The party prepares to leave the cave.
Ugly Cute heads straight for Willowshore "Too late" he mutters "Too late. Again."
But just as they are about to leave, there is a CRASH sound, and Pick yelps out "Oh, right!" he says as the party crosses the breach to the outside "I can't leave!" he stands just inside the cave "I forgot I am cursed to remain here"
After a few creative trials, the party soon confirms the skeleton's words - his "body" is physically unable to leave the cave, kept in bay by some magical force!
Some consequence related to his "first" death traps him here. It would take some kind of Ritual to break the spell. Perhaps something researchable with some Downtime.
Pick is stuck until such as he is magically broken free!
And so, the party has no choice but to move along without Pick "Don't forget about me!" he says, scratching his parietal bone with his distal phalanges.
"You may be restrained to this cavern by the circumstances of your death. We will return and do what it takes to restore your memory." Sigurd turns to Pick.
Ugly Cute's parting words are not reassuring. Sigurd keeps quiet.
"What will we do when we return to the camp?"
"Sorry you're stuck here, Pick. Maybe in the future we can find a way to get you out, but, we have a town to save. Take care, friend."
Kazuki scans the landscape for familiar landmarks with Auntie to help lead the group back to the lumber camp.
"Why does it all look so different now?" Kazuki scratches his head in puzzlement.
Nethys has many mysteries to solve problems. Let me do some reading in town and we'll figure something out. Maybe I'll get Jubei thinking about it while we're out and about.
He turns to Kazuki and Auntie Wu.
Lead on navigators!
|
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Auntie Wu is beyond grateful that Pick cannot join the group, though she keeps her face stonily stoic to hide her feelings. When Sigurd promises to return to help Pick, she can't help but think: Will we? Don't be so sure.
She steps out of the cave and begins to search for the way back to the lumber camp.
Kazuki's heart races as the party follows him back north through 10 miles of rocky badlands, dry plains, and finally rough forest...
...the party arrives at the Lumber Camp after sundown, and decide what they will do next...
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The party returns once again to the Lumber Camp to stay the night in the Warehouse...
Night Watch Order
1st Watch (2hrs) @ Sigurd
2nd Watch (2hrs) @ Vekka
3rd Watch (2hrs) @ Auntie Wu
4th Watch (2hrs) @ Lan
5th Watch (2hrs) @ Kazuki
Best of Perception, Stealth or Survival - I will roll for you.
CS ➤ 0 rolls for Random Encounter
S ➤ 1 roll for Random Encounter; if results in an Encounter, Watcher gets 1 free round to act!
F ➤ 2 rolls for Random Encounter
CF ➤ 5 rolls for Random Encounter; if results in a Hostile Encounter, enemy starts with 1 free round to act (or similar advantage)!
The current Random Encounter chance is 20% (per "roll") in the Hinterlands
...it happens just before the end of Kazuki's Watch!
(Incredible Initiative, Seasonal Boon)
Sigurd removes his armor and keeps his katana close as he falls asleep, hoping to help Pick find rest and put an end to these accursed no-faced ghosts. What did Ugly Cute mean, exactly?
Worried about his mother, Kazuki paces worriedly near the entrance while on watch duty. Once in a while, he peers out the wide door and looks for any approaching dangers. He strolls back towards the center of the building, then turns and paces towards the entrance again. He looks up at the starry night sky, making a wish that he will find his mother.
A soft gaggle of haunting squeals gets the ranger's attention...
...and maybe those amid the party!
Please make a Perception DC 15 check to wake up as (◇) at the top of next round.
If you succeed, please also make a Will save vs Fear DC 12!
Fail?
You are frightened 1, or 2 on a critical failure!
You all begin the encounter prone and with weapons stowed.
You begin the encounter standing and with weapons of choice.
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Sigurd feels a great amound of responsibility weight upon him. Ugly Cute is alive, or active for now. Pick is cursed to remain in his cave. And what of Kazuki's mother? What of the two they couldn't rescue?
As he gazes upon Kolphanir, she holds him fast with one wing and points up, towards the rising sun. Or is it the encroaching moon?
