The boat didn't move much faster than someone can walking.  But compared to someone trying to follow on foot, it's steady, and much more direct.  So in the remainder of the day it had covered what would take Goblins a long, long time.

But just maybe the Goblins are relentless and proud enough to put in the time and effort to punish this intrusion into "their" territory.  It takes a while, there is nothing until the early morning shift.

It's Lysander's watch, and there are drums from the forest.

Not many drums.  Two, maybe. A steady three beat rhythm.  BOOM boom boom  BOOM boom boom  BOOM boom boom.

Firefern the Fairy is startled awake by a drumbeat.  Fairies are by nature light sleepers and frequent nappers.  An adaption to living in deep forest and being a foot tall.

"Well if that's them they aren't really concerned with the elephant of surprise, are they?" the fairy asks while flitting over to Lysander.

"They may not be quiet, They might have some sass,
but it's time to get the others up off their grass."

Fen was awakened and it was found that he slept with a weapon in hand or close at hand, as when someone shook him, he instinctively brought a handaxe out for just a split-second. Then he relaxed and put it away. "Ugh. Morning already?"

Then he frowned after a moment. "Does...anyone else hear those...drumbeats, or is that my head?"

"We heard the drums, not in your head,
I woke you up so we won't be dead."

Daladain awoke. He stretched out his back, and scratched at an itch on his thigh where something small had bitten him. He disliked insects, especially the bitey ones. Maybe one day I will get a pet that liked to eat them, a lizard or bird or suchlike.

Then he noticed the drumming in the distance. He glanced around at his companions. "I'm guessing the goblins have taken exception to us being here. We should move quickly and carefully so as to not annoy them further. One or two is not so much of a problem, but if they return in large numbers then we could be in trouble."

He began to pack away his gear, ready for the off. Once done he retrieved some rations from his pack and began to munch on some dried meat and biscuits.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:58, Wed 30 June 2021.

Leysa roused as only someone who had spent her life in the deep woods. She was alert and scanning the darkness silently, the drums having registered instantly. Working quickly, she spoke the eldritch words required to cast a protection spell. "Aye, seems they want to have a word or two with us. We'll see what they have to say..."

Cast Shield of Faith.

The party rouses, one by one... though none had been sleeping particularly hard out here.

"OOh, drums," Tarhoon the otter-man says, rubbing his eyes.  "Is that bad?"

"Very," Petunia says.  "Poorly played, inconsistent volume, very out of tune, and they're not even keeping time with each other."

"We should do some reconnaissance and see what's coming," Tarhune suggests.

Baron Arbov is now up, and listening intently.  "Three of them," he says.  "Why would they need three drums?  And why even bother, all it did was alert us to their presence.  Seems foolish.  The furry one is right.  We need reconnaissance.  Elves are ideal for this, but we haven't any.  Lysander, you look like someone who is quick and stealthy."

There are such a thing as Dwarven Scouts, Dwarves who are quick and stealthy.  But they are relatively rare, a special thing among the Dwarves, and it is obvious Arbov isn't one of them.  He is, when prepared for battled, as is usual for his kind: a heavily armed and armored chunk of muscle.  He hurries into his mail shirt.

"Eyes I have to see what's there,
And ears I have to hear the air,
But hiding whilst I move about?
That is where they leave me out."


((All that to say I only get +2 to stealth and a speed of 30))

Fenranir quickly came to a more conscious state and got ready for the day - and possibly battle. The others were talking a bit and after a moment something that had been said hit him. He spun physically to look at the Baron. "What?!"

His eyes narrowed. "First off, that's racist." Then he thumped his chest and pointed at himself angrily, "Secondly, I AM an Elf, you blind -." He cut himself off before he called the Baron something insulting.

He made a disgusted noise as he whirled away and started heading to see what he could find out, muttering angrily as he went for a moment but then subsided to become stealthy.

Leysa made a clicking sound as the elf moved into the woods and then shook her head. She was more the stompy, twig-breaking type. Sighing, she looked to Lysander and pointed after the angry elf with her chin, "Help if you can, Lysander."

