"Agreed rest would be wise. I have a spell that will aid us in this situation, if anything tries to sneak upon us we shall know. Remember Thistle, no sneaking away from camp while my spell is set or you will set it off like last time! One person on watch should be sufficient with my magic.
Do you all believe that we may need more ability to see in the dark? Taking the spell more times will limit my offensive magic".
Gavin barely breaks his concentration from the ruins and answers his comrades while he examines the masonry.
"Yea, camp it is then. No worries Jakun, we'll make due. I will take first watch if no one minds it." With all the oddity they day brought, some alone time to decompress was much needed.
Autumn Harvest 15
The Companions settle down in a relatively sheltered corner of the ruins, arrange their watches, and pass the rest of the night and some of the morning untroubled by more than the wind through the trees and birdsong. They rise to find dawn two hours past and a brisk fall morning stretching out ahead of them down Forsaken Pass.
With the trees growing closer and paving stones soon entirely vanished, the trail soon requires Caitlyn's expertise to follow. She proves able to keep on course, though she took a few paces in the wrong direction before thinking better of it just after noon. An hour or so thereafter, the Companions find the trees falling back and the soil growing rocky. As they begin to descend on the eastern flank of the Eastwatch Mountains, they find themselves increasingly surrounded by open air, boulders, and far-leaning Ironclaw trees. Their grasping roots leave no doubt how they earned their name.
With just an hour of daylight left, the Companions reach the foot of Forsaken Pass. Before them sprawls a thick, vine-choked swamp. Rocky earth gives way to mud and standing, stagnant water. A green scum covers much of it. Here and there, ruined stonework rises from the underbrush or emerges, cloaked in vines and moss, from the murk. Nor far from where the hills finally level out, the Companions spot a pair of broken pillars.
More worryingly, as the canopy of trees folds over the Companions, Caitlyn finds an abundance of recent tracks. She estimates no more than three or four hours separate the tracks from their makers, who left not the even tread of human, elf, or dwarf but rather footprints of a distinctly scaled mien, with toes that come to a fine point.
For the record, with foraging and Thistletorp's little legs the party's overland speed is a mile an hour before terrain adjustments. Since we're handwaving the foraging, I'm not going to bother rolling. Maybe if you get tapped out and need to restock on the run.
But the path does get harder to follow through here, so I shall roll to make sure you don't get lost. That's a risk once an hour. You have about five miles of pass left, all through hills with a trail (x3/4 speed). That's equivalent to eight and three-quarters miles on even ground and so as many hours. Nine checks, DC 10.
Also sunset is at 7:38 PM.
to 11 AM
to noon
to 1 PM close one
to 2 PM
to 3 PM
to 4 PM
to 5 PM
to 6 PM
to 6:45 PM
Jakun turns to Caitlyn, "Some sort of local animal perhaps? If we are going in the right direction, we should keep on going, our time runs out..."
Caitlyn frowns as she examines the peculiar pointed toe tracks, "Possibly Jackun, but how many animals do you know of that walk on two legs? I smell trouble. One small mercy they are a few hours ahead of us. Of course that assumes there is only one group. I agree we should use the daylight but we can't keep going forever, we need to start looking for a camp. No telling what we will find at Xak Tsoroth and I'd prefer not to get there all exhausted even if we are on a tight schedule." She said the last lightly, so as not to offend.
Caitlyn starts looking for a suitable place to camp as she travels along the trail. The strange tracks play on her mind and she keeps an eye on the horizon in front and behind.
As she walks she calls out lightly to her companions, "Keep your eyes peeled, we are not entirely alone out here."
Caitlyn starts looking for a suitable place to camp as she travels along the trail. The strange tracks play on her mind and she keeps an eye on the horizon in front and behind.
[Dice=Perception] 1d20+9
[Dice=Survival] 1d20+9As she walks she calls out lightly to her companions, "Keep your eyes peeled, we are not entirely alone out here."
