"Ahhh another youth interested in adventuring, are you? Well come here lad, pay my drinks and I'll tell you about a journey of discovery, friendship and adversity like you never heard before. Come on now, don't let me hanging and let me tell you about about the group of young adventurers that took on the dangers of the Sunless Citadel..."

---

The sun was high in the sky as the tired group finally saw their destination in the distance, a man made bump of buildings on the otherwise flat horizon. One could see the mountains looming to the west, with an hint of it to the north, behind the town, but the eastern horizon was practically flat. The dusty, well traveled road was carved by the ruts of the chariots. The noon sun was strong in this spring day, with no clouds to attenuate the building heat, busy melting the remains of the winter's snow, showing up in dirty white patches in the otherwise muddy plains with new growth pushing the dirt to reach the life giving rays of Pelor.

The unlikely companions reminded themselves why they were so far from Neverwinter, where they had sign up for a dual mission. The head of the Church of Pelor hired them to find his most promising young paladin, Sir Braford, a noble that had decided to dedicate his life fighting evil. He had been gone for months, with his last correspondence placing him where the party was heading, the sleepy village of Oakhurst.

The other thing on the group's agenda was related to the village itself, as they had been tasked by the Church of Chauntea to investigate the rumors of magical fruits with strong healing properties. Both missions were to be well rewarded, so the band had formed and walked the long road toward the village.

As they slowly covered the distance remaining toward the village, more details came to their sight, farmlands separated by edges, clumps of natural tree growth, rows of man-planted trees, houses with rough stones walls surrounding them. The wind started wiping the cloaks around them, like a warning of more heat coming on.

---

OOC : You are still about 5 kilometers from the town, about a hour's walk at a good pace. Everyone give me a perception check please.

Vyn'al took in the scenery and the varied landscape, thankful for the loose fitting clothing he had chosen to wear in this building heat. He was grateful he did not wear the layers of armor that some of his companions had, protective or not. If it was already this warm in the spring, with a wind that promised more to come, then Vyn was grateful he had not been asked to come in the middle of summer instead.

"I see orchard trees over there," Vyn pointed toward the rows of planted trees. "I doubt this mystery fruit they've asked us to look for would grow on trees left so exposed, but it might be a decent place to start after we've had ourselves a bit of a rest. The owner probably knows more about fruit than the other locals, at the very least." He doubted that the fruit would be found in the orchard at all, but they had been given little information before being sent here on this task, so even the smallest clue might be useful at this stage.

Perception: 17
10:47, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

Alystair breathes in the environment and scenery. As he keeps walking in silence not really knowing anyone there, he awkwardly fiddles with a coin in his pocket. After a few more minutes of this he starts to get bored since they were walking for a good while without mostly saying a word besides vague introductions and direction to what the mission would hold. He finally stops playing with the coin in his pocket and takes out his hand. With an audible sigh he looks too his companions and says "So why did everyone take this job? Besides money of course. I took it because I had nothing else better to do and I needed to get some heat off my back" as he waits for a respond, he kicks a rock forward.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:09, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

Vyn'al answered the dragonborn's question, "Pelor's priests have offered their help in finding answers to questions I have of my late father's past. The gold will help with my personal research, and magical studies, of course, but it is answers that I seek."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

"I see, well rest does sound really good right now" Alystair stretches his arms while looking at the trees in the distance "it would be really funny if the fruits did grow on a tree" Alystair laughed at his own remark.

10:49, Today: JMash rolled 14 using 1d20.  perception.

Lerissa had kept her gaze fixed on the ground and had been flicking at her wrist for the majority of the journey; she was much too nervous (despite her neutral expression) to process her surroundings. However, Lerissa finally spoke up to answer the dragonborn's question, "I've taken this job simply because people thought I was right for it, and they told me to take it."

As she wrapped her tail around her waist so the other group members wouldn't trip over it, she allowed herself to look up for a short moment to focus on some birds.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

Alystair opens his mouth to say something then hesitates for a little bit not wanting to overstep a boundary. He turns his attentions to the birds now insight "Sounds like you weren't given a choice." Alystair stops once again not really knowing how to continue upon that situation "I'm sure you at least like the job idea" He chuckles a bit and turns to Lerissa still walking "Right?"

"I mean... it did sound a little tempting when I first heard of it." Lerissa shifted her gaze back to the ground. "I did have a choice, but there was just a lot of pressure. Everyone kept bringing it up every chance they got."

"At least the weathers... nice?" She felt as though the current atmosphere was... painfully awkward.

"Yeah..." Alystair clears his throat as he goes back to play with his coin in his pocket not wanting to make the situation worse.

The smallest member of the group (and the surliest) plodded along, his visage as unusual as his aims in life. The dwarf was average height and build for his kind, but his dark onyx skin showed his heritage as something other than the normal dwarf. Most surface dwellers would mistake him for a dark skinned dwarf, but his kind would know.

....his deugar heritage.

The dwarf stood almost five feet tall, bald head and the black onyx skin, his beard was a silver/grey, kept neat. His eyes were a deep blue. His clothes were of greys and browns with a sleeveless chain shirt over the top. his cloak, dark grey, was worn at the hems. On his belt were several pouches and kits of various types. On his back was a well worn pack with a shield strapped to it, under that a crossbow, well used but well cared for. The most obvious weapon was a large solid hammer with a head made of a dark stone.

Brankx looked up at the question and shrugged. "Got nowhere else ter be, and i neec coin fer me tinkering." He shifted the warhammer to his shoulder as he walked. He looked at Lerissa with a wry smile. ".....fer now." he muttered under his breath.

Vyn raised his right arm out to his side, and pulled the sleeve of his robe back to reveal a leather bracer, and made a Nict-nict! sound with his mouth. There on top of the bracer, what looked like blue-white fireflies appeared and flew around leaving tiny streaks of their light in the air that quickly formed the image of an owl. The lights then faded away and the image turned into the real thing, as a snowy owl stood upon the bracer. Vyn'al and the owl looked into each other's eyes before Vyn motioned toward the orchard trees with his head and then raised his arm.

The owl used the movement to help it take flight, wings flapping silently as it gained height and then glided on the warm, rising air, toward the orchard. "It doesn't hurt to get a little information beforehand, I think."

Vyn turned toward Brankx then, and asked a question, "I heard you mention the tinkering when we were offered the job, but I forgot to ask - what sort of tinkering is it that you do?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:00, Tue 26 Apr 2022.

The dwarf watched as the elf summoned the owl, and sent it off flying, then looked at him as he asked the question. “Other than my mama, her brother, me uncle showed me the most kindness in th’ clan - though most thought him a crazy coot. He was a blacksmith an’ alchemist. Smart dwarf. Anyway he told me of a gnome who he spent time with, he called him an artificer of marvels. I had a little knowledge of battle, but wasn’t strong like most o’ the clan. But, I’m pretty clever so I took what he taught an’ made it me own.”

The dwarf reached into a pouch and produced a small metal bead. “Like this - when struck to the ground, it lets a wave o’ energy out from th’ spot.” He replaced it and pointed to the harness over his armor, simple leather with several coloured crystals. “Any energy sent me way - fire, ice, even acid, this will absorb it and I can channel it through me hammer, though uses are limited - needs time ter recharge.”

He hefted his hammer over his shoulder. “It can somewhat mimic magic with a mix of alchemy and science.”

Alystair eyes follows the owl as it flies off looking at its detail, then turns to the dwarf listening to his explanation. Not really knowledgeable in those aspects just listens to the dwarf and nods to show he understands. Alystair looks at the direction of the owl wondering what lies ahead. Once again, he starts to kick a rock forward as they continue walking.

After a few seconds he looks at Brankx "You know, I always found magic really amazing. Hopefully you don't mind me asking, but how does the energy transfer to your hammer? It's okay if you don't want to answer" as he waits for a responds Alystair hold on to his coin within his pocket.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:47, Wed 27 Apr 2022.

The dwarf smiled at the curosity of the Dragonborn. He rolled up a sleeve and showed a simple insulated cable running from the harness, down his arm to a glove. He held the glove up and it had a mesh of wire inlayed in it. “Gettin’ the power to it is easy - th’ trick is gettin’ there without it hittin’ me. Took some practice, but this cord s made of metal and insulated with treated leather. Th’ power hits th’ stones, travels up an ter th’ glove. Metal handle and there ya go.”

"That's awesome" Alystair smiles and looks at the hammer admiring it "you know, dedications of very strong trait to have" As he is admiring the well thought out hammer that the dwarf had he missed the rock kick. Alystair realizing, he missed he sighs as he stops and picks up the rock and puts it in his right pocket. Alystair walks a bit faster to catch up to his original position as he starts looking for a new rock to take its place. "Hmmm I think we should go inside the orchard" He looks in the orchard's direction " I mean we still have a few hours left and it will provide shade from the heat at the very least." Alystair looks at his companions and wait for what they have to say about it.

The tiefling raised her head again. "I, er, suppose we can stop and rest for a while. I myself am not incredibly exhausted, so I can search through the orchard for the fruit while you're all resting. I don't...speak for everyone, of course."

Lerissa didn't know what to think about; the orchard, information, the hammer (and asking about the process of creating it), the owl, whether the town would judge her for being a tiefling, or the Paladin. It was all difficult to process. While waiting for others to answer, she tried imagining what the fruit could possibly look like.

Brankx noticed Lerissa's reaction and smiled. He had faced the same thought once before, but he was older than the young tiefling. He walked up beside her. "Don't overthink things lass. People see th' skin and judge. But me mama said it doent matter what other people think of ye....it only matters what ye think of ye."

He held his arms out. "Look at me.....me mama is a mountain clan, but me father is a dwarf o' the deep - people call em deurgar. Unfortunatly my physical makeup is a lot like that bastard. Luckily i have me mama's keen mind and outlook." He points at her. "Remember thaht girl - ye not what ye blood is, it's ye deeds."

He focused on walking. "...as fer rest, I'm good. may have shorter legs than ye folk, but I'm built fer distance, not speed."

"We don't know much about the fruit just yet. Time spent in the orchard may yield nothing, and may have nothing to do with the fruit we're looking for. If we get some information from the locals first, we'll know whether or not the orchard is a waste of our time. It wouldn't hurt us to stop by, I'm sure, if you'd like to have a look either way."

