Hurray! Welcome back!

I'm still here.

Oh! Glad you knew to do that! (I didn't, obviously). XD

Hey guys, I noticed that this game is no longer in my campaign tab. I'm guessing for lack of Gameplay posts.

I'm still happy to start up again if Dak is able to return, but am not sure how we can all coordinate if no one can see the campaign.

Ideas?

Sorry for all you've been going through. Certainly, take care of real life first.

I have no problems holding on through the end of the year. It's been a crazy one at that. If we do manage to pick back up at the start of the year, I'll still be here.

Thanks for checking in, and I hope things improve for your wife soon!

Glad you're still with us!

We had the Rona with three of our kids. Glad to hear you're on the mend!

We had Covid go around our place, too. I hope he's on the mend.

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. That ends up happening to a lot of games, unfortunately.

See you soon!

No worries, Dak. We're here when you're ready. And congrats!!!

FYI, I'm going on an RV trip for a week tomorrow (visiting Glacier National Park).

I AM taking my laptop and plan to keep up (at least to the best I can) on posting, and I know we're supposed to have WIFI, but no guarantees. Feel free to bot if I haven't posted.

Sarai acknowledges that she is uninjured.

When Cameron sets forth a plan, she can't help but think it makes sense.

"This place has been a lot more troublesome than I thought it would be," she says pensively. "But checking out the crater seems like a good option to start."

Sarai raises her shortbow and fires another arrow at the last zombie.

"Finish it off!" she cries.

mwk shortbow (point blank shot): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 211d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Hey all,

Just finished my awful, no good work week and am wading back into posting. Hallelujah!

I may remain slow through the weekend as I try to catch up on everything else that I had slide, but by Monday I'll be back full throttle.

All,

I'm so sorry, but I have some huge obligations at work that will keep me from posting through next Wednesday. I have a confluence of some of my worst cases and am feeling overwhelmed. I'll catch up soon.

Sarai tries to steady her breath. She fires off another arrow, this time better aimed. She moves away from the undead enemies.

mwk shortbow (point blank shot): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 = 231d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Uninvited guests--just what we needed," Sarai says as she fires off an arrow. But being unprepared, the arrow is ill-aimmed.

mwk shortbow (point blank shot, sneak attack): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 101d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 32d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Ouch! Hope you're feeling better!

Sarai sighs as they settle into the tents.

"These are some unlikely allies--they would turn on us if they could earn a copper. We need to be careful," she says, looking out of the tent to see if she can see more of what the group is doing.

perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

I'm not sure I have anything to do before our tasks.

With a signal from her companions, Sarai reluctantly joins the others.

I trust these thugs about as far as I can throw them.

When her companions explain the proposal, she nods. "A lady understands tit for tat," she says. "We can do it, and it's probably better than being on our own."

Though I'm not inside, I'm fine with the proposals.

It's just Nessa and Cameron inside the camp, right?

Sarai hopes things are going well--she waits for her companions to return and report.

Sarai nods. "I don't like her going in by herself, though she does seem skilled at--taking care of herself."

Sarai shakes her head. "You have a lot of allure, but I don't trust these guys. It's up to you, but there have to be better ways," she says.

Sarai doesn't like where this is going.

"I don't like the idea of putting ourselves at their mercy right now," she says quietly. "I'm not sure we need them. Plus, that's no way to treat a lady," she sniffs.

Sarai nods. "Let's work together--it seems like we could all use some allies out here," she says.

diplo aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Sarai nods in agreement. "Let's approach, then. Who wants to do the talking? I've always been better at talking my way out of something than winning friends and influencing people."

I only have +3 diplomacy--better at bluffing. Anyone want to take the lead?

Sarai decides to return to her companions, thinking she could always sneak back up to the camp if she needed to.

"I haven't seen any of them before, but there are four humans. I can't tell what they are doing, except making a camp and potentially defending it. I hate to hurt them if they're friendly. Perhaps we should parley."

Sarai remains still, hoping she won't be spotted. She tries to determine who these four men are. Does she recognize any of them? Do they have any identifying signs or insignia?

stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Sarai looks ahead at the camp. "I don't see anyone here--I better check it out," she says. "I wonder if someone is trying to defend against those creatures. Let's hope they're friendly," she adds.

