The weather beyond the crumbling walls and hastily patched roof is frightful, though the mushroom stew was more delightful. Haznut did well in his search for delectable fungi that Samara was able to use for the warm meal. The kindling and deadfall that Elde collected provided fuel for a smokey fire that eventually spread some heat to the weary bones of the adventurers and managed to keep away any insects that the rain and wind failed to.

Watch was mainly uneventful, though those who were awake while Saidou slept were an audience to his tossing and turning while mumbling throughout the night.


Saidou startles everyone awake as he cries out and snaps upright, confusion and panic twists his face before his heavy panting and sweat drenched brow relaxes, if only momentarily.

The storm has moved on, having scoured any form of warmth from the region. Your breath can be seen upon the still air and the weak sun wars with heavy fog and clouds to reach your shelter. A new day, such as it is, has dawned.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:39, Fri 24 Feb 2023.

Chest heaving raggedly, Saidou's expression is full of an odd confusion and grief. Mumbling under his breath, his eyes were darting around trying to fix or search for something. "Where... But I..?" A sharp head shake, and the shadowfolk seems more lucid after shaking away the discord.

"...Must have been something in the mushrooms. I've no children to go missing..." he would mumble, his eyes settling and fixing for a long moment on Haznut's storage chest.

"That you know of," Vostiun volunteers. He looks over at the new dawn fighting its way through the fog and whispers a short prayer to Sarenrae.

Sargon steps out from Vostiun's sleeping bag with a long stretch and finishes with what seems like a very satisfying yawn.

Samara's stretch is almost a mimic of Sargon's as she slinks across the small camp to bump into, then wrap herself around Saidou, smoothing his tousled hair. "Sage," she purrs, "Red pepper, thyme, dried tomato paste... you had a rough night, no? Do you want to tell me what you remember?"

Saidou gives a dry grimace in Vostiun's direction before responding to the two, commenting that "Between my studies, and my appearance, I've not had much opportunity. But last night ... I don't recall much of the details. Mostly just emotions, maybe- Or even probably- connected to the emotional storm that came with the damaged notes. A lot of anger, betrayal. Loss and destruction, ruined knowledge being taken by the waters and the weeds as a horse-headed fiend looked on. It was ... amused, by my torture. Amused at my grief, my anger, my loss... Saidou gives another sharp shake of his head, reaching for his wineskin as to wash the dream from his mind.

Kon fastidiously folds garments from the previous day's travel and stows them toward the bottom of the pack as water for tea boils over the meagre fire, "I'm guessing it was the papers.  You had a pretty poor reaction to them.  My family's pretty used to...  Interesting foods and drinks though, so I won't fully discount it."  Assembling some crushed leaves in a strainer, he looks over pointedly at Saidou, then to the others, "Tea?"

"Love some, thanks," Samara finishes giving Saidou a rub on his shoulders. "Watch out for horse-head creatures, got it. Seriously, if you remember anything else, because it sounds like you imagined that fellow's final moments, or channeled them somehow?"

"Yes, please to the tea."

Vostiun furrows his brow and thinks for a moment. "A horse headed demon that took joyous delight as your work was destroyed?"

Does that sound familiar?
Religion Check
21:26, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 14 using 1d20+3 ((11)).

Taking the moment to finish securing his wineskin before accepting the tea with a grateful expression, Saidou responds to Samara. "I certainly hope that it wasn't reliving an impression of the professor's final moments. The fiend was laughing as documents were consumed over by moss, drowned in deep waters. It could have been allegory, or connected to his death... But then what of the distinct impressions of wondering where my children were?"

Pondering dreams.

22:39, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Samara - Occult - Interpret Saidou's dream.

Still pondering.

"I wouldn't dwell on it too long.  Write out what you remember, maybe, our spinners do that to make sense of the memories they glean in their archive of star orbs, but being distracted by your dreams won't help you in the slightest."  Kon checks the boiling water and removes it from the fire for a minute while preparing his small pot with the strainer, "If we were back home, I'd direct you to one of them.  Though, I guess without a star orb of your own it wouldn't help too much..."

After a short wait, Kon prepares the tea in the pot and begins handing out small travel cups of strained tea, half flavour and half disappointing watery taste.  Hot and warming, a hint of what it could have been, but just barely on the right side of "weak".  "I apologise for the tea in advance.  I've used these leaves a few times.  Travel rationing makes for poor tea.  I'll have to restock when we get back to the university."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:11, Tue 28 Feb 2023.

"Thank you nonetheless." Vostiun traits the cup and blows on it. "Should we start with a look around?

Saidou shakes his head at Kon's suggestion that he journal his nightmare. "No, I would rather not, if it's all the same to you. That dream, it hit it's mark in a distinct and troubling way to me, and one that I would rather not pursue. Knowledge is important to me, the written record almost sacrosanct. Destruction of
knowledge, or promoting false knowledge, is not something I would ever be comfortable with. The nightmare, while troubling, is ultimately fleeting... And I would prefer to not bear written record, myself, of the dream any longer than I must."

Though he tries to keep his words more detached and almost clinical, his tone is less adept at deception. It is clear that there are a lot of emotions in Saidou's feelings regarding the nightmarish defiling of written word.

To Vostiun, Saidou would nod an agreement. "one of us should take a rough sketch of the standing structure as it is, while the rest of us check around for worked stone and bricks outside of the structure that have been claimed by vegetation. Establish a perimeter to the ruin, as it were. I am steady handed and methodical, so just let me know what task you want my attention on." He sips his tea and quietly converses with Spirit in preparation for their day's tasks.

I'll want to change my familiar and prepared spells from known.

Can we get a general vague 5dc perception answer of the ruin layout we have seen? We had the room we sheltered in last night - what else of the ruin structures is obvious, and what parts can we see that are unknown and can we start doing preliminary scouting of them?

Samara gives Saidou a little hug,then gets up, looking for a good vantage point.
Samara is looking for the highest accessible point within about 100' of their current position.

What does Samara want to accomplish with the "high place"? This will help me locate what you are wanting.

Samara would like to get a higher view of the site, hopefully also get a look at the surrounding area, see if there are any other structures or suspicious mounds nearby, or if there are any neighbors coming to visit.

Samara climbs a few trees to get a look around.


What is everyone else doing while she does that?

"Just leave the cups near the pot, I'll deal with them a bit later."  Kon stands and stretches, bending back and forth, twisting and groaning with exertion, "I'll survey the nearby area and see what I can find that might be related to our sorcerous friend while collecting some more firewood in the area and gathering some more water.  If I find anything I'll be sure to mark its location."

