In reply to Yasha (msg # 80):

Lazaret has him. :)

In reply to DM (msg # 76):

Therarak moves close to Celador, hands him a healing potion 2D8, Here wood elf. Try not to die. Good luck.
He then returns to be within 30' of the Ogre.

The ogre, after scoring a nearly decisive blow against Celador, finds his fate turning for the worse. Thorfire, Celador (equipped with a rapier in one hand and a fresh healing potion, courtesy of Therarak, on his hip), and Yasha each hit with their respective attacks. The ogre roars, waves his spiked club wildly, then crashes to the ground.

Silence washes over the road. The battle has ended.

OOC: Combat is over... for now. Well done. I thought Celador was going to bite it for a moment, but you prevailed. I'll update the exp thread tomorrow.

In reply to DM (msg # 83):

"That's the first time I've ever insulted a creature to death. Good. Nice to know I have it in me." Lazaret starts climbing back up to the cave where he fought the orcs.

"Yasho! Listen carefully. Where. Did. That. Blue. Guy. Go?" Lazaret pauses for a moment and thinks to himself. "I sure hope he can understand me. I can't make out a word that strange man says."

Lazaret searches the cave for anything interesting. Or shiny.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 84):

Sticks and stones indeed. He reaches into his alchemists bag and pulls out a healing potion.

Anyone else require a respite? The doctor is in.

Celador watches as the ogre falls dead in the dusty road, a few crackles of blue lightening sizzle and pop around the lifeless body.

He is breathing heavy and his body aches as he falls to his knees, exhausted from the adrenaline rush and brief glimpse of his own mortality.

"Thanks Therarak," he replies as he gratefully downs the bitter liquid from the bottle the gnome had given him.

"I don't remember this tasting so good the last time," he says with a wince.


23:33, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 2 using 2d8.  healing potion.
snake eyes?!?!?


"That club packs quite a punch, If you guys don't mind, I'd like to take a bit of a rest here before we find out what is in those caves," Celador moves to sit along the side of the road, shield and sword sitting close at hand.

"Yasha, grab my axe out of that worthless cretan and see if there is anything of value on him, maybe something that will tell us who he was working with."


short rest? I wouldn't mind a couple hit dice before heading into the caves, especially given the poor roll on the healing potion

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 86):

Therarak notices their new compatriot Yasha is wounded as well and offers him a healing potion.

This might be a good time for us to regroup. Any ideas on where we can do so safely? We need to mind our horses and those caves don't seem too safe to me.

OOC: It's 2D8 when you're ready to drink it. Try not to roll double 1's.

In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 87):

he addresses the Tabaxi "Him ah inna ah betta place now" and then does the sign of the lord.

then he accepts the gnomes kind offer and drinks it.


21:14, Today: Yasha rolled 9 using 2d8.  healing potion .

if we take a short rest then yasha will cast find familiar which takes 1 hour and 10 minutes also answer any questions once his fimilar can translate for him.

In reply to Yasha (msg # 88):

"A bitter place? He must mean the cave. I'll go check it out."

With the orcs and ogre defeated, the heroes tend to their wounds and regroup.

Kevril eventually comes around the corner leading the horses. The youngster puts on a good face, but the assortment of leaves and small branches stuck to his cloak suggests that he ran down the ridge for cover and took a tumble. Nonetheless, the boy's well-timed arrow may have been the difference between life and death for Celador, regardless of how cowardly his retreat was after that.

Kathel mounts her horse and gallops off to the south to alert her caravan that the path is now clear. She tells them she'll be back in about an hour's time.

Lazaret climbs back up the ridge and into the cave beneath the tall trees. There  is little more than an alcove there, with three makeshift beds and nothing of value.

OOC: It is about noon. There are 4 caves, 10 bodies, and five of you. Each of you can explore one or more of them by making a perception roll, but it will take some time. To save the discussion of who explores what, we'll simplify to this extent: Each of you can make 1 perception roll for each hour expended, up to 2 rolls for 2 hours. So decide as a group how long you intend to investigate and roll accordingly! If you'd like to spend an hour short-resting or casting find familiar, that can be done, as well, but you'll either have to sacrifice a perception roll or stay here an additional hour (plenty of daylight,
 so not a problem there).

