The Old Road
Western Borderlands
High Spring

All through the lands of the west runs a road. The road. It has different names in different lands, but most places they call it The Old Road.

The Old Road runs along the foothills of the Gran Mountains. It hugs the coast of the Clean Sea. It is little more than a dusty lane in Mercadia, but it is a wide and level and impeccably maintained trade route in Khresh. In Old Sumarra the right to use the Old Road is passed down from generation to generation. In the endless desert wastes of Godfall it is an trail of ancient stone markers called the Miraj Way, so difficult to follow that the people of that land call anything elusive and deceptive a 'mirage.'

By the time the Old Road reaches the Eastern Empire, it's little more than a broken game trail used by hunters and bandits and smugglers.

But if one had knowldge of that broken trail one could follow it past Havenport (the busy port town at the very edge of the empire), northeast to skirt the northern coast of the Azure Sea and then out, out, out beyond all knowledge into the Borderlands.

If one were looking down at the Old Road, at a particular spot a little over a week outside of Havenport, a spot where the land is flat and the grass thick and green. To the north the land is high and thickly forested. To the south the land falls to the noisy Goblinwater River.

There are nine people here. And two thick, sturdy, contented horses (who are grazing on that thick, green grass).

Six of them are people of varying skills and talents, chosen by Duke Joryana and personally asked to undertale this dangerous (possibly foolhardy) mission. The other three are: Barrad, the horsemaster (a sullen, lazy man who seems to care for his horses and his own hide) and Plut and Grom (father and son) the porters, who were both affable, if dull.

As the horses grazed, Barrad was talking:

"And I'm saying there's more tracks round here than just ours. I knowed it was perlious when I signed up, but gettin' waylaid by brigands in the middle of the plinkin wilderness is another thing altogether. An' I won't take my horses one more step. And if her Ladyship were here I'd tell 'er the same."

OOC: Welcome to the Borderlands! In your first post, feel free to give us a bit of an intro if you like, how you came to be asked on the mission, what it's been like so far, etc. You've been on the road for about nine days. You have plenty of rations and provisions (although the horses are carrying most of them, as well other materials for making and breaking camp.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. And have fun! I'm really excited about what's to come.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:40, Wed 15 Mar 2023.

Kovann had been brought onto the Duke's adventure, at first due to his unconventional combat style, and then upon discovering his skill at various crafts, how they could be beneficial too.

Kovann was slender for a dwarf, though still very stocky compared to many races, and moved with grace and purpose. Simple trousers covered his legs, whilst his torso was often bare when the weather permitted it, showing a variety of tattoos and scars.

During their travels so far, Kovann can be seen practicing different combat moves each morning. Punches and kicks, backflips and rolls, actions which some may consider very un-dwarflike.

At lunch when they stop to rest and eat their rations, Kovann breaks the mood by playing his flute. Whilst he is not as accomplished with it like a bard, it is obvious he has training with it. His tunes are uplifting, with traditional dwarven tunes that others may not have heard before.

In the morning, as Barrad raises his concerns about the risk of bandit attacks, Kovann kicks his spear up off the floor and catches it deftly in one hand. "I can go ahead and scout, see if there is anything that could cause us trouble. Would that put you at ease, Barrad?"

Ayanna marched along.  There was a slight charge of excitement in her as they got further away from civilization.  She would have felt safer with a squad of men.  Her glances at the others indicated doubt.  It seemed more like a group of advisors and sages had been sent along.  At least the dwarf looked competent in a fight.

She wore scale armor, carried spear and shield with a short sword at her belt.  She was used to giving orders.  She had to check herself the first morning when she looked at Finnick and wanted to bark at him to get packed and get moving.  This group weren't soldiers.

That was the reason she was selected.  The Duke saw something of herself in Ayanna.  She was a young officer at one point in her life too.  Plus, there might be fighting and having someone with experience couldn't hurt.

She watched the Dwarf the first morning to see what he was about.  The flips raised and eyebrow.  She had never heard of such a thing from a dwarf.  The second morning halfway through his routine she asked in dwarven, "Care to spar?"  She indicated her own spear.

The third evening she was getting more comfortable with the group.  She pulled out a deck of cards and asked if anyone played.

Finally, the mention of tracks, "Stow it Barrad.  Any idea what kind of tracks?"  She knelt to examine them herself, perhaps to determine whether they be man or beast.  She nodded to Kovann that it sounded like a good idea.

Survival check 12

While dressed in the fairly typical clothing one would associate with a user of magic, Kojik had joined the expedition at its onset and had been a fairly quiet member of the trip thus far. Not that he didn't speak up now and then, but he tended to keep his observations to himself until he put them to clear voice and narrative. The fact he looked fairly young for a human might add to this as well. Probably in his mid to late twenties, he was still young by human standards of course. An adult, but one who was clearly someone who had led a life thus far in scholarly pursuits rather than any hard, physical labor. The fact he would frequently opt to ride on the back of the wagon to take a break from walking added to this fact, though to be fair he kept up decently enough on the whole. The trip thus far was giving him a bit more practice at that it appeared.

Kojik took the opportunity of the paused trek to hop down off the back of the wagon itself, having opted to sit there for a time during their current portion of the journey. Walking was all well and good some of the time, but it was not something he tended to do on the regular. At least over such varied terrain as the Old Road had presented to them thus far. While the landscape around them was serene enough, almost picturesque, it was good to take a little time now and then to just sit down and rest. Of course, the bouncing of the wagon wasn't exactly the most comfortable of rides either, but one took what they could at times.

Stepping around the wagon to listen and join in on the discussion, he glanced around to where the heart of the matter seemed to be with regards to tracks as he spoke up.

"Flat terrain here, which would make any sort of ambush a little more difficult I'd imagine. Forest to the north," he mused aloud, loud enough for Barrad to hear as well as the others, but speaking as if more to himself to summarize their setting than anything else, "Good for hunting and who knows what else I'd imagine, so possibly some hunters up there. River to the south it sounds like, fast moving given the noise I'd reason, so difficult for anything to come that way.. Seems any tracks here would either be possibly someone going to the forest or maybe other scouts of the Duke heading the same way we are," he guessed, shrugging.

Kojik gave a nod to Kovann's suggestion, adding in, "For that matter, I could have my familiar go up and scout around a bit further ahead if that put you at ease. If it turns out to indeed be some of the Duke's own people we're noting the tracks of at this point, I'm not sure how good it would appear to be spooked by our own people so far into the trip," he pointed out with a slight twitch of his lips.

Gill gave Barrad a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Don't worry mate. We're more than a week out of Havenport, what are bandits going to do be doing around here - rob the birds?"


Not so long ago Gill had still been working at Havenport's wharf, unaware his life was about to drastically change. He had thought he'd live out his life on those docks - surrounded by the salt water, seagull cries and fishy odors. Although to be honest, he'd never given too much thought as to where he saw himself in the distant future. Knowing the people around him, helping where he could, having the water close by. It was as good and as comfortable as things could get. Or so he thought.

Mere weeks ago, he had had the meeting with Duke Joryana. The first of many. It was tense, he had to prove himself unlike ever before - he felt naked under her critical gaze. For whatever reason, he was invited to join this venture.

The morning of their departure he saw his last client. It was a young boy, he knew him well. "You've got to be more careful, Jake. I'm not going to be around for a while." Gill traced a line around the gaping wound in the boy's shin. With his other hand he slowly pored a bowl of salt water on the knee. The stream of water magically followed his fingers, first around the wound, then encapsulating it, closing it. By the time he was done and the water had flowed off the boy's leg, the wound had closed. "No more climbing those crates, alright?" He smiled and tousled his hair.

Now they were in the middle of nowhere. Only fields and forests around them. Havenport seemed so long ago, and so far away. Thankfully the sound of the rushing water in the distance gave him some sense of familiarity. Yet he strangely felt good, like he was on the right path. He looked around at his companions. Strange and worldly people, very different from the simple dockworkers and fishers he grew up with. But they seemed friendly, and he was ready for something strange and different.


"See, Kojik is going to send his bird up to scout the area. We'll be fine. Why don't you go grab us all some of that fine jerky. The world looks a whole lot different with a filled stomach." He gave Barrad a reassuring smile.

Finnick had been engrossed in a historical volume he had taken along with him on this journey from his home collection.

The first few days had been queasy ones, to be sure.  Voraciously reading while being jostled about in a moving wagon was not for the faint-hearted.

"I say,"   The diminutive gnome said his bushy, snow white accentuating each glance as he looked up from the tome.  "Why have we stopped?"

The question was asked in all earnestness.  Barrad's initial hesitance, the teamster's voiced concern and the others' observations having gone completely over his head.

The gnome was only barely dressed for the occasion, and it was obvious by the way he had conducted himself whilst camping under the starlight, that he was more suited perhaps to the comforts of a well-stocked larder and a feather mattress.

The elf watched the scenery pass as they walked.  She had traveled far in her years, but mostly between more populous areas. Still, it was populous once, and would be again, if all went well.  She looked out for signs on the ancient kingdom that once covered this land, but what signs there were remained hidden for now.

At lunch, when Kovann played his flute she took her lyre from the luggage, and played a rhythm to accompany his melody. When his song was done, she applauded him, "Well played, Master Kovann!"

She reassured Barrad when he expressed his concern, "a road is meant to be traveled. It's most likely only hunters and other rustics using it, but we'll keep an eye out just in case." She Strung her bow, and nocked an arrow, and kept allert.

Barrad scowls and grumbles a bit to himself. "I just didn't hear nothing about bandits when I signed up. I'm getting paid to survive the wilderness, but maybe not enough to fight hordes of desperate outlaws. Might be my pay needs reconsiderin."

OOC: (Passive Insight of 14 or more, or anyone who wants to roll Insight, DC 14)

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
He looks like he's trying to decide whether or not he has the standing to refuse to go any farther unless he's given more money.

---

Selfish coward he might be, but Barrad is no dummy. There are quite a lot of tracks around here. Old and confused tracks, but some of the are definitely human(oid) and others are for sure horses. Whether it's bandits or not is hard to say, but either a sizeable group has come by here sometime in the past month, or a smaller group has passed back and forth a few times in the same time frame.


Barrad nodded with a sly look. "So you don't know then? That's interesting. Her Ladyship sent another party, all tough and fancy like yours, out here about six months ago. But they never comed back. Lost two of my horses on that little spin."

Meanwhile, Kojik sends Grover the owl up in a widening gyre to have a look over the area. It is, indeed, quite empty. The land between the road and the river is sparsely forested and not great for ambushes. Across the river are what looks like marshlands and swamp, thickly treed.

However, in the forest to the north, Grover can see the shaking of leaves and the flight of small birds that indicates something large is moving beneath the trees.

It's not moving directly toward the party. But it's not not moving toward the party.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:29, Thu 16 Mar 2023.

Kojik silently listened on and let the others deal with Barrad more directly, his own attention kept on his familiar as the owl took wing and lifted into the sky. He circled around, getting a long look of the area and moving further out to see what was about.

As the bird began his return and reached within distance to share what he had seen, Kojik absorbed the information quickly and then passed it on to the others promptly for further consideration.

"Regardless of concerns for what has been here before, the area around us is relatively empty. Nothing between us and the river, not even a good ambush spot if someone was of a mind to have one. The other side is marshlands and swampy terrain, so undoubtedly not a primary concern.

However, there is movement in the forest to our north. Something fairly large is moving through the forest, causing some of the local birds to take flight. Couldn't tell what it is though; could be some forest creature or several. Or even men on horses. Whatever it is though, its definitely moving through the woods now. It doesn't appear to be coming directly towards us at least, but its not exactly going away from us either," he notes.

"I'm no expert, but these are hooves and boots."  Ayanna commented to the group regarding the tracks.  "Weeks, maybe a month old.  If another group was sent six months ago, these aren't their tracks."

"Kojik, let us know when you can identify what that is.  If human, do you think they could have seen us already?"  If they were bandits, perhaps they had a spotter and were keeping tabs on the road.  If so, they probably already had an engagement location planned.

"Let's be prepared.  Anyone got a silver tongue if they are willing to talk?"  Ayanna asked the group.  Her style might be a little rough.  She didn't want to assume whatever was out there was hostile based on Barrad's comment.  If it wasn't hostile, no point in starting a fight.

"Finnick, any options to hide us if necessary?"  She asked the gnome.

"Don't worry Barrad, if it turns out to be bandits, we'll get you your horses back."  She said with a wink to the horse master.

"Now that's the spirit!"

Gill turned to look at Barrad. "It's probably just some animals moving about. It's too empty here for some bandits to be lurking around. What, are they going to sitting in some bush waiting for people to pass by this lonely road? These tracks are probably just that previous group that's been moving about." Though Gill did wonder why the Duke hadn't mentioned that this wasn't her first team she had sent out. Thinking back on the conversations he'd had with her, they were mostly about him. And he was too busy making his case to even bother asking her the deeper details of this quest.

"Let's wait and observe for a minute, see if we can spot anything else from those trees. But then I'd say we get moving again. We must be getting close by now, I'd think." And softly to Barrad he said: "And imagine the future profitable employment options when the Duke hears of your good work this journey."  (Persuasion 18)

Even though he did not think this would be anything as serious as actual bandits, Gill still took the shield he carried over his shoulder and starting securing the straps to his forearm.

The wizard spent a moment eyeing the assembled group.  "Not everyone, but yes."

He waggled an eyebrow, obviously pleased with himself.  "I can conjure up all sorts of surprises ... and have talked myself out of tight situations in the past."

From his lap, FInnick's familiar — a weasel with soft brown fur and an inquisitive face — glanced up and chittered at the gnome, twitching its whiskers.

"Hush you."  Finnick replied warmly, stroking the weasel's fur.  "That one wasn't my fault."

"Don't worry about being paid to fight anything. That's what we're here for." Kovann gestures with his free hand. "No matter how much I was paid, I wouldn't be able to tend to the horses like you can. No amount of money lets us do what we're unable to do."


"I can happily be in the open, if needed. Walking along the road, seeing if anyone tries anything. A simple pilgrim, travelling along with few goods to his name. Or, I can sneak through the forest, leaving little trace of me being there."

"Do we want to sit here and wait or continue forward though?" Kojik asked from next to the wagon. He glanced up to the bird still hovering in the sky, gesturing back to the north for the owl to fly up and closer to keep watch for whatever was moving in the forest and give them advanced warning if it exited the woods - or if it could catch a glimpse of what was truly moving beneath the leaves.

"Seems just standing around makes us a sitting target if something out there is hostile after all. Wouldn't it be better to continue on for now? Whatever is out there in the woods is under good cover for the moment, so unless it emerges it wouldn't do to go poking at it to see who or what it is I think.. but for that matter, I could potentially distract it for a brief time if we wanted to press forward and were ultimately concerned about it; though if it comes out of the woods in the meantime and spots us, it wouldn't work," he offers another option to the group as well.

"I could have Grover take a fairly large rock up and drop it back in the woods, the way whatever it is came from. I could enchant it to give off Light beforehand, so between crashing down through the trees and glowing like some unknown valuable, it should attract whatever it is. And if its more afraid than hostile, it'll just keep going in the direction it is anyway and hopefully avoid us completely. Either it turns back to investigate, giving us time to leave, or it flees away from the rock and moves further into the woods," he proposes.


A bit of a smile follows as he adds, "Or we could just get the hell out of here and not worry about it too. Could always turn back, but.." he points out, primarily to Barrad it seems, "I'm sure the Duke would view that as breaking the contract without good cause and demand all monies paid back.. possibly even penalties beyond? I'm not a contract person, so don't know what sort of agreements were made there.."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Fri 17 Mar 2023.

She addressed Kojik, "you said there was something large, but it did not sound so large as a horde of bandits. There is some time before we reach the woods. Perhaps you could ride in the wagon and continue to observe as we keep moving. Maybe this thing in the woods will reveal itself in that time."

Barrad grumbles. "Can't spend a copper if I'm dead. And can't make a copper if my horses are dead."

But all the same, Gill's words (plus the fact that the party is united against him) seem to calm him down enough for him to continue.

It's about that moment when a giant wolf emerges from the trees and enters the tall waving grass. Several smaller, quicker forms dart around beside it (probably smaller wolves).

They are absolutely silent and the scent of the grass is heavy enough that the horses don't even react. Had Grover not been scouting, they almost certainly would have been right on top of the party before anyone noticed them.

But they're definitely coming your way now. Quickly.

OOC: Our first combat! Everyone please roll initiative.

Battle of the Lonely Road!

The wolves start the turn about 100 feet off the top edge of the map, and on initiative count 6 they move to their current position on the map. Any attacks on them before that is at Disadvantage due to the tall grass.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:06, Mon 20 Mar 2023.

Finnick heard the approach of pawed feet and saw the tall grasses swaying.  Wolves!  A pack moving in unison.  Ears swept back.  Eager.  Hunting.

He hadn't been prey before ... it was an altogether unsettling feeling.  The gnome was gripped by sense that he was woefully underprepared, but he worked to calm his nerves.  He was with seasoned warriors and others who were far more rough-and-tumble than he ever would be.

His role was not to step into the wolves snapping Jaws; particularly not the large one, who Finn reckoned could eat him in only two or three bites.

No.  His job was to keep his wits about him.  To stay calm and offer what help he could.

To that end, his eyes fluttered closed and the gnome let out a piercing whistle.  A warbling, disorienting sound directed at the advancing wolves.

Finn will stand atop the wagon and ready Mind Sliver against the first wolf to enter his 60' range.
Int save [DC14] or 4 psychic damage to wolf and -1d4 on the next save it makes before the end of Finn's next turn.
Move: stand
Action: ready
Reaction: Mind Sliver on first wolf target in range
13:16, Today: Finnick Glmmerdust rolled 4 using 1d6.  Mind Sliver vs wolf. – [roll=1679249767.69273.374668]
12:54, Today: Finnick Glmmerdust rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  init vs wolves. – [roll=1679248455.40491.374668]

Thankfully Grover had been keeping an eye on the woods and the movements, which gave them a brief time to prepare. Very brief given the wolves' speed, but long enough for Kojik to declare the warning of the wolves' approach and to move himself. He kept his position next to the wagon (having it at his back gave him some cover at least) and moved enough so that he had a good line-of-sight towards the approach of the wolves while he had Grover provide what aid he could meanwhile - distracting the wolves if nothing else. Thankfully the aerial watch helped him pinpoint their approach a bit easier.

