Albrecht put his armor back on and collected the rest of his gear. "Yes, let's continue onward. Hopefully the others will catch up soon. The old man may be a pain in the neck, but having ranged support would be useful," he commented as he started moving towards their objective.

"Elmo will take the lead" Elmo says "Elmo all better now."

The large fellow hefts the axe almost like it was nothing more than a knife and starts to lead the way down the path towards where you believe the moathouse to be at this time.

Furnok nods, "Indeed some ranged support would be greatly welcome. Hopefully we can avoid anymore frogs."

Velox nodded, "I'm a fair shot with a bow, I just don't have one right now. Maybe we can use some of that money we found to buy one. After we save the apprentice, that is."

In reply to Velox (msg # 91):

OOC: can we get a description of the area around us so we can decide where to go from here?

A scrub of thorns, thistles, weeds, and shrubs grows thickly along the edge of the track which leads to the ruins. Even the track is mostly overgrown and cluttered with fallen branches and trees. Here and there it is washed out, in other places a mire.

Some game evidently still follows the pathway, however, for after a mile or so faint traces can be seen. But even considering this, going is slow, and it takes over an hour to reach the place on horseback, or two to trudge along on foot. Considerable
hacking and clearing is necessary to make the way passable, so double the time required for the first trip. After two miles, as the track turns more northerly, the land begins to sink and become boggy. Tall marsh plants grow thickly where cattails and tamaracks do not. Off to the left can be seen the jagged silhouette of the moathouse.

A side path, banked high to cross over the wetland to either side, just north to the entrance of the ruin. The track here is only about 15 feet wide or so, with crumbling embankments making travel near the edge dangerous. The bogs stink. The vegetation appears dense and prolific, but somehow sickly and unhealthy, creepers and vines throwing their strangling loops over the skeletons of dead saplings and living bushes alike. The rushes and cattails rustle and bend even to a slight zephyr, and weird birdcalls, croakings, and other unwholesome sounds come faintly across the fen.

"Well, which way shall we proceed?" Albrecht asked the group curiously, looking over both paths to see which way might be the fastest barring any interruptions.

Velox smiled and said, "Well they'll be expecting people from the front path, so let's go for the side entrance, but we should be ready for more of those frogs..."

"If I knew the others were close behind, I would say we could split up, but as it is, two groups of two isn't comfortable enough for me... So I agree, let's go down the side path," Albrecht remarks, wishing he had some way to get in contact with the others they left behind.

"Well times a wasting we should get going." Elmo says

"Yeah splitting up doesn't sound so good an idea after last night. We should stick together. Sounds like a good plan" Furnok adds.

You take the side passage and begin to make your way to the moathouse. The crumbling remains you begin to see. There is obvious damage to the walls and fortifications, probably the after effect of the sacking a decade ago. You do not immediately see anyone though.

The path narrows to fifteen feet wide of solid ground, with marsh on either side (OOC: If you enter the marsh you will be -2 to hit). You see a large pool of water, in essence a small pond about ten feet off the right side of the path.

Albrecht continues forward on the path, eyes wary of any further dangers emerging from the muck. "I'll be surprised if we make it there before seeing any more enlarged amphibians..." he commented, not looking too happy about the proposition.

Velox eyes the pond and says, "Something tells me that there's something waiting in there, but for now, I think we're better off getting inside rather than fooling about in the water..."

He motions for the group to continue, staying on the path as best as they can.

Elmo takes the lead, with Albrecht right behind him, and Velox next with Furnok bringing up the rear. Velox and Albrect's suspicions are well founded. As the group passes the large pond, a long tongue lashes out at Albrect, but misses him.

You see another giant frog now on the edge of the pond it having given up its hiding space to attack.

In reply to DM (msg # 102):

Velox throws a javelin and misses.

Albrecht sighed, and waded into the marsh to attack the frog.

OOC: If 13 hits, the frog takes 8 damage plus 5 fire damage. Also declaring Dodge on frog.

00:05, Today: Albrecht Delmorn rolled 13,4 using 1d20+3,1d20+3.  Shadow Blade Technique plus Burning Blade.

00:06, Today: Albrecht Delmorn rolled 8,5 using 1d20+5,1d6+2.  Damage plus fire.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Sun 28 Jan 2018.

Elmo follows after Albrecht and wades into the marsh to attack the giant frog getting in a pretty good hit it seems with his axe.

Furnok decides to keep watch on the trail to make sure no bandits sneak up on them while the frog attacks.

The Giant Frog deftly moves just before Albrecht's sword would have hit him, yet seems caught a bit off guard when Elmo wades into the mess as well.

The Giant Frog leaps backwards seeking to go deeper into the pond. He jumps back approximately 10 feet into the pond landing on a rather large lillypad.
Ribbit it croaks.

OOC: Do we get AoO's on him for jumping?

Yes you get an attack of opportunity, he wasn't using withdraw.

Albrecht quickly responds to the frog trying to flee, and instead cuts it's legs out from underneath it in an attempt to keep it from moving.

OOC: Using Stand Still: 22 to hit, the frog must make a DC 26 (10 + "Damage" roll) Reflex save or be stuck in place until it's next turn. No damage is done.

16:01, Today: Albrecht Delmorn rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Stand Still AoO on Frog.

16:02, Today: Albrecht Delmorn rolled 16 using 1d12+5.  "Damage".

OOC: Nice move. I'll wait until the DM resolves that to charge in and hit him with my flail.

The Giant frog seems to drop midair with Albrecht's well placed strike that prevents it from moving backward as was it's intent.

This allows Elmo to have time to have an AoO as well allowing him to strike into the flank of the Giant Frog as well.

The Giant Frog does not look to well at this point.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
23:43, Today: Elmo rolled 16 using 1d20+9.  Giant Frog's Reflex Save.

23:42, Today: Elmo rolled 12 using 1d8+7.  AoO damage against Giant Frog.

23:41, Today: Elmo rolled 25 using 1d20+10.  AoO against Giant Frog.

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