While on watch Torgar gets distracted by a beetle with an iridescent shell and and a big horn like protrusion. He follows it about the camp and moves it with a stick thinking surely no one is going to bother them on an evening like this.
Orlin spends most of his watch doing maintenance on his bow - polishing its wooden surface, checking the bowstring for fraying, et cetera - with a routine air, keeping an eye on the woods around him as he goes through the steps of cleaning his weapon, done so often they are almost as much a reflex as breathing.
Orlane, you notice rain clouds on the horizon.
Before Reuben hits his pillow, Kadmos wants to know "What if the map leads us to an ambush. Are there any points along the route they shared that would be a choke point, where we would be hampered in our movement? The story of the scaly folk has my nerves on edge."
As the night deepens and the campfire crackles softly, Reuben sits cross-legged on the ground. The flickering flames cast eerie shadows on his tanned skin and black beard. His companions, Goldmoon, Riverwind, Torgar, Kadmos, Mariel, Orlin, and Augier, were scattered around the camp, each lost in their own thoughts or tasks.
During his watch, Reuben takes a moment to rememorize his spells, his fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air as he whisperes arcane words. The familiar ritual brings a sense of calm and focus, allowing him to push aside the lingering doubts and fears that haunt him. Once he feels the magic settle within him, he turns his attention to the map the seekers have given him.
The parchment is worn and creased, evidence of its many travels with the wandering mage. Reuben’s keen eyes scan the markings, searching for any clue that might help solve Kadmos’ question. His mind drifts back to his years as a traveling wizard, recalling the countless paths he walked and the secrets he uncovered.
Finally, he looks up and addresses the minotaur, his voice steady and thoughtful.
“In my wanderings, I traveled through Darken Wood only twice. Both times were in pursuit of renegade wizards who had fled there. The first was a young sorceress named Lyra, who had delved too deeply into forbidden necromancy. The second was an older red-robed mage, Thalor, who had mistakenly killed am innocent man in cold-blood after the murder of his wife.”
Reuben pauses, his gaze distant as he remembers the twisted forms of the undead he had encountered.
“Unfortunately, I found them too late on both occasions. Lyra had been transformed into a banshee, her wails echoing through the trees, while Thalor had become a wraith, his ghostly form haunting the crude shelter he dragged himself to before he succumbed to the turning.”
He sighs, the weight of his experiences evident in his voice.
“Darken Wood is full of dense vegetation and sharp turns in the trails that can easily obscure vision. The trees grow so closely together that their branches intertwine, creating a canopy that blocks out the sun even at midday. Thick underbrush and creeping vines make the paths treacherous, and the air is heavy with the scent of decay.”
A faraway look enters his eyes, and the fire seems to flicker along with his words, adding a sorcerous cast to his appearance.
"There is a legend about Darken Wood, and the creatures that plague it so. In the ancient days of Krynn, before the Cataclysm, there was a powerful wizard named Zalthar. He was a master of dark magic, feared and respected by all who knew his name. Zalthar’s ambition knew no bounds, and he sought to unlock the secrets of immortality.
Zalthar’s quest led him to the heart of Darken Wood, where he discovered an ancient tome hidden within the roots of a massive, gnarled tree. The tome contained forbidden spells and rituals, promising eternal life but at a terrible cost. Consumed by his desire, Zalthar performed the rituals, calling upon the darkest forces of magic.
As the final incantation left his lips, the ground trembled, and the skies darkened. Zalthar felt a surge of power unlike anything he had ever known. But with this power came a curse. His body began to wither, his skin turning ashen and his hair falling out in clumps. He had achieved immortality, but at the price of his humanity.
Zalthar’s curse extended beyond his physical form. His presence brought death and decay to the land around him. Plants withered, animals fled, and the very air grew thick with the stench of rot. The once vibrant Darken Wood became a place of fear and despair.
Desperate to reverse the curse, Zalthar sought the aid of the Forestmaster, the great unicorn who protected the wood. The Forestmaster, seeing the corruption Zalthar had brought, refused to help him. In his rage, Zalthar unleashed his dark magic upon the forest, summoning undead creatures to do his bidding.
