No worries;  don't think there's any rush.

Noting Sundos at work on Grog, as well as his own injury, she planned to attend to Simon and Azatch.  Once she felt a bit more confidence there was nothing else out there...

"I try," she assured Cela, as regards her own worth.  She'd always had a cat growing up -  a feline presence was somehow comforting.

"You good at spotting ambush?" she asked of the tabaxi.  "You see anything out there?"   

Cela’s feline ears pricked, but only heard the sounds of Nature. She couldn’t detect any predator scents that could pose any threat to the group. However, Lenelle’s Elven legacy allowed her to peer through the swamp brush and see what Cela missed. Simon didn’t find any good fishing holes in their vicinity, but noticed Lenelle staring hard in a particular direction. His own curiosity led him to peek, too.

Vela's ears peel back and she makes a sniffing motion.  The smells of the battle overwhelm anything else.  "I don't hear anything strange" she tells Lenelle.

In reply to Cela (msg # 102):

Simon gestures, "Try over that way, by the tree with the mask stuck to it."

Grog seamed to pay attention to the tale, letting his hands work on his tasks as the man spoke.  His face did nothing to suggest either understanding or a lack thereof, almost like he treated it as background noise.

Grog looks up briefly with excitement, only to immediately lose interest.  "Command?  I~oh.  Thanks."  It was easy to figure out Grog's confusion in what happened, but he was immediately thankful.  He gives a proud nod with his thanks. ((Calculating Grog's HP: -10-15+11 = 14 below max.))

Once Grog had his fire and tent ready, he started preparing lizardmen for supper.  He looked rather happy as he cooked, but his lack of cooking supplies would leave the results of his efforts suspect.

Grog gutted and cleaned the dead Lizardmen for dinner. As he skinned his fallen foes, a vague possibility of selling their heads occurred to him. Maybe a tanner in Deadwater would pay good coin for them?

Cela nods at Simon and looks towards where he and Lenelle are looking.

She walks across the campsite, stopping to quietly tell Grog, "Grog, I'm not going to eat that."

Cela had thought Grog was a vegetarian until now - like the bulls his species was related to.  She hadn't paid a lot of attention to what he ate on the ship.  She'd had to eat lizardman or even goblin sometimes when she was in the army, but she didn't like to.  She didn't need to eat someone that talks tonight and wasn't going to.  What he did was his business.

Then she heads over to the mask that's been pointed out.

Lenelle gaped at Grog, once she realized he was making their fallen foes into dinner.  He meant well, she was pretty sure. She didn't want to speculate what that might taste like. And it was too close to cannibalism, cold blooded and scaled or no.

Anyway, they'd a mask to investigate:  On a certain oak tree, some thirty or so feet ahead. Hidden by leaves, it was of faded black and gray wood. Mimicking crudely a reptilian snout, and small horns.

"They had a shaman," she ventured. "Perhaps it's religiously significant?  Or to mark territory?"     Lenelle followed after Cela.  Wary of any lingering enemies.

And after a short distance, came to a halt: "I wouldn't get too near," she cautioned Cela. "It might be cursed.  Or trapped, in some way."   
This message was last edited by the player at 18:23, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

Thanks to Simon & Lenelle, the mask now stood out, despite previous efforts to hide it. As each person approached, nothing happened. The sun dipped lower, and even the urbane Lenelle knew that more dangerous things would soon come out...


OOC:

Anyone checking out the mask is welcome to make a History, Nature, or Arcana check.

Azatch gets Advantage on a History check.




 

Cela nods when Lenelle urges caution, and stops next to her.

She looks at the mask from a short distance.

16:50, Today: Cela rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  nature.

History Check: 12

Sundos came forward. "Don't touch it anybody." He pulled a slim wand out of his belt and pointed it at the mask.  He mumbled something in Celestial.

OOC: Use Detect Magic Wand

OOC: You get Advantage on (local) History. You can roll one more time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:28, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

From out in the forest, you hear a voice....not raspy like a Lizardsdfolk, but more humanoid. The feminine voice was clear as they spoke. "I doubt it's magical. Lizardfolk are territorial in nature. Like to mark their land. i think this is a marker."

