Monster Mashup - Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master CaveToad

Xanya could use the lesser evolution surge spell to give Cryxial Skilled (profession(sailor)) for a +8(9 with guidance), though that still wouldn't make him trained. Do we need to be trained to use it? I'll do that if Goliath is not enough.

You can take 10 except under duress situations. Also it looks like somehow knowledge nature lets you pilot ships too (??) so you guys are probably covered in any event. Only during combat or extreme weather will it come into play probably. Moving on.

The group gets the ship onto the river, and after bumbling around for a bit, gets the hang of it pretty quickly. There is only a single square sail and a rudder and some oars. Since you are going downstream, you really only need to steer it and make sure you don't crash into anything. The river is wide enough, deep enough, and the boat sits shallow enough and was more or less designed for navigation on rivers as well as seas, that you feel pretty confident steering it.

The group settles in on their boat, and takes turns steering. You are glad that you won't need to row it as you don't have near enough people required if you did have to row it.

The ship will move downstream at 120' movement rate or 12 mph and can move 24 hours a day if you take shifts*. You can cover 288 miles in a 24 hour period. It is about late afternoon by the time you finish your meeting, and get the boat in the water and on the move. By the same time the next day, Day 19, you will be on hex 1715 on the regional map. That would be about as far south as you would want to go before the 75 mile trek due east to Cliffort.

*caveat: As mentioned you can travel during the night, but given your that your darkvision doesn't even cover the distance your ship can travel in a single round, any obstacles in the river or sharp bends will basically put you in a position where you can't react in time before you crash. So, when planning if you wish to sail overnight, please consider this very significant issue. About 9 hours are too dark to sail, if you beached it during the night, you would push your arrival to hex 1715 to about noon on Day 20. Discuss among yourselves your plan.

I'm fine with resting at night as normal. We don't expect the giants to be able to travel fast without the use of the scepters and their gate. This river seems like one of the faster ways south. Once we hit land we can go back to marching chant and natures path as we were. CT Goliath will be praying a meditating while on the boat only stopping to eat and drink. He will be preparing 2 lesser restorations and the marching chant. Restorations used if he gets tired. Using the time to refocus the feats as we talked about.

"Brother, sisters. We should beach the boat at night not to risk crashing it. We will still gain time over what walking would have been. I need to focus on my training so I leave piloting of the boat to the rest of you."

Should be all Kiki if K.Nature does it :)

Kiki makes the best pilot knowledge wise, but her tiny form and difficulty seeing over the prow might provide some logistical challenges. Its a hilarious image though, particularly if everyone were lying down sleeping. 'Oh nothing to see here, just a little spiderling out for a cruise in this giant ship.' - some days I wish I had enough artistic skill to draw this stuff. I'd probably struggle with Order of the Stick level art.

Xanya got equal Knowledge Nature to Kiki. Does none of us have dancing lights to pilot in the dark? Still, resting at night sounds like the best alternative.

"Crashing the boat wouldn't be nice, so resting it is, unless we can find a way to send light ahead of us. There is a spell called dancing light. Do you know it Quassine?"

@CT Kiki has darkvision 120ft, but yes her steering the ship would be hilarious(it would probably involve creative use of rope and lots of climbing ;))

Quassine also has Darkvision 120'. However will get more done if we put to shore at night.

Quassine lifts his head as he putting away his writing materials that he used to sketch out the scepter, "I agree, let's put to shore since Kiki can not steer the ship yet but maybe we should rig it since she can see as far as I in the dark? Tonight, after my two hour rest, I will continue to work on my belt and start the handy haversack afterwards.

Are you finishing the belt tonight? We don't actually have the material for the haversack so you can't start crafting it before we get to town.
"We didn't get that much materials, did we? Are you done with all the items we planned for? If so it might be better to rush to the city. Do you have the spell or not? It can travel beyond the range of your darkvision right? Resting would be nice too I guess... Then I'll send messages to the other groups."

The lights only have a range of 150 ft thouggh and only travel 100 ft per round, so we would have to slow our travel as well.