Given they had a little time to act, he waited until they were just within range of his own spell and then let loose. He opted for Thunder for the damage to reduce the risk of setting any of the open grass on fire; plus it might frighten some of the other wolves having such a loud sound detonate near them.



Initiative: 8
Action: Gain line-of-sight and cast Chromatic Orb (Thunder) at the larger wolf once it is in range (90')
Attack Roll: 12
Damage Roll (if hit): 13 Thunder Dmg

Grover will meanwhile get in position to lend aid to Help on the next turn.

14:36, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 8 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 6.  Initiative (Wolf Fight).
14:43, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 12 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 6.  Chromatic Orb - Ranged Attack roll.
14:43, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 13 using 3d8 with rolls of 3,6,4.  Chromatic Orb - Damage roll (Thunder).


Edit: Made a roll for the advantage Grover could provide by Helping (if he could help on this initial turn). Roll was lower than his original roll anyway, so doesn't matter either way.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

Gill quickly turned to Barrad when Kojik warned them of the approaching wolves. "Keep the horses calm, don't let them panic and run!" He finished adjusting the leather straps of his shield, giving them a last tug to really tighten them. "Hey, at least no bandits, right?" He tried to sound hopeful, but in truth he was quite nervous. So far, he had mostly dealt with aquatic creatures, not a pack of wolves.

Around Gill's neck hung a simple shell amulet. He took it in his hand and quietly whispered a prayer to it. A moment later, barely visible - or was it a trick of the mind? - a faint swirl of mist surrounded Ayanna, Kovann, and Gill himself.

He took position in front of the others near the cart, shield up, ready to block whatever was coming.

---

Initiative 17.

Action: casting Bless on Ayanna, Kovann, and Gill.

Bless:

You bless up to three creatures of your choice within range. Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

Ayanna frowned.  Not the luckiest thing to run into out here.  Perhaps they wouldn't fight to the death or scatter when the big one died.  It was time to find out.

"Protect the horses!"  She called out and took a position in front of the animals.  She prepared spear and shield to defend the horses as she waited for their charge.

(Init 4)

[Private to System: Assuming one of them closes within melee on their turn.  PoleArm Mastery Opportunity Attack when they enter a threatened square
OA Attack 24 crit
Damage 11]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

Glinsael remained poised as the wolves approached. She could see their movement through the tall grass, but she only caught glimpses of the beasts themselves. Once they were close enough, she said softly, "show yourselves." As she spoke swirling violet wisps of light appeared over the wolves, and tried attaching themselves to the creatures, and the grass around them.

19:30, Today: Glinsael rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  initiative.
On initiative 11

Action: ready til the wolves get within 60' then casting faerie fire on as many wolves as possible. dex save vs. 13

move: none

Spell description
Each object in a 20-foot cube within range is outlined in blue, green, or violet light (your choice). Any creature in the area when the spell is cast is also outlined in light if it fails a Dexterity saving throw. For the duration, objects and affected creatures shed dim light in a 10-foot radius.

Any attack roll against an affected creature or object has advantage if the attacker can see it, and the affected creature or object can't benefit from being invisible.

Kovann is quick to respond to the wolves in the distance, and as Ayanna calls out to protect the horses, he stands beside her, ready to keep the wolves away from them.

Tightly gripping his spear, Kovann waits for the wolves to approach, feeling emboldened by Gill, as he exchanges a glance with Ayanna.

10:20, Today: Kovann rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Initiative.

The pack of wolves paused for no more than a moment after exiting the tall grass. It was just long enough for the party to get themselves in order (and for Kojik to throw a ball of thunder across the clearing at the lead wolf... and miss).

And then they came, their powerful legs and sinuous bodies flying toward the party like a wind.

As they approach, Glinsael fills the air with wisps of violet light. The wisps stick to three of the wolves (including the leader).

The alpha is, indeed, clearly focused on the horses. So much so that he ignores Glinsael (giving the chance to strike as he passes), but is frustrated in his goal by Ayanna.

Two other wolves, following his lead, similarly ignore other party members before being caught up short by Ayanna and Kevann.

The final two, however, do engage. One nips at Glinsael's leg and misses. The other however, leaps and takes hold of Finnick's neck in a vicious grip is struck by two spells from Kojik, and drops to the ground smoking.

Meanwhile, the horses have caught the scent of the predators and have gone wild with fear. Barrad is an able groom, but he is having a lot of trouble keeping them in place.

OOC:
Okay! Lots happening.

1. The Wolves act on initiative count 6. Anyone acting before that may take their action while they're running toward you, or hold it till they get to you. Your choice.

2. The wolves with the purple circles (Dire Wolf, Wolf 3, Wolf 4) are lit by Faerie Fire. All attacks against them have Advantage.

3. Glinsael: you may take an attack of opportunity at either the Dire Wolf or Wolf 1, both of whom ran past you.

4. Finnick: you may take an attack of opportunity at Wolf 2, who ran past you.

5. Ayanna: I have marked the damage for your polearm hit as the Dire Wolf engaged with you. Feel free to narrate the hell out of it.

ROUND 2
18 - Kevann!
17 - Gill
13 - Plut and Grom
-Grom is terrified and cannot act. Plut stands in front him, holding out his walking stick as a cudgel.

11 - Glinsael
8* - Kojik
8 - Barrad
-At initiative count 8, Barrad is going to lose control of the horses.
7 - Finnick (you can take your action before what's about to happen, happens)
6 - Wolves
-Dire Wolf: Move + Dash (Pack Tactics now activated)
-Wolf 1: Move + Dash (Pack Tactics now activated)
-Wolf 2: Move + Dash
-Wolf 3: Attacks Glinsale. Hit! 7 damage
-Wolf 4: Attacks Finnick. Critical hit! 10 damage Hit! 5 damage and prone.
4 - Ayanna

Last thing: See below if you have a Passive Perception of 14 or higher (you may take Advantage/+5 is you are proficient in Nature, Survival, or Animal Handling, or you think your character has experience with animals and animal training that isn't reflected in their sheet (you decide).

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The Dire Wolf shows signs of severe mistreatment. Markings around the neck and legs and wounds and scars on the body indicate someone caught it and tried (and failed) to train/break/domesticate it. The other four wolves are quite scared and unhappy with the current state of affairs. They are only here because the pack Alpha is. They all seem healthy and well-fed.

---

See the Group 0 map for the current round!

Let me know if you have any questions!
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

Ayanna wished she had some of the soldiers here.  A line of spears would do the trick against a charge.  Instead, it was just her and the ragtag group the Duke had assembled.  She would do what she could.  Her training kicked in as she prepared for the charge.

The big one came for the horses.  She stood in the way and her training kicked in.  The spear came up as she braced.  She guided the point towards its neck and the creature's momentum did the rest.  It pierced a deep gash through the flesh of the neck that caused the creature to pull back and stop its charge.  It would have to deal with her first.

When she saw Finnick go down, "Man down!"  Ayanna calls out.  (If applicable, if Finnick is still standing, skip this)

That was all she could say.  Her hands were full facing two wolves.  She jabbed again with the spear and swung the shield to the side of the creatures head hoping to knock it off it's feet and keep it from the horses.


Action: Attack Dire Wolf  (Attack 21 for 7 damage)
Bonus Action: Shove to knock Dire Wolf prone (Athletics Check 8 vs Athletics or Acrobatics)

Reaction available for an OA

Effects: Blessed
Bless: Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.


This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Wed 22 Mar 2023.

The wolves were on them too quickly for her bow. Glinsael drew her dagger and slashed at the dire wolf as it ran by, then stabbed the wolf that was on her, before it bit her. She called to Ayanna, "I trust your strength to defend us."

Reaction: attack the dire wilf with advantage
00:03, Today: Glinsael rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  opportunity attack.

00:02, Today: Glinsael rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  opportunity attack.

00:07, Today: Glinsael rolled 7 using 1d4+3.  damage.

Action: attack wolf 3 with advantage
00:03, Today: Glinsael rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  attack.

00:03, Today: Glinsael rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  attack.

00:07, Today: Glinsael rolled 4 using 1d4+3.  damage.

Bonus action: bardic inspiration to Ayanna 1d6

on init 6: con save fails, faerie fire drops.
00:05, Today: Glinsael rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  concentration.

For future reference, Glinsael is squishy, she would stay toward the back encouraging the front line fighters like a good bard do
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Wed 22 Mar 2023.

Watching the wolves charge towards his new companions, Kovann steadies his spear, beginning to spin the tip making a small circle with it.

Once the dire wolf is closer, he can see it has been abused in some way. He also sees the rest of the wolves lack the same treatment, and are likely feral, and simply following a more dominant beast.

"It looks as though someone has tried to tame that beast. If we take it down, will the rest of the pack flee?" He calls out, before thrusting his spear towards the alpha.

Sadly, his strike goes wide, missing it entirely.

Able to see the alpha clearly, aided by the wisps of purple light, Kovann's spear lands into the side of it, though isn't enough to stop it's attack.

Using his momentum, Kovann spins the spear, helping him spins his body into a roundhouse kick, which too falls wide.

Perhaps all the fighting for show, combined with being away from the monastery, has caused Kovann's skills to become dull, like a poorly maintained weapon?


08:32, Today: Kovann rolled 11 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear).

08:33, Today: Kovann rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed).

That could have gone better...

... until remembering advantage from the faerie fire!

08:40, Today: Kovann rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear) - Forgot advantage!!

08:42, Today: Kovann rolled 7 using 1d8+5.  Spear damage.

08:41, Today: Kovann rolled 8 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed) - Forgot advantage!!

Still miss the follow up :(

Finnick saw the wolf bearing down on him and Kojik and knew that something had to be done.

Dagger in hand, he held it out, slashing wildly in a defensive gesture.

Dodge

Kojik also saw the wolves approach at a rush, moving together as wolves tended to do when going in for a kill. He saw that the lead wolf, the alpha he had tried to hit early on, showed signs of already being the subject of the 'attentions of others' so to speak, but it seemed the wrong time to conjecture about that fact. Kovann's declaration mirrored his own thinking - until he saw the one wolf break off towards Finnick and himself. Already glowing with the purple faerie fire that had been placed on it, Kojik saw the beast making a straight dash towards his smaller stature companion and acted quickly to try stopping the animal.

With great skill, training, or perhaps just luck, the young wizard began weaving his magic even faster than he had before. A similar spell to begin, it seemed, but much quicker this time. Another glowing orb was produced, but this time aimed at the wolf charging towards the two casters.

He didn't stop there though, as he continued his arts and produced a following mote of fire that was also thrown at the wolf if it still stood; otherwise at the Dire Wolf.



Summary:

Utilizing Quickened Spell (Metamagic Adept) to cast Chromatic Orb as a Bonus Action targeting Wolf #4 before it can reach Finnick. Thunder damage once again! Following that, he'll toss a Fire Bolt cantrip at the same target as well.

Chromatic Orb (Thunder)
Attack Roll: 26 (Nat 20!)
Damage Roll: 12 + 9 (Crit dmg) = 21

Fire Bolt
Attack Roll: 21
Damage Roll: 6


Rolls:
07:47, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 26 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 20,12.  Chromatic Orb (Rnd 2) w/ Advantage - Attack Roll.

07:47, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 12 using 3d8 with rolls of 4,6,2.  Chromatic Orb Rnd 2 - Damage Roll (Thunder).

07:48, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 21 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 15,8.  Fire Bolt (Rnd 2) w/ Advantage - Attack Roll.

07:49, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 6 using 1d10 with rolls of 6.  Fire Bolt (Rnd 2) - Damage Roll.


Edit:
Forgot the Crit Dmg for the Orb originally:
07:56, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 9 using 3d8 with rolls of 2,6,1.  Crit Dmg from Chromatic Orb (Crit hit).

This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Wed 22 Mar 2023.

"I think you might be right!" Gill replied to Kovann. He conjured up a blob of acid and flung it in the alpha's direction.

---

Acid Splash cantrip on the big wolf and the one next to it.
Dexterity saving throw DC14 or take 1 acid damage.

As the wolves approach...

Glinsael strikes the Dire Wolf as it passes by her!

Ayanna gets her spear up in time to stab the Dire Wolf as it closes with her.

And then...

Kevann strikes the Dire Wolf with his spear and his mighty fist. And then there's a sizzle as Gill hurls a ball of acid and strikes it in the side. The beast howls in pain, extremely injured, but still it strives to attack the horses.

Just then Kojik blasts one of the oncoming wolves with not one, but two spells! It falls to the ground, dead and smoking.

And it's all suddenly too much for the horses, and too much for Barrad to hold them. One rears up and strikes Barrad in the head with its heavy hoof and the two horses run off across the road and down toward the river.

Finnick, feeling like he's lived out these few seconds three or four times, stabs the wolf near Glinsael with a spike of psychic energy. The wolf stops, dazed.

Then the wolves attack...

Glinsael's wolf, dazed by the spell, misses!

The wall of three wolves take heart from their pack. One bites Kovann a deep wound on his knee. It shakes him, trying to bring him to the ground, but the stolid dwarf stays up. The other tries to bite Ayanna's leg but her armour keeps it at bay. The dire wolf, however, does manage to get hold of her shoulder and bite hard into her flesh. The size and ferocity of the creature nearly knocks her down, but she grits her teeth, digs in her heels and stays up.

At which point she delivers the coup de gras and stabs the monster through the heart with her spear. It howls one more time and falls to the ground. Dead.

As soon as the big wolf falls, two of the remaining turn heel and run for the tall grass. The remaining wolf (the wounded one near to Glinsael) does not run, but does back away, haunches up, growling and looking frantic.


OOC:
The timing on this one got real weird.

Finnick: since the wolf you were dodging died before it reached, I assumed you'd make an attack. So I voluntold you a Mind Sliver on the nearest wolf. Seemed to make sense.

Kevann: I added Bless to your second attack, which turned it into a hit.

ROUND SUMMARY
18 - Kevann - Hits Dire Wolf twice!
17 - Gill - Hits Dire Wolf with Acid! Wolf 2 saves.
13 - Grom - terrified and cannot act.
13 - Plut - stands in front of Grom, holding out his walking stick as a cudgel.
11 - Glinsael - hits Dire Wolf with AO! Hits Wolf 3!
8* - Kojik - hits Wolf 4 with two spells. Kill!
8 - Barrad - loses control of the horses, they run.
7 - Finnick - Hit Wolf 3 with Mind Sliver!
6 - Dire Wolf: Attacks Ayanna with Advantage. Hit! 11 damage!
6 - Wolf 1: Attacks Kovann with Advantage. Hit! 6 damage!
6 - Wolf 2: Attacks Ayanna with Advantage. Miss! (rolled a 1 and a 2)
6 - Wolf 3: Attacks Glinsale with Disadvantage. Miss!
4 - Ayanna - Stabs Dire Wolf with Spear! Kill!

We are now out of initiative. There is still one wolf on the grid but it's taking the Dodge action currently so there's no need to go full combat round.

And the horses are now off the map and away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:09, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

The wolf was injured, at least as bad as she was, and would probably flee if given a chance, so that's what Glinsael did. She backed away cautiously while holding her knife in front of her, just in case.

Action: disengage

Move: toward the party

Ayanna yelled.  It was a mix of victory, pain, frustration, fear and simply being pissed off.  She had gotten lucky.  Had that other wolf gotten a good bite on her, she might have been buried in this god forsaken place.  There was no time to ruminate on her near death experience.  A wolf still stood and the horses along with their supplies had bolted.

A string of soldier curses rattled off of her lips.  Her shield arm hung limp and burned in pain as it dripped blood.  She knelt, took her waterskin and splashed water across the wound.  (Second wind heals 11hp)

A grunt to overcome the pain and give a burst of adrenaline.  She stood as she started barking orders.  “Someone see to that wolf.  Feed it, scare it off, kill it.  I don’t care.”. In that moment, she didn’t.

She nodded to Gill.  “See what you can do for the injured.  Barrad better not be dead.”  If not, she might want to kill him herself.  Not that his attitude had caused the attack, but he knew something he wasn’t telling them.

“Finnick, you’re in charge.  Get everyone cleaned up, make sure there’s nothing else that’s going to bother us and come find me.  I’m going after the horses.”. She flexed her shield arm and figured it would function well enough if needed.  She turned on her boot heel and started marching after the horses.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

Kojik took a couple breaths once the bulk of the wolves were either down or fleeing. He kept an eye on the one wolf who was slowly backing away, perhaps concerned it would turn and still fight in its fright. But once it had backed far enough away, he'd remark after Ayanna began to head out, directing his comment to Finnick specifically but to everyone in general it sounded.

"That... was quite a bit different from what I'm used to! I think I see now what my mentor meant about the faster path, but.." he shook his head. He looked about at the mess the encounter had caused, glancing in the direction the horses had fled with the wagon and then the supplies that had been thrown about.

"I'm afraid I expended my energies in the fight, but.. if you want to give me a little time, I could make something to help us carry at least most of this stuff for us until we get the horses and wagon back. Perhaps not everything, but likely most of it anyway," he added, gesturing to the supplies on the ground.

"A floating disk," he added to Finnick at the end, as way of further explaining what he meant.

Finnick let out a shaky breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.  The borderlands had proven themselves deadly indeed, and the illusionist realized that having read about a thing and having experienced a thing first hand could be vastly  different escapades.

Knowing that he would be facing down deadly beasts, and having just come face-to-face with one had proven that point beyond any reasonable doubt.

"You have my t-thanks, Kojik."  The gnome said.  "I would surely be dead had your magic not felled the wolf."

The retired tutor watched Ayanna head out after the horses, inwardly grateful that she had the presence of mind to think about gathering them up before they had bolted too far.

Nearby, Kovann and Glinsael each had bloody garments ... the wolves' snapping jaws having found flesh before being killed or driven off.

"Are you two alright?"  The illusionist inquired.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

CAMP
When Glinsael retreats from the final wolf it remains growling for a moment before backing away and vanishing into the grass.

Grom starts going over the area, picking up and gathering what supplies they can easily find.