From the forest to the left of the masked tree, movement could be heard as a cloaked figure emerged. Standing a little over three foot tall, they moved with grace and confidence, the only thing seen from the black cloak was an arm holding a shortbow made of dark oak.

The figure stopped just short of the camp and strangers, and removed her hood, revealing a halfling woman. The slender halfling was unusual as for her kind, she was lean, showing a lack of paunch that most halflings carried. Also, unlike most of her kind, she had a serious look on her face. Her dark blue eyes scanned the group as she stood there.

"Had i been minutes earlier, i could have aided you all, but it appears you don't need it." She crossed her arms as she looked around at the mix.

"I'm suprised to see a group here...especially one of your variety. a few humans, a half orc, a half elf, Minotaur....not many of your kind in these areas, and a cat person - Tabaxi? Never met one, but have heard of your kind" As she spoke she stepped lightly, around the group, not threatening, but just to move.

"I've been tracking theis group for two days....and i didn't expect this." She looked around with a sigh. "My name is Skye, but most call me Traill."

OOC: wow, this thread really got a way from me, haha. Ok, I just caught up. I don't check rpol or post much on the weekends, FYI

Azatch was still breathing heard after the battle ended as the adrenaliene washed out of his system. He waved away concerns for healing, "I'm fine, they got me a minor cut with one of those shields..." He seemed to notice for the first time that he was bleeding from his side, "Meh, just a glancing blow. Oh well, Ill be fine."

He went over to the Shaman and searched it. He then stacked up the weapons/shields/armor of the lizardfolk, thinking about trading his own shield out for a spiked version.

Azatch thought he recognized the mask and its significance, but the thought fled from his mind.

"If it makes you feel any better, they wouldn't think twice about eating you. Maybe that doesn't make you feel better. In any case, they themselves are a lot like animals. Pretty sure they eat each other. Not sure though."

When the halfling revealed herself, Azatch tensed, ready for another round of battle. He didn't fully relax afterward, though. Even small enemies could be devastatingly dangerous. He knew of a tiny berry that could kill an adult man. Well, human anyway. Probably.

He wondered idly if the girl was a daughter of the swamp, like he was a son. He wondered at Simon's tale too.

But all he said, in a straightforward voice, to the girl was, "Were there more than these in the group you were tracking?"

OOC:
Rolls, as requested.
22:27, Today: Simon rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Nature.
22:27, Today: Simon rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Arcana.
22:26, Today: Simon rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Perception to find the goodies.
22:26, Today: Simon rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  History, just for fun.

Sundos stepped towards Skye smiling with his hand extended. "Greetings, Traill. I am Sundos...Sundos Brightblood. We could have used your help a few minutes ago. But I'm glad you're here now. We are on our way to a town called 'Deadwater'. Can you help us get there? We are making a camp for the night."

"Captain Roland has always said that halflings are great scouts and archers."

The halfling woman smiled at the comments of Sundos and Azatch. She adjusted her cloak back, to show the lean figure of a halfling. Her armor consisted of dark grey died leather with black hexagonal studs on it. On her left arm was a small crossbow, often used by single handed weapon, but strapped to her arm by a bracer. Behind her was a short sword and quiver of arrows.

"This i think is a scouting party. The lizard folk often split into teams for greater chance of finding prey....be it food related or more human. A shaman with them is rare though." She looked at the shaman her eyes cold. When Sundos spoke, a slight turning of the corner of her mouth was seen. "My kin are known for sharp eyes, but my opinion is they can be a bit lazy. I grew up in waterdeep as an orphan, but was trained from an early age by a hunter named Tannathas. I'm skilled in wilderness, stealth and archery"

She looked at the bodies. "My advice if your wanting to camp now....get off anything that looks like a path, move from here as when the lizardfolk come looking for their kin here, and they will, you don't want to be camped by them."

She looked over her shoulder. "There is a suitable camp area a few hours walk towards town, but if you must rest now, i'd move them before they smell....attracts the wildlife."