The Forestmaster and her allies, the centaurs and satyrs, fought valiantly against Zalthar’s forces. The battle raged for days, but in the end, the Forestmaster’s purity and the strength of her followers prevailed. Zalthar was defeated, but his curse could not be undone.
The Forestmaster, in her wisdom, bound Zalthar’s spirit to the ancient tome, sealing it within the gnarled tree where it was found. She decreed that the tree would stand as a warning to all who sought forbidden knowledge and power. To this day, it is said that Zalthar’s spirit lingers in Darken Wood, whispering promises of power to those who dare to listen."
Reuben’s voice grows more somber as he continues.
“It’s a place where danger lurks behind every shadow. We will have to rely heavily on Orlin’s guidance to navigate through it. With any luck, we will make it through in one piece and avoid attracting the attention of the undead.”
He looks around at his companions, his expression serious.
“Let’s hope the spirits of Darken Wood are merciful and allow us passage without too much trouble.”
Augier is lulled to sleep by the drone of Reuben's words. ;)
Kadmos spends his shift working through some of his quieter attack and defense patterns
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Kadmos spends his shift working through some of his quieter attack and defense patterns
Kadmos sees two goblin bands (5 each, so there are 10) that are looking around.
While Reuben is talking, Kadmos's head swivels, and he grumbles, "Goblins, two bands, small, only five apiece. Wonder if they smelled us, or followed us, or just got plain lucky."
We can take em! Auguer bounces up and down.
Reuben’s eyes narrow as he catches sight of the goblin bands skulking in the distance, their crude weapons glinting ominously in the moonlight. His ears pick up the faint, guttural chatter of the goblins, a discordant symphony of malice. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint, acrid tang of goblin sweat. His muscles tense, ready to spring into action. With a swift, practiced motion, he kicks dirt and sand over the campfire, snuffing out its light and plunging the camp into darkness. The sudden absence of light makes the stars above seem to burn even brighter, casting a cold, indifferent gaze upon the scene below.
Moving with the silence of a shadow, Reuben circles the camp, his steps as light as a whisper on the wind. His keen eyes scan the surroundings, ever wary of the dangers lurking on the roads. The ground beneath his feet is uneven, a treacherous mix of mud and tangled roots that threaten to betray his presence with every step. He gently shakes each of his companions awake, his touch firm yet careful, mindful of their need for rest. As they stir, he leans in close, his voice barely more than a breath.
“Goblins,”
he murmurs, his tone laced with urgency.
“Search parties. We must move, and quickly.”
The urgency in his voice is mirrored in the quickening of his heartbeat, a steady drumbeat of impending danger.
Torgar rolls to his feet grabbing his great sword from where it lay next to him. "I'm tired of runnin'," the rager says. "Where?" he asks Reuben.
Torgar rolls to his feet grabbing his great sword from where it lay next to him. "I'm tired of runnin'," the rager says. "Where?" he asks Reuben.
Reuben points toward the goblins.
"I agree, the time for running is over. It's time we prove our blades true and forged of a tempered metal!"
He grins and draws his dagger.
Augier snorts as he wakes. Dern goobos! Smash em!
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
against a DC 14.
A goblin tracker said, "Hold on, something is there. I can see it."
Kadmos grins, and begins to slowly twirl his spear
Augier growls and darts into the bushes, going after the goblins like some pit bull.
Reuben hangs back and prepares to cast an acid splash at a goblin as soon as he can.
Torgar sets his grim face in the direction Reuben points and begins to walk. "Let's take a walk boys. Crush em, gut em, and kill em." He says to the others as he moves out.
Orlin follows behind the rest of the group, silently nocking an arrow to his bowstring.
Whoa. It's good that you rolled initiative. I use "post when you can, it doesn't have to be on your turn" initiative. After all, if we use the RAW, it slows down the game.
I don't want to slow down the game. And I bet you don't want to slow down the game either. :) Now back to the game!
::::
The goblins come your way to investigate. They are armed with javelins and short swords.
Torgar strides toward the goblins. Once he gets within charge range he roars as he rages and closes the distance. As he rolls into the goblin group he lays into the closest.