Kon will Investigate the surroundings, out to the area around the outsides of the ponds around the camp, being sure to stay within eyesight of the ruins.

Relevant skills include:  Arcana and Occultism for ensorcelled materials or tools used for magical purposes, and Crafting to judge the rough layout of the once settlement.  All +7.
Relevant cantrip:  Detect Magic.  The ruins/campsite is larger than 60 feet, so it should be possible to confirm whether there is anything significantly magical in the area while wandering around and confirm its general boundaries.
Relevant bonuses:  Pursuing a Lead - Been following up on this sorcerer since day 1, giving a +1 related to Investigating them
This message was last edited by the player at 18:18, Fri 03 Mar 2023.

Samara tosses a bit of bark or seed or something to get Kon's attention so she doesn't have to call out, "Kon, visibility is awful, let's not get out of sight of one another, OK?"

"Do you want our fancy new torch or a light spell?"

Vostiun will walk outward in a slowly increasing spiral, looking for anything out of the ordinary or interesting. Occasionally he gestures and casts detect magic.

Saidou watches the others begin their tasks, and nods to himself. He moves to their shared supplies Haznut had brought in, giving the dwarf a quiet "Thank you, for being the sturdy wood upon which our bookshelf of success is built. Allow me to use up some of the weight you carried."

Turning his head to his shoulder, he rattles off in a strange and precise tongue; [Language unknown: "Eveta adhe wer pre li ev siitosesno, Ourentson, onsiouwitant ri alere estou ard sta iv his erseartin wachstch. Plchre iccon ma ounoveany whtra ho anles peles i o bleallort to astpl marut eenha o be la vir pepr niofch?"] before following Samara to the vantage point above the ruins she had found, a drawing pad and charcoal scribe tucked under one arm.

Saidou would like to find a stable spot to perch just above the level of the undergrowth that would normally occlude his vision at short height, maybe a sitting spot in a very low branch 4-7 feet up. He starts sketching the part of the ruined exterior he can see, using Spirit and his familiar's Shared Senses perk to get a closer perspective for details when necessary.

Haznut maintains the camp while the rest of the party fans out to search the remnants of the ruin. Samara and Saidou quickly learn that there isn't any place in the trees that will provide even a passing ability to see the environs in any detail or even keep sight of Vostiun and Kon.


Walking the site it becomes clear almost immediately, that there is nothing here from an archaeological perspective. The occasional rusted piece of kit from the time of the crusades, remnants of repeated camp fires from years ago, but otherwise the ruins are fairly unremarkable and definitely picked clean of anything valuable to anyone but a dedicated scholar of ruins.

Saidou returns down from the tree, giving the trunk a glare and a muttered, "What are you even good for, tree..." before resorting to doing his inspection on foot. [Language unknown: "Enreri, T iteire theectstr unwh ommica io tinle preoulout u wh ul pr us ilst todi,  whpr maacul sawi is u butac mepe latwheast. Esckng eratou, tincti-inal wassanrut ticdaynte k mievmeei si seunma dinni me ce osenlofo eveiveourver i ichredine hibut et dirion niul tichwhfong wamero isbut arlapeei hahe re ticareonsint?"]

To his companions as he finds himself near them, he will remark; "What we see here, what I've seen so far, wouldn't match the description for a sorcerer's tower. It matches more a, smaller shrine or temple. Far younger than 10,000 years. I still want to sketch it for records, that it not be forgotten. Let's see if we can determine to whom or what this place was dedicated for our notes, before we move on."


After climbing down, Saidou will do a check around the perimeter of their shelter room from last night, looking for ruined works outside (And will inspect the area Southeast corner of the ruin chamber).

Kon returns from his walk around the surroundings with an arm full of smaller branches and twigs, all dampened from the storm still and the marshy environ.  He nods to Saidou, "A Kellid diety by my estimation, putting the ruins at 800-1000 years old.  Remarkable that any carvings survived so long."  Kon hands Saidou a scrap of parchment with some crude map scrawling that approximate the surroundings, "I found them where I marked on the paper if you're interested.  I'll need something more stable to copy them down on, or a rubbing kit.  Do we have any charcoal and paper in that kit?"

He drops off the bundle of wood with Haznut and begins wandering out of the camp again, "Going to have another look around.  Clearly this isn't where we were supposed to end up, culturally significant as it may be."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

"I'll go with you so we at least we can get lost at once. It saves more time that way." Vostiun, with Sargon not far behind, sets off with Kon.

Samara jumps down from the branch.
"I cant see anything from up there," she says, "but I'm pretty sure we aren't in the right place. Perhaps we should move on?"

"We need to set up this place as a base camp, for now, before we move on."  Kon explains, "We don't know where the actual ruins we're looking for are, besides 'near the river' and 'near these ruins'.  Of course 'near' could be a day away, but at least we'll have some place to come back to while we're looking for the right place."  Pausing for a moment and sweeping his hand around at the ruinous camp, "Besides, maybe we find nothing out there and this is actually what we were looking for.  Professor Lorrimor just said the ruins were suspected of belonging to Voran Earthmane, not that we would definitely find them right here.  We're to document what we found as meticulously as we can, confirm whether it was or was not the Earthmane laboratory, and return with our notes and any trinkets we find."  He grins, "But what else might we get if we return with notes on a Kellid temple of worship as well?"  He turns back around with a nod at Vostiun and continues away from the camp.

Samara swishes her tail once, then inquires, "Fine. What do you need me to do?"

Kon slows to a stop, thinking for a few moments, "We'll need water prepared for meals, the single armful of branches will hardly keep us warm for the night, hunting for food around here would spare our rations; undoubtedly anything edible we find around here would be better than dried meats and bread tough enough to stop a crossbow bolt, we'll be spending most of the day recording the ruins here so we can return with something; even if we find no laboratory..."

He pulls down the fourth finger of his hand at once, then shrugs, arms wide, "And then there's the threat of the goblins.  We should prepare the site so it's more defensible, less likely that we'll be surrounded and more likely that they'll funnel in at us from one or two directions.  Really there's so much to get done before we retire for the night."  With a great sigh, heavy and considered, Kon turns back again to trudge after Vostiun, "Anything you can do is helpful."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Fri 10 Mar 2023.

Staring unblinking at Kon, the tail thrashes become more pronounced as he continues.
Cocking her head, she asks, "And we are certain that we do not want to revisit this idea of this location being suitable as a 'base'? You left out clearing all this foliage around the camp so we can see intruders approaching. Goblins are small, yeah? I don't know if they climb well, but if they do, they'll have no problem swarming this place."

"Well, yes, that's part of making it more defensible, and we'll need some way of obscuring sight of our campfire for the night.  But there's no telling if this is what we are here to investigate," Kon gestures again in a sweeping motion to the ruins as he spins about on his heels, continuing his slow walk away, "and there's no telling if we'll be heading deeper into what those goblins assume is their land to find what we're after, if it exists to be found at all."  He pauses for a moment and furrows his brow while thinking to himself, "The laboratory might have even sank into a bog, never to be seen again, barring some serious intervention the likes of which no common man such as myself could hope to put forth."

He turns back again, "Can you exhume a house from a pit of fetid water, mud, and rotting plants?"  He then shakes his head, "No, why send someone who could do that to the middle of nowhere without a substantial team.  At any rate, the point is thus:  We were tasked to follow a lead to find a fabled workspace of an assumed long dead sorcerer in this general area.  Until we find somewhere better, this is the best we have, and the only landmark worthwhile in this possibly gods forsaken stretch of the wilds.  Ergo, we should spend the light hours attempting to make the most of this..."  Kon looks back and forth as he thinks of a descriptor, "Place, humbled by the passage of time."

With a shrug he begins to turn back again, "We'll be searching the surrounding area tomorrow at the very least, and if there's cause to believe we've found proof of the laboratory's existence nearby, we can move our camp at any time.  It's not like we're rebuilding the temple from ruins and rotten trees.  But we know where these ruins are, and we can find them again quite easily by following the river.  We're above the water line, there's...  Passable cover from the elements, unless the goblins are amphibious or have watery allies we know they're not likely to surprise us from the river and ponds surrounding  us, the river's water is at least potable so we have something to slake our thirst...", his words drift off into the air as he wanders away after Vostiun.

"These goblins are defined by their relationship to giant frogs and boggards. Every pond and river is an ambush point."

"Hmm, true.  Probably not boggards, though that would be a good thing to be on guard for.  Who knows if goblins could befriend them, honestly.  Frogs aren't known for being stealthy though."

"Ha! Boggarts and bogeymen. We should be so lucky."
"I'll get water and wood, I'm not experienced at building traps, though.
Who's coming with?"

Saidou doesn't seem to be paying much attention to the conversation that Elde, Samara, and Vostiun are having. His eyes are sweeping back and forth across the pieces of stone and wall as Spirit is flouncing along, the ferret companion providing Saidou with valuable frame of reference points as he literally uses ferret-lengths for scale.

Maybe he'll talk later; For now, he seems to have forgotten that his companions exist, as he records reference mapping of the site around them.

Vostiun and Kon move among the ruins searching for more clues among the ruins, while Saidou continues his mapping of the same utilizing the exacting measurements that only ferret-scale can provide. Samara gathers up the least exciting, though likely far more useful, ingredients for the longevity of a campsite. Meanwhile Haznut turns his combat training towards possible defensive measures for the camp.

The following are the tasks and their accompanying skill rolls that will be needed. IF there is something else you would like to add, please note it in your response and include a die roll. Otherwise, submit a skill check for the tasks that your character is pursuing from the list below:

General Perception (Untrained): Everyone should make this skill check.

Searching Ruins - Perception (Untrained)
Setup Defenses - Lore: Warfare (Untrained)
Setup Traps - Thievery (Trained)
Upgrade Shelter (Non-food/water supplies) - Survival (Untrained)
Upgrade Shelter (Foraging) - Survival (Untrained)
Map Making - Crafting (Untrained)

Vostiun combs through the area but finds himself distracted by the idea of an ambush.

19:54, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  Search the Ruins.

19:54, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 22 using 1d20+3.  General Perception

12:38, Today: Elde Kon rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Setup Traps (Thievery).

12:39, Today: Elde Kon rolled 20 using 1d20+6.  Perception.

Kon tries setting up some traps along the way around the ruins, but appears to set up more pranks than anything meaningfully harmful.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:43, Tue 25 Apr 2023.

20:55, Today: Saidou rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Map the Ruins - Crafting.

20:55, Today: Saidou rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Search/General Perception - Perception.

Saidou continues his efforts, paying a narrow focus upon replicating what his eyes see.

07:00, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  General Perception (Untrained).

07:07, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 8 using 1d20-1.  Upgrade Shelter (Non-food/water supplies) - Survival (Untrained).

07:08, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 6 using 1d20-1.  Upgrade Shelter (Foraging) - Survival (Untrained).

Camp chores.

Saidou would attempt to draw his human companion's attention, as well as that of the Archaeologist's daughter. "Samara, Vostiun - Come take a look at these, would you?"

He presents the two with something he had observed - Pieces of stone that looked broken along cleaner lines, some carved and rounded and others looking like they were definitely part of a larger piece. "Broken statuary around here... This was a shrine once, and the statue might have been related. When I'm done working on the layout map, do you think we should reconstruct it? There's so many of the pieces here, it might even be complete."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:24, Sun 30 Apr 2023.

“We can give it a shot. There’s also some writing on a wall over there,” Vostiun says as he gestures. “Can you see if you can decipher it?”

"I'll see about gathering up a few pieces on the outskirts of the building, if there are any to find, but I think setting up some defences for the evening might be a good idea too.  Thankfully, my family is good at ambush tactics of this sort."  Kon gets a devious grin on his face, with the quickly fading light casting long shadows up along his face, "Chalk brushes are just the start of things..."  He cackles to himself as he plots out traps (of generally harmless varieties) which will bring ruin (via mild discomfort and embarrassment) to would be assailants in the night.

Samara dumps a bundle of soggy sticks and some inedible plants at the edge of the camp. "Now THAT I can help with.  But, if you've got a minute, I did find something rather curious that I cannot explain.  Could some of you come take a look?"

Vostiun turns with a raised eyebrow. “Oh? What did you find?”

Samara's whiskers twitch, "Dry footprints in wet mud, maybe? It's weird." Leading the way, she mutters, "Maybe the Boggart is a Mud Monster?"

Looking over Samara's find you see patches of dried mud that are a completely different shade of brown than the surrounding boggy soil. It looks like the mud dripped off of something or someone rather than having been left behind by being stuck to someone's shoes. The find is even stranger given that the mud is dry despite sitting on boggy soil and the rain from the night before.

Tail twiching, Samara sniffs and cocks her ears back and forth, examining the mud.

Vostiun stares at it a moment before gesturing and looking through the runes that appear mid-air.

Vostiun casts detect magic.

Mudology.

Saidou notes how many of his companions were already attending the odd mud, and lets out a longing sigh as he looks toward the wall Vostiun noted...

Turning away from the task of unraveling the unknown text on the wall, Saidou would approach Vostiun and Samara. "Allow me to help brush aside the shadows here, that you might shed light on your discovery." Saidou would run a finger around the rim of the tankard on his hip, before bringing his hands before him. Fingers tap as sorting through a shelf, and his hand pantomimes pulling and opening an unseen book.

Saidou casts Discern Secrets on Vostiun, providing a +1 to the Seek, Sense a motive, or Recall Knowledge.

Vostiun wracks his mind for anything like this.

Action: Religion or Undead Lore 13:30, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 12 using 1d20+4 ((8)).

Samara tries to remember hearing about any supernatural entities that leave such evidence behind.
16:03, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 16 using 1d20+5 ((11)).

Mudology 102 is in session.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:12, Thu 04 May 2023.

Vostiun looks to Saidou, “Nothing comes to mind. What do you know about elementals?”

"Mud Boggarts." glancing about, Samara turns toward camp. "I'm going to go put statues together. Call me if you need me."

Kon returns to the camp some time later, clapping his hands together to rid them of non-existent dust, "Anyone who tries to sneak up on us is going to feel like such fools..."

Saidou closed his eyes for a few moments at Samara's statement, trying to recall definining traits of Mud Boggarts and if they match here.

11:09, Today: Saidou rolled 21 using 1d20+7 ((14)) for Society ?.

Mud Boggards?

In reply to Saidou (msg # 62):

Saidou glances back to Samara, his face reflecting skepticism. "I'm not sure, those amphibious Boggard-folk might be likely for this area... but just looking at sloughed off foreign mud doesn't mean to slap words together. Was your statement rooted in experience, because I've never heard of anything like a mud boggard before."

Looking back, Samara tilt her head, "I've never heard of a Boggart at all, mud or otherwise. I thought you guys made it up."

“Why are frog people too unbelievable? Nevermind, someone knows we’re here now. Are we staying here tonight or trying to move on?”

"Well..." Kon pauses to consider, "We've spent time making this a hospitable locale for us to rest at, moving through unfamiliar terrain in the dark will do nothing for our safety and give would be ambushers every advantage, we'll definitely be exhausted come morning since we've been trodding through the marsh all day and even around here for the past few hours, and we don't even have an idea of which direction to investigate for the ruins we're looking for.  Did I miss anything?"  He shrugs dismissively, "It's better that we stay and at least try to make it look like we moved on rather than force march off into the darkness."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:10, Sun 07 May 2023.

"What if we aren't dealing with a 'People' to have left this sloughed off mud- but a thrall?" Saidou notes, performing air quotes. "I think there's still too much to learn here to be scared off, yet . . . Let me see if I can think of anything that leaves a mud secretion "

Saidou contemplates a more elemental line of thinking, performing his hand motions to draw a book from the shelves of his mental library once more.



10:12, Today: Saidou rolled 21 using 1d20+5 ((16)).

Mudology 103 is in session.

Leaning back and rubbing his brow for a moment, Saidou would give a short nod. "There are flying elementals, called mephits. I don't think this mud got tracked here by something native, and it doesn't have ordinary tracks. The consistency is just a bit too ... clean, too refined in color and texture to match the local swamps, either. Which means, there may be a portal site likely to be nearby ... Or a researcher and summoner of note and skill happened to draw it from its home recently into the middle of nowhere. I don't think that it would be a new bound summon, do you?"

"It could be a sign on something that leads us toward that old Sorcerer's ruin, though. He was thought to be an elementalist, so would that not be a more likely event?"

He would leave Vostiun's site at the mud, and instead start making his way over to the writings that were found.

Cocking her head at Vos, "Frog... People? are called Boggarts?"
As Saidou moves to pass her, Samara moves to let him pass, but actually gets in his way more.

12:44, Today: Elde Kon rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Nature check.
12:47, Today: Elde Kon rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Society.

Kon considers the mud splotches carefully and observes the surrounding marshland.

Mudology peer review, Writing samples, and arts & crafts.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:20, Tue 09 May 2023.

Prodding at the mud clump with a stick, gauging the surroundings, Kon begins to formulate a theory, "I myself have never heard of mud boggards, but then, I'd never experienced a land without kami until I travelled through the Crown, so there's likely much I do not know.  But mephits I have seen several times.  They don't normally like to be on our side and prefer their home domains unless something is drawing them over."  He walks around the mud, "Whoever left this stayed in this general spot for a time.  No footprints means flying, consistent with mephits, or an elven trick to hide one's footprints, but there are no impressions suggesting it left a boot but rather fell in place from a low altitude.  The mud being dry on wet ground means it's a very different consistency, dense, maybe clay but likely something primordial.  No directionality is consistent with the individual staying still, though it seems like it dried quickly after it hit the ground which would support primordial earth as well."  Looking up at the nearby foliage, "It's possible they lighted on a branch to observe us, but there's no mud present on any of them nearby, and no claw markings from a creature that large gripping a branch, so either it all stayed together as it fell off our observer or they were hovering in place when it fell."

Kon looks back to the rest, "I concur with Saidou.  There is likely a portal to a realm of earth nearby where our observer came from.  It's likely a mephit, though we may wish to prepare for worse.  Whomever summoned them probably knows more about our intended destination.  If it was the goblin tribe in the area, then they would definitely know of us by now."  He furrows his brow, "Stay or move makes little difference if the summoner's minions can spot us from the skies.  I still say we stay here.  Moving on will only exhaust us and leave us out in the open in the bogs at night on their turf.  At least here we've learned our surroundings and have a modicum of shelter.  And if we are approached by someone else?  We have notes and maps confirming a story that we are here to study this ruined temple."

Samara starts gathering statuette pieces and arranging them into patterns...
13:37, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Crafting: Assemble Statuette.

Saidou, at hearing Kon's agreement from across the small camp, perks the corner of his mouth into a grin and gives a thumb up. The journal would be getting the snippets of text from the walls copied over, each with a reference number that he added to the main 'site map' drawing.