He shudders with confusion as something rouses him awake!
Vekka does not wake up and continues snoring.
Hearing a sound to the south, Kazuki lets out a loud owl's hoot to alert his companions as he moves to the side of the breech in the southern wall.
With bow in hand, he peers out and scans the area for dangers. If he sees anything, he tries to identify whatever it is.
Vekka's snoring wakes up Sigurd and Auntie Wu!
Ahead, Kazuki easily spots several Phantom Boars!
They are heading towards the Warehouse!
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Although they are quite far, Kazuki takes a pot shot, aiming for the center of the pack as they charge in. He hopes to hit at least one of the foul beasts.
He hears the arrow tear through leaves on trees far away as it soars into the distance.
whiff
The ranger's arrow flies far wide - the Phantom Boars descends upon the campsite - Sigurd (and maybe Lan) stir from their rest - the ranger nocks another arrow!
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SQUEALS IN THE EARLY LIGHT!
Reactions: Unready (ambush)
Lighting: Dim Light (Creatures are Concealed to you unless you have low-light vision or darkvision)
Concealment: Upon declaring a target (not an area) to Strike or Cast, spend the actions, then roll DC 5 flat check or they are lost (you lose your target in the darkness)
Asleep?: At the end of the round, if you are asleep this round, you will get another check to wake (but auto-awake if struck!)
Kick someone Sleeping: You may Interact (◆) to kick adjacent ally to give them another check to wake for next round (in addition to end of round check, if still needed)
Monster ID: Nature or Religion to Identify as (◆) vs DC 16 (ask a question!)
31: Kazuki w/ normal vision @ awake, armored, longbow
26: Vekka @ asleep, prone, weapons / shields stowed, unarmored
24: Ho Lan @ asleep, prone, weapons / shields stowed, unarmored
22: Sigurd @ awake, prone, weapons / shields stowed, unarmored
20: White Phantom Boar (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
20: Auntie Wu @ awake, prone, weapons / shields stowed, unarmored
18: Purple (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
15: Black (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
15: Red (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
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vs DC 15
"Zzz ... need ... beauty ... sleep ..."
Sigurd stands up.
And then rouses Lan and Vekka from their sleep.
"Be alert! Kazuki has spotted... squealing?"
Vulnerable to Kindness!
Any creature within 30 feet that the phantom can see and hear can issue a calm and friendly greeting to it as a two-action activity (◆◆) with the auditory, concentrate, linguistic, and mental traits. A creature greeting the phantom in this manner must attempt a Diplomacy check.
Critical Success ➤ The phantom takes 4d8 mental damage and is stunned 1.
Success ➤ The phantom takes 2d8 mental damage.
Failure ➤ The phantom takes 1d8 mental damage.
Critical Failure ➤ The phantom is unaffected, and is not affected by this weakness for 1 round.
Sigurd kicks you.
Go ahead and make a Perception check to wake for next round!
Followed by a Will save immediately!
Kazuki has heard tales of these phantom creatures. He calls out to his friends to say nice things to the creatures.
"Call out calm and friendly greetings to them. Seriously! I'm not lying!"
He tries to calm the closest creature.
"Nice, creature. You're a good boy, aren't you? Does pretty boar want a treat for being a good boy?"
He then pulls back towards the north wall.
Kazuki calms the closest boar - it recoils in pain!
White boar charges!
Vekka's back feels stiff. Time to turn over to his side during this sleep. That should get him through the night...
Yup, just takes the feathery padding on his other side to maintain sleeping comfort.
vs DC 15
Lan wakes up!
vs DC 12
Lan starts to rise… ...Vekka continues to snore…
Kazuki finds himself surrounded by Phantom Boars!
Purple Phantom Boar
◆) Stride
◆◆) Strike x2
Black Phantom Boar
◆) Stride
◆◆) Strike x2
Red Phantom Boar
◆) Stride
◆◆) Strike x2
Only the last boar manages to gouge the ranger with it's phantom tusk!
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SQUEALS IN THE EARLY LIGHT!
