Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
"For me to be refreshed I only require a few hours of uninterrupted meditation, so I will take first shift with you, Jeannine, if no one else minds that is?"
Jasmine is very happy with her haul, especially when on the way here the game was "scarce" to put it mildly. She sits and think to herself during dinner, I wonder what this gorge holds, what stories I would've been able to tell my parents. I miss them, I wonder what they are doing
Her thought is broken, when Jeannine starts talking. She listens closely, 4 blue painted rocks, I must remember this
I will take second watch with someone
During the last moments of dinner, Portia plus out her silent bird whistle and makes two quick chirps. Her feathery friend, Issabelle, dies down to her shoulder. She feeds her a bite of the un roasted "chicken" parts like the gizzard, liver and hearts. She pets her friend, and nuzzles her for a brief moment.
She then turns to Jeannine and asks, about how long would you guess we will be down there, I don't think Issabelle would be very happy cooped up underground, without the sky enveloping her wings. I can tell her to hunt, but I must specify when to return to this spot, hence the question if "how long for us"
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
"I suppose that leaves you and I, Valind, for last watch. Before we get settled in, I think we need to eat. Portia, do you need any help with getting food?"
Why yes boys, looking at Edren and Valind, [/b] I could use a hand with gathering dinner. I wasn't able to spot anything on our travels. This place seems so barrens and sparse, but perhaps you may notice something I did not. Shall we?[/b]
Take 20 on survival as Terq mentioned in his post
After searching, Portia, Valind and Edren come across some "chicken" like birds.
Jasmine is very happy with her haul, especially when on the way here the game was "scarce" to put it mildly. She sits and think to herself during dinner, I wonder what this gorge holds, what stories I would've been able to tell my parents. I miss them, I wonder what they are doing
Her thought is broken, when Jeannine starts talking. She listens closely, 4 blue painted rocks, I must remember this
I will take second watch with someone
During the last moments of dinner, Portia pulls out her silent bird whistle and makes two quick chirps. Her feathery friend, Issabelle, dies down to her shoulder. She feeds her a bite of the un roasted "chicken" parts like the gizzard, liver and hearts. She pets her friend, and nuzzles her for a brief moment.
She then turns to Jeannine and asks, about how long would you guess we will be down there, I don't think Issabelle would be very happy cooped up underground, without the sky enveloping her wings. I can tell her to hunt, but I must specify when to return to this spot, hence the question if "how long for us"
Day 3, just after midnight, North of Fort Horizon, in a location identified on the map as “Torinbul’s Flat”
The group settles in for the night, with Derrick and Sithundan taking the first watch with Jeannine.
The night is crisp and cool, and there are sounds in the distance of crawling things on the sandy ground, and an occasional howl from a dog or something like it, far, far away.
When the moon is high over head, Derrick wakes Portia, who wakes Gruingar. The four of you exchange pleasantries, and the report that nothing interesting happened while they were sleeping.
Portia and Gruingar tend to the small fire, placing a few short branches over the glowing ember, and the warmth is inviting and refreshing.
Just a short while after Sithundan and Derrick have fallen asleep a strange, and faint, mechanical noise is heard by both Gruingar and Portia
It grows louder and with each click now comes the sound of a dull thud, like a small foot hitting the ground hard.
Gruingar and Portia can make Perception checks to see if they can tell where the sound is coming from. They look around, initially, when they hear the sound, but do not see anything.
If he has time, Gruingar will use some Protection from Evil on himself and then Guidance on Portia. He will attempt to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible while doing so.
Dang, I remember there are rules on trying to cast quietly, but I can't find them at the moment. I will use a stealth check until I can find something else.
Tiene ma ochráni! casting stealth:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Tiene ju viedol! casting stealth:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
small serpentine eidolon HP 6/6; AC:17, Touch:15 FF:13, Per:-1; Int:+4; F:+0;R:+6,W:+2
perception:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Weird that we have different mods and still got the same number.
Must protect master...
Nashantur moves into the shadows just outside the firelight a little to the left of a straight line between Gruingar and where the sound seems to be originating.
stealth:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36
Male Tiefling Slayer 2 | HP 0/24 | AC 18, touch 14, FF 14; CMD 20 | Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +2 | Init +5, Perception +6 (darkvision 60 ft.)
I'm here, I've just had nothing to post about, really. Derrick's got no useful skills for this section of the adventure, sadly. Couldn't think of any good way to just have him insert himself back into events.