OOC I was waiting to see if we would get more players active, thanks for the RP in the meantime

The wizard's owl came back within range of communication and confirmed something that had been in the back of the mind of the elf... none of the farms surrounding them seemed to be habitated.  The houses seemed fine and there should be a flurry of activity at this time of day, but not even a wisp of wood smoke seemed to come from the closed up houses.

"It seems that each of these farms is empty..." Vyn'al was clearly bothered by this news, "At this time of day, there should be people working the fields, tending to their animals, and so on. The people are simply gone. Perhaps we should make haste to the village and see if anyone is there, to discover what would cause so many farms to be abandoned. It could be a sign of trouble, or of illness. It is a terrible omen, I'm afraid."

The dwarf frowned as he heard the news. Dwarves were a diligent folk, and worked tirelessly. Farmers (on the whole) had a similar outlook - so for so many farms to be empty, there must be something wrong. "Ye right - empty farms is strange this time o' day.  Lets see whats goin on here."

The dwarf made his way towards town

Lerissa muttered a small "thank you" to the dwarf before quickening her pace towards the town. She kept her eyes fixed on it.

"Perhaps they are hiding from something?"

"Let's make haste to the village, and see if we can find out." Vyn kicked up the pace a bit, to reach the village.

"This is either going to be fun or really tiring...Nonetheless it won't be boring" Alystair quickly catches up moving with his companions
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Wed 04 May 2022.

As the group walked in, they could see more abandoned farm houses and neglected land, when the spring sowing should have started. A localized black cloud soon became apparent over a field to the left side of the road and when the group came closer, the cloud started to define itself in individual specks.

Vultures...

"Gods, carrion filling the sky is never a good sign. Prepare yourselves for the smell, but we need to see if there are any survivors that can be saved." Vyn reached out to his familiar, dismissing it to the pocket dimension of the feywild that it called home. While the vultures would not be likely to attack it, numbers were certainly not in its favor.

Looking for signs of life -
18:50, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Perception. – [roll=1651708211.03921.366396]

Vyn shared what he saw, "Dead cattle, there, in that field. Dead...birds, too. Thorned bushed around them all. Definitely do not trust the vegetation here. Possibly not the water, either." He continued pushing toward the center of town.

Brankx walked with his warhammer, a look of disgust on his face. "Damn place is all but dead. Not a good sign. Where in th' hells is everyone?"

The group continued on, not investigating what could have felled the cattle and mostly the vultures. After another ten minute of walk, they entered the outskirts of the unfortified village of Oakhurst, and saw signs of life, as the inhabitants looked at the dusty travelers with wariness. Small herds of grazing animals  were kept close to the village as the shepherds kept a close watch on them. Overcrowding was threatening, as the travelers could see that a tent neighborhood as they approached.

After a few more minutes of walk on the hard dirt road, they saw the first houses, made mostly of wood, with a rare few with half stones walls. It was at this point that the adventurers saw their first armed villagers, a young human male and a gray haired halfling, both sporting identical coats with a small stitched tree on their breast. A sword adorned their belts as they were walking down the street, looking towards the group.

"Salutations travelers, what brings you to Oakhurst?" said the halfling, in a cautious voice.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:13, Fri 06 May 2022.

Alystair looks at the situation that they were in and then he takes his hands out of his pockets to look less threatening. Choosing his words carefully he states, "Hello, sorry to intrude" Alystair steps aside so the group looks more apart "my friends and I are looking for someone. He hasn't been seen in months people got worried-" Alystair gestures to himself and the group "so they sent us to help look for him." Alystair looks around a bit and then straight at the halfling


-looking for any type of ambush-
Alystair Vkriss rolled 6 using 1d20.  Perception 6
This message was last edited by the player at 12:15, Fri 06 May 2022.

"We've also had a request from a priestess of Chauntea, to look into this magical healing fruit they've heard rumors of." Vyn'al turned to look back toward the farms and dead animals they had passed along the way, then turned back to the man, "Though, as we got closer, we saw signs that the lot of you might have been killed, or fled to safer parts. Safe from what, we're not certain, but the scene was gruesome."

The dwarf, hammer on his shoulder, let the others talk. Being a dwarf he was iften blunt. Being a tinkerer he spent a lot of time alone...making his social skills even worse.

So he let them talk

Alystair nods "we wanted to make sure if you all were okay" he looked at the direction that Vyn'al was looking at then turns back to face forwarded

As your group speaks with the guards, a tall, black-furred tabaxi approaches from behind them. He is wearing simple clothes and walks with a staff in his hands, thumping the ground with each step.

Good day, weary travellers. I am Vang, a monk of the Dragon Brotherhood, and have just recently arrived here myself. I perceived a strange, dark cloud upon the horizon and, as I am bound by my oath to assist those in need, came to investigate. As you can probably see, there is much assistance required. I motion my arms around me at the overcrowded village.

Additionally, I could not help but overhear that you are searching for someone. As well as a magical... Fruit, was it? If it is not presumptuous on my part, I would offer to assist in your quests if you will first join me in assisting these good folk?

---

Edit for italics mistake and grammar.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Sat 07 May 2022.

The halfling looked at the visitors but it was his young human companion that answered.

What's the name of this person you are looking for? If he's a criminal, he might already have been hung, the man said with some smug satisfaction

As for the fruit, those dirty goblins didn't come to offer it yet.

The halfling took over with a withering look to his fellow guard. The farmers are afraid, cattle is being killed mysteriously, so they moved closer. We are too few to investigate, but if you talk to the captain, maybe there would be some coins for mercenaries.

The dwarf looked at the tabaxi with a sniff, then shrugged. "Why not.....cats are good luck so won't hurt."

He looked at the human with a glare - dwarves were not one for hangings....no honor. But when he mentioned goblins, his grip on his hammer tightened. He looked at the halfling, thinking him more reasonable. "Well, point us towards this captain so we can see what in the nine hells is goin' on here!"

Hold, Master Dwarf. This fellow seems to have knowledge of the fruit for which you seek.

I turn to the human. Please speak more of this fruit and the accompanying goblins. They offer this fruit to your village? Freely or for compensation?

From whence hail these goblins?

And what, dear sir, has been the timing of the arrival of this fruit and the demise of your farmers' herds?

Vyn'al listened to the exchange, adding details or answers as needed, "The one we seeks is called Sir Braford, a young Paladin of Pelor."

Lerissa shifted uncomfortably. "We've also heard the fruit has strong healing properties."
This message was undeleted by the GM at 23:16, Wed 11 May 2022.

The young man shrugged when the adventurers asked questions about the fruit, even when the name of the paladin was said.

I don't know much, goblins come to sell a fruit every year and leave. I don't know where they come from.

The halfling was more helpful and gave a short smile.

Yeah I remember Bradford, nice lad. He left with the Hucrele siblings and that ranger... I don't remember his name... Oh... Three or four weeks ago. They aren't back yet, but that's not surprising. Maybe captain Felosial would know more, she's probably at the jail. Big red brick building not far from the town center. Have a nice day and don't cause any troubles!

With that, he tugged at his patrol partner's sleeve and they continued their round.

The dwarf had a sour look in his face but said nothing as they spoke. They had little to no information - not surprising really. He looked at the others. “I suppose we go see this captain…maybe they know more.” With the halfling warning to stay out of trouble, he waved his hand. “Yeah, yeah….keep ye nose clean, stay outa trouble. Heard it before.” He mumbled

Vang turned to the seemingly unhappy dwarf. I am sorry, Master Dwarf. It appears this young human speaks more to hear his own voice than from any knowledge of the answers you seek. Mayhap this Captain Felosial will be more knowledgeable of these things.

He turned to the halfling. Thank you, Master Halfling. Your assistance is much appreciated. Smile, breathe and go slowly. Vang bows to the halfling.

Turning back to the dwarf, Lead on, Master Dwarf.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:20, Tue 10 May 2022.

"It's good to know we're on the right track, at least. It is nice to meet you, Vang. If you have knowledge of the area or the locals, then we welcome your assistance." He then followed the others to the center of town to speak to someone higher up the chain who may actually know what was going on and how they could go ahead and finding the answers that they sought.

Lerissa dragged her tail behind her as she followed the group. "Perhaps they'll have a small idea about what's killing the cattle, too." She turned her head towards the young human guard and scrunched up her nose slightly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:17, Wed 11 May 2022.

The dwarf looked at the tabaxi and nodded with a grim smile. "I think ye be right there."  he walks towards the town and in search of the captain

The party followed the indications and quickly reached the village center, with its steeple church, general store, blacksmith and the red brick building described to them as the prison. In front the said building, they saw a female half elf wearing the same coat as the patrolling pair talking to a mid-forties human woman with brown hairs streaked with gray, wearing a good quality woolen dress.

As they approached, they could hear the worry in the human's voice, snatching bit of conversation, talking about her children to the half elf, that patiently listened.

Hail and well met, Master Elf. Unfortunately, I have arrived in this troubled village only a short movement of the sun prior to yourself. I had barely begun to inquire of the trouble when I happened upon you good folk.

Hearing the distress in the woman's voice, Vang quickens his pace toward her and bows. Pardon the interruption, Good Woman, but you seem inordinately distressed. Might I and my new companions do something to help relieve your worries?

Turning slightly to the other woman, Wouldst thou be Captain Felosial? My companions have queries on which they hope you may elucidate.

---

Edit: Forgot to respond to Vyn'al Ethinos
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Wed 11 May 2022.

The dwarf walked beside the tabaxi, and upon reaching the people, let the monk talk. Brankx was never one for smooth words - his dwarvish nature made him speak his mind, and his deurgar blood, a little bluntly at times.

He stood with the tabaxi. "And do ye need help too?"

"Aye, I am Felosial" said the half elven woman, looking up and down at the party with wary eyes. "How may I be of assistance?"

She looked at the dwarf and slightly nodded. "Help is always needed, are you a mercenary company?"

The distressed woman with her needed no more to jump in. "I am Mistress Hucrele, owner of the general store here. If you are mercenaries I will hire you. My son and daughter are missing and I need to get them back!"

"Kerowyn, it's not unheard of for adventurers to be gone for months, if not years" the half elf said to the woman with patience.

