GM Michael's Falcons Hollow Chronicles

Game Master Dread

Taking the armor and sickle, Falkwyn nods at Kronk's suggestion and says, "Let's go back and get the wagons and horses, and load these men up. We've no other way to move them all. They're unconscious, not dead yet...I think. I agree, we should hurry."

Falkwyn moves to head back, then pauses and asks, "Should we leave someone here to guard them while we go?"

Just so we're clear, Falkwyn's just recovering the armor and sickle as party treasure, not laying claim to them if anyone wants them. Or can we just say we recover the caster's equipment?

I can stay with them, Cathoris offers. I’d like to look them over anyway, just to be on the safe side. Aren’t we missing one, though? He says this as he stands staring at the bodies. Not examining yet. Just looking at them, pitying them. Do you think one wondered off somewhere on his own?

Before he starts examining, he thinks to ask to the party, How are you all? Anyone injured?

How do you want to handle the heal checks? At this point, I just want to look them over and see if any are in a worse state than the rest. I might use the healing kit after. If you want to make a bunch of rolls, I’m fine with it.

no rolls. They are all 'dieing' a slow death . Each day they lose con. They are all unconscious with maybe 3-4 days before they start dieing

'I can stay here with Cathoris. Not sure how I escaped that last scrape unscathed but I'm still a bit sore from the fight with those blasted wolves. I wouldnt mind a chance to rest up and catch my breath'

Straug nudges a couple of the unconscious loggers with his boot and smiles. 'Some nights I wish I could sleep this sound, though I doubt theyll be in good shape when they wake.'

Straug starts scouting the clearing and perimeter looking for additional footprints or anything out of place in particular that might tell where the missing lumberjack got off to.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

"I'll also stand watch," Thal chimes in. "After all, those blue beasties would be more likely to come here where the ritual was happening than they would be to return to an empty camp."

Kronk starts loading the men into the wagons. The cook works silently at this point, basically just hearing what his companions have to say.

It takes several hours to go back to the camp, round up the horses and navigate back to the site with the wagons and then load up wagons.

The group begins the slow process of guiding the wagons back out to the lumber camp. Its very slow going picking ways through the forest but eventually they arrive back at the lumber camp.

how are you riding. whose in which wagon. number 1 is front. number 2 back. and is anyone walking.?

Does anyone besides Falkwyn have Handle Animal as a skill? Not sure if that's needed to control horses hitched to a wagon or not. He's good walking with his bow out or driving one of the wagons (NOT sitting in the back with the bodies), whichever the group finds to be the better option.

Kronk's only good salting and frying animals! He will be on the second wagon.

Thal has +6 to handle animals, so he could drive one of the carts, or lead it walking alongside the animal, whichever.

Ok, there's six of us. Two stay behind and two on each wagon? I know, the rule is never split up the party, but... Maybe Alexander should be one of the ones to go on the wagons and be NPC'd since he's currently out of action? Do we NEED to guard the bodies? Probably, but maybe not...

[ooc]I've advanced us past retrieving wagons and bodies and now on the road. How will you be travelling. So Falkwyn walking on point. Thallin and ? Straug? In first wagon. Cathoris and Kronk second? Alexander brining up. Rear?

Ooops. Sorry. Misread your post, then. I'm ok with that line-up. Anyone have objections?

I've advanced us past retrieving wagons and bodies and now on the road. How will you be travelling. So Falkwyn walking on point. Thallin and ? Straug? In first wagon. Cathoris and Kronk second? Alexander brining up. Rear?

Order looks good to me. Straug approves!

Alexander will take up a spot on either the 1st or 2nd wagon.

I’m trained in handle animal, but I lack charisma (+3 total). So, have at it Thal. If no one else wants to take up the rear, I will. Otherwise, I’ll ride in the cart opposite Alexander.

Falkwyn walks several yards ahead of the wagons, alert and wary, with his bow at the ready. Nineteen lives rely on us getting them back to Laurel. No pressure. But where is the twentieth? There WERE twenty at that camp, were there not?

"Mayhaps the old man was in and among the rest of the crew at the camp?" the half-elf calls back to his companions, starting in mid-thought before realizing he needed to put it in context, "Alexander said there were twenty, and I think he's right. Maybe the spellcaster had integrated himself into the group?" Otherwise, we're still missing one...

The two wagons started towards camp 2 on the trail. It would be well after dark when they arrived. The trip was uneventful with the exception of the group being tired when got there. Most the lumber camp was either asleep or heading there rapidly.