Caitlyn found no good prospects on the swampy ground, but pressed ahead. The other choice was to go back up the pass and losing at least a quarter of an hour both ways. The trail ended in green-slicked swamp water, but a section of firmer land began only a dozen or so yards away. A bridge made of many tied together vines crossed the distance, knotted to ironclaw trunks and adorned with slimy moss. It looked as though the rise opposite might be large enough to have a reasonable campsite.
A little way from the bridge, Caitlyn puts a hand up to stop the party. Quietly she tells them, "Don't know about you all but I really don't fancy camping in the swamp! Now there does seem to a bridge of sorts leading toooo, well I would call it an island but that's giving it airs and graces it really doesn't deserve. Anyway I suspect that's where our mystery lizard men are headed. Thing is we've no idea if they're friendly or quite how many of them there are. For all we know they are linking up with another group. So how do we want to handle this? Do we trust to luck try and talk to them or scout them out first?"
"We scout them first. t may be no coincidence that they are headed here too. The Forestmaster said we had to be here in two days, these may the foes we are racing to beat to whatever it is we are trying to get! Luckily traveling so much with Thistle it no longer alarms me to not know what the hell it is I am looking for."
"Our priority is getting there. I don't see the point of risking being discover by friend or foe. I say we keep as far from whatever laid those tracks as possible." offers Tania, visibly concerned by the possible threat.
She adds, arms akimbo: "That's why we chose to go through the forest in the first place, no?"
Can someone scout ahead, who will not get distracted, to see what the environs are like? Scout and report back. suggests the half-elf.
OOOh! I can scout ahead! !Me!! I'll do it!
Thistletorp grins and bounds off to scout.
"Uh Thistle I think Mariel meant Tania..." the Minotaur's voice trails off as it is obvious the Kender did not hear a word Jakun said as he bounds forward.
Thistletorp went forward, somehow vanishing while still on the bridge. He crossed without trouble andfound himself on a moderately-sized island that appeared empty and isolated, save for a fallen tree spanning the muck to another island beyond.
Sighing, the half-elf will wait for the kender to come back and report what he has seen.
Oooooh. Look! A fallen tree!
Thistletorp bounded over to the tree to examine it
Peep peep peep peep
Oooooh. Look! A fallen tree!
Thistletorp bounded over to the tree to examine it
[dice=perception]1d20+10
Peep peep peep peep
As he drew near, Thistletorp spotted a glint of bronze and steel in the bushes near to the fallen tree.
OOOOOH! Shiny!. Thistletorp, still keeping silent and stealthy-like, sneaks around to get a look at the shinies. It's important to stay quiet and stealthy when you're trying to see something. If you're loud or too nvisible, the thing might run away. Or, people might think you're trying to steal the thing you want to see.
Thistletorp, silent as a whisper, slipped across the soft ground and peered into the bushes. There he saw four hiding men, each with bronze scales and bare, clawed feet and hands. They had not the heads of men, but snoutlike faces, pointed ears, and curving horns like those of a ram in the place of hair. Small wings sprouted from their shoulders, folded close to their backs, and each sported a tail as long as their legs. The four bore no armor save bracers about their wrists, and each carried a short sword.
At the distant end of the the fallen tree, the kender spotted two more such foes.
Thistletorp narrowed his eyes. These guys looked bad. Very bad. Sure, they were different and he's never seen big bronze lizard men before. Well, that wasn't true, there was that one time in the first. And that other time in the swamp. And, that one time on the moon. But these were BRONZE lizard men, and he was pretty sure that the other lizard men he had met were green. Except for the ones on the moon,, those were pink.
They were definitely planning on hurting his friends. Why else would they wait like that? Well, he's show them!
Thistletorp slunk off back towards his friends to tell them everything.
Truly annoyed with the Kender, Gavin bites his tongue before he says anything he can't take back. "Gah, that Kender will be the death of us. Be ever vigilant, we know not if the source of these footprints would do us harm.