She then shifted her vision to Daladain, "Cast whatever protective magics you need now. I don't expect this to resolve peacefully. They are either too confident or too stupid." She neither spoke to nor gave instructions to the dwarf lord. That one could care for himself and it wasn't her position to give him orders. Not that she gave orders to the others either, more suggestions.

As the elf leaves, Lysander says:

"As your proceeding upon your way,
I know that good things come today,
and should you heed these words of mine,
I know that you will do just fine."

Grant Bardic Inspiration.

Daladain paused at the exchange between Fenranir and the dwarf lord. He was about to speak but held his tongue, knowing that his smart mouth had gotten him into trouble more than once in the past. Eventually he addressed the main issue. "I can be sneaky when sneaky is required. I am unarmoured and light on my feet. But I am not used to the wilds, I grew up with cobbles under my feet, not twigs and grasses. And should I be spotted my first reaction will be to run or hide, not fight. But if you want me to scout I will volunteer my services."

FYI - Speed 30ft, Stealth +5 and I know Invisibility spell!

Heading towards the source of the drums,  Fenranir and Daladain find something working in their favor: the noise of the drums.  Not only does it give away the location of the drummers, but no one standing near them is going to hear the approach of two stealthy scouts in the forest.

Pressing close, they make a strange discovery.







"I really hadn't noticed he was an Elf", the young Dwarven Baron says.

"Have you ever seen an Elf?" Tarhune asks.

"Well actually... it's rather remote in Sanzi.  Not in years.  They looked different.  Very pale hair. Like platinum spun into thread."

"Different kinds of people come to the Guesthouse at Deluzion Break," Petunia says.  "There are different kinds of Elves.  They come in more variety than Humans.  Some are green."

"Green, really?" Baron Arbov asks.

"Well mildly green.  Not highly green.  Like a tint."

There is a distant shout in the Goblin tongue. Tarhune translates for those who don't speak Goblin.  "He is saying, Wobnaz, take your troop and flank them from the right."

Baron Arbov readies himself, and looks off to the left.

"He said right," Petunia says.

"If it's their right its our left," the Dwarf says.  The Fairy nods, as it seems sensible enough.

Fenranir kept watching for a little bit longer, making sure there weren't more goblins coming or anything - but then began to make his way back to the group.

Returning with Fenranir, Daladain spoke quietly to the Elf.

Fenranir glanced over at Daladain after they moved out of earshot stealthily and he asked a question or two. He shook his head.  He paused and scratched his chin in thought.

Daladain raised a quizzical eyebrow.

Fenranir gave a shrug and spread his hands.

As the two scouts start to return, speaking quietly, the Goblins continue to do what they are doing. And then, a change. They hear some conversation from the Goblins, the drums briefly pause, and their attention is drawn to the Goblin troop.

Daladain glanced over at Fenranir, his eyes asking the more experienced scout for advice on what to do. Quietly he incanted a protective spell, hoping it would be be needed. In a low whisper he spoke to his Elf companion. What should we do? Do we take out these scouts now, follow them, or head back to this ship now?”


Cast Mage Armour on self.

Lysander says, you Leysa,

"I know the metal of which you are made,
I hope that my words will bring you some aid."

Bardic Inspiration
As a bonus action, a creature (other than yourself) within 60 ft. that can hear you gains an inspiration die (1d6). For 10 minutes, the creature can add it to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This can be added after seeing the roll, but before knowing the outcome.

Still surrounded by the protective energies of her Mage Armor spell, Leysa nods her thanks as the bard speaks words of encouragement. Seeing the scouts acting funny, she readied an eldritch incantation and eyed the woods.

Fenranir thought about things a moment. He looked over at Daladain.  He searched the man's face for confirmation.

He waited for an answer.

In reply to Fenranir (msg # 75):

Daladain whispered quietly to his fellow scout.

OOC - sorry for all the private chat, we're just trying to work out a plan!

Fen thought for a moment and then shrugged.  He looked around.

He then moved to try and hide himself, taking out his longbow.

10:07, Today: Fenranir rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Stealth.