You gather at the entrance to town, ready to set out for the first watchtower. What adventures await you this day?

Carmen had been quite excited all day. The prospect of taking a trip around the perimeter was exhilerating, and her newfound companions seemed quite eager to get moving too. She found herself squeezing the hand of Helga enthusiastically. "Can you believe how wonderfully fresh it is at this time at night?" she asks. "The thrushes are heading home to roost, the wolves will be out hunting soon....and we will be patrolling!"

Her spear tip was sharpened, but the end was corked for transport. Shield strapped in ready for action, slightly heavier feeling due to the warmer clothing she was now wearing.

"My specialities are getting in the thick of things, but with skill at range also." she offers, giving the others some information that might help.

"Of course, I love to talk over an ale just as much as anyone, so if you need some gossiping doing I'll be quite content to share my fill at the inn!"

Helga hesitated slightly as the other held her hand. The half orc clearly wasn't used to others doing such things. But she pushed it aside in favor of turning her eyes to the stary sky above them. "Is beautiful." She agreed. Her heavy greataxe was strapped to her back where she could easily retrieve it. The half orc didn't offer comments to her own strategy. Anyone with working eyes knew she was little more than a big dumb barbarian.

Wendel, wrapped up in the slightly oversized heavy clothes he'd bought, looked like he was feeling a little better than when he was without. He too looked at the night sky and smiled while shuffling his feet and rubbing his hands for warmth. He didn't carry much, the supplies he bought at Jessop's were either in his backpack or hanging from it. His leather armor that fit snuggly over his new clothes looked like it had never seen use but the dagger at his hip seemed like something he wore comfortably. It was the only weapon he wore.

He waited for the shiver of cold he felt to dissipate before speaking up. "It is wondrous." He confirmed then paused. "And just a tad bit chilly.." He shook his head though, pulled his hood up, and continued rubbing his hands, the motion revealing a piece of jewelry he wore on his left hand. The only other thing that seemed to adorn his person.

He started speaking again, "I uh, I'm afraid I'm a bit untested. Keeping things at a distance is probably best. I'm decent at keeping an eye out for trouble though. Not great but decent."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Sun 24 Jan 2021.

Helga noticed the shorter man shiver in the cold and took a motherly sort of worry to him. "Stay close to be warm." She gently urged. Then passed her eyes around the area before continuing. "I protect you. Just be close, yes?"

"Luna would like you." Even through the cold Wendel flashed his smile at Helga for offering both motherly warmth and protection. "I'll stay close, don't you worry. And I'll watch your back as well." And he shuffled a little closer to the half-orc woman.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Sun 24 Jan 2021.

Helga smiled down at him. "Thank you. Is very kind of you." She said softly. She debated for a moment asking about the ring and the bruises, but decided it might not be her place. At least for the moment.

Victor shuffles his feet slightly and draws his cloak a little tighter about his shoulders, his breath frosting slightly in the air. Now that they are heading out his greatsword has been shifted so that it hangs from his hip in a position that makes it easier to draw but limits turning without knocking things over, probably why he had it across his back in town.

He nods along as the others speak, silently thinking to himself, "It's probably not a good idea to go out on a night patrol for his first go at this, but I suppose a trial by fire will help him decide if this is something he can handle... Lathander guide me and help me protect my companions."

His brief pair finished, he adds to the conversation, "Yes, if everyone looks out for each other then we should be fine."

He looks up at the sky and rubs his arms briefly, stamping his feet a couple of times.

"Well the sooner we set out the sooner we return and can share that ale at the inn, it's only going to get colder as the night draws on."

Having looked the others over and considered it he suggests, "How about you two," he nods to the women, "take the lead, we'll put Wendel in the centre where he can see everything and I can cover the rear?"

"Happy to take the lead on this." replies Carmen, and she strides out with her shield strapped on and spear ready for use.

Helga nodded in agreement to this and followed the lead of the others, keeping her eyes peeled for any nefarious happenings. They had a long night ahead of them and she intended to make sure her companions survived it.

Victor lights the hooded lantern that hangs from his belt on the opposite side from his sword, bathing them in a warm light and casting his long shadow back against the frosty ground behind him. The horns seem to grow and wave in the flickering glow.

With a slight smile he gestures for Wendel to follow the other two before picking up his polearm and falling into step behind them.

You travel west to the perimeter road. Just as you begin heading north toward the watchtower, Wendell notices a small light suddenly appear to the west, on the road back to Alemakia, and move slightly left and right, as if someone just lit a lantern and started waving it. It is too far away for you to make out any details, but it might be worth looking into.

It was nice to have at least some sort of light source out here, and Wendel wouldn't complain about who was holding what or when. If Victor offered him a torch to hold at some point down the line the half elf would gladly hold it.

Seeing the other light source in the distance did bring something to mind for him though. He pointed to where he saw it, "Say do you lot see that over there? Looks to be a lantern someone else is waving back and forth. Could be a signal of some kind? Also, since it is so dark and there aren't many light sources... Do you think we stand out out here?"

Victor squints into the darkness in the direction that Wendel indicates, not so sure that he sees anything. He hands him a spare torch and says, "If you think you see something, we should go investigate."

He thinks a bit about the half-elf's point about standing out and shrugs, "It's probably for the best that we stand out so that the guards at the watchtowers know we're coming. It would be a shame to sprout a few arrows because they thought we were sneaking up on them."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:48, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

Carmen heard the chatter behind her, and when prompted to look out west, it was true! There was definitely a light source from afar. Silently she cursed herself for missing it, but she also appreciated that this was why a group was required for patrols. The more eyes the better!

"It could be a ruse to draw us closer, but I agree, more looking into is required."

Wendel took the torch and tilted his head as he mulled over the tiefling's counterpoint. He nodded and shrugged. "A fair point."

It seemed the waving light was deemed worth investigating. He felt a flutter of excitement as the group turned to reroute but tried to quell it telling himself it was probably nothing. Still, having a torch in hand made him feel more confident, with the benefit of some added warmth, if only a little.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:33, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

Helga was tempted to offer to go alone and scout it but the group seemed to have agreed to all take a look. But she was weary. "I have bad feeling..." The half orc mumbled.

"If you have a bad feeling then perhaps you and Carmen can approach alongside us but hidden just out beyond our light, that way if it is a problem you will have the element of surprise?" Victor suggests, "It's too far for us to see who they are yet so they probably don't know that there are four of us."

Helga looked legitimately surprised her muttering had been taken into consideration and she faltered slightly. "Um- Yes. Is good idea. Yes. Is good plan." She stammered then quickly shut her mouth.

"All apart from me being unable to see in the dark...." thinks Carmen.

"Sure thing! I'll do my best to keep up. I'll just follow Helga and hopefully I won't trip on anything. Better to be safe than sorry, but I would be concerned if I saw a group split up and approach from two directions if it was me holding those lights in the distance. Would it be more friendly to approach as a group instead?"

Victor makes a one handed gesture, palm up, indicating he is uncertain.

"If they see, maybe, but I suspect that if we can't see them they probably can't see us. There are benefits to both approaches, you should do what you think is best."

Helga bit at her bottom lip slightly. "May not be best idea to send one with no vision into darkness... Or send little squishy man into danger..." She pointed out gently, not wanting the other to be upset with her.

Looking to Wendel and recalling that this is his first time doing something like this he puffs his cheeks with air and lightly blows it out between his lips.

"Together then, after all, Zariel teaches that four fingers are strongest when they are clenched in a fist."

"I thought plan was to avoid punches." Helga mumbled.

Wendel let them decide how to go about approaching without to much input of his own. He held his hand up, the one not holding a torch, and made a small tight fist to emphasize Victor's statement. But quickly let it fall back to a non fist hand at the big woman's mumble.

"Probably best aye. Oh, and I'm not squishy, Helga. I'm crunchy." The tone of his voice was a half breath away from a light laugh and the smile in it could easily be heard. Keeping the body moving, holding the torch, engaging in banter, it all helped keep the spirits up and the body warm. He hadn't said anything but he was glad they decided on a united front. It meant more wind breakers and ambient body warmth for the middle guy. He could get used to this stuff. Maybe a night patrol wasn't so bad after all.

Helga couldn't help but let out a bark of laughter at the other's joke. "Yes. Crunchy little mischief maker." She bantered back.

Victor can't help but laugh as well, a smile spreading across his face.

"If I might make a suggestion, I'd be delighted to be the talker. I've got a real knack for persuading people usually. I mean, it's not without a bit of talking that we all ended up together....right?" asks Carmen, and the glowing smile she used for special occassions seemed to break out effortlessly.

Victor shrugs, "I can be pretty convincing myself, but by all means take the lead," he gestures towards the light in the distance indicating that they had best move on.

