:: Rova 24 - Mid-Morning - Bridge in the Little Chernasardo River Outpost ::
Looking over the bodies, you find an assortment of arms and armors, but none you haven't seen before. The sacks of food almost certainly came from Shoren, you recognize some of the labeling on them,
As you search the breast plate of the heavy hobgoblin, you find a note.
Lubage ainult meie jõud ületada silda, kinni võtta kõik teisedki. Kuigi see läheb teie meeskonda, peab ka alustama silla sulgemiseks väljasõidupiirkonna puhastamist. Teid tugevdatakse nädala jooksul või siis, kui teised välistantsid on valmis.
Kui teil on vaja, peate aitama grupil veelgi ida sundida Shoreni linna ja hakata koristama puud, mis on piisavalt laiad, et ulatuda jõele Phaandarini.
Allow only our forces to cross the bridge, apprehend any one else. While this is going on your squad must also begin clearing an area for an out post near the bridge. You will be reinforced in a week or so once other outposts are complete.
If needed, you must help the group further east subdue the town of Shoren and begin harvesting trees large enough to span the river at Phaendar.
Here's a list with quantities.
Cold Weather Tents 2
Food, assorted 564 lbs
Mwk Scimitar 1
Mwk Light Crossbow 1
crossbow bolts 87
MWK Breastplate 1
Pickaxe, axe, shovels 2 of each
Longswords 2
Longbows 2
Composite long bow (+2 str) 1
mwk battle axe 1
hand axe 1
arrows 75
padded armor 1
studded leather armor 2
light steel shield 2
Alezandu takes 32 of the hobgoblins' arrows, replenishing his quiver. He nods to Falcon's idea of leaving a cache of supplies and waits for Claustipher to translate the note.
That is an excellent point Falcon. let's stash the food and tents somewhere they won't be taken and come back for them on our way back. I will help.
Elyas will aid in gathering the food stuffs and hanging them from a tree.
I guess it make sense to leave a cache we want to travel light and move fast," Daniil agreed.
Olivia will help with stashing the food and wait for everyone to be ready.
Alezandu begins pacing worriedly as Claustipher reads the note. "Not good... the hobgoblins are evidently here to stay. I don't think that changes our short term plans though."
"This is most distressing. It is possible we will walk right into the reinforcements or worse could get trapped behind the lines. I cannot really carry any more but we should bring extra food."
He looks around and once again thinks how much easier this would have been even ten years ago.
Elyas helps move food into a secured spot, but takes as much as he can carry from the stockpile.
We may have need of this food during our trip to the outpost, or we may have trouble getting back to our stash. if you can, take a bit with you
He turns to Claustipher who is talking about the note he found.
what did it say Claus?
"This really points to a detailed takeover of the area. They are going to take prisoners, build outposts and reinforce. All would be bad for the current folks in the area."
Solace would take 50 lbs of the food and then help make sure that whatever isn't taken is secured, hanging from trees above bear height.
:: Rova 24 - Noonish - Bridge in the Little Chernasardo River Outpost ::
Deciding to store the food somewhere to be picked up later, the group roughly disassembles the tents and drags them and the food about 100 feet away. Once there, the group hoists the food up into some trees and covers their trail, hoping that the food won't be found.
.
:: Rova 24 - Evening - Edge of ::
Having done what you can to secure the supplies, the group heads onward down the river. The afternoon starts as a trip through the forest along the river, but slowly lets out into open parkland for a bit. The temperature and breeze are perfect for this kind of excursion, and if it were a normal day the hike would likely be pleasant.
As late afternoon approaches so does another stand of trees, the last vestiges of the Fangwood before truly open area runs to the Marideth. The group pushes onward into the trees towards the Charnasardo outpost, but it quickly becomes apparent that it will be truly night fall in the forest by the time you can arrive there.
.
Foraged food for the day = 390 lbs
Foraged water for the day = 39 gal
If the camp had not given food to the party and to the scouts they would have increased their stock pile today.
[dice=Aubrin "Abby" the Green]1d20+7[/dice]
"I think we should keep going," says Ian, though he wipes his face of sweat. "When we find the Rangers, we can rest with them... I bet it would be safer. Right?"
He hums, concentrates, and summons a little ball of light in his hands to illuminate the group in the fading daylight. "It's just a little push, right? We can do it!"
"I really want to end the journey today rather than tomorrow morning. But I also don't like the idea of walking with a lightsource showing our location to every hobgoblin in the woods...Solace, could you guide us in the dark? Its not like we would go any slower considering how slow I already am..."
Ian blinks. "You'd rather us all be blind than risk a light?"
It's risky to push on in the dark, but so is sleeping out in the open when we know there are hobgoblins about. Hopefully the rangers can put us up for the night.
Even if the outpost has fallen, we can fight through disk and have a fortified position to sleep
"Push on," Daniil responded wearily. "Solace leading is a good idea and we can put up some light if we encounter some gobo's."
Olivia answers.
"The hobgoblins can see in the dark farther than our lights can reach, so they can easily stay out of the light and we'll be blind regardless. However, there is still a limit to how far they can see, and if we stay in the dark there is a chance they won't find us."
"I'm will to lead if you are all ok with this. Though some should have some means of light at hand in case we are attacked anyways."
Falcon is quite tired after the day’s exertions, but if the others want to press ahead, he’s game.
