"I keep being surprised by how much I can do," adds Chelsie. "I can evidently understand strange languages at times, so I might be able to help understand the goblins. But I haven't figured out how to speak in those languages yet... And then there's this." She takes her staff and outlines a long shape in front of her other hand. A glimmering rapier appears there; it is delicate, light, and perfectly balanced as she takes a few swings with it.

She keeps up with the others, trying to stay near the middle of the group.

OOC: Pact weapon!

Catching up with the rest, Nutcracker heard the question of skills that could help out along the way. Much like in town, he conjured up a brief flash of weather prediction for the journey. Aside from that, the presence of the blue bees using him as a rest between flights seemed explanation enough. "Bees are a sign of a healthy forest," he said in that jovial contrabass.

Checking the map provided, he got his bearings and began leading the party on the start of their journey. He was excited, but still cautious because of the unknown dangers that could be lurking anywhere.

OOC: Casting Druidcraft for local area weather forecast for the day.
13:07, Today: Nutcracker rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Perception on the path.
13:07, Today: Nutcracker rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Survival for Leading purposes.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Mon 05 Apr 2021.

Nutcracker discovers the local weather today will be clear.

Take advantage on your Survival check, Nutcracker, since you have a map.

OOC: Nutcracker rolled 19 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only.  Survival for Leading purposes (ADV).

Nutcracker leads the group, his ranger training allowing him to pick the shortest paths and guide the rest of you confidently through terrain that would slow others down. You make it halfway to the hunting grounds before you begin to tire. As you begin deciding where you will set up camp, you spot a small cave opening, with large pawprints in the snow around it. Just then, the head of a huge owl pokes out and looks around, noticing you. Its huge round eyes bear a malice owls are not capable of, but then, the body that propels the head in your direction at high speeds isn't that of an owl... you've stumbled into the territory of an owlbear!

Roll initiative, and if you go before the Owlbear, you can post your first turn's action along with it.

Owlbear 3


E1= Owlbear (there's just one, it takes up all four spaces.)
### The cave
t= Tree (rough terrain, up to 1/2 cover for medium creatures, up to 3/4 cover for small creatures, up to full cover for tiny creatures.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:43, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

Victor is quick to move forward to engage the creature, opting to draw his glaive over the greatsword in order to keep the thing at a distance.

A hot pressure suddenly seems to emanate from the tiefling, an aura of palpable murderous threat that may be enough to raise the hairs on one's arms or the back of the neck as a nearby ally and could be terrifying for foes.

---

HP: 25/25 | THP: 0 | AC: 16 | Spd: 30ft. | Lay On Hands 15/15 | Divine Sense 4/4 | S1 3/3 | Sear 1/1 | Chan Div 0/1 | Resist Fire | Immune Disease |
06:57, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 12 using 1d20.  Initiative.
Move towards Owlbear so that it is within 30 feet but no closer than 10 feet. E10
Action: Conquering Presence, Owlbear must make a DC 13 Wisdom Save or be frightened of Victor.
All creatures of my choice within a 30-ft radius must make a Wisdom save
If failed, a target is frightened for 1 minute; It can save again at the end of each turn
This message was last edited by the player at 09:46, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

Chelsie sees the strange beast, and takes a moment to collect her thoughts. Victor rushes forward to intimidate the owlbear, and all she can think is she wants to block the creature's charge. Instinctively, Chelsie begins to recite an incantation she's never said before. She points her staff at the owlbear as she steps behind Victor, and a sphere of flame appears.

Initiative: 5
Action: Casts flaming sphere, positioning it at least 10 ft. away from Victor and no more than 5 ft. away from the owlbear. E5
The owlbear must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 8 fire damage on a failed save or 4 fire damage on a successful save.
(The sphere deals damage to all within 5 ft. So if Victor closed to within 10 ft. of the owlbear, then I place it in the owlbear's space; if Victor is more than 10 ft. from the owlbear, I place it directly in front of the owlbear to encourage it to turn around.)
Movement: Forward to maybe 10 ft. behind Victor, trying to add to the intimidation factor. E12
Concentration: Flaming sphere.

OOC: Chelsie figures out another spell she can use!
16:13, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
16:24, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 8 using 2d6.  flaming sphere damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Tue 06 Apr 2021.

Big owl! Big bear owl! Owlbear! There really wasn't going to be an easy way out of this situation since they had managed to come across its den without seeing any other tracks. Just the way the world worked sometimes. Seeing as how it wasn't going to understand anything other than force, Nutcracker pulled his bow and fired a shot, complete with bee escort, impacting nearly into the creature's head. At the same time the bee escort crashed into the beast with their spectral stingers.

