"Very well, those two then, and no worries about the duration. If we need it, it shouldn't be for very long. Sorry to hear about the shortage of parchment, though... Oh, and as my friend suggests - a way to spread fire over a nearby area. We ran into a swarm of wasps earlier, and it was a difficult obstacle to overcome."
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Boudra, impatient that no one has asked what she considers the most pressing question, pushes her way to the front of the group, taps Cyrioul on the shoulder, and signs urgently, relying on him to translate:
I apologize for not speaking, but I am deaf and this is faster. Do you know the woods in these parts? We've been on the road for days and need to find somewhere to rest more permanently. Even if it's just a large cave or system of caves, anywhere that's defensible and sheltered would be good.
Cyrioul essentially slaps himself in the head for getting sidetracked. "Yes, of course..." He relays Boudra's question to the old woman. "We're a fair bit desperate at this point. Any advice you can share would be incredibly helpful."
"Hmmm. There's a tribe of troglodytes, the Children of Stone, that have a cave northeast of here. I don't think you'll want to share their shelter, though."
Sweaty and weary, the warpriest comes trundling back to the hut with a huge bundle of freshly-cut cordwood on his back. "Cedric's coming up behind, should be here soon. Troglodytes you say? Cleaning out their hole is a stomach-churning proposition, but a cave would be ideal! Cool in summer, warm in winter, very defensible...I think we should pay these "Children of Stone" a visit! Do they cause much trouble hereabouts?"
Cyrioul's nostrils almost curl up at the thought of Troglodytes, even with his limited knowledge of them. "Very well - it is at least a possibility, and perhaps it can be... thoroughly scoured."
Lily comes back with a giant pile of wood in her hands. She says,"Whats this about troglodytes? Hopefully we can reason with them in some way. At least I hope we come across more reasonable people like Veld."
She drops her wood next to the shack and smiles towards veld. She says," I wish you the best of luck. Is there anything else you need help with? I want you to be as prepared as you can be and Ill help with anything you can think of."
Veld has agreed to make some scrolls for you.
She is willing to make any first or second level scrolls for the appropriate amount of gp. It will take her a day to make a scroll, so, if you want to, and have the money available she can make scrolls with multiple copies of the spell. For instance, rather than a single scroll of burning hands for 50 gp, she could make a scroll with ten of the spell on it for 500 gp. She knows a lot of the woods, and can be a source of information, if you ask the right questions.
Perhaps one of you think of it or maybe Aubrin will mention it, but the subject of the Chernasandro Rangers comes up in conversation. Perhaps the rangers can help.
Veld will tell you where their outpost is.
The next day, as you approach, the forest grows thick here, trees pressed close together with their branches intertwined. A gloom hangs in the air. Foliage around the base of the trees is sparse, stunted by lack of sunlight. The songs of birds and noises of small animals have ceased, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the ancient woods.
You can see the building on an island with a short bridge to the mainland.
What do you do?
Lily's eyes grow wide as she looks around at the forest. She marvels at how quiet it is. Shifting about nervously she says,"Well this doesn't scream ambush at all. Nope. Not at all. Nothing at all indicates that we are about to be attacked by something.
Bree totally forgot about the rangers. The Rangers! They must be out here doing some sort of guerilla warfare against the hobgoblins... surely.
She's never been to one of their outposts before, but this isn't quite how she imagined it. Bree shakes her head. "Huh, the air sure feels still here? I can scout ahead if you guys like." "I don't see anything suspicious though."
Cedric helps Lily and Thorek make relatively short work of the wood-cutting. Afterward, he uses some of his divine magic to remove the weariness that the hard physical labor left behind.
Cedric takes his spear at puts it at the ready. "It's quiet, so hopefully that means that they're either out and about or everything's fine. I think we should just head straight up, but be ready just in case it's an ambush." He turns to Aubrin. "Are there any special signal noises that we should make as we get closer? To let anyone inside know that we're friendly? Or, for lack of correct response, alert us that there are enemies holding the outpost?"
"If these Charnasado tree-huggers are half as competent as the stories make them out to be they've known we were coming for a while. Strange, really, that they haven't contacted us before now. Maybe no one's home? I'll hail the outpost if you like."