It is under an hour's ride back to Westbank. Will be a little over an hour's ride if you accompany the caravan.

In reply to DM (msg # 90):

Lazaret gracefully moves from corpse to corpse and cave to cave searching for anything of interest or value. Stopping occasionally to converse with his friends.

"You look terrible, Celador. Guess you forgot to duck. I'll see if I can find some ice for that giant knot on your head. Is your right eye higher than the left one now? I'm sure Mattis won't mind. She seems to genuinely care for you. I do hope the attraction is not purely of a physical nature."

06:31, Today: Lazaret rolled 24 using 1d20+6.  Perception.

(If the party decides to take a short rest, Lazaret will play a song or two giving them the benefits of Song of Rest.)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 91):

Noting that nothing would make his heart feel better than a ballad from the Tabaxi, Oh Great Lazaret of the Fire Pit, can you please sing to us?!?...meanwhile he loots the ogre's corpse.

14:48, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Perception.

"Mattis is quite a dear, but I do think our relationship is more culinary, that mutton is worth the effort though," replies Celador with a brief far away look in his eye, "Laz, you check out the caves and report back, I need to rest here a bit. And if you could sing one of your songs, I do find that I feel better afterward."


Was Lazaret's perception check regarding the caves or the relationship between Celador and Mattis?

Short rest for Celador.

23:07, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 10 using 1d10+2. Hit die.
23:06, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 12 using 1d10+2.  Hit die.

Nice! Guess I don't need the song of rest, but I would be entertained none the less

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 93):

Song of Rest gives everyone who is resting an extra 1d6 healing.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 94):

Than sing monkey boy...or should I say cat man!

13:55, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 2 using 1d6.  Song of Rest.

In reply to Thorfire Shortankard (msg # 95):

"Close your eyes
Let them rest
I ain't in no hurry, no hurry at all
Rest your head upon my shoulder
I swear I would carry, carry you on

I won't let you go, go on hungry
I won't let you cry, without a hand to dry

Rest your hands
Leave them tender
They weren't made for working, working at all

I won't let you go, go on hungry
I won't let you cry, without a hand to dry

Rest your soul, live in peace
I won't let you worry, worry at all

I won't let you worry, worry at all
I won't let you worry, worry at all"

Lazaret and Thorfire have expended an hour resting and an hour searching the caves and bodies, making it about 2pm. There is a lot to explore, so don't assume that one good roll by Lazaret (a 24!) will be enough to find everything of interest in every cave and on every person. More good rolls will potentially result in more useful information. Celador, Yasha, and Therarak are still free to explore at no extra time cost (you're here until 2pm already) by making a perception roll.

And everyone can make an 2nd perception roll if you agree to spend a 2nd hour exploring the caves (and pushing your departure back to 3pm).

I'll give you all another 24 hours to burn hit dice and/or make some perception rolls and then will post with what (if anything) you find.

"Bravo! Excellent song! I am feeling much better now and there are only one of all you, not two like there was a minute ago, and that nasty ringing in my ears has stopped." says Celador, wriggling his finger in his ear and moving his jaw around in wide circles.

"Let's see what's in those caves!" he slightly wavers as he stands up, "and then back to Westbank for some mutton and a long rest! We still have a murder to solve!"



08:23, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Perception.

Note: My max HP reflect level 4 but my level 3 HP was 28 so I am leaving it there.

Celador explores the northern most of the caves and finds little of value. There are four makeshift beds and 50 arrows of fair quality.

Similarly, the cave under the trees yields to Lazaret little more than beds for three and another score of arrows.

Celador and Thorfire explore the ground-level cave together. A small tunnel proceeds about 15 feet before opening into a fair sized (20'x20') opening. In one corner lies the remains of a horse, crudely quartered and sitting in a pile against the wall. Next to that crude display lies what once was a large bear, the flesh torn from the bone in a hasty meal. The explorers conclude that the bear had called the place home before the appearance of the orcs and ogre. They also find the lifeless body of a human in leather armor similar to Kathel's (presumably Garrith, her fellow guardsman from the caravan). Three arrows protrude from his back.

Near the animal remains is a pile of rags that make up what must have been the ogre's bed. Mixed in the rags is a large pouch containing several fingers, three gems, 100 pieces of silver, and another 70 gold. Two of the three gems are green in color. The third is a brilliant blue that seems to radiate light (a successful DC18 arcana check will tell you more).

The bodies carry little of value. A quick search finds a total of 200 silver and a single gold piece between the orcs. One of the orcs wears a ring of ornate design with a green gem set in it's middle. To some extent, all of the orcs have red tinted teeth, making them even more grotesque than an ordinary blood-thirsty orc. The teeth of the one carrying the gold piece is the brightest of the lot. The ogre carries nothing more than his clothing and large club.

In the final (southernmost) cave, Lazaret finds two more beds, a longbow resting on each, and a container with another score of arrows. Mixed among them are 5 of notable craftsmanship. They lack the crude red fletching of the others and display a thin gold band around the shaft (DC13 arcana roll will tell you more). The trappings within this cave are noteworthy because this was the only cave from which no orcs appeared. A foul smelling cloak lies on one of the beds. In a pocket of the cloak sits a small vial (DC10 arcana check will tell you more), another green gem stone, and a parchment, the language of which is unreadable by the Tabaxi. A small fissure along the back wall suffices as a narrow tunnel which, after about 50 feet at an upward angle, breaks into the surface of the ground overhead.

Experience and treasure thread has been updated!
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:58, Thu 16 Nov 2017.

Celador takes a gold-banded arrow from Lazaret, "Mind if I take a look at that?"


21:55, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 4 using 1d20-1.  Arcana.


"I have never seen craftsmanship like this before."

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 100):

Of course, my friend. I have no idea what it is. But it does look quite different from the others.

06:41, Today: Lazaret rolled 4 using 1d20.  Arcana (Arrow).

I wonder what's in this vial?

06:41, Today: Lazaret rolled 8 using 1d20.  Arcana (Potion).

These gems are certainly interesting. Maybe I'll keep looking around for a bit.

22:15, Today: Lazaret rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  Perception.

In reply to DM (msg # 99):

Rogues in general and I in particular am know for my intelligence. Thorfire examines the treasure...

22:47, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 14 using 1d20-1, rerolling ones.  (Potion)
22:47, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 10 using 1d20-1, rerolling ones.  Arcana (arrow).
22:47, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 8 using 1d20-1, rerolling ones.  Arcana (gem).

In reply to DM (msg # 99):

18:26, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Arcana (Potion).
18:26, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Ge.
18:26, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Ge.
18:26, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Arcana (Arrow)

Ok, I guess hit the go button by accident when I was hitting the backspace to add parentheses. Use the 2nd Ge roll for Potion if you'd like..

In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 103):

"Wait. Did someone find something shiny? Let me see it."

Lazaret snatches the blue gem from Therarak and examines it closely.

"I think I see The Cat Lord in there."

18:43, Today: Lazaret rolled 20 using 1d20.  Arcana (Gem).
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Sat 18 Nov 2017.

Celador and Thorfire examine the gold banded arrows closely and conclude that they should be fired with the pointy end aimed at their target. They deduce little more than that.

Therarak, on the other hand, recognizes the golden design from his studies. They are of elvish origin, made in the Yaeldrin Woodlands far to the south.
(Magic arrows +1 to hit / +1 damage)

The gnome and halfling both recognize the vial as a potion of water breathing, the telltale marker being a bubble suspended in the green cloudy liquid. (potion of water breathing)

None of the three recognize the gem, but Lazaret does. The tabaxi recalls an officer from his days aboard ship, who doted over a similar stone in his possession that he claimed would turn into a gargoyle when smashed on the ground (spell gem - conjure minor elemental, exact elemental TBD - could be determined for a price back in Westbank)

And as Lazaret takes the gem from Therarak, the gnome takes the parchment from the tabaxi in turn. Therarak can't read a majority of the script, but he recognizes the writing as orcish. But strangely, the elaborate signature at the bottom, Z'resryna Rrostuae, sounds very Drow-like in his opinion.

OOC: Magic items have been added to the treasure list. Will continue in a new thread back in Westbank.