Saidou is attempting to first collect the text in one set of page to try and store it for translation, interpretation, or roseta-stoning at a later time.

After a bit, he calls out to the others - "Are any of you familiar with a language in the same family as Hallit? I think that might be what I'm recording over here."

“Unfortunately not. I only know Taldane and Varisian.”

Vostiun walks back to his tent and crouches to scratch Sargon behind his ears. He glances around the edges of the woods for imagined elementals ridden by frogs.

Kon shakes his head, "Alas, of the languages I know, none of them are that one."

He mumbles as he stands near the mud clod and leans to the side, seeing how well he can view the camp, ""

"What's Hallit like?" Samara asks, stalking over to Saidou and peering over his shoulder, "Is it anything like Kallid?"

Hallit is the language of the Kelid.

Samara looks over the various pieces of wall.

"This was a temple to one called Drugog, imprisoned in ancient times by "The Enemy", and restored by the prayers of the builders of this temple." Samara cocks her head, "This place houses the blood of the earth from which she -she? I think, was reborn."
Looking around, she says, "Let's find some more!"

““Blood of the Earth?” Well that sounds promising.”

Vostiun thinks for a moment.

Religion Check on Drugog.
06:06, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 22 using 1d20+3 ((19)).

"Magma is the blood of the earth, not mud."

Vostiun lubes his brain gears.

Saidou ponders for a few seconds, as he carefully scribes notes of the translation provided. 'Okay... the language was ... and temple builders ...'

After a minute or so, he has completed his careful notes, and looks back up from the pages to join the conversation at hand. "Any of the words there can be changing in meaning from the time they were written. Blood could be life-water, or a changed meaning from the womb water, or anything else. Magma fits, but in some contexts, mud might also. But what about the Drugog, or their enemy? Maybe getting the statue put back together for context is a better idea than I first thought..."

Pulling out a piece of material, Saidou's fingertips crush the piece to dust as he invokes runic gibbering. Reaching down to his shadow, he accepts a tome stowed in some place Elsewhere, and begins flipping through its chapters of notes on the worship of named elementals.

I will be casting Pocket Library, assigning Nature, and will attempt to recall Knowledge. The roll below should be 19+4+1, for 24.
11:45, Today: Saidou rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Recall Knowledge - nature. (Plus 1 more)

“I haven’t heard of Drugog before but that’s not unusual. The Sarkorans mostly worshipped small, personal gods so there isn’t a lot to read about them unless it’s a primary source. We’ll probably have to find stuff around here for more information.”

Kon looks over the statue fragments, "I agree.  Who or whatever Drugog is or was will likely give some further clues.  It's even possible they're related to our sorcerer.  Though the times don't necessarily line up, a connection could very well be there."  Picking up a few of the found pieces and arranging them casually, he turns to the others, "I'd like to try getting a clearer picture by finishing this.  At the least, it'll be something for the people back at the university to fawn over, along with the other bits we glean from here.  And if we're staying the night anyway..."

Elde Kon rolled 20 using 1d20+6.  Perception to search for further statue fragments.

Saidou checks his notes for references to Drugog, or the significance of the 'blood of the earth'.

Samara hums to herself while assembling statues, and tries to remember if she has ever heard any references to Drugog or Flying Mud Creatures:
12:51, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 1 using 1d20-1.  Religion: Drugog.
12:50, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 12 using 1d20-1.  Nature: Mud dropping creatures.
12:50, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Lore: Qadira.

Elde Kon is able to find a few more pieces of statuary, but it seems that whatever is left of any statuettes have been gathered and the dozens of bits, shards, and misshapen rock are not going to cooperate in making the reassembly easier.



Samara sets herself to the task of gathering the found pieces of statuary and attempting to assemble them into something of a cohesive structure.

I'll need a crafting skill check from someone that is TRAINED in that skill for assembling the statuette. This is a long term task that will take the rest of the day and well into the night, if not longer. If anyone can assist the person, they may.

Saidou shakes his head, putting aside his tome that evaporates back into the grasp of his shadow. "I don't recall any specific Drugog, the name is obscure to me. With the 'Blood of the Earth' references, without context it could mean ... Too many things, to bring context. Unless you would like me to work on the statuary, I'm going to finish cataloguing the writings here."

"Puzzles were always a group thing back home.  If you wanted to join in, there appear to be plenty of pieces.  But, if you have something else to do, I won't keep you."

Elde Kon rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Crafting - Reassembly.

Kon brings two pieces together and frowns as they appear to be very different from each other.  Sifting through more pieces, he brings another together with the first and eyes the pairing, uncertain if it's a fit.

Vostiun sits at his bedroll idly scratching Sargon behind the ears. He watches the swamp around them. “So work on that today and try to find another site tomorrow?”

Kon nods, "It isn't likely we'll be able to get very far before nightfall anyway, so why not?"

"I think you're sitting on a piece I need, Kon"
07:49, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Aid: Kon: Crafting.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Tue 23 May 2023.

 the Shadowfolk cheerfully notes to his companion in a foreign tongue. He starts sorting the pieces that have already been collected, separating and organizing the pieces that present mostly 'inside the statue' rough sides and those with a clearly defined worked exterior facing.

06:54, Today: Saidou rolled 16 using 1d20+7 ((9) for Crafting Asist).

The rest of the day is spent pouring over the gathered information and the pieces of the statuette. Unfortunately, the statuette is proving to be far more difficult to reassemble then was initially thought. You're fairly certain that you have all of the available pieces, it's just not as readily apparent as to how they need to be combined.

As the day draws to a close, Samara prepares the meal for the night and though the evening mist has blanketed the region once again, the adjustments to the camp manage to stave off the majority of the chill and wind. It's almost pleasant and for the briefest of moments it almost feels cozy and relaxing.

That is, until the sounds of whooping calls come from the east and north; the calls alternating between the two cardinal directions.

[Language unknown: Si!]
[Language unknown: Erarol!]
[Language unknown: Ncenhi Heloho!]
[Language unknown: Ersameove, ek!]
[Language unknown: Isbe po etwiel!]
[Language unknown: Ulho of, hi...]
[Language unknown: ...a ecne nderi ecmepe!]
[Language unknown: Pass'urse oveus...]
[Language unknown: ...Anyhoueen Leshouder teome!]

They don't sound friendly at all, though they do sound rather joyous.

We are entering combat. Please do not post unless it is your turn. If you wish to say or do anything in game and it isn't your turn, please send me a DM in Discord and we'll work it out.

The battle map will be on the Foundry server, however, it is not visible to PC's. I'll be taking screenshots and DMing the current scene to the player whose initiative it is. You will post your actions here and I will update the map. If you are moving, please list your movements here in this format: I move 1 north, 1 ne, and then 2 east.

If you have any contingencies that you want to include, please do so here as well (on your turn).

Haznut has the initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:01, Mon 29 May 2023.

Haznut grabs his shield and flail as he strides in front of his companions and shouts, "," his flail twirling around his head.

[Haznut draws his flail. Draws his shield and moves 2 North and 1 Northeast.]

Saidou has the initiuative.

Please go to the Foundry server to see where you are on the map and what you see. Please DO NOT move your token on the map.

Post your turn here like Haznut has.

Saidou scrambles to the south, moving to use the forest's foliage and trunks to break contact and look for an opportune chance to respond.

move - South 2-3, to the large orange leafy area. Hopefully it's a tree or bush I can use for cover to hide in.

attempting to use the Hide action. If there's solid cover, I'll be cheating to the 7 o clock position from it, mostly trying to break visual from north.

Samara has the initiative.

Please go to the Foundry server to see where you are on the map and what you see. Please DO NOT move your token on the map.

Post your turn here like Haznut has.

Samara will assume a ready posture, keeping her back to the stones and her eyes and ears upward.
She will draw her Main Gauche.
Samara uses a Seek action: '+2 circumstance bonus to locate undetected creatures that you could hear within 30 feet with a Seek action.

"Does anyone understand what they're saying?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:19, Mon 05 June 2023.

The "signing" has come to a stop and the swamp becomes eerily quiet.


Vostiun has the initiative.

Please go to the Foundry server to see where you are on the map and what you see. Please DO NOT move your token on the map.

Post your turn here like Haznut has.

Vostiun leaps to his feet with a stream of gibberish pouring from his mouth. The harsh sounds prompt the red glow of runes that circle around him before flashing over Haznut as well. As the words continue to pour from his mouth their awful nature leaves a trace of its passage on his form as his mouth begins to drip and flow into a slash across his face. A slash brimming with teeth.

[Action: Cast Shield on himself.
Action: Cast Guidance on Haznut.
Action: Cast Glutton's Maw.]

Elde Kon has the initiative.

Please go to the Foundry server to see where you are on the map and what you see. Please DO NOT move your token on the map.

Post your turn here like Haznut has.

Kon readies his main gauche, prepares to parry (+1 AC), and uses Change Shape to express his kitsune form

"Unfortunately no, it's a language I'm not familiar with.  But hey, at least we know what it isn't."  Kon smirks and shrugs toward Samara.

The silence continues increasing the tension.

Haznt has the initiative.

Haznut keeps his shield raised as he peers through the underbrush waiting for a tide of green flesh to crash upon him.

Action: Raise Shield
Action: Ready (Attack an opponent with flail if they come within range)

Saidou has the initiative.

In reply to GM (msg # 111):

Saidou would try to use his presumed hidden status from the previous turn, and moves a bit from his previous spot to try and confound seekers. After moving further behind walls, Saidou would call out quietly in Varisian.
Attempt sneak, striding half speed, moving clockwise thru the undergrowth to the southwest. Talk as free.

"The Water Head goblins, they're using sickly rhyme in their tongue. They seek to unnerve us. Their threats, to drown us..."

Saidou, knowing he must keep moving, continues clockwise around the ruin, seeking to stay in cover as best as he can at half speed. after his second movement towards the 9 o'clock hugging the ruin walls and brush, he waits and attempts to hunker down in cover to wait.

TL;DR: Sneak, Speak, advance to next cover, hide again.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Sat 10 June 2023.

Samara has the initiative.

Samara tries to imitate the sounds, then calls, "Why don't you come get dry by the fire, we can trade goods and stories?"
Hand on throwing knives, she mutters, "or you can bleed..."

samara uses the Ready action, waiting for opponents, and the Seek action, listening for ememies.

Samara's ears twitch and swivel as she tries to pickup any sound at all of the approaching enemies, when suddenly Sargon cries out "There...!" but is cut-off as a crude arrow pierces the familiar, pinning it's unconscious body to the ground.

A sudden whoop of excitement comes from the east, [Language unknown: "M tost areanythu evrom! Ad a tiar e reuswi!"]

Vostiun has the initiative.

Vostiun whirls around as the arrow rips past him. His face shifts from shock to cold anger as he turns back around and squares himself with the dark swamp. "Fine, then." His hands traces patterns before him as runes circle around his fallen familiar and himself.

Two Actions: Cast Stabilize on Sargon
Action: Cast Shield on self

Elde Kon has the initiative.

Step 1NE, Ready a torch, Interact to light it

"Oh good, they have archers."  Kon shifts aside and presses against the wall, lighting a torch to see into the surrounding darkness better.

Elde Kon's torch flares into life, shining flickering light deeper into the swamp. He immediately spots a pair of giant centipedes that were making their way through the underbrush towards the party, one of the pair launches forward, clearing the distance quickly and begins snapping its mandibles at the offending torch bearer.

The first strike misses, but the beast is fast and strikes a second time sinking its mandibles into Kon's leg.

Does Elde Kon have a reaction available to reduce the damage or block/parry the strike?

No, parry was not declared last turn, unless ready/light is a single action.  I don't believe parry can absorb an attack at any rate.

The centipede's attack seems to be far more frightening in appearance than in substance. A pair of holes remain in Kon's leg and a clear liquid oozes from it causing cramps in the kitsune's leg, but overall, the wound seems minor.

Haznut has the initiative.

Haznut's eyes narrow as he gazes into the brush before narrowing. He raises his shield then trudges into it flail swinging quickly as he goes to confront their attackers.

Action: Raise Shield
Action: Stride NW 3 spaces
Action: Strike with flail at combatant adjacent to the North, using bonus from Guidance (02:25, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 12 using 1d20+10 ((2)).)

Saidou has the initiative

In reply to GM (msg # 123):

Barely allowing for breath for fear of risking detection, Saidou continues to sneak clockwise around the camp, moving further north. His hand palms a throwing knife out of his bracer sheath, and he pauses to listen and locate the threats still unseen.

I don't see baddies from here, so I'll action Sneak to advance north a space or two. Wield throwing knife. Seek enemies to the north.