The group moves forward together. Before long you see the shape of a cart, and not long after that, recognize that a mule is hitched to it. It's at around this point that you hear a deep voice shouting "Hey! You from Smith's Gambit? Can you help a dwarf in a bind?" You then see that the person holding the torch is a hefty, middle aged dwarf, with grey hair and a braided grey beard, decorated with many-colored gems that sparkle in the torchlight. He leans on a heavy crossbow. You can see now, that his cart leans to the side, one wheel lying on the ground nearby.

Helga frowned sympathetically. "Yes. We help." She went over to the laid wheel and picked it up.

"You're not far from Smith's Gambit," Victor answers with a friendly wave, "what happened here?"

Wendel watched as Helga got right to work and Victor started asking questions. At a loss for what he could do he followed Helga over to give her some light and smiled at the aging dwarf. "She's pretty strong, if that's all you need to fix this it should be no problem. I like your gems." Since Carmen had said she wanted to take the lead he wasn't gonna say anything else that might get in her way but he did cast his eyes about looking for the source of whatever caused this.

Wendel rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:44, Tue 26 Jan 2021.

He says to Helga, "Thank you kindly, lass. If you can hold up the cart, one of the others can hold the wheel in place, I can take care of the rest, I think."

To Victor,"Oh, I know. Been waiting here for hours. Unfortunately, I had no way of signalling for help until the sun set. Cart threw a wheel, and fixin' it's a three-dwarf job. Though a dwarf, a half-orc and another, can manage in a pinch. Name's Horace Gemeye, of Clan Stonecutter."

To Wendel, "Gems are my specialty, glad you like them."

"Pleasure, Horace. Victor or Carmen could probably do the wheel, why don't you let me hold that torch, I've already got one what's another." Wendel shrugged. "So gems? Probably why you didn't want to leave the wagon to head into town and ask for help. I'm glad nobody came to bother you." Looking at the big crossbow any potential highwaymen, if that was even a problem here, would probably be happy they didn't either.

Helga walked to the end of the cart and lifted it slowly.
OOC: Helga rolled a 15 on a d20+4 Strength check.

The cart was pretty heavy, but Helga managed without great difficulty, though she was unsure how long she could manage. Horace already had his tools ready. He put down his crossbow, handed Wendell his torch, and said to Victor, as he pointed, "Just hold that wheel up right there," The wheel wasn't all that heavy, but holding it up was tiring. He quickly set to work, his stubby fingers more nimble than one might expect. He had to improvise some hardware, but within an hour, he managed to get the wheel in place.

Victor and Helga, I'd like a DC 10 CON save for each of you. Failure means a level of exhaustion.

Victor leans his glaive against a nearby stump and hurries over to heft the wheel into place, straining a little. It wasn't that it was overly heavy, just awkward to hold.

OOC: 14:58, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  CON SAVE.

Helga felt a bit nervous. She hadn't realized at first just how heavy the cart was. "Do not mean rudeness... But please work speedily...!" She said with a hint of urgency.

OOC: Helga rolled a 13 on a 1d20+5 Con Save

"Wheel lifting isn't a strong point of mine, but I can lend a hand for sure." replied Carmen. She was only just five feet tall and not strong looking at all.

She turned her attention to the dwarf. "Looks like a spot of bother. I'm so pleased we found you. If it hadn't have been for your light, we would never have spotted you. Do you have trade and business to do in our town? I'm sure you'll be well received." she asks.

With both torches burning almost all the way down in the time it took to get the wheel on Wendel spent most of his time waiting for the others as he shuffled back and forth and stamped his feet to keep warm.

"Well, Mr. Gemeye, I'm glad we were able to help out. I think we've got the rest of our patrol we've got to get to. Are you going to be alright getting the rest of the way into town?"

He says to Carmen, "I'll be setting up shop in Smith's Gambit. Even in the frontier, folks like jewelry!"

Then to Wendel, he chuckles, "Long as the wheel holds, I'll be fine! Just... when you're done with your patrol, look for me at the inn. I'll make sure the innkeeper knows to let you know if I made it, and if not, you know where I can be found!"

Wendel chuckled along with dwarf, "Well I hope it holds. We'll be sure to look you up. While your at the inn, if spot a tall blonde wearing a small iron key as necklace, would you let her know I'm, Wendel, is doing alright out here. She's my sister, Luna, she'll probably have her nose in a book somewhere apart from everybody but present, at least for a little while longer tonight.. Uhm she may also be looking for work to pay for the rooms she got us, I don't know that she knows gems much. Maybe if you need an apprentice well, up to you. Anyway, take care Horace."

One torch burned out, the other flickering down to almost nothing. "Hey Victor, d'you have another one of these you'd like to light up? Or shall we just go by the lantern light for a little while?" He shivered at the thought but he'd tough out the cold if needed.

Victor rummages around in his pack and procures a bundle of torches which he hands to Wendel.

"We should escort you back to Smith's Gambit, it is dark and we are out here for the purpose of protection of the people. It's not far but if anything happens to you or your cart it would be a number of hours before any help would come."

He looks to the others, his gaze finishing on Carmen as though deferring to her judgement, "It will only add a little delay to our patrol but I think it's a good idea."

OOC: Victor will give all of his torches to Wendel, 10 total including the ones he already gave you earlier.

What seemed an inconsequential action from the tiefling resulted in what would have been a bead of sweat on Wendel's brow. He was already carrying just about as much as he could, which wasn't much. The straw that broke the camels back was a phrase for a reason. Not that the small half-elf's back was breaking but he was certainly straining a little more now. If they had to start walking he'd probably start lagging behind. "Oh."

Grunt "Thanks." He took off his bag and started trying to load most of the torches into that while lighting one with the burnt out remains of the other. With one lit and the remains of the others stuffed in his bag to he straightened up standing tall as he could. He'd bare it a while longer if he had to.

OOC: If he keeps the torches, which seems like he's going to try to do, Wendel will be encumbered and knocked down to 20ft movement speed..
This message was last edited by the player at 03:15, Thu 28 Jan 2021.

"I totally agree. Escorting people to the settlement is exactly what we should be doing. It's only a short distance, so it won't be too much trouble, and we need to pass by one of the northern gates so you can accompany us to our next destination."

Carmen looks somewhat green-eyed at the gems that Gemeye has woven in his beard, but she's no thief. Maybe sometime in the future she would have her very own gems.

Seeing Wendel struggle, she took some of the torches from his pack and added them to her own. "I'm carrying light. Let me help you with those." she suggests.

Horace says, "Well, if you're going that way anyway, thanks. So, what's Smith's Gambit like? Word is, its full of goblins and criminals, yet almost crime-free. I have my doubts, but if the rumors are true, Smith must run a tight ship." While Carmen did follow a bounty here, none of you have witnessed any crimes yet. You have seen a handful of goblins at and around the inn, though. Mostly, though, you've seen a lot of laborers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:47, Thu 28 Jan 2021.

Victor shrugs, "I've only just blown into town myself, by the looks of it there were a lot of hardworking folks. I saw a few goblins here and there but they looked to be working just like everyone else."

Carmen smiled at the thought of the town being free of crime. "The one thing I can attest to is how cold it is. Before I arrived, I'd never felt the cold the way I do now. Even had to go against all fashion sense and wear these things!" she says, lamenting her choice of warm weather clothing.

With Carmen lightening the load for him, Wendel straightened up again looking a little better for it. A little. He nodded his thanks to Carmen and listened to Gemeye's statement and the responses so far. Was it the extra weight or did the little half-elf just stiffen a bit at the mention of criminals in Smith's Gambit. His smile faltered. "Maybe folks come out this way to start over. Smith's just giving folks a chance to turn over new leaves..." It almost sounded defensive. Wendel's eyes flicked to the others and settled on Helga, maybe looking for some source of backup if his words were misinterpreted. "We ought to get moving, this standing around just makes the cold bite harder. And we've only got so many torches..." After that his lips sealed shut and the smile he'd worn up until now was all but gone.

Helga herself was watching Gemeye with a quirked brow for a few moments. She most certainly did not like the sound of other races mentioned in conjunction with crime rates. "Am not to mean rudeness. But, you do not imply a goblin is criminal only for being goblin, yes?" She asked Gemeye, still keeping her words polite but with a stern motherly tone. She took a subtle step to shift closer to Wendle, just in case.

Horace shrugged. "That's what people say. Don't know any goblins, myself, but I've met a lot of people that don't think highly of them. 'Course, they say the same about half-orcs and tieflings, but lookin' and you folks, I find that hard to believe. Guess I'll find out what's true for myself," he said.

Helga nodded, feeling slightly better about the situation but still on alert. "Well, is good to know before you judge, yes?"

"True. Certainly beats spending all night sitting by a broken cart in the cold. Speaking of, lets get moving, before Wendel freezes to death!" Horace says, before getting his mule moving.

