Monster Mashup - Table 4 (Inactive)

Game Master CaveToad

Aury continues excitedly trying to figure out how their language works, and asks in broken speech, "Where home?"

She tries to take note of whichever one seems most engaged and open with talking to them.

You think that the concept of 'home' might be a little complex to convey. You might want to augment that with pictographs or lead up to it with other simpler concepts. Right now, you are probably limited to things you can see and point to, possibly a few ideas related to the circumstances of the battle given what they may have been talking about while you had your comprehend languages spell up, and while working with Shaeyl on linguistics.

"Hmmm, how do I explain home..." Aury mutters to herself, and thinks for a bit. She draws a picture in the sand while she thinks.

Trying to stay true to what you could realistically draw in the sand, hahaha. Assuming these goatlings have goat horns and little tails at least.

Does anybody have any ideas on how to explain 'home' or 'village'? I can't think of anything at the moment that doesn't just have other complex things haha.

Also, what time of day is it during all this?

Okay, so Hseir-shae is really hungry for some actual meat, these goatmen are dead, and lizardfolk are apt to not waste anything nature grants them. It does not stem from any evil tendency, but instead from a "nature provides" attitude. Not sure anyone will be okay with this, but it fits his character, and I think asking ahead of time is appropriate. Does anyone have problems having goat tonight?

"These goat-warriors fought very bravely, and we should treat them with respect for doing so."

I believe there is a philosophical approach that suggests eating the flesh of a sentient creature, of any race, falls under the label of uncivilized/evil.

Shaeyl points at the lean-to, or what remains of it.

Do you have shelter?

I was just curious. Just got the Monster Codex, and have been reading the cool flavor stuff on lizardfolk. Some pretty cool stuff in there for us, Sly!

I'd imagine they have enough people to transport their dead home any way

After healing those who can be helped, Sly watches the efforts to communicate. In an effort to augment the idea of home and Aury'tss' and Shaeyl's questions, he resets some of the branches they used as a shelter. He lays underneath, mocking sleep, even making exaggerated snoring noises. He comes out and points to himself and each of his companions, then to the shelter. Then he points to the goatmen, then the shelter with a questioning shrug.

"We healed them instead of killing them, Hseir. How much more respect should we show?," Sly asks sincerely.

"Also, any word from the other groups? Do we know if anyone was killed or taken prisoner?"

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Sly is not going to be okay with eating them. We can catch more fish and small game. It's probably not a good way to get their cooperation, anyway.

Cool re: Monster Codex, though you should be looking at information on dragons. ;)

As Shaeyl talks to the goatlings, trying to convey shelter to them. One of them indicates to the west, pointing in that direction.

Aury looks happy that Shaeyl figure out how to ask where they live, and says, "Wonderful! Maybe we can figure out how to talk to them better tomorrow, but I think for now we need rest. It might still be morning, but it's been a long day already."

"With all the fighting that we heard, our 'siblings' may have been taken as prisoners. We should not wait until tomorrow."

"You're right, but is it safe to follow them in our current state? If they do have them prisoner, I don't think we could fight our way out, and we can only barely talk to them."

Aury hopes Wyrwin returns soon with news from Tolhemia's group.

Just a reminder about my familiar, I'd imagine there has been enough time for him to fly to Tolhemia's camp, talk to her and inform her of the attack. I do not know how much info of 'we aren't under attack anymore' the emotional bond can feasibly portray, so just run his actions however you like.

Shaeyl was a bit fatigued from resting and spending the morning and afternoon building a lexicon with the goats. He had an area cleared of rocks with writing and crude hieroglyphs scratched out i the mud.

I think we may need to find a place where we can better prepare for a journey. This morning has shown how woefully under prepared we are.

Shaeyl looks over the group, most of them recovering from mortal and serious wounds. While the flesh may have been mended, the psychological toll was untold.

While the goats may not be as hostile, they are still an unknown. We need to consider this before we leave the relative safety of our other brothers and sisters.

"We shouldn't have to fight our way through as we have prisoners to exchange. And if not, we can earn their good will by returning our captives to them. It is the civilized thing to do. And we can find supplies and information at their settlement," Sly says with optimistic confidence.

Wyrwyn returns successfully. He reports in "Hey Aury'tss, Hi! Hi there! Hey, big fight at the big group of people. Hi! Umm, No one dead. The people say they are good. Some people will come here. Ok! Is it time to eat?"