Quassine looks at the materials inventory and what he has completed, "Tonight I will be 75% completed with the belt if we are left undisturbed and still have 500 gps worth of materials remaining that I can use for the Handy Haversack. As for Dancing Lights, I have all cantrips written in my spellbook like all wizards do. The problem with Dancing Lights is that it will draw unwanted attention while if we just use Darkvision, we can navigate in the dark without any light. Depending on the speed of the river, Darkvision should be good enough but of course if it speeds up, then there could be problems? The best color to use at night is red but red also does not shine as greatly as other colors so we would probably still be better off with Darkvision unless you all do not mind if we draw unwanted attention?"

I factored in your 120' darkvision. That is still not enough time to react to a hazard in the water or a sharp turn when your boat will travel the entire distance of your vision in seconds. Dancing lights could help, but the range isn't much better and the speed is an issue as Xanya pointed out. The boat itself is 75' long and the rudder is at the stern.

Let's just travel until nightfall then get as close to the city as possible before we hustle overland then.

Your group is able to travel a good fifty or more miles before it starts getting dark. You pull the ship to the shore and beach it, and just camp on the ship overnight, taking your typical precautions and watches.

Day 19

You wake on Day 19, today is the summer solstice and Xanya is quite excited as this evening is the Ritual of Stardust.

The ship travels downstream again and you see no sign of the giant armies, or of anyone or anything aside from normal wildlife.

You reach your destination after about 10 hours of travel and again beach the ship. It is about 4pm, you have five hours of daylight left and about 75 miles to reach Cliffort which is due east.

"We still have a few hours of light. I have the marching chant prepared so let us travel the next few hours at least under it's effects as well as natures path if Kiki has it ready. We can then break for camp as usual. We have made good time. Shall we should destroy the scepter now before we start marching if that is still the plan."

Quassine nods, "Yes, let's travel a little more across land and then break for camp. I was think we should wait until we are closer to act as a decoy just in case Cliffort is already under attack? Either or is fine with me.

We are starting to wander into the land of heavy divergence here... But assuming no one has as of yet replied to Xanya either this night or last night Xanya will send the following minor dream around 4:45 to Lotham, Goggh and Maks.

"I agree with traveling further. We haven't really done anything but sailing all day, so we should be fine walking or riding for quite a bit." She shakes her head slightly. "Tonight is the festival of stardust. It's celebrated by making giant bonefires. I wonder if the people of Cliffort celebrates it. It would be really nice to participate and celebrate it. It's a celebration of love and friendships and journies to come. Exactly what we have and are looking for. If we don't make it to the city, maybe we can make a bonefire ourselves?"

"If we do make a bonfire sister, I will prepare for war. Fires shine brightly at night and if the enemy is moving on Cliffort soon, they will be close." Quassine states preparing for the next few hours of marching.

I read CT's post as the solstice and celebration was the previous night and we did celebrate it. This is the next night but I may be confused.

Day 19 is the solstice and the evening is where the game play is currently.

Leaving your ship along the shore, Goliath begins his marching chant and Kiki casts Nature's Paths, and the group begins traveling east at a good clip (about 8mph to start with dropping to 6 once you hit the hills). As the sun gets lower in the horizon, you move forward with it at your back. After several hours of going east, it gets hillier and the travel is a bit slower. Soon, you begin to look about for a campsite and Xanya eyes the skies as the sun still lingers on the longest day of the year.

You estimate some forty miles to Cliffort yet, but that should be easily achieved on the morrow.

Sounds good

Goliath will sit all the supplies down and begin to set up camp as normal. Once things are set he goes and sits in meditation and prayer still continuing to focus his training while the others begin to celebrate the solstice.

Quassine helps set up camp, meditates like all good monks should, and goes down for his two hours so he can celebrate lightly, craft, and be on guard duty for the rest of the night once he gets up.

"Where are we now? Why did you leave that other girl to wander back into the wilds?"

@Xanya, I will note the dates and times for messaging the other groups on the night of 18 to 19 overnight.

After setting up camp Goliath hears the question from the Harpy before he retires to his praying.

"Sister Battle Harpy. We are heading back to the city of Cliffport. The fortress the army is to attack. Sister Ash was returning to our brother and sisters in following a lead to find our father and mentor. We can only hope they are successful. You should join the others in celebration of the solstice tonight. You may even enjoy yourself."