The woman shook her head, like denying the statement. "I have a bad feeling, Felosial, something happened and I need to know!" She looked pleadingly to the group "I will pay for you to retrieve my children"
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:21, Thu 12 May 2022.

The tiefling spoke to Captain Felosial, "We've received news of goblins coming every year to this village to sell fruit. It's believed to have strong healing properties, and we were wondering if you had any information on it."

She then turned to Mistress Hucrele and raised her head. "Your name is Hucrele? Tell me, would your children have happened to disappeared along with a man by the name of Sir Bradford? When, and where?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Thu 12 May 2022.

Vang bows to the lady, Mistress Hucrele, no recompense is required for my assistance. Please describe your progeny and the circumstances of their disappearance.

The questions that needed asking had been asked, so Vyn quietly awaited replies.

Brankx, like Vyn, waoited uintil more information was given. Bith Lerissa and Vang had the talking underway

Felosial looked at the tiefling and nodded, grimacing. "That damned fruit is gonna bring us only troubles. Yes the goblins come with a fruit every year, they have been doing that for about ten years now, and sell it to whoever can pay their price. It looks like a red apple and it is true, it does heal. They should be coming soon, this is about the right time of the year."

"But sometimes, in the the late fall, they come with a white apple and that one is poisonous, and not as popular, as you can imagine"

The shopkeeper nodded her head vigorously when the name of the paladin was mentioned.

" Yes, yes! That man convinced my children to follow him, with his ranger friend... what was his name..

Karakas.

Yes that's it! Talgen and Sharwyn, my son and daughter, got their heads filled by this quest of finding an old ruin along the north road, and left about a month ago. I'll offer 250 gold, each, to return them safe and sound. If the worst has happened, like I fear, bring me back their signet ring, I'll pay 125 gold for the rings. Do we have a deal?"

The woman was obviously in her element, negotiating deals, but even the half-elf rolled her eyes at that display.

Vyn'al couldn't help but speak up after that, "Of course, Mistress Hucrele, we will search for them and bring them back or bring word of their fate."

"If the white fruit is always poisonous, and this is known, why do they bother to bring it at all?"

Brankx widened his eyes in surprise at the offer. 250 gold was a substantial amout - hells, 125 was, and to get that each meant they could supply with better armor and gear easily.

He looked at the others and nodded. "Gold or not, children lost had me.....though i'll admit th' gold will be welcome fer getting materials fer me work."

He looked at Felosial. "If we do this an th' goblins come, can ye purcase some apples afore they leave - we dont want ter miss our opportunity. If ye can, persuade them ter stay so we can ask about their fruit."

Thank Tymora, I am glad that you came. If you need supplies, please come to my shop, I can open a credit line on the reward if you need equipment. Please hurry, I'm really afraid for my children.

The shopkeeper gave her goodbyes to the half-elf and moved back to her establishment.

Felosial looked at the group and gave a tight smile. "Looks like you got yourself a quest. The ruins Sir Bradford brought the kids to are the remains of a castle that sunk underground. Take the north old road and when you see broken columns to the left, you'll know you are arrived. It is about a day's walking from here.

I don't know why the goblins bring the poisonous apple here, I'm not asking them questions and who knows what goes on in a goblin's head? The red apple, and it's a single one, is highly coveted. I couldn't keep it for you.

Brankx looks at the group and shrugs. "A small side trip won't hurt - gives me a chance ter test some o' me experiments"

"If the goblins aren't here yet, but the group of adventurers are missing, I think they take priority over the goblins." Vyn'al looked around to see if the others were in agreement or not, though he expected that they would be.

"Does anyone need to get equipment before we go? If it has sunk, then perhaps we should look into some climbing equipment to help us get in and out again?"

OOC: I wouldn't mind taking a look at the store. I would be willing to put some of my reward toward a healing potion or two, and a climbing kit.

Brankx nods at Vyn's assessment. "Th' sooner we get ter th' kids and get 'em back, th' better." He shoulders his pack and makes for the store

Fear not, Mistress Hucrele. We shall return expeditiously with news of Talgen and Sharwyn. Might I be so bold as to inquire the design of the signet?

Vang bows to Mistress Hucrele as she turns to leave. Once she has gone, he turns to his new companions.

It seems we have a quest. Shall we away?

---

OoC
Vang wants to get started but will acquiesce if anyone wants to visit the store.

To GM:
What time is it now? Felosial said "a day's march" to the ruins. If we leave now, will we arrive by nightfall?

In the well lit shop, there was mostly the requirements for a farming town, and the adventurers noticed that it was quite busy. Two young men tented the front counter and were hard at work getting what the clients asked for. Finally their turn came and after identifying themselves, the blond clerk face lit up. Ah yes, Mistress Hucrele told us about you. Lets see now... He looked at a sheet of parchment behind the counter and his eyebrows shot up in surprise, reading the paper two other time to make sure. Well well... It seems that you have a line of credit up to 200 gold pieces. There's a line here saying it will be deduced from your reward. How can I be of service?

His surprise passed, the young man was all business now.

Vang looks around the shop but unless something wondrous that a monk should never be without catches his eye (or maybe just something unusually shiny), he will just browse and wait for his new companions to make their purchases.

Brankx walked around the store, arms crossed. He had no real need for anything - most of his gear was already on him or designed for the road.

He looked at the others. "Maybe grab a healers pack. other than that, I suggest we move quick" He showed the signs of a typical impatient dwarf shopping

The clerk smiled and moved to the back shop, quickly coming back with a bag that he put on the counter. "Anything else?

"They mentioned the place had sunk down into the ground, lets have a climber's kit too."

Vyn glanced around at the others for input, "Healing potions are a bit pricey, it will take a chunk out of the final reward, but it may also save a life while we're down there. The advance is large enough to cover three of them - " He glanced toward the clerk, "if they have three available, of course - but it will reduce the gold for any who are here more for payment."

Vang looks around at the group. I care not for material things; however, bracers of defense or rings of protection would not go amiss.

Brankx looked around and snorted. "Ye think this place would have healing potions, let alone magic items like that. Ye be daft."

Vang turned to the Dwarf with a short bow, Expect nothing, Master Dwarf, and you shall find gratitude in everything.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:41, Mon 23 May 2022.

The dwarf snorts with a smile. "Hope fer the best, Expect th' worst." he replies

Vyn'al simply shrugged his shoulders, "Ask for nothing, and you'll get what you asked for."

The dwarf frowned and snorted. "Lets just get movin'...all this talk is makin' me teeth hurt."

Lerissa sniffed at the air and flicked at her wrist. "If we're done here, we can move along before the vultures-" she stopped herself, taking a second to alter what she was about to say. "Before Miss Hucrele finds us and drags us out of the village."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Tue 24 May 2022.

Healing potions... Let me see what we have left, they are going away fast, with the troubles we had

The young man disappeared in the back store and came back after a few minutes, putting a bag with a rope attached to it and 2 bottles containing a red liquid on the counter.

You are lucky, those are the last we have in stock. So your total will be 130 gold pieces, you still have 70 gold pieces to your credit. Will there be anything else?

Vyn'al gave his companions a smug look, "I think that covers everything. Thank you for your help." With business concluded, Vyn was ready to join the others in going to look for the lost paladin and his companions.

<OOC: Just a quick Note on the adjustment of appearance. Same height and description. He wears a Light grey set of Studded Leather armor, the studs triangle in shape  at his hip he has a handaxe made of a dull grey metal, and a single dagger in a boot sheath. around his wrist is a bracer with a octagonal shaped clear stone inset (his arcane focus). Still bald with a light grey beard, and still a bit surly>

Brankx, crossing his arms looms at the group. "Yes...well an' good. Now, can we go and find these kids an' tan their hides fer their stupidity now?"

The dwarf walked out if the shop, healing kit in hand, he hands it to Lerissa. "You hold this....your best at using it I'm guessin'"

Leaving the general store, the dwarf was distracted giving the healing pack to Lerissa, feeling at the last second that someone was in his path, someone big, about to go in the store. Lifting his eyes, he saw a huge grey skin goliath, with a massive bow, accompanied by a female human with a curious double bladed staff decorated with feathers and leather in hand.

<OOC>  Real quick intro for the two new chars, you are looking for Karakas, a former companion of Rorek's mentor. You've met with Captain Felosial that told you that another group, in the general store, is looking for the paladin that accompanied the elven ranger. It's lazy GMing, but it's late and I'm going to bed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:20, Fri 27 May 2022.

Keely took half a step back as the dwarf, who looked almost as wide as he was tall, came out.  "Your pardon, master dwarf," she said in an uncommon cadence.  "We did not see you."

She glanced up at Rorek and chided softly.  "One so large as yourself should really be wary of stepping on others."

With his huge stature, and clad as he was, in scratched and patched leather armor and weapons, Rorek was used to people normally giving him a wide berth, so the sudden appearence of anyone so close gave him pause. Like Keely he unconsciously took a step back to give himself and the stranger space. He glanced over at his travel companion, and then back to Brankx with a nod, "Apologies". His voice was deep and soft, his accent giving it a strange melodic quality. Looking down his pale grey eyes glanced over the dwarf, before looking the stranger in the eye once again, "Pardon, but are you part of the group looking for the missing paladin?".
This message was last edited by the player at 10:12, Fri 27 May 2022.

Brankx walked out of the store, muttering, and at the last second, realised there was someone in front of him - someone BIG! He looked up with a frown. He waved his hand. “Keep ye apologies…no harm was done.” Though his tone was not welcoming, it was gruff. He looked back towards the store, then to the two newcomers.

“….as few the group looking for th’ paladin and lost kids, we be it….” He looked over his shoulder, yelling at the door. “IF OTHERS STOP SPENDIN’ MONEY AND GET THEIR ASSES MOVIN’!” He sighed as he looked back, then two the two new people. “Who ye be?”

Rorek looked back over the dwarf's head as he shouted, trying to gauge which of the people inside he was talking to before answering the gruff stranger. "Rorek", he then gestured towards the woman at his side, "Keely. The captain said we might have a similar goal. We're looking for Karakas, a ranger who was traveling with your paladin". He kept his voice low, unsure who else was in the strangers group, and not wanting to broadcast his business.

Keely nodded, indicating her agreement with Rorek's statement.  She gave the dwarf a small bow as his eyes passed over her.