Day 3, just after midnight, North of Fort Horizon, in a location identified on the map as "Torinbul's Flat"
Portia and Gruingar peer all around the campsite. They can hear the noise, but they cannot see where it is coming from, and it almost seems as if it is coming from everywhere. Feeling a bit nervous about the situation, Gruingar casts a protective spell, and then sends the shadowy form of Nashantur a few feet further out into the darkness to try and find the source of the sound.
Gruingar:
A quiet tense moment passes, and then your mind is filled with a startling image of a small six-legged metal-bodied creature, then another, then another. They are no bigger than small dogs, and they march in a straight line from the gap toward the south. Each of these mechanical "insects" is equally spaced from the one ahead of it and the one behind it by a distance of about fifteen feet. They move slowly. Their legs end in post that are lifted and pushed down by a contraption of springs and pistons that rise up over the top of the bodies of the creatures. They appear to have no heads, but have a single, claw like appendage that is mounted forward on the top of the body. This appendage is folded, but looks as though if extended it is easily twice the length of the body. In the darkness it is impossible to tell if they are black all over, or if that is Nashantur's vision of them in the shadowy night.
Just to be clear on my understanding. They are heading north from the gap to the south toward our camp site. Correct? How many of them are there in this line?
Gruingar nudges Portia and quietly says, Nashantur sees a line of metal bugs heading close to us from that direction. Let's quietly wake the others.
He then heads over to start waking the others individually by putting a hand over their mouth so they don't cry out. Quietly saying, Metal bugs coming this way. Starting with those on the north side of the camp (closest to the metal critters).
While doing that he directs his thoughts toward Nashantur, Thank you my shadowy friend. Are they heading toward the camp? How many are there? Keep close watch on them but don't attack them yet.
Nashantur has an intelligence of 7. Not sure if you think he could quickly count the numbers. But he should at least be able to tell me relative quantity like; more than the legs on a horse, less than the people in the camp, etc...
I know I can be a bit cryptic at times. The gap is to the north of you right now. They are coming from the gap, and headed south, not directly at your camp, a bit to the east of your location, but close enough to hear. They will pass by your camp in a few minutes.
Male Tiefling Slayer 2 | HP 0/24 | AC 18, touch 14, FF 14; CMD 20 | Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +2 | Init +5, Perception +6 (darkvision 60 ft.)
Derrick nods at Gruingar's words, understanding that staying quiet is best, though he's somewhat confused. Metal bugs? Still, he shakes his head. The life of a samurai is to fight, not to understand why all the time.
He crouches low, belting his katana on and picking up his naginata. Time to test my skills in full combat, perhaps.
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
Edren's eyes snap open as Gruingar's hand covers his mouth. For a moment his soldier instinct takes over as he grabs Gruingar's arm and starts to twist. Recognition comes into Edren's eyes before he can do any damage, however, and Edren lets go. He gives Gruingar a hard look, and quietly says, "It's probably best for you not to do that... Now, what was that you said? Something about nettle hugs?"
Male Oread Monk/2; 20/20 HP | AC 14, T 14, FF 12 | F +4, R +4, W +5 | Init 7, P 5, I 6 | CMD 17
Sithundan, who is meditating against a tree on the far side of camp is awoken by the change in the camps energy. So when Gruingar comes to him Sithundan just asks "What is the trouble... metal bugs so unnatural."
Portia having no clue what is going on, looks toward Gruingar for help since he seems to have an understanding what is going on.
Once informed, she checks her equipment real quick, and looks around for her feathery friend. She puts the silent whistle to her lips, and just as she is about to blow it the signal to Issabelle, she pulls it down.
I wonder what these 'metal bugs' are up to? Bettwe yet, can they hear the inaudible noise of my whistle? If Gruingar says they are not upon us, then I better not take the chance of drawing them closer to us
Portia will put the whistle away, and hide in the comfort of the night, hoping for them to pass by without incident.
Day 3, just after midnight, North of Fort Horizon, in a location identified on the map as "Torinbul's Flat”
One by one the expedition members are roused from their sleep. Gruingar explains, as best he can, what his Shadow Eidolon has seen. There is a general feeling of confusion among the expedition, as no one understands exactly what these things are, and it is impossible to see them from the campsite. However, it does seem that the creatures are either oblivious to the expedition, or are not concerned with them.
Anyone who is curious can take a torch or other light source and move toward where the line of these creatures is in order to get a better look at them.