Perfect, exactly how I imagined him acting.

"Hi Wyrwin! Everyone's alright, that's great news! Who said they were coming, what did they look like?" she responds, patting pockets to check for food to share with him out of habit, but frowns when she remembers their current situation.

"I'm sorry, not yet."

Several members from Tolhemia's camp do wander in after some time, after Wyrwin returns. They don't stay long but relate that their group had an exceptionally large battle, but suffered no fatalities. They also are working to communicate with some of the goatling captives. They move on after learning the group has things well in control and are happy to convey any communications to the other groups if you are willing. There were four gnolls in the group, Prowl, Growl, Howl and Yowl, known to be exceptional trackers and woodland survivalists. Coming from the water was Messhivia a mermaid sorceress, witch and priestess. They each return their seperate ways.

You can talk with these NPCs if you want, I don't mean to imply they appear and run off without any interaction, but that their stay would be brief as they are just checking in to get a quick report.

Grub just sort of sits around, picking at his belly button. His eyes light up for a second when he hears someone mention food, but when no food presents itself, he grumbles and plops himself down in the dirt.

"I hungry."

Aury turns to the quartet of gnolls and says, "I'm glad everyone from your group is alright! Or at least not killed. That's good! But have you heard any news from the others? We are trying to figure out how we should proceed with these creatures. We figured out how to almost talk to them and they pointed out which direction their camp is!"

Shaeyl smiled and waved, 'tis good to hear ye prevailed. It vexes me that so many of these creatures were able to live here, see us, track us, and approach us with no sign of their presence. Such abilities suggest many dangers in this new world.

Shaeyl had been searching around through several rocks until he found a couple that would work. While sitting and talking with the group from Tolhemia's camp he started knapping one of the rocks.

The gnolls respond to Aury'tss, "A separate group has gone south to check on the other camps. The fight has long since ended, as we can no longer hear the sounds of battle across the lake, so it has ended for all one way or another. Tolhemia has decided to send a contingent out to explore elsewhere and find a camp of the goatlings. We do not know much beyond that. We will be part of the scouting group. We must return soon."

Messhivia nods to Shaeyl. "They seem especially adept in these lands, with some skill at stealth. Their grace, agility and prowess as hunters is impressive. Let us hope, for Goodwin's sake that we all make it safely to civilized lands and are accepted despite our differences."

Grub's hungry. Anyone interested in seeing what can be scrounged up? Shaeyl turns the stone he had been working at over in his hands, admiring the work, it was rough, but better than a fingernail.

Shaeyl nods to Messhivia, makes sense. Still concerning that it appears they caught so many of us by complete surprise. Anyway, how's the lake? Look good for fishing?

Later Shaeyl considers his companions. I've been thinking. We need to work on our teamwork a little bit. I have an idea about how we can provide some cover to each other for the next time we find ourselves in a scuffle.

"Let me get to the forest, and I'll bring us some of the same berries from earlier. I will only be a moment."

Hseir heads over to the trees, and casts Goodberry, getting...

Berries: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

A ton of berries!

"Friends, I have had much luck gathering food! I have brought enough to feed us all today, plus one more berry."

"What was this idea you had, Shaeyl?"

Messhivia replies to Shaeyl, "Cold, I am not used to such chilly waters. There are some fish in here and crayfish. Some water fowl over there." She points to the far side of the lake.

Before we all start doing gathering, are we going to send the goatlings back, keep them with us, or follow them to their area?

"Don't forget the defeated," Sly waves a hand at the goatmen. "I don't mind cool water. And we don't want Grub getting too hungry, or we'll have a baahhhd time of it when we make for the settlement," he jokes.

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Survival: Hunting/Fishing: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Don't forget the defeated," Sly waves a hand at the goatmen. "I don't mind cool water. And we don't want Grub getting too hungry, or we'll have a baahhhd time of it when we make for the settlement," he jokes.

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[dice=Survival: Hunting/Fishing]1d20+8

Keep in mind this roll represents activity over an entire day of hunting and foraging. Food doesn't automatically appear ;)

Sly is quite confident of his hunting and foraging abilities. He begins working along the shore and into the water and has some initial success, which if continues should be bountiful.

