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Lux puts up her hands to protect herself from the wordst of the raven's assault, and her reflex seems to pay off. "Peace! What has gotten these birds so riled up?" she wonders out loud, flailing her arms to wards off the birds and taking a step back to get away from them.
Rather than spring into action like her companions, Lux takes a few seconds to observe. What are these birds, and why do they attack? Maybe there's some way to scare them off without having to harm them any further?
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Mingxia avoids some of the deeper cuts that would bleed freely, the cleric moves out of the swarm and sends a blast of color into birds flying overhead. The Raven screech and caw as the bright color burst around them, but otherwise seem unaffected.
Screaming Raznik hurls a flask of acid at the flock of birds as he runs away from them taking some deep cuts that bleed. The flask hits the red swarm smashing against one of the birds in mid-flight catching several birds with acid and splashing everything around them including the black swarm, Conso, Raznik, and Mirtha. The swarm seems particularly vulnerable to splash damage.
Mirtha runs away from the flock of angry ravens throwing a gout of magic fire back into the black swarm hitting a patch of birds with the flames. She avoids any deep cuts that bleed.
Lux protects herself from the deep cuts of the raven assault as she steps out of the swarm as she observes them to determine the reason for their aggression. She knows that some time birds nest together to discourage predators. Something must have disturbed their nests recently to make them attack without warning. The druid tries to calm the angry birds, but they are too hostile to listen though they no longer consider Lux a threat and won’t attack her.
Lux knows that this type of swarm is Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing and slashing weapons.
Avoiding the deep bleeding cuts, Conso draws longsword and slashes at the birds as he moves out of the swarm. He catches several more ravens with his longsword with a clean slice than expected The red swam disbands as the surviving birds have had enough.
Several raven scratch Teneb deep enough to bleed, the champion waits long enough for everyone to move before swinging his staff at the birds that fail to inflict meaningful damage followed by the half-elf’s voice booms out and shaking the Ravens with its sonic force. As several birds fall to the ground dead the rest of the flock disband as the surviving birds also have had enough and fly off.
Investigating the nest area, the ravens have collected several shiny items in their remaining nests. Most are worthless, but some of the shiny stones the birds collected are actually raw gemstones.
trees and partial footprints clearly from bipedal Medium humanoids. The nests have been disturbed and that several eggs have been destroyed and some stolen.
The river warrants investigation as it would pose an obstacle to any trade caravan passing through this area. It flows swiftly but is not too broad.
[spoiler=GM rolls]
BOT: Conso: Draw, strike, Move
to hit
Teneb: 3 dam (bleed 1 )
Raznik: 4+1 =5 dam (bleed 1)
Lux: 3 dam
Mirtha: 3+1 = 4 dam
Mingxia: 3 dam
Conso: 4+1 = 5 dam
Raven Swarm Black: +4+4+8 = 16 dam (*** dead ***)
Raven Swarm Red: +1+4+4+13 = 22 dam ( *** dead ***)
Rules for Administering First Aid to stop bleeding {link} just in case they are needed.
Rules for Persistent Damage {link}
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Lux releases a long breath of air, thankful that the skirmish hadn't lasted long. She gazes after the birds that had fled, then looks at those that lie dead on the ground. "It's a shame really. We wouldn't have harmed them, if we'd had the chance. But something had them riled up already. Probably tried to disturb their nest, causing them to defend against any intruders. We'll have to check that out later, if we have the chance."
The dwarf feels healing magic wash over her and mend all of the gashes on her arms. "My thanks to you and the Dawnflower, Mirtha," she answers with a small bow of her head and a quick gesture of her hand in thanks. She then removes a flask of ointment from her bandolier. "Anyone still have nasty wounds them won't stop bleeding? I can help." She chatters as she works. "This isn't too bad. It's nothing compared to the time when a patrol encountered a razor demon, and I had to fill in at the infirmary."
--
Once her companion's wounds have been tended to, Lux starts a more thorough survey of the surroundings. "If the caravan should rest here, it'd be good to note what kind of wildlife there is; either predators or game. I'll see what traces I can find."
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Now that Teneb has refocussed, his head is in a better space to speak to his party members
He'll turn to Raznik "I must apologise Raznik - I was thinking of self preservation, and nearly caught you with Nethys' destruction. I will do better next time."
Teneb will attempt to make it up to Raznik by also looking for a space to cross the stream.
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Mirtha uses the light of Sarenrae to heal most every one of their wounds.
Lux works to stop any remaining bleeding.
Teneb meditates for a while. Afterward, he apologies to the party for his destructive attacks.
investigating the river area:
Lux works to identify the local wildlife finding several interesting species.
