"Hrmmm... this one finds it unlikely that our little brother over there... hrmmm... hopped his way onto this trail and then... hrmmm... returned to the earth. This one recommends... hrmmm... caution, friend Rogan."
Omen will then began scanning the surrounding wood before approaching any closer to the dead rabbit. For kicks, he will also cast Detect Plants or Animals.
"Hrmmm... this one finds it unlikely that our little brother over there... hrmmm... hopped his way onto this trail and then... hrmmm... returned to the earth. This one recommends... hrmmm... caution, friend Rogan."
Omen will then began scanning the surrounding wood before approaching any closer to the dead rabbit. For kicks, he will also cast Detect Plants or Animals.
It basically functions as a Detect Evil spell with some differences: "You can detect a particular kind of animal or plant in a cone emanating out from you in whatever direction you face. You must think of a kind of animal or plant when using the spell, but you can change the animal or plant kind each round. The amount of information revealed depends on how long you search a particular area or focus on a specific kind of animal or plant."
You will basically detect the number and condition of whatever animal/plant you are trying to detect.
Sure, Knowledge (Nature).
You surmise that unless the rabbit died of natural causes, it is unlikely that any animal would just leave it lying in the middle of the path, even if it was threatened, as the threatening animal most likely would have come back for it.
None that you are aware of. You know that Assassin Vines will grab and crush their victims and then will deposit them near it's roots, however this rabbit carcass is quite in tact.
Shambling mounds, while quite intelligent, are not known to bait.
Fungus shriekers and violet fungi are known to bait, but only working together and they will then kill/feast on their prey.
"Hrmmm... this one does not know what would leave dinner behind. This one does not trust this way and suggests we... hrmmm... continue north by another route."
I'm just telling you what your character would know given the excellent Knowledge (Nature) check he made. =) He draws his own conclusions.
Rogan follows behind as Omen veers off the overgrown path so as to avoid the conspicuous rabbit corpse near the center of the path as they continue their journey to the witch's hut.
The forest canopy becomes much thicker and even in mid-afternoon, the darkened forest becomes difficult to navigate, however your keen eyesight is enough to get through without any extra light source.
As mid-afternoon gives way to evening, the trees part opening into a small but almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood—all typically sturdy woods—twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots. At the glade’s center squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen small thatched fetishes—each shaped like a tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent—stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.
Omen will begin walking toward the hut slowly and cautiously, the charms dangling from his shortspear rattling harshly in the eerieness of the clearing with each slow and deliberate step.
Omen will begin walking toward the hut slowly and cautiously, the charms dangling from his shortspear rattling harshly in the eerieness of the clearing with each slow and deliberate step.
Omen
You detect rat's tail within the dwelling. There are five specimens.
The eerie quiet only seems to increase as you move closer to the hut. The rattling sound of your charms seems to be amplified along with the soft crunching of your footsteps across the dried leaves and broken twigs.
Omen will approach to within 20 feet of Ulizmila's door, then utilizing Mage Hand pick up a stone or bone or larger stick and knock on the door frame with it from a respectable distance.
Omen will approach to within 20 feet of Ulizmila's door, then utilizing Mage Hand pick up a stone or bone or larger stick and knock on the door frame with it from a respectable distance.
Omen picks up a stone and knocks on the door utilizing a spell. The knocking sound echoes through the small hut. You wait at least a minute, but there is no response.
Omen turns and walks back to stand beside Rogan, turning to face back over the clearing toward Ulizmila's rickety abode. "This one does not think that she is home, friend Rogan. Hrmmm... but this one is sure that she has one of the items we need."
He gazes over the unpleasant clearing.
"The light begins to grow dim. If you wish, we may look for the one called Ulizmila elsewhere or... hrmmm... we can linger a while longer in this... hrmmm...," his eyes roam around the view in front of them, "unpleasant place. This one... hrmmm... defers to you."
Rogan says nothing for a quite some time, taking in as much of the clearing in the failing light as he can. His keen elven eyes focusing on every detail, disdaining the dusk that seeks to hamper him to no avail.
"I say we wait here until just before dark. If she doesn't show, perhaps we should hail the hut. She may exchange what we need for the gem. I don't think we should leave until we know for a fact that she isn't here."
Agreeing to Rogan's suggestion with a nod of his head, Omen retreats a short distance from the edge of the clearing to within the tree line and sits down in the dirt facing the rickety construction, leaning back against the trunk of a tree. He pulls off the leather cap he has been wearing and shakes his head vigorously, his dark, shoulder length hair thrashing with the motion. Crossing his legs, he lays his cap along one thigh and then begins to play a soothing melody of far away mountainside forests on his ocarina, trying to fend off the discomfort of the environment with the music of memories.
Rogan retreats in similar fashion to the tree line, listening to the sound of Omen's ocarina with a slight smile. He leans against one of the deformed tree trunks, appreciating the relaxing position that its lean affords. His newly acquired shortbow sits loosely in his hands, with no arrow nocked. He simply waits, watches, and listens.
Should darkness begin to fall without Ulizmila's return, Omen will gradually let his music cease and then sit with his eyes closed for a few moments. With eyes still closed, he will address his elven companion.