The trip there was a quiet affair just the noise from the horses and the cries of screech owls in the night, hunting.

encounter chance 20%: 1d100 ⇒ 85

push on? Or stop for night. Pro- you'll arrive in Falcons Hollow about 11 am in morning. Con-youll all have fatigued condition

What's the minimum amount of time we can rest and not be fatigued?

4 hours but no hp recovery and no spell recovery. 8 hours for those

Time for a good rest, I'd say, mates? - asked Kronk, visibly scratching his belly as if getting ready for some sleep.

'I agree boy-o! I wouldnt count on our troubles being over just yet and I want to be well rested when the next band of freaks draws steel.'

Straug looks over at the cart.

'I dont supposed theyre going anywhere and dont think getting there 8 hours later will make much difference. We should set a watch though, we dont want them forest people trying to take them back'

"I agree that a bit of rest might be our best choice. Regular watch rotation, I assume?" Thal says, deciding it's best to show up as the victorious hero looking rested and confident rather than haggard and weary.

Are we resting 4 or 8? I currently have all of my spells, so if we do 8, I can heal someone.

my understanding is 8

look at the stat block. you can add 2 to each natural healing from healing kit with bandages. you have 7 uses. so Kronk would be full Thallin would still be down 1, Straug would still be down 1, Falkwyn would be full..

My vote is for 8 hrs. Standard watch, sure.

Falkwyn makes a face at the need to stop, preferring to continue on through the night, but then he sees the faces of his wounded companions...friends, now. Aye, friends. We've been through battle together... The woodsman shakes off his displeasure and helps to set up "camp", such as it is.

Once they are stopped and settled, Cathoris checks his companion’s wounds. Seeing that Thallin is the worst off, he cast some healing on him.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

There we go, Thal. All patched up. He wraps the others wounds with the healing kit.

Used on Falkwyn, Straug, and Kronk. 4 uses left.

When he’s with Straug, Cathoris asks, Straug, you seem pretty skilled at fighting. Do you think you could teach me a thing or two? I think I might be good at it.

Under Cathoris' attention the group settles in for some much needed rest and awakens fresh and ready to go.

The concerns of Camp 2 are highly increased as 4 of their members have fallen ill during the night. Some talk occurs of you bringing this plague with you.

The only one with any remaining injuries come morning is Straug and his is just a bruise.

Rising early, Falkwyn does his best to alleviate the lumberjacks's concerns, trying to calm them down a bit and to explain the situation with the other camp's well and suggesting that perhaps the well in camp 2 be investigated.

persuasion: 1d20 ⇒ 19

The half-elf even volunteers to give the camp water supply a looking over.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Straug looks approvingly at Cathoris bandage work and nods.

'Thanks for the patch-up lad when the thrice damned fey spawn come after us next I'll pull them off you first!' He says with a laugh while twisting his torso side to side feeling out his muscles whole doing so. Almost good as new He thinks to himself.

Upon hearing Cathoris request he looks him back in the eye for a few seconds before answering.

'Well I'm not sure how good I am, maybe lucky is a better way of putting it, or maybe Angradd is just looking out for me. Either way I'm happy to show you a few things and it seems we'll be getting some practice if we keep up this line of work so would be good to have someone to spar with thats not...yknow' He thumbs over his shoulder at Kronk 'Crazy. Never seen someone swing something so big and laugh while doing it. There's no sparring with that boy just dodging or getting brained!.

Straug stands guard at the cart after this. With the locals getting restless he doesnt want anyone getting any ideas. He isnt much for conversation or diplomacy anyway.

'Cmon lads check that well and lets be off, this is getting uneasy here.'

"I'm sure I can smooth everything over by singing to them again," Thal says with a wink, reminding everyone of the Lumberjack Song he'd performed.

"But maybe it's best if we just check that well and head out," he says. Then, after a thoughtful moment, he adds, "Maybe we should load the sick on the wagon and bring them back with us? If your herb lady can figure out what's wrong, maybe she can cure them before their time runs out."

And when we get to the well...
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Falkwyn and Thallin go and peer into the well and cannot see anythiong of note.

Meanwhile the crowd of Lumberjacks though they were a bit pacified by Falkwyns words, They stand there waiting for some kind of evidence. and disgruntled voices can still be heard.

Frowning, Falkwyn says quietly to Thallin, "Thal, I don't see anything. Um...this is not probably not going to go well..."

Thal gives Falkwyn a reassuring wink and turns towards Straug calling out, "Straug, my friend, could you bring your Dwarven eyes over here to confirm you see the same thing Falkwyn and I are seeing?"