Rznik climbs the trees to check out the nest, but doesn’t understand why the birds attacked. He also searches the stream for a suitable place to cross finding a nice ford that would work well for travelers.
Conso spots the signs of the nest being raided. Then takes a survey of the edible plant life finding what is suitable for draft animals and what should be avoided.
Teneb searches the stream for further crossing spaces by trial and error. He finds another area where the water is slow enough to swim across.
Mirtha questions why Sarenrae sent her on this quest feeling she out of her element.
The river warrants investigation as it would pose an obstacle to any trade caravan passing through this area. Having found ford you can work to improve it making it safer. You can continue to work in the area for as long as you like before moving on. Having multiple ways across the river shows the route is versatile.
Teneb:
Raznik: 1 dam
Lux:
Mirtha:
Mingxia:
Conso: 1 dam
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Perhaps it would be wise to map out the area first so that even we do not get lost. It may even give us a better picture of how to provide a way to cross.
Mingxia whispers a prayer to Shelyn and then tries to map out a sketch of the area.
But she was possibly better at reading maps than drawing them.
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The small goblin begins pitching stones into the river without anyone having the faintest idea why. He seems to pick out some larger ones the size of his own head. After a while, you realize that he seems to be trying to build mounds of stones to act as stepping stones across the river. He also jumps into the shallower parts of the river to move larger boulders into better position to create calmer sections where wagons could enter.
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Sarenrae, why did you send me on this quest? I don't understand your plan. I don't have any of the skills we need.
"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what I can do to help. Are we staying here? I could set up camp at least," she says, her voice trailing off.
Seeing Mirtha's plight, Teneb interjects "Before the trip is over, you'll have done something we wish we had the skills to do. You've already reversed nasty wounds, so you're a worthy companion in my book."
******
"Now, if someone can help me move some of the big stones, we can make a ford over here. The water isn't more than 5 foot deep I'd wager." Teneb hopes that someone will help him move stones, even just guiding the stones into place or collecting moss to plug the holes. Either way, he's confident he can build it if we spend the rest of the afternoon building.
******
"Phew, maybe I shouldn't have committed to making a ford. This is hard work!" he exclaims about an hour in, drenched from a mixture of freshwater and sweat.
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Lux gives a thumbs-up for his work in checking out the birds' nests. "Yep, that'll explain it. We may have to watch out for whoever - or whatever - stole those eggs."
She then makes her way over to Mingxia, meanwhile chipping in on Teneb's effort to cheer up Mirtha. "Right he is! the Venture-Captain's might make some odd choices every now and then, but the way I choose to look at it: it'll teach all of us a bit about teamwork, and it'll make each and every one of us more versatile by working with people who are so different from us."
She asks to see the Tien woman's efforts in sketching a map of the area. "I think this bit here it off," she suggests. "I went that way while following up on a rabbit trail I saw."
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As she works with Mingxia on the map, she tries to think of other ways to cross the stream. "Maybe we could even improvise a bridge, right over there? It probably won't be pretty, but it sure could work!"
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Mingxia tries to map out the area, but gets turned around creating an unsuitable map.
Raznik beings carrying stones and placing stones in the ford to improve its crossing potential.
Seeing Mirtha feels like she is unable to contribute, Teneb tries to cheer her up. Later in the day he works on improving the ford area with a few well placed rocks it becomes nearly perfect.
Conso works to help Teneb and Raznik with the ford, but he can’t improve on perfection.
Lux keeps Mingxia spirits up with kind words as she works with Mingxia to chart the terrain of the area ending with a passable map. While mapping she also spots an area for an improvised bridge.
Teneb suggests cutting some logs to help build up the ford, but it is already as safe and easy as could be.
Working over the few days investigating and exploring the river you have gathered quite a bit of helpful information and made it easy for trade caravans that would be passing through this area. Everyone has fully healed during your stay. You can continue to work to improve and investigate the area or if you feel you have done enough you can move on.
Identify local wildlife. A stream attracts many animals, including predators, but could provide a good resting place for a caravan. This is a Survival or Nature check. (success - Lux)
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Identify local plant life to see if the stream would be a good resting spot for a caravan. Pack animals are often not picky eaters and might accidentally ingest poisonous plants. This is a Nature check or a Herbalism Lore check. (success - Conso)
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Chart the terrain with a Cartography Lore or Scribing Lore check or a Crafting check. (success - Mingxia, Lux)
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Find the best place to ford the stream. This is a Nature or a Hills, Mountain or Scouting Lore check. A brave PC could also try to find a fordable spot by trial and error with an Acrobatics check. (success - Raznik, Teneb )
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Identifying a ford area, you can improve it with an Athletics check, to move boulders into better positions. (Critical success - Teneb, Conso, Raznik)
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Select a bridge location with a Craft check. (Success - Lux)
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(New) Finding a good spot for a bridge, you can try to build an improvise bridge. Doing so would require two sets of rope and a crafting check.
