[D&D 5e] DM Asmodeus's "Night Below" Group #2 Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master bwatford

"Maybe we should look for her around the road?" Pip says, petting Jack's head. "We should look for signs of where she may have gone, especially at towns."

"Her fiancé inspected Jenneleth's room. He found his component puch under the bed, which seems strange. He thinks she may have been kidnapped."

Wolfgang let the others conduct the interrogation, and kept his eyes on the lookout. The man's weaponry had put him on edge, so he stood a watch for dangers either within, or without.

Taking the letter from the group Kuiper responds after looking it over.

"Well I don't know of any bandits around these parts, but it is troubling news you bring. The Blessed Wood-that section of the Thomwood south and east of the Woldcote River-has been free of humanoids since the so-called “scourge” 21 years past, when the Parlfrays used mercenary fighters to clear out these woods and make them suitable for foresting. This has considerably increased their own income, and some 200 people in small family groups live within the woodland. Prior to the scourge, foresting was a dangerous business here; since the settlement, this has become a peaceful and reasonably prosperous area." he says.

"The great Thomwood to the west of the Woldcote is avoided by local people, save for the margins of the wood just south of the Churnett river and around Hog Brook. Timber wolves, the occasional mountain lion, and bears are often seen along the forest’s edge. An especial peril of the darker recesses of the forest are the huge and giant spiders which lurk there, and local people usually mention these brutes as a specific reason why they don’t enter the deeper recesses of the Thornwood. Humanoids (goblins and bugbears especially) are both believed to dwell deep within the forest also. Since the Thornwood does not yield timber as good as that from the Lyrchwood or Blessed Wood, and it lacks the Redwood’s fruit harvest, there is no pressing reason for local folk to exploit it." he continues, obviously well versed in the knowledge of the general area.

"Still Hog Branch is used to water livestock and a great variety of herbs and shrubs grow along its banks. As good as place as any to start I reckon. There is a local tradition of running pigs down it to forage scrub oak acorns, the brook has been known to house several wild boars. We might get us a little dinner while we are down there and have us a feast when we return." he seems intrigued by the offer to accompany you.

"Well let me tell the farm hands I will be gone for a while, let me pack up my equipment and get some food for the journey and we shall be on our way. I have a small ferry down by the river that can take us across. The brook is right across the river there. We'll hike up along it for a ways and see if we find any tracks. And if we happen to find a large wild boar then..." looking at Pip with a gleam in his eye... "dinner will be served."

Setting down a trail that so greatly hints at danger is intriguing, but Wolfgang still has no love for the man. Too convenient, too knowledgeable. Call it paranoia, but he'll not let the man wander too far from his sight.

"Well-seared boar ought to be a sight better than that piss-poor tavern was."

"Then all of you agree and we are ready to get underway? I think your cart is best served by staying here at the farm. We be a going hunting and that cart, well noise will be a problem. Also hiking along Hog Branch doesn't offer us any suitable terrain for it. I'll make sure my farmhands take care of it and your animal while we are gone."

"I am ready when everyone else is".

"I'm ready. My dog will come too."

"Let's get moving!"

"Tally ho."

"Ah yes... the wilderness." Erdann says, with some hint that he doesn't really like leaving town.

It is going to be ruff, but I'm prepared

With that Kuiper leads the group down to the river where a small makeshift raft awaits. Using the two long poles attached Kuiper brings the group across and to the mouth of Hog Branch.

After securing the raft, Kuiper tells everyone to keep their voices at a whisper as they begin to make their way up Hogs Branch moving inland away from the river and into the woods.

The ranger stops periodically to look for tracks and signs of passage. After several hours of this, there is a rustling in the bushes some distance ahead. Kuiper stops and draws his bow taking cover against a small tree. He motions for everyone to get ready. "Maybe our dinner has arrived."

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Pip takes out his crossbow, trying to hide, and motions for Jack to do the same.

Erdann similarly attempts to mask himself from sight and sound.

stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

well, I ain't the stealthiest, but at least I ain't the noisiest.

At Kuiper's motioning Faey attempts to be quiet.
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Alexander draws his longbow and prepares an arrow... what could be coming their way?

Wolfgang simply stops in his tracks and tries not to disturb the more skilled hunters. He'll help as he can, but tries to just not get in the way.

The Slice with a quick flourish returns his blades to some unknown location, and draws his crossbow, looking for an advantageous place to prop it and scanning for a target...