"We may be able to help each other," she started to say, then paused to see if any of the others were coming from inside the shop.  If she waited a moment, she could avoid repeating herself.

Lerissa shuffled out of the shop, healing kit in hand, and stopped slouching when she spotted the new adventurers. The tiefling managed to hear Keely's offering. "Oh, yes, more help would be much appreciated."

Lerissa stared up at Rorek and squinted, impolitely comparing him to a tree. "Pardon me, sir, but just how tall are you?" she blurted.

Easily over 7ft. tall, Rorek looked down at the tiefling, cocking his head slightly as he considered the question, before seemingly settling on an answer, "Taller than most, but shorter than some".
He hefted his backpack and adjusted his bow as he glanced back into the shop, seemingly eager to get on the road, before looking back to the dwarf, "Is it only the two of you?".
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Sat 28 May 2022.

"Just tall enough," Keely said, repeating something her uncle had said often enough.  "His legs reach all the way to the ground!"

Vyn'al came out of the store at the sound of voices, tucking away something that he'd just purchased. "Well met, Rorek and Keely. We're leaving just now, if you'd like to take this conversation to the road. My name is Vyn'al. If the robes and tome haven't given it away already, I'm a student of the arcane."

Vang had exited the store with his new "friend"...  The crotchety dwarf was an enigma to Vang but he liked Brankx's gruff honesty. It reminded him of his master, Ardus, at the Dragon Brotherhood Monastery at Cilant Lis.

Vang glanced at the figures blocking their path. When they introduced themselves, Vang bowed to them each in turn. Old friends depart, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.


Turning to Brankx, Vang bowed low. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Shall we away?

Rorek nodded to each of the new arrivals as they filtered out. Bigger group than he had expected, but in this case that was not a bad thing, "Indeed. The paladin was headed north, with Karakas and the young ones. We should start there". He unslung his bow, turned and was about to start walking, when he hesistated, "I am used to scouting ahead, if no one objects I will do the same here. An armed group of this size might scare off someone with information, or attract unwanted attention".

Keely raised an eyebrow.  "This size?  But we only number six!"

Brankx looked at the tabaxi with a frown. “If ye have a saying fer every suituation, this trip is gonna be VERY long.” He made his way past and looked at the Goliath. “If ye wanna scout, be me guest. I don’t think we need it yet though.”

He looked back at Vyn. “If ye and th’ cat are done talkin’ people ter death, let’s get moving.”

With the sun half way down from its zenith, the little troupe got going leaving the town shortly after. The old north route was similar to the more modern southern road they had took to Oakhurt, with only the closest farms tended by watchful farmers, animals grazing under the vigilance of armed herders. But they quickly left even that behind and found untended fields and orchards, peppered with abandoned houses. The sun soon reached the peaks of the western mountain range, prompting the question of continuing or making camp for the night, while there was still some light available.

"Perhaps we should look to make camp," Keely said.  "I am good for some time yet, but many of these houses look abandoned, and may make for suitable campsites.  Four walls and a roof?"

The blonde woman pulled a cloak around her shoulders as she looked to the darkening skies.  "A fire would not be unwelcome at this point?"

The dwarf snorted as he looked around. The dark never stopped him - his darker heritage saw to his ability to see better in the dark than light, but he knew if he continued, the exhaustion would overtake him.....besides, not everyone had his ability to see in the darkness.

The dwarf nodded, pointing at a simple ruin of a house, holding a chimney. "That one is as good as any. We should set guards in case th' smoke or fire brings unwanted visitors."  The dwarf made his way over, and instead of opening the door (Like most normal people), he kicked the door open.

Looking around, he snorted. "I'll take mid watch - me eyes are best in th' dark."

Rorek looked over at Keely, and Brankx, then shrugged. If she and the others felt that there was no need for a scout then he would stay with the rest of them. To him the sight of a group of armed strangers with no decerning marks or uniforms on the road would likely be enough to scare off any farmer or hunter who might see them, even if the group only numbered six.

As they walked Rorek silently kept an eye on their surroundings. The wild orchards and abandoned houses was an eerie sight, that gave him an uneasy feeling.

Following Brankx into the house Rorek took off his pack, letting the heavy leather backpack onto the ground with a weighty thump, "I can take the first watch".

Vang looked at the group filing into the abandoned structure before bowing to Brankx. I can take the mid watch with you, Master Dwarf.

Vang set about finding a place to sit and began blowing a haunting tune on his quarterstaff.

---

Vang's staff is also a flute - If you've seen Circle of Iron, think the staff carried by David Carradine's character. If you haven't seen it, you really need to.

Vyn saw no harm in an extra layer of protection in a region where farms and livestock were abandoned to death or worse, "Scouting might not be needed, but it also never hurts to do it. A bit of extra precaution that doesn't slow us down won't hurt a thing. You do what you do, Rorek, don't let the bossy dwarf tell you what you can and can't do around here."


When the time came to discuss the order of watch, Vyn chimed in again, "It looks like a fine place, to me. Nearly everyone here can see in the dark. I'll double up with Rorek and take the second as well. You two can relieve me, and Lerissa can see us through to morning."

When the Elf insulted his new Dwarven friend, Vang paused in his playing. There is no need for insults, Master Elf. Remember, wise men don’t judge – they seek to understand.

Vang went back to playing his haunting tune.

"I suppose I can take the morning watch. I wonder what monstrosities lurk in the dark..."" Lerissa muttered, standing awkwardly by the door. Her tail tapped along with the tune Vang was playing.

She looked at Brankx and told him, "It would be wise not to kick down doors next time. The confidence is inspiring, really, but it's best to be careful. Who knows what hides in these buildings?"

After that, Lerissa stayed quiet and zoned out with a blank expression. Her tail still tapped along with the flute, though.

Rorek looked around at the group as the watch was divvied up, and nodded. An old ritual, which a brought the ghost of smile across his face at the familiar grumbling and banter that always accompanied it. Making sure the quiver was within easy reach on his back,  Rorek picked up his bow and walked back outside. “I’ll take a look around the area. Make sure there are no surprises”. Picking up the pace, he hunched a bit and started a wide circle around the house, careful to make as little noise as he could.

OOC:
00:45, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Stealth

Keely set up her bedroll in what looked to be the least drafty spot in the house, then looked for a place to set a cookfire.

Brankx looked at the elven wizard with a stern, serious look, then cracked into a grin. "Ye got spunk fer a pointy eared bookworm....but ye want ter keep up th' verbal game with me lad, ye better pick up ye game."

This was the first most had seen him smile, and it was odd it was when someone pointed out his own flaws.

He looked at Vang with a wink. "Don't worry ye fluffy head about it - i've faced worse taunts at th' hands o' human children. It takes a lot ter upset me lad."

when Vang issued another mantra-like pearl of wisdom, the dwarf rolled his eyes. "Ye not gonna stop that, are ye? Oh well." he sighed reluctantly.

Pulling out his hand axe, he began gathering firewood, chopping it into smaller pieces for a fire. "Bookworm...make yeself useful an start a fire - i'll gather more wood." He watched as Rorek went scouting and nodded

Vyn'al raised a questioning eyebrow at both Vang and Brankx, "If my pointing out your bossiness when you're barking orders to everyone around you is considered an insult, or me showing my spunk, then we're in for quite a journey."

Still, Vyn had no issue with doing his part. He held an arm out to his side and made a circular motion with his hand, at the wrist, bringing his thumb and middle finger together before flicking the wrist up and snapping the fingers. As the snap sounded, a roaring bonfire appeared, somewhat wild and unruly, larger than he he was himself. "Yield, Flame. Bend to my vision." As he commanded the flames of the bonfire, they did as he commanded, settling down to the size of normal campfire.

Vang stops playing as the fire leaps high into the air. As Vyn'al commands the fire, he sets the flute aside and raises his left eyebow.

He who does not show off shines brighter than the flames of a fire.

Vang picks up the flute and continues playing.

Brabkx, dropping off a pile of firewood, rolls his eyes at Vang. "Another one....damn me, how many o' them do ye have?" He looked at the wizard and shrugged. "Ye want ter lead, then start puttin' in ye two coppers worth elf. Not my fault people listenin' ter me."

OOC : so we have Vyn'al and Rorek with the first watch, Brankx and Vang for the second and Lerrisa and Neely for the third? And to think I was expecting 9+ players at the start, special thanks to Lerrisa to stick around from that original batch. I hope you have fun.


Everyone give me a perception check please.

Vang stops playing for a moment to smile at Brankx. The wisdom of the Brotherhood do I spread to the four corners of the earth. That so few understand me is why I am treasured. After speaking, he resumes playing his flute.

---

08:06, Today: Vang rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Perception check.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Wed 01 June 2022.

<OOC:  Brankx rolled 4 using 1d20+1.  perception check.

Maybe Vang was issuing some words of wisdom again!>

22:30, Today: Keely Navila rolled 7 using 1d20-1 ((8)).

OOC:
13:42, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  perception.

OOC:
12:14, Today: Lerissa rolled 5 using 1d20.  Perception check.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Sun 05 June 2022.

Sorry for the delay.

Perception: 11
22:11, Yesterday: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Perception. – [roll=1654139482.78515.366396]

As the party settled to rest in the one room farmer's house, watch were established and in the dead of the night, the monk was again giving words of wisdom to the grumbling dwarf. Suddenly, some of the dry shrubs that was taken as firewood animated and attacked!

---

The twig blight had a surprise round, and everyone except Vang and Brankx start the fight prone and without shield if you normally have one, it will take a bonus action to don. I consider that you kept your armors on. Those missing HP have been hit, and I rolled initiative for everyone. You each have a twig blight within melee range of you. Let's get ready to rumble!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:33, Sat 04 June 2022.

Keely was a light sleeper -- an occupational hazard when you had three brothers who were prone to pranks in the dead of night.  Even so, she hadn't recognised the creaking of the wood as an attack in her sleep until some part of her brain informed her that this creaking was coming from the wrong direction!

Keely opened her eyes to see what looked like a small collection of sticks standing near her head, driving sharpened stick-like claws right at her face!  Keely rolled to one side -- away from the fire, always away from the fire her Uncle Finn's voice rang in her mind -- and snatched up her bladestaff, whirling it in a fast series of strikes at the tiny creature.