Plut comes up to the party, wringing his shapeless hat in his hands. "Sorry, masters, I couldn't be more help. My boy was afraid, see, and I had to do right by him. We're not much used to fighting, us."

Kojik takes some minutes to cast his floating disk spell. As soon as it appears, Grom starts placing what he's gathered on it. He touches it once with his finger, gives out an excited giggle, and runs off across the road to grab some more fallen supplies.

He's quickly out of sight.

OOC: Don't forget you've got a big, giant wolf corpse lying bleeding into the dirt just off to the side. Not saying you need to do anything about it, but it's there.

---

HORSES
They're sturdy draft horses and not runners. All the same, they made it across the road, down the slope on the other side and out of sight very quickly.

Barrad immediately starts cursing and swearing about the accursed monsters and the savage wilds and the danger to his possessions and his person.

He starts up after Ayanna as she marches off. "Thank you for your help, Lady Knight. I need my beasts, but I don't want to be wanderin' here in this gods-forsaken place without protection."

The tracks are fresh and easy enough to follow. They did seem to get quite a ways away. Down a rolling hill, around a rocky hill, into a lightly treed area.

On the ground in front of the trees is the wagon. What's left of it, anyway. The traces are torn and twisted and one wheel is a mess. Fixable, but in pretty bad shape.

"You'll want to be getting Daddy Dimwit and his feeb son down 'ere for that, I expect," Barrad mutters.

As best as they can see, the tracks go through the trees and take a sharp left turn a very steep slope (presumably to the riverbank).

They can't see the river from where they are, but they can hear it. It's fast and strong  and roars away over the rocks.

And is that the sound of high, musical laughter mixed with the sound?

Nature Check, DC14

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
That's the sound of Nixies. Small, aquatic fey who live in rivers. Not generally aggressive, but they can be dangerous if threatened.

---

Ayanna nodded at Barrad’s assessment of the damage.  She frowned at the nicknames.  She didn’t think now was the time to discuss it though.  She might not be very sensitive and wouldn’t want to risk losing the horse-master so soon.  Then again, given the probable fate of the horses, he might have nothing to do.

Fixing a wagon, chasing down horses, that she could do.  Musical laughter out in the wilderness?  She knew enough not to mess with something like that.  Better to wait for the scholars to arrive.

“Take a seat Barrad.  We’ll wait for the others.  Something is out there and I’m not going to stumble into it alone.  We can’t help the horses if we are dead.  Besides, my shoulder is killing me.”. Ayanna found a comfortable looking place and eased herself down.  She was confident Finnick would get them organized and be along soon enough.

(I’ll wait for the others to catch up.  Get a short rest in if she can.)

Gill sighed in relief. "Well that could've gone worse!" As soon as the wolves appeared, as soon as they had bolted again - with their leader now dead. He helped the others picking up what cargo he could find onto the magically created disk (he himself also carefully touched the magic disk in awe neat!), occasionally checking if any of them were injured or needed help in any other way.

At some point he came across the lifeless body of the large wolf. His gaze lingered for a moment as he wondered who or what had caused this beast's suffering. (Survival? Animal handling? rolled a 5.)

When all their belongings were retrieved, he wiped the sweat of his brow and peered towards the river. "Do you think they found the horses? Perhaps they need some help retrieving them?" Unconsciously he had already started to take the first steps in their direction. The sound of rushing water attracted him so.

Kevan was so focused on dealing with the dire wolf leading the pack, he didn't see another of the pack lunge towards him, it's sharp teeth biting down onto his knee.

The shock and adrenaline briefly distracted him from realising what had happened, and it was only once the dire wolf was down and the rest of the pack scattered, did Kovann realise what happened.

When Finnick asks how he is doing, Kovann smirks and laughs it off. "Oh, I'll be fine, some rest is all I need. Had worse when I toured various fighting pits. Each scar is a reminder of a fight won, delaying death once more, and another story to tell."

As they organise themselves, Kovann points to the dead dire wolf.

"What are we doing with that? Doesn't look in a state to eat. Leave it and let nature take it's course?"

Do we take a short rest at some point?

Kojik shrugged his shoulders at the question of the dire wolf, glancing over in that direction as he helped arrange stuff on the disk to make sure it was secure - and not overloaded.

"Maybe not to eat, but maybe someone could skin it? I can't imagine too many have a wolf pelt quite that large. Someone could make a cloak out of it maybe or something useful. I'd hate to just let it be wasted.. considering what the poor beast looks to have gone through anyway. At least let his death not be totally in vain," he suggested.

"I'll need to try to get all this stuff to the wagon though pretty quickly; the disk only lasts for about an hour, though I can always recast it.. but that means reloading it too," he adds with a bit of a smile.

She smiled at Finnick, but it turned to a grimace when she moved, "Thank you for your concern. I have only a little magic to heal with. If we can take a rest here, I'm sure I'll be fine." She helped load some of the supplies that weren't too heavy.

"Yes, yes."  Finnick replied, agreeing with his fellows.  "Before we rest, however, we should regroup."

Taking a moment to confer with his weasel, the gnome instructs the familiar to seek out Ayanna and Barrad.

"Lead us to them, little one."

Finn will gather the group and then follow his weasel toward Ayanna.

Barrad is restless and paces back and forth, muttering under his breath.

They's right there.

Aint' safe.

Worse than wolves about, I wager.

A couple of times he seems about to set off on his own, then eyes Ayanna and thinks better of it.

Then there's a loud splash. A very loud splash. As though something very, very large has just fallen into the water.

And with a cry Barrad jumps up and runs toward the sound...

OOC: quick beat for Ayanna while the rest of the party catches up. I try to avoid this sort of thing, but the next scene will depend heavily on what she chooses to do next.

“DAMMIT BARRAD!  GET BACK HERE OR I’ILL SHOOT YOU IN THE ARSE!”. She shouted as she readies and loads her crossbow hoping the click lets him know she is serious.  Ayanna wasn’t likely going to be able to run him down in her armor.  She certainly didn’t want to run after some idiot trying to get himself killed.  Making it so he couldn’t walk right for a few days and the painful reminder of this moment from every jostle in the road?  She could live with that.

(Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 7 using 1d20+3.  Intimidate)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

Rakas the weasel was a very good boy. He was very small, and very quick, had a very talented nose, and loved nothing more than doing the best he could and making the beardy guy proud.

So when he was told to follow a trail, he was on it faster than... well... faster than almost anything.

His nose lead him across the road, down a wide hill, through a lightly treed area (which for sure had a bunch of mice in the grass and he would really love to have himself a little mouse but he couldn't have a mouse because he had work to do and he really was a very good boy), and then into a small clearing.

At which point, he got worried. Because the trail he'd been following kept on through the clearing, past the angry shouty lady, around a corner and down a sharp, steep slope.

BUT he knew the angry shouty lady. And sometimes she had treats.

So what's a best boy to do?

He took a look back to make sure the beardy guy and his friends were keeping up (the beardy guy had a bad habit of falling behind, but a good boy always waits). They were right there. Good.

Rakas took a breath. Decided that the shouty lady must be who he was supposed to find (plus maybe she had treats), and ran up to her and put his little paws on her feet and looked up at her, his little eyes blinking.

The rest of the party, pretty close behind, heard Ayanna shouting, heard the click of the crossbow, but arrived in time to see her standing there, not being very intimidating (despite a valiant attempt), looking away down where the tracks lead.

And no one else.

OOC: Okay, you're back together now. Thank you for indulging me. Off we go!

Also, Finnick, I assumed your familiar was a boy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:40, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

As the party made their way down the hills, Gill kept close to the cargo-laden magical disk. The disk moved very smoothly across the hills and fields and in between trees; still, most of the time kept a hand on the goods, making sure none of it fell off. Only when they saw Ayanna in the distance did he let go and hurried closer to her.

"Where's Barrad?" He asked worriedly, and he quickly peered over the next hill crest to the river below. (if the river is already in view from there; Perception roll 5)

Ayanna pulled herself to her feet.  "Ran off that way."  She pointed toward the river.

"I heard something that sounded like Fey.  Barrad wouldn't wait.  We heard something and he thinks the horses went into the river.  Wagon here needs repair before it might be of use again too."  She looked to the father and son to see if that was something they could handle.

"Does anyone know anything about the Fey?  All I've heard is they lure lone travelers to their death."  She put her crossbow away and leaned heavily on her spear.

The warrior was preparred to go look for Barrad and the horses but waited a moment for any information that might be useful.  She didn't want to walk into something unprepared.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Sat 25 Mar 2023.

Seeing that there wasn't going to be a rest, Glinsael repeated, "I'm sure I'll be fine," but this time charged with magical energy, and joined with the group.

"The fey is a broad topic. Maybe we should find Barrad first, unless there is something specifically  threatening about these fey."

Bonus action: cast healing word on herself
12:44, Today: Glinsael rolled 6 using 1d4+3.  healing word.

Once the group managed to catch up to the wagon and Ayanna, Kojik moved around to try getting the disk up and positioned to let the supplies it was carrying fall into the wagon once the spell ended. He looked to use a board as a ramp for it to be guided up, but once it was over the wagon he let the spell end to drop the items back inside - as carefully as possible at least.

Hearing the subject of discussion and that Barrad had disappeared, he shook his head and agreed, "Depends entirely on the type of fey I'd guess.. some can just be troublesome and some dangerous from what I understand. A few can be helpful even, though I'm not sure our lucky is that good at the moment," he added with a bit of a wry smile. A poor attempt at humor.

"Hopefully he didn't get too far though."

Kovann walked with the others until they eventually found Ayanna.

His injury didn't slow him down, but it was certainly uncomfortable. Kovann did his best to not let it show. It would only distract them, and right now there were more important things to cover.

When the topic of fey is brought up, Kovann shakes his head.

"Fey? Only tales and stories from books. Didn't come near Gun Galaq, and not like fighting pits would be to their taste. Why do you ask?"

He then takes a breath.

"After getting gnawed on back there, I'm not exactly in any rush for another fight." He adds, looking at the others.

"Fey can be reasoned with,"  FInnick said.  "After a fashion."

"It's better than trolls at any rate."  He said, trying to find the silver lining.

The gnome's bearded face scrunched up as he thought about their predicament.

"It would probably be best to let Barrad do as little of the talking as possible though."

From down the slope, above the sound of the rushing river, a loud, angry voice rises:

"Hey! You stay away from my horse! Hey there!"

Another quick high tickle of musical laughter, three quick small splashes, then:

"Help! Masters, help! Help!"

---

Through the treed area, to the left, down the steep slope, is a wide flat stony clearingon the shore of the Goblinwater.

One of the horses stands off to the side, idly munching on rivergrass.

The other horse is in the river, near the middle, trying to swim upstream. But the current here is swift and strong, and it is losing the battle. Just down stream the river tumbles and breaks over rocks and cataracts.

Barrad stands just in the river, the water up to his knees, his face frantic. He calls to the horse several times to no avail.

"Master, please! I can't swim!"

OOC: If anyone wants to do anything, or prep, before running down, just tuck it into your post.

"Can anyone treat Kovann?"  She rather have the dwarf by her side ready for a fight if it came to one.

"Let's go, but if it comes to negotiating with Fey, one of you handle it."  She wasn't sure she trusted that which she didn't understand.  Ayanna certainly didn't understand Fey.  Perhaps this is why the first group disappeared and a more studious collection was selected this time.

---

Down the slope, the warrior took in the scene.  No Fey were visible.  That was good.  The horse being swept into the rapids wasn't.  Ayanna cursed.  One horse was fine, she ignored that one and rushed forward to the water's edge.

"Rope!  Can anyone lasso the horse?"  She started fishing her 50' rope out.

Glinsael followed Ayanna down to the river bank. There was little she could do to help the horse in the water. She wasn't strong or skilled with animal handling.  She looked around to see if there was something she could use.

When Ayanna took out a rope, Glinsael got an idea, "we need a hand" she said, and a misty looking hand appeared in front of her.  It took a hold on the lasso loop, and levitated it over the water.  She waded out into the river, but called back to Ayanna, "I can only reach so far, please help me stay upright in the water. Someone hold the other end of the rope and feed it out." Once they were all in place, she looped the rope around the horse so they could guide it to shore.

Action: casting mage hand and holding the loop end of the rope it has 30' range

Move: just starting to wade into the water, but I don't want to get far yet if the river is strong, and the mage hand can reach the horse. If Ayanna can support her, Glin can wade out deeper.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:15, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

With Ayanna's help (and anyone else who wants to join the chain), Glinsael just manages to snag the lead with her magic hand.

But Ayanna has to wade out really far in order to give Glinsael the distance she needs. The elf is barely touching ground and the water is up to Ayanna's chest, and the current is quite strong.

Seeing that someone is helping his horse, Barrad backs away from jumping all the way in (although he still looks pretty wound up).

OOC: Ayanna, Athletics check, please, DC 12. Assuming someone helps you (and I think that's a fair assumption), you can roll with Advantage. Success means both that you kept hold of Glin and that you managed to pull her back enough to hand you the lead. If you fail, that means one of those two things didn't happen, and you'll need to decide which.

Glinsael: that was a good idea. Please take Inspiration.

"Here, I've got you." Gill grabbed the back of Ayanna's belt (or, if she's not wearing a belt, an arm around her waist) to keep her, and in turn Glinsael, from being swept away by the rushing water.

Gill was not one to easily get in a hurry - as his companions undoubtedly have come to realize after a week of traveling together. And he was the last to come down the slope that led to the river bank. Yet when he finally arrived and saw that Glinsael and Ayanna had already rushed into the water, he made a quick sprint and followed after them. He was a good swimmer and familiar with the water's treacherous movements.

When (and if) they had made a few paces away from the deeper water, he shouted to Ayanna: "Just keep hold of the rope, I'll pull Glinsael back!" By him taking over making sure Glinsael wouldn't get swept away, Ayanna would have both hands available to pull the rope and hopefully guide the horse out of the most dangerous currents.

---

Helping out.
Could even throw in a Guidance for this or a future action if time permits.

Ayanna was glad for Glinsael's magic.  If it could guarantee the loop made the horse, that was a much better option than praying a lasso attempt made it home.  Range seemed to be an issue, but was still the easier option.

They waded deep.  The current was rough here.  She couldn't image trying to swim against the worst of it in the middle.  That made her wonder why the horse was in the middle in the rapidly moving current.  Even entering in the shallows, it should have been able to turn around and climb out.  No time to worry about that now.

The bard made her play and Ayanna's grip on her arm tensed slightly as she willed her on and celebrated the success.  She adjusted her footing, ready to pull the bard back when her foot slipped on the rocks!  Her free hand flung out wildly to grab for something, anything to keep them from being swept away.  Gill was there.

The dockworker had an infectious attitude and she had liked him from the beginning.  They might pull this off yet.  "It's going to take several of us.  Grab some rope and pull.  We'll ease it toward the bank.  Once it gets its feet under it, the horse should be able to climb out."

At which point Barrad hopefully could calm it down and they could all get back to the wagon for a breather.

Teamwork saved that failed roll.  Athletics check 25

Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 5 using 1d6.  Bardic Inspiration.
Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 20 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 1,16.  Wade the river w/ advantage.

Kojik came down the slope to the river a little more carefully than some of the others, perhaps a bit more unsure of his footing than the rest. He moved towards Barrad to help the man get out of the water while the others dealt with the horse in a chain fashion, waving to the man back to shore to distract him from the swimming horse.

"They're getting the other horse, help me secure this one so it doesn't decide to go for a swim too," he suggested to the man, indicating the horse that was lazily munching away at some of the grass at the water's edge. If Barrad was dealing with one horse, it would distract him from the other - not to mention keep him from 'drowning'.

"Barrad,"  Finnick called out, keenly aware of his short-statured limitations near a swift moving river.  "I say, get out of there.  It's not safe."

Rakas poked his head up from the wizard's robes and chittered for good measure.  If one didn't know better, the little fey weasel was echoing its master's sentiments.

Finnick will assist Kojik tending to the non-swimming horse.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:40, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

Watching others go into the water, Kovann was hesitant. He knew he wasn't very strong, and with the water going up to the chest of the taller members of the group, Kovann knew he wasn't a very strong swimmer and would only make the situation worse.

As such, he helped Finnick and Kojik with the other horse, looking at Finnick. "Not sure how well we would have fared in the river. Looks pretty deep."

Barrad is coaxed back from the river, regretfully and reluctantly. He takes the reigns of the non-swimming mare ("Mersha") and checks it for injuries or other problems. He eyes the river. "Never knowed a horse to go swimming a-purpose," he muttered.

Meanwhile, between Ayanna, Gill, and Glinsael, they do manage to drag the swimming mare ("Dorbrun") out of the swift current and back onto land. But the horse struggles and fights every inch of the way and, even on dry land, is fractious and irritable and resistance to Barrad's leading of it. If left to her own devices, she keeps trying to get back in the water.

Behind then, Plut comes down the slope. "Me'n the boy can probably get the wagon rolling in a couple of hours. Not all fixed, mind, but rolling. It's lucky there's some young trees about or it'd be longer."

"So if the masters don't mind waiting, and helping as we ask, we can be on our way soon enough."

OOC:
Everyone take a Short Rest (assuming you all stay and wait).

Nature or Arcana check, DC 16. Anyone with experience with fey creatures or water creatures (you decide for yourself and let me know), can roll with Advantage.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Nixies are known for putting a nasty Charm on the unwary. They last up to a year, give the victim the ability to breathe underwater, and make them want to go to the nixie's home and serve them. Any Animal Handing or Pilot Land Vehicles checks made with this horse will ne with Disadvantage while the Charm lasts.

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:19, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

"Whew!" Gill let out a cry of relief when they finally managed to drag the mare back onto the rocky shore. "Well done!" and he gave both Glinsael and Ayanna a (slightly hard) celebratory slap on the shoulder. "This one seemed as if it didn't want to leave," he commented jokingly, but quickly realizing the horse actually tried to pull back into the river, and he had to grab onto the rope again to keep it from doing so.

(Nature 15)

When finally Dorbrun was safely away from the river (and tightly secured to a tree), he let himself drop to the rocky ground - inhaling deeply as he caught his breath and staring at the sky above.

He looked up when Plut came down with the good news. "Hey, that's awesome. I knew you could do it!" He got up and prepared to help get the horses back to the cart - probably just holding on to a rope, as he didn't have too much experience with horses otherwise - and to set up camp for a while.