Teneb:
Raznik:
Lux:
Mirtha:
Mingxia:
Conso:
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Teneb points to a stump on the close side of the river. "Somewhere there should do." Now that the group are starting to work together, he's feeling a lot better about this trip through the jungle.
"You've got a real knack for the woods. Half the time I can't seem to find where you're at, but you're always around. I'd like to learn from you as we make this voyage, if you'll teach me a thing or two."
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Teneb uses his rope and starts building a simple bridge over the area Lux found. Raznik gives Teneb more rope to work with. After several hours of work cutting logs and tying them together Teneb has a solid workable bridge where travelers could cross the river.
Conso spends his day identifying local animals, but does not add significantly to Lux original notes.
Mirtha works with Conso as she replenishes her medicine kit. She isn’t able to add anything to the current notes on the animals and plants of the area.
As a group you feel you have made great progress in exploring and improving this river area making it safe for trade caravans to pass through here. There are a few improvements you could make but it would take more time and luck. You do have more to explore and a mountain to cross before your mission is complete.
Deciding it's time to move on the group breaks camp and heads up the mountain towards the snowline. It’s hard going and your rations need supliming with whatever you can forage in the wild.
After several more days of travel your group moves out of the mountain forest, crosses the tree line, and approaches the snow line. Without cover from the trees, the freezing temperatures can quickly turn deadly, lucky Calisro Benarry, leader of the Horizon Hunters faction provided you a package with cold-weather gear for each of you at the start of the mission, optionally if you can cast endure elements spell you would be safe too.
Teneb:
Raznik:
Lux:
Mirtha:
Mingxia:
Conso:
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Lux is a bit surprised to find herself in such a position where others come to her with questions. Rather than chatter it off as she usually does, she clams up. "Err, I haven't seen Ozul in a while, I should probably check on him. If you need any help with the rope bridge later, I'll be back to help. But you'll probably do fine."
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Back on the road, Lux's nerves are soon forgotten. "I think you did well on the bridge," she commends Teneb and Raznik. "That should give us some bonus points for our route, I'd say."
As they get to higher altitudes, Lux adds some furs to her hide armor, thankful for Calisro's practical planning. She continues to look out for animal signs or other natural landmarks that draw her interest.
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Teneb will be adding items from the cold-weather outfit as appropriate until he's fully wearing it.
To break up the monotony of walking, Teneb will engage in conversation "So what drew you in to becoming a pathfinder in the first place?" he asks, directed at anyone who will respond.
"I knew I was going to spend my whole life in a monastery if I didn't get out and see the world. I saw an agent speak of Calisro's aim to sail to a new continent and thought 'That's for me'. Luckily she took me under her arm, and that's why this is my first job. I hope I'll be selected for her journey later in the year."
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As the group moves up through the mountain forest to the snowline
Mirtha almost unrecognizable under the layers of clothing manages to keep up the the longer legged pathfinders and even finds a few berry patches along the way.
Wrapped tightly in her cold weather gear Mingxia slows the group down from time to time as she has trouble crossing dead fall trees, but she finds a clutch of nuts hidden by some animal.
Lux moves through the landscape with ease pointing out edible plants here and there along the way.
Teneb keeps talking to break up the monotony, unfortunately he keeps running into trees and low limbs slowing the group's progress and he can’t seem to tell an edible mushroom from a poisonous one.
Wearing the cold weather gear Conso moves through the forest with ease, but fails to forage any food for the group.
Raznik scuttles over rocks and under fallen trees like a trooper, but fails to catch the tasty groundhog that escapes into his burrow.
As a group you do well making good time traveling upward towards a wide valley that’s a clear pass over the mountain rage. You come to an area where the wind has built up layers of snow on the slope, unfortunately the bottom layers are unstable as they lie on loose scree. When disturbed it might trigger an avalanche.
In order for the group to pass safely as a group they must tread carefully.
Lux, Raznik, and Conso know from your training in survival that splitting up might make the route up the slope safer for the earlier groups and not catch everyone in the avalanche.
Lux, Raznik, Mirtha and Conso also know that tethering members of the group together might also make the climb easier.
Teneb:
Raznik:
Lux: recall nature exploration tactic
Mirtha:
Mingxia:
Conso:
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Teneb is sheepish from his struggle across the forested area, but is trying to push through for the good of the group.
"This is snow? It's very cold." he gestures as he runs the dry powder through his fingers.
"Should I be looking out for something as we climb? It's a lot of effort getting up the slope."