Reactions: Unready (ambush)
Lighting: Dim Light (Creatures are Concealed to you unless you have low-light vision or darkvision)
Concealment: Upon declaring a target (not an area) to Strike or Cast, spend the actions, then roll DC 5 flat check or they are lost (you lose your target in the darkness)
Asleep?: At the end of the round, if you are asleep this round, you will get another check to wake (but auto-awake if struck!)
Kick someone Sleeping: You may Interact (◆) to kick adjacent ally to give them another check to wake for next round (in addition to end of round check, if still needed)
Monster ID: Nature or Religion to Identify as (◆) vs rare DC 16 / 21 (ask a question!)
Special Monster "Kindness" Weakness: Diplomacy check (◆◆) vs DC 18 for mental damage plus possible stun.
Kazuki (AC 20, armored) w/ normal vision @ awake, w/ longbow @ -9 tusk
Vekka (AC 19-2, unarmored) @ asleep, prone, weapons / shields stowed
Ho Lan (AC 18, unarmored) @ prone, weapons / shields stowed
Sigurd (AC 20-3, unarmored) @ weapons / shields stowed
White Phantom Boar (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
Auntie Wu (AC 18-1) @ unarmored, w/ shield
Purple (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
Black (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
Red (AC ??, HP ??, Speed 40)
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Lan wakes up with a jolt, leaping to his feet ◆.
Almost reflexively, rays of fire spring from his hands, flying towards the two closest boars
◆
◆
"Can someone wake up Vekka?" Sigurd rushes off towards the Kazuki, already surrounded. "Kazuki, get behind me!"
He faces the boar in Black. Kazuki's advice is unexpected, but... "Please. Be at peace. We mean you no harm. We will repel the awful entity ruining this village."
Maybe I should have retrieved my shield first!
Lan's flames whizz by Black Boar, but Purple Boar goes up in smoke!
Sigurd's calming words disturb the spirit!
the boar's face suddenly contorts, it's eyes white, droning, but it's voice clear!
it starts laughing - low-pitched, multi-cordent, evil laughter!
- 100 times over - root out the disturbers..." the voice quickly fades out, losing volume rapidly...
...the creature then seems to "revert" to being just a phantom boar once more...
Kazuki grunts in pain and nearly doubles over as his upper thigh near his groin is badly lacerated by the phantom boar's ghostly tusk.
"GAH!!! You just barely missed my egg roll, you son of a bit¢#!"
He quickly swaps his blade for his bow and slashes at the creature with the red tint...
Hearing the beast's warning, he then heeds Sigur's call and quickly limps in pain backwards to get behind his teammate.
Kazuki's slash cuts right through air!
He scans the field for a new Prey
All the remaining boars squeal with Furious Anger!
White Phantom Boar keeps stride with him - but runs into Sigurd instead - and attacks with viscous tusks!
White Phantom Boar
◆◆) Boar's Charge
◆) Strike
Clobbering him nearly to the ground!
➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤
...Vekka continues to snore…
➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤
SQUEALS IN THE EARLY LIGHT!
Reactions: Unready (ambush)
Lighting: Dim Light (Creatures are Concealed to you unless you have low-light vision or darkvision)
Concealment: Upon declaring a target (not an area) to Strike or Cast, spend the actions, then roll DC 5 flat check or they are lost (you lose your target in the darkness)
Asleep?: At the end of the round, if you are asleep this round, you will get another check to wake (but auto-awake if struck!)
Kick someone Sleeping: You may Interact (◆) to kick adjacent ally to give them another check to wake for next round (in addition to end of round check, if still needed)
Monster ID: Nature or Religion to Identify as (◆) vs rare DC 16 / 21 (ask a question!)
Special Monster "Kindness" Weakness: Diplomacy (◆◆) to Calm Phantom @ 1d8 (F) / 2d8 (S) / 4d8 (CS) mental damage and is stunned 1 (CS)
Kazuki (AC 20, armored) w/ normal vision @ awake, w/ longbow @ -9 tusk
Vekka (AC 19-2, unarmored) @ asleep, prone, weapons / shields stowed
Ho Lan (AC 18, unarmored) @ prone, weapons / shields stowed
Sigurd (AC 20-3, unarmored) @ weapons / shields stowed @ -15
White Phantom Boar (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
Auntie Wu (AC 18-1, unarmored) w/ shield
Black (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
Red (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
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Vekka stirs! One leg kicks up for a moment and begins to flex up and down as if he might wake...
Then he turns over to the other side and settles back into sleep.
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This can't be real. It can't be happening. Auntie Wu has felt this way too much since the Reenactment Festival. But Kazuki's advice seems to be working, bizarre as it is. She might as well try it. "Hello sweet boars! It's a lovely night. Did you smell the truffles in the clearing a short ways west of here?"
As she speaks, she gives Vekka a swift kick. "Wake up, you boulder! There's danger!"
"What?" Is all Sigurd can muster before the boar's tusks find their mark.
Did someone send these spirits? Perhaps the One Beyond the Wall that Ugly Cute referred to.
As Vekka turns over to snore some more, he receives another kick from a teamate!
Black Phantom Boar
◆◆) Boar's Charge
◆) Strike
Red Phantom Boar
◆◆) Boar's Charge
◆) Strike
Sigurd suffers two more devestating blows as the Phantom Boars dogpile on him!
➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤
SQUEALS IN THE EARLY LIGHT!
Reactions: Unready (ambush)
Lighting: Dim Light (Creatures are Concealed to you unless you have low-light vision or darkvision)
Concealment: Upon declaring a target (not an area) to Strike or Cast, spend the actions, then roll DC 5 flat check or they are lost (you lose your target in the darkness)
Asleep?: At the end of the round, if you are asleep this round, you will get another check to wake (but auto-awake if struck!)
Kick someone Sleeping: You may Interact (◆) to kick adjacent ally to give them another check to wake for next round (in addition to end of round check, if still needed)
Monster ID: Nature or Religion to Identify as (◆) vs rare DC 16 / 21 (ask a question!)
Special Monster "Kindness" Weakness: Diplomacy (◆◆) to Calm Phantom @ 1d8 (F) / 2d8 (S) / 4d8 (CS) mental damage and is stunned 1 (CS)
Kazuki (AC 20, armored) w/ normal vision @ awake, w/ longbow @ -9 tusk
??Vekka (AC 19-2, unarmored) @ asleep, prone, weapons / shields stowed??
Ho Lan (AC 18, unarmored) @ prone, weapons / shields stowed
Sigurd (AC 20-3, unarmored) @ weapons / shields stowed @ -31
White Phantom Boar (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
Auntie Wu (AC 18-1, unarmored) w/ shield
Black (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
Red (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
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Sigurd feels more tears across his midsection.
Good, they're focused on me. I wish I had my armor on!
But I will have to stall for more time.
He asks the god of the sun to heal his wounds.
Then he calls upon his Foremother for divine protection. "Kolphanir, please lend me your aid."
A magical shield appears in front of him, shaped like the sun itself.
Vekka awaks with a violent start, feet bracing against the ground after a sleepy kick.
Sitting up he feels around for his sword.
He jogs over to catch up with his friends fighting off what look like... phantom boars?
Do we all share the same dream now? Or perhaps nightmare.
Sigurd fills his body with divine energy and surrounds it with wards!
Auntie Wu's stiff kick rouses the sleepy bird - he grabs his katana and races into action!
She is unable to effectively target Black Boar with her Kindness attack - unsure which is Sigurd and which is the boar, her eyes groggy...
➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤
SQUEALS IN THE EARLY LIGHT!
Lighting: Dim Light (Creatures are Concealed to you unless you have low-light vision or darkvision)
Concealment: Upon declaring a target (not an area) to Strike or Cast, spend the actions, then roll DC 5 flat check or they are lost (you lose your target in the darkness)
Monster ID: Nature or Religion to Identify as (◆) vs rare DC 16 / 21 (ask a question!)
Special Monster "Kindness" Weakness: Diplomacy (◆◆) to Calm Phantom @ 1d8 (F) / 2d8 (S) / 4d8 (CS) mental damage and is stunned 1 (CS)
Kazuki (AC 20, armored) w/ normal vision @ awake, w/ longbow @ -9
Vekka (AC 19-2, unarmored) w/ katana
Ho Lan (AC 18, unarmored) @ prone, weapons / shields stowed
Sigurd (AC 20-3, unarmored) @ weapons / shields stowed @ -9 w/ magic shield
White Phantom Boar (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
Auntie Wu (AC 18-1, unarmored) w/ shield
Black (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
Red (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4, Will 18, Speed 40)
➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤
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"I'll get 'em with arrows from the other side!"
Kazuki hustles around the backside of the large cage, passing Lan and Auntie on his way. The large laceration in his thigh soaks his trousers with blood.
He stops on the south side of the cage and quickly swaps his blade for his trusty bow.
Lan continues lashing out with fire. ◆◆◆ Scorching Ray
Lan smokes Black, singes White
Kazuki goes the long way around, opening space through the bottleneck.
White Boar - frustrated as being blocked by Sigurd, goes around to try and chase Lan - but runs into Kazuki!
White Phantom Boar
◆◆) Boar's Charge
◆) Strike
Slamming into him hard!
➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤
SQUEALS IN THE EARLY LIGHT!
Lighting: Dim Light (Creatures are Concealed to you unless you have low-light vision or darkvision)
Concealment: Upon declaring a target (not an area) to Strike or Cast, spend the actions, then roll DC 5 flat check or they are lost (you lose your target in the darkness)
Monster ID: Nature or Religion to Identify as (◆) vs rare DC 16 / 21 (ask a question!)
Special Monster "Kindness" Weakness: Diplomacy (◆◆) to Calm Phantom @ 1d8 (F) / 2d8 (S) / 4d8 (CS) mental damage and is stunned 1 (CS)
Kazuki (AC 20, HP 41, armored) w/ normal vision w/ longbow @ -19
Vekka (AC 19-2, unarmored) w/ katana
Ho Lan (AC 18, unarmored) @ prone, weapons / shields stowed
Sigurd (AC 20-3, unarmored) @ weapons / shields stowed @ -9 w/ magic shield
White Phantom Boar (AC 18, HP 22 w/ Resist Physical 4 / Magical 2, Will 18, Speed 40) @ -11
Auntie Wu (AC 18-1, unarmored) w/ shield
Red (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4 / Magical 2, Will 18, Speed 40)
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Auntie Wu nearly obliterates White Boar with her words!
Red just goes to town on Sigurd - frustrated and trying to bowl him over!
Red Phantom Boar
◆◆◆) Strike x3
It slams against his force shield - one tusk narrowly missing!
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SQUEALS IN THE EARLY LIGHT!
Lighting: Dim Light (Creatures are Concealed to you unless you have low-light vision or darkvision)
Concealment: Upon declaring a target (not an area) to Strike or Cast, spend the actions, then roll DC 5 flat check or they are lost (you lose your target in the darkness)
Monster ID: Nature or Religion to Identify as (◆) vs rare DC 16 / 21 (ask a question!)
Special Monster "Kindness" Weakness: Diplomacy (◆◆) to Calm Phantom @ 1d8 (F) / 2d8 (S) / 4d8 (CS) mental damage and is stunned 1 (CS)
Kazuki (AC 20, HP 41, armored) w/ normal vision w/ longbow @ -19
Vekka (AC 19-2, unarmored) w/ katana
Ho Lan (AC 18, unarmored) @ prone, weapons / shields stowed
Sigurd (AC 20-3, unarmored) @ weapons / shields stowed @ -9 w/ magic shield
White Phantom Boar (AC 18, HP 22 w/ Resist Physical 4 / Magical 2, Will 18, Speed 40) @ -21
Auntie Wu (AC 18-1, unarmored) w/ shield
Red (AC 18, HP ?? w/ Resist Physical 4 / Magical 2, Will 18, Speed 40) @ fresh
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The boar's red tusks crush the magical shield. It did its job.
Sigurd is unable to see much through the cage, so he draws his shield and faces the Red Boar.
"Leave these animals be, spirit. If you wish to argue with the village, then a peaceful conversation with our spiritual leaders would be more productive than random attacks in the night."