"Hrmmm... still no sign of the one called Ulizmila. This one thinks we have come to the time to... how did you say... hail the hut? This one also believes that... hrmmm... it is your turn."
He slowly opens his eyes and turns toward Rogan, a slight smile playing at the edge of his lips.
Should darkness begin to fall without Ulizmila's return, Omen will gradually let his music cease and then sit with his eyes closed for a few moments. With eyes still closed, he will address his elven companion.
"Hrmmm... still no sign of the one called Ulizmila. This one thinks we have come to the time to... how did you say... hail the hut? This one also believes that... hrmmm... it is your turn."
He slowly opens his eyes and turns toward Rogan, a slight smile playing at the edge of his lips.
Darkness indeed falls without the return of the witch. The atmosphere grows gradually more eerie as the sun fully sets revealing but a few scattered stars visible only through the open canopy.
With the onset of darkness imminent, Rogan sighs, then, upon hearing what Omen has to say, chuckles and nods. "I'll try the door," he whispers, "be ready, should anything go wrong. If things go horribly wrong, get out of here and don't look back." He reaches into his hidden pocket in his cloak and pulls out the gem, then hands it to Omen. "Just in case."
He takes a deep breath, then makes his way as silently and stealthily across the clearing as possible.
Stealth Check: 1d20+8=18
Rogan stealthily makes his way to the front door of the hut and knocks.
No answer.
Proceeding to call out Ulizmila's name, Rogan repeats himself after several seconds and still, no answer.
Rogan, as you attempt to open the door you find that while it is rusted off it's hinges, it will not open.
Make a Strength check.
Rogan gets as good of a hold on the door as he can and gives it a tug, finding it more resistant than he had expected.
Strength Check: 1d20+0
Rogan gets as good of a hold on the door as he can and gives it a tug, finding it more resistant than he had expected.
Strength Check: 1d20+0
Indeed, you find that the door is held much more strongly than you had originally thought, however you give it a good initial tug and it breaks free from it's hold and begins to fall toward you. You grab it on it's sides and set it up against the doorframe.
The dank, dark hut opens up before you.
Unfortunately, no. It is pitch black inside with no light source.
Fortunately for the weak-eyed elf, Omen prepared light as one of his cantrips. After seeing the elf gazing into the lightless depths of the hut, he will slowly but purposefully approach. He will cast his cantrip on whatever item Rogan would like and then return to his position nearer to the treeline and farther from the hut.
Rogan holds out an arrow, and Omen casts his cantrip upon it's head. After Omen is back in his position, Rogan breaths a quick prayer, then holds the light up to the doorway.
Before Omen returns, he will explain in detail the appearance, smell, and texture of Rat Tail, hoping that Rogan can acquire the root quickly and that the two can depart with exceeding haste.
Rogan holds out an arrow, and Omen casts his cantrip upon it's head. After Omen is back in his position, Rogan breaths a quick prayer, then holds the light up to the doorway.
The light from the arrowhead brightly illuminates the dank, reeking hut, sending shadows scattering within as you wave the arrow back and forth to scan the interior.
Haphazardly hung shelves line the walls, covered in all manner of clay jugs, clouded bottles, strangely cut rocks, rotted bunches of herbs, and a museum of other crude curios and remnants of a bone grinder’s artifice. A rusted iron cauldron, with a mouth nearly 5 feet wide and a depth of at least 3 feet, dominates the hut’s single room, its ash-covered surface shaped with a relief of capering fiends and leering devils. Across from the door, against the far walls, stands a highbacked chair made of wicker, the gigantic curved tusks of some monstrous beast, and thousands of human teeth.
In the chair sits what looks like a corpse wrapped in filthy burial linens, its form padded with pungent herbs and sprouting patches of thick white mold.
...Across from the door, against the far walls, stands a highbacked chair made of wicker, the gigantic curved tusks of some monstrous beast, and thousands of human teeth.
In the chair sits what looks like a corpse wrapped in filthy burial linens, its form padded with pungent herbs and sprouting patches of thick white mold.
Rogan stares around the hut, speechless. His gaze at last settles on the apparent corpse and is held there for a minute. After waiting as long as he can stand for anything to happen and being both relieved and disappointed when nothing does, he gestures for Omen to approach.
Omen will approach and then enter the disturbing hut.
... Omen will proceed to try locating the Rat Tail without disturbing or, if possible, even looking at the horrible lump in the more horrible chair.
Perception: 1d20+8=14
... Omen will proceed to try locating the Rat Tail without disturbing or, if possible, even looking at the horrible lump in the more horrible chair.
Perception: 1d20+8=14
You begin searching the room while avoiding at all possible the humanoid-shaped lump in the wicker chair. In a pile of debris partially contained on a shelf which includes papers and other assorted objects including a jar filled with slime which contains a suspended, preserved eyeball, you locate the bundle of rat's tail wrapped with tight string.
Unfortunately, as you search through the rubble, you hear a deep echoing sound coming from the center of the room where you realize that the cauldron has begun to move, it's wide mouth agape, ready to attack!
Roll Initiative!