Whilst the wagon was being sorted, Kovann used the time to rest.

Heading to the edge of the river, he refilled his waterskin, and also washed his wounded knee.

Sitting on the grass, he pulled his boots off and placed them beside him, with his spear on the opposite side.

Closing his eyes, he looked as if he were in some deep meditation, letting his body rest whilst his mind considered who knows what.

22:09, Today: Kovann rolled 6 using 1d8+2.  Hit die (Short rest).
Back to full health!

22:08, Today: Kovann rolled 7 using 1d20.  Nature or Arcana (both +0).
I know nothing!

"I say,"  Finnick called out.  "Be careful near the water's edge."

"There may be nixies about."

"Nasty things.  They can enchant the unwary.  Man and beast alike."

"Give them a love for the nixie and its watery home ... makes it so it cannot stand being above the waves."

Finnick examined the feisty Dorbrun from a distance.

"It may be what happened here with the mare here.  Tough to say without further investigation."

"But we shouldn't tarry overlong."

Rolled a nat 20 on the Arcana check, just regurgitating the info from the spoiler box.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

"Nixies? Eh, could be worse I suppose.. but yes, probably a good idea to keep the mare securely tied until the wagon is ready to go. I think everyone can use a little rest while its fixed; though we can help out as needed too," Kojik agreed with the request from Plut.

In truth, he knew he was one of the luckier ones from their earlier encounter. While he had used a great deal of his abilities for the moment, he had fared well in terms of suffering. Still, he took the opportunity that was provided to rest as much as he could.



Arcane Recovery for 1 spell slot. Will take what I can get from a short rest! :)

The rushing current pulled Glinsael, if it wasn't for Ayanna and Gill, she would have surely been swept away.  Coming to shore she was so relieved that she broke out into laughter, "whoo!  we did it!" she slapped Gill on the shoulder too, but it was her mage hand which also flashed a V for victory sign.

After hearing about the nixies she said, "lets rest a bit away from the river. Their charms probably have a range limit." She found a spot well away from the water, but still within sight of the others in case the wolves came back. She was soaked through and looked like a drowned rat. so she took off her cloak, and set it out to dry, then used prestidigitation to dry off her clolthes and armor.

Moving away from the river to 30 past the wagon

Once the hubbub dies down, Plut and Grom get to work on the wagon and Barrad gets to work tending his horses and complaining (not necessarily in that order).

"They's people in the water! He says to anyone who'll listen. I seen 'em. Three or four of em, messing about with my horses, calling it with a song, like, to come deeper into the water. Foul bastards. Why they'd want to kill an innocent beast, eh? Never done nothing. But I scared 'em off right quick."

After Finnick's explanation.

"Nixies, eh? Charmed, eh? Never heard of none of that round my parts. Time will come her Ladyship will drive all unnatural things from these lands and they'll be safe again for decent folk."

And there's more of the same for some time, until it fades to a constant background drone. The only respite is when he's talking to the horses, during which time the content of his speech doesn't change, but the tone is soft and soothing.

The charmed horse eventually stops trying to get back in the water, but she does remain difficult and jumpy and unhappy. Barrad tries to soothe her, but she ignores him. He tries to hide it, but his feelings are clearly hurt.

Plut and Grom are as good as their word, and in about two hours they have the wheel repaired and replaced, and the traces more-or-less fixed.

"We woul'n want none to pull too hard nor fast," Plut says, "But she'll serve for walkin' well enough."

And with that, they get underway once more.

---

It's been a hard day. The wagon, repaired though it may be, is now uneven and wobbles as it moves, which irritates the already jumpy horses (especially Dorbrun). It's all Barrad can do to keep them moving in a straight line. Getting them around the many holes and rocks and impediments is slow, frustrating work.

Several times, the keen-eyed spy rabbits gamboling in the tall grass. They are quick. Very quick. So quick they almost seem to be teleporting...

About four hours of this and the sky is just starting to darken.

Just ahead, next to the road, is a large, grey, smooth, triangular stone. It is covered in runes and writing, of varying age and language. One line, in a common script similar to that used in the Eastern Empire, reads "Pilgrims, all, welcome to the Duchy of Almiraj. The Keep lies ahead."

Around the stone are many tracks and signs of movement.

OOC: Pacing wise, I don't like going from rest to rest, but sometimes that's how it goes.

Survival DC 14

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Kobolds. Lots and lots of little clawed three-toed kobold tracks. Plus at least one set of Gnoll tracks. And then some that look like a rat tracks. But much, much larger than normal rats.

---

Language: Dwarven

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The stone says, in an very old (and lower, unskilled working caste dialect) "Pilgrims of Stonehollow, you are come to Almiraj Keep. Be safe. Be welcome."

---

Language: Elven

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The stone says, in a script used now only by several small, mostly nomadic clans of Elves: "Lords of Mystcaern Hall, Almiraj welcomes you. May the sun light the road that leads you here and warm the hearts of those who meet you."

---

Language: Primordial

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
There's some old Aquan here, so old it's worn to almost nothing. All you can make out is the word are the words "beware" and "devil fish."

---

History DC16 (Glinsael can roll with Advantage)

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
There are several older, less familiar scripts here. One of them seems to be in Giant. Another looks like Undercommon of all things. Both are among the oldest runes and age and erosion have worn them almost smooth.

---

 
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:40, Mon 27 Mar 2023.

Ever the tutor, Finnick translated the elvish for the others who could not read the script.  Making a point to call particular attention to the fact that the script itself was used by only a few small nomadic clans of elves.

"There are some other, older languages here that I recognize, but alas ... cannot read."

"Well, at the least we're almost there. Hopefully we can make the Keep before the sun completely sets. What do you think?" Kojik asked, his question directed to Barrad as he kept the horses and wagon moving onwards.

Ayanna looked over the stone.  "Any of this say how far?  It takes time to setup camp and I'd hate to get to the keep in the dark and find it occupied by someone who doesn't appreciate our visit.  Anyone prefer moving on to camping here?"  She asked the group.

Glinsael walked around the stone tracing the different inscriptions with her finger, "this is Elvish addressing the Lords of Mystcaern Hall, and this here is Dwarven to the pilgrims of Stonehollow.  They are messages of welcome like the one in the common speech.  I can't make out the others, perhaps Giant?  And this one, I couldn't hope to guess. It would seem the Keep was fairly cosmopolitan. It doesn't say how far it is, but a keep should be fairly prominent. I would think this stone is a boundary marker, so we likely have a good way yet to go."

23:41, Today: Glinsael rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  history advanyage.

23:41, Today: Glinsael rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  history.

23:39, Today: Glinsael rolled 11 using 1d20.  survival.

After their rest, Kovann walked beside the wagon. There was only so much room, and he would rather walk than deal with the bumpy and wobbly nature of the wagon as it seems to be now.

Kovann looked at Glin with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"You know dwarvish?! Can you only read it, or do you also speak it?"

She smiled at Kovann, "there are many great works of history written in Dwarven.  I learned mostly to read The Book of the Clans by Thoric Firebeard, but many of the early histories are written in verse, so I learned to speak as well, if you can forgive my accent. I'm told I use a rather archaic pronunciation." She was a little embarrassed by her limited fluency.

"Hey, I know what this means!" Gill pointed at one of the lines of faded writing on the stone. It was an old line, and most of the text was too worn by the elements to make out any legible words anymore. "Well, at least some of it: this word here means 'beware' and this one is 'devil fish'. Must've been a real pain in the butt back in those days, to mark it on a waypoint like this," he chuckled.

His eyes drifted from the stone to the ground around it. "These tracks are not made by people. See these three-toed ones, they're the foot-prints of kobolds. Most of them are. But this one here is larger, I think it's from a gnoll. And these ones, they're just like those of a rat... just really large for a rat." (Survival 20)

He glanced at the darkening sky, "I think we should set up camp soon. It's been a long day. But I don't think we should camp out here in the open," then looked at the rest of the party, "...and we may need to set up a night's watch."

"If there are other creatures that are frequenting this intersection, it might be best if we continue on to the Keep. Being safe within its walls, even if they're not complete, would give us better cover than out in the open here. Particularly if such creatures are about.." Kojik supplied, looking about the area while the group was still stopped.


"Having at least some cover would be good if we have to set up a watch I'd imagine?"

A quick reconnoiter by Grover reveals what looks like the remains of a castle on a high, rocky hill a couple of hours' walk from here. It would be full dark by the time you could reach it.

There are a couple of reasonably decent places nearby to make camp, including a small hollow beneath a large tumble of stones.

OOC: If you want to camp, I'll need a watch order, and whether or not you light a fire.

“Kobolds?”. So much for the welcome sign.  “If there are kobolds about, they are likely in the keep.  I don’t want us to engage in the dark after a long day.  We’ll do some scouting come daylight.”

“I agree.  This is too open.  Let’s find a better spot and hunker down for the night.  We’ll go cold rations and no fire.  We already know there are others in the area.  Hopefully they don’t know we are here yet.”

When they found the hollow, Ayanna nodded.  “This will work.”  She sent the boys to start setting up camp.
“I don’t know how many of you can create light.  If we are ambushed in the dark, light up the perimeter.  I’ll engage anything in the light.  Kovann, you’ll have to get those in the dark.  The rest of you can use the wagon for cover.  Provide what support you can.”

Proposed 4 watches, 2hrs each:
Gill
Ayanna & Finnick
Glinsael & Kojik
Kovann
I’m assuming the humans are the only ones without enhanced vision.  If that is wrong, let me know.  This plan pairs the two humans with someone who can see.

Kojik passed on the details of Grover's reconnaissance, including the distance to the keep. Once they found the hollow to make camp, he gave a nod to Ayanna's remarks and added.


"I can create Light wherever desired which should give a pretty good view of our immediate surroundings. I'll also have Grover try to keep a good eye out most of the night, since he's better at that time anyway," Kojik added with a bit of a smile.


"Depending on if we wish to have a fire or not, I can warm up - or cool off - any food or items desired for the evening," he offered as well.




Watch order works for me. Kojik will have Grover helping out on standing watch given his Darkvision and ability to watch over things from above. He'll also keep Light ready in case of trouble to provide the illumination Ayanna asked for and, as offered, help with dinner if the group opts against a fire. Prestidigitation hard at work. :)

"Last watch works for me. I like to get up early anyway. And the dark doesn't bother me. I might even spot them first and take anything down that tries to attack us."

Grabbing his bedroll and unfurling it, Kovann looks up at the night sky.

"Lack of fire means we can appreciate the heavens more. To think some of my kin refuse to come up the surface and see this, afraid they will fly up into the sky."

He gives a little shake of his head.

"Fools."

Finnick, if the quality of his silken robes were any indication, was not an outdoorsman.  As such, the illusionist was only too happy to follow the others' lead.  Taking the watch he'd been assigned and tending to the tiny duties that arose that evening throughout the camp.

Ayanna nodded at Kojik’s suggestions.  She spent time getting people in position for camp.  The horses sheltered where the group could protect them and hopefully they wouldn’t run off again.  The wagon positioned so the group could use it for cover if needed.  She double checks the watch order.

The female warrior chuckled at Kovann’s comment.  “I’ve always had great respect for the dwarves.  They are incredible warriors.  It’s an honor to fight side-by-side with one.”

She winked at him.  “If you do fly off into the sky, we’ll find a way to bring you back to the ground.”

During their watch, she chatted quietly with Finnick during their watch about what was needed once they secured the keep.  Repairs would need to be made.  Quarters made livable.  A well or water supply secured and made functional.  Defenses would need to be analyzed.  Food source evaluated.  Word they had the keep would need to be passed onto the Duke.  Lots to do, not many of them to do it.

The party camps. The sky turns dark. The moon is a bare sliver in the sky. The wilderness lights up with sound as the sun retreats.

---

First Watch - Gill
Gill hears some splashing and sounds of movement across the road and down by the river, but nothing else.

Second Watch - Ayanna & Finnick
The watch passes in peace.

Third Watch - Glinsael and Kojik
The watch passes in peace.

Fourth Watch - Kevann (and Glinsael?)
Just before dawn, Glinsael's keen senses see and hear shadowy humanoid forms moving through the dense foliage near the road. Whatever they are, they are quiet and know the area very well. But they don't even seem to notice the party.

---

Dawn peeks over the horizon. The party awakens and gets moving again.

The going is slower today, between the one misbehaving horse and the just-barely-repaired wagon, but beyond the Waystone the road is also wider and straighter and in better repair.

After about two hours they can see up ahead a high rocky outcrop from the highland.

After another hour they see a second road branching off to the north. It travels in a more-or-less straight line up the edge of the wide flat hill. And, this close, they can see the ruined spires and broken walls of a once-mighty fortress.

They found it. The Keep on the Borderlands.

They're here. They made it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:54, Fri 31 Mar 2023.

By the time the others had settled for their night's rest, Gill had found a comfortable spot on a fallen log. With his cloak wrapped tightly around him, he slowly chewed on some of the dried jerky - it being warmed up by Kojik's magic made it almost seem like a proper meal. He stared off into the dark of the night, his eyes often trailing to the sliver of light up in the sky.

Only when he heard something off in the distance did he stand up, alert, to see what was the source of it. When the splashing faded and nothing came of it he sat down again, but for the rest of his watch he was fiddling with the amulet around his neck.

That night he dreamed of devilish fish.

---

"There it is! We've found it!" Gill exclaimed happily when they finally laid eyes upon the dilapidated structure in the distance.

After a lengthy night, having taken his watch half-way as required, Kojik awoke in the morning and prepared himself as needful. Once they set off, he stayed as alert as possible, but thankfully the journey was uneventful until they came within eyesight of the Keep.

He smiled at Gill's enthusiasm, perhaps sharing it given his smile, but the events of the previous day made such success not entirely complete until they were finally there. He raised a hand briefly in a silent command, speaking to Grover it appeared as the owl took flight with a soft thumping of wings as he flew into the sky and began moving in the direction of the keep. Likely off to provide scouting for them from above. Soon they would know what situation they were walking into, which he would share with them as they drew nearer.

Glinsael wrapped herself in her cloak while she rested. When her rest was done, she took a watch with Kojik, and then Kevann. During the last watch she noticed figures moving silently through the shrubbery. She signaled to Kevann, and they waited in silence until the humanoids moved on.

In the morning she relayed what she saw to the others, "I didn't see much but they were humanoid in form, and they moved silently through the foliage. Perhaps they were hunters, or a scouts for whoever is living in this area."

At the keep she said, "well, the keep has certainly seen better days. There are breaches in the wall, and the woods grow close.  That's to our advantage. The gates are designed to be defended against invaders, but if we can find a breach clear of rubble, we can use the tree cover to get close, and enter with the least resistance."

Ayanna's shift luckily was quiet.  She never slept well the first night new.  This certainly wasn't a safe location so it made it extra difficult.

Reports of creatures in the night didn't shock her.  It was to be expected.  Probably reinforced the idea something had taken up residence.  The morning and scouting proved that theory correct.

She listened to Glinsael's info.  After discussing some options with the others, they made a plan.  It was time to enter the keep.

Kovann slept well under the stars. Years of travelling as a gladiator got him used to going from place to place, and they were rarely reachable in the same day.

Waking up for his watch, Kovann practiced slow and steady moves, letting his eyes and ears focus on what is going on around him, not risking himself getting too caught up in his training to risk missing anything coming to attack them.

Thankfully the morning was quiet, and the rest of the group woke up naturally, rather than from shouting from Kovann of trouble incoming.

Reaching the keep, Kovann looks up at it. "I'm no mason, but even I can tell that is going to need some work!"

After a quick discussion, Kovann, Glinsael, and Finnick go around the side of the building while Ayanna, Gill and Kojik walk up to the front.

All is quiet as Ayanna and Gill approach the main gate. Like everything else, it is in poor repair, with piles of stone and dirt everywhere. Even the portcullis appears to be broken and can't go down all the way. There's about a foot of space beneath.

And then there's a loud, shrill cry from above. "MABARACK!"

And two small, sinewy, scaly figures slide under the gate and stand up, ready to attack. Kobolds!

And two more appear on the remains of the battlements. One of them wears a skull for a helmet.

Meanwhile, as the other three approach the side entrance, they too hear the cry from the battlements, and two kobolds appear in the hallway in front of them.

And away down toward the rear of the Keep they can the extremely odd and improbable site of two massive rats running up the grass. And one of them has a kobold rider!

Battle is joined!

Battle for the Keep - Round 1

Gill - 20*
Finnick - 17
Enemies - 16
Kovann - 15
Kojik - 12
Ayanna - 8
Glinsael - 5

AC of all combatants is 12. So feel free to narrate whether you hit or not.

Gill and Finnick, you're up! Then I'll do the bad guys.

Gill took in the state of the fort as they approached. It was going to need a lot of work to get it up to working condition again. He was no stonemason, but he knew wood and timber, and saw at least a dozen places where a proper beam would help hold up a good portion of the structure. Much time for a close inspection he didn't get, as the kobold's cry startled him.

"Oh?" A look of surprise on his face as he looked up. "Do you think that means they're friendly?" He asked himself quietly, a foolishly naive thought as soon another pair of them slid through the gap under the portcullis brandishing nasty looking makeshift weapons.

"Not friendly, not friendly!" In his reaction, he flung a ball of acid at the two kobolds in front of him, and charged them with his shield raised high.

---

Action: Acid Splash cantrip on the two kobolds on the ground.
DC14 Dex save or take 6 acid damage.

Move: into melee with them.

Gill's ball of acid hits one of the kobolds square in the face and splashes onto the one next to it. Both little creatures cry out in pain and fall to the ground, sizzling.

In response, the kobold on the battlements slings a stone down on the genasi. But misses. The other kobold (the one wearing a helmet for a mask) suddenly has a flaming ball in his hand, which he throws down at Gill. The little ball of flame explodes on Gill's chest.

And then both vanish from the battlements.

At the side door, the two giant rats come scuttling up the green (with on kobold riding rather skillfully). As they approach, the rider barks out several words. First: "KIMT!" and "NDURUK!" And then "MBABARAK!"

One of the rats runs partway forward and hunkers down near the wall, chuffing to itself.

The other runs past, its rider swinging a sling overhead. And then it looses and strikes Ginsael in the shoulder. And then he wheels away (presumably to circle back).

Meanwhile, the two in the hallway form up, wicked little swords out, and the both charge Kevann.

But he manages to evade both.

OOC - ROUND 1
Gill - 20* -Acid Splash, 6 damage. Both kobolds fail. Both are down. That was a VERY well-placed Acid Splash.
Finnick - 17 - Delays action till after the bad guys.
Enemies - 16
-Battlement Kobold 1: casts Produce Flame at Gill. Hit! 7 damage.
-Battlement Kobold 2: slings stone at Gill. Miss!
-Dire Rat 1: Hunkers down (readies action)
-Kobold Rider: slings stone at Glinsael. Hit! 3 damage.
-Hallway Kobold 1: attacks Kevann with Advantage. Miss!
-Hallway Kobold 2: attacks Kevann with Advantage. Miss!
Finnick (for real this time) - 15
Kovann - 15
Kojik - 12
Ayanna - 8
Glinsael - 5

Notes for Round 2: The single kobold is lurking behind rubble. Perception DC15 to see him. The three small rats with the red lines are, indeed smaller rats (but still pretty giant) all tethered to a post in the large open room.

Draconic

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Kimt = Stay. Nduruk = Guard. Mbarak = charge/attack/forward

---

Glinsael, Finnick, Kevann Perception DC 10

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The rat has hunkered down next to a grate and small inlet in the castle wall. Too small for a door, maybe, but it does look like it opens.

---

"I say!" Finnick exclaimed as the rat-mounted kobolds attacked.

Gnomes of course, were known for their love for the animals of the forest.  If there was a line though ... it was certainly drawn at battle-trained dire rats.

"Away with you!"  He called out to the rider, enchanting his words so that they drove into the mounted kobold with a lancing spike of pain.

"We claim this keep."

Mind Sliver vs mounted kobold, DC14 Int save or 4 psychic damage and -1d4 on next saving throw if it happens next round.
06:18, Today: Finnick Glmmerdust rolled 3 using 1d4.  Mind Sliver vs kobold rider. – [roll=1680866299.58703.374668]
06:22, Today: Finnick Glmmerdust rolled 4 using 1d6.  rolling correct damage (not d4). – 4
This message was last edited by the player at 11:23, Fri 07 Apr 2023.

The kobolds swing their blades at Kovann, where he parries one with his spear to safely stop it hitting him, and the other he bends and rolls his body to avoid the blow.

Countering from the parry, Kovann completely misses the kobold, however following it up he swings his elbow out to hit the other kobold hard in the side of the head.

Countering from the parry, Kovann thrusts his spear into the kobold, then following it up he swings his elbow out to hit the other kobold hard in the side of the head.

"Are you ok back there?" He yells out to ask, knowing he can't help out until the remaining kobold is down.

Action: Attack
Bonus Action: Unarmed
18:53, Today: Kovann rolled 8 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear). NAT 1!
00:01, Today: Kovann rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear) Now with advantage.
00:02, Today: Kovann rolled 6 using 1d8+5.  Spear (Versatile) damage.

18:54, Today: Kovann rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed).
18:54, Today: Kovann rolled 6 using 1d4+5.  Unarmed damage.

EDIT: Updated thanks to acting after Glin's Silvery Barbs.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Fri 07 Apr 2023.

When the kobold shot a sling at her she reacted with a credible impression of Deery from Helluva Boss, "yeah, mmm, sorry, yeah, no" Then she shot at it as it rode away away.

When Kovann called out she responded, "We've got this handled. Keep doing what you're doing."

reaction on initiative 16: cast silvery barbs on the rat riding kobold, and giving Kovann advantage to reroll the nat 1 on initiative 15

On initiative 5

action

18:16, Today: Glinsael rolled 14 using 1d20+5. attack
18:17, Today: Glinsael rolled 6 using 1d8+3.  damage.

Bonus action: bardic inspiration 1d6 to Kovann

Move: none

Below is a description of the spell for refference

Silvery Barbs
SCC
p38
1st-level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when a creature you can see within 60 feet of yourself succeeds on an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw
Range: 60 feet
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous

You magically distract the triggering creature and turn its momentary uncertainty into encouragement for another creature. The triggering creature must reroll the d20 and use the lower roll.

You can then choose a different creature you can see within range (you can choose yourself). The chosen creature has advantage on the next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw it makes within 1 minute. A creature can be empowered by only one use of this spell at a time.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Fri 07 Apr 2023.

"Gill, you good?  Might be a shaman on the left.  Another kobold on the right.  Keep your eyes open."  Ayanna called as she approached the entrance.

She moved into the entry way.  (Perception 21 to spot kobold)

"There's one hiding there!  Take him out!"  She pointed to the right to the kobold hiding behind the debris.

"Rats."  They looked tethered.  She wasn't sure how long that might last though.  Gill might be able to get the group with another acid blob.  Hopefully they had time to deal with it.

"I'm going for the shaman."  She moved left to stand in the corner between the two doors so she could strike anything coming from either door.

Move: Into Entry
Action: Dash to Doors to the north

This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Sat 08 Apr 2023.

Kojik followed Ayanna up to the front entrance, looking about from his position slightly behind and turned in the direction of the one hiding slightly in the debris to the right that Ayanna had pointed out.

At the direction, he promptly began casting a spell and a bolt of pure red fire leapt from his hands in that direction, seemingly to hit the debris nearby instead of the kobold himself.

---

Move: To Entry just behind Ayanna.
Action: Fire Bolt at the kobold to the right. Just missed with AC 12; 11 on the roll, so a miss.

08:37, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 11 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 5.  Fire Bolt attack.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Gill wheezed as the blast of fire knocked all the air out of his lungs.

"You go ahead," he waved the others forward, "I'll catch up to you!"

Grabbing his amulet, Gill whispered a prayer and a little sliver of mist surrounded Ayanna, Kojik and himself. He then followed Kojik inside, a little more cautious this time.

---

Action: casting Bless on Ayanna, Kojik, and himself.

Moving inside, close to Kojik.

Bless:

You bless up to three creatures of your choice within range. Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.

FRONT GATE

Gill blesses his party members and moves into the keep with Kojik at his side. The kobold, peeling up from the rubble, slings a stone at the wizard. It flies toward him...

Meanwhile, Ayanna runs into the ruined keep. She shoulders open the nearest door and enters the room beyond just in time to see the shaman lift a large, flag flagstone and jump down the hole beneath. The stone falls into place behind it.

Down the hall, they see two kobolds appear from beyond the room guarded by the rats. One ducks down behind a small step and the other ducks behind the rats. They both twirl their slings above their heads, ready for whatever comes.


BACK DOOR

Between Finnick's cutting words and Glinsael's shot, the rider kobold falls and hangs from the dire rat. It's slumped body pulls the reigns and confuses the rat and it goes running away toward the rear of the keep.

The other rat, deprived of its handler, follows.

Kovann knocks both kobolds unconscious with two well-placed blows (after Glinsael, who was still struck by the stone despite the rider's distraction, magically encourages him).

OOC - ROUND 2 SUMMARY
Kovann - 15 - Attacks two kobolds. Hit (with help)! Hit! Kobolds go down.
Kojik - 12 - Moves up, attack with Firebolt. Miss!
Ayanna - 8 - Move and Dash, sees Shaman drop in tunnel (green circle on map)
Glinsael - 5 - Silvery Barbs, Bardic Inspiration, attacks kobold. Hit! It goes down. You got a lot done this turn!
***Round Flips***
Gill - 20* Casts Bless, moves up
Finnick - 17 - Mind Sliver. Success! 4 damage.
Enemies - 16
-Rubble Kobold: Hurls stone at Kojik. Hits(?) AC 14, 6 damage.
-Shaman: Opens secret door and jumps in.
-Dire Rat 1: Runs toward the back of the keep.
-Dire Rat 2: Runs toward the back of the keep.
-Big Room Kobold 1: Readies action.
-Big Room Kobold 2: Readies action.

Status Notes:
-Gill, Ayanna, Kojik are Blessed
-Kovann has one use of Bardic Inspiration

Notes for Round 3:
-The green circle on the map is where Ayanna say the Shaman jump into the secret tunnel.
-The rubble kobold has partial cover, as do both Big Room Kobolds (cover from a frontal assault, anyway)


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:06, Tue 11 Apr 2023.

Ayanna swore under her breath.  She didn't want to pursue the shaman now and leave the others.  There was a battle up here.  This could wait.  She made a note of where the tunnel was hidden and returned to the others.

"He disappeared into the floor."  She spat out to the others when she came back through the door.

It was possible there were more kobolds back there somewhere, so she closed the door hoping to close off any firing lanes for the kobolds.

She moved toward the center room to stand between the enemy and Gill/Kojik and prepared to defend against those rats if they were cut loose.

Move: Back into entryway and face rat room
Action: Dodge

Reaction available for OA

"Oh no.. they might have nested here." If that was the case they'd had a much larger job on their hands than he'd initially thought.

"Let's at least try to clear this floor." Gill then unbuckled a handaxe and aimed at the kobold pestering them from behind the pile of rubble.

---

Action: attack with handaxe 10 - missed.

Cautiously, Finnick made his way into the ruined, kobold-infested keep.

Move 25' south, Action: Dodge

Standing in the entranceway, after his own failed attack, Kojik saw the kobold prepare his own attack and fling a stone in his direction. Acting almost by instinct - or perhaps training - he quickly raised his hand and spoke, creating a Shield between him and the kobold. Fortunate, as the stone bounced off the shield as it's aim was true.


After he regained his stance from the attack, he turned once again and cast another Fire Bolt towards the kobold off to his right, resuming the attack against the creature.

---

Reaction: Shield (previous round)
Action: Fire Bolt on right Kobold (from his position in the doorway)

Attack roll (w/ Bless): 26
Damage: 2

Glinsael ducked across the breach to the broken wall which she could use for cover. She took a shot at one of the kobolds, but it missed the mark, and bounced off the wall, probably in view of the party at the main gate.

Action: shoot one of the kobolds in the center room
13:33, Today: Glinsael rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  attack. Miss

Move: behind the broken exterior wall on the east of the breach.

With the two kobolds before him knocked unconscious, and sounding like the trouble outside isn't worth worrying about, Kovann makes his way inside, ending up right in front of Finnick, his eyes and ears paying attention to anything that might threaten them.

"Hopefully we meet the others in the middle."

Move 25' down to end up blocking anything coming to Finnick, and taking Dodge action if anything does happen.

FRONT GATE

Gill hurls at axe at the single visible kobold and misses. Kojik strikes it with his Firebolt. The creature yells in pain but does not run. Ayana comes down to the main hall and prepares to defend the group against any attacks.

The kobold tries to hurl a rock at Kojik but his sling was smoldering from the Firebolt and it falls apart in his hands. He croaks in fear and turnstail and runs out of sight into the room beyond.

BACK DOOR

As they move forward into the Keep, the kobolds in the main room become aware of them.

The one to the south tries hit Kevann with a rock from his sling, but misses. He then cuts and runs down the hallway.

The other, faced with two fronts, takes his dagger and cuts the ropes holding the rats. And he barks at them in Draconic and points toward Ayanna. Maybe his accent is off, however, as only two rats go in that direction. The third runs of away into the halls and vanishes.

The kobold then tries to run away but he rams into a closed and botled door. So he stands, back to the wall, dagger out...

The rats run up to Ayanna and start attacking her legs. However, the fighter is shockingly nimble and evades what would have been some very nasty wounds.

Just then, from around a corner down the hallway, steps the tall, broad, shaggy form of a jack-headed humanoid holding a large flair and a shield. It's a Gnoll. Next to it is another kobold, this one taller and more muscular than the others, armed with a shortword and crossbow.

As the Gnoll appears, the scared, running kobolds seem to take new heart.

OOC - ROUND 3 SUMMARY
Kovann - 15 - Move forward and Dodge.
Kojik - 12 - Attack Rubble Kobold with Firebolt. Hit! 2 damage.
Ayanna - 8 - Move forward and Dodge.
Glinsael - 5 - Attack Big Room Rat Kobold. Miss!
***Round Flips***
Gill - Attacks Rubble Kobold. Miss!
Finnick - 17 - Move forward and Dodge.
Enemies - 16
-Rubble Kobold: Hurls stone at Kojik. Natural 1. Sling falls apart. Flees.
-Big Room Kobold 1: Cuts rat ropes. Fails Handle Animal check. Runs north, stops at door.
-Big Room Kobold 2: Attacks Kevann w/Disadvantage. Natural 1! Runs south.
-Little Rat 1: Attacks Ayanna w/Disadvantage.  Miss! (this would have been a critical otherwise)
-Little Rat 2: Attacks Ayanna w/Disadvantage.  Miss! Natural 1!
-Gnoll: Double Move to get out into the hallway.
-Sidekick Kobold: Double Move to get into the hallway.

Status Notes:
-Gill, Ayanna, Kojik are Blessed
-Kovann has one use of Bardic Inspiration

Notes for Round 3:
-I don't necessarily force a mishap for every natural 1, but I rolled three this round for the bad guys. So the one kobold's sling burned away.

Opportunity Attack vs rat when it closes.  Used reaction.  Attack 17, Damage 8

Ayanna jabbed at the little rat as it closed with her.

She wasn’t sure what happened with the kobold off to their right.  Hopefully the others had neutralized it.  She had rats in front of her to deal with so couldn’t worry about it right now.

She jabbed again and followed up by bringing the edge of her shield down hard on a rat.

If that deals with the two rats, she then calls out to Kojik and Gill, “Gnoll far end.  He’s got friends.  I’m moving up.  Stay on me, but watch the rear.”. Ayanna then reset to her combat stance with shield up and spear ready for a quick thrust as she advanced forward into the room the rats came from.

Action: Attack rat 15 for 6 damage.
Bonus: Shield bash  attack 20 for 4 damage.

Move: If no rats left, move forward 30’ forward into the middle room

Reaction: OA if something closes to melee range on their turn. Attack 14 for 6 damage

This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Mon 17 Apr 2023.

Kovann bobs his head to one side as the kobold launches a stone towards him, avoiding the blow, and not causing it to fly into Finnick either.

Before he can do anything, he sees the kobold scurry off, only for the large gnoll to come out.

"I'll keep it occupied, you two stay back here." He says, before running in to a leaping thrust with his spear at the gnoll, tightly gripped in both hands.

Inspired by Glin's words, Kovann strikes the gnoll hard with his spear, plunging into into the beastly creature.

To help pull the spear out, he stands on one leg as the other kicks into the gnoll.

With a solid kick, he gives a twirl of the spear as he readies himself.

08:33, Today: Kovann rolled 27 using 2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only.  Attack (Spear) With advantage (Bardic Inspiration).
CRIT BABY!!

08:35, Today: Kovann rolled 15 using 2d8+5.  Spear damage (Crit).

08:37, Today: Kovann rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed).
I'm assuming a hit, and that the spear didn't kill it already.

08:38, Today: Kovann rolled 8 using 1d4+5.  Unarmed damage.

The kobold behind the pile of rubble was a slippery one, avoiding most of their attacks. When it ran away, Gill looked at Kojik and shrugged. "Better we go the other way round."

He made his way to follow Ayanna. The thrown handaxe he'd have to retrieve later.

"Right behind you!" He called her way and followed her into the next room, just in time to see the dwarf striking the gnoll in the hallway on the other end.

"The others are there!"

---

If a rat is still alive, melee attack with mace: 27 to hit, 3 bludgeoning damage.

If both rats are dead, Acid Splash cantrip on gnoll and the kobold next to it.
Or on any kobold, if the gnoll is already dead: DC14 Dex save or 4 acid damage.

Move: following Ayanna.

Kojik gave a nod to both Gill and Ayanna's comments, glancing towards the first kobold that was running away to their right and moving to follow the other two up closer to the central hall. As Ayanna fought the rats and called out a warning of the Gnoll on the other end of the keep, he stepped into an area he could get a good view.

He watched as the other group entered as well and commenced their own attacks, directing his own spell to what was the best target after their efforts.

---

Firebolt cast on either the Gnoll (if still alive), the nearest Kobold, or any remaining rat opponent (in that order of priority).


Attack: 27
Damage: 8


13:11, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 8 using 1d10 with rolls of 8.  Firebolt Damage.

13:11, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 27 using 1d20+6+1d4 with rolls of 17,4.  Firebolt attack plus Bless.

The kobold who released the rats was too close for her comfort so she shot it with her crossbow.

Action: attack the closest kobold
23:46, Today: Glinsael rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  attack.

23:47, Today: Glinsael rolled 6 using 1d8+3.  damage.

Spurned on by Glinsael's faith and the strength of his ancestors, Kevann the Dwarf strikes two mighty blows against the massive Gnoll. His spear pierces its chest and his kick shatters his jaw.

If it had any fight left in it, a sizzle of flame down the hall from Kojik finished it off.

Meanwhile, Glinsael takes out one of the kobolds with an arrow, and Gill hurls another ball of acid at the remaining on (although it manages to avoid the worst of it).

Then, just as Ayanna moves up into the main room, the kobold from the rubble before pops out of a closed door and stabs at Gill's leg (but is foiled by his arnmour).

And then, the remaining kobolds in the hall, seeing the Gnoll fall, look at each other, bark a single loud sound, and then flee to all corners of the keep.

The Gill-stabbing kobold looks like he's about to flee...

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

FREEEDOM!

---

OOC - ROUND 4 SUMMARY
Kovann - 15 - Attack Gnoll Twice. Critical! Hit! 23 damage.
Kojik - 12 - Firebolt at Gnoll/remaining Kobold. Hit!
Ayanna - 8 - Move forward and Set for charge.
Glinsael - 5 - Attack kobold. Hit!
***Round Flips***
Gill - Acid Splash on remaining kobold. It saves. 2 damage!
Finnick - 17 - Dodge.
Enemies - 16
-Gnoll: goes down.
-Hallway Kobold 1: Flees!
-Hallway Kobold 2: Flees!
-Rubble Kobold: Ambush! Attacks Gill. Miss!