Victor moves over to the stump and retrieves his glaive, falling into position to the rear and left of the cart as it slowly moves ahead.

Helga fell into step at the right rear of the cart, keeping alert for any knew dangers or anyone else in need of help.

Wendel nods his thanks to Carmen for lightening his load and to Horace for suggesting moving again still looking a little uncomfortable and a distantly in thought. He finds himself toward the front of their little group as he is carrying the light.

"Absolutely. I'm not feeling inclined to stand around chit-chatting in the cold when we can get you back to warmth and safety." replies Carmen, and she takes the lead once more in the patrol.

You all make it to the perimeter road in short order. The town itself is a half-hour due east, while the first watchtower you need to check in at is directly north. Its been just shy of two hours since you began your watch, though the only penalty for staying out late is the obvious: You might run into more monsters, and you'll likely not have time to finish a second patrol before you get too tired.

Regardless, Horace says, "I think I'll be fine from here on out, as I'm right in the path of any patrol might be comin' from the town. As I said, check in at the inn for me. If I'm still awake, I'm sure we can find a pub to have a few tankards, and if I'm asleep, I hear there's gonna be another day, after this one!" He lets out a bellowing laugh, clearly very pleased with his own jest.

"Yes,that sounds good. I imagine a nice mulled wine would be nice after this."

Victor gives the dwarven jeweller a wave farewell.

Turning to the others he says, "So far so good. We had best hurry along to the next post, if we're over late it might make the people at the watchtower worry."

"Yes. Must move briskly. Night is getting older." Helga agreed and turned north towards the tower they were headed to. "Want to finish before sunrise, yes?" She asked with a playful grin that was somewhat ruined by the small tusks poking from her lower lip.

If you wish, you can make up the lost time by moving at a faster pace for the rest of the night. You'll take a penalty to passive perception, but you can cover the whole patrol in just under six hours.

"I'm all for speeding things up, but I don't think we have a time limit on these patrols. I can't help thinking we're not the first patrol group to encounter something that causes a delay, and we certainly won't be the last." suggests Carmen.

"Better to keep a regular pace and not miss seeing another Gemeye, don't you think?"

Victor nods in agreement with Carmen, "Lathander teaches us that a job worth doing is worth doing well. We'll be extra cold and tired at the end of the patrol but it will be worth it."

The 'already cold but not going to complain about it' Wendel nodded along to Victor's words of wisdom a little disappointed. He'd signed up for this knowing full well there would be consequences and this wasn't even the tough bit he was sure. "So, what's brought you all out here? I know you wanted to do the chatter back at the tavern when we were done, Carmen, but we've got hours ahead of us.. Wouldn't hurt to talk a little about ourselves would it? Or we could talk about this lovely weather." There was the sound of a weak smile at the end there. Someone trying to lift his own spirits out of the cold they'd sunk into.

Helga had a worried frown on her face. "If cold, please come here." She offered again.

"For me I am here for a new life in a new place I suppose. I uncovered some teachings of Lathander that the Brothers and Sisters of my Order did not want known so I decided to leave before things got out of hand."

He has slung his glaive across his back once more and is now rubbing his hands together and periodically drawing his clothes tighter about himself as they shake loose from their travelling.

---

OOC: 14:03, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 17 using 1d20.  Deception: Half Truths.
DC 20 becuase I forgot to add his +3 in the dice roller :/
If you have stupid a high insight you might detect that there is something more that Victor hasn't said.

Carmen, though cheery, decides to hold off on giving away too much about herself. "Bounty hunter on her travels. Looking for my mark in the Gambit as tracks led him here."

Helga realized all eyes had turned to her and she looked away, cheeks dusted with embarrassment. There was no way they wanted to hear the story of some big dumb brute. They were just being polite. "Um... Is not interesting..." She mumbled, toying with the frayed ends on her jacket.

"What about you Wendel?" Victor asks, noting Helga's reluctance to speak and assuming he is not Carmen's bounty.

The motherly command of the big woman has Wendel falling back into step in their original formation, with everyone else sort of buffering him from the cold again. He looks at Helga and offers a "Thank you." The conversation helps as well, even if it is just a little. Still as they talk he keeps his eyes peeled for any other obvious signs of something out there. No way they can get as lucky as they had with Gemeye again.

"Not to dissimilar from yourself Victor. My sister and I came out here for a new life in a new place as well. Nothing to do with Lathandar or an order or anything, so maybe not so similar." He lets a small chuckle like laugh out at his incongruity. "Out here I'm trying to be something more than I used to be, something different, something better. Someone better" A slight pause, there's something more there. "I uh, I used to help sell stolen goods. It was the only thing I knew for a while but with Luna's help and for her sake as well as mine, I've left all that behind." He looks over at Carmen a little sheepishly, "I don't think I ever did anything that would set somebody to send a bounty hunter after me but even so.. You would tell me if you were here for me... Right?"

"Believe me, if you were my mark, you and I would be having a serious conversation at the end of my spear right now." says Carmen, narrowing her eyes and staring at Wendel. "Got a contract on your head? No? Don't worry..."

She breaks out the hard-ass routine and laughs..."My mark is human, plain as day that's not you. Don't fret nothing."

Helga had mostly withdrawn from the conversation verbally. But was still listening along. She didn't want to bore them or impose anything. So she kept quiet. But had a weary look on her face as she stuck close to Wendle.

Wendel nods and seems to relax ever so slightly, laughing at Carmen's statement. "What gave it away?" He says jokingly. "The pointy ears?"

He looks over to Helga again, some concern lines his brow momentarily, but doesn't impose on her any. Perhaps he will ask if she is alright in a moment if she doesn't offer anything more but for now he turns back to looking all about. "You must have uncovered something rather important if it sent you running all this way." He notes to Victor.

Victor nods sagely at Wendel's story, "To better one's self is a noble pursuit, I hope you have made proper penance for your misdeeds so that you can move on."

Listening to the brief back and forth Victor frowns slightly at Wendel's last observation, "Quite important, yes, and if it were not someone who looked like me that found the scripture then they may have actually listened. Such are the mysterious ways of the gods... If you wish to learn more about Lathander's teachings then perhaps I will enlighten you some time."

Proper penance... The phrase seems to strike at something deep. Wendel doesn't nod or say anything for a little while. He finally does break his own silence again though. "The gods never did much for me... But it probably wouldn't hurt to learn a little more about any or all of them. Knowledge is power they say."

"My understanding is that they most help those who help themselves and others, the good ones anyway, and you've already made a good start down that path tonight. As for knowledge and power, they are similar yes, but it is how they are used that makes the difference."

Peering out into the darkness Victor hopes that they come upon their first stop soon. Even a brief respite out of the cold would be most welcome. He bounces for a few steps, stretching his frozen leg muscles a little and thinking of how cramped and sore they will be come the morning.

Wendel and Victor seem to be having a right good talk about gods and the likes. Carmen had never held much faith in trusting the gods, so what they were saying just fell by the wayside. She kept her counsel to herself, and stared off in the distance much as Helga was doing so currently.

The patrol continues. Stopping at one tower after the other, you make the first round with no trouble. You round the northeast tower just before sunrise, and as you continue south, you see a group of shapes in the distance to the east, silhouetted in the sunrise. Two creatures seem to be carrying a large bundle, while two others move to intercept you. They are about 120 feet away, and dashing your direction. Their silhouettes resemble the description of the fishmen you were told to watch out for.

"Who goes there?!" Victor's voice booms out into the night, supernaturally loud and eerie in the relative quiet.

Drawing his greatsword, the tiefling hurries forward to put himself about 10 feet ahead of Wendel, between the half-elf and the oncoming silhouettes. His movement and stance indicate a disciplined confidence and his choice of positioning seems to be defensive in nature.

OOC: Will cast Thaumaturgy to have the volume boost.

Helga also moved forward, drawing her greataxe and growling, standing in front of Wendel in a defensive stance.

Carmen moves to intercept, but has a defensive awareness about her. "We mean you no harm. Would you like an escort to the settlement?" she calls out loudly.

As the two shadows carrying the bundle continue toward the ocean, the approaching fishmen spread out and slow down, stopping 30 feet from you, and 60 from each other. One shouts to the other,  The other laughs, and makes sounds like someone who doesn't understand common trying to mimic its general sound, in a clearly mocking voice. Then it says,  It holds its hands to its throat like someone who's choking. They both laugh, a strange burbling laughter.

Helga frowned deeply. "Does anyone speak fish-man?" she asked nervously.

"No, but that looks like it could a person those other two are carrying to the ocean and one of them looked like they were miming drowning. I don't think we should wait to find out."

Victor prepares to chase after the creatures, locking his arms into a ready position at one side with the tip of his greatsword pointed skyward.

