Khalid looks at the group surveying the destructions, looking with what looks like glimmer of hope Khalid murmurs, "Y-y-you said you think you can track them?!"

"Yes. This way." Einar said with a nod, starting to walk in the direction the tracks showed. While he walked, a slightly worried frown crossed his gave. A horde og This size could not be dealt with by a small group of People. Hopefully the beasts would All be fast asleep in their burrow. Then there'd be a chance.

In reply to Einar Forester (msg # 55):

You lead the group in the footsteps of gibberlings. It takes a few miles, when you stumble across a dozen of freshly turned dirt mounds lining the edge of the forest. Each mound is a size of a small goat, except for a very large one in the center. The arrangement
of these strange mounds is chaotic and haphazard, with no apparent pattern to their construction.

Once they reached the mounds, Moonsong walked up beside Einar. A slight frown furrowed her brow as she studied the dirt heaps. She shared her thoughts in a hushed tone. “Look at the disordered arrangement of these mounds. There is no pattern, and they dug frantically. Perhaps we just found the Gibberlings burrows. Unless it’s another breed of creature...”


OOC:

19:59, Today: Moonsong rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Nature check: Identify mounds.

In reply to Moonsong (msg # 57):

Those are indeed mounds of gibberlings herd, it looks like they are home.

“Khalid.” Moonsong faces the man who’d hired their party. She gently clasped his hand with the wedding band. “Will your enchanted wedding band help you find your betrothed?”

In reply to Moonsong (msg # 59):

"S-s-sadly n-n-n-no. I can feel her that she is alive, but that is it". , Khalid replies somberly.

Ruby follows silently with her crossbow drawn and ready. She felt uncomfortable out in the open as she followed behind Einar and Moonsong.

Sundos gripped his spear in both hands. He quietly said, "I would guess she is in the largest burrow. We should try there first. Do we sneak in?"

 Sundos asked a question on all their minds. In reply, Moonsong gestured toward Einar & Ruby. “Our strongest tracker and our stealthiest member seem the wisest choice.”

Then, the Druid held out her open hands. “Nature shared Her secrets with me. Gibberlings often roll over their victims like the river current or the ocean tide. I can tap into the Flow of Nature and disperse them, but I may need protection once I cast that spell.”

Einar looked critically at the entrances to the mounds, wondering if his idea could work.
"Got a plan that could work. Smoke 'em out. fires at every entrance except one.those who sleep, die in their sleep. Those who wake, run weakly towards the clear exit. We cut 'em down. like hunting bear, or goblin. Could work." He said after a moments consideration. It was a risky plan, but no where near as dangerous a facing an entire fresh horde.

"Need to sneak out the wife first. Ruby shouldn't go in alone." Einar said, before looking slightly regretfully at the group. "I'm not very good at sneaking, though. Would be better as the first thing the gibbers face when coming out."

Ruby begun to rethink why she was out here in the wilderness hunting monsters again. As she offered "I don't think smoking them out is safe for his wife" as she pointed to Khalid. "I think we should sneak in. Even if they did attack they could not mob us, because of the tight spaces." As she looks around to the group to see what everyone thinks.

In reply to Ruby Rose (msg # 65):

Khalid nods his head in agreement with the rogue, ""I w-w-would imagine it would be unsafe for Jaheira, b-b-but the druids may object too".

Sundos listened to the others. "With my heavy armor, I'm not very stealthy. But if we could get into the tunnel of the largest burrow, we should be able to hold them off. Sergeant Edward always said that a strong defensive position was worth 20 good spearmen."

“I am not a particularly strong fighter, and my only offensive spell would endanger us as well in an enclosed space.”

"S'why I said get the wife out first. if we can sneak her out without waking Them, good. might not need to fight at All." Einar pointed out. "more'n one burrow, more'n one exit. the could get us from behind in a tunnel, then." He added, looking at Sundos.

"destroy or put fires in the other exits, and we give 'em only one way out. Then we can hold' em a few at a time. but again, best case we don't need to fight at all, or can smoke 'em dead."

“Let us search the largest burrow, then. We can destroy the other exits and leave them only the one tunnel.” Moonsong glanced around the area to survey the risk for wildfire. “Though we must guard against any risk of the fire spreading. I suggest that Simon & I go last in the marching order.”

In reply to Ruby Rose (msg # 65):

He looks at the rogue, "I-i-i-i am not a sneaky type, b-b-but I would like to see if can be with".

OOC:If you let him, Khalid will attempt to sneak with you. He will listen to your commands or requests. If you are indeed sneaking roll stealth/sneak and state approximate route/how close you will be to the other mounds.

Approximated map: https://docs.google.com/presen...EOb8/edit#slide=id.p

G4 is large mound

As the group quietly sneaks towards the larger mound the make their way to the Northern part of the meadows. Then...someone steps on the branch which loudly crunches under their foot. The sound echoes through the forest.

You hear at first a shrill coming from within the ground, then one by one the mounds start bursting open with what looks like oily, black mass. The creatures one by one shakes off the dirt and dust, they look like pale skinned, hunchbacked humanoids with pointed ears, across the back and over the head are the black manes, the faces of the creatures are split in a wicked grin with, sharp, pointy teeth coming from within the grins. The eyes are filled with blackness, a shine of madness and something evil coming from within them.

The larger mound remains untouched.

You count 12 creatures.


Roll initiative, state and roll for intent. I will summarize the action and we will go again.

[Private to Einar Forester: Psst. It was you stepping on the branch! Sorry!]

Simon opens his left palm slightly, exposing a crystal, and mutters some words. He is coated in frost as he pulls his hand axe.

OOC:
12:24, Today: Simon rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  initiative.
 Armor of Agathys: 5 temp hits and 5 cold to any melee attacker that hits.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Thu 03 Dec 2020.