This is the first time many of the party have seen him without at least one blade in hand. He usually even sleeps with one.

Mechanics

Jelly too will quickly take cover hiding best he can

A grey wolf steps into view from the treeline, followed a moment later by a woman in ragged cloak and robe. Motioning for the rest of you to keep still, Kuiper cautiously advances and holds a brief conversation with her in a language none of you understand. After a few minutes, he motions for the rest of you to join him. As you do, he introduces you to the woman.

"This here is Oleanne, she is a druid, although a bit feral. She has trouble with the common tongue although I will try to translate the best that I can."

Oleanne has an extraordinary appearance. Somewhere under the dirt there's a remarkably pretty young woman (age 21), but it’s hard to tell, as her hair is long and unkempt and her clothing little more than rags. She is 5’ 5”, lightly built, with dark eyes and auburn hair. Accompanying her are two large gray wolves who growl as the group approaches.

"Those two there are Belshar and Arlin, unless you are proficient with Animal Handling I would avoid approaching them as they do bite." the ranger adds.

If you have animal handling as a proficiency then you can interact with the wolves freely without a check.

Oleanne seems agitated by something.

Picture of Oleanne

"Well met Oleanne. I'm Faey. We heard rumor back in town there was a druid woman hereabouts. I take it you know the area better than most, so I'm doubly glad to meet you. Me and my companions are looking for a young woman, and maybe you can help us find her...but before we get to that, you look as though something is troubling you? Perhaps we can help eachother?"

Alexander hangs his bow from the shoulder and walks half the distance towards the wolves. He stops there and looks Oleanne in the eyes, gesturing towards the wolves with his head, waiting for permission.

"I know how to handle myself around animals, and these are majestic wolves... but I wouldn't play with pack wolves unless their alpha allows me." he explains

Then Oleanne appearance strikes him "For the love of Mielikki... you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life. And the most lethal looking." he then says to Kuiper "Which language does she speak?... I'd like to hear her story and understand her."

Turning to Alexander....

"She speaks the druidic tongue, and has taught me some of it. However her common is not that good at all."

The woman suddenly begins to speak in a mangled common tongue "Krynen’s farmstead (just south of the young werebear in the local legends about the young werebear in the Woods do not paint me in a flattering light so he fled. I haven’t seen Jelenneth, but he took frightened, confused, and calm him, but I haven’t seen Jelenneth, but I haven’t seen Jelenneth, but I haven’t seen Jelenneth, but I have a problem of me and I saw him transform into a werebear is very frightened, confused, and northeast of the Woods do not paint me in a flattering light of the sight of me"

She then nods to Alexander as if to give permission to approach the wolves.

Kuiper tries to help by translating what Oleanne is trying to say "I haven’t seen Jelenneth, but I have a problem of my own that affects the woods. A young boy from Krynen’s farmstead (just south of the river and northeast of the Thomwood; has fled his home, and I saw him transform into a werebear in the woods. Unable to change back into his human form, the young werebear is very frightened, confused, and alone. I tried to approach and calm him, but he took fright at the sight of me and my wolves, the local legends about the Wild Woman of the Woods do not paint me in a flattering light so he fled."

He then turns to look at the group.

"I am surprised not to have heard about this for myself. From her description I can conclude that the boy must be Maxim, Krynen’s son. His father probably does not know what fate has befallen the lad and must be dreadfully worried." he states.

Turning to Alexander and pointing to the two gray wolves "The bigger one is called Belshar and his mate is Arlii"

"Well, should we try to find the boy? I feel he might feel less threatened if we hid our weapons."

"And what do we do with him? We can't take him back to the farm because the father won't know what to do. I guess we'd have to make him no longer fear the druidess."

"Here's hoping we can help at least one unfortunate today. When we find the boy I can attempt to make him sleep like the the leader of the brigands we fought. Does anyone else have similar ways to ensure he's taken alive?"

“We're having no luck with Jelenneth, but I want to find this boy," the ranger states, producing a couple of weighted nets from his backpack. He adds "If the werebear panics and attacks us then we must defend ourselves, but we must do so without hurting him. The plan to magically slumber him just might work."

"I will try to draw the creatures attacks while you try to capture him and restrain him with these nets. I have no problem capturing and restraining him and trying to talk some sense into the boy, but harming him is not acceptable." he says.