And in case he does, in fact, confirm that he sees nothing, Thal will do a quick sleight of hand to pickpocket the bundle of the stuff from the other well (which I believe Straug was carrying) and then show it to the lumberjacks explaining what it is and that it's toxic and will advise them to avoid the well and to send any of their number who show any symptoms immediately to the herbologist.

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Kronk approaches as well, trying to look at the well. Used to work nights, he was hoping he could at least pierce a little bit on the dark to help the group.

perception Kronk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Kronk comes over and looks into the well. He can see the waterline and faintly make out something below it. But not well

I... I can see something there, below the waterline... But just faintly. - he says, scratching his head.

'Blasted Hells, you guys want me to go down in the well again dont you?' Straug says with a wry smile. 'Alright boys lets get it overwith.'

Straug walks over to the well, assuming its nearby and starts shedding armor etc so he can be lowered. He keeps only a throwing axe to go down.

It doesnt take long to get Straug back down in the well where he quickly cuts loose the netted bag of black fungus, and is pulled back up. Theres no telling how many of the camp drank water since it was put there...so time is of the essence.

The camp is aghast and talk quickly spreads about Fey being the source, and you can hear grumbles like 'if its war they want...' 'lets get some payback' and more along those lines.

Distress pangs in Cathoris’ gut. Here, too? He heads to see his family and to see how they are doing. This is not good. We shouldn’t linger and longer than necessary.

You should have a rider rush to camp one to warn them about their well. Maybe we can save a few there. He says this to the head of the camp with more command than in his usual tone.

Surprised but not shocked that Straug comes up with more of the foul fungus, Falkwyn turns to the others and says, "Agreed. We need to get word to the other camp, and probably Falcon's Hollow as well. We should leave as soon as possible."

Cathoris rushes to his family farm, and finds his mother very worried. His father and the two oldest boys and the oldest girl are all unconscious...infected.

percentage chance Cathoris family infected 30%: 1d100 ⇒ 18
number of family infected d10: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Oh, sh*t. Things just got real.

Surprise and concern flood Cathoris' face as he looks over his father followed by his siblings. How long have they been like this, Mother? Did Father bring water back from the camp?

Cathoris' mother confirms getting water from the camp recently when he took some supplies there. He had gone with the other three who had taken I'll and gotten water from their well. Returning home yesterday evening. They all had taken I'll over night

Don’t worry. My friends and I are taking the others to see Laurel. She’ll get a cure, and I’ll bring it back here. Before I go, I’ll conjure up some fresh water. He does so. Then, Cathoris hugs and kisses his Mother goodbye, tears welling in his eyes. I love you, he says as he rushes out the door.

He runs back to the camp, swearing under his breathe the whole way. When he sees the others, he yells, We need to go, now! No more wasting time!

A joke on his lips, Straug sees the look in Cathoris eyes and bites his tongue. Though he's not had a family he knows of his whole life he certainly knows what its like to want one and how much he would be concerned for them if he had one. Instead he doubles efforts to get ready to get the wagon to roll out of town.

During an opportune moment he quietly says to Cathoris 'Dont worry lad, we'll get them right as rain soon enough, and then on to deal with whoever is responsible.' The last part is said with a murderous gleam in his eye.

'Lets move out lads, same marching order as before!'

The wagons pull out of the lumber camp loaded with dieing men. Heading to Falcons Hollow. It's a full days travel to get there and they are starting mid morning. The journey there is far grimmer than the journey out. All the lives in the balance has cast a shadow on the day.

It's dusk when Falcons Hollow comes in sight. Guards at the gates are talking to a couple of local farmers and you can hear snippets of the conversation. It sounds like the farmers all have loved ones who've taken I'll and are unconscious. Near the front gate is the local well....

encounter 10%: 1d100 ⇒ 76

Kronk was more silent than usual. Concerned with Cathoris and his family, the cook could only think that if it was him instead, he'd probably have stayed behind to look after his, even if he couldn't do much. Yet, he admired the will of the adept, and knew that pushing their mission and being useful could be the best way to save lives.

When the gates of 'Hallow comes into sight, Falkwyn rushes ahead and moves directly to one of the guardsmen. "We need immediate help. We've twenty men from Camp Three with us in the wagons, and they're horribly ill. Poisoned! Send someone for Laurel right away! Don't argue with me. Now!"

He then quickly moves towards the well, and if he sees anyone near it, he tries to clear them away from it.

Intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 20

* Nat20 Grin *