Out of habit, Sundos calls out, "Spears Up!" as he takes up a guard position next to Khalid.

As much as possible, he will stay within 5' of Khalid, (pushing and pulling if needed to keep him moving the right direction)

"Everybody, to the large mound!"

"Stay with me, Khalid." Sundos takes him by the arm and pulls him towards the largest mound.

OOC:
Init 6
If possible, move 30' towards the mound. (Won't move if it gives them an attack of opportunity)
Attack any gibberlings that come into my range. Strikes to protect Khalid.
Hit AC 22 6 damage

14:06, Today: Sundos Brightblood rolled 6 using 1d8+2.  Damage.
14:05, Today: Sundos Brightblood rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Attack with two handed spear.
14:04, Today: Sundos Brightblood rolled 6 using 1d20.  Initiative .

The belligerent gibberish that earned the creatures’ name made Moonsong rankle as she moved with her companions. The madness in the dull black orbs of their eyes sent a shudder through her. Sundos and Simon took defensive positions. “Einar, I may need your aid in a moment,” she said in a voice surprisingly calm for the menace rolling on them.

When Moonsong felt certain that her new friends wouldn’t be harmed, she faced the Gibberlings. She quickly thrust her hands out before herself. “The power of Nature SMITES you!” The air immediately surrounding her crackled as Moonsong’s hands SMACKED together, the wrathful BOOM heard for 300 feet accompanying a wave of thunderous force directed at the Gibberlings!

OOC:


17:47, Today: Moonsong rolled 6 using 1d20.  Initiative .

I’m casting Thunderwave.

The Gibberlings need a Constitution Saving Throw vs. DC 13. If they fail, they take 2d8 damage and are pushed back 10 feet.
Even if they make the save, they still take half damage.

18:03, Today: Moonsong rolled 7 using 2d8.  Thunderwave damage.


 
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Thu 03 Dec 2020.

Cursing at his inattention, Einar whipped his greataxe from his back. Glancing over his shoulder at the others and seeing Simon ready and Sundos guarding Khalid, He moved to keep up while putting himself between the women and the gibberlings. Nodding towards Moonsong to show he'd heard her, He puffed his chest out and stood straight, doing his best to look like the most obvious threat to the beasts. He Kept himself ready to lash out at the first one to try and attack or get past him.

OOC:
Init 16
Follow along with the rest as movement allows, while keeping myself between Them and the gibberlings as much as possible.
Strike at gibberlings Who get in reach, with priority on those Who try to get past and attack the others.
Hit AC 16, damage 5

00:02, Today: Einar Forester rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  Initiative
00:06, Today: Einar Forester rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  To hit, greataxe
00:07, Today: Einar Forester rolled 5 using 1d12+3.  Damage, greataxe

Ruby pulls out her crossbow, and moves behind Einar. Ruby fires a shot from her crossbow. At this moment Ruby was rethinking her last few decisions, because yesterday she wasn't a monster hunter.

22:44, Today: Ruby Rose rolled 12 using 1d20+3. initiative
23:30, Today: Ruby Rose rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Crossbow attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:32, Fri 04 Dec 2020.

Initiative Tracker
============================================================================================
Khalid = 23
Einar Forester = 16
Ruby Rose = 12
Gibberlings = 9
Simon = 7
Moonsong = 6
Sundon Brightblood = 6

============================================================================================

Khalid in a well rehearsed move slides up to one of the gibberlings and slashes at it with
his scimitar. The gibberling falls down on the ground in a pool of blood.

OOC: G2 is done.

============================================================================================

Einar swings his massive axe at the other gibberling coming from the groups left. The axe
clips the creature nearly gutting it. However by some miracle the beast is still standing...
barely. The blood pooling quickly out of it's massive wound on it's chest.

OOC: G3.

============================================================================================

Ruby Rose steps behind the barbarian, she aims and shoots her bow at the gibberling behind the one attacking Einar. The bolt lodges itself in the head of the creature. The gibberling twitches, gurgles and falls to the ground.

OOC: G13 is done.

============================================================================================

G1 runs towards Khalid, it scratches at his armor and bites at anything fleshy. Khalid yelps
in pain, rearing backwards.

OOC: G1 does 4 points of damage to Mr. K.

G8 smelling blood darts towards the nearest target - Sundos. It is wielding a rusty dagger, thrusting it at the cleric...the dagger finds only air. It groans in frustration.

G5 seeing uselessness of it's tribesman runs up to Sundos and slashes at him with it's claws. The claws slash across cleric's face drawing blood.

OOC: Sundos takes 5 points of damage. Ouch!

The rest of the gibberlings chattering and snarling dash towards the group.

============================================================================================

Simon casts a spell on himself, the thick fog surrounds his body, then shortly settles around his feet on the grass as a light frost.

============================================================================================

Moonsong's spell echoes through the forest and raises a cloud of dust. It knocks two of the closest gibberlings off of their feet. The one already damaged by barbarian is split in half
by the spell, while the one which attacked Sundos is thrown up and into the ground, it's crumpled body is bloody and broken.

OOC: G5 and G3 are gone.

============================================================================================

Sundos thrusts his spear at the remaining gibberling next to him. The spear effortlessly passes through the flesh of the creature. The gibberling grunts at the pain, the meat and bone hanging out of the jagged wound.

OOC: G8 is almost done.
============================================================================================

You can hear more of chattering and howling coming from beneath the ground and beyond the forest...

OOC: Round two! If I missed something or misinterpreted your actions, please let me know. Otherwise, roll for attacks/skills again while stating your actions. The rest of the horde is within melee range of anyone now.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 05:49, Fri 04 Dec 2020.