The harpy probably really only asked since much of what goes on is not understood by her, given the language barriers.

"Why celebrate the solstice? What's so special? Will there be fresh meat, if so, I may enjoy that. I am not sure I can handle more of this sitting around quietly, 'meditation' you call it."

She ponders the statement about your father and mentor. "Is he frozen in the ice?"

Quassine smiles, "Our father could be Sister Angel, however we do not know what current state he is in." He then addresses all the siblings, "I am done sketching the scepter, we should set off the scepter before we return to Cliffort."

(Add scepter schematics to inventory)

"The ritual of stardust is a sacred rite. It celebrates love, friendship and great journies to come. All things important to us that keep us happy. The world is not just about war and missions to save our father, even if those are important and takes up most of our time. We should also celebrate the nice things in life". Xanya answers the harpy and tells the others.

"I strongly disagree Quassine. If we are going to set it off, we should do it in the midst of our enemies. Kiki's idea was great. The box keeps it safe for now."

Quassine nods, "Delivery will be tricky unless certain things come to be." Quassine finishes setting up his part of camp and begins to meditate before bed.

Ninja edit, sorry

Kiki smiles at Xanya's praise

If nothing more occurs tonight, Quassine gets his two hours of sleep, and finishes his Belt of Dexterity while on guard duty. He then tries it on to see how it fits, and feels the new magical power course through him giving him an extra graceful step. He mutters to himself, "Well it looks like I will not get to the Handy Haversack until we get back to Cliffort. There I will work on the Haversack and my Tier 1 Bag of Holding pouches in my robe."

(I will update my sheet once morning comes and if uninterrupted.)

The harpy looks at Xanya, perhaps a bit incredulously. It seems as it some of the concepts Xanya is talking about seem completely foreign to the harpy. Language is still somewhat of a barrier, even if not for your group, who seems quick on the uptake for new languages, but to the harpy who sometimes struggles with complex concepts in Common.

"Ok, I will watch your ritual and see if anything special happens. Life does not have anything nice to it. You must kill for your place and fight hard to keep it from others who would take it. Every day you survive is because you fought for it or were lucky."

The harpy sits down to watch the ritual take place now that the sun has passed below the horizon.

Waiting if Xanya wants to RP through it, otherwise moving on.

Side note, the message you sent via dream Xanya, might need some rewording as it contains meta knowledge. Your characters don't know what a '2d6' is. We can abstract it to something like 'explosion'. Also only group 1 is this far in the timeline and it is table1 who is far far elsewhere and unlikely to encounter a scepter. Other groups will be updated as they reach the appropriate day. Edit: Also in looking at the message, you combined separate words into single words, which doesn't fly. You can't cheat the character limit by doing that. I think it might be better for you to just reword the entire thing.

As the group settles in for the evening, they see a light coming bobbing and weaving through the forest towards them, slowly and carefully. The group, ever wary is immediately on guard. Kiki slips into the shadows and the groups spreads out defensively slightly to prepare for an attack.

Soon enough it is apparent that not only is the light not from enemies, but from friends at that. Another group, one of the many of your siblings that joined Tolhemia from the start has been out exploring as well and have wandered into your camp as they travel.

They have been assisting the Marshal Hawke and his griffon riders and scouts in watching for the raiding parties of giants and their kin as they try to infiltrate close to Cliffort with their scepters.

There has been much discussion why they have chosen this method as there are certainly many more efficient methods available to an enemy with the magical resources to construct the scepters. Merely flying one in invisibly would be trivial to a group with flying creatures and the ability to make potions or the like.

Speculation among the Thane, his generals, Loremaster Cronin, and Hawke is all over the place as to why this method is in play. The only thing that they have come up with is that it is a distractive ploy somehow, to divert attention from the real threat.

The group ( of which Longirus is a member ) is one of many scouting to find the large army that should be approaching. So far, no massive army has been spotted. Paranoia seems to have crept in and many in Cliffort believe that no army exists whatsoever and this is some other peculiar plot. Conspiracy theories run rampant.