Status Notes:
-Gill, Ayanna, Kojik are Blessed

Notes for Round 2:
-Note that Bardic Inspiration doesn't give "Inspiration" - it gives +1d6 to an Attack, Save, or Check. It can stand (because it was cool, and because Kojik followed up with a solid hit).

As the gnoll falls to the flaw from a mix of his own hits and a sudden bolt of fire coming from the side, Kovann turns to Glin and Finnick.

"I think the others have found us." He says with a smile.

Watching whatever kobolds are remaining scurry off into the distance "Is everyone ok?!"

With the gnoll going down and the remaining kobolds fleeing away, the surprise is even bigger when one of them still manages to slash at him. Luckily, the blade only tears a rip in his clothes and is then stopped by the chain mail underneath.

"Woah! Hey!"

Gill tried to grab the kobold, who looked like it was about to turn and run away as well. They were far form civilized beings, but if they could get it to speak at least a little, perhaps they might find out a bit more about the other group that came before. (Athletics 24 to grab the kobold)

"Kovann, over here! We're ok!" And after a brief pause. "Anyone speak kobold?"

Kojik makes his way from near the front to join up with the rest of the group as the 'front door' party meets the others roughly halfway into the keep it seems. As Gill calls out to Kovann and then asks about kobold, he shakes his head, then pauses to add, "I do not speak it, but I do have a spell that would allow me to understand them.. no matter what language they spoke. Understanding us would be another matter.." he suggests.

Glin still held her bow ready, nocked, but not drawn, in case the kobolds who ran came back.

In response to Kovann she said, "I took a knock, but I should be alright assuming we're done."

Hearing Gill, she moved closer to about where Ayanna is. "I speak the language of dragons which I believe is similar to that of kobolds."

She spoke to the kobold in draconic, "We are emissaries of Duke Joryana, the rightful heir to these lands. Do you understand?"

Gill manages to get a hand around the kobold's neck just as he pivoted to run. His hold was good, but the little creature turned into a howling, screeching, whirling dervish of claws and teeth.

He lashes out a few times before Gill manages to get hold of him. Mostly he flailed about, but he did manage to bite him on the arm.

OOC: 1 damage, Gill.

When Glinsael speaks to him, he settles a bit. But as soon as she's done, he starts barking back at her madly. It isn't exactly the staid, precise academic Draconic Glinsael learned, but she can piece most of it together.

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Don't know emar-issy! Don't know Dukes! Don't know Joery-annas! Jackal-chief is killed now so let me go! Want go home! Now! Now! Now!"

---

Glin rubs her temple and spoke again in draconic, "You don't go home until you understand. Joryana is the chief. This is her Territory. If you live here you live by Joryana's law. Do you understand?"

The little guy cocks his head to the side, then the other side, almost like a confused puppy, before starting his crazed barking again.

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Jorry-annas not my chief. Not Splitscale Chief. I go home, home now. Home not her territory. No need understand. You understand. I, home. Jorry-annas keep broken castle. I go home. Now! Now! Now!"

---

Interestingly, the kobold's gutter argot doesn't read to Glinsael as poor grammar so much as deliberately sparse grammar.

(whatever that reveals about kobold-nature)

It sounded like Glinsael had made some contact and had at a basic level of communication going.  Ayanna added on the side, “See what he can tell us of what’s beneath the keep.  Their shaman ducked down below through a trap door.”

Glin said to the group, "it's an odd dialect, distinct from classical Draconic. Communication is limited, but I was able to learn a few things. They call themselves Splitscale, and I don't think they're local. This one doesn't claim the castle as their territory. They want to go home."

She returned her attention to the kobold in Draconic, "soon, you will go home, but we have questions first.  Tell me what you know of the lower levels. Some of your people fled down their. If they fight us, they won't go home."

The kobold stops struggling as much and speaks a little slower, with what could possibly pass for dignity.

---

Spoiler for draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Jackal-Chief dead. Splitscales free. If some fight? And die? Is choice. No cry. Me? Just want out. Home."

---

And at the mention of the lower level he points in a couple of directions.

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Downstairs rats! Rats! And ghosts! I don't go there. Never! Never! Rats stink! Ghosts kill!"

---

A pause. He looks with something close to a sly expression.

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Deal? Deal. I show stairs. Secret stairs. Then you let me home? Deal! Deal!"

---

Glinsael relayed the kobolds statement to the others, "they say they were here because of the gnoll. This one just wants to leave, but they don't vouch for the others.  This kobold didn't go in the lower levels because of rats, and ghosts, but they know where the secret entrances are, and they'll show us if we let them go."

"Ghosts?" Kovann muttered aloud.

"If there are ghosts down there, I know I'm ill prepared to deal with them."

He then gestures around him.

"Perhaps we should check everything around here, before we consider going down below? They know their way around, we could easily be separated and picked off."

"I'd be inclined to agree. Ghosts - real or imagined - could be a further concern to deal with once the rest of the keep is secured. While this one may be bargaining for his release, who knows if others are hiding away still. Better to make safe what we see and prepare, then we can consider the lower levels. Though being shown the secret entrances might help to secure both up here and make getting below easier," Kojik concurred as he kept an eye around them.

A quick check of the first floor of the Keep reveals nothing insidious or unexpected. The room the gnoll came out of it is arrayed in a throne room of sorts: big chair, thick fur rugs, finely-made un unmatched sconces along the wall. Something that might have once been a tapestry (but is now just a mostly brown ragged curtain).

An adjoining room contains some provisions: a lot of dried meat (meat unknown) and a good supply of nuts and locally foraged tubers. There are also several crates of fresh fruit that don't look local (although you can't be certain). And a dozen or more racks of dried and salted fish.

OOC: Gill, or Nature/Survival Check DC 12 (advantage if you have experience fishing or sailing)

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
These are ocean fish, not river fish. You are 100% certain.

---

Other rooms show signs of inhabitation by fairly clean (if untidy) creatures. And there are a few places for keeping large pets (rats, for example). These spaces show care and thought for their comfort: separate feed troughs for wet and dry food, separate litter boxes, clean (and soft bedding), clean and fresh water, area swept and kept free of clutter. One room even has a number of leather balls and six buckets (which might be used for play and training).

The trap door Ayanna saw the Shaman drop into is still open.

No sign of any other living thing currently up here.

"Looks like some civilized people have been here. Those fish there have been brought here all the way from the ocean. Could have been the other party that came before."

Gill looked at Glinsael. "You're doing pretty good speaking with it," he noted and smiled. "Can you ask it if they have seen other people here?"

"I'm ok having it show us the hidden entrances to this place." His grip on the creature hadn't lessened, but he didn't want to risk another bite for much longer. "Perhaps the rest will just leave when we tell them the gnoll is no more?"

As soon as he's asked another question, the kobold starts writhing and twisting and clawing and biting again. Nothing gets through Gill's armour, but it's hard to keep hold of the little psycho.

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"No! No! Deal! Enough! Deal! No!"

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:13, Thu 27 Apr 2023.

Finnick had been lost in thought, weighing the kobold's words carefully as the party interrogated the reptilian.

"Secret passages abound in this keep."  He admitted.  "There was one right outside if I recall correctly."

"If we're to clear this warren, each moment we delay gives more time to prepare to the kobolds that remain.  Nasty trap-smiths, I'm told."

"It's getting upset. I don't know how much more we'll get." Glin said to Gill

She spoke draconic to the kobold again, "you pointed in several directions regarding the secret entrances. Show us the rest."

“Let him go on his way.  He’s been very helpful and I’d hate for him to think we are worse than the gnoll.”  She didn’t want to have to babysit it and if the kobold was willing to leave, that sounded like a great option.

“Ok.  We’ve got some potential here although it needs a lot of work.  Let’s check down below and make sure to deal with that shaman and anything else still lurking around.”

"Alright, alright." Gill let go of the wriggling creature. "Hope it does what it promised." He eyed the kobold suspiciously, though he was mostly glad to give it some distance.

Gill took a moment for himself. He closed his eyes and softly spoke a few words in a strange language (that some might recognize as primordial). His hair - that he kept in braids - started to float as if he was underwater, and moisture from the air condensed into small droplets on his skin. With a sway of his hands, the droplets merged together into beads and then into a layer of water. As he motioned, the water washed over the burn wound on his chest and the bite marks - leaving closed and healed skin in its wake. (Cure wounds on himself for 12 hp)

He opened his eyes, gasped as if coming up from a dive, and stood up. "I'm ready," he declared with a beaming smile.

"Time to go into the dark." Kovann said to himself, giving his spear a playful spin, before standing it.

Looking at Ayanna and Kojik he then asks "Do you have torches? I imagine it will be dark down there, and the rest of us will be fine. Though if we want to sneak up on them, the light will give us away."

Glinsael said, "i'll be ok." in words charged with magic, and the bruise on her shoulder faded. "I have a lamp if we need light"

edit 00:37, Today: Glinsael rolled 4 using 1d4+3.  healing word.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:42, Sat 29 Apr 2023.

Kojik gave a brief sniff at the suggestion of having a torch, shaking his head as he looked around the ground in the keep to find a palm sized piece of stone or other object of a similar nature. Finding one, he picked it up and gave a brief incantation, causing it to glow brightly with a Light spell.

"This will work sufficiently for illumination. And I can pocket it or shield it to dim or hide the light if darkness is required. It'll last for around an hour though, so much more useful than a torch. No need to re-ignite it when needed," he pointed out. The stone shined around the area as he held it out, closing his fingers around it and putting it in a pocket to demonstrate as he spoke.

---

Light cast on a small/palm-sized stone he will keep in hand.

As soon as he gets his promise, the kobold settles and down and becomes, if not happy, at least resigned. He walks the party around the remains of the keep, pointing out the secret (or not so secret) ways to the basement he knows. Each point gets a quick value judgement.

(In Draconic): "Safe. Trap. Fire. Safe. Spikes. Safe. Safe. Drown."

OOC: "Game Map Group 1" has the locations (and safety ratings) of the secret passages.

His duty discharged, he scuttles off into the wilderness.

The passage the Shaman took was marked as "Spikes" and the passage in the central room was marked safe (and, to Glinsael's best guest, marked the most safe, and also marked large enough for the armoured members to squeeze through). And so the party made their way down.

The passage was clearly a non-secret servants stairway once upon a time. It's been intentionally narrowed and partially blocked, and the upper entrance hidden. Ayanna and Gill do manage to squeeze through, but not without making a considerable amount of noise (which was, perhaps, the point).

And they find themselves in a basement chamber. There are some flickering light sources elsewhere in the basement, so there is a tiny bit of ambient light. The air is extremely warm and humid. The ground is mostly good-quality stonework, but parts are also covered in thick, dark green mould.

To their left is the edge of deep, dark pool of brackish water. The entryway is a grate. The room is dark beyond. Ahead of them is a wooden door, once stout and secure, now partly rotted and warped.

To the right is an open doorway leading into a larger room that may have once been the dining hall for the servants. The walls are covered in the dark green mould. There are shelves along the walls with boxes and burlap bags and barrels lined along them. At the far end is a large chair. Some weapons lie idly around it.

---

Spoiler for Perception Check #1 or Survival Check #1, DC 14: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The door in front of you has clumps of wet, dirty, freshly disturbed mould all along the bottom, indicating it was closed for the first time in a long time very recently.

---

---

Spoiler for Perception Check #2, DC 12: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Echoes of speech can be heard. Two voices at least: one deep and growly and one small and barky. Probably from somewhere off the Big Chair room.

---

---

Spoiler for Glinsael only, Perception Check #3, DC 14: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The small voice is arguing that they should flee the Keep. The growly voice is commanding 'all of you' to stay and defend 'his kingdom' and is asking where 'that cowardly rat lover' went.

---

---

Spoiler for Survival Check #2, DC 12: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The mould grows on the floor where there's less foot traffic. This room has two paths: one to the big door, and one to the Big Chair room. The Big Chair room has very little mould on the floor at all. The tracks to and from the big door are both kobold and rat tracks.

---

Making his way through the passageway, it reminded Kovann of the tunnels back home. His size was fine, and every time he heard Gill and Ayanna scrape their way through, he couldn't help but wince at the sound.

"There's not much mould over there." Kovann gestures to the room with the throne. "Likely from lots of them walking through and disturbing it from growing. Maybe we're more likely to be seen going that way? Perhaps end up in some sort of ambush?"

16:10, Today: Kovann rolled 13 using 1d20+8.  Perception 1.
Fail

16:10, Today: Kovann rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Perception 2.
I can't notice anything!

16:11, Today: Kovann rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Survival.
Finally passed something, and untrained at that.

Glinsael nodded when Kovann mentioned ambush. Then she put a finger to her lips, and made a gesture to indicate talking and pointed toward the thrown room.  She then nocked an arrow.

12:58, Today: Glinsael rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  perception 1.
12:59, Today: Glinsael rolled 16 using 1d20+2.  perception 2.
12:59, Today: Glinsael rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  perception 3.

12:59, Today: Glinsael rolled 20 using 1d20.  survival.

Kojik kept quiet as he followed along with the group, letting the stone he held cast light around the room or shielding it as the group progressed through the lower regions. While he was busy with that, he seemed not to notice much of what was being spotted by the others unless it was pointed out until they came to the door to the big chair room, noticing the mold on the floors it seems as he looked down and cast the light there a bit, but otherwise kept quiet - just to be safe.

---

Perception 1: 10
Perception 2: 9
Survival: 12


10:57, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 12 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 10.  Survival 1.

10:57, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 9 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 6.  Perception 2.

10:57, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7.  Perception 1.

Ayanna pointed to the bottom of the door and rubber her thumb across her fingers.  She pointed two fingers to her eyes and pointed back at the door.

She nodded agreement to Kovan's assessment and gave a single curt nod to Glinsael about silence.

She stepped forward.  They likely had heard her anyway.  No surprise there.  She gave the others a moment to prep before she moved forward toward the chair with her shield and spear at the ready.  She moved to the right (top) and advanced across the room hoping to identify which side the voices were coming from.



Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  Survival1 DC14.
Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Perception2 DC12.
Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 7 using 1d20+3.  Survival2 DC12.

At Glinsael's sign to be quiet, Gill froze. He tried taking baby steps - to hopefully not make more noise - as he slowly followed Ayanna into the larger room.

---

Perception#1 15
Perception#2 5
Survival#2 21

Finnick followed along at the rear, keeping a watchful -- albeit not very perceptive -- eye on the party.

From everyone's actions, however, there was trouble afoot ... that much was clear.

Rakas too, chittered a warning before the familiar hid deeper within the wizard's robes.

Glinsael stayed near the back with Finnick. As Ayanna was checking out the top, she covered the lower entrance with her bow.

Action: ready action to shoot enemies coming from the lower entrance below the thrown

The party walks forward into the larger room. As they move, the sounds of clanging armour and heavy footsteps echo out into the rooms beyond.

As they enter the large room they can see two smaller antechambers, north and south.

From the dim light spring three kobolds to the north. All three of them are hidden behind partly broken crates. All three let loose a hail of stone, all aimed at Ayanna. As always, they are more fierce and determined when near their own kind.

And yet, all three stones either fall short or bang off Ayanna's armour.

And then the sound of chanting comes from the south. And in the darkened room can be seen the Kobold Shaman. When he's done chanting the mould on the ground springs to life and starts rising up to grab at the legs and arms of everyone except Finnick (who is just outside the area of effect).

Just as he does, Glinsael lets loose a bolt in hid direction and strikes him in the shoulder.

OOC ROUND 1
For the sake of moving forward (as I'm very late with this post), I'm going to do this combat in Sides. They went. Now it's your turn.

Side note: this is easily the worst string of d20's I've ever rolled.

Condition and Notes
Everyone: make a Strength save, DC 11, or be Restrained. If you are Restrained, you may use your Action on your turn to make a Strength Check (not save) DC11 to try and break free.

Kovann: you were the only one who rolled higher than the bad guys, so your first attack/action/roll this round gets Advantage. You can use this for your Save if you wish.

The Kobolds to the north have Half Cover (+2 AC, so 14). The Kobold Shaman has Three-Quarters Cover (+5 AC, so 17).

Round Summary So Far
Kobold 1: sling! With Advantage! Miss.
Kobold 2: sling! With Advantage! Miss.
Kobold 3: sling! With Advantage! Miss.

Seriously.

Kobold Shaman: Casts Entangle.
Same time: Glin hits him for 8 damage.


This message was last edited by the GM at 03:30, Sun 07 May 2023.

The mould tangled around Glinsael, pulling off her aim, and causing her second shot at the shaman to miss.

01:43, Today: Glinsael rolled 4 using 1d20-1.  strength save.

01:44, Today: Glinsael rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  attack. disadvantage

01:44, Today: Glinsael rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  attack.

from hearing the shaman cast a spell, does it sound like either of the voices I heard when we onto this level?

While the mould on the ground sprang up and reached out to ensnare everyone, Kojik jerked his feet and body back as it tried to latch on to avoid being bound up in the plants, either lucky or perhaps from his own experience with plants in the past. But in the end, he was able to avoid being bound.

He turned as well towards the source of the chants, seeing the bow shots returning in that direction as well he cast another Fire Bolt towards the Shaman Kobold also.

---

Strength Save: 17

Fire Bolt Attack (Shaman): 12 (miss)
Fire Bolt Dmg (just in case): 5


07:50, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 17 using 1d20-1 with rolls of 18.  Strength Save.
07:52, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 12 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 6.  Fire Bolt attack.
07:53, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 5 using 1d10 with rolls of 5.  Fire bolt damage.

Kovann spots the Kobold Shaman as they start to cast their spell.

"I'll get them, Ayanna, you take care of the slingers trying to get you!"

Heading towards them, as the mould begins to grow and tries to trap Kovann, he performs a forward roll, which stops the mould keeping hold of him.

"A rolling stone gathers no moss." Kovann quips, making his way to the Shaman.

Lunging towards them, Kovann thrusts his spear at the Shaman, hitting it hard, before quickly following it with a heavy snap kick.

With only +1 to Strength saves, I'll take advantage on the save please!

12:44, Today: Kovann rolled 18 using 2d20+1, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 4,17.  Strength save (with adv).

And glad I did!!

25' movement, I think just gets me to the Shaman. If I'm incorrect, then I will Dodge rather than attack.

12:54, Today: Kovann rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Attack (Spear).
Was meant to be +7 (I thought of damage), so actually a 25!