"You are not to use weapons, unless in 'self-defense', and even then you only use the flat of your blades; if you can not do this, or feel you should be paid for your effort then I can lead you no further and you are free to return to the farm." he warns.

"Oleanne will lead us to where she last saw the boy."

"So which two of you want these nets?" he ask.

"I'm pretty nimble, so I guess I could take one of them. Can you give me any tips on how to successfully throw one of them"?

Wolfgang nods, and doesn't really have anything to add.

Alexander closes with the wolves and crouches in front of them, offering a bit of jerk. "You two are really beautiful..." he says to the wolves before petting them "I think we should help the werebear kid, and I hope I'm wrong... but it may be related to Jelenneth's disappearance. One way or the other, Kuiper is right: no harm, no weapons and lots of care."

"Well, my ice ray will hurt, but I can conjure illusions to hopefully corral him without doing any harm. None of my other spells will be of use, they're mostly for use on my own person."

"I'll take a net. I've got some skill with them. Once I've used that, I've can cast a couple of illusions. Not as well as Erdann, but well enough."

Great, we have to capture a werebear without killing it. I hope it doesn't kill somebody else

"Ah, it'll be fine lad! We got several people, and the beast seems to be inexperienced. Ya never know, he might just lay down and let us capture him!"

Oleanne accompanies the party for the rest of the day, leading them to where she last saw the werebear. She seems to pass through the underbrush and trees with much ease and quickly seems to outpace the party with her wolves, she constantly has to stop her advance and wait for everyone else to catch up to her. Clearly annoyed at the groups lack of woodcraft.

As the daylight is fading, the group reaches the spot where Oleanne last spotted the werebear, near the springs where the brook begins. Kuiper finds the werebear's tracks easy enough, but it is too dark to follow them without lanterns or torches, and such artificial light would be guaranteed to drive the werebear away (besides giving it advanced warning of the party's approach.)

Kuiper therefore suggests making camp.

We make camp here! Pick up the trail at first light." he says to everyone.

"Oleanne and her pets will sleep some distance away from the rest. I will take up a spot here with the rest of you." he says while addressing the group as a whole.

Looking to Alexander and Pip "We need to set a watch. Two hour rotations. Two people to each watch. Five watches total. I will take first along with whomever wishes to accompany me."

Please lay out the five watches for me and who is on each watch.

To no one in particular, Erdann says, "I'd prefer the darkest watches, adjacent shifts would be fine."

"I'll take first watch with whoever wants to help. Erdann, you don't need to sleep normally, right? If you can help on the watches, then more of us could get a good nights sleep."

"Aye, master Pip. I'll stand-to with ya."

Alexander leaves his stuff and prepares the "bed" "Let me have first watch with Kuiper, we'll wake you up for second watch."

Pip, looks like i ninja'd you but yes it appears due to the way rests work in 5e and especially coupled with elven "trance" casters are no longer relegated to the first or last watches. and since Erdann is a drow, the watch segments in the deepest of night time are what he is best suited for. i can trance for a shift, watch two shifts, and trance for a shift and still be good.

"I'd be happy to pair up with you Erdann, for one shift at least. I need a bit more sleep, but I can pierce the night pretty well too...and if something does come about causing problems, I can light it up with faerie fire to help the others see it."

"I'm okay with whatever watch."

The Slice will take a watch if asked, but if all the watches are full he'll just stay awake through the first watch, then sleep the night away.

Night Below
Hog Branch
Current Map: Campsite Battlemap

Shortly before dawn as the last watch is almost done Erdann and Faey who happened to be awake and on watch heard one of Oleanne's wolves begin growling at something. Oleanne immediately awakes and begins looking around. Waking the camp quietly and quickly. She says some words in an unknown language to Kuiper who in turn addresses the group quickly "Bloodskull orcs are approaching, a lot of them. Prepare yourself!"

While the group could not see the orcs as of yet they could now hear them approaching from all directions. It sounded of at least a dozen or more closing in from all sides. Their grunts and primal language echoing through he treeline.

Round 1 Initiative
The Slice
Kuiper
Oleanne
Wolf #2
Alex
Wolf #1
Erdann
Wolfgang
Jelly
Pip
Faey

"Its damned orcs! Ready your weapons!" Pip says, scrambling back and readying his crossbow. If he can, he tries to kick some embers from the fire out in front of him before aiming his crossbow at where he thinks the orcs will appear from
Never liked these bastards. Tried to avoid them. This is gonna be a nightmare.