OOC: Side move to have a clear shot without swinging too wide.
Attacking the owlbear with longbow, Favored Foe, additional swarm damage.
Nutcracker rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
Nutcracker rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Bow vs Owlbear.
Nutcracker rolled 19 using 1d8+3+1d6+1d4.  Attack Damage.
No additional bee effects just yet. Don't want to potentially spoil anyone's effect. Yet. =D

Carmen had never been one to venture far from the front line. She advanced, putting herself between Nutcracker and Wendel and the owlbear. She still had range as an advantage, so she summoned up her eldritch energies and threw a bolt of dark energy towards the beast. It looked like she had summoned a powerful bolt indeed!

HP: 22/22 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 1/1 (SR)| Divine Soul 1/1
Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 16 for 13 damage | Move:  Step forward to be with Victor  | Bonus: N/A

07:11, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  Initiative. – [roll=1617664285.59472.352983]
07:07, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 13 using 1d10+3.  Damage. – [roll=1617664065.48274.352983]
07:06, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast. – [roll=1617664003.45655.352983]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:11, Mon 05 Apr 2021.

With everyone else looking ready to put down this strange creature, Wendel joins in the fray. With his more commonly heard Terran incantation summoning the beam of force swirling with sand and stone to blast at the bear owl hybrid creature, he throws his air punch at the creature but something about this instance feels off. His beam goes wide.

Initiative: 9
Move: About 30 behind Carmen and Victor
Action: Eldritch Blast miss.

Carmen moves forward and fires a blast, which strikes the creature a solid blow!
Nutcracker moves to get a clear shot and shoots the owlbear in the neck, a swarm of bees following the arrow.
Victor moves forward, and suddenly the owlbear stops in its tracks!
Wendel fires his own blast, but he didn't expect his target to stop so suddenly, and led it too much.
Chelsie moves behind Victor, and conjures a floating sphere of some magical burning material next to the owlbear, which burns the monster's fur and feathers
The owlbear, struggling with an unfamiliar feeling, lets out a loud roar/hoot hybrid, much to Nutcracker's delight, I'm sure. It glares at Victor, to afraid to come closer, but too stubborn to retreat. It waits for the next attack (it takes the dodge action, so all attacks against it have disadvantage.)


Initiative

Carmen 14
Nutcracker 13
Victor 12
Wendel 9
Chelsie 5
Owlbear 3

Owlbear has taken 40 damage and is frightened of Victor


E1= Owlbear (there's just one, it takes up all four spaces.)
### The cave
fs= Flaming sphere
t= Tree (rough terrain, up to 1/2 cover for medium creatures, up to 3/4 cover for small creatures, up to full cover for tiny creatures.)

"It might be guarding something in that cave if it doesn't want to retreat..." Wendel muses aloud as he steps up to get a better look at the creature before launching another beam with an air punch. There's not much power behind this beam... Almost like Wendel isn't sure about this action but they are committed now.

Move: to H12
Action: Eldritch Blast AC 20 for 1 Force and 2 Bludgeoning damage

Wendel rolled 20,3 using d20+5,d10+2.  Eldritch Blast, Damage+Genie's Wrath.

Seeing as how the owlbear did not charge, Nutcracker took the opportunity to try something out. Moving up closer, he sent one of his bees to land on the creature's head and attempted to make contact. Hopefully this worked. Back away. Fearsome! Dangerous! Back away!

OOC: Moving to D 11
Casting Speak with Animals
Maintaining concentration on Favored Foe
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

"If it backs down, we can probably just let it be and pass by," adds Chelsie. She holds her sphere in place, and points her staff at the owlbear in preparation for any new aggression.

Action: Readied eldritch blast vs. any owlbear that charges towards the party (hits AC 6 for 10 force damage, lol).
Amended Action: Dodge.
Concentration: Flaming sphere (round 2 of 10).

• If the owlbear doesn't move or otherwise ends its turn within 5 ft. of the sphere, it will have to make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 2d6 fire damage on a failed save or half damage on a successful save.

OOC: I'm hoping it just heads into the cave, with the sphere encouraging that outcome. But the readied blast should definitely miss. I'm dodging, as I'd rather not kill this thing if it backs away, and there's not much else to do while concentrating on the spell. Thank you, Wendel.
15:14, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 6 using 2d20+5, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 1,6.  readied eldritch blast attack (disadvantage).
15:14, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 10 using 1d10+3.  readied eldritch blast damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Victor notes the creature's freezing in place and bares his teeth at it but takes a step backwards, "Back up," it is unclear if it is a demand to the owlbear or an instruction to his allies.

His glaive is held at the ready to protect Carmen if the thing charges.

OOC: Victor will move back to E11 and ready an attack on E9 if the Owlbear should move into that space.