Simon blinks, "The next spot you know of is HOURS away? We weren't stopping because we're on a picnic, here, shortstuff. We've been walking all day and need a bit of a rest. You got anything close enough that we can sleep today? If not, we're probably better off here."

Trail narrowed her eyes at Simon and spoke in a low, even voice. “You have no idea what this place is human. You think this a park...you can set up camp wherever you like? You may have been walking here hours....I’ve been here DAYS! I spent two nights in a log avoiding them hunters.” She looked at the group as a whole then again at Simon, pointing at a dead lizard folk. “You see that....that’s not the only thing here that can kill you. Even them, what do you see....a mindless monster? You fool. These creatures are more than a overgrown reptile. They are cunning hunters. Their lives are survival....their view of fear, joy all beyond you.”

She began walking around one. “It’s jaws are tough enough to rip a mans arm off. It can stay underwater longer than you can imagine...even their senses.”  She stopped and looked at him again. “They could probably smell their kin’s blood further than your Minotaur friend can throw a rock.”

She stood, hands on hips. “You want to rest here....be my guest. But within a hour or two, you will find their kind swarming you.....not three or four like this, tens or more. And when they catch you, pray they kill you before they start eating you!l

She picked up her bow and sighed. “I know a place....not far. Not the safest, but with help, could be defendable.”

She glared at Simon. “....unless this fool speaks for all of you”

"I'm Cela."  That was enough introduction for now.  "He's right that it can't be too far.  We've had injuries  and some need to rest.  We can defend the closer location."  That's how using up spells worked, right?  Grog might mind re-setting up his cooking setup.  "The shaman was the real threat.  I'm glad there's not many of them."

Cela doesn't want anything from the lizardmen unless it's something that will help repair the ship, so she doesn't search the bodies.

Lenelle Toreth rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  History check.

Someone with the sort of skills this halfling offered would be more than a small (no pun intended) help.   It was a fortuitous meeting, she felt.

"My name is Lenelle," she greeted the newcomer. "Nelle suffices, if you like to lop names to one syllable.  Your advice seems more than sensible.   Though Simon has a point -- ungraciously delivered or no." She bit her lip. "I...don't know." She glanced to the others. "It seems for a little more effort and risk, we would end up safe & secure; for certain get the rest we need.  Whereas if we stay here, and have another confrontation at night -  a bad time to fight, for those who don't see well in the dark - and end up swarmed by them?"   She shook her head, not happy at all with that picture.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:15, Tue 13 Apr 2021.

Simon smiles at the halfling, "Foolish me, I was right, we all ARE to tired to travel hours more. But don't worry, I'm not so foolish I don't realize realize strangers approaching in a swamp are trustworthy. The lizardmen certainly were.

"How far is your next choice for our camp?"

Grog will let the lizards he was cooking simmer as he starts packing up his camp.

Given the time to do so, he'll collect the lizard's heads as well.  If he's rushed, he'll advise the others to help him.

Sundos held out the Wand and spoke words of power. He sensed no magic in or near the mask, although he sensed the dying embers of it in the Lizardman Shaman’s tarnished staff...and the shaman’s heart, lying alongside the rest of his organs after Grog cleaned the body. The Cleric intuited that magic could still be derived from both.

Cela knew that Lizardfolk often enjoyed the flavor of humanoid travelers who trespassed on their territories. Lenelle recalled stories she’d heard of empires sending envoys to negotiate treaties, and the Lizardfolk deciding that the flesh of the envoy tasted better than any terms of proposed treaties. She and Simon realized that Skye spoke the truth, but they also knew that the Lizard tribes respected superior force. They knew that the mask marked the Lizard lands.

However, Simon deduced that the mask marked a literal boundary of territory. They’d wandered near Lizardfolk territory, but not into it. A point that Skye made about the Shaman’s presence in the ambush lingered with Simon, Lenelle, & Skye (OOC: And anyone who rolled 15 or better). It was uncharacteristic for a simple scouting or hunting party.  Azatch realized that his wrong turn led them toward Lizardfolk territory. Deadwater lay a few more hours to the Southwest.

Would the party risk a night’s rest or break camp and travel after sunset?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:21, Tue 13 Apr 2021.