Herds: Herd increases by 1, caring for 13 animals
Herds (Primary Care): Annis the Fletcher - Handle Animal (Take 10): 14+2+2+2+2=22
Herds (Assisting Annis): Cleo - Handle Animal (Take 10): 14-2 = 12
Herds (Assisting Annis): Clyde - Handle Animal (Take 10): 14-2 = 12
Herds (Assisting Annis): Sera - Handle Animal (Take 10): 14-2=12
Herds (Assisting Annis): Edran - Handle Animal (Take 10): 18-2 = 16
Herds (Capture): Elden - Handle Animal (Take 10): 14+2=16
Herds (Assisting Elden): Faro - Handle Animal (Take 10): 14-2 = 12
Hunting/Foraging: 9 produced by NPCs
Hunting/Foraging, Cooking (+1 bonus): Jet - Survival +5 (Take 10): 15-2 = 13
Hunting/Foraging: Baldric the Councilman - Survival +4 (Take 10): 14-2=12
Hunting/Foraging: Clidon the Trader - Survival +4 (Take 10): 14-2=12
Hunting/Foraging: Farrow the Trader - Survival +4 (Take 10): 14-2=12
Hunting/Foraging: Boudra Kellanet - Survival:
Hunting/Foraging: Caladra Swordborn - Survival:
Hunting/Foraging: Cedric Thistlewyne - Survival: 13
Hunting/Foraging: Cyrioul Fasar - Survival +2 (Take 10): 12
Hunting/Foraging: Thorek Ironspark - Survival:
Shelter: Shelter provided for 15 individuals by NPCs
Shelter (Directing Work): Aubrin the Green - Survival +7 (Take 10): 17
Shelter (Assisting Aubrin): Benn - Survival +1 (Take 10): 11
Shelter (Assisting Aubrin): Innis - Survival (Take 10): 10
Shelter (Assisting Aubrin): Mera - Survival +1 (Take 10): 11
Shelter (Assisting Aubrin): Pete - Survival (Take 10): 10
Shelter: Kining Blondbeard - Survival +5 (Take 10): 15
Shelter: Oreld - Survival +5 (Take 10): 15
Shelter: Cyrioul (Endure Elements)
Shelter: Thorek:
Shelter: Cedric (Calming Touch)
Watch
Watch 1: )
Watch 1: )
Watch 2: )
Watch 2: )
Watch 3: )
Watch 3: )
Scouting
Scouting: Bree Fairchild - Stealth:
Crafting
Crafting: Lily Moore - Craft(Alchemy): Take 10 = 16
Cyrioul ponders for a bit, then nods. "We need to keep moving, and we can't guarantee that we can come back for more later, but it's my hope that we can do so. Let's make sure that we can offset the problems generated by swarms of insects (we're sure to encounter more), and then come back when we're more secure in our footing to make the next steps. Please," he asks Veld, "prepare one scroll that is capable of casting a burst of flame ten times. We'll not only be able to use it as needed, but I'll also be able to copy it into my own spellbook for later. These coins and gems should be more than enough to cover your costs."
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When the group reaches the outpost, Cyrioul draws his wand and keeps an eye on the far side of the water.
"I'll come with you. This place seems creepy and well I'd rather we stay together than split apart,"Lily says while taking out her bow.
Bree checks the bridge for traps before sneaking over.
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Day 11
Caladra follows the others through the forest, hanging on the side of the group incase anything should try to flank the party. When they reach the outpost she moves to position herself more towards the front of the group. She makes sure to have her sword ready should anything prove to be less than friendly.
Bree carefully moves forward, listening, stepping lightly, and grimacing at every creak of the wooden bridge.
Advancing with Lily, but trying to keep his distance from Bree to avoid spoiling her stealth, Thorek moves to within 80 feet of the little island. the dwarf shouts. "We come with peaceful intentions, but we have traveled far and been through much these past days. May I approach?"
The dwarf crouches down to await an answer.
Bree notices that the trees are swarming with insects, the areas that have water in them appear to be difficult terrain, and the trail to the door of the building has webs across it.
Bree whispers back to Thorek and Lily, "Aww, man. Spiders... I hate spiders. Might want to bring Cyr up with his fancy new scroll."
With a shudder, Cyrioul pulls out the scroll and tries to stay nearby in case he has to rush forward and scorch.
"I have a bad feeling about this. We should get the others."
Boots squelching in the muck the dwarf unspools his dorn-dergar and slowly approaches the outpost.
Bree grabs a torch and lights it, moving forward.