---

OOC: Initiative 4
Use Action to dash for total movement speed of 60ft, moving between the two nearer fishmen towards the ones further away.

Hooded Lantern: Bright light in 30ft radius, dim light for another 30ft beyond that
HP: 11/11 | AC: 16 | Spd: 30ft. | Lay On Hands 5/5 | Divine Sense 4/4

15:01, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 4 using 1d20.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:32, Sat 06 Feb 2021.

Wendel's eyes go wide but when Victor mentions the fact that someone might be drowning momentarily something else fills those same eyes. Determination. He keeps behind Helga for the most part but steps out just enough to raise his hand and point at one of the mocking fishmen. Drawing it back and making a fist he starts speaking in a very gravelly voice unlike anything he'd sounded like up to this point. He punctuates his statement, whatever it is he is speaking, with an air punch, looking very much like a kid practicing his kiddie martial arts. The motion of his arm stops but something else propels a kinetic energy forward creating a beam that looks to be filled with rock and sand conjured up from nothing. Quickly he steps back behind the protective Helga hoping he won't have to take something like he just dished out.

Initiative: 7
Movement: Follow Helga, or stay put with her depending on initiative and action taken. After Action move back behind her again.

Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 19 for 7 Force and 2 Bludgeoning (Genie's Wrath)

Wendel rolled 7 using 1d20+3 Initiative
Wendel rolled 19,7 using D20+5,d10.  Eldritch Blast

This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Sat 06 Feb 2021.

Carmen was trying to negotiate, but the fishmen looked hostile. They may even be kidnapping somebody. Clearly she had seen them wrong in the first instance. Having the advantage of range, she laid her mark upon one and began to draw upon the eldritch energies within herself. Holding on to the talisman upon her neck, she pointed at the fishman on the right and sent a weak shot of energy rolling towards him.

22:11, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Initiative. – [roll=1612707061.74952.352983]
22:03, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 4 using 1d10+2.  Damage. – [roll=1612706618.00881.352983]
22:03, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast attack. – [roll=1612706602.81528.352983]

AC 13 for 4 force damage

Helga saw her compatriots burst into action and was a good little orc barbarian and followed suit,brandishing her axe. She lacked ranged attacks and was unwilling to leave Wendel defenseless. But the person in that bag! But her allies! But Victor was up there alone! The orc woman growled and stayed resolutely in front of the smaller man, glaring with a look that dared any of the fish people to come closer.

19:56, Today: Helga Arstophka rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
20:00, Today: Helga Arstophka rolled 7 using 1d20+3.  Intimidation.

Carmen fires a blast of eldritch energies at the fishmen on the right, barely injuring him.
The nearer fishmen move to attack, while the farther ones continue moving away.
One attempts to bite Victor, but Victor instinctively holds its head at bay with his weapon. However, this leaves Victor open to the fishman's spear, which deals 8 piercing damage!
The other bites Helga for 2 piercing damage, then spears her for 9 piercing damage!

Everyone else, let me know if you wish to stick with your previously posted action, or post a new one in light of the fishmen's first round. Carmen may post her 2nd round action, if she likes.


Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

E2 has taken 4 damage


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:29, Sun 14 Feb 2021.

"Ah!" Victor cries out in pain as he is impaled by the fishman's spear.

Abandoning his plan to chase after the distant creatures, he swings his greatsword in a violent arc toward the enemy on his left.

---

Greatsword attack vs E1 hits AC 15 for 11 slashing damage. If this is a killing blow Victor will move to F23.
Hooded Lantern: Bright light in 30ft radius, dim light for another 30ft beyond that
HP: 3/11 | AC: 16 | Spd: 30ft. | Lay On Hands 5/5 | Divine Sense 4/4

16:21, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 11 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,2.  Greatsword damage.
16:21, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 15 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 10.  Greatsword attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Thu 11 Feb 2021.

Seeing the enemies advance quickly, Carmen took another shot at the enemy to the right as it engaged Helga. Her eldritch energies seemed to strike unerringly true this time, enveloping the fishman almost completely.

13:24, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 14 using 2d10+2.  Damage (Crit). – [roll=1613021085.77846.352983] (forgot the +2 on the roller)

13:24, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast E2. – [roll=1613021062.30898.352983]

AC 24 critical hit for 14 damage!

Round 1, cont:
Helga glares at the fishman who had attacked her!
Wendel fires a beam of earth from his fist at the fishman who savaged Helga, seriously wounding it!
Victor slashes deeply into the shoulder of the fishman who had stabbed him.

Round 2
Just as one of the fishmen opens its mouth to take another bite out of Helga, Carmen fires another blast, straight into the toothy maw, killing it instantly!
The two distant fishmen continue to move away. They've stepped down an embankment, out of sight.
The remaining fishman screams in rage, sidesteps Victor, and attacks Helga in a frenzy! He hits with his bite for 2 piercing damage, then critically hits with his spear for 9 piercing damage! Helga refuses to fall! Wendel needs her! (activating the relentless endurance racial trait, so Helga has 1 HP left!)

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

E1 has taken 11 damage
E2 has taken 27 damage and is dead


This message was last edited by the GM at 07:18, Tue 16 Feb 2021.

"Zariel [Language unknown: anyha pe]! They're getting away!" Victor growls before launching into pursuit. Somehow he manages the unwieldy maneuver of storing the greatsword and preparing to draw his glaive midstride.

---

Assuming that Helga or Wendel has downed E1 by Victor's turn he will stow the greatsword and give chase using his Action to Dash for a total of 60ft to F17.
If E1 is still alive he'll swing his greatsword first, hitting AC 17 for 11 slashing damage, then chase for 30ft F23 assuming E1 is now down.
Hooded Lantern: Bright light in 30ft radius, dim light for another 30ft beyond that
HP: 3/11 | AC: 16 | Spd: 30ft. | Lay On Hands 5/5 | Divine Sense 4/4
19:13, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 11 using 2d6+3.  Greatsword damage if needed.
19:12, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Greatsword attack if needed.

Carmen sees Helga being attacked heavily and the only thing she can do is step to a direction that allows her own attack to hit without blasting through Helga herself. Her friend was in trouble, and the only thing Carmen could do was to take the offensive and hope that the fishman went down without delay.

Incanting eldritch words, a somewhat weak blast of energy hits the fishman, but it was already wounded and maybe this would send it on its way.


Move: Move to I25 taking the scenic route
Action: Hits AC 22 for 4 damage
16:12, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 4 using 1d10.  Damage. – [roll=1613463125.61293.352983]
16:11, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast. – [roll=1613463111.14467.352983]

Helga had stood between him and the incoming fishfolk and had suffered for it. Wendel couldn't let that continue to happen. With gravelly word and motion of his ring hand toward the half orc woman a ward of sand-like particles shift into existence around her. Something about the way these particles, practically invisible, shift and move seem to give off a feeling of desire not to harm the woman protected by them. A sort of sanctuary. With that done he follows Victor's lead charging after the fleeing folk with a body between them while swinging wide of the fishmfolk's weapons. As he runs he turns to send another blast toward the remaining aggressor. Once more a beam of force and rock and sand flys out from his ringed hand to pummel the target but he doesn't watch to see if it connects. And that could be a problem.

Bonus Action: Cast Sanctuary on Helga
 You ward a creature within range against Attack. Until the spell ends, any creature who Targets the warded creature with an Attack or a harmful spell must first make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature must choose a new target or lose the Attack or spell. This spell doesn't protect the warded creature from area Effects, such as the explosion of a Fireball.

If the warded creature makes an Attack or casts a spell that affects an enemy creature, this spell ends.
Since her turn comes before mine, even if she attacks this round it should stick around til next I believe. Save DC = 13

Movement: 30 ft after Victor stepping around the field of attack.

Action: Cast Eldritch Blast at E1. Hits AC 9 for 3 force and 2 Bludgeoning damage

Wendel rolled 9,3 using D20+5,d10.  Eldritch Blast.

Round 2, cont:
Helga flies into a rage and swings her greataxe at the fishman! The fishman raises its arms to defend with its spear, catching the haft of the axe for barely a moment, only for the force of the blow to shatter the hands holding the spear, and embed the axe-head in the fishman's skull. She wrenches the axe free, and moves in the direction of the other fishmen.
Wendel casts a spell of protection on Helga and follows behind her.
Victor dashes towards the fleeing fishmen.

Round 3
Carmen follows her friends
There are no fishmen in sight, but the embankment is about 80' to the north of  Victor.

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

Helga still has only 1 HP
E1 has taken 22 damage and is dead
E2 has taken 27 damage and is dead

Fueled by the desire to help whoever it was out there Wendel continues charging, almost neck and neck with victor, toward where the fishfolk had disappeared down the embankment hoping against hope that he can see or heck, even hear, something useful.