"Up, up!" Keely cried as she swung.  "Get up!  We're under attack!"

---

Move	roll to one side, then stand up
Action	Attack Twig Blight #5
	14:48, Today: Keely Navila rolled 15 using 1d20+3 ((12)).  Attack
	14:49, Today: Keely Navila rolled 9 using 2d4+1 ((8)). Damage
Bonus	Attack with the other end of the bladestaff
	14:51, Today: Keely Navila rolled 21 using 1d20+3 ((18)).  Bonus attack.
	14:52, Today: Keely Navila rolled 5 using 1d4+1 ((4)).  Damage
Reaction	Attack of Opportunity if needed

This message was last edited by the player at 06:22, Sat 04 June 2022.

Brankx sat in the darkness, listening to the tabaxi spout another saying. He rolled his eyes when he heard something behind him. He thought it was just one of the others rolling....when he was hit. "OW....damn ye.!"

he was up on his feet, feeling the presence of his patron almost smugly warning him of what happened. Snorting, he spun with his hand axe in hand and swung at the closest twig blight.

He saw Vyn was hit pretty badly, and groaned, holding out his other hand, a warm orange light emanated from him, healing the wizard. "Get ye ass up pointy - th' firewood isn't happy with us!" he called out

---

<OOC: Action - Attack with Handaxe

Brankx rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  attack - handaxe. <CRITICAL>
Brankx rolled 7 using 2d6+2.  Damage - Handaxe.

Bonus Action - Healing Light - Vyn

Brankx rolled 3 using 1d6.  Healing light - Vyn.>

Rorek woke with a start as he felt the blight's claws rake across him. Groaning in pain, he spun to his feet, drawing the handaxe from his belt and lashing out as he did so. A quick glance around, showed the camp was under attack, "Ambush!".

OOC:
Rorek Stormcrow rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  attack - handaxe.
Rorek Stormcrow rolled 6 using 1d6+2.  damage (if needed).

Hearing a noise behind him, Vang was moving before the others even called out their warnings. Spinning up from a sitting position into a crouch, he faced off against a blight just as it raked a claw where Vang's back had been only moments before.

Vang swung his staff around, the wind whistling through the flute, so that it was locked under his right arm with his right hand, facing in towards his body, grasping it as he swung it in a left-to-right arc. He followed the staff hit with a quick swipe of his left claw.

---

OOC Mechanics
Hit Points      : 9/9
Armor Class  : 15
Initiative       : 6
Active Spells : None

Move             :
Action            : Attack tree blight with Staff (Bludgeoning)
Bonus Action : Attack tree blight with Claws (Slashing)


Rolls
11:30, Today: Vang rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Staff Attack.
11:30, Today: Vang rolled 8 using 1d6+3.  Staff Dmg.

11:30, Today: Vang rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Unarmed Attack.
11:31, Today: Vang rolled 6 using 1d4+3.  Unarmed Dmg.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Mon 06 June 2022.

Vyn'al scrambled to his feet, as the creature's attack startled him out of his meditative state. Vyn'al held his hands deliberate poses, tracing runes through the air that only he could see as he manipulated the arcane threads that wove themselves throughout the worlds and in between. As the fire rune was completed, he spoke the words of power that would unleash the energy from the runic conduit and spill the energy into the world, "Fuerhyn spar kin'hel fyn-dhel." As he uttered the last word, a roar fire taller than he was, and just as wide, rose up around the twig-creature.

Move: stand up from prone
Action: cast Create Bonfire on the twig blight attacking me
Result: Dex DC 14 vs 8 Fire damage

16:49, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 8 using 1d8.  Create Bonfire, Dex 14. – [roll=1654379376.27038.366396]

Lerissa jumped to her feet when she felt a Twig Blight's claws attack her. She growled, tilted her head back, and slammed it back down onto the Twig Blight!

OOC:
Today: Lerissa rolled 20 using 1d20+2. Unarmed strike
Today: Lerissa rolled 5 using 1d4+2. Unarmed damage.

The battle was on and everybody woke up suddenly to face the animated wood creatures.

Brankx took his axe and tore through the blight attacking him, spraying wood fragments all over the room, destroying the creature. At the same time, healing light were directed to the wizard.

The blight attacking the tabaxi swiped and missed, the agile monk easily evading the vicious claws.

Keely swung her weird weapon around, doing kindling out of the monster attacking her, the backswing targeting another creature and cutting in half the one attacking her goliath friend

Distracted by a facefull of it's fellow twig, the one attacking Lerissa totally missed the cleric.

Rorek had less success than his fellow adventurers, his wild swipe barely missing the nearest creature after his attacker was destroyed.

Lerissa did not even bother to take a weapon, headbutting the twig attacking her with her horns, crunching wood, but not killing it outright.

There a reason why wizards are rarely on the front line, and Vyn'al caught it quickly, the claws tearing through him nullifying the healing he had just received and increasing his injuries.

The monk swirled his staff even faster than Keely's double bladed weapon and destroyed his attacker, moving a few feet to strike again with his fist, crunching the creature attacking the wizard, that evaded the sudden bonfire the appeared around it.

---

4 blights are dead, and the other 2 are seriously damaged, round 2!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:43, Sun 05 June 2022.

Rorek looked around for whoever had taken out the tree beast that had attacked him, to thank them, when he heard the elven wizard being raked by claws a second time. Taking quick aim he launched the hand axe in his hand at the creature next to Vyn’al, and snarled in frustration as the throw went wide. He then drew his dagger as he moved in to help.

OOC:
Action - Rorek Stormcrow rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Thrown attack with hand axe.
Move - Move to stand beside Vyn’al.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Sun 05 June 2022.

Without missing a beat, Vang continued his circular momentum from slashing the second blight to swing the staff down through the blight and into a spinning flip in an effort to land on top of the remaining blight and crush it underfoot.

---

OOC Mechanics
Hit Points      : 9/9
Armor Class  : 15
Initiative       : 6
Active Spells : None

Move             : Spin Vyn'al away from the blight
Action            : Attack tree blight with Staff (Bludgeoning)
Bonus Action : Attack tree blight unarmed/crushing underfoot (Bludgeoning)


Rolls
12:16, Today: Vang rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Acrobatics to Dance/Spin Vyn'al. Change to Unarmed Attack roll since the rules lawyers say the dance spin can't be done.

If applicable:
12:16, Today: Vang rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Staff Attack.
12:17, Today: Vang rolled 5 using 1d6+3.  Staff Damage.

12:17, Today: Vang rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Unarmed Attack.
12:18, Today: Vang rolled 4 using 1d4+3.  Unarmed Damage.

Not sure if the acrobatic spin would be the action or if it would be considered a Move/part of the attack motion. Let me know and I can edit, if needed.

This message was last edited by the player at 06:16, Mon 06 June 2022.

Vyn'al kept the bonfire burning, and added frost magic to the mix as he shot a frosty ray at one of the nearby twig creatures.

Concentration Save: 19, success
Action: cast Ray of Frost (Disadvantage for being in melee, unless it dies before my turn)
Target: since one is still in my fire, I'll target another with the Ray, unless that one saves again
Result: Hit AC 16 (18 if no disadvantage), for 8 Cold damage and reduce its speed by 10

Bonus: If there's another blight within 5 ft of my Bonfire, or the current one steps out of it, use Telekinesis to shove it back in
Bonfire deals 3 Fire damage unless they succeed on Dex DC 14

16:15, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 3 using 1d8.  Create Bonfire, Dex 14. – [roll=1654463727.60899.366396]
16:13, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 18,8,16 using d20+6,d8,d20+6.  Ray of Frost, -10 speed. – [roll=1654463586.35036.366396]
16:12, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Concentration Save. – [roll=1654463570.03663.366396]

Brankx snarled as the blight before him fell to kindling, the smile almost menacing. "Stupid firewood." He grunted as he turned, facing the blight facing the cleric, he swung his axe, missing.

---

<OOC: Action - Attack using handaxe

Brankx rolled 11 using 1d20+4 - Attack - Handaxe>

Don't overthink it, girl!  The voice of Keely's aunt Estrid rasped through her mind.  Estrid bore a distinctive scar across her throat, a remnant of battles long past, but it made her voice so distinctive that it commanded attention whenever she spoke.  Or maybe that was the warrior herself.

Time and space is the enemy in combat, Estrid said over and over.  When you don't have time to think, you do the right thing and make the right decision.  When you have to time to think, you'll overthink it, every time.

And that's just what had happened here: when she'd woken up with claws heading for her eyes, Keely had rolled away, risen to her feet and sliced not one, but two of the twig blights into kindling.  Now, with a breather and a moment to assess, as she stepped in with a practiced series of blows, she found herself unable to hit her target.

---

Move	Close with the Twig Blight #1
Action	Attack with bladestaff
	15:18, Today: Keely Navila rolled 9 using 1d20+3 ((6)).
Bonus	Attack with the other end of the bladestaff
	15:18, Today: Keely Navila rolled 6 using 1d20+3 ((6)).
Reaction	Attack of Opportunity if presented

Axes and swirling double bladed staff struck air as the little bundles of sentient wood evaded the attacks. Then the one in the bonfire shrieked as it caught fire and was consumed by the magical flames, quickly followed into death by the other blight twig, Vang smashing it with it's staff.

Nothing else that shouldn't move did in the small house, the bonfire creating weird shadows on the faces of the adventurers. After a moment of lull as everybody was taking it's breath to recover from the fight, the tiefling touched the elf, healing light coming from her hand.


OCC :

This fight is over, you still have a long rest to do ;)

Today: Lerissa rolled 9 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 7.  cure wounds.

After smashing the final blight with his staff, he stood in a crouched position looking around for more foes. Seeing none, he stood and bowed to the fallen blights.

I do not rejoice over victory. With the loss of others, I weep with sorrow and grief. After winning a battle, I do not celebrate.


Turning back to his companions, Is everyone alright?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Mon 06 June 2022.

The dwarf looked around, panting from the quick but sudden exertion of adrenaline from the fight. When vang spoke, his look was a one of confusion.

"What in the hells! Don't celebrate that we didn't die? you'd rather we threw a party when we're dead."