The group Longirus travelled with consists of Yowl, Howl, Prowl and Growl, the four gnoll brothers, as well Phistevo a skinwalker of the bat-folk. While they convey the information above, they are insistent on moving on into the night and scouting more. Longirus however decides to stay and aid the current group.

"Hail and well met cousins!" says Longirus, leaning on his staff. Hanging from the end of the staff is a brass lantern that shines incessantly.

"How goes things?"

"Things go well brother. Come join our fire. So no site of the army thus far..." He looks to the battle harpy.

"Do you know anything of their plan of attack? Have they found a subterranean tunnel or something to keep from sight?"

Quassine waves and then motions his brother to sit at the fire pit, "Well met Brother Longirus! Yes, come and join us?! And please do tell us about these rumors you have been hearing?"

"The General has many plans, and his advisors and others have powerful magic. They don't tell us these secrets though. "

The harpy peers at Longirus quizzically. "Is that thing a plant or just a costume?"

"Ha ha! I have no need for costumes friend harpy. I come in my own form and no other."

Longirus quickly seats himself next to the fire. "Unfortunately I have not heard anything more of the army beyond conjectures of its possible size and formation."

Quassine looks to the Harpy then to Longirus, "Ah yes Brother Longirus, this is a Battle Angel Harpy from the enemy forces that we granted mercy to and she has been observing us ever since. She will not give us her name yet but I call her Harpo until she gives us her name. I believe she does not trust us yet for she believes names hold power. And in some cases, she is correct. We will call her sister when she decides to follow the full path of father."

"I will contemplate this new information in my meditation. Forgive me brother. I mean not to be rude, but I am trying to focus my ability. The others will make you welcome."

Goliath retires to his meditation continuing his refocus ritual.

As Goliath settles in to meditate once again, just dropping into a deep trance, there is a clatter and a bang and a loud braying noise from within the forest.

In modern Common, the group hears "Dad'gummit, come on you flea bitten bag of bones." The braying of a mule or donkey is heard once again, and an old man stumbles into the camp site tugging hard on a very reluctant mule.

He picks himself up to find himself faced with your group spread out weapons drawn and ready to fight, already on edge.

The old man's face goes white as he sees the group arrayed before him, and his hands shaking he fumbles on his knees to grab an axe from the pack on his mule. "No, No, no! I didn't come this far to be eaten by monsters..." he mutters. "Finally hit it rich I did, and no one is gonna take it from me!"

The harpy, an arrow knocked in her bow, whispers excitedly, "Can I shoot him? He looks tough and leathery, but the animal looks tasty."

Goliath stands and shakes his head a moment and looks on. He approaches the harpy.

"That is progress at least sister. You asked without acting first. He is alone and scared by our appearance. Mules are not a very good meal either. They are tough and muscly creatures. Put down your bow, let us talk to the man."

Goliath then approaches with his hands up.

"Hail to you old man. You have stumbled upon our camp. Come enjoy our fire if you wish. Have not fear as we wish to take nothing from you. I am Goliath, Hand of Ragathiel. What is your name?"

Quassine nods, "Yes, that was very good restraint sister, lots of killing in the future so we can spare both of them until he gives us a very good reason not to." He then looks at the man, "We are monsters in appearance but we do not act like monsters. As my brother stated, please take a rest at our fire if you wish? It appear that your beast of burden also needs a rest."

"Gah! What in tarnation?!" His eyes narrow. "Is this some sort of trick? I can leave you be really."

The harpy, clearly disappointed, puts her bow down and wanders over to the man, inspecting as one might a sandwich on a plate.

"Harmless old man." Disinterested now she wanders back to the fire and crouches watching like normal.

"Ech! Your bird woman stinks of...all that is foul. Ah, put some clothes on, its undignified!"

In response to Goliath and Quassine, "So you say. Are you under some curse? You really aren't going to kill me?"

He seems to be assessing your group, and hasn't moved from his mule, who is tugging its lead strongly, its eyes rolling in fear, particularly when the harpy got close.

"I'm just trying to get to the fort. I know they told us all to get outa here weeks ago, but I had a hunch about a particular vein..."