Agghh bursts out of the bushes! WARGGBBLLLEE!!! He starts clawing and biting.
Raeg 14/15 rounds
Torgar strides toward the goblins. Once he gets within charge range he roars as he rages and closes the distance. As he rolls into the goblin group he lays into the closest.
[dice=swd, rage, chg]1d20+9+2+2
[dice=dmg, furious focus, rage]2d6+5+6+3
You managed to kill one of the goblin trackers that was hunting you down. You and Auggh also managed to take them by surprise!
Agghh bursts out of the bushes! WARGGBBLLLEE!!! He starts clawing and biting.
Raeg 14/15 rounds
Rage Claw: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 201d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Auggh managed to take them by surprise and wound a goblin. There are nine left!
I am not sure if those not on duty were woken up
initiative
Reuben mutters,
"Cair Lingkaran"
He reaches into thin air, plucking a dripping, viscous glowing green ball from the threads of magic surrounding his outstretched hands.
He throws this ball at one of the nearest goblins, grinning as the acidic projectile sprays in a painful burst upon impact.
The goblin that got splashed with acid disengages.
Orlin draws back the arrow he had at the ready, firing into the melee at one of the goblins.
Orlin draws back the arrow he had at the ready, firing into the melee at one of the goblins.
+1 Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Orlin kills one of the goblins. The goblins attack Auggh and Torgar.
Torgar's goblin has Weapon Finesse.
Kadmos moves close enough to attack with his spear (10' range) and attempts to smack two goblins using Flurry of Blows
Kadmos moves close enough to attack with his spear (10' range) and attempts to smack two goblins using Flurry of Blows
Smack 1st: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Damage if hits: 1d8 ⇒ 7Smack 2nd: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage if hits: 1d8 ⇒ 2
Both have it, and you gave one a black eye. The goblins put up their dukes and are ready to fight.
Torgar's dander is up and he just keeps on slashing. "You nasty, monstrous, man-killers. I won't rest until the lot of you are dead and rotting!"
RAR! BARK! BARK! WOOOF!
Augier goes full hound dog on the goblins.
Rage 13/15 rounds
OOC: Ok, second try at this
Kadmos look to see if there is a leader among these goblins
This will give him an idea for his next attack
Reuben launches another glowing projectile at the goblins, his eyes aglow with reflected emerald light as he finishes the incantation and pronounces (minor) torment upon one of the invaders.
RAR! BARK! BARK! WOOOF!
Augier goes full hound dog on the goblins.
Rage 13/15 rounds
Rage claw: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 151d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Rage claw: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 251d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6Rage Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 221d3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Auggh mangles one goblin, but not seriously.
OOC: Ok, second try at this
Kadmos look to see if there is a leader among these goblins
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
This will give him an idea for his next attack
The leader is a goblin wearing a chain shirt.
Reuben fires another Acid Splash at a goblin.
Acid Splash Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Acid Splash Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1
Reuben launches another glowing projectile at the goblins, his eyes aglow with reflected emerald light as he finishes the incantation and pronounces (minor) torment upon one of the invaders.
The goblin Reuben attacks has all his armor eaten by the acid.
Torgar's dander is up and he just keeps on slashing. "You nasty, monstrous, man-killers. I won't rest until the lot of you are dead and rotting!"
Atk, furious focus, rage: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 = 25
dmg, furious focus, rage: 2d6 + 5 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 5 + 6 + 3 = 21
Torgar did kill one of them. There are five left.
If we used the RAW for initiative, then posting will slow down.
Augier puts a little more umph into his clawing
Rage 12/15
She will go close to Goldmoon and draw her longsword
I managed to get a map. Just a second, I'll put it up.
She will go close to Goldmoon and draw her longsword
When he can, Kadmos wants to spin his spear to build momentum and then throw it at the leader
Reuben moves ten feet to his left and throws a dagger at the goblin leader.
(8 if it's a critical)
Reuben moves ten feet to his left and throws a dagger at the goblin leader.
Dagger Throw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 (8 if it's a critical)
Confirm your crit.