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Lux steps carefully on the loosely-packed snow and realizes the danger, as well as some methods of reducing the risk. However, She momentarily forgets about the group and doesn't account for the fact that not everyone shares her experience. She paces sideways, trying to find a reasonably firm bit of ground while already fumbling with her backpack for rope. As she looks up, she realizes that several of her group have already started the climb.
At first, the dwarven woman is amazed at Mingxia's skill in navigating the slope. "Well done," she calls out. She then looks over the rest of her companions, trying to gauge their skill. "I think Raznik is right, and we should divide the rest in two groups. I still have rope left that we can use." She hesitates for a moment. "Maybe me and Raznik can pair up, then Conso can lead for Mirtha and Teneb?" Don't worry, Mirtha. We'll get all of us through this pass, whatever it takes.
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Mingxia gracefully moves through the snow hardly leaving any tracks at all.
Teneb stops and looks at the snow not sure what to do.
Raznik suggests moving in two groups with ropes.
Mirtha looks at the slope with fear.
Borrowing a rope from someone else, Teneb tie Mirtha and himself together as they ascend. Mirtha’s steps cause small cracks to form in the snow, followed by Teneb heavy treading sends small rolls of snow and forms larger cracks in the snowpack.
Lux pairs up with Raznik as they make their way up the dangerous slope. Lux moves with the care of a snow leopard hardly disturbing the snow, but Raznik marches up the hill leaving noticeable breaks in the snowpack.
Knowing the snow is very close to giving way, Conso is the last to ascend the snowy slope. He does so placing each foot with care and slowly makes his way to the top without setting off the avalanche.
Moving on across the wide valley and mountain pass, you begin to descend into the trees once more. There in the woods, you spot a very large and extremely fluffy dog with a small wooden barrel attached to its thick leather collar around his neck he cocks his head and wags his tail.
Teneb:
Raznik:
Lux: recall nature exploration tactic
Mirtha:
Mingxia:
Conso:
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"You make a good point," Lux answers Teneb. "He has his preferences... Sometimes he gets along with dogs like they were from the same litter, and other times he doesn't want anything to do with them. He has a bit of a mind of his own." She studies the large fluffy dog in the distance. "It has a collar, so it seems like it's not here just on his own..."
She shivers and has to blink twice at hearing Mirtha's spell hissing in her ear. I thought Sarenrae's magic was supposed to feel pleasant, and such... She's not very adept at hiding her feeling, so a bit of her apprehension is probably plain on her face.
She orders Ozul to stay, and steps two paces forward. "Hey, big guy? Are you lost? Come here and let me take a look at you." She sits down on her haunches and spreads her arms wide. "Here!"
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Teneb is well aware that just because this isn't a wild dog, doesn't mean this interaction won't be wild.
Teneb keeps on guard, with his handcrafted staff at his side. Not a fighting stance, but keeping an eye on the surrounding trees to give Lux as much safety in her task as possible.
He'll do this from where Lux left Ozul.
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Throughout their travels so far, he's often focused his attention on Ozul, watching Lux's companion and smiling, though he hasn't approached the wolf directly. He seems also quite interested in the dog the group has discovered, but he defers to Lux's expertise. He scans the area, looking for signs of the dog's owners or anything else out of the ordinary.
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Spotting the dog, Raznik retreats into the trees and hides.
Teneb turns to Lux suggesting she befriends the dog.
Mirtha also turns to the druid when the dog appears, giving her the blessing of Sarenrae’s guidance.
Lux observes the large and extremely fluffy dog with a small wooden barrel attached to its thick leather collar and shivers as she feels Sarenrae’s magic wash over her. Taking two steps forward she tries to befriend the dog. The fluffy dog barks in a friendly manner as he wags his tail, then bounds a half dozen feet away barking again while wagging his tail.
Teneb watches closely incase the dog acts wildly.
Conso focuses his attention on Ozul and then on the surrounding area for other threats.
It’s obvious the dog is trying to get you to follow it. The dog repeats his behavior of moving forward and barking friendly until you follow it, he leads you through the forest to a cabin surrounded by old pear trees.
A half-orc hermit steps out of the cabin seeing you he calling to the dog, ” Wilbert, what have you find now?” Warry but curious the speaks to you your group ” Greetings, I’m Bark, you’ve already met Wilbert. I’ve heard there were people in the area. It’s a shame about the ravens. If you are injured I can offer healing, in any case, I would like to hear what brings you to the area perhaps over some pear schnapps. I brew it myself self and it not often we get visitors.” He invites you into the cabin.
Teneb:
Raznik:
Lux: recall nature exploration tactic
Mirtha:
Mingxia:
Conso: