The bears charge in from opposite sides, with the one from the east taking a fire bolt from Lazaret, an acid vial from Therarak, and a stab from the shadows from Thorfire. Each time, it shrieks in an awful, unnatural way. Unable to find Thorfire in the shadows and still too far from those it can find, the beast continues to charge.

The other beast (from the west) has it's eyes fixed on Celador. It snaps it's beak as it charges, but isn't yet close enough to attack.

Post round 2 actions! Bears are now 10 feet from the party. The 3 o'clock (east) bear has been hit 3 times and the other is undamaged. Both look pissed!

In reply to DM (msg # 25):

"Bears got beaks!"

Lazaret casts firebolt again. The flames strike the bear, but do little damage.

"Look out, Celador!" he cried from his high vantage point in the tree giving bardic inspiration to the elf.

08:46, Today: Lazaret rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  Fire Bolt .
08:47, Today: Lazaret rolled 7 using 2d10.  Fire Bolt Damage.

In reply to DM (msg # 25):

Using his super stealthy hide, Thorfire again attacks the beaked bear with his rapier and then hides again.

16:57, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 17 using 2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones with rolls of 10,2.  Attack with Rapier.
16:58, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 7 using 1d8+4.  Rapier Damage.
16:58, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 12 using 3d6.  Sneak Attack Damage.

16:59, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 25 using 1d20+10, rerolling ones.  Stealth (Hide in Plain Sight).

In reply to DM (msg # 25):

Seeing the beaked bear take damage, Therarak again grabs an vial and lobs it at the hurt bear.  It must make a DC16 DEX Save. (If that creature is dead, he will lob the vial at the other bear).

17:01, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 16 using 3d6 ((6,6,4)). Acid Damage

As a bonus action, he grabs a swift step draught from his trusty satchel.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Tue 14 Aug 2018.

Celador swiftly steps toward the charging creature and swings his longsword,


00:37, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Attack.

...just in case...

00:38, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 12 using 1d8+5.  Damage.


then quickly takes another swing.


00:39, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 20 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 15.  Attack.

...that's better...

00:40, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 12 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 7.  Damage.

The wounded owlbear from the east continues to charge, but he is staggered by Lazaret's fire bolt, giving Thorfire the opportunity to finish him off, which the halfling deftly does. The freakish monster collapses to the ground with a shriek.

Across the campsite, Therarak hits the second owlbear squarely in the chest with an acid vial and Celador lands a hit as well. The beast, however, is far from defeated. It retaliates with a flurry of claws, one of which connects with Celador, and while the elf winces in pain, he can't help but think the glancing blow could have been much worse (Cleador takes 7 points of slashing damage).

23:45, Today: DM rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  9 o'clock owlbear dex save vs. acid.
23:45, Today: DM rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Owlbear beak vs. Celador.
23:46, Today: DM rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  Owlbear claws vs. Celador.
23:46, Today: DM rolled 7 using 2d8+5.  Damage.

Post round 3 actions!The first owlbear is dead and the second is engaged with Celador.

In reply to DM (msg # 30):

"Seems like you were asleep for weeks, Celador. That looked painful."

Lazaret aims his next firebolt at the owlbear, but the new spell fizzles in his hands.

"Hmm. Looks like I need more practice. Perhaps I can keep Thorfire on his toes..."


07:33, Today: Lazaret rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Fire Bolt .
07:34, Today: Lazaret rolled 6 using 2d10.  Fire Bolt Damage.

Celador grits his teeth, a little bit due to the owlbear claw and a little bit due to Laz's constant commentary, and takes two more swings at the creature.


13:55, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  attack.

13:55, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  attack.

13:57, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 10 using 1d8+5.  damage.

In reply to DM (msg # 30):

Thorfire attacks the second bear with his trusty rapier and lands a critical hit to its taint.

21:48, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 27 using 1d20+7, rerolling ones ((20))
21:49, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 13 using 2d8+4 with rolls of 1,8.  Rapier Damage.
21:50, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 23 using 6d6 with rolls of 2,6,4,2,3,6.  Sneak Attack Damage.

He then hides behind the bear.

21:52, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 16 using 1d20+10, rerolling ones with rolls of 6.  Stealth (Hide in Plain Sight).

In reply to DM (msg # 30):

Therarak grabs a acid vial and lobs it at the bear's head.  It must make a DC16 DEX save.

21:54, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,2,4.  Acid Damage.

While fire rains down from the treetops in the general direction of the remaining owlbear, Celador swings at the beast. He misses with his right hand, but connects solidly with his left, drawing a squeal and vicious snap from the beak of his enemy.

The owlbear draws back his claws to retaliate, but before it can, Thorfire drives his rapier straight through the back of the grotesque monstrosity. As the halfling withdraws his rapier, the owlbear falls to the ground, its beak snapping eerily for several seconds before coming to a final rest upon a bed of smoldering pine needles.

An owl hoots in the distance, but other than that, a calm washes over the night.

Combat completed.

00:18, Today: DM rolled 59 using 1d100.  5% chance of starting forest fire with errant firebolt (5 or less on d100).

