Outpost VIII - 'Gallows of Madness - What Lurks in the Woods' (Inactive)

Game Master Shadow Dragon

The second vial is indeed magical and it's a potion of lesser restoration!
Cannoli knows the first vial is also magical but doesn't know what it does...

Yes! That's right. The power of friends.

He manifests his shadow blade and goes through the opening to get a better look.

Yes! That's right. The power of friends.

He manifests his shadow blade and goes through the opening to get a better look.

Egged on by Cannoli the Fearless, Guardian XI squeezes into the cave.

Guardian XI finds a large amount of questionable remains that were once meals for goblins who were using this cavity as a camping spot. He also finds something the group has become accustomed to finding - demon bile!
Laying undisturbed in a clean spot is a dagger, likely made of cold iron since the demon bile is all around it.

It appears the goblins also felt a bit artistic. They actually took the time to make some crude drawings on the cave wall.

Knowledge (Local) check from Guardian XI please.

Sorry for my absence. End of month at work was very busy... :-/

Vreekka stays with Cannoli. She also tries to identify the liquids...

Liquid 1: Craft: Alchemy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 +1 guidance?
Liquid 2: Craft: Alchemy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 +1 guidance?

"Found anything interesting, Guardian?"

Well, I don't think we'll be seeing their artwork in any gallery in Absolom...is that what I think it is? Daegon asks pointing to a crude representation of a figure with questionable physical attributes.

Hey guys! More bile! And a dagger that must be cold iron! he shouts out of the tight space. He picks up the dagger.

Before exiting he takes a second look at the crude drawings.

Knowledge (local), untrained/max DC 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

IF he cannot make heads or tails of them, he calls on his companions to come and see.

Vreekka determines the second potion is also a potion of lesser restoration.

Guardian XI's insight tells him there's a drawing of a scarred goblin and the larger figure must be a bugbear!

A bugbear and a goblin. Tale as old as time he relays while finally exiting the tight space.

Cannoli sets up upwind about 50-70 ft away from the caves and hollers, ”Free showers over here! Come get cleaned up so enemies and me can’t smell you from a mile away! Bring your own soap and towel!”

Chain cast create water as needed to sprinkle the stinky ones.

"There are a bugbear and a goblin inside? Are they chained to the wall? Are they dead? Are they friendly? Or why aren't you fighting them?"

Vreekka is puzzled, and - just to be on the safe side - stays away from the entrance.

Guardian never mentioned a drawing, just the creatures. ;-)

Eadric climbs back down from the higher cavity.

He'll use his knotted rope to do that, I assume he'd be able to secure it at the top with his grappling arrow (and/or piton) and then have Grizzlebin throw it back down once Eadric reaches the bottom?

Eadric climbs back down from the higher cavity.

He'll use his knotted rope to do that, I assume he'd be able to secure it at the top with his grappling arrow (and/or piton) and then have Grizzlebin throw it back down once Eadric reaches the bottom?

Yes since Grizzlebin turned into SpiderOutsider. :)

Once back down at the base of the cliffs, Grizzlebin says "Well, that looks like the goblins' hideout. Unless we can find some other trail, we might have to wait for reports of another attack . . ."

Cannoli starts watering the grass and trees, since no one is coming over.

”Little bit for you. And then for you Mr. Tree. Don’t rush shrubbery, you’ll get yours.”

Eadric accepts Grizzlebin's challenge to locate more signs of the goblins passing.

Two more Survival checks please. You may take 10 if you wish.

Eadric checks for more tracks...

(I'll take 10 on the rolls)

survival + guidance: 10 + 6 + 1 = 17
survival + guidance: 10 + 6 + 1 = 17

Survival Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
Survival Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

”And you get some too, Miss climbing ivy. Wait, what do we have here? Tracks? Interesting. I wonder if I should tell my group. Yes I know Willow, they are ignoring me over at the caves. But it’s the right thing to do. And I do the right thing sometimes. No that one time doesn’t count, stop bringing it up.”

“Hey! Over here! I found some tracks!”

If Guardian comes over she sprays him down with water cause he is stinky.

Guardian comes over to be sprayed by water.

Okay, we can follow these tracks, but the bugbear and the goblin are going to be lonely!

He gives Vreekka a look that isn't clear from his coarse, mechanical face and then turns to follow the the tracking

Survial, aid: 10 + 6 = 16

Survial, aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Well then...

You can’t take ten to Aid.

ah, ty. fixed

"G-g-great work, Cannoli!" says Jakeric.

See, someone appreciates you :)

After watering the flora and washing the stink of goblin poo from Guardian XI, Cannoli then joins Guardian XI in assisting Eadric in his expert tracking efforts.

Eadric easily finds more signs of the goblins' travel and leads the party until sunset.

Set watches please and feel free to heal up/reset your daily spells/powers/etc.

Guardian can take first watch. He's not really tired anyway.

Daegon will volunteer to take middle watch, when it's darkest.

Cannoli joins Daegon in the middle of the night. She drinks way too much coffee and starts talking about what she has been doing with the local orchard.

”So we got all the deadfall pulled out and have marked the trees that obviously need cut down. But that step isn’t finished yet. Gotta talk to the blacksmith to get the right saw made. Most of the last two years of leaves are cleared out but are still wet and nasty. I was thinking some raised beds for a few gardens. Gotta grow herbs and seasonings for a few recipes. But that’s a ways away I think. Everything costs money or time, ya know? Anyway, next we need to see how the trees come back in the spring and plant to fill in gaps…”

She keeps droning on for four hours.

