Fuck. The patrol splitting up could be a problem. I could use a disguise but with everyone on edge I might be attacked by accident. I could light up the area so we could attack  them before they see us but the light might be seen from the main camp. That just leaves continuing forward and trusting Styx to handle this. FUCK!

Summary
Ersin continues forward at a slow pace.
Stealth: 23 or 33 if affected by PWT (focus on moving quietly not hiding from sight).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:11, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

Thalia shook her head at the encouragable Styx as they crept forward, not as silent as the bugbear but still quiet enough. The half elf had her bow ready, an arrow knocked but not drawn, trusting styx and the bear shaped Druid to take out the first one. She focused on any that would surprise them.

---

OOC: Thalia rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Perception roll.
Thalia rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Stealth roll. (25 with spell)

 

With the bear in tow, Styx left the zone of magic and entered the forested side of the hill, looking to surprise the Skraug still on the road. What he found almost made him smile... he quickly found the second Skraug, pants down, doing his business, and completely oblivious the the two outlanders 40 feet from him.

Meanwhile on the road, the rest of the party were waiting in darkness, and only Luster could see that the creature was yawning, not paying attention at its surrounding at all.

"The one skraug that I can see stands yawning, bored and inattentive. Where the second one is, I know not." Luster presented the information to the group, letting them know what he could see so that they could plan accordingly. Having the group leader also be the scout began to seem like it was perhaps not their best decision. Hopefully they had a second.

Styx saw that rat bastard doing his business, pants down, and knew this was the time to strike.  He deftly snuck up behind the creature with practiced precision; each step carefully placed and planned.  When he was within striking distance, he shoved the blade with such accuracy, that it leapt right up through the creature's back, continued up its spine, and finished with the tip of his blade peeking out the top of the creature's skull.  The rat bastard, locked in place and already dead, had no trouble releasing the rest of its bowels in its throes of death.

As the creature's body seized in its dying moments, Styx pulled the blade free and watched as the body fell like a sack of potatoes onto the grass.  Styx stood over the twitching body with a hatred not normally seen from his cheerful and good-natured self.

When the body finally stopped moving, Styx cleaned the blade on the creatures fur, quickly searched the creature's pockets, found nothing of value, and then walked away without another glance.



Attack:  24, 22 (should have been a +6 to hit)
11:53, Today: Styx rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Stab that Rat Bastard!  (Part 2). (advantage)
11:53, Today: Styx rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Stab that Rat Bastard!  (Part 1).

Damage:  19  11:56, Today: Styx rolled 5,14 using 1d8+4,4d6 ((1,6,5,2,1)). (includes sneak attack and special bugbear surprise attack bonus)

Investigation: 7
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

Thalia stood with her bow ready, beside Luster, listening to him as he whispers.  It's at that point the half elf narrows her eyes, looking around. "Wait....where's Nax?" She relaxed the bow as she looked around, and then her jaw dropped, noticing her missing. She groaned as she closed her eyes

"Oh, you stubborn, pointy eared, ogre brained..." she taps Luster on the shoulder.  "Nax is gone....This will not end well."

She looked at Luster, closed her eyes, then swore in elvish, and looked at Luster. "I bet she's gone for the sentry. I'm gonna go there before she kills herself or makes a noise."

She readies her bow and starts sneaking, muttering. "Nax....i'm gonna kick your goblin ass if you get me killed."

---

OOC: Damn Nax...well can't let her have all the fun

Thalia rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  stealth check.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:21, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

Turning to face the strange pebbled man with the excellent darkvision I speak quietly. "Keep me oriented on it. When I can see him clearly I'll attack and you do the same." Not waiting for a response I continue forward.

Summary
Ersin continues forward at a slow pace.
Stealth: 23 or 33 if affected by PWT (focus on moving quietly not hiding from sight).
COPIED FROM PREVIOUS POST
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Thu 02 Sept 2021.

Nax having forced the issue with the sentry on the road, the group profited from the stealth magic and approached the distracted creature until they could see it. That's when events accelerated as Nax jumped from the underbrush to take a swipe at the skraug's kneecap, hitting it. The creature gave a loud gasp and readied it's weapon to skewer the ferocious goblin that had left herself exposed to a counter attack... but then a barrage of arrow, eldritch blast and firebolt hit it in succession, killing the monster. Nax looked up from it's stolen kill and grumbled.

But was bright enough to remember to stay quiet.

Soon, the pair of the bear and bugbear came out of the woods, their own target taken care of. A quick explanation later and the group continued on, reaching the site of rough terrain Ersin had warned them about. The path had been overrun by a landslide in the last few months that had deposited a lot of rocks and treacherous holes on a 50 feet stretch so the group had to slow down and be careful where they were putting their feet. Fortunately, with the magic of Luster, no one could hear the group approaching, the Genasi having no difficulty navigating the difficult terrain and had to wait for the others to struggle through.