12:56, Today: Kovann rolled 11 using 1d8+5.  Spear damage.

12:56, Today: Kovann rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed).
Unsure if cover now applies? Rolling for damage, just in case.

12:58, Today: Kovann rolled 8 using 1d4+5.  Unarmed damage.

While the others were quicker to spring to action, Gill spent precious moments trying to free himself from the mold that grasped at his feet. "Nasty stuff!" he exclaimed when he was finally able to raise a foot.
(Strength save 3, Strength check 19)

Ayanna laughed off the ineffective moss that clung to her legs as she advanced on the kobolds to the north.  Her elation was mitigated when the dodgy little guy avoided her thrusts.

(Str save 24... Geesh, a bit overkill

Move: If she could circle in and attack the middle kobold, she will.  I'm not sure she has enough movement, so get to the first kobold if that's what she can read.
Attack: Spear 8... miss
Bonus Attack:  Shield 6 miss

The party scatters. A bit anyway. Their two heavy hitters bolt in opposite directions. Kovann to the south and Ayanna to the north. And as soon as they enter their respective rooms' doorways, huge shaggy forms step out and swing two huge flails at both their heads.

And with a whoosh, and a whoosh, they both miss completely.

Ayanna steps up to the nearest kobold and fails to connect. Kovann steps up to the shaman and does. A spear thrust to the chest and a back fist to the face and he's down.

Two of the kobolds quickly move to surround Ayanna while the third falls back and reloads its sling. One dagger strike, and a second. One pings off her armour but the second strikes true, dragging a gash down her leg. Then the one in the corner flings a stone and.... it hits one his companions in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

In the main room, as the others struggle with the animated moss, Glinsael feels a sudden stab of pain in her neck, like razor sharp teeth sinking into her skin, followed by a wave of nausea. And then sharp little talons clinging to her shoulder and neck.

OOC SUMMARY - ROUND 2
Ayanna - moves and... triggers a Readied action!
 (Gnoll 1 Attacks! Miss.)
Ayanna - attacks kobold (twice). Miss and miss.

Kovann - moves and... triggers a Readied action!
 (Gnoll 2 Attacks! Miss.)
Kovann - attacks kobold shaman (twice). Hit and hit. Shaman is down.

Glinsael attacks kobold shaman. Miss!

Gill frees himself from the mould.

Finnick Dodges

Kobold 1 attacks (with Advantage): Miss!
Kobold 2 attacks (with Advantage): Hit! 4 damage
Kobold 3 attacks (with Disadvantage): Critical Fumble! Hits Kobold 1 for 6 damage.

Kobold 1 is down.

(seriously, maybe the worst string of rolls I've ever gotten)

Imp: (no longer invisible) Attacks Glinsael. Hit! 5 damage.
-Glin, make a Con save, DC 11, or take an additional 10 damage.

Conditions and Notes:
-The Imp is sharing Glin's space. Melee attacks are at Disadvantage and run the risk of hitting Glin if missed. However, the Imp is not threatening any other squares.

Gill tried to look for an opening to swat the little creature away from Glinsael, but he did not dare to swing his mace and accidentally hit her. "Get away from her!" In the end he opted for trying to grab the imp with his hands.

---

Grapple (athletics roll 5) vs. the imp's athetlics or acrobatics.
If successful, Gill will drag it a few steps away from Glin and Kojik.

When the gnoll attacked Kovann as he approached the shaman, he avoided the blow with grace, and continued on to attack the shaman.

Once it was down, Kovann swung the spear wide before tightly gripping it in both hands, thrusting it into the gnoll.
He then followed it up by twisting his body, pulling the spear away with one hand, whilst using a tight fisted punch to drive hard into the gnoll's wounded body.

Time to wail on this gnoll!
00:07, Today: Kovann rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear).
00:07, Today: Kovann rolled 7 using 1d8+5.  Spear damage.

00:08, Today: Kovann rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed).
00:08, Today: Kovann rolled 9 using 1d4+5.  Unarmed damage.

I've assumed I've hit with those numbers ;)
16 damage total.

Glinsael cried out when she was bitten, then a sickening feeling washed over her as she collapsed to the ground.

00:50, Today: Glinsael rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  con save.

Ayanna felt the stabbing pain in her leg.  Fortunately, the offender was taken out by his own guy.  The numbers still weren't in her favor as she tested her leg for stability.

A quick thrust aimed at the kobold next to her hoped to remove another one.  She followed with a shove with her shield against the gnoll hoping to give her some distance to fight.

Action: Attack Kobold 22 for 6 damage

Bonus Action: Shove Gnoll Athletics 14.  (I see the gnoll has a wall behind him, hoping she can push off and move herself back where the kobold was to get that 5' of space.  This would open up a OA if it closed on her.)

Opportunity Attack: 10 for 6 damage

HP 9/13

06:59, Today: Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Athletics Check to Shove.

06:58, Today: Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 22,6 using d20+4,d6+4.  Spear Thrust Kobold.

Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 10,6 using d20+4,d6+4.  OA if enemy closes.

Seeing the Imp appear on Glinsael, Kojik shifted his position to the south to get out of the way of others to deal with the creature. He knew his own primary spell would be both dangerous to Glinsael if he missed, but also likely ineffective against such a creature. Knowing his own efforts to help there would be more detrimental than not, he positioned himself a little to the south now and aimed a new Fire Bolt towards the Kobold he could see through the doorway to the north.

A quick casting of magic once again and another bolt of Fire shot from his hands, this time heading straight and true towards the target.

---

Fire Bolt Attack (Kobold to the left of the doorway to the north): 26 (Nat 20 - Crit atk)
Fire Bolt Dmg: 3 (+2 crit roll).


Great crit attack roll! Crap damage rolls.

08:38, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 2 using 1d10 with rolls of 2.  Fire Bolt Crit Dmg roll.

08:36, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 3 using 1d10 with rolls of 3.  Firebolt Dmg.

08:36, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 26 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 20.  Firebolt Attack.

Ayanna skewers the kobold near her and tries to shove the slavering gnoll back to the wall. The brute digs in its paws and does not move, tries to lunge over the shield to bite Ayanna, but catches only her armour.

Kojik moves down to get a decent angle and hurls a bolt across the open space and immolates the remaining kobold in a burst of fiery screaming.

Meanswhile, Glinsael falls to the floor, pale and retching.

Kovann strikes two powerful blows on the gnoll, but it still stands, and in fact manages to strike the dwarf with its massive flail.

As soon as Glinsael falls, the imp emits a harsh, tittering laugh and turns invisible.

OOC SUMMARY - ROUND 2
Ayanna: Attacks Kobold. Hit! It's down. Shield bash: fail.
Kovann: Attacks Gnoll twice. Hit! Hit!
Glinsael: fails save and is now at 0 HP and dying.
Kojik: Firebolt on remaning Kobold. Critical! 12 damage. Kobold is dead.

Gnoll 1: attacks Ayanna with Bite. Miss!
Gnoll 2: attacks Kovann with flail. Hit! 6 damage.
Imp: turns invisible.

The gnoll's flail hits Kovann in the side, and with a crunch it knocks the wind out of him, possible breaking a rib or two.

With a bloody spit to the floor, Kovann glare at him.

"That the best you can do, you dumb dog!"

And he continues to strike in a flurry of his spear, followed by a roundhouse kick this time.

Unfortunately, both blows miss. Perhaps the blood loss was greater than Kovann realised...

HP 4/10

20:19, Today: Kovann rolled 11 using 1d20+7.  Attack (Spear).
20:19, Today: Kovann rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Bonus action (Unarmed).

Think my luck is running out!

The blood trickling out of Gilsael's wound starts to pool by her.

17:31, Today: Glinsael rolled 6 using 1d20.  death save.

Death save counter
Fail:    1
success: 0

Just before his fingers could close around the little creature, it disappeared. "Shit!" Gill muttered to himself, as he turned left and right in a fickle attempt to follow the imp's cackle. Behind him, the sounds of blows being exchanged echoed from the two hallways. For a moment he considered whether he would try to find the imp, or join the others' fight.

Then, Glinsael collapsed in front of him with a nasty stab wound. "Hey there, easy now." He rushed to her side and put pressure around the wound in an attempt to at least prevent the poison from spreading.

---

Medicine 23 to stabilize Glinsael.
(out of spell slots unfortunately)

Ayanna would have to thank whomever fried that kobold.  It left her one-on-one with the gnoll.  There was a chance.

She shifted to the creatures right looking for an opening and leaving a gap for the others to join in.

As she hoped, it didn’t bring its guard around in time.  The warrior quickly thrust at the opening and was rewarded when the spear hit deep into the gnolls abdomen.  She followed by punching the edge of her shield into its face to satisfying effect.

Move: Shift slightly to make room for someone else to melee
Action: Spear Thrust. Attack 24 Crit! 6+rolled damage(10) = 16 damage
Bonus Action: Shield Smash. Attack 24 Crit! 4+rolled damage(6) = 10 damage

HP 9/13

Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 24,6 using D20+4,d4+2.  Shield smash vs gnoll.
Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 24,10 using D20+4,d6+4.  Spear vs Gnoll.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Wed 10 May 2023.

With two mighty blows, Ayanna spears the gnoll through the stomach and then smashes its jaw with her sheild. The huge shaggy creature collapses in a heap on the ground.

The other gnoll takes one final swing at Kovann, but he easily ducks it and follows up with a flurry of punches and kicks, and then a single spear thrust ends its miserable life.

The imp does not reappear. Perhaps it sensed, better than the gnolls, that its fortunes had shifted.

Silence rules in the basement of the Keep.

OOC: We're out of initiative.

Gill whistled and said "glad that's over!" He still glanced around the room, making sure the imp was really gone. "Can anyone help me with Glinsael? She got stung by that little creature. Left a nasty wound on her. I think she'll be alright, I managed to stop the poison from spreading. But she's going to have a massive headache when she comes to."

"Let's at least get her out of this moldy patch." He took the bedroll off of his backpack and laid it on the floor close to the large chair. His backpack he fluffed up to have it serve as a pillow.

After some time, Glinsael first became aware of the musty odor of the basement, and the fading queasiness from the poison. She blinked open her eyes open to see Gill watching over her. She looked around to make sure the others were there, and winced from the patched wound on her neck as she moved. "Sorry for the trouble," she said, "thank you for your help."

Kovann rejoined the others, visibly wounded.

Taking a seat on the floor, he places his spear next to him.

"I'm worried if we rest, there could be more of them down here, and they try to ambush us as we rest. But if we don't rest, we might not have the strength to fight them off. Thoughts?"

"Given they abandoned the top as quickly as they did, particularly the little one that wanted to flee, I'm inclined to think that's it for them at least. That one kobold darted down here from the front pretty fast, so I'd guess that was him," he remarked, gesturing over towards the doorway that the one was casting from.


"Though I think some rest would definitely be advised. Several are hurt, so best not to push it at this point. If there is particular worry, I or Finnick could possibly send our familiar to explore a bit?" he suggested, looking to the other.

"I'm with Kovann.  Never give someone defending their home a chance to recover and respond.  We may be suddenly on the defensive without the benefits of real sleep.

I like the scouting idea.  See what you can find.  Let's see if there is more to worry about."  Ayanna replied.

Grover and Rakas set out. There's some fluttering and some skittering and they return with news. They say there are the four rooms you've already seen. The recently closed door across from where you entered. And although didn't have enough room to fly into the cistern, Rakas slipped and swam across and peeked into the grate at the far end.

There's another room there, with giant rats kept in wooden pens. One pen has a whole bunch of babies. All the others look like adults. There's another door there, but Rakas wasn't able to see anything in it.

After resting for a while Glinsael still wasn't feeling confident about continuing. The wound on her neck stung, And she felt unsure of her ability to add much to the party.  "I don't mean to spoil all the fun we're having, but maybe we should secure a camp for the night."

13:44, Today: Glinsael rolled 2 using 1d8+1.  hit dice.

"Rats you say?" Gill asked at the familiars' return. "At least they're locked in for now." He smiled halfheartedly. Then commented in a softer tone: "Should probably kill them soon, though. We don't want them rummaging through any of those provisions in the back."

He looked behind him at Glinsael once again on her feet. "Glad to see you up!" He gave her a friendly slap on the shoulder. "I can definitely use the rest. But it'd give me some comfort knowing we don't have to worry about any more threats from down here. Shall we secure this room as well, before we get comfortable?" He prodded the rotten wood of the closed door with his mace.

Glinsael inspects the weapons around the throne.

There are several shortswords, all of good make. A little rusted, but nothing a bit of sharpening won't fix.

Also, on the wall, covered in mould, there's a spear that, under the green muck, isn't rusted at all. The haft is made of an unfamiliar wood that is darker and heavier than expected, and has dwarven runes carved along it.

---

Spoiler for Dwarven: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

"To High Duke Bryssel of Almiraj from Stonelord Qazurak of Stonehollow, we gift you the heat of our Forge to cement eternal friendship between our Houses."

---

---

Spoiler for Glinsael, or History DC16: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Duke Bryssel was one of the last recorded sitting dukes before the region fell. He came from an offshoot of the House, in a time of great instability, and had no children.

---

Kojik gave a nod after he received the report from his own familiar, relaying the details of the trapped rats and the other areas of the lower level that had been found.

"As you say," he agreed with Gill, "For the moment they seem to be rather secured in there. The creatures here had domesticated them, to a point, though I don't know how readily they'd take to new masters nor what commands they'd respond to even if they did. As you say, eliminating them might be the most humane thing to do in the long run - and the safest," he noted.


As they took some time to gather up all the items that had been dropped or spotted, he paid particular attention to the silk pouch marked with regards to a Wizard. If the one creature they had fought utilized such abilities - or someone who once was here did - the odds they'd have a book as well increased. So he spent a bit more time investigating that room for signs of any hidden spots that a book or scrolls could be squirreled away in. A long shot, but as everyone was resting and his owl was busy scouting the lower areas, it was time well spent. He likewise rested up as much as possible in the meantime to regain some of his casting strength.


[Private to GM: 07:26, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 24 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 18.  Investigation Roll.]

As she was exploring the thrown room for a better melee weapon, Glinsael noticed a spear mounted on the wall.  She cleaned it and read the inscription.  "Look at this," she said to the others as she wiped the muck off with a rag, "A spear of dwarven make with an inscription. It's in remarkable condition. It says, 'To High Duke Bryssel of Almiraj from Stonelord Qazurak of Stonehollow, we gift you the heat of our Forge to cement eternal friendship between our Houses.' It's probably safe here for now, but once we have a more secure camp, I'd like to move it away from the mold."

Her search for a better weapon also revealed a shortsword of a more common variety, but in decent condition for her to use. She hung that on her belt.

Kovann meditates during his rest, concentrating on letting his body feel better as he reflects on the teachings back in Gun Galaq.

After an hour he feels better, picking himself up, and joining in going over what has been found, his attention is caught by Glin when she mentions a dwarven spear.

"Such a gift and show of skill deserves to be treated better than left to be covered in mold. If no objections, I would like to take it now, let it be properly used to reclaim the keep, and then I can regift it to the Duke, to show that the new bonds are built on old ones."


15:37, Today: Kovann rolled 3 using 1d8+2.  Hit dice healing.
Could have been better!

Ayanna spent the rest eyeing the closed door.  Something had closed it.  Something might still be in there and hostile to them.

At mention of the spear, "Spears are a human weapon.  When you get tired of it, I'll make use of it."  She mentioned with a smile.  Kovann was a unique dwarf for sure.

After the rest, she will approach the door with Gill.

She took the spear off the wall and handed it to Kovann with a smile.

Also, she takes one of the healing potions and drank it

12:50, Today: Glinsael rolled 8 using 2d4+2.  healing potions.

Kojik searches the north room (which seemed to be the gnoll's personal space). After sometime, he does find a loose stone under their bedding that holds a scroll-case made of wood and inlaid and adorned with finely-crafted silver. It bears the same wizard mark as the silk bag,

Inside are some rolled up pieces of parchment.

Finnick elects to stay in the throne room to watch for reinforcements. The rest of the party form up at the recently closed door and pushes it open.

Inside the room is dark, with no illumination. The light from Kojik's spell reveals a large, clean space. Littered about the ground are various oddly-shaped small wooden constructions. They all show significant chewing damage. Off to one side is a series of hoops on the floor, and around them are a number of large leather balls. The hoops and balls are each marked with bits of different coloured fabric.

On the other side of the room is what looks like an obstacle course. Ramps. Tunnels. Walls. Rope bridges. It is quite elabourate.

Along the back wall is stout pen, in which the largest rat they've seen yet lurked in the corner, with very small babies running all about.

And in the middle of the room: a single kobold. Much like the rest except he has a grey armband.

He brandishes a large dagger. He starts barking madly as they enter.

OOC
1. Scrolls: Feather Fall, Detect Magic, Levitate
2.

---

Spoiler for Draconic: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
No! Go! No! Go! Mine! Mine!

---

ROUND 1
You guys can go first. Glin, Kojik, and Kovann: you rolled higher than the kobold, so if you attack this turn you can roll with advantage

Initiative Order (we're doing sides, but in case it matters)
15 - Kovann
14 - Kojik
13 - Glin
6 - Kobold
5 - Ayanna
2 - Gill

Conditions and Notes: The room is Dim Light.

Glinsael drew her bow, leveling it on the kobold. She spoke to the party, "I'm going to try and talk it down. Be ready if it fails. Kovann, you're doing well." She spoke to it in draconic, "Those who fought us are dead. Those who left are alive. Leave and live."

Action: ready action to shoot the kobold if he takes hostile action.

Bonus action: bardic inspiration to Kovann.

Move: none

OOC: I'm going to dispense with the Draconic spoilers, and assume Glinsael relays his words to the party, and vice versa.

The kobold tenses up as Glinsael approaches. But he shows no sign of attacking. Rather, he takes a step back, towards the pens.

"No! Can't! No fight! No leave! No leave babies! No hurt babies! Mine! Mine!"

Kovann stands in the doorway, ready to stop anything that goes past, but not rushing inside.

"They look like pets. It was one thing when they attacked us and we defended ourselves, but slaughtering some rats and babies..."

Ready action: Hit anything that comes up to us with my spear.