Movement/Action: Dash 60ft toward embankment.
 If he's close enough to see them he'll yelp out their position and what they're doing and subsequently drop prone if they're 40 to 90 feet of him by that point.

Edit: Wendel rolled 17 using 1d20+4. Perception (forgot to memo it in the die roller. Can reroll if you need me to.)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:18, Sat 20 Feb 2021.

Victor matches Wendel's pace, coming to a stop near the half-elf and holding his glaive at the ready. The tiefling is blowing hard, his ragged breath misting in the cool air and mingling with the steam rising from his bloody spear wound. While his stance is confident and his countenance fierce, it is clear that his stamina is flagging.

OOC: Move + Dash action for 60ft of movement ending at G5

Carmen, also fueled by a desire to save whatever poor unfortunates are being whisked away, dashes forward until she can see one of the fishmen in range of her eldritch blasts. If she is able to see one quickly enough, she lets loose the blast.

OOC: Move + Dash 60'

Moving into chase rules (DMG 252, for those who want to read along.) Basically, after 3+CON rounds of Dashing, if you Dash again, you must make a DC 10 CON check or take a level of exhaustion. You may attack and cast spells as normal, but no opportunity attacks. With each post, I need each of you to roll a d20, to determine whether or not you receive a chase complication for the next round (I've rolled for you this round. No complications.) Below the initiative, I will give each characters location in terms of distance behind the lead target, and list how many free Dashes they have left. When a character is out, that line will be purple

Helga Dashes!
Wendel Dashes! As he clears the embankment he sees the fishmen ahead, and shouts their location!
Victor Dashes! He can now see the fishmen ahead!
Carmen Dashes! She too, can now see the fishmen ahead!
The fishmen see that their being chased. The stop for a moment. One helps the other lift the bundle over its shoulder, and takes the other's spear. Then they both move forward.

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

The lead fishman has 4 free dashes left
the second fishman is 0 feet from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left
Victor is 110 ft from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left
Wendel is 115 feet from the lead fishman and has no free dashes left
Helga is 120 ft from the lead fishman and has 5 free dashes left
Carmen is 130 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left

Helga still has only 1 HP

Carmen continues moving, catching up slightly as the fishmen adjust their load. She takes aim, but poorly misses with a blast of eldritch energy that was directed at the fishman carrying a bundle.


Move: Move forward 30'
Action: Eldritch blast misses AC 8.

09:46, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 9 using 1d20.  Complication. – [roll=1613958409.89917.352983]
09:46, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast vs bundle fishman. – [roll=1613958395.60463.352983]

Huffing and puffing from the exertion of just getting this far, Wendel slows down and takes aim. They're close enough for a blast and so he lets loose with more earthen speak and another air punch releasing another beam of force, sand, and rock at the one carrying the bundle. Immediately after that his hands drop to his knees as he sucks air. This was going to be difficult...

Move: 30ft closer (no more dashing for this guy)

Action: Eldritch Blast 20 AC for 10 force and 2 Bludgeoning (Genie's Wrath)

Chase roll: 13

Wendel rolled 20,10 using D20+5,d10.  Eldritch Blast.

Wendel rolled 13 using 1d20.  Chase (applicable w/o dash?).

"Grraarahahh," Victor growls in frustration as he catches his second wind and continues his pursuit of the fishmen.

"Drop the bag and begone!" he calls after the fleeing fishmen, unsure that they can even hear him with the wind whipping past them let alone understand him.

OOC: Will use a free dash, 2 remain.
16:50, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 1 using 1d20.  Chase Complication.

Helga's rage ends. As she regains her senses, she sees that the others are continuing the chase, and continues to follow behind, dashing.
Wendel slows down, and fires an eldritch blast at the lead fishman, striking it hard in the back! Yes, chase complications happen whether you dash or not.
Victor Dashes! His path takes him through a rough patch of brush. Make a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (your choice) to get past the brush. On a failed check, the brush counts as 5 feet of difficult terrain.
Carmen slows down and fires a blast at the lead fishman, but misses. Her path takes you near a patch of razorvine. Make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or use 10 feet of
movement (your choice) to avoid the razorvine. On a failed save, you take 1d10 slashing damage.
The lead fishman dashes, he too, comes near a patch of razorvine.
The other fishman turns around and heads back toward the party, trying to intercept. He raises a spear to throw at whoever comes close!

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

The lead fishman has 3 free dashes left. It has taken 12 damage
the second fishman is 30 feet from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left
Victor is 110 ft from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left
Wendel is 145 feet from the lead fishman and has no free dashes left
Helga is 120 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left
Carmen is 160 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left

Helga still has only 1 HP

Wendel looks up at the others out stripping him, shakes his head clear of the fatigue trying to set in and starts jogging again, a plan forming in his mind. "Victor!" He shouts as he tries to catch up. His hand is extended with the ring he'd been wearing grasped between finger and thumb.

As he gets closer he continues. "Get this as close to him as you can. The far one."

The half elf drops his ring onto the end of one of Victor's javelins then touches the ring and, with concentration flitting across his face for a brief moment, vanishes into a cloud of sand that seems to be sucked into the compartment of the ring.

Move: Up to Victor
Free action: ring on javelin
Action: Bottled Respite and enter my vessel.

Chase roll: 1 (dang)

Wendel rolled 1 using 1d20.  Chase.

Victor slows just enough for Wendel to do what he is doing and gasps when the half-elf disappears.

His momentum thrown off slightly he shakes the surprise and carries on, grasping the javelin by the haft and launching at far as he can mid-stride.

OOC: Move 30ft
Action throw javelin at long range up to 120ft: Hits AC 9 for 5 piercing.
07:47, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 5 using 1d6+3.  javelin damage if needed.
07:47, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 9 using 2d20+3, dropping the highest dice only.  Javelin toss disadvantage.
Chase roll: 07:47, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 7 using 1d20.  Chase complication.

Carmen neatly sidesteps the razorvine by taking her time and avoiding it. However, with the fishman with the spear stopping to defend, he still comes into range of her abilities. She unleashes an eldritch blast of energy, striking it in the non spear holding arm to minor effect.
HP: 10/10 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 0/1 (SR)
Action: Eldritch Blast | Move: 20' forwards, avoiding razorvine | Bonus: N/A
07:08, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 3 using 1d10.  Damage. – [roll=1614121710.04752.352983]
07:08, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch blast defending fishman. – [roll=1614121698.95799.352983]
07:06, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 16 using 1d20.  Chase complication. – [roll=1614121560.3316.352983]
This message was last edited by the player at 08:10, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

Helga continues to dash. The second fishman uses his readied action to throw his spear at her. She's down!
Wendel moves up to Victor, places a ring on Victor's javelin, and vanishes into the ring as a cloud of sand. (and earns Inspiration for his clever thinking!)He gets motion sickness from the motion of being thrown. Make a DC 10 CON save or be poisoned (PHB 292.) (there is no "nauseated" condition, so...)  You may repeat the save at the end of each round. This replaces your normal chase complication.
Victor moves forward, leaping over the brush, and throws the javelin with the ring on it. Though he doesn't hit the fishman, the javelin does stick into the snow next to it! However he stumbles into a hunter's snare! Make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw to avoid it. On a failed save, you are caught in a net and restrained. See chapter 5 "Equipment," of the Player's Handbook for rules on escaping a net.
Carmen goes around the razorvine, and fires a blast at the second fishman, barely hurting it.
The lead fishman continues dashing, going around the razorvine. Uneven ground threatens to slow its progress. Make a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to
navigate the area. On a failed check, the ground counts as 10 feet of difficult terrain
The other fishman moves closer to the party and throws the other spear at Victor, missing! His path leads into more ****ing razorvine!

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

The lead fishman has 2 free dashes left. It has taken 12 damage
Wendel is 5 feet from the lead fishman (but in his ring) and has no free dashes left
The second fishman is 120 feet from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left. It has taken 3 damage.
Helga is 120 ft from the lead fishman (next to the second fishman) and has 4 free dashes left (but she's unconsious)
Victor is 140 ft from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left
Carmen is 190 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left

Helga has 0 HP!
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:02, Thu 25 Feb 2021.

Seeing her newfound ally go down makes Carmen mad at the injustice of it all. Summoning more dark energies, she casts them at the fishman in an effort to scare him away as she approached. She wasn't far off....could she save her ally from death?

HP: 10/10 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 0/1 (SR)
Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 15 for 5 damage| Move: 30' forwards | Bonus: N/A
07:22, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 11 using 1d20.  Chase complication. – [roll=1614208949.38357.352983]
07:22, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 5 using 1d10.  Damage. – [roll=1614208937.54235.352983]
07:22, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Attack 2nd fishman. – [roll=1614208927.17347.352983]

Victor is caught up in the hunter's snare which slows him down. He has to struggle before getting a good grip and tearing it apart.

He untangles himself and his wicked looking polearm then moves to face off against the nearer fishman, Helga's unconscious form slumped betwixt them, the glaive's blade high and right as if poised to drop and sever head from neck or limb from body.

The tiefling's face makes it clear that attacking the half-orc's unconscious form will mean certain death for his foe.

OOC: Victor failed the save and was restrained however uses his Action to make a strength check and bust out of the net, ending the restrained condition.
He moves adjacent to Helga with the second fishman within reach of his polearm while not being adjacent.+
Will use reaction to make an opportunity attack if the fishman leaves his threatened reach with the glaive.

16:34, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 18 using 1d20.  Chase complication?
16:32, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Strength Check to escape net! SUCCESS
16:32, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 14 using 1d20.  Dex Save or be netted! FAIL

Wendel feels the motion of the spear being thrown, something he hadn't expected, and his stomach does a little flip. However his mind continues racing along the possibilities of how close he might be and how much he will risk if he appears now. If he's to close to the fishmen he could be in danger of being attacked and becoming a liability to the team. He has to time this right. What could he do to prepare himself? Well there was something he could do.

He shuffles over to the walls of the beautifully decorated inner compartment of the ring steadying himself and suppressing the desire to become sick. Rest, recuperate. He could just stay here until everything blew over. He didn't have to risk his life for someone or heck something he didn't even know. But that is why he is out here after all, braving the cold, making a name for himself. Proving himself to himself.

Still the timing has to be right. The fragile little half elf takes a few seconds and breathes in deep. With more earthen speak that only he can here within his vessel he feels the connection to Radha even stronger here and what's more he brings the cold from outside the vessel in but uses it to surrounded himself in a protective sheen of the arctic cold. Now wait. Wait for the right moment.

He listens for the sound of receding footsteps.

Action: Cast Armor of Agathys- 5 temp hp for an hour and 5 cold to anyone who melees me.

 Remain in the ring for one round.

Helga fails a death save!Helga continues to dash. The second fishman uses his readied action to throw his spear at her. She's down!
The motion of the vessel flying through the air makes Wendel momentarily nauseous. He remains in the ring, casting a defensive spell. His nausea clears.
Victor gets caught up in a net, but bursts out of it, and moves to protect Helga. (Victor, the 2nd fishman, and Helga are technically no no longer in the chase, at the moment, but in combat with each other, so no chase complications at the moment. Ignore the one I posted for the fishman last round.)
Carmen Moves forward and blasts the fishman again, hoping to deter it from continuing to threaten her friends.
The lead fishman continues dashing.
The other fishman takes a few steps forward and attacks Victor. His bite does 2 damage His claws rip into Victor. Victor goes down! He runs back towards his leader.

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

The lead fishman has 1 free dashes left. It has taken 12 damage
Wendel is 65 feet from the lead fishman (but in his ring) and has no free dashes left
The second fishman is 155 feet from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left. It has taken 8 damage.
Helga is 180 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left (but she's unconsious)
Victor is 180 ft from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left (but he's unconsious)
Carmen is 220 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left

Helga has 0 HP!
Victor has 0 HP!

As the world goes dark Victor thinks about how cold he is, warmth leaking from his wounds.

He tries to open his eyes but they remain stuck closed. Despite this he sees light creeping in around the edges of the inside of eyelids... the light of the sun.

There is a presence there, is Lathandar here for him? No, the presence becomes a winged figure, a silhouette blotting out the sun behind her. She is here.

A small smile plays across the unconscious tiefling's lips as he slips into dark, undreaming unconciousness.

07:45, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 10 using 1d20.  Death Saving Throw. 1 Success

Wendel takes another deep breath and then with a thought incoporealizes and rematerializes back in the cold of the outside worl. As the sands settle into his form he reaches down to draw the javelin out of the snow and grab his ring off of it and charges after the lead fishman once more. No time to look back and see how his friends were doing. His calculation was right and the creature was a distance away but not out of reach for a few more second at least. As he runs he pulls back his hand to release yet another beam of sand and stone and force at the fleeing creature.

Bonus Action: exit bottled respite
Free action retrieve javelin/ring combo

Movement: 30ft toward lead fishman
Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 22 for 3 force and 2 Bludgeoning damage (Genie's Wrath)

Chase: 9

Wendel rolled 22,3 using D20+5,d10.  Eldritch Blast.

Wendel rolled 9 using 1d20.  Chase

As Victor also goes down, Carmen is left in two minds. Should she dash forward and help Helga with her wounds, or blast the fishman standing over Victor and send it on its way? She chose the latter, hoping that she will be quick enough to save both of her allies. Thanking her lucky stars as the blast hits once more, she continues her move closer to Helga in the desperate hope that she has a healers kit stashed in her belongings that can be used to staunch her bleeding.

HP: 10/10 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 0/1 (SR)
Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 20 for 5 damage | Move: 30' forwards towards Helga | Bonus: N/A
07:34, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 1 using 1d20.  Chase Complication. – [roll=1614296053.17555.352983]
07:33, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 5 using 1d10.  Damage. – [roll=1614296038.91992.352983]
07:33, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Attack 2nd fishman. – [roll=1614296028.70218.352983]

Helga remains unconscious (I won't be doing more Death Saves for her. If her player returns, she can pick up with 1 failed save.)
In a cloud of sand, Wendel emerges from his ring, picks up the Javelin, moves forward and blasts the lead fishman! His path takes him near a patch of razorvine. Make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or use 10 feet of movement (your choice) to avoid the razorvine. On a failed save, you take 1d10 slashing damage
Victor has a lovely little dream. He sees all his childhood pets, some grandparents, its like a Hallmark movie of the week.
Carmen Moves forward and blasts the fishman once more. Her path takes her through a rough patch of brush.
Seriously? It's all 1s and 9s with you people. Make a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (your choice) to get past the brush. On a failed check, the brush counts as 5 feet of difficult terrain.
The lead fishman continues dashing.
The other fishman dashes toward Wendel (reentering the chase)
Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

The lead fishman has 0 free dashes left. It has taken 17 damage
Wendel is 95 feet from the lead fishman (but in his ring) and has no free dashes left
The second fishman is 155 feet from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left. It has taken 13 damage.
Helga is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left (but she's unconsious)
Victor is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left (but he's unconsious)
Carmen is 250 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left

Helga has 0 HP!
Victor has 0 HP!

Victor's breathing approaches steadiness and his bleeding seems to slow but he is not out of danger yet.

That's two Successful Death saves for Victor, one more until stabilised.
18:38, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 13 using 1d20.  Death Saving Throw! SUCCESS!

The blast had damaged the fishman, but it still remained standing. Carmen was faced with a choice, run straight after it or help her fallen friend Helga. In the end, she chose to blast the fishman and get to her allies side.

HP: 10/10 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 0/1 (SR)
Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 11 for 1 damage | Move: 10' towards Helga| Bonus: N/A
15:49, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 17 using 1d20.  Chase Complication. – [roll=1614412181.41864.352983]
15:49, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 1 using 1d10.  Damage. – [roll=1614412163.65365.352983]
15:49, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast Fishman 2. – [roll=1614412152.42917.352983]

With the razorvine cropping up in his path Wendel has no choice but to take his time and valuable steps to get around it. Still at a loss for what to do other than keep trying to hit this guy he pulls back his fist, and with the tongue of the earth itself on his breath once more, releases another blast in that same odd punching motion. That moment of respite in his ring must have been all he needed.

Movement: 10ft around razorvine. 20 ft toward lead fishman.

Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 15 for 8 force damage and 2 Bludgeoning damage (Genie's Wrath)

Chase: 14

Wendel rolled 15,8 using D20+5,d10.  Eldritch Blast.

Wendel rolled 14 using 1d20.  Chase.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:31, Sat 27 Feb 2021.

Helga remains unconscious.
Wendel wisely sidesteps the potentially deadly vines and blasts the lead fishman. It falls, dropping its bundle in the snow.
Victor clings to life. He's still not even sure whose grandparents those are, but one of them is doing cartwheels while trailing red ribbons.
Carmen runs to Helga's side, and grazes the fishman with a blast of energy.
The lead fishman is dead
The other fishman continues dashing. Its focus seems to be ahead, toward its fallen ally.

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

The lead fishman has 0 free dashes left. It has taken 27 damage And is dead!
Wendel is 75 feet from the lead fishman (but in his ring) and has no free dashes left
The second fishman is 95 feet from the lead fishman and has 2 free dashes left. It has taken 14 damage.
Helga is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left (but she's unconsious)
Victor is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left (but he's unconsious)
Carmen is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left

Helga has 0 HP!
Victor has 0 HP! Death saves 2 successes, 0 failures.

