As the group ponders their next move, more birds call out from the north, seemingly in answer to the vultures directly overhead. The mud is thick with a confused mishmash of footprints, and seems to shiver as they walk through it.

Slowly it dawns on the group that the earth is shaking, just slightly. Confused, they look around. The figure to the east is just visible again in the dim light, growing larger as it approaches.  It appears to be an enormous creature clad in mismatched furs and scraps of clothing. Its scraggly beard frames a blunt shaped face on its thick neck. It carries an enormous spiked club at its waist.

The ogre doesn't yet seem to have spotted the fact it is being observed however, as it seem preoccupied with something altogether different. Fascinated, the group stares as it works its way on a meandering path toward their hill, whirling around and stomping at the ground as it goes. At first it seems that the shaking ground is due to the huge creature's stamping, though the creature is still a fair distance away. Perhaps it is an earthquake, the observers think, as the thrumming of the earth seems not to be keeping time with the ogre.

Suddenly the vibrations in the ground thrum faster and faster, and the earth right in front of the ogre erupts in a shower of rocks and grass.

An enormous reddish-hued insect rears out of the hole in front of the ogre, its pincers clicking. Its mandibles drip with viscous fluid as it snaps at the hulking ogre, latching onto its meaty shoulder.

The insect rests its forelegs on the ogre's shoulders, who then roars in pain. It grabs at the large club at its side, then swings it at the chittering insect. The club smashes into the side of the beast's head, spraying yellowish liquid onto the nearby ground.

Birdcalls continue from off to the north, in addition to those directly overhead.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:24, Mon 18 Sept 2017.

Morg crouches down to try and stay hidden from the ogre, trying to remember what he knows of these kinds of creatures and the insect it's hunting. He also listens, trying to hear if he can identify the birds calling.

---

05:44, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 18 using 2d20+1, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 18,17.  Stealth check with disadvantage (from chain mail) while crouching down, to try to stay hidden from ogre.

05:46, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 3 using 1d20 with rolls of 3.  History check for any information remembered of ogres.

05:47, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 2 using 1d20 with rolls of 2.  Nature check to figure out if the burrowing insect and birdcalls from the north, are natural.

Mayon's eyes widen and he ducks down as well, glancing at the others. "What do we do?" He hisses, while trying to think if he knew what that insect was. Of course, distracted as he was, it was hard to remember to be quiet...


22:21, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 1 using 1d20 with rolls of 1.  stealth. So much for whispering I guess...
22:21, Today: Mayon Graycross rolled 19 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 17.  Nature check--Insect knowledge.

"Interesting," Asano muses. "I wonder if the ogre knows anything of these graves. Anyone know what that other creature was? I would prefer to avoid a direct confrontation with the ogre, if we can avoid it."


OOC:
Perception- 4
Nature- 19
Stealth- 5

Well, I'm pretty sure we're about to be spotted. Maybe its a friendly ogre?

The insect creature makes another slashing bite at the top of its prey's head. Blood drips into the ogre's eyes, but he still manages another devastating blow to the creature, this time to its foreleg. Smashed, the limb hangs limply from its main carapace.

A single sharp bird cry echos from the north, nearer this time. The birds overhead scatter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Tue 19 Sept 2017.

Jak looked up at the birds, wondering what all their fuss was about? Them? Nah. Something else, northward. Weird. Then the ground started to shake a bit. Uh oh. Earthquake? Remembering the quaking that had happened just before the oven or whatever had exploded back at the inn, he crouched down and looked around a bit wildly.

He saw something coming towards them. After a moment, he didn't think it was causing the shaking though. What was THAT? He wasn't sure but he thought it might be an ogre from the descriptions he'd heard of them.

Jak stood up and got ready for a fight. He saw most of his companions starting to try and hide. He frowned. "We're not gonna kill the insect or the ogre? I mean...they seem kinda dang'rous t'just leave around t'kill travelers...right?"

Morg whispers to Jak "We can let those two finish their fight, weakening each other, and take on the ogre if it's hostile after it kills its, uh, food? We may need the ogre's help tho if whatever bird from over there is hostile to us." He tries to keep an eye on both the hunting ogre and the skies to the north.

"Agreed. Those insects are nasty--Ankhegs. They spit acid. I'd definitely prefer if it's dead first and we can then clean up or ask for aid, if the ogre is so inclined." Mayon says softly.

A bone chilling squawk pierces the sky above as a large bird soars overhead, circling the area. Incredibly it looks like a figure is riding the flying beast, which resembles a giant vulture.

With a jerk, the ankheg disengages and tries to flee, but the hulking ogre is too fast. Its club bashes the creature square in its mandibles, and it crumples sickeningly to the ground.

The ogre advances on the insectoid corpse, looking for purchase on its joints, and begins to try ripping its limbs free. It glances warily skyward several times, but so far continues its grim business uninterrupted.

"It appears to have conquered the beast," Asano says grimly. He glances skyward at the possibly mounted avian above, then back to the victorious ogre. "Shall we meet the locals?" He smiles, taking a step toward the valley.

Jak grinned slightly and looked at his companions. "Well, I mean, if you're all done tryin' t'hide...I don't wanna interrupt 'stealth time' there for ya." He chuckled and walked slowly towards the Ogre but wasn't going to get too close before they announced themselves...just in case it was hostile.

He checked to make sure the rest of the group was with him or at least not far far away. Then he turned back and called out lightly to the Ogre, "Hello t'you. You made short work o'that insect."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:07, Wed 20 Sept 2017.

Morg tries to keep a low profile while donning his shield, and tries to gage the speed of the big vulture in case he needs to throw a javelin.

The vulture circles around the area, looking down occasionally. Its rider seems most interested in the ogre, but points an outstretched arm at Jak.

The ogre jerks its head away from the defeated beast, seemingly just realizing that there were observers in the sky and on the hill. "Ankheg mine!" he bellows, then tries crawling underneath the carcass of the beast, still trying to rip pieces of its carapace from its body.

Jak stopped dead in his tracks suddenly. His eyes shifted left, then right, then up. He blinked a few times and pursed his lips. Looking back at his allies he quietly said, "Welllll. Okay. That's new. So. I just got...messaged?...in my head. I think by a rider on...one o'the birds up there. They asked me...us...t'stay outta this while they take out the Ogre an' then we could talk...." He paused. "Whaddya guys think?"

"Hmm, interesting," Asano says, watching the aerial interloper above. He looks back to the ogre below, and calls out, "Victorious ogre, the ankheg is naturally yours. Is there any reason you are being hunted by any others?" He watches the birds overhead, wary of any violent action directed towards himself orhis friends.


OOC:
Persuasion- 16
Perception- 16

"I think we should let the vulture rider have a go." Morg says to Jak, and backs away in the opposite direction from the ogre.

---

Does he remember or know (from the previous History roll of 3) if all ogres are inherently evil, or if some of them are neutral or good?

07:44, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 15 using 1d20 with rolls of 15.  History (or nature [same modifier]) check to see if he knows and remembers if all giant vultures are inherently evil.

"Ankheg mine!" the ogre bellows again in answer to Asano's call. His brutish voice comes from below the dead ankheg, though the ogre himself is not visible.

The vulture-rider swoops around once more, then lands nearby. He quickly undoes some straps securing him to his mount as the vulture looks warily around. He drops to the ground and immediately draws a longsword. Pivoting, he heads toward the ankheg carcass.

A javelin darts out from under the corpse and lands squarely in the rider's shoulder, staggering him. "Stand down foul miscreat! Thou shalt feel the sting of my blade as I run you through like a hurricane through butter!" the knight calls, continuing to advance, very near the dead ankheg now.

"Are...are we sure we want to leave him to that?" Mayon asked, blinking incredulously. Good lord, who spoke like that nowadays? The man was either very certain of his abilities or completely insane. But if he'd requested they leave him be, perhaps it would be best to do so.

"If that's what he wants." Morg says, trying to see if the knight is a paladin or cleric of a religion he recognizes.

---

18:02, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 17 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 14.  Perception check on knight, for an emblem or holy symbol.
18:03, Today: Morg Danforge rolled 14 using 1d20 with rolls of 14.  History check [to see] if [he's seen the] emblem or holy symbol [before, and recognizes it].

The knight peers cautiously around the ankheg corpse, then tosses a bluish gem in the general direction of the vulture. With a few quick gestures, he casts a spell that causes the gem to roll farther away.

After a few seconds the ogre emerges from behind its cover, and darts forward to grab the gem. The vulture quickly strikes, launching itself into the air and falling on the ogre as it bends down. The giant bird pecks sharply at the ogre's chest, then rakes it with its claws as it takes off away from the beast.

The ogre makes a clumsy swipe at the retreating bird with its club, but still manages to catch a wing on its downbeat. The bird remains aloft, but it labors to retreat farther away from the ogre.

---

Morg can't discern any emblems on the knight's mail, though the scales seem to be longer and skinnier than usual for scale mail. They resemble feathers in a way.

The knight cast a new spell called Gust, which I'll post to the new spells list shortly.

Standing up with the gem, the ogre turns to the knight. The man quickly casts a ray of cold frost, striking the ogre squarely in the chest. Rime ice coats the hulking monster's torso and legs as he struggles to approach the knight.

The knight draws a longsword as the ogre approaches, menacing with his spiked club. With two quick two-handed slashes, he cuts deep gashes in the ogre's torso. The ogre's flailing attack whistles over the knight's head.

Kneeling, the knight thrusts his sword directly into the ogre's heart and deftly steps out of the way as its bulk slams to the earth.

Wiping his sword clean, the knight begins ascending the nearby hill towards the assembled companions. "What brings thou all to this hill, pray tell?" he begins, barely out of breath.

"We're searching for a large delegation from Mirabar. I think they were lead by a shield dwarf, like myself, named Bruldenthar." Morg says.

"They went missing on their way to Red Larch. We thought these graves may have been dug by them. Have you seen anything like that from the sky?"

"Oh, I am Morg , from the Danforge clan."

Asano held his tongue, allowing Morg to take the lead in this situation. He kept a careful watch of the vulture-knight's body language, looking for any sign of violence or deception.


OOC:
Insight- 4
Seems to be entirely truthful, guys.