Thistletorp made it back to the others without being discovered.
"Thistle! You can't just run off like that! I know you can't help it sometimes, but you could've really caused problems for us!"
He takes a deep breath and releases. "I'm sorry, Thistletorp. I just get," he pauses to find his words, "worried, is all. I can't help but feel responsible if anything were to go," another pause, " wrong."
He chuckles, more a performance to lighten the mood than a genuine display. "Besides, I'm just jealous of your ability to be so sneaky! Big ol' guys like me can't be as sneaky as you. New game: Let's stick together. No one split up unless we say to. Deal?"
But! I found some really interesting people!! They were big lizard men and were bronze! BRONZE, Gavin. BRONZE! They're over on the island hiding with their swords drawn. I'm pretty sure they want to hurt us.. That's not very nice. We should do something to stop that
"Is that so? Can you tell us exactly where they are? If we plan this right, we could ambush our ambushers. Do you know if they've spotted us?"
Theyre here, and here and here. Thistletorp draws a rough map in the dirt to show here the lizard guys are. atheyd didn't see me, but they were waiting for someone... I think they know we're here. Maybe Tania and Incan go back in and get the drop on them while you guys come at them from the front? Then, instead of falling in to their trap, they'll be falling into ours.
"I like your thinking, Thistle! Tania, did you catch that? Caitlyn, Mariel, Jak Jak, have you any advice? It seems this may be a time to be proactive and strike while the iron is hot. If we simply engage them on equal footing, they've got us where they want us."
Caitlyn nods upon hearing the plan, and remarks, "Usually the worst thing to do with a predator is appear weak, that's when they attack." She looks Gavin in the eye and suggests, "That's exactly what we want here. The easiest way to seem weak is to appear outnumbered. Four of us might give them pause, two of us, they won't hesitate. Maybe you and I should go for a walk once Thistle and Tania are in place, with Mariel and Jackun following shortly after?"
She waits to see what Gavin thinks of this twist.
Jakun smiles at Gavin, "I can do many things my friend. The question is who wants what? My preference is to Fly and attack them from above with my offensive spells.
I can grant one of you larger size, another the ability to appear to be in a different place from where you truly are, and yet another the endurance of the bear.
This will aid the ground assault while my aerial assault is operational".
Gavin nods in agreement with Caitlyn. "A solid plan. Jak Jak, keep to the skies and assist in a way you see fit. We'll hold off, and when You and Mariel are in place, we'll have This and Tania spring the counterattack."
Jakun nods to Gavin, "Then I shall dole out spells as I see fit".
Jakun casts Displacement on Mariel.
Jakun casts Bear's Endurance on Tania.
Jakun casts Enlarge Person on Gavin.
Jakun casts Fly and Shield on himself.
"Goldmoon, it may be best if you stay in the rear".
Jakun lifts off of the ground, "Shout when you wish for me to enter the fray".
Jakun stays out of sight, behind trees in mid-air, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Goldmoon agreed to stay back, regarding the staff significantly as she did. Tania agreed to go ahead with Thistletorp.
The half-elf will prepare her mace in case there is trouble.
Jakun smiles at Gavin, "I can do many things my friend. The question is who wants what? My preference is to Fly and attack them from above with my offensive spells.
I can grant one of you larger size, another the ability to appear to be in a different place from where you truly are, and yet another the endurance of the bear.
This will aid the ground assault while my aerial assault is operational".
Yay! I like this plan! Let's do it! We need to show those no good lizard-people that they can't hurt my friends!
Thistletorp grins and draws his swords before stalking into the brush, silent and invisible as a shadow.
When he gets into position behind a lizard man, Thistletorp attacks!