**************

Meanwhile, Kali had finished putting some poultice on the aegorix's wound and the beast, sated, was grooming itself, surprisingly cat-like in it's behavior. Kali had the feeling that she was being judged and was debating what to do next and how to bring the animal back in town, it's size alone prohibiting it from going back the way they came.

***************

It had taken longer than expected but the invisible familiar had finally managed to cut the bonds of the human prisoners, that forced themselves to stay were they were... they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces anyway and had to wait for the promised rescue.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:24, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

Looking at the majestic animal, Kali sat down next to the beast. "Highness, I don't suppose you know the way back to Lighthaven? The way I came here is not suitable for you to travel back by." Almost absentmindedly, Kali started petting the aegorix, even though not that long ago, it was growling at slashing at anyone who tried to get close to it. "I wonder how the rest of the group is doing. You know, if you don't try to attack them when they return, they won't do anything to you, Highness. I won't allow it. They should be bringing back some people you are somewhat familiar with. Perhaps they will help put you at ease, as well." Kali didn't know if speaking to the aegorix was helping it get more comfortable with her, or if it even understood what she was saying, but she had nothing better to do while she waited. With the wound on its leg, she didn't want to chance something happening to Highness by going after the rest of the group.

Thalia, quiet as she moved, held her bow, and reaching Nax, took a playful swipe at her head, “What have I told you about doing that? If your gonna pull a stunt like that, invite people….don’t hog all the fun.” She sighed and then when they began walking, frowned, trying to keep silent as she walked. She noticed Luster had no such problems (lucky for him), but even Thalia stumbled a little in places on the loose rocks.

She, however, kept silent as she moved, bow in hand.

Nax nimbly avoided the slap her friend try to give her and glared at her.

Nax go kill big rats.

First one arrived on the other side of the landslide, Luster stood watch as the others were still struggling to cross the rock studded path. The serious Genasi started to hear shuffling feet in front of him, toward where Ersin had said the prisoners where being kept, and some high pitch squeals and grunts, followed by the unmistakable sound of a whip, clacking a few times, apparently to have the squealers shut up, because they did.


*****************

Kali was so entranced by the aegorix that she began petting him, which made the beast recoil from her touch, staring at her from its four eyes, a low rumbling emanating from its belly. The two stared at each other and Kali was surprised, as was the aegorix, to see two arrows thudding in the ground near them.

Initiative Katie. They both missed their surprise round attack.

As the aegorix recoiled from Kali's touch, she put her hands up in front of her, in the typical non-threatening gesture. "Alright, Highness, I won't pet you. I didn't mean to offend you.

As the arrows landed in the ground beside the pair, Kali jumped up from her sitting position. "Looks like we have company, Highness, and it doesn't seem too friendly." Drawing her longsword, Kali made sure her shield was still secured in its proper place, settling into a defensive stance. Off in the distance, Kali could make out two shuffling figures at roughly fifty feet away, followed by two Skraug ten feet behind them.

---

OOC: 22:32, Today: Kali rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
06:26, Today: Kali rolled 17 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 12,10.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Sat 04 Sept 2021.

Seeing the others struggling with the uneven terrain, Luster once more formed the circle and 'W' symbol with his right hand, but this time he made a gentle brushing movement toward the ground before him, clearing the path and causing the ground to settle into a more easily navigable path from himself toward where the others were.

He spoke to the others in a quiet voice as they got near, "About sixty or seventy yards ahead, I hear sounds of the prisoners and the taskmasters whipping them into silence and obedience." He continued to smooth the path between where they were and where they were headed, using his connection to the elements, grateful that doing so required very little focus or energy as he continued to concentrate on hiding their presence.

What's going on? We're still to far to check with Esa. "We're committed. If we pull back their security will only get tighter and we've no idea what they'll do with the prisoners. We keep going." Not looking back, I keep striding forward. "Pebbles, stay focused; right now your eyes are our best advantage."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Sat 04 Sept 2021.

Kali could see the creatures in the distance. She knew for certain they were coming after her, as she saw the arrows stuck in the ground on either side of her. Not willing to wait for them to come to her, Kali jogged up to meet them just over halfway, leaving the zombies twenty feet from her. She pulled out a handaxe, aimed at a zombie, and threw, hitting the creature square in the chest.

---

OOC: 22:18, Today: Kali rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Handaxe attack. (crit)
22:19, Today: Kali rolled 9 using 2d6+4.  Handaxe damage-crit. (Damnit, I forgot I had bumped up my strength to +5 and my +2 from dueling. XD total is actually 12 for damage.)