"Slaughtering is a big word for preventing some pests from multiplying," Gill started before his eyes fell onto the elaborate obstacle course throughout the room. "Is that kobold training those rats? That's amazing! Do you think it can get them to do any tricks?"

Kojik remained on guard, looking around to the rest of the area but also watching the kobold the group had encountered, remarking to Glin to perhaps relay but also the others to consider.

"It seems this one is more concerned with caring for his charges than anything else.. admirable. Do you think it possible he might.. consider changing allegiances as it were? He could keep these tended, train them, give the Keep some additional protection perhaps and maybe even let us know about the state of things in the area - as best he could. Let the Lord decide if it is something that would remain long term or not, but its a possibility. If it'd be interested?"

“That’s a big ask Kojik.  I like the idea of making allies, but rats?  I’d be thrilled if he just took them and left.”. She also prepared to defend if they suddenly attacked.

It took a bit to discern the kobold dialect, She gave her opinion to the others, "I think the newborns need time to grow before they can be moved. What if we give them that time, as long as they stay out of the rest of the castle?  Then we can always broach the subject of potential allies later. Does that sound reasonable?"

edited for typos
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Wed 24 May 2023.

The kobold stands, alert, tense, dagger out, his snout darting from speaker to speaker as the party debates.

When Glinsael makes the offer for him to stay, with his rats. He starts nodding and barking excitedly.

"Stay! Stay! Can't move babies! Too small! Too many! Stay!"

He puts his dagger away slowly, warily.

"Safe!?" he barks, "Babies! Safe!?" in a way that is clearly a question.

OOC: We are out of initiative.

When they check the small space between this room and the next (assuming they do check), they find what was once a rather fancy anteroom. It's all gone to rot now, with that same green mould hanging over everything. But there were once some fine tapestries here. And there are remains of what was once some sort of statue or sculpture.

Leading off the space is to a long, narrow hallway. There is no illumination inside. Ant light shows the hallway to be about 50 feet long before widening into another room. It is too dark to see much there.

Should the party seem intent on entering the hallway, the little kobold (whose name appears to be "Snet" - which isn't a word Glinsael recognizes, but that appears to be what he calls himself) runs up and warns them away.

"Bad! Hall! Bad! Ghost! Ghost! Bad!"

OOC: the hallway and the cistern are the only places left unexplored.

As tensions ease, Kovann lowers his spear, and then joins in looking around the newly available areas.

When Snet warns them about a ghost, a frustrated sign crosses his face.

"Again with the ghost? Now, is there an actual ghost back there, or just something that has scared the kobolds into leaving it alone? As if it is a ghost, I'm not going to do much waving my spear at it."

Ayanna relaxed as well and lowered her spear.  “Good job Glinsael.”  It was an odd arrangement.  If it limited the amount of bloodshed though, she was willing to give it a try.

In response to Kovann, “We can probably relax and get a good nights rest in before checking on any ghost.”  At least she hoped it would be safe.  It didn’t sound like the ghost had harassed the kobolds during the nights or they wouldn’t have stayed here.  She was willing to bet on it.

Kojik gave a nod of agreement as Snet came around to at least not see them as adversaries but at least as neutral. When the group began to move towards the next room and he warned them of a ghost once again, he looked thoughtful.

"Would you?" he asked to Glinsael, in regards to translating his words, Kojik tried to keep them simple to somewhat match the speed of the other.


"Ghost only there? Nowhere else? Man? Woman? Like me? Like him? Or her?" he asked, gesturing to the others in an attempt to imply their races. If the ghost was there, it most likely had a form similar to its earthly body - human, dwarf, elf? Man or woman? And if it was confined to only one room - nowhere else - then it was contained and wouldn't trouble them. That would also suggest it was either bound or cursed.


"Safe above? Other places safe?" he asked. If there were other places down here that were safe or unsafe, Snet would likely know. How readily he was to help them would soon be seen. But at least for the moment, he seemed to be helpful knowing his charges were safe.

Snet listens to Kojik's words, translated by Glinsael.

"If jackal-chiefs dead, safe, safe! If Scalescars all dead, safe! Scalescars make traps in secret places. Not safe! Rooms, halls, safe! Safe!"

He peers intently at each member of the party in turn.

"Ghost stays there! Down hall big room! Stays! Stays! Ghost is like..." he makes a strained, strangled noise, and then says, in Common, "Huuuuuu-mins. Humans!" He points at Ayanna and return to his rapid, barking Draconic. "Look like you! But not armor. Not spear. Gown! Gown!"

(Draconic has no word for 'gown' and neither is there a kobold equivalent. But there is a word for 'clothing-that-marks-the-wearer-as-easy-to-steal-from.' It can be used to mean almost any fancy, ornate clothing. 'Gown' is Glinsael's best guess.)

"That sounds like a proper ghost to me. I'm with Ayanna, we may want to gather our strength before tangling with that." Gill hung his mace from his belt. "Let's set up camp on the ground floor. If that ghost doesn't leave its place, as Snet suggests, and with the rest of the kobolds cleared out, we should have little to worry about tonight." He smiled hopefully.

"Maybe Snet can help us disarm those traps tomorrow as well? The other kobold up top told us there were several entrances to these lower levels that were trapped, right?"

Glinsael relaxed her bow as they talked. She was glad to be helping resolve the situation nonviolently, but translating in the moment was different than she was used to. Usually, she would have time to look up the proper words or approximate them from other sources.  She only hoped that her work was sufficient.

She agreed with Ayanna, and Gill, "we aren't in immediate danger. We should get as much information as we can, and deal with the ghost when we're fresh."

She thought on the problem of the ghost, and what she knew about them in general. She had heard many legends, but there were many kinds of apparitions. There wasn't enough information to determine what kind they were dealing with. She asked Snet about the ghost, "did the ghost harm anyone that you know about, and if so, how did they do it?"

09:20, Today: Glinsael rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  inteligence.

Snet stares at Glinsael, blinking slowly. He seems to think about it. He holds up one little taloned hand and barks, "Dead!"

And then marks them off his fingers. "Merp. Grep. Screpppin." At which point he runs out of fingers. Looks back up. "Dead!"

(Merp, Grep and Screppin are all jobs. Food-Cooker, Littlest-Guard, and Chief-Bodyguard, respectively)

"I didn't see. Not there! Happen before babies come! But Scalescars say ghost, touch! Scalescars dead. Ghost look! Scalescars dead. Dead! Dead!"

OOC: A DC 12 Arcana check or Religion check will allow you any information from the 'Ghost' statblock. Please note I'm not saying that's what this is, but the statblock represents 'common' information you might know.

"I've heard stories of how even seeing a ghost can cause those to age quickly. I don't know how long kobolds live for, but they might age so much they die. And I imagine trying to fight with out eyes closed isn't going to be very good."

12:39, Today: Kovann rolled 20 using 1d20.  Arcana or Religion check (same mod).

Who needs to have proficiency or an Intelligence higher than 10!!

"If the ghost was human, maybe it was a previous resident.  Hopefully it won't be hostile.  If we are lucky, it will talk and we'll learn something."  Ayanna certainly hoped that was the case.  Fighting something that could rapidly age you didn't sound like anything she would ever be prepared to fight.  "Either way, it sounds like we have time to rest before dealing with it."

Kojik nodded in agreement, speaking up.

"That is my hope as well. A human here would be a bit unusual unless they were from long ago. When the keep was in better shape. If they acted with hostility to the others, that could be due to either an ill disposition or perhaps specific to them as related in sorts to their demise. Being in good order before broaching they area though would certainly be wise. "

---

13:46, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 16 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 10.  Arcana check.

The party returns to the top floor and settles into the most secure room they can find. The building is in terrible shape, but most of the inner walls are intact and the old wooden doors were still in good shape.

Before they lost the light, Snet agreed to disarm all the traps he's aware of. By the time he was done, all the secret passages into the basement were safe (although most of them were too small for anyone, except maybe Glinsael, to squeeze into). The only one that can't be disarmed is the chute that leads to the cistern below.

The night passes peacefully. Outside the walls, in the surrounding wilderness, there are many sounds of movement, but nothing bothered them.

The next day, in Snet's rat room, an old iron grate high up near the ceiling is propped open, letting sunlight into the room. The stone below the grate has been chipped and scored, making a rough stone ladder.

Outside the grate, behind the castle, is a large fenced in area where Snet (wearing a comically wide-brimmed hat) is running some of the adult and juvenile rats (but not the pups) along the fence, and throwing leather balls for others to fetch and place in wooden rings on the ground.

(He doesn't notice the party unless they call attention to themselves)

Meanwhile, careful scouting of the long hallway (with some kind of light) reveals an antechamber at the far end. It might have been a sitting room of some kind at one time. There are the mouldy remains of several large chairs with side tables and the remains of what looks like ornate suits of armour piled in the corners.

At the far end of the antechamber is a large, tall arched doorway with darkness beyond. There is a stone plaque above the door but it's too dark and too worn to read.

Just in front of the doorway are the ancient skeletons of some kind of large humanoid (bugbears, perhaps, or hobgoblins. It's hard to say). One of them has a knife lodged in its ribs. And between them and the doorway is a human skeleton with a similar knife in one hand. Hints of gold and silver jewelry glint among the bones. The chest and arms of the skeleton are broken and shattered in ways that speak of wounds with a large blade. Its clothing is worn to almost nothing, but it seems as though it was once the finely-made gown of a noble woman.

On the floor near the hallway entrance, only a few feet away from the party, are the corpses of a gnoll and a half-dozen kobolds. All of their gear seems fresh but their bodies seem ancient, wizened, and nearly dust.

A silence lies over the room like a physical thing. The air is chill and fraught with menace.

OOC: Take a Long Rest. You're welcome to interact with Snet and his Amazing Rodents or go down the Hallway of (Ostensible) Death. Or first one, then the other. Or both! Splitting the party never ends badly!
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:22, Wed 31 May 2023.

In the morning, Ayanna prepared herself.  “I’m going to go talk to a ghost.  I don’t expect a fight.  If it’s hostile, I’m retreating.  Does anyone want to come?”

"I'll go along, if that's alright. Now that I've rested, I can offer some healing and support if you run into trouble. Besides, I've never seen a ghost before. It surely will be worth looking into."

Ayanna, Glinsael, and whoever else comes along (Snet tries once more to warn you away from the hallway, but gives up and goes back to his 'babies') goes down the hallway and stands at the doorway to the antechamber.

Once again the air feels heavy and pregnant with menace. There's a chill deeper and sharper than the rest of the basement.

Three or four steps into the antechamber and the temperature plummets. A horrible frigid cold fills the room and within moments everyone skin and hair and clothing are covered in a rime of frost.

Two or three more steps and a figure appears in the doorway to the room beyond. An apparition. It appears human. Female. Middle aged. The face has the delicate cheekbones and long chin that bespeaks a noble heritage. It wears a finely made (but not at all large or ornamental or impractical) dress (not quite a gown, but Glinsael figures she guess that word well enough).

She holds a knife in one hand. Her face and chest have large gouges in them like wounds from a large, heavy blade. The wounds are the same as show on the corpse on the floor.

Her face is contorted with rage. Anger and fear roll out from her like waves on a beach.

She shines with a cold, cold blue-white light. But it does not illuminate the shadows around her.

OUT!

The word is suddenly, shockingly, painfully hissed directly into the minds of all present.

The apparition does not move.

OOC:
1. Everyone please made a DC10 Constitution save or take 1 level of exhaustion. Anyone resistant to cold damage automatically passes. Anyone with experience in high altitude or cold climates can roll with Advantage.

2.

---

Spoiler for DC12 Arcana check, anyone with experience with undead or the Planes may roll with Advantage: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
The particular way she manifests, and the darkness around her, indicates her undead state is influenced by (or perhaps even caused by) strong influence from the Shadowfell.

---

Ayanna steeled herself against the cold as she took an involuntary step back.  She wore her armor.  She carried her shield to give herself some comfort against any attack even if it proved useless.  Her weapon hand was empty and she held it open to her side.

“We mean no harm.  I can see something terrible happened here.  How can we help?”. For her first negotiation with the dead, she hoped that was sufficient to get a conversation started.

(Save Success!
Ayanna Bhunnel rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Con save)

Kojik came with the rest, though as the initial blast of cold washed over them, he shivered uncontrollably for a moment, his breath coming out in puffs as the cold seemed to chill him to the bone. He looked up at the apparition, however, holding his spot with the others as he regarded the woman and listened to Ayanna remark.

He gave a nod at her own words, adding in after a moment, "We come at the behest of our own Lord, M'Lady. If we might aid you, we will certainly try. Let us help you against that," he noted, a nod of his head to the darkness around her, but he does not name it directly it seems.

More quietly, to the others, but not trying to hide his comments completely, he notes, "The Darkness around her is from a particular source. Another Plane's influence. Though I hesitate to name it," he adds. Naming it could provoke the spirit, so best to be safe is obviously his thoughts.

---

18:30, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 6 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 4.  Con save - Ghost cold.

18:31, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 25 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 19.  Arcana Check.

1 level of exhaustion for poor Kojik, but at least he knows what's going on with the ghost!

Glinsael winced at the hissing, but spoke back soothingly to the apparition, "It's alright. You are safe. We just want to talk." However, the wavering of her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

22:38, Today: Glinsael rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  arcana.

22:38, Today: Glinsael rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  con save.

Action: trying to calm the ghost
22:47, Today: Glinsael rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  persuasion.

The apparition doesn't move forward. But it doesn't move away either. As they watch, the wounds on its body vanish, and then re-appear one by one, as though hacked by invisible swords.

As the party tries to reason with it, it again mentally hisses:

OUT!

And this time so intensely that it causes pain.

OOC: Everyone roll a DC14 Intelligence or Charisma save. Failure means you take 4 psychic damage.

As it hisses, its light intensifies for a moment, driving away some of the shadows around it. And for a moment you can see behind it rows of shelves and books.

Kovann joins in seeing if the ghost is real. For all he knew, it could have been something else, and he wouldn't live with himself if they got hurt and he opted to not join in.

The air was cold, colder than he was used to with the warmth of living in a monastery built into a volcano. However, he toughed it out, focusing on what was happening.

Unfortunately, when the wounds on the ghost started to vanish, he could feel them appear on his own body, even though she wasn't attacking him.

19:24, Today: Kovann rolled 12 using 1d20+2.  Con save.
PASSED!

19:25, Today: Kovann rolled 10 using 1d20.  Arcana check.
Nope!

19:25, Today: Kovann rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Charisma save.
Failed! 4 damage, 6 HP remaining.

While the cold may have gotten to Kojik more forcefully early on, he seemed to be able to withstand the latest shout with more ease, wincing a bit at the volume of the mental declaration, but otherwise unharmed.

"Do you not wish revenge against those who wronged you? Or your charge taken up by others?" Kojik uttered, though he did take a single step back in the appearance of beginning to follow the ghost's demands. "Or for your mortal shell to be finally laid to rest and given the honor it deserves? Out under the sun, in the Light. But we shall leave you if that is your wish," he offered. One of the two might entice the ghost maybe. Revenge and/or the continuation of their duty guarding this place... or a proper burial. While slowly backing away, it would at least give the ghost a chance to take up one of the offers if desired.

---

14:58, Today: Kojik Virsk rolled 19 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 15.  Intelligence save.
Saved!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Sun 04 June 2023.

Constitution save 20: no exhaustion.
Arcana check 2: no idea.
Charisma save 22: no damage.

Gill winced at the cold and mental blasts the apparition sent forth, but he did not back away just yet.

Back in Havenport, he helped many different people with many different ailments. Even guided some in their final moments. But to help one that had already crossed over, that was new to him.

He noted Kojik's remark of something keeping her here. Perhaps closure was all she needed.

"Lady let us help you. Can't you see?" Gill gestured to the corpses around the room. "You are dead. Your body is broken. Only your spirit remains here, endlessly reliving this last painful moment. Let us help you. Show us what keeps you here, and we can set you free."

Persuasion 23.

Glinsael closed her eyes under the psychic assault, but she was able to shake it off in time to see the books behind the ghost. Her eyes took on a manic light

Gill was making some good points. Maybe he could get her to see reason. "I think you're  getting through to her. keep it up."

21:59, Today: Glinsael rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  charisma save.

Using my inspiration for advantage
22:07, Today: Glinsael rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  charisma save.

bonus action: bardic inspiration to Gill 1d6

The apparition's face contorts in pain and confusion as they speak to her. She doesn't move toward them, but the air fills with a gathering sense of menace. The shadows around her grow darker, thicker, and almost seem to ripple in the air like living things. Her wounds start to bleed actual blood that spatters to the floor.

And then again, her voice blows through their minds like the scuttling of dead leaves across a forgotten grave.

REMEMBER ME.

Ayanna staggered from the second scream.  This apparition was angry.  Her first instinct was to flee the room, but the others managed to talk and they got something more than OUT.

REMEMBER ME was an interesting statement.  After the last assault, Ayanna couldn’t comment yet but nodded.  Here was someone that needed help.  She just didn’t think they were going to be able to help her today.  Maybe more visits would unlock this mystery.  She stood her ground with the others, but was ready to leave the ghost in peace.

"We shall make certain none forget who you were. Your deeds here are obvious.. please, speak your name so that all may hear and for us to engrave for all to know henceforth," Kojik prompts. The fact the apparition was shifting her demands from making them leave to more of a plea suggested this is what had kept her here. The thought of being forgotten after such torment and pain. A marker to denote her name and her defense of the Keep would be an easy task to put such a soul to rest.

Glinsael took out some paper and a pen, and found a writing surface.  She looked up at the ghost expecting her to continue.  If the ghost doesn't continue she prompted her, "please tell me about yourself, who you are, and how you lived so that I may record your story."

During the coming months, Ayanna visits the ghost whenever any of the others does.  She feels a kinship or sorts to the former human and is hoping to exact some level of revenge on her slayers if possible.

If they discover a way that might help the spirit rest in peace, Ayanna certainly wanted to know what it was.

The ghost hisses in anger and frustration and emits another low psychic growl. This one contained the promise of greater pain if ignored.

OUT.

---

And with that, the party decides discretion to be the greater part of valour, declares the Keep safe enough, and starts on the long road home.

OOC: Adventure done. Everyone advance to Level 3!