+2 if during the surprise round + bewildered (-2 to AC, -4 to AC against Thistletorp)
+2 if during the surprise round + bewildered (-2 to AC, -4 to AC against Thistletorp for 1 round, but additional attacks extend by 1 round)
His blades held wide, he brings them around in quick succession, slicing and hacking at the ruffian in front of him in a devastating scissor move. His blades sink deep into the scoundrel's back, parting scaly hide like butter.
It was a good plan, and Caitlyn was impressed that Thistle had come up with it. She walked calmly forwards with Gavin awaiting the inevitable reaction from the lizard men, who would no doubt attack two puny humans. The thing about plans though, it's well known than most don't survive the first engagement unscathed and of course this one was no different...
Thistletorp had very stealthily scouted ahead, sneaking right up behind one of the fearsome looking lizardmen. Unfortunately in his excitement Thistle forgot to wait for everyone else before attacking and Caitlyn was dismayed to hear a ruckus up ahead.
"Thistle NO!" screamed Caitlyn at the top of her voice. At the time she couldn't decide if she was more surprised by Thistle forgetting the plan or by her reaction to it. A wave of fear for the little one hit her and like a wave smashing upon the rocks she was among them! Later the others told her she'd uttered a bloodcurdling warcry, but she had no memory of this. What she did remember was the arc described by the tip of her Lucerne hammer as she whipped it with tremendous force towards the back of Thistle's target. The polearm's hammer glinted in the fading light before abruptly changing color as it tore through something...
Thistletorp and Tania stalked forward, slipping between trees and bushes in absolute silence. Behind them at a fair distance, Caitlyn and Gavin walked apparently unconcerned. Mariel, Goldmoon, and Jakun hung further back still. All went well, with Tania finding a spot she liked and drawing her bow, until Thistletorp stepped on what had to be the only dry twig in the swamp. Six bronze heads swung to face him.
Seeing the plan gone, Tania loosed her shot at once. She planted an arrow in the shoulder of one of the bronze lizard-men.
Two of the lizard-men chanted and threw clawed hands out. Lines of white webbing burst from the tips of their claws, weaving in and out of one another as they spread and reached forward. The intersecting webs seize Gavin, Tania, and Thistletorp.
The other four bronze men begin longer incantations.
Caitlyn's is 18, Thistle's is 19. Average: 16.5
The party wins!
Tania gets her surprise action here, which she will use to shoot.
2 sets of Ref saves. I'm eyeballing Mariel, Goldmoon, and Jakun as too far back to be in the areas. DC 18 for the rest.
Between the two, only Caitlyn is loose. And Jakun and Mariel a round back, of course. Web rules.
And the other four begin spells that shan't finish for a while.
Jakun groans inwardly at the scream by Caitlyn, Thistle...
He flies far overhead ready to unleash his magic once he assess the battlefield below.
Gavin swats away at the webs with his sword in an attempt to cut himself free. It seems futile at first, but his perseverance proves positive.
Hey!! How'd that happen!? Thistletorp angrily stares at the stick that crunched under his boot. [b] Well.. I'll get out fo this goop anyways!
He pulls and struggles against the web, trying to find an opening he cut slip through, but he only succeeds in tangling himself up further.
I also have other abilities, but those would require a retcon, so no biggy. Thanks for the botting!
Tania curses as Thistle blows the whistle on them, but her arrow finds her mark nonetheless.
The problem is, two scalies have made them and her eyes grow wide as she sees strands of webbing hurling towards her. She manages to curl out of the first, but the second one catches flat, leaving her unable to use her bow. Cursing, she pulls at the strands to break free.
The strands give way! Now feeling a little safer, she exhales and studies the situation, slipping out of the web without problem as she was caught right on its edge.
Using the web as cover, she tries to hide behind an old rotten stump.
Caitlyn powers towards her target, but several of the lizardmen start chanting! Involuntarily she shudders, 'Spellcasters just great!' Suddenly the air is full of a great mass of sticky strands. Gritting her teeth, Caitlyn bulls on through snapping strands and kicking up great clods of dirt in her wake!