Styx's bugbearian ears perked up, though for most if would have sounded like the natural idle chatter of forest creatures.  His ears, twisted and turned, as if fine tuning the location and there it was.  Grobbles...and wait, there was something else.  A shuffling sound...Zombies; but more importantly, were there any of those shade creatures with them too.  Once near the rest of the party, he filled them in.

Seems we have some extra trouble ahead.  I definitely hear Grobbles and the shuffling sounds of what must be Zombies.  We need to be on the lookout for any Shades lurking about as well.  I heard sounds of a whip, which could mean more Skraugs.  We'll need to be extra cautious if we are going to get these prisoners, and especially the princess, to safety.

As Kali moved in toward the Zombies, she took one of her throwing axe and threw it expertly in the chest of one of the human zombie, as she noticed that one of them was female, the one she struck was male. Hearing a whimper behind her, she turned to see an arrow strike Highness in the front leg, but the distraction proved costly, the second arrow finding a seam in her armor. (7 piercing damage on Kali)

What was distressing the Aegorix was not the arrow wound though... it seemed to recognize the female zombie and that paralyzed it, unsure of what it was sensing.

******************

In the mountain path, the group finally got out of the difficult terrain and continued on. The fine senses of Styx had not deceived him and Luster could soon see a group of a dozen small reptilian creature, walking sometimes on four legs or on two, like they didn't know how to decide, pushed along by two whip wielding Skraugs, followed by half a dozen shuffling humans, apparently freshly raised as the stench of death did not follow them... yet. That group was moving south west, as the adventurers were to the north of them.

Kali could sense the female zombie's presence was distressing Highness, but she wasn't sure how to accurately convey that the creature was no longer the person it had been in life. She knew very little of how many of her words Highness was able to understand, but she had to try. "Highness, the lady has died. She is no longer the person you recognize, she will not hesitate to harm you."

Turning her attention back to the male zombie in front of her, Kali put the grip of her longsword back into her right hand and struck at the undead, marking the creature.

---

OOC: 08:38, Today: Kali rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  Longsword attack.
08:39, Today: Kali rolled 9 using 1d8+8.  Longsword damage.

Luster shared what he saw with the others, "I count a dozen reptilians, some walking upright while others are on all-fours, being driven by a pair of Skraug with whips, and hmm...half a dozen undead by the look of it. They're moving away from us, to the southwest. I don't know how much of a threat they're going to pose to the operation, but they're there."

Thalia frowns at the report from Luster, the numbers disturbing her. "Thats a fair number, but at least they haven't seen us."

She then had a thought, her eyes opening wide. "Wait a minute....the other way? isn't that towards the prisoners?"

She looked at the others, a look of worry. She looked at Nax with a sigh. "You ready for some fun shortsuff?"

Nax go kill! Let's go!

And the goblin started walking blindly where Luster had pointed the enemy to be.


*******************

Kali's strike was true and she skewered the male zombie, easily fending off the clumsy sword strike of the female zombie with her shield, as arrows rained around her, without touching anything. She noticed that the skraugs were moving back, separating from each other, one moving to the north-east, the other to the south-east. (You are west of them).

After slaying the male zombie, in hopes that once the female was taken care of, Highness would snap out of whatever was tormenting the beast, Kali swung her sword at the female.

---

OOC: 20:29, Today: Kali rolled 15 using 1d20+8.  Longsword attack.
20:29, Today: Kali rolled 14 using 1d8+8.  Longsword damage.

Thalia watched as Nax spoke like she was just going to fight like someone would be collecting a piece of fruit - casual and almost bored. Thalia held her hand out. “Nax…I didn’t mean right away! could you maybe…..” She saw the determination on her face and swore, groaning. “I swear Nax, if this ends up like the kobolds outside of neverwinter, I’m gonna let them eat your goblin ass.”

Despite her complaining, the half elf followed. “C’mon….maybe she’ll be a good distraction for us.”

She made her way following her goblin friend

"I can attack from here, and try to pick off as many as I can while they are still at range. If the melee grows too thick, our ranged attackers will struggle to find a target, but we had better move closer if the rest of you want to be able to see them as clearly as I. I can damage a group with a single spell, but only if I am close to them, and doing so will be thunderously loud. Unless Nax intends to hit and run, we should all begin moving closer now so that you all can see them."

Styx couldnt help but smile as his goblin brother  strode off in search of a fight.

We better hurry.  We dont want Nax having all the fun, now do we?

Styx headed out after the goblin, making sure to stay within the magic stealth circle of death.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:23, Sun 12 Sept 2021.