Also keep in mind you cannot hunt and forage and also level up. You need to be just relaxing, and although one could argue fishing is pretty boring or relaxing, the type of fishing you are doing is quite a bit more interactive given your lack of proper fishing gear. We can assume this occurs after the level up portion, but will require some time before the food starts piling up.

Well, actually. Yeah, we have magically appearing food. Enough to feed us all, plus one berry, exactly. Hello, druid here? xD

"Should we just let them go? They might have attacked us, but it was probably the most benevolent reason for an attack we're going to get for a long time."

"We can look for the camp when we've had time to rest, and maybe they have had time to explain that their 'test' is over to their elders."

Wyrwin hops up and down excitedly at the notion of delicious berries. Delicious red, blue or purple berries, who knows. They're berries, they must be delicious.

Shaeyl thought for a moment, well if we decide before hand which flanks we will cover, then if combat should occur, we will know where we should be as a team to support each other.

basically talking about escape route tactics.

I am not opposed to allowing them to provide reconciliation for an unprovoked attack. We need rocks cleared, a better shelter built, and they look like hands currently idle. I'm leary of just letting them go, lest they simply go back and come back in a larger group.

Shaeyl lays down the stone axe he had been working on and starts on another rock. Ahh, thanks for the berry!

craft stone knapping?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

How many berries does it take to feed a large creature, though? Two?

Yes, two. But I rolled 7, almost max. 1 for each medium (4), and then two for you, Grub. With one for breakfast tomorrow. Probably gonna save that one for me, if we don't find anyone else that needs it.

Listening to Shaeyl, Aury responds "That seems fair!" before turning to face the group of waiting goatlings - catching another glimpse of the dead, and in one instance decapitated, goatlings.

At the sight of them, her stomach starts doing flips again, and she asks Shaeyl in a weak voice "But can you tell some of them they can carry their dead back? You're better at talking when you can't, you know, actually talk to them."

"Grubgullet, can you help me with some of the lean-tos? They're heavy." She asks the sitting ogre. To the goatlings she mimicks the word Shaeyl had used earlier, in a serious tone, "Shelter" and starts to rebuild what she can of the smaller leantos.

Grubgullet grumbles a bit as he gets back on his feat, but obediently trundles over to help Aury.

Shaeyl approaches the goatlings, Bury your dead? If they do, Shaeyl will suggest they start digging graves back under a couple of trees, down stream from where Aury and Grub work on improving the shelter.

It's possible that as we expand out into the surrounding area, that we and the others will often be returning to this area. Building semi-permanent shelters every day's hike makes a lot of sense.

"Burying the dead is seen as a waste of resources in my tribe, although I can see why it would be distasteful to the rest of the group. Luckily, nature has provided me enough food to feed us all, at least for today."

"I do believe, however, that we should continue our trek towards the mountains. Surely the other groups can handle these goat men and their tribe. Let us follow Shaeyl's suggestion, and build small shelters at the end of every day, so that we may return."

Day 2 - midday

The goatlings indicate that it is typical to create a funeral pyre for their dead. They will carry their dead back to their camp if allowed.

Shaeyl's crude axe can be of assistance in chopping down saplings or used for cutting plant matter. Aury'tss and Grubgullet work at reconstructing and cleaning up the camp. There is a lot of blood everywhere.

Sly takes on his lecturing posture and tone, one arm behind his back as he paces slowly. "We should allow them to take their dead back, it is the civilized thing to do, after all. I am not in favor of forced servitude. If they are willing to help in an effort to be conciliatory, we should welcome it. Otherwise, we are using up our attention supervising them."

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DM CaveToad: Does the morning rest allow us to finish resting & replenish our spells and such, or is it just a leveling-up thing? I don't want to assume.

It is both. You needed to complete the overnight rest so that some could get their 8 hours in. On top of that you needed some additional time to reflect on the battle and your deeds and learn from it.

Aury sighs, "I suppose you're right, but if you're sending all our help away, you have to help Grubgullet lift the heavy things!"

She tells the goatlings they can return to their camp, and continues to try to fix the camp, humming throughout. She spends her time thinking of ways they might be able to communicate with the goatlings (Share Languages) and a way to stop people from attacking them without having to hurt them. (Color Spray, Silent Image)

Do we regain health as if resting from our reflection today, or does that actually require true sleeping?