"We are on our way to the fort. You are welcome to enjoy our fire and travel with us. The lands our not safe. This harpy was on the side of the giants. We defeated a few of their scout parties. She is not learning our ways. If you had been to the fort you would have heard of "monsters" like us helping the Thane. Come sit. So your a miner? That is fortunate you were able to find a good vein. I hope we can keep the land safe for you so that you may strike it rich."

He smiles and gives a chuckle as he invites the man to sit.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
After looking for any hints, that the man or the Mule are not what they appear to be Kiki reapears betwen the others

"we have no intention of harming you, or your animal."

"I don't think any of us is cursed, as beings with free will we were just shown a better way to live, than our kin usualy does"

As the spiderling steps into the shadows inspecting the man, he shrieks, "AHhhhhhhhhhHH...What in the land of..? You are gonna give an old man apoplexy!" He shakes and shudders but calms down. "No more surprises please. Yes, I am going to the fort with my claim. I haven't seen anything yet out here. I figure in a day or two we will make the fort."

The man ties his mule to a tree, and offloads some baggage and hooks up a feed bag to his animal, before sitting down at the fire, and taking a long hard look at all of you. "Old Nan would think I was drinkin' again if I told her this story, may she rest in peace. Its a bit sad she didn't live to see me finally strike it rich." The man chokes up a little and is silent for a bit staring into the fire.

Kiki you don't see anything strange that would indicate anything other than what he has been stating.

"You lost your wife? I am sorry for that. Perhaps you will be with her again. So what kind of vein did you find? Gems? Gold? How does the laws of the land work under the the Thane? Do you sell the claim to him? Mining seems like a lot of work for an old man. Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

Goliath sits by the fire to engage in some conversation before he gets ready to return to his meditation.

"She passed years ago stricken by the plague. I found a vein of gold, I knew I would. I was panning for years near the river and there had to be a larger source that was drawing those flecks on."

"The Thane gets his share in taxes to be certain, but out in the wilds, unclaimed finds are by rights held by those who find them, well and of course can hold on to them." He sighs. "Dagnab cave monster almost got me. When I go back, I'll give it what for though. Ain't nothing gonna stand between me and my gold! Enough to give you nightmares though."

"I don't want to seem rude but how does the Thane let you folk wander the countryside. He isn't known for tolerance of, you know, ogres and whatever..." He shifts nervously, perhaps some part of him still in shock, but maybe from fatigue or age, or what he has been through.

"Sorry to hear about your wife. Currently, our father is missing and we are looking for him at the same time we help the Thane. Perhaps you have seen him?" Quassine describes Goodwin and continues, "As for the Thane, we are not treated with the red carpet but every time we prove ourselves, we are granted more tolerance. Say, what rumors have heard regarding Thane and Cliffort? Then he looks at the mule, "Now don't take this the wrong way because we do not want to know where your claim but if we wanted to mine gold and gems, where would we go? We need gold ourselves and the Thane is not paying well for our services and we rather remain honest about how we ascertain our coin as Father Goodwin taught us."

Xanya have been busy building a huge bonefire and trying, with varying success, to get the others to sing dance with her rather than sink into meditation.

When Longirus of the Lantern Xanya jumps down from Cryxial and gets on over to him, hugging him and lifting him off the ground. The display of strength almost seeming comical. She's a very physical person, hugging and touching, not just talking. "I'm glad to have you with us, Longirus. Your light is weird, but at least it doesn't burn my skin like the sunlight does, though it might not illuminate too much in my protective darkness."

Xanya smiles at the man that walks into the camp, though her shining eyes and wild look might be hard to figure out for one not used to such. "Ah, you must be a local. Nice to meet you man. As my companions say, you don't have anything to fear from us, as long as you don't do evil deeds. You aren't going to do evil deeds, right? It sounds like you've lived in this land for a while. Maybe you can tell us more of your travels in it tonight, as well as the going ons while we travel tomorrow? Tonight is a time to celebrate travels, family and friends, the ritual of stardust, maybe you've heard of it? Like our group here, a group of close companions, certainly more than mere companions. What are these Dagnab cave monsters you talk about?"

Diplomacy with guidance: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37