[Language unknown: Etfoet ted! Arnde plriwa! Cawh shenot-ereoreive!] is heard southeast of the camp followed by an arrow streaking out of the foliage. Haznut has just enough instinct to block the incoming projectile, deflecting it away.

Samara has the initiative.

Having taken stock of her surroundings, Samara looks for a higher position...

Yes. The rocks that you are currently backed against will get you a slightly elevated position.

Sheathing her Main Gauche, Samara leaps up on the nearby rocks, keeping her head down and watching for additional threats that might be higher up or over the rock wall.
16:02, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Athletics: Ascend the rock wall to gain a better vantage point

16:03, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Stealth: Try not to make too much noise ascending the wall.
If she gets a good target, she will draw a knife and throw it.
If conditions aren't ideal, she will hold fire and either reposition or take time to aim.

Samara leaps up onto the rubble, but finds it difficult to make out anything through the dense foliage. She can definitely see the giant centipede north of Haznut and something is obscured to her southeast.

Samara is currently unarmed and has a single Action left, what do you wish to do.

In addition, don't roll stealth or perception as those are classified as 'secret' rolls for the GM to make.

In reply to GM (msg # 129):

Samara draws a throwing knife and attempts to discern what is to the southeast, alert for arrow fire.

The centipede north of Haznut bolts forward and attempts to chomp the dwarf, unfortunately the dwarves armor proves to be too hard for the creature's mandibles to puncture.

Vostiun has the initiative.

Vostiun mutters aloud and gestures as he moves closer to his companions. He finishes his spell with a slash of his hand and the blood red runes around him burst.

Action: Stride 1 North, 1 Northeast to be adjacent to Elde and Haznut.
2 Actions: Cast Bane

Sinister forces swirl around the sorcerer as he finishes his incantations, the hairs on the back of Haznuts neck stand on end as Elde Kns hackles rise.

Another giant centipede crawls out from under the brush, easily ascending the rubble upon which Samara stands. The creature attempts to pierce her hide with its mandibles, but she deftly avoids both attempts.

Elde Kon has the initiative.

Actions:
Devise a Stratagem against centipede [Elde Kon rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Devise a Stratagem (+Prof+Int)]
Stride NE 1
Free action drop torch
Attack using Foxfire (electric) against centipede (roll of 25 to hit) [Elde Kon rolled 1 using 1d4.  Elde Kon rolled 4 using 1d6 (+precision damage)]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:06, Wed 21 June 2023.

Elde Kon snaps his tail at the centipede, releasing an orb of electricity that slams into the creature, snaps of electricity course over its body, causing extensive damage without killing it.

Haznut has the initiative.

Haznut spins and slams his flail down towards the bug. Then raising his shield Haznut trudges into the darkness in search of goblins.

Action: Strike (19:36, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 26 using 1d20+9 ((17)))
19:39, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 8 using 1d6+4 ((4)).
Action: Stride 5 East
Action: Raise Shield

Haznut smashes the centipede finishing what Elde Kon started. He then trudges into the swamp, shield raised.

Saidou has the initiative

Drawing a quiet breath, Saidou tries to slip around the tree in front of him. Close to the ground, he slips out toward the next bush to wrap around.

Sneak NW, N. Sneak N, N. Stop to the W of that next bush, Taking Cover.

Samara has the initiative.

Samara calls out, "I've got two archers to the southeast!" as, with an occasional kick in the direction of the centipede, she moves from cover to cover, trying to incite further attacks to locate the hostiles.

Action 1: Seek (hostiles).
Action 2: Melee attack (kick) vs. Centipede
07:51, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Melee Attack vs Centipede 2.
09:37, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 1 using 1d4.  Knife damage to Centipede 2 (melee).
Action 3: Draw Rapier.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Fri 30 June 2023.

Answering Questions

Samara draws her rapier and gives a contemptuous, if ineffectual, kick at the centipede as she scans the swamp for the source of the arrows being shot at her.

Meanwhile, a goblin just northwest of Vostiun pops out of cover and sends an arrow deep into the sorcerers gut and cheers as it ducks back into the underbrush, [Language unknown: "A fiers aslowe itar! N io forproess!"] it shouts.

Vostiun has the initiative

Vostiun grunts as the arrow impacts him. He begins to curl inwards around it but pauses, breathes through gritted teeth, and shakily speaks a spell. As the red runes circle and fade the blood retracts back into himself.

Cast 2 Action Heal on self for (17:02, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 11 using 1d8+8 ((3))) healing.
Maintain Bane.

Elde Kon has the initiative.

Action to pick up torch
Stride action, NE1 N2
Action to Take Cover against NW goblin
This message was last edited by the player at 18:35, Sat 01 July 2023.

Haznut has the initiative

Haznut trudge throught the undergrowth comes to a sudden stop. With a wordless scream he rushes towards an unseen goblin in the brush.

2 Actions: Sudden Charge, South 7, Strike (Flail) - 17:09, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 11 using 1d20+9 ((2)).
Damage: 17:10, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 5 using 1d6+4 ((1)).
Action: Raise Shield

A scream of terror rings out southeast of the party.

Saidou has the initiative.

Saidou grits his teeth, hearing the conflict to the southeast. From his position taking cover behind the bush, he takes a moment to try and shake off the nerves and calm himself, performing the comforting motions of running a finger around the lip of his flagon and miming pulling a book from a shelf. He focuses intently on the area to his northeast from the position of cover - Hadn't there been goblin rhyme chatter from the north, not just the east?

Had 'Take Cover' from last turn, not sure if that remained in effect?

First action, a 1 action Somatic spell, Discern Secret. Gives +1 on my (Seek) check to locate creature on the second action, directing focus on a 30 foot cone to my North-East. Waiting for results of first two actions before I post a third action.

If Take Cover has to be repeated every turn to remain in effect, it will be the first action and the Discern Secrets / Seek will be #2 and #3.

A goblin warcry rises from the southeast and the clang of metal on metal rings out.

Samara has the initiative.

Samara spins and dances around the centipede, trying to tangle it up and confuse it, then strikes at what seems to be a vulnerable spot.

Action 1: Catfolk Dance vs. Centipede 2
13:05, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 8 using 1d20+7.  Acrobatics: Catfolk Dance vs. Centipede 2. – 8
Action 2: Perform: Fascinating Performance (Attempt to gain Panache)
13:09, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Perform: (Focused)Fascinating Performance (Attempt to gain Panache) vs. Centipede 2. – 22
Action 3: Melee Attack with rapier
13:10, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  Melee Attack with rapier vs. Centipede 2. – 24
13:15, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 6 using 1d6.  Damage: Rapier. – 6

The goblin to the north lets out a angry curse, [Language unknown: Urec stilinain u toyin! Ck oulderect o shekorres!]