Padding off ahead quietly, she looks for signs of who is building the camp.

Scouting protocol, 100' ahead
stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Sarai takes another carefully-aimed shot at the blind boar she had hit previously. It strikes it soundly in its vitals.

mwk shortbow (point blank shot, sneak attack): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 201d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 52d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11 16 dmg total

Sarai waits until the others are already engaged with the boars, then fires at whichever seems most wounded.

mwk shortbow (point blank shot, sneak attack): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 151d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 72d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

I'm actually going to DELAY until there are already some in melee with them. I'll fire after I'm not the only potential target.

Sarai will remain hidden, then pop up behind them once they have passed her to sneak attack.

stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Sarai frowns and sends a message to the group.

"No other way around," she whispers. "It will take us hours to get around. Should I draw them to us, or do you want to join me here?"

I rolled the only two knowledge skills I had, so no nature available.

Sarai whispers back to Hedran with her message cantrip.

"Alright--I'll try to guide us around. If I'm not back by dinner, keep a plate warm for me."

She quietly tries to find a safe way around the vicious-looking creatures.

Scouting protocol, 100' ahead
stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Wow--sorry about this, but it seems everyone was waiting for me and I didn't have notifications on this one.

Sarai tries to determine what the creatures are, but isn't sure. She whispers a message back to her companions, asking if they want to come to her to assist, or if she should back and try to find a way around.

knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Sarai uses her message cantrip to report back to the group. Staying ahead of the others, she tells them to stay close as she moves to check things out.

stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

No worries--stay safe!

Yeah, let's increase that to 100 feet outdoors?

Sarai peers down the road cautiously. "We should probably check out his camp first. They may have left supplies that will help us with these creatures."

She pads off ahead of the others. "But I'll take the lead. You lot are much too noisy and we'll walk into a trap."

Scouting protocol, 30' ahead
stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Sarai admires the magic. "I need to get me one of those. I have one to help me swim like a fish, but not climb like that!"

She waits at the bottom for the rope to come down, then climbs up first after Hedran.

I have a +4 climb--guessing that's enough to take 10 with a rope.

Didn't the Cyphermage say she could levitate me up, and then I drop a rope?

Sarai looks up the cliff. "It doesn't look too hard--I bet you could get up and then lower a rope to help the rest of us. I have a rope, too."

Sarai isn't sure which way to go, but isn't opposed to hugging the coastline for a while.

"Let's keep going toward the crater--it should be that way, I think. At least then we may get some answers."

Honestly, I'm not sure which coast we ended up on, but I'd imagine it wouldn't be hard to tell. I'd say toward the crater, following the beach.

Sarai reaches the crumbled tower with wide eyes. She is even more surprised to find her companions still alive.

"Is everyone alright? This place is turning out just as bad as they said. What made the tower topple? There are so many of these creatures--I'm not sure how we will get past all of them."

Is it possible there's another way up besides climbing? I'll look around down here first to check. If not, I can try to climb. Or, she could levitate me up, then I can throw a rope down. Perhaps we should try that.

perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

The nimble Sarai leaps from stump to boulder to vine as she makes her way down the cliff. She watches anxiously as the tower careens toward the water.

Oh no!

acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 If I do happen to fall at any time, Feather Fall
reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Also--I forgot I have feather fall memorized. If my rolls don't work so well, I'll simply jump off the cliff.

What are the options for getting down the hill? Since the rest of the party is headed that way, it sounds like the best option for sticking together. If the monster is up here and preparing to attack, I'd like to duck behind the cliff and hide, then head down.

stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Thyra, I think it's Acrobatics + Reflex to jump out. Cameron, I think you still need a Reflex even if you get out.

reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

It's every man for himself as the tower careens toward a steep cliff and lagoon.

With no time to say anything, Sarai looks for the exit, and spotting an open window, she athletically flips from the structure, only to find herself engulfed in a landslide of debris.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Sarai quickly finds somewhere to hide as she tries to take inventory of any potential threats. She grips one of her potions of vanish in her tail, just in case.

stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
perception (additional +1 vs. traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19