmm... it is your turn."

He slowly opens his eyes and turns toward Rogan, a slight smile playing at the edge of his lips.

With the onset of darkness imminent, Rogan sighs, then, upon hearing what Omen has to say, chuckles and nods. "I'll try the door," he whispers, "be ready, should anything go wrong. If things go horribly wrong, get out of here and don't look back." He reaches into his hidden pocket in his cloak and pulls out the gem, then hands it to Omen. "Just in case."

He takes a deep breath, then makes his way as silently and stealthily across the clearing as possible.

Stealth Check: 1d20+8=18

If nothing happens, Rogan will approach the door and knock. If he gets no answer, he will call out Ulizmila's name twice, about 15 seconds apart. If he gets no answer, he will try to open the door.

If nothing happens, Rogan will approach the door and knock. If he gets no answer, he will call out Ulizmila's name twice, about 15 seconds apart. If he gets no answer, he will try to open the door.

No answer.

Proceeding to call out Ulizmila's name, Rogan repeats himself after several seconds and still, no answer.

Rogan, as you attempt to open the door you find that while it is rusted off it's hinges, it will not open.

Make a Strength check.

Rogan gets as good of a hold on the door as he can and gives it a tug, finding it more resistant than he had expected.

Strength Check: 1d20+0

Saints preserve us ~ we're breaking into a witch's house, after creeping through a yard filled with totems and effigies, after dark, in order to steal rare and valuable roots from her. Oh dear.

Wouldn't be DnD if we didn't =).

Rogan gets as good of a hold on the door as he can and gives it a tug, finding it more resistant than he had expected.

Strength Check: 1d20+0

The dank, dark hut opens up before you.

Wouldn't be DnD if we didn't =).

Can Rogan see inside without a light source? He has low-light vision. I'm not sure what the lighting conditions are.

Can Rogan see inside without a light source? He has low-light vision. I'm not sure what the lighting conditions are.

Fortunately for the weak-eyed elf, Omen prepared light as one of his cantrips. After seeing the elf gazing into the lightless depths of the hut, he will slowly but purposefully approach. He will cast his cantrip on whatever item Rogan would like and then return to his position nearer to the treeline and farther from the hut.

Rogan holds out an arrow, and Omen casts his cantrip upon it's head. After Omen is back in his position, Rogan breaths a quick prayer, then holds the light up to the doorway.

Before Omen returns, he will explain in detail the appearance, smell, and texture of Rat Tail, hoping that Rogan can acquire the root quickly and that the two can depart with exceeding haste.

Rogan holds out an arrow, and Omen casts his cantrip upon it's head. After Omen is back in his position, Rogan breaths a quick prayer, then holds the light up to the doorway.

Haphazardly hung shelves line the walls, covered in all manner of clay jugs, clouded bottles, strangely cut rocks, rotted bunches of herbs, and a museum of other crude curios and remnants of a bone grinder’s artifice. A rusted iron cauldron, with a mouth nearly 5 feet wide and a depth of at least 3 feet, dominates the hut’s single room, its ash-covered surface shaped with a relief of capering fiends and leering devils. Across from the door, against the far walls, stands a highbacked chair made of wicker, the gigantic curved tusks of some monstrous beast, and thousands of human teeth.

In the chair sits what looks like a corpse wrapped in filthy burial linens, its form padded with pungent herbs and sprouting patches of thick white mold.

...Across from the door, against the far walls, stands a highbacked chair made of wicker, the gigantic curved tusks of some monstrous beast, and thousands of human teeth.

In the chair sits what looks like a corpse wrapped in filthy burial linens, its form padded with pungent herbs and sprouting patches of thick white mold.

Rogan stares around the hut, speechless. His gaze at last settles on the apparent corpse and is held there for a minute. After waiting as long as he can stand for anything to happen and being both relieved and disappointed when nothing does, he gestures for Omen to approach.

Oh, you don't get off that easy, my friend. We're gonna die, and we're gonna die horribly. That's how I roll. (Unintentional, yet awfully true pun).

Omen will against Johnny's better judgement approach and then enter the disturbing and hopefully abandoned!! hut.

You're killing me, J-rod!!!

You're killing me, J-rod!!!

I'm goin' to postpone the knowledge of my fate until the morrow. 'Night, Chaps!

... Omen will proceed to try locating the Rat Tail without disturbing or, if possible, even looking at the horrible lump in the more horrible chair.

Perception: 1d20+8=14

... Omen will proceed to try locating the Rat Tail without disturbing or, if possible, even looking at the horrible lump in the more horrible chair.

Perception: 1d20+8=14

You begin searching the room while avoiding at all possible the humanoid-shaped lump in the wicker chair. In a pile of debris partially contained on a shelf which includes papers and other assorted objects including a jar filled with slime which contains a suspended, preserved eyeball, you locate the bundle of rat's tail wrapped with tight string.

Unfortunately, as you search through the rubble, you hear a deep echoing sound coming from the center of the room where you realize that the cauldron has begun to move, it's wide mouth agape, ready to attack!

Roll Initiative!

And that's all for tonight! Be back tomorrow, folks! Goodbye, good evening, and good night!

Stinking witches. Of all the wondrous magical items in the DMG, they always go for the Animated Cauldron of Do-Gooder Devouring. Would it kill 'em to pick up a Rug of Welcome for once? Sheesh.

Initiative: (1d20=6)

oh dear.

Initiative: (1d20=6)

oh dear.

oh yeah.

What a horrible witch! She's corrupted the kool-aide man!

Initiative: 1d20+4=9

Boogers.