Vostiun has the initiative

Vostiun scrambles over the rocks and roots nearby to stand next to Elde. Then he gustures and speaks a non-language before a streak of acid fires off into the undergrowth.

Stride: 3 NE, 1 N
Cast a Spell (2): Acid Splash at Goblin to the North
(23 to hit. 5 acid damage)
23:21, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 23 using 1d20+6 ((17)).
23:22, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 5 using 1d6+1 ((4)).

The goblin cries out, "Aaaagggh!! [Language unknown: Ac hihawh! Hou! In ort! En Ilpa ec ti sheinethi!]"


Elde Kon has the initiative.

Action to Devise a Stratagem - Elde Kon rolled 15 using 1d20+7 ((8))
Action to Stride NE1, N4
Action Attack goblin with Foxfire (Elde Kon rolled 3 using 1d4+1d6.)


"Ambush this you blighted half pint!" Kon growls out as he projects his ball of electricity toward the goblin archer

Haznut has the initiative.

Keeping his shield raised Haznut lashes out against the goblin again. If the goblin is still alive he attacks again, if not he moves to flank the centipede attacked Samara.

Raise Shield.
Strike on goblin to South. 28 to hit, 9 damage.
Then either Strike on goblin to finish them off (22 to hit, 5 damage) or Stride 3 West and 1 NW to flank centipede attacking Samara
10:01, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 28 using 1d20+9 ((19))
10:02, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 9 using 1d6+4 ((5))
10:05, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 22 using 1d20+4 ((18))
10:05, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 5 using 1d6+4 ((1))

Saidou has the initiative.

Saidou slips quietly from behind his tree, trying to come around to get an eye on the goblin hunting his friends. Slipping low to the ground, he scrambles for the next cover that might occlude him from the hunter's sight, hoping to turn the tables.

First action to sneak, moving NE NE or E NE if blocked. I need map update to define turn, placing contingencies of intent below.

Intent contingency 1, if no enemy is revealed by the first movement: Sneak a second time to move into cover if able, and then sustain my Discern for perception bonus. 2, If no enemy revealed and no cover in sneak range, Stride into next cover and then Hide.

Intent contingency 3, If enemy archer is revealed and does not see me after first movement, I'll likely commit to a ranged spell attack, scatter scree.

Map updated with first move.

Revealed enemy is out of ranged spell attack range, so I cant hit.. I'll sneak NE E, Take Cover 3rd action.

Samara has the initiative and is flanking the centipede.

With a jump and a spinning flourish, Samara stylishly skewers the centipede, then draws her Main Gauche, turning to engage the archers.

Action 1: Confident Finisher vs. Centipede 2
12:25, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Melee Attack (rapier) vs Centipede 2.
12:37, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Base Rapier damage vs. Centipede 2.
(+2 Precision Damage due to Precise Strike)
12:38, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 11 using 2d6.  Bonus Precision damage from Confident Finisher.

Action 2: Sheathe Throwing Knife

Action 3: Draw Main Gauche

This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Thu 13 July 2023.

Samara whips her rapier around in as she balances on the precarious jumble of rubble, waiting for the exact moment when the centipede raises its body to strike. Quick as a viper she pierces the centipedes mouth and removes its head, flinging it to the side with supple flick of the wrist.

Meanwhile the remaining goblin flees to the north, [Language unknown: "Onsar! Icsi ble oer ardoutnti!"] he yells as he does so. It takes a bit before you realize that there are no other immediate dangers, and you let out a collective sigh as the adrenaline leaves your systems.

Battle is over, we now return to your regular posting.

Samara leaps from the rocks in pursuit, calling to her companions, "Let's get them!"

“We cannot chase a goblin through its home swamp at night. We don’t know how many more of them there are.”

Vostiun regroups at the campfire. His mouth still distorted by magic and a palpable aura of dread around him.

“And I need to tend to Sargon.”

Kon chases after Samara, calling back and sheathing his main gauche, "I'll follow her.  We won't go too far."

"Vos, we don't have a choice - it called out that it must warn the others!" 

Saidou breaks to the north as well, trying to keep up in pursuit.

“Shit,” Vostiun says as he scoops up his injured cat, casts Light on one of his rings, and starts to follow along.

As she leaps past Vostuin, "This is how we find out! Stay and care for him, we'll be back."

More running

The five of you take off into the swamp chasing after the wounded goblin. He has a head start and very likely knows these swamps far better than you, yet you persevere. The trail is relatively easy to follow as the goblin is leaving blood smears as he goes.

The trail leads through some tangled briars making chase slow-going. Samara picks her way through but kicks an unseen fungus that releases a small puff of fungal spores. You all look around and see that these mushrooms are scattered throughout the briars.

We are running a chase as outlined in the Gamemasters Guide. There will be a series of obstacles that you will need to bypass to catch the goblin. Each obstacle requires a total of 5 chase points to overcome. Each character is allowed to make a single attempt to bypass the obstacle. A success gets you 1 chase point. A critical success gets you 2 chase points. If a character decides NOT to attempt the necessary skill check, their inaction reduces the amount of chase points the party has accrued by 1 for that obstacle.

Each obstacle will have 2 base options for skill checks. These are the more obvious solutions to the obstacle, however, it is possible to come up with different solutions if approved by the GM.

The current obstacle has the following base skill checks:

• DC 15 Fortitude Save: Plow through the briars and rely on your constitution to resist the spores effects.
• DC 13 Survival Check: Understand where the fungus is growing and how best to avoid them.

Who wishes to go first?

Anger at his injured companion and the arrow wound from earlier steels Vostiun as he barrels through the undergrowth.
Fortitude Save: 17
00:16, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 17 using 1d20+6 ((11)).

Meanwhile Haznut tries to pick his way through the tangle of fungus.

Survival: 24
08:09, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 24 using 1d20+5 ((19)).

Samara dashes in the direction of the fleeing attacker, diving through what seems to be a gap in the bramble.
08:23, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 23 using 1d20+3.  Fort Save for Chase Points.

Deleted Saidou's post as it was not needed and he posted before I could finish this one.

Through brute force of will, Samara and Vostiun push through the brambles, Samara clutching Saidou to her chest to keep the shadow hobbit from breathing the spores released by her