Cedric is uncomfortable with the idea of spiders, and as he trudges forward with the group he waves the end of his long spear out in front of him to clear away the webs so that they don't get all over his arms and in his hair and everywhere else.
Bree makes sure everyone sees the webs, and so, no one is entrapped by them. This makes the ettercap on the roof of the building come out of hiding and to entangle Bree.
Additionally, two giant spiders come out of the trees to the east and west.
The ettercap climbs five feet down the side of the building, and Bree. Then it makes two . The second one hits dealing damage.
The green spider a web at Cedric, entangling him.
Cyrioul is mildly relieved when it turns out to not be a giant swarm of spiders, but the relief soon turns to mild terror - he's never seen an ettercap before, and doesn't like what he's seeing it do so far.
He steps out of the way of those on the bridge, and launches a greasy blob at the wall that the ettercap is attached to, hoping to make it fall to the ground.
Round 1
"Damn it, damn it, damn it," thinks Cedric in and endlessly repeating loop. He can feel the webbing all over and it's sticking to him and it's so disgusting.
"Erastil help me," he mutters out loud and calls upon the power of his god to get big and try to burst free from the nasty, sticky fibers. "Yeeeahhhhh!" he shouts as he flails madly at his, now much bigger, arms.
Bree's voice rises in terror. She steps back away from the fearsome creature and tries to break free of the web.
Amazingly, the adrenal rush seems to give her the strength the tear through the web. Breathing heavily she tries to recall anything she can about this creature...
but is still too scared to focus.
Round 1
Lily moves up towards the monster that entrapped her friend. Staring intently at the monster she fires an arrow.
Cyrioul produces a greasy spot on the wall. The ettercap lose it's footing.
The Red giant spider a web at Lily, entangling her.
Cedric enlarges and breaks free of the entangling webs
Lily, having sensed something was afoot, moved up next to Bree. She noticed that the place she was going to move to was filled with quicksand. Still entangled, she shoots at the ettercap, damaging it.
Bree bursts the entangling bonds on her, and then, takes a step back away from the ettercap.
Boudra moves in and casts guidance on Thorek.
As Bree tears herself free of the webs, Thorek sees an opening to strike the ettercap. Murmuring an abbreviated prayer he feels divine energy suffuse his limbs, and with Boudra's blessing enhancing his prowess he lashes out.
Round 1
"Feh," Caladra spat as she saw the large spiders seemingly swarm around them. [b]"Bigger spiders, bigger splat," she says and charges towards one, sword drawn and slashes towards the spider's beady eyes.
Caladra moves forward and misses the spider.
Thorek, using every available advantage hits the ettercap solidly
The ettercap its web at Thorek, but does not entangle him. This provokes from Thorek.
The green giant spider Caladra, him. Caladra poisoned by the spider.
Cyrioul leans over and touches Cedric on the shoulder to grant him a bit of prescience.
"Oh no you don't!"
Cyrioul enhances Cedric.
Having entangled Lily, the red spider Bree.
Lily just sighs as she realizes she walked right into quicksand....
Round 2
Cedric shrinks back to his normal size and stabs with his spear at the green spider.
Unfortunately it proves difficult to hit while simultaneously trying not to look at it.
Bree tries to swallow her fear and re-advances on the ettercap with her rapier drawn. "I hate spiders, and now I hate spider-creatures, too!"
Cedric shrinks and misses.
Bree steps up, but her rapier glances off the ettercaps hide.
Boudra again casts guidance on Thorek.
The spider takes advatage of Caladra's miss to sink its fa gs into her expossed arm. She winces as she feels it try to pump her veins with its poison. She can feel her body grow hot, she clenches her jaw tight but notices her vision start to blur before going black.
-----
Her eyes white with rage, Caladra pulls her arm free from the spider, still holding her sword in a vice-like grip. Her muscels more defined than they seemed just moments ago. She lifted her sword above her head with an ease as if she was a child again playing knight with a stick. As she crashed the blade downward with a crazed ferocity, she let out a cry that seemed to come from some crazed beast and not a guardsman of Phaendar.
The ettercap ducked Thorek's wild swing and got off its web-ball, and the dwarf feels his battle-calm start to slip--until the blessing Boudra bestows calms his mind and restores his focus. With a defiant cry in Dwarven the warpriest whips his chain at the ettercap's many-eyed head. "Jeg vil slå deg ned!"