He placed his hand axe on his belt with a snort. "Damn cay talks in circles" He muttered as he gathered the remnants and then them in the fire

Rorek, keeping his dagger ready, "Everyone alright?". Seeing noone seemingly hurt too bad, he sheathed the blade and walked over to where his handaxe rested.
He leaned down to retrieve the weapon and ran his thumb along the edge, checking it for nicks or cracks. Satisfied there were none, he pressed this thumb a little harder, allowing a tiny drop of blood to run along the blade, mumbling quietly as he did so, "Manethak, the wise, I thank you for your lesson and swear to be more vigilant going forward. As you teach us, only those who keep their heads in the heat of battle will live to see its end", before placing the hatchet back in the leather hoop that held it to his belt.
Turning to the rest, he looked around to see if anyone needed help as he made his way to his bedroll and blanket.

OOC:
Rorek is speaking Gol-Kaa to himself, the language of Goliaths.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Mon 06 June 2022.

Vyn'al kept the fire going long enough to consume the twig blight remains, which he helped to collect, then allowed the fire to fade just as quickly as it'd appeared. He caught Brankx's attention before speaking, "Alive, thanks to the help of others, no less," then turned his thanks toward Lerissa as well. "If not a celebration of victory, then a celebration of friendship, teamwork, and not having to face this world alone. When we get back to town after this trip, dinner and the first two rounds are on me."

Keely nudged Rorek in the ribs.  "He's gonna regret that one, eh?"  Despite acknowledging the big goliath's size, it was still astounding how much food the big man could put away.  Maybe the inside of the mountain was hollow?

Rorek glanced down at Keely, and considered her question, before smilling and nodding, “Yes. Yes he problably will”. He did eat a lot, but his previous life had taught him that you ate when you had the chance, because you never knew when you’d have time again.

He looked back down at her and checked her over for wounds or cuts, “Are you ok?”.

Keely paused to check herself over.  Often, she found she wasn't aware of her injuries until the battle was already over.  In this case, she couldn't seem to find any.  "Perfect as ever," she said, twisting this way and that to check behind herself.

Brankx looked at the goliath with a nod. "Few small scratches, but i'm ok. Most o' the big hits happened to th' elf."

He looked at Vang. "fer a poet, ye pretty lethal there Vang."

Vang smiles at Brankx. The monks of the Dragon Brotherhood are as renowned for their martial arts as they are for their teachings. While we abhor violence and killing, there are times it cannot be avoided.

He turns and lays out his bedroll before lying down with his staff beside him. Goodnight, Master Brankx.

Rorek's smiled widened for a second at Keely's statement, "Good". With the adrenaline of the fight quickly fading, he let out a massive yawn. "We should try to get some more rest. If the rest of the journey is like this, then we will need it".

Finally satisfied that everyone had come through the fight relatively unscathed, Rorek sat back on his bedroll, wrapped his blanket over his shoulders and rested his back against the wall. His light grey eyes quietly scanned the rest of the group, gauging their reactions to the fight and each other. Eventually though sleep found it way back, and he soon nodded off.

"For little stick creatures, they know how to get you where it hurts. I wonder if that's the kind of creature that was killing all of the livestock around the abandoned farms? I can see how that would make it difficult to be a farmer, and nearly impossible to tell what was doing all the killing, unless you were able to witness it for yourself firsthand."

"The healing spells did their job on me, I'll be just fine. A little muscle soreness will settle in within the hour, and I'll be feeling it while I move around tomorrow, but the day after that it'll be like nothing ever happened.

Vyn'al called his familiar back from the pocket dimension they called home, and asked them to watch the house from outside the door and alert him to any plant-things moving from one place to another.

The rest of the night went silently, except for Brankx and Rorek's snoring, and the morning light saw the group waking up rested, after that quick fight in the middle of the night. After a quick breakfast, the group took the road again, going north, under a gray sky, threatening rain. It was after the mid-day rest that the rain started, a light drizzle that was more annoying than anything.

As the party was adjusting their cloak, a bright light pierced the clouds and fell straight on Lerrisa, the tiefling gasping in surprise and pain. Her form started to elongate, like attracted by the hole in the sky while keeping her feet on the ground, before flying off in the sky. But the light didn't stop there, as another shape seemed to tumble down the light tube, compressing until it got its shape, an unnatural angular form that fell on it's knees as the light dissipated.

In Lerissa's place was a humanoid creature made of wood and metal...

Vyn watched the spectacle, impressed by the sight, "Spontaneous benign transposition!? Miraculous!" He then moved closer to the seemingly constructed creature, "The craftsmanship is marvelous, as well."

B.E.A.R. Stood up almost silently & brushed themself off. They looked around at the pile of people they found themselves in the middle of.

What was going on?

B.E.A.R. Is a mostly matte black steel warforged with ebony wooden joints. They sit at about 6’2” with elongated, elegant forms (many long tear-drop shaped.) Their eyes, a glowing aqua blue, sit right above a glowing simplistic aqua mouth. “B.E.A.R.” is written across the chest of the automaton, & black leather armor is permanently affixed to its body.

“Hello. I am B.E.A.R.. I am very sorry to have fallen into the middle of you all. I hope I did not cause any harm.

Also, can someone kindly tell me where I am?”
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Wed 08 June 2022.

"Not far from the village of Oakhurst," Keely said, with a very puzzled look on her face.  "Where did you come from, and..."  Her question trailed off, unable to find words.

I have come from home, like most people. My only friend is now dead, but I have recently come to find out she was not a good person anyway. I ran away, and now I am here to do good things instead of bad.

B.E.A.R. nervously looked around the group hoping they would not realize the type of things they made possible. The previously round, surprised, eyes of the warforged furled.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Wed 08 June 2022.

Rorek simply stared as the young tiefling was whisked away, stunned by the display. It was only as the other, stranger figure began to move that he was spurred back into action. In one fluid motion his longbow came up, an arrow nocked and trained on the new arrival, as he took a step back from the creature.

Brankx woke in typical dwarf fashion, rolling out with enough noise to wake the dead. The dwarf was far from subtle and plodded around camp, snorting and yawning.

On the road, he strode with purpose...until the light appeared. He turned to see the light envelope the tiefling, and went to grab her, but missed as she flew off. "Oh, for fu..." he didn't have time to finish before the warforged descended from the air, slamming into the ground.

He had his hand axe out ready as it spoke, and relaxed once it spoke. "Well....thats different. Soimethin' sweeps up ou friend, and then ye drop from th' sky"

The dwarf sighed. "Well, hopefully ye not as philosophical as th' cat." he murmered, smiling as he looked at Vang

B.E.A.R., keeping an eye on the very large man pointing a bow at them, gets onto their feet & also takes a step back.

To the dwarf, “I am quite sorry about your friend. If they were sent to where I came from, I am sad to say that is not good news. With any luck, she has gone somewhere else. “

Master Brankx, the wisdom of the Dragon Brotherhood shall someday bring peace to your soul. Vang starts to turn away before looking back and smiling broadly at the dwarf. We can only hope this peace will come before your funeral.

Looking to the new arrival, Vang raised an eyebrow. Hail and well met, Mast... um...  Mistre...  um... He looks perplexed at how to address this new arrival. Hello.

“Hello. You can just call me B.E.A.R.. If you feel the need to simplify, any word is acceptable.

I am afraid I do not know how help retrieve your friend. Unless any of you needs assistance with anything, I will be on my way and leave you to your sleep.”

B.E.A.R., still keeping an eye on Rorek, backs up a little more & stands up as straight as possible.

Keely stalked around the outside of BEAR's reach, openly curious.  "On your way where?" she asked.  "Do you have a destination?  What were you doing when you were...?
 Were you taken?  Did you mean to come here?"

Rorek kept the bow up as the others spoke, but glanced around with a frown. Their companion had just been whisked away, gasping in pain, only to be replaced with an alien looking creature, yet they all reacted like this was par for the course? Keeping quiet, his eyes shifted back to metal person, trying gauge if the thing was lying or not.

OOC:
12:51, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  insight (wisdom).
This message was last edited by the player at 11:51, Thu 09 June 2022.

In reply to Keely Navila (msg # 147):


“I do not really know where here is. My destination was away from home. I do not really know many other places. As I was trying to leave, I got pushed into an orb of light, and I am here now.

I’m sure your friend will be fine.”

B.E.A.R. Takes another step back and sits on the ground. They bend their knees & wrap their long arms around them. Worried about the girl they may have accidentally doomed to a horrible fate, B.E.A.R. starts trying to calculate ways to get home, a thing they didn’t think they’d do since they realized what home was. B.E.A.R.‘s eyes, which are a series of lights from behind a black faceplate, look remarkably concerned for someone with so little face.

Brankx looks at Vang with a snort. "What makes ye think i'm not at peace? Because i speak me mind - No. I know faith cat." He reached into his armor and produced a medallion, with a Mountain silhouette with a central gemstone.

"...don't assume anythin' there. Just because i don't spout fancy words doesn't mean i'm without a god." He replaces his medallion. He smiles at Vang. "...besides, ye don't want me dead lad - i'm th' only person who can heal ye now."

He looks at Rorek. "Ye serious lad? We lose one of our healers and ye goin' ter kill whatever that is. We knew her a few days, you even less." He sighed, crossing his arms. He looked at B.E.A.R. "Fer now, maybe ye should stick with us - ye might find yer own path."

Rorek kept his bow up, “I would ask you the same. We lose one of our party, one that has done us no wrong, in fact only served to heal the elf, and your first inclination is to greet and embrace the very thing that might be resposible? I may only have known her a day, but that is still more than that thing”, he glanced over at Brankx, “I apologize, but that seems less than prudent, and more than a little callous, master dwarf”.

"If we send it back to Oakhurst, would they even know what to do with it?" Keely said, still walking a slow circle around BEAR.

"Please forgive me if I'm being rude, but... are you alive?  Is this some form of sorcery?  Were you born?  Did you have a childhood?  Did you have parents?"

She knew her questions were rude in the extreme, but this was something she needed to know, so she could work out how to interact with it.

In reply to Keely Navila (msg # 152):

“It is not rude, exactly. I was created & awakened 2 years ago. I think & feel much like you, though I suppose I do not know precisely how you feel or think. I do not have parents. I had a teacher (& I thought, a friend,) but she is dead now. “

B.E.A.R. Puts their head down in their knees & just prepares for whatever comes next.