16:38, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 5 using 1d20.  Medicine on Victor. – [roll=1614587901.3727.352983]

Carmen tries to work on helping Victor back to his feet. She hopes that she can find a healers kit on him before administering her own form of bleeding prevention.

Carmen's shifting of Victor's body as she searches for healing materials seems to open up the wounds that had nearly stopped bleeding. It seems he doesn't have a healer's kit after all, perhaps he uses some magical ability to heal others?

OOC: No Healer's Kit sorry, the old Lay On Hands trick is great but only if you're conscious to use it!
19:41, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 3 using 1d20.  Death Save. FAIL

Seeing the bundle drop finally after what felt like such a long time, but must have only been less than a minute or two, Wendel lets out a little yelp of joy as his momentum carries him forward. He hazards a look back to give the good news to his companions only to realize that something back there had gone wrong. Seeing the last fishman charging at him, that little moment of joyous victory just vanishes and he lets out a little "Eep!" sound of fear. Hopefully the others don't hear that...

The adrenaline coursing through him again in that double dump one gets from elation turned fear, Wendel keeps running toward where the lead fishman dropped and in panic throws a blast of energy over his shoulder toward the one coming after him.

Move: 30ft toward lead fishman/dropped bundle
Action: Eldritch Blast AC for 3 Force damage and 2 Bludgeoning (Genie's Wrath)

Chase: 4

Wendel rolled 22,3 using D20+5,d10.  Eldritch Blast.

Wendel rolled 4 using 1d20.  Chase.

Helga remains unconscious.
Wendel runs forward and sends a blast over his shoulder at the remaining fishman. A  rock bed blocks his path. Make a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (your choice) to cross the impediment. On a failed check, the impediment counts as 10 feet of difficult terrain.
Victor clings to life. Victor notices a bright light, and begins to head toward it.
Failing to find a healer's kit on him, Carmen tries to shake Victor awake.
The other fishman dashes past Wendel.

Initiative!
Helga 10
Wendel 7
Victor 4
Carmen 22
Fishmen 15

The lead fishman has 0 free dashes left. It has taken 27 damage And is dead!
Wendel is 45 feet from the lead fishman (but in his ring) and has no free dashes left
The second fishman is 35 feet from the lead fishman and has 2 free dashes left. It has taken 19 damage.
Helga is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left (but she's unconsious)
Victor is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 3 free dashes left (but he's unconsious)
Carmen is 240 ft from the lead fishman and has 4 free dashes left

Helga has 0 HP!
Victor has 0 HP! Death saves 2 successes, 0 failures.

The light looks warm and inviting...

OOC: 2 Successes and 2 Fails now.
07:31, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 6 using 2d20, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 6,3.  Death Save with advantage using Inspiration. FAIL

Carmen was watching as the blood poured from Victor. Whatever she was doing, the wounds from the spears of the fishmen just weren't giving in. She was holding rags to the wounds to staunch the flow of blood but nothing was happening. She looked over to Helga, who was also in a dire situation. "Come on now! Hold on to life, don't give in!" she called out as the blood pulsed out of the wound in Victors shoulder.

"Come....on!" she screams out, desperately searching for answers.

05:00, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 4 using 1d20.  Medicine check for Victor. – [roll=1614891627.55277.352983] FAIL

At first Wendel flinches as the fishman comes close and then his eyes widen as the creature just continues past him. Whatever, or whoever, is in that bundle must mean something pretty important to these guys. Not one to miss an opportunity Wendel grips Victor's javelin tight in the one hand his ring in the other.

Reaction: AoO w/ javelin (if applicable) AC 21 for 4 piercing damage.

Action: Eldritch Blast AC 23 for 10 force damage and 2 bludgeoning damage (Genie's Wrath)

Movement: Across rock bed to fishman. Acrobatics 10. And if he's dead, as far as I can toward bundle.

Wendel rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics.

Wendel rolled 21,4 using D20+1,d6-1.  AoO w/ Javelin (if applicable).

Wendel rolled 23,10 using D20+5,d10.  Eldritch Blast.


Hearing Carmen cry out Wendel feels like there is nothing he can do. He sends the smallest of wishes out to his patron. Let him live...

Now that he's used his I'd like to give Victor my inspiration...

Helga remains unconscious.
Wendel leaps over the rock bed, barely clearing it and landing without slowing down, and blasts the fishman. A hit! The fishman falls!
Victor continues toward the light.
Carmen continues to attempt to help Victor, but she just can't slow the bleeding!


The fishmen are down! Carmen, you gain inspiration for good RP. Victor, and Carmen, if you wish, you may each roll another initiative check. If Carmen wins, she can attempt one more wis check to try to stabilize him. Failing that, Victor needs to make one more death save. He may use Wendell's inspiration if he likes.

Out of the corner of her eye, Carmen sees the final fishman go down as Wendel’s eldritch energies finally defeated the last of their enemies. One thing was for certain, without the warlock at their sides things could have been much worse. She puts all of her focus into staunching the blood spurting from Victors wounds....only time will tell if she had succeeded.

OOC: I succeeded with an initiative roll of 13. If Victor beats me on initiative and fails, sadness. If I beat him, he’s stable!

As the last fishman goes down, Wendel feels himself begin to tremble. The adrenaline dump he'd been running on has run out. The javelin in his hand, Victor's javelin, tips downward. He falls to his knees and plants the tip of it in the snow holding on with both hands to keep from falling all the way down.

The little half-elf breathes in and out trying desperately to slow his breathing. He can't look back at where Victor and Helga had both fallen. He can't. Not yet. All he can do is hope that, despite her cry, Carmen has somehow pulled off a miracle.

It's a miracle of its own that Wendel made it to this point without even a scratch. The cold pierces him in the thought and a tear rolls down his face. Swiping it away he stands up with help from the javelin. Looking down at the bodies he'd out down, something in Wendel breaks. Again. These creatures deserved it right? They were the ones that he'd heard about back at Smith's. They had some kind of sacrifice something or other going on out here right? Maybe...

Wendel trudges over to the bundle and takes out his dagger. Carefully he first looks to see if there's an easy way to unwrap it but if not he'll cut it open. If there is someone there and that someone is alive, it might be enough to make him feel that this was all worth it... His bruised hands look even worse right now after channeling all that magic and they don't stop trembling as he opens the bundle.

With Carmen's pressure on the wounds the bleeding soon stops and Victor's breathing calms from the gasping rattles to a quiet and regular puff of misty air. Oblivious to the world around him but otherwise stable for now.

OOC: That sequence of dice rolls was a rollercoaster!
15:59, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 18 using 1d20.  Death Save.
15:59, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 20 using 1d20.  Initi.

The gods were kind! Victor appeared to have stabilised for now, so Carmen headed back to Helga to see if she could do anything to staunch her bleeding.

Since Victor self-stabilised, can I use my medicine roll for Helga instead now? :)

As Victor pulls through on his own, and Carmen stabilizes Helga, Wendel trudges forward with trepidation, to see what the bundle is. Up close, it's easy to tell that it is, in fact, a young elven woman, bound up in salvaged sailcloth, and unconscious, but breathing... barely. Her skin is pale, even for a high elf, and clammy. A living elf's skin shouldn't be this cold, Wendel knows. There is some discoloration of the lips.

Congratulations! You each get 100xp. On the fishman bodies you find 4 spears, 88sp, and 11gp.

With Helga and Victor both stable for now, Carmen's immediate worries are over. She removes her winter blankets from her packs, and looks for other warm layers to add to the pair of Victor and Helga. She was sure that there were warm blankets in the packs of Helga and Victor. "Come back and we will form a safe place for Victor and Helga." she called out to Wendel. "They aren't out of the woods yet, but they are safe for now."

She wonders how long it would take for her to run to the town and back, but at her estimation it could be quite some time. Not quick enough to leave Wendel all on his own should the fishmen have allies that returned to see where they were.

"Come on you two, get yourselves back on the mend." she says, cradling Helga's head in the nook of her elbow. "What have you found over there?" she calls out to Wendel.

"It's a woman!" Wendel yells back. Well he tries to yell but it comes out hoarse and ragged after all that incanting while running. He clears his throat and starts again. "A woman. Elven, and cold, very cold. But she's alive. Breathing. Barely." The last few words are come out nearly breathless.

With an effort the small half-elf man drops his bag, detaches his bedroll and rope and hastily throws together a sort of makeshift loose stretcher with the woman secured to it. Even more effort goes into throwing his shoulder into the loop and slowly, laboriously slowly, dragging her back toward Carmen and their fallen companions wordlessly. Carmen had said they were safe but something in Wendel still cries out in fear for them and this woman. In this cold, this biting cold, things could change so quickly.

Traversing the few hundred feet back to the others was enough to take everything out of Wendel. He collapses to his knees by Helga and Victor. With hands on his knees he breathes out the thoughts he'd had while he trudged this way. "Victor. Has. Tent. Need it? I have. Blanket. Keep them. Close. Keep. Them... Warm."