At the decision to keep going Claustipher winces but will not complain though he does mumble a bit.
"Foolish really to stumble around in the dark but youth much rush. I will certinally be worse for this."
Alezandu nods his assent to those who suggest pushing on. "The dark really won't be that much of a problem. We should be able to get to the outpost before the sun sets, and even after that if there's enough moonlight we should be fine. It's probably better to avoid any lights unless we're actually attacked."
As before he scouts ahead of the party as they move, wary of an ambush.
:: Rova 24 - Sunset - Edge of the Ranger Outpost::
The efforts of the march are too much for most of the group. While Olivia, Elyas, and Alezandu appear in okay shape, the rest of the group is fatigued from the march.
The group pushes on towards the outpost and sunset. After a bit more than an hour of travel through the steadily darkening woods, the group comes to a small bridge going over a small pool of water. All the water in the area looks about only 4-5 inches deep.
On the far side of the bridge, on a rise of land in the shallow water, the group can see a sturdy looking tree house about 20 feet off the ground.
Falcon is huffing and puffing by the time they come upon the tree house. He motions for folks to be still and trains his ears on the clearing ahead.
Ian huffs, not having gone on a real hike in a long time. Taking a deep breath, he squints in the dim light towards the treehouse. "I'll... go... with... Falcon and Alezandu," he says, heaving between words. "Take...a...look...quietly."
Exhausted Daniil is grateful when Falcon motions the group to stop. With his hands on his knees he tried to hear the sounds the early morning forest was making over his own labored breathing.
This is quite the trek. Would have been better for me to wait but here we are.
"I need a little sit down. You folks go on ahead."
Alezandu stops as well and motions for everyone to be quiet. He draws his bow and looks intently for anything abnormal about the treehouse or its surroundings.
:: Rova 24 - Sunset - Edge of the Ranger Outpost::
As the group stops to investigate the outpost, you notice that it is completely silent. No birds, squirrels or other small forest creatures make any noise and no movement can be seen.
From the actual outpost, there is no light, no sound, nor sign of inhabitants. That is kind of what you would expect of the Chernasardo Ranger's though.
What do you guys think? Should we announce ourselves and approach, or should we go cautiously in case the hobgoblins got here before us?
Elyas will hold his sword at the ready, but at his side for now. He doesn't see well in the dark, but also doesn't attack at range, so he can be up front.
"Best be cautious we don't know what we might find," Daniil cautioned.
Olivia ponders for a while.
"I think a few of us should anounce themselves for the rangers while others say hidden behind them in case of hobgoblins."
"I agree with Olivia," Alezandu states. "I'll hide and cover whoever wants to approach."
Quietly, he creeps off the side of the trail to behind a tree trunk and peers around it towards the outpost, bow at the ready.
Ian goes with Alezandu. He doesn't really agree with the plan, but... they're adults, so he kind of has to go along with what they want.
Olivia takes the time to equip her shield and then waits for the others to hide before walking towards the outpost.
Elyas walks alongside Olivia, sword down but ready as several of the companions take up positions in the bushes
Daniil slinks over to bush drawing an arrow as his companions approached the lodge.
Solace moves up with the others who are approaching in the open, bow in hand.
Falcon makes his way forwards with the main group, standing in front to shield the others from archer fire from the outpost.
"Everybody make sure you don't look like a hobgoblin," he whispers to the others.
:: Rova 24 - Sunset - Approaching the Ranger Outpost::
The group splits into four. Claustipher ducks into the bushes nearby, while Ian and Alezandu sneak over to a large tree to hide behind.
As the main group moves forward towards the bridge, Falcon suddenly feels caught and Elyas can see a giant sheet of webbing slung between two trees. Elyas feels a bit lucky as he almost walked into it himself.
At nearly the same time, Daniil pulls up short of where he wanted to go. Getting close to it, Daniil realizes that the pool of water he almost walked through is actually quicksand. A quick glance at the rest of the watery areas, and he realizes that pretty much all the watery areas are probably the same.
The Chernasardo Ranger outpost was most likely placed here to take advantage of the natural defenses the quick sand provides.
In all the confusion, three creatures repel down from the trees on a strand of web. To right, two giant spiders softly touch down by the group. On the far side of the web, a humanoid figure with the head of a spider and large claws touches down. In a voice oddly accented with clicks it says, "Feast, my pretties. I shall have them all to play with soon."
Claustipher recognizes the creature as an Ettercap. They can earn the right to command hordes of spiders of all shapes and sizes if they grow powerful enough, are poisonous, and very effective at using traps.
Seeing Ian off to its side, the Ettercap fires a web net at him. The tree helps I an out though, and the web hits it instead.
Ian and Alezandu can hear motion in the tree branches above them, but can't make out any shapes.
"Beware the ground is covered in quicksand," Daniil yelled as he released an arrow at the Spideheaded creature.
Not sure what mechanic you want to get free, so I just rolled. That would be a strength check or 20, an Escape Artist of 18 and a CMB of 22.
If that works, his move action is to move ten feet east.
Unsurprised by the ambush but rather confused by the creatures launching it, Alezandu whirls to his right, steps away from the tree, and fires a pair of arrows at the closer spider.
1d20
Not sure what mechanic you want to get free, so I just rolled. That would be a strength check or 20, an Escape Artist of 18 and a CMB of 22.
If that works, his move action is to move ten feet east.