Ooc:
16:42, Today: B.E.A.R. rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  History
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Thu 09 June 2022.

The dwarf narrowed his eyes at the goliath. "Ye think me callous boy....I've seen more death than you have, and what i realize is that cryin' does no one any good."

He points at B.E.A.R. "...and what in th' nine hells makes ye think this thing caused it, huh? Maybe it's as much a victim as her." He walks up to the goliath. "Ye think i don't care, then maybe ye don't know me. Ye see an enemy, i see somethin else - someone liek Lerrisa who's as much a pawn...so maybe ye should ease up a bit and use ye mind boy. I'm not huggin' that thing, an' i'm on edge as much as you, but their's four o' us, and one o them - an' it will need ter be damn stupid ter attack us."

He crossed his arms. "Ye call me prudent and callous, I call it realistic. What ye gonna do - scream at th' sky while ye aim at that thing, or maybe find out what took her before we decide she's dead"

The dwarf snorted as and looked at B.E.A.R. "As fer you - what th' hell brought you here and what makes ye so sure she's there....or dead?"

Rorek kept his eye on B.E.A.R., as he talked to Brankx, “Damned stupid? It just came out of the sky! For all we know it could kill us as soon as look at us. It might seem innocent, but so far I have seen nothing to suggest that, beyond what it itself has said and that might be a lie. From where I stand you are the one not using your head”. He turned his head slightly to look at the dwarf, “And you should be careful with your assumptions about who has seen more death, until you know more about the people you’re talking to… master dwarf”.

B.E.A.R. raises their heads from their knees.

“Please. Do not let me cause more pain between you. I am glad to answer any questions to the best of my ability.

As to the discussion of who caused this exact occurrence. It may have been me, but accidentally. I was making my escape & found myself at a dead end in an alchemist’s laboratory. I tried to hide & inadvertently triggered a machine, which created the light that you saw. The machine creates transportation portals. At that moment, I was caught & accidentally pushed into said light. I doubt very much that the men who were after me are being as kind to your companion as you are to me. If you have a portal machine we may be able to retrieve her, though it will not be an easy fight.

I assure you, I mean none of you any harm. You seem like decent people, & I am very willing to help correct my mistake. ”

B.E.A.R. remains oddly calm throughout the exchange, though their eyes show the emotions of one who has been through an ordeal.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Thu 09 June 2022.

Vyn shook himself as he forced his way out of his mind palace and the many possibilities that this event held. "Ah, it...Uh, sorry, I got carried away with the mental note taking for a moment and paused when I should elaborated. As I was saying, what we witnessed here is called 'benign transposition', it is a milestone of those who seek mastery of Conjuration. I have seen it performed numerous times, as my father is a master of the school himself. The transportation itself will cause no harm to either party, as we witnessed here. I must say, in all the times that I have seen it performed, even had it done to me a few times, it was only ever over short distances. For it to be done over a larger scale, such as this, there must have been an amplifying reagent or perhaps an item of wonderous magical power to perform."

"With benign transposition, all parties involved must be willing to let the spell take effect, or it will not happen. As much as we may fear what happens to Lerissa on the other side of...where ever she is now, she would not have gone at all if she had not been willing to go in the first place. If a 'portal machine' were used, as our metallic friend calls it, it is entirely possible that multiple locations are linked together in the transportation chain, and she ended up at an entirely different location that the one which Bear left. It should also give some reassurance, Bear, that unless one of us is similarly desiring to go, and open to to the same form of teleportation, this friend of yours will be unable to follow."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Fri 10 June 2022.

Rorek's eyes narrowed as Vyn'al spoke. Although he understood very little of the arcane jargon, the jist of it seemed clear enough. Looking back to B.E.A.R., he lowered his bow and put the arrow back into the quiver, "Fair enough". He kept an eye on the metallic creature, trying to glean what he could from the others' questions.

"We have a lot of ground to cover, and lives potentially on the line. We must wish Lerissa luck wherever she is, there's no more that we can do for her. The paladin and the local youth we know need our help, though." Vyn gathered his things and made ready to depart.

“And Karakas…”, Rorek reminded the mage. “I’ll go up ahead, scout out the path”. Before he left he looked over at Keely, and then glanced back at their new travel companion, “Best to keep an eye out, avoid any surprises that might appear”.

The dwarf sighed at Rorek's assumption of death - even though he was sure he had seen it, Brankx's life had been surrounded by it....that is why he was who he was. "Yes it could kill us, bu most think th' same of me just because i have grey dwarf blood in me. Sure, i'm not a full deurgar, but ye look at be and ye see a dark dwarf." he crosses his arms. "I've learnt to look beyond th' physical lad....as i wish others did more often."

He looked at B.E.A.R. "I pray this thing is what i think it is and what it seems, but judging something on what we seein th' first seconds is foolish."

He looked him in the eye. "...an if ye have seen as much death as i have, then i pity ye lad." there was a softness, almost haunted tone in his comment.

He let him go scouting, chuckling at his comment. "Eye out fer surprises....between this thing an' the living firewood, what else could there be?"

B.E.A.R. relaxes a bit as it seems they are not being blamed for anything in this very moment.

“Can I help in any way? I would like to assist in saving lives,” the warforged earnestly offers.

“I am skilled at not being seen and acquiring things.”

Keely gave Rorek a barely perceptible nod  and took up a position at the front of the group.

"A problem for another day, I promise.  Are we ready to move?"

The dwarf nodded in acknowledgement at B.E.A.R. "Perhaps fer now ye can guard our backs an' keep an eye out fer dangers. Th' big guy is either th' sneakiest damn giant around, or scares people off enough ter not bother us....either way i'm happy."

B.E.A.R. gets up quietly & takes their position at the rear of the group.

This is the most positive interaction with the most people I have had ever. I am very excited for this fresh start. Already, I have found some good to do.

B.E.A.R. will take on this new task of watching the backs of these new companions with fervor.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Mon 13 June 2022.

With Rorek scouting, there are no other distractions to the trek north, except for a bout of heavier rain lasting half an hour, that the group passed at the base of a small hill with a depression on the side deep enough to shelter them. It was near the end of the afternoon that the ranger spotted columns in the distance and led the group to them, as the rain finally stopped, leaving everyone wet and miserable.

Rorek looked up at the sky from beneath the hood of his cloak, muttering to himself in Gol-Kaa, “Manethak, the hunter, grant me some of your patience”. He wiped some of the water from his face, and looked around at the columns as he waited for the others. A sunken castle? Though the rains would likely have washed subtle signs of Karakas and the others whereabouts, he could at least see if he could find Any Tracks to suggest they had indeed passed this way.

OOC:
23:53, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Survival (wis).

"I have always loved the rain. It's a shame I cannot say the same about wearing soaked clothes." His cloak gave him some protection from the elements, but not enough for the amount of rain that had fallen and the length of time they had traveled through it. "This is the place, is it?"

Vyn took a look at their surroundings, to glean whatever information he could from the surroundings.

17:29, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Perception. – [roll=1655332188.28568.366396]

Keely huddled beneath the cloak she had pulled out the moment it started raining.  Oiled leather, it served decently to keep the rain off of her (so long as the wind wasn't blowing), but it did little for the chill.

She was about to ask the same question Vyn'al, but he beat her to the punch.  "Let's look around for a way in.  Get out of the rain at least."

Suiting actions to words, Keely started walking a grid, looking for any concealed or obscured entrances.

---

12:16, Today: Keely Navila rolled 8 using 1d20-1 ((9)).  Perception.

B.E.A.R. vibrates with a soft hum to shake the rain away from their body & out of all their joints. They vigilantly watch and listen  behind the party to make sure nothing is creeping up on them from behind.

Brankx, what little humor he had, looked up to the sky with a snort at the weather. Being a dwarf, he spent much time underground, and deurgar rarely ventured outside. Brankx, more accustomed to such, still didn't like it. he wiped his face with a grunt. "Dumathoin, give me strength." he muttered as he caught up.

He listened to the elf and shook his head. "Typical elf - rain is so nice. Bah." he shifted his belt with the hand axe on it, looking at the columns. "...anyplace dry would be a blessin' now."

The party quickly found the remains of a campsite, but with the rain it was hard to estimate how long ago it had been used. Examining the site, the elven wizard noticed a rope attached to one of the columns, dropping in the chasm beside the columns, the fog from the rain and the low visibility of late afternoon making it impossible to see in it.

The rope is knotted every feet and lead ten feet down, to a kind of platform jutting from the wall of the chasm.

---

OOC, those that want more information, do a investigation check
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:10, Fri 17 June 2022.

The surly dwarf walked around the campsite, noting the chasm with the rope, and made his steps slow and even as he took it all in.

<EDIT>

The dwarf crouched at the firepit, holding a rock. "This camp hasn't been used in a while - three or foor weeks at least." He tossed the rock back in and looked at the others. "...seeems th' right amount of time from what she said by me guess."

---

<OOC: Brankx rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  investigation check.>
This message was last edited by the player at 03:33, Thu 16 June 2022.

Vang carefully checks the rope. If, as the dwarf believed, the camp had been abandoned for almost a month, there was no telling what the weather may have done to the rope's integrity.

---

00:38, Today: Vang rolled 20 using 1d20.  Investigation Check.

Keely poked around the campsite itself, looking for clue to its last users.  If it had been used last almost a month ago, most of the natural traces would have been washed away by even the most recent rain, let alone any others.  But there might be other traces left behind.  Cookpots, mess kits -- anything whoever last used the rope might have decided not to take with them.  Maybe there was a chest hidden nearby with some bulkier items?  The rope's presence alone was a sign that they had intended to come back this way...

14:48, Today: Keely Navila rolled 11 using 1d20 ((11)).  Investigation.

"How far down does the rope go?" she called out, knowing others were looking at the hole.

Vyn recalled his familiar once more from the pocket dimension that she called home, and sent her to gather information from above. Meanwhile, he joined the others is having a look through what remained of the camp.

Investigation: 5 (18 if I can use my familiar for Help)

00:18, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 5,18 using d20+4,d20+4.  Investigation. – [roll=1655443134.87293.366396]

Rorek kept an eye on the surroundings as the others talked, his bow at the ready. He hadn't found any tracks, so it was very likely that the group they were after were down the hole.