Gruingar:
Nashantur continues to observe the passing “bugs” and reports that they are many, too many to count. It seems, while you are rousing the rest of the company, that this may just be a bizarre event, but one that is not dangerous, when suddenly you are given a mental image from Nashantur of one of the bugs, as it passes that is different from the others. It is the same size, but lacks the central mounted articulated arm and instead is fitted with a gruesome sight. There is a human head, and neck, attached to this bug. The head is desiccated, but appears to be alive, and as this bug passes Nashantu’rs location, the head turns. The eyes are missing, and are replaced by glowing red orbs that shine a beam of light toward Nashantur.
Portia, will grab a pebble and ask Valind to cast a light spell on it. She will then put it in her mouth to control the luminosity of the pebble and go towards the marching metal bugs.
am I able to use the stealth roll from my previous post?
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
Edren rolls out of his bed and makes his way to the others, his weapon at his side. "I don't suppose we know what is going on yet, do we?" After being brought up to speed, Edren nods at the others. "Think we will see any action today?"
small serpentine eidolon HP 6/6; AC:17, Touch:15 FF:13, Per:-1; Int:+4; F:+0;R:+6,W:+2
Nashantur makes another effort to hide from the metal bugs. But she is also watching to see if the column changes direction toward herself or the campsite. She also is trying to get an idea of how swiftly they are moving. Normal person walking, ambling pig, running dog, etc...
Derrick - Do you want to try and hide from the metal Bugs (difficult to do as the vegetation is small and sparse, but you can try). If so, make a stealth roll please. By the way, Nashantur is confident that he was not "seen" by the corpse-like head. Portia, you don't seem to get the light spell you need, do you have another plan?
Gruingar quietly lets the others know what is going on, Oddness... Nashantur says that even though one of the metal bugs with a human head on top seemed to look straight at her, it does not appear to have seen her. Or at least they don't act like it. They appear to be marching past a little to the side of our camp.
Are they passing to the east or west of our encampment? How fast are they moving? Can anyone else see the light coming out of the human head on the one beastie?
Day 3, just after midnight, North of Fort Horizon, in a location identified on the map as "Torinbul's Flat”
With only the light from the small campfire to aid them, Portia and Derrick creep cautiously to the East in order to get a better look at the passing line of bugs. The two try to stay back, but cannot help but inch closer and closer.
One by one the monsters pass on a continuous slow march toward the south, but then, the one different machine comes into view. It has a human head attached in a most gruesome fashion, with strange needle-like pins piercing the skin below the neck and holding it to the top of the monster’s body. The head sweeps from side to side and when it turns toward Derrick and Portia the two can now see a faint glowing red light emitting from what was once the place where eyes should have been.
Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
The light falls just near the edge of the darkness where Portia and Derrick are standing, and the machine suddenly stops.
With a series of slow clicks and thuds the head-machine rotates in place and then a steady droning alarm sounds from the body of the machine.
One after another the machines stop their tireless march and turn in place, then they begin marching toward the camp.
there are thirty five machines, they are headed toward the camp. Each machine is five feet from any other machine and they are coming in a wave formation. It is time to roll for initiative.
Human Male Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 HP:9/24, AC:17:12:15, Init:+4, Per:+1, Intuition:+6, Saves:4:2:1, Attack:+6 (guisarme)
Initiative:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
How strict are you with the armor rule? I was asleep, and presumably was doing so without armor on. Just want to check and see if I need to change my AC for this encounter :D
Edren readies his guisarme and swings it back and forth a few times, stretching his arms. "Make sure to give me some room. I'll try to knock them down and then you should be able to finish them off."
Thank you Edren, good point, we should treat this encounter as if the characters who were not on watch are not wearing armor. You two full rounds to either prepare or move toward the machines, however, let's say that moving away from the campfire will add a penalty for shadowy conditions (concealment)
Has a minute passed for the guidance to have worn off on Portia?
Hmm... I better see what I can do to help those close combat guys since they don't have their armor.
Tiene ju viedol! Tiene ju viedol!
For his 2 rounds of actions, Gruingar casts guidance on both Edren and Derrick. You both (and maybe Portia) have a +1 bonus on a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check sometime in the next minute. He will then prepare to cast ray of frost and stay the heck out of reach of any metal bugs.
Male Halfling Cleric/2 | AC 16, T 12, FF 15 |HP: 15/8 | F +4, R +1, W +5 | Init 1, P 2, I 1 | CMD 10
are they double-moving? Trying to work out whether is worth preparing for a charge. Sounds like they may be moving up slowly and methodically, but zombies (which are similar) will often charge into combat albeit slowly.