This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Carmen backs away but has an Eldritch blast readied in case it all of a sudden turns feral and attempts to charge the party.

Carmen readies to fire a blast if the owlbear continues to attack. (remember, when you ready an attack, you're supposed to roll it when you declare it, unless you want me to roll it for you.)
Nutcracker casts a spell to communicate with animals, but it doesn't seem to respond. (You don't have to state that you're maintaining concentration, but it's nice to have the reminder!)
Victor moves back, and readies to swing his glaive if it moves in to attack.
Wendel moves up and fires a weak blast, striking the Owlbear in the shoulder.
Chelsie prepares to dodge if the creature tries to attack her
The owlbear, having shrugged off the fear, moves around the flaming sphere, and tries to attack Victor. Victor slashes it with his glaive, wounding it horribly, while Carmen's blast misses. The owlbear pecks and claws at Victor, but it fails to get past his defenses. (BTW, Victor, there is no penalty for using a glaive on adjacent opponents, in case you're unaware.)

Initiative

Carmen 14
Nutcracker 13
Victor 12
Wendel 9
Chelsie 5
Owlbear 3

Owlbear has taken 54 damage.


E1= Owlbear (there's just one, it takes up all four spaces.)
### The cave
fs= Flaming sphere
t= Tree (rough terrain, up to 1/2 cover for medium creatures, up to 3/4 cover for small creatures, up to full cover for tiny creatures.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:36, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Dodging the beak and feeling the claws glance off his armor, Victor tosses his glaive to one side as he feels somewhat hampered in close quarters.

"Enough!" he yells at the owlbear as he swings his greatsword in a fearsome upwards diagonal drawing strike.

OOC: Drop glaive and draw greatsword as part of the attack action.
Greatsword attack hits AC 14 for 10 slashing damage.

I know there is no penalty for using the glaive up close, I'm just RPing him having to experiment with different fighting styles and ranges. When we get back to Smith's Gambit Victor will have arrived at the conclusion that his war training with the greater weapons isn't as effective as he'd like and he will opt for a longsword and shield instead :)

09:27, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 14,10 using 1d20+5,2d6+3.  Greatsword attack.

Attack misses.

The spell didn't seem to work at all on the giant beast. So then there was only one way out of this for them. He would have to do better in the future to not stumble upon a creature's territory that he did not mean to find.

Taking a step back he loosed another bee-escorted arrow, but the monster's hide made it glance off.

OOC: Backstep to D 12
Nutcracker rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Bow vs Owlbear.

Well the creature is responding as one would expect a territorial creature to do when attacked so there's only so much they can do in this situation.

OOC: If its still alive I'll try and blast it again I suppose.
Action: Eldritch Blast AC 17 for 8 Force and 2 Bludgeoning damage

Wendel rolled 17,10 using d20+5,d10+2.  Eldritch Blast, Damage+Genie's Wrath.

Seeing the owlbear charge, Chelsie directs her flaming sphere to follow it. Then she fires a blast of white and gold energy in its general direction, but aiming the blast proves challenging while concentrating on her fiery spell.

Noting her proximity to the beast, Chelsie draws her magical rapier, preparing to defend herself physically.

Bonus Action: Move flaming sphere to E8, ramming it into the owlbear (or E9, but I think it stops before entering the creature's space when ramming).

• The owlbear must make a DC 13 Dexterity save, taking 6 fire damage on a failed save, or 3 fire damage on a successful save.

Action: Eldritch blast vs. the owlbear, hitting AC 7 for 9 force damage.
Object Interaction: Draw pact weapon rapier.
Concentration: Flaming sphere, round 3 of 10.

OOC: I should really stop rolling higher damage than attack...
23:12, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 6 using 2d6.  Flaming sphere damage.
23:12, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 7,9 using 1d20+5,1d10+3.  Eldritch blast attack, damage.

Carmen fires another blast, but it misses
Nutcracker fires an arrow, put fails to penetrate the thick hide.
Victor drops his glaive and draws his greatsword. It carves into the snow and mud as he swings it upward, opening the beasts throat at is rears back for another peck! It stumble back, falling on its back.

Congratulations! You each gain 140 xp.

Chelsie lets her flaming sphere fade away as she sees the owlbear fall to its death, while mentally reviewing the words and gestures she used to cast the spell. "Well! That was a new one, for me at least. What a strange creature!" She takes a minute to examine it, then turns her attention to the cave.

"Should we check out its den? It might be a good place to keep warm for the night."

Victor kneels to pick up some om the snow and begin cleaning off his weapons, "Yes, any extra shelter from the night cold will be welcome."

He looks to the dead owlbear, "It seems such a waste. I don't know much about wilderness survival but maybe we can salvage something from the creature?"