After a few more moments of catching his breath he gives the rest of his thoughts a little more clearly. "We've the torch stubs. Enough of them to make a small fire at least." That said he starts doing exactly what he proposed. Every movement he seems to shed some of the fatigue. His back straightens a little and a steadfastness rises. He builds a suitably sized fire out of the torch remnants and then with a short but gravelly word and a snap of his fingers it lights up. Staring into it he finally says the thought that had really taken root, able to process it aloud now, "I really thought we might be, well that we might have ended up just bodies in the snow. Nobody to know until the next patrol came by... Are you hurt at all?"

Carmen had been too busy getting out the warm blankets to start with, but once she had managed to get the two of Helga and Victor wrapped and warm, she attended to the problem of creating shelter. It seemed clear that they would need to hole up for quite some time, and perhaps even wait for the arrival of another patrol to help them.

She took out her own tent and started setting it up. Thankfully it was just a single person tent, which didn't need too much in the way of setting up. The poles themselves did take quite a bit of effort to successfully embed into the frozen ground, but her spear did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to penetrating the soil. Sweat dripped from her brow, and ran down the small of her back. It was an unpleasant and uncomortable experience, but far preferable to the pain that Helga and Victor must be feeling.

"I have some of my own shelter set up, give me a few minutes to take a drink and I'll put up Victor's tent." she said, and then did just that.

--------------------------

Sitting, tired and a combination of sweaty hot and frozen cold, Carmen admired her handiwork as the two tents were erected before her. She had folded over a winter blanket and was sat on it, but Helga occupied one tent as the elven female occupied another. Victor would endure out in the cold, as he had several winter blankets wrapped and piled upon him and the small fire that Wendel had crafted was providing much needed heat. She ate heartily from her tack and trail rations as Wendel stood guard.

"For now, we wait. Hopefully it won't take long for Victor and Helga to rise, but I wouldn't want to risk them over exerting themselves. I'm fortunately uninjured, those fishmen just didn't want to take their chances with me it seems."

OOC: Everyone, take the benefits of a long rest.

After an hour, Victor stirs. Around the same time, he sees a group of four, coming down the road. "Howdy!"a voice calls out. The speaker is an elven man, in studded leather armor. A ranger, by the look of him. He continues as he and his party approach, "Who's camping on the P'rimeter road?"

Behind him are a heavily armored dwarven man, an extremely tall and strong looking armored human woman, and a lithe, graceful unarmored human woman.

Rousing to the cold, stiff and in pain, Victor grimaces and sits up to take in his surroundings.

Based on the tents and the blankets he assumes that Carmen and Wendel must have dispatched the remaining fishmen. Seeing Helga up and with axe in hand he nods to her with a smile, apparently glad.

He starts when he notices the people on the road. "Ho there!" he calls out with a hoarse voice, "We are a night patrol come from Smith's Gambit, recovering after a rough fight with some hostile fishmen. Are you another patrol?"

OOC: Victor isn't yet aware of the unconscious elven woman, once he is he will think about using Lay on Hands either to remove a poison if he thinks she is affected by one or to heal some hitpoints.

Dunno why my internet sent multiple requests for that dice roll.
14:32, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 7 using 1d10+1.  Hit Die.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:45, Mon 08 Mar 2021.

"We'll decide who's a patrol and who isn't!" Says the elf, though he seems to be joking. "You're supposed to ask to see our slips, aintcha?" He laughed, though no one else seemed to get the joke. "Them fishmen's brutal!"

The huge woman, who had short platinum blond hair, and wore a holy symbol, asked, "Do you need healing? Our patrol's been uneventful, I could spare a bit of Nyx's favor for you!"

Carmen had been pleasantly surprised that there had been no invasions to their privacy since setting up camp. When the patrol came by, she almost leapt for joy. Not only were they now much safer, but there was even greater safety in numbers.

"We failed to bring along healing supplies, so we've been keeping ourselves warm here. We recovered this lady, but she doesn't seem to be coming around any time soon. Victor only just awoke though..."

"So they were abducting someone in that bag?" Victor asks Carmen, "If she is still not waking, perhaps this follower of Nyx and I should see what we can do for her. Lathander has blessed me with some limited healing power."

Victor gets up from his position on the ground, the blankets falling away to reveal the emblem of Lathander displayed proudly across his chest.

"I apologise for my poor manners, I am Victor Iusticia," he says as he takes a few steps towards the newcomers and extends a hand in friendship.

"They were indeed. I have no clue why she is as she is, but it can't be anything good." replies Carmen. She stands, walking a touch closer to the fire. "Pleasure to meet you also. The name is Carmen..." she says, holding out her hand to the tall strangers.

Wendel, who after his watch shifted to Carmen's, had spent his time going between making sure Helga was alright and then returning to the Elven woman to see if there had been any improvement. At the sound of Victor and Carmen addressing what sounded like another patrol coming by he takes a moment to peak out of the tent housing the elven woman but doesn't exit or make his presence known right away. If these folks turn out to be something other than what they say they are then at least Carmen and Victor will have one surprise up their sleeve. Maybe two if Helga had recovered as quickly as Victor had.

Edit: 16 Medicine check on the cold lady during rest.
Wendel rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Medicine.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:54, Mon 08 Mar 2021.

This message was deleted by the player at 22:53, Mon 08 Mar 2021.

The strangers introduced themselves, Alen, the wood elf ranger; Avreen, the human cleric; Hoser, the Dwarven Paladin; and Anreyela, the Human monk.

Victor greets each in turn and waits for the others to do the same before looking to Carmen, "I assume this woman is in one of the tents, would you mind telling me which on so we can look in on her? If Wendel is resting in the other I'd rather not disturb him."

They seem harmless enough. And possibly even helpful. Wendel gives up his chance at surprise in exchange for offering information. Hearing Victor ask Carmen for direction, the half elf instead makes his presence known. "I'm here, in the tent with her. I've been trying to determine what it is that keeps her from waking. My best guess would be a poison of some sort but what that poison is or how to rid her of it I don't know... Please, come have a look. If you can do anything for her I think it would be best to get it done as quickly as possible."

Wordlessly Victor moves towards the tent, raising the flap and ducking inside.

Looking down at her pale face he frowns and kneels beside her, taking her hand and laying the other on top.

"," he prays quietly.

OOC: Lay On Hands, 5 points to remove any poison present in the elf's system.

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Although he suffered no injuries in the fight, Wendel doesn't look so good himself. Bags under the eyes and his hands are all sorts of bruised. However his concern seems genuinely focused solely on the elven woman.

Victor nods, "I have hope. If this doesn't work then Avreen might try their hand."

He gently places the woman's hand back then stands and steps back out of the cramped tent.

Meanwhile, Carmen interacts with the patrol that had come upon them. "So, when you're in town next, be mindful to pay my tavern a visit. It's under new management! It's called the Dragon's Den. It's not where I want it yet, but it won't be long!" she says, inviting them to her latest business venture. She had been keeping it under wraps since her arrival....

At Victor's touch, warmth suffused the elven woman's body, radiating from his hand. So much warmth, in fact, that the woman began to sweat, and then breath heavily, before she cooled to a normal temperature and opened her eyes. Her eyes widened at Victor's appearance and she scrambled away from him, before looking at the concerned faces around her. "You... you saved me?"

Victor nods calmly and gives her a smile, kneeling nearby so that he does not loom over her or take up her personal space. "We stopped those fishmen that had you and I prayed to Lathander to restore you to health, yes. We're a patrol from Smith's Gambit, is that where you are from?"

The woman seems a little shaken, and perhaps a bit confused, at first, "No... I mean, yeah, I guess. I mean, no ones from Smith's Gambit. I... I live there. My... my husband is at the watchtower over there. I packed him a nice supper, and he forgot it at home, so I went to take it to him, and on my way back... I woke up in this tent." She pointed at the watchtower to the south, where you were headed. "If you let me go with you to the watchtower, I'll walk back to town with my husband. His shift will be ending soon. I'm Nalnya, by the way."

The other adventurer's wish you the best as they continue on their way. After resting a while longer, so she could walk on her own, you escort Nalnya to the watchtower with her husband. From there, you finish the rest of your patrol with no further mishaps, but about three hours late.

OOC: Congratulations on finishing the patrol! You each get 125 xp and 1 downtime unit, and when you report in to Smith, you get the 30 promised GP, plus whatever he offers for any information you give him when you get there.

Carmen bids Nalnya and the others goodbye as they reach their respective destinations, then heads to Smith to tell him about their success.

Victor wishes the others well when it becomes time to part and follows Carmen's lead.

Wendel also heads to Smith's. Intent on fulfilling his contract.