Vreekka takes the last watch - and hopes for a quiet night...

Before going to sleep, she asks the party: "Did we find any items that we couldn't identify? I have an extract ready..."

She also asks Guardian XI: "Looks like you didn't use the shield extract I gabe you in the morning, but it's still potent until early tomorrow. Want to keep it for the night? Also, would you like a new one tomorrow for the next combat?"

Eadric offers to take first watch.

I don't want to bog things down; their are no night encounters - this time! ;)

After a tense but uneventful evening the group rises, eats, prepares for the day ahead and resumes following tracks.

Whomever can track can take the lead on Survival with anyone else assisting; I'll let you all decide who is doing what. As with yesterday it requires two Survival checks. Also if you want to change spells/extracts/etc. please note it on your character sheets.

surv aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
surv aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

She also asks Guardian XI: "Looks like you didn't use the shield extract I gabe you in the morning, but it's still potent until early tomorrow. Want to keep it for the night? Also, would you like a new one tomorrow for the next combat?"

Oh! Yes, I will make sure to fortify with it tomorrow! Apologies, don't take it for dismissed.

Gah! My mistake.

The next morning while others break camp, Guardian starts to look around for the tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

survival aid + guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10
survival aid + guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10

Survival Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Survival Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

”I’m starting to feel like a dog with all this tracking… and I don’t like it.”

Her lack of enthusiasm shows clearly with her lack of results.

Led by Guardian XI's tracking skills the party follows the tracks to a steep-sided ravine that runs east to west here, opening at the far western end into a wide grassy depression. The scene would be idyllic if it weren’t for the scattered rusting weapons and pieces of armor, a few of which still contain moldering bones, strewn about the area. Pungent moss and a few patches of mushrooms dot the field; this place looks like it is the final resting place for many unfortunate souls.

As Eadric aids Guardian XI in his tracking efforts he notices something odd - a creature he recognizes as dangerous, a yellow musk creeper! When he points it out Vreekka confirms its identity.

At this point since your party saw it ()it's a size Medium plant creature with no skills so it's not tough to see) I'm ruling you found it before you reached its range to ambush you.

Surprise Round - What a Creeper!

Party Surprise Round
Yellow Musk Creeper

For now there won't be a map because I don't think it's going to live long enough to need one lol. The PCs would've been 20 to 30 feet away (based on the party's marching order) from the yellow musk creeper due to Eadric's roll. Vreekka and Eadric can make Knowledge (Nature) checks to learn about this pesky plant. As a reminder in a surprise round PCs have the choice of one move or one standard action plus any free/immediate/etc. actions granted by feats, spells, class abilities, traits, etc. Oh and maybe let Daegon and any other ranged attacks who don't have Precise Shot go first so they don't take the penalty for firing into melee. ;)

[move] manifest shadow blade

Guardian's glowing blade appears!

”What’s everyone looking at? Is it something cool? I bet it’s something cool. This is the worst deal with my vision, I miss out on so many awesome things. People are like ‘look at that amazing sunset! And that mountain is so majestic! And those dogs over there are ripping apart a possum, so cool!’ And I just stand there and sigh.”

Guardian raises his arm and points at the yellow musk creeper for Cannoli.

That thing. It's not quite a sunset.

Cannoli moves up next to Guardian and squints in the direction he is pointing, ”The brown fuzzy carpet thing? Weird, but doesn’t look dangerous.”

She hollers out, ”Hello friendly carpet or really flat moldy bear, how are you today?”

Daegon snaps off a round, hoping to soften the target up for XI

xbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 151d8 ⇒ 8

Daegon fires his crossbow and hits the mark! The plant makes unsettling sounds at the wound.
Guardian XI readies for battle, points out the yellow musk creeper to Cannoli, who shocks the entire party by commenting on dog's doing something cool. Somebody call her mama!

Eadric sees if he knows anything about the yellow musk creeper, before taking a shot...

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

longbow vs creeper + PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
cold iron piercing damage + PBS: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Eadric sees if he knows anything about the yellow musk creeper, before taking a shot...

[dice=Knowledge (nature)]1d20+5

[dice=longbow vs creeper + PBS]1d20+6+1
[dice=cold iron piercing damage + PBS]1d8+2+1

Eadric also scores a hit!

What would Eadric like to know for his 1 piece of info? Defenses, Offenses? And the YMC is -12 HP.

What would Eadric like to know for his 1 piece of info? Defenses, Offenses? And the YMC is -12 HP.

Lets go with offenses.

Knowledge: Nature t: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

Resistances, Immunities and Special Defenses, please.

Vreekka knows the yellow musk creeper has some immunities from being a plant but nothing else special.

Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms). Immunity to paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep effects, and stunning.

Eadric recalls that yellow musk creeper can spray pollen at targets that get within its range which he thinks some of the party is already in peril!

I know Jakeric is away for a bit but Vreekka and Cannoli still have their surprise round actions.

Cannoli had to move up to see it, that should suffice as her action.

Cannoli had to move up to see it, that should suffice as her action.

Okay I wasn't sure if that's what she was doing or wanted someone to tell her what was happening so she could cast a spell or heap more praise on canids. :)

She hates dogs, for sure. But gives respect where it is due. And it was an excellent mauling they executed on that nasty possum. :D

"That looks dangerous--be careful everyone!" shouts Jakeric, gripping his quarterstaff tightly.

Total Defense.

With a low growl, Grizzlebin lopes towards it!

Doing a move action to get next to it--perhaps to give some flanking to Guardian XI?