It had been too long and no tracks were visible, apart from the camp remains and the rope, positioned to reach a small platform ten feet down. From there, the familiar could see what looked like stairs, crudely carved in the rock, going down from the platform.

Another look showed scratches on the pillars, forming letters, but none in the group could read it.

---

Do an athletic check with advantage if you want to go down the rope

Having searched the camp without much success, Keely eyed the rope, then looked at the sky.  "I'm going to take a peek down there," she said, slinging her staff into its sheath across her back.  "See what's what.  If I get to where I can't see, I'll come back and we can go as a group with torches."

She bent down and grabbed the rope, moving with speed to loop it around her waist and hold one both sides before walking backwards over the edge.  "Ten minutes, no more."

---

15:00, Today: Keely Navila rolled 16 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only ((13,5)). Athletics with Advantage.

Brankx holds his hand up before Keely drops down. "Wait a second....Rorek, come here as well." as they staand, he places a hand on each one, speaking in dwarvish

As he looks up, smiling, you notice a shift in your vision.

---

<OOC: Casts 'Eyes of night' On Keely and Rorek. Now have dark vision>

Once he is sure the rope is safe, Vang turns to his companions. The rope goes down about 10 feet to a platform. I've checked and it appears the weather has not affected it. Be right back.

Vang was ready to start climbing down when Keely grabbed the rope out of his hands and began to climb down first.

As Vang made his way down the rope, he hit a particularly wet spot and the rope slipped from his grip. Quicker than the eye could follow, he reached out a claw and latched onto the wall to keep from falling. Not trusting the rope any longer, he finished the descent to the platform by climbing down the wall.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Wed 22 June 2022.

B.E.A.R. watches intently as the others begin to inspect and climb down the rope. Not feeling particularly safe in this odd new environment, they will wait to be the last one to climb down the rope. B.E.A.R. will continue to keep an eye on the surrounding area for would-be surprise attacks.

Vyn liked being alive, so as others volunteered to have a look at potential danger, he was happy to let them. A platform only ten feet down was good, that meant the risk of death by falling was lessened (at least in this section). While he waited for the report of 'all clear' from those who had gone down below, Vyn sent his familiar down to have a look around as well.

Rorek nodded his thanks to the dwarf for the blessing, while keeping his eye on the wilderness around them. They’d all soon enough be climbing down, no need to crowd the rope or the platform.

Brankx watched as Vang and Keely descended, standing up the top, waiting for the all clear. "Try not ter kill yeselves down there." He muttered

A bare ten feet down -- almost close enough to reach the top with a jump, Keely stepped onto the wooden platform that marked the first landing.  Her blue eyes almost glowed as they gathered in all available light, thanks to the blessing of the dwarf, and she stepped to the  stairs, peering down and over the edge to see what could now be seen.

---

15:18, Today: Keely Navila rolled 13 using 1d20-1 ((14)).  Perception.

Vang also peers around over the edge of the platform

---

04:11, Today: Vang rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  Perception Check. (Vang does have darkvision 60ft)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:13, Thu 23 June 2022.

The rocky platform has a set of crudely carved stairs that go down to a larger stop about 20 feet down, with some debris that look like bones on it.

Vang cautiously creeps down the stairs to examine the bones.

The dwarf, standing at the top, called down. "So....what ye see down there?"

Stairs...  Bones...

"Careful," Keely said in a low tone to Vang.  "If the firewood can come to life and attack us, perhaps the spirits of the dead linger around their bones as well?"

The barbarian princess drew her bladestaff and joined the tabaxi on the lower platform, eyes peeled for anything else further down.

---

OOC: how far down do the stairs go?  Are there any tunnels, openings, etc.?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Sat 25 June 2022.

The dwarf smiled. "Undead i can handle lass....One of th' gifts of Dumothoin"  He got the rope, and started lowering himself down to the platform with the steps.

---

<OOC: Brankx rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  athletics check.
Brankx rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  athletics check (Advantage).>

Vyn'al went to go join the others in going down the rope, "Now the adventure truly begins."

10:53, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 8 using 2d20-1, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 5,9.  Str Check. – [roll=1656172428.16052.366396]

Waiting until most of the group had descended, Rorek grabbed the rope, eyeing the automaton, and held it out towards B.E.A.R., "After you".

Vang was the first on the second platform, closely followed by Keely. As the monk was examining the bones, Brankx went down to the first rocky step. Vyn'al followed, struggling and his hands slipped on the rope, causing him to fall down, twisting his ankle painfully before dropping on his rump unceremoniously (OOC, not gonna make you lose HP over that, but you have -5 feet speed until your next short rest or magical healing). The sound distracted those on the second level and it was at the very last second that Keely noticed the cracks in the rock face... and the giant rats coming out of it to attack!

---

OOC Initiative, Keely managed her perception check and avoids a surprise round for the beasties!

Vang and Keely are on the second platform, 20 feet down from the first one, where Brankx and Vyn'al are located. B.E.A.R. and Rorek are still at ground level, 30 feet up from the action, not having gone to the first platform yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:51, Tue 28 June 2022.

The dwarf, used to the darkness, smiled as the rats came out, seeing only four of them, he decided to hold his spells for the moment. He took out his handaxe and swung it, missing  with a curse in dwarvish

---

<OOC: Brankx rolled 18 using 1d20.  iniative.

Movement - to rat

Action - Attack with handaxe

Brankx rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  attack - handaxe.>

Vang was still studying the bones when the rats came out. Reacting to the motion of the others, he quickly stood and swung his staff directly across the face of the first rat. Continuing the circular motion of the swing, he spun and raked his claw across the rat's eyes and dropped into a crouch, waiting for another attack.

---

OOC Mechanics:
Hit Points     : 9/9
Armor Class : 15
Initiative       : 9
Active Spells: None

Actions:
Move               : Close in to attack
Action              : Staff attack on lead rat
Bonus Actions: Claw Strike on rat
Reactions        : AoO

To GM:

Rolls:
01:43, Today: Vang rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  Vang Initiative.

01:48, Today: Vang rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Vang Staff Attack.
01:53, Today: Vang rolled 5 using 1d6+3.  Vang Staff Damage.

01:53, Today: Vang rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Vang Claw Attack.
01:54, Today: Vang rolled 6 using 1d4+3.  Vang Claw Damage.

Rorek dropped the rope as he heard the commotion beneath, quickly taking the situation as he brought up his bow, nocking and loosing an arrow with a practiced move.

OOC:
08:59, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  initative.
09:00, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  attack with longbow.

wow... rolling a 1 followed by a two. Gonna be a long fight if I have to work my way up to 20.

"Rats!" Keely called out as soon as she saw them.  Her bladestaff already out, she set her back against Vang's, just like she had with her brothers dozens of times before, mirroring the monk's movements so their staves didn't get entangled in each other.  It meant she had to let some targets go that she might otherwise have reached for, but keeping herself and Vang in sync was more important here.

When a rat entered her circle of influence, the bladestaff flashed out, once, then twice in rapid succession.

---

18:03, Today: Keely Navila rolled 17 using 1d20+2 ((15)).  Init.

Move	Set her back to Vang's back
Action	Attack: 18:06, Today: Keely Navila rolled 10 using 1d20+3 ((7)).
	Damage: 18:07, Today: Keely Navila rolled 6 using 2d4+1 ((2,3)).
Bonus Action	AttacK: 18:08, Today: Keely Navila rolled 14 using 1d20+3 ((11)).
	Damage: 18:09, Today: Keely Navila rolled 4 using 1d4+1 ((3)).
Reaction	Attack of Opportunity if presented

B.E.A.R. gladly takes the rope from Rorek and starts rappelling down the cliffside in hopes of finding ways to be useful to this new group. “I am coming to assist!”

Ooc:
08:54, Today: B.E.A.R. rolled 14 using 2d20+1, dropping the lowest dice only.  Athletics to go down rope.

08:42, Today: B.E.A.R. rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Initiative . – [roll=1656423766.74367.367778]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Tue 28 June 2022.

Vyn stepped to the edge of his platform and analyzed the rats' locations, then took the cleanest shot he could manage in what he had to work with. A ray of frosty blue energy shot out of his two outstretched fingers. As the ray left, he then made a swiping motion with that same hand, trying to force one of the rats away.

Move: to get line of sight
Action: cast Ray of Frost, hitting AC 15 for 8 Cold damage and -10 speed
Bonus: Telekinetic Shove, Str DC 14 vs Push/Pull 5 ft (if I can knock a rat off the platform to take it out of the fight, I will. If not, I'll just push one further back)

22:13, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 15,8 using d20+6,d8.  Ray of Frost, -10 speed. – [roll=1656386019.17406.366396]

The elven wizard decided not to fool around with those dog sized rats and blasted the fastest in it's tracks, the momentum making it leave one of it's paw, frozen solid broken on the ground. Not content with that, he used the power of his mind to shove the second one off the platform, the pitiful cries of the creature heart wrenching as it fell to its death.

Not to be outdone, the dwarf ran down and chose the wrong target, the just frozen rat shattering in blood and gore (miss)

Twirling the blade staff, the barbarian princess miscalculated the height of the creature on her first swing but caught the rat approaching her on the back swing.

The construct rapidly climbed the rope down and joined the deathly wizard on the first platform.

The Tabaxi did honor to the cats reputation as rat killers, batting the rat Kelly had hit out of the plateform, its skull crushed, and skewered the last one on his claws

And just like that, combat is over.




This message was last edited by the GM at 01:20, Wed 29 June 2022.

Seeing the last rat fall, Rorek slung his bow onto his back and grabbed the rope, beginning the climb down to the bottom.

OOC:
14:38, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 18 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 14.  Athletics with adv.
14:37, Today: Rorek Stormcrow rolled 24 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 20.  Athletics with adv.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:39, Tue 28 June 2022.

Brankx snorted, stomping in a rats head, the thing squishing under his boot. “Damn vermin not gonna take a chunk outa us while I’m here.”

He looked around as he placed his hand axe back on his belt. “Let’s keep goin’….those rats barely warmed me up!”

"I can't say that I'm surprised to see rats in a place like this, but it does make me curious how the other group managed to slip past them. Was it their presence that drew the rats here to start with, or were they more resourceful?" With the threat removed, Vyn made his way down to the lower level to join the others.