"I know just the one to help with that. And you'll barely even know he's here."

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Unseen servant when necessary. At least for simple, repetitive tasks.

Do we regain health as if resting from our reflection today, or does that actually require true sleeping?

Usually requires overnight sleep or at least bed rest, not working on a campsite. You'll reopen those wounds!

Aury spends her time in camp doing what she can to help - though gets somewhat frustrated at her complete lack of outdoors skills. The lean-to she tries to put together is wobbly, creaky and not very waterproof to boot. Eventually she resigns to looking for food in the woods close by, where she finds a few berries and nuts enough for a small meal.
Survival (Gathering): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 Is survival per person regardless of size, as the RAW suggests, or is it a medium sized meal? A bit fuzzy on how rations for smaller/larger characters work, because they often weigh like 1/4th the amount but cost the same.

Several times during the day, she returns to the campsite to drop off her paltry amounts of food, and during one stay she sits for a break.
"I already miss the library in the demiplane, and the nice warm fireplace... These little tents aren't quite the same." She pokes a lean-to with a stick, and it creaks and wobbles slightly.

"What are you going to miss most from the demiplane?" she asks the ragtag group.

After completing a simple hand axe, Shaeyl starts on another. Next he'll start working on some scrappers.

Shaeyl had spent the day directing the work around camp, helping where he can. Clearing the rocks from in front of and around their shelter to provide an area of clear footing, using those cleared rocks and logs to strength the back and sides of the shelter, and rebuilding the fire pit in front.

If Grub is able to knock over some smaller trees, he directs these to be placed in the woods, with the trunks facing the shelter, forming a rough abatis to protect the rear.

"I hate to be blunt with you, Aury, but nothing. I always felt cramped in that place. Couldn't get comfortable."

He stands up, and stretches, his powerful muscles flexing as he inhales the fresh air.

"Here, though? This place is fresh. It's open. There are so many scents to experience. That fight woke me up from a long period of inactivity. We lizardfolk get sluggish easily, and feeling the heat of battle and defeating my foes made me feel....alive again."

"No, I will not miss much."

Shaeyl is able with Grubgullet's mighty strength to get a decent shelter going. Placing larger boulders in a large ring, and stacking ones that fit you get a good sized stoned base constructed. Grubgullet is able to drag some of the larger fallen logs and is easily able to uproot or smash any smaller trees. The Evergreen boughs make decent screening material. The crude stone tools he has made make chopping up some of the brush easier and for making some sharpened sticks which can be used to spear fish.

Aury'tss looks for edible food, she is able to find enough to feed herself, mostly plant matter like plantain, chickweed, and some clover, and she catches a few crayfish by the lake.

The famished Grubgullet looks at the tiny handful of plants Aury'tss has and he almost tears up.

Sly returns from foraging on the lake to find a musing Aury'tss. "Books. Definitely books. But Hseir has a point about fresh air and sky. The cool breeze coming off the lake and the chill water are welcome reminders of the 'real' world. And I can feel how much Ghost relishes the sky for flying and hunting.b I'm guessing Wyrwin and Ptery feel similarly?"

Later, looking at the fortifications, he chuckles and asks, "Just how long are we planning to hunker down here? We have a Goodwin to find, after all."

I too miss my library. I am rather vexed that the many books I had collected are now missing, and potentially lost across the planes.

Shaeyl smiles at Sly, aye, not all of us are long in tooth. I would prefer not to continue traipsing through the forest in my knickers.

Shaeyl turns and gazes at the mountains, will goodberry help us when there are no berries to enchant? Those mountains are imposing and food will be scarce there.

He taps his spell book, we don't even have ink to share those spells that might make our journey a success.

Aury'tss sighs sadly when reminded of the library and books. "The library... I didn't have time to grab my favorite book before we left - the first thing I ever enjoyed reading. And now I bet there isn't a copy in the entire world."

"I think Wyrwin would much rather just be fed berries and seeds all day, and get fat and lazy!" She laughs when the small bird perks up at the mention of more food.

"Shaeyl is right, we aren't very prepared if we are going to continue to try northward. You three might be able to fight with your hands, but I can't, and I don't even have a bow to use! We're going to need clothing, a good amount of food, and probably some more tools. But we'll definitely work towards finding Goodwin - we can't help him if we starve to death after all."