In reply to DM (msg # 35):

"Did you all see that fire? Neat trick, huh? A little something I picked up recently. Still needs some work and it does go a little wild from time to time. Might be useful though."

Lazaret climbs down the tree and checks out the owlbear corpses.

"Strange creatures. I've heard of these before but have never seen one up close. Anyone want a souvenir? I'm taking a paw. I like the sharp claws. It might make a nice necklace. A bit large, but it looks nice."

Lazaret takes a dagger to the clawed paw of the owlbear, an unnatural mix of feathers and hair. There is nothing of value on the beasts, but as they check, they hear something scurrying through the brush nearby. After a few moments, it runs up the nearest tree, then out onto a branch that extends over the the party's heads. With their night vision (and the aid of the goggles, in the case of the halfling), they realize the scampering thing as a regular squirrel. At least it seems regular... but then it starts talking.

"Liarel of the North captured by a crazed wizard. Imprisoned under the stone monolith at the fork in the Misty River. Please help."

Then with a flick of its tail, it runs further up the tree and disappears.

In reply to DM (msg # 37):

"Thorfire! Pinch me. I think I am dreaming. First we encounter beaked bears with feathers and now a talking squirrel.

"I've never known squirrels to lie. Or speak. And as that fork in the river is on our way anyhow, we might as well check out this monolith and aid poor Lionel."

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 38):

Laz...did you see how I killed both of those strange bears?  Maybe you should try helping next time so the elf won't take damage.

As for Linus, is he the guy we were supposed to supposed to go see about the book for the old man at the bar?  If so, let's get going...if not let's check it out.  I don't mind finding other creatures to kill.

Dawn is breaking by the time the dust settles after the owlbears and the strange talking squirrel. Though their rest was interrupted, the heroes feel good as the sun rises upon the crisp autumn morning.

While not always in direct sight of the Misty River, the heroes know the trail follows it closely. With the aid of a crude map provided by Bobbin Goodfellow before their departure, they estimate they are slightly beyond the fork in the river. If they choose to investigate the stone monolith, a bit of backtracking may be in order.


OOC: Main map has been updated to show an estimate of your current position. I'm assuming about 8 dots of travel per ordinary travel day. You are about 5 dots from Alaka now, so you should have time to backtrack to the fork in the river and still make it to Alaka by nightfall if you'd like.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:00, Thu 30 Aug 2018.

In reply to DM (msg # 40):

"The fork in the river is not far from here. It's a little back that way, but perhaps the gnome can catch us some fish for our lunch."

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 41):

Ummm...Lazarat, my vials are fire and acid, neither of which would be particularly effective at catching trout.  Your the skill monkey, can't you do it or are you like most cats and hate water?!?

In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 42):

"You make a fair point my little grey friend. When we have rescued Leroy I will catch you the largest salmon you have ever seen. Can your bag of tricks conjure up some butter and lemons?"

The party proceeds west off the road and journeys a short way through patchy trees to the rocky bank of river. As they study the river from their vantage point atop the stony outcropping, it is not obvious exactly where they are in relation to the fork (upstream or downstream). They estimate the fork should be close, but without being able to actually see it, there is no way to tell whether they should proceed upstream or down. With the uneven layout of the rocks on the river's edge, travel in either direction will be slow. If they guess wrong and move away from the fork instead of toward it, even more time will be spent.

OOC: Time for a skill challenge!
Talk among yourselves and choose one player to make a DC12 Survival or Nature roll to determine which way to proceed to the fork.
Others may "help" by making a Survival or Nature check of their own.
   1 - 9: no bonus
  10 - 13: +1 to the overall roll
  14 - 16: +2
  17 - 19: +3
  20:      +4
  21+:     +5

On an overall success, you reach the fork in less than an hour!
On a failure, you waste a number of hours equal to the number by which you missed the roll... and miserable failures will require additional skill checks to prevent plunging into the water.

Indicate in the Dice Roller whether you are making a helper roll or the overall roll (no deciding after you roll - that would be cheating).

Good luck!

In reply to DM (msg # 44):

"I'm sure it is this way. I've been a long time at sea and have a great sense of direction. Have I ever steered you wrong?" Lazaret implores his companions touting his +4 Survival ability. "Really. I am very good at this!"

Lazaret inspires himself.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 45):

Laz, That's pretty good, but I am +5 on Nature.  What to help me find the path?

In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 46):

"Okay, fine. But don't say I wasn't the first to say that it's THAT way!" Lazaret points due West, far from the river itself.

23:05, Today: Lazaret rolled 3 using 1d6.  Bardic Inspiration.
23:05, Today: Lazaret rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Survival (Helping Thererak).
Total of 11 for a +1 assist.

"But, let's hear what you have to say, little grey man." Lazaret inspires Thererak.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 47):

I'll help too

19:19, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 16 using 1d20, rerolling ones with rolls of 16.  Survival. +2 Help for Therarak

Thorfire, Lazaret, and Therarak confer along the riverbank.

OOC: +3 from the helpers so far, and Therarak +5 nature to begin with, so you're +8 as it stands. Up to Therarak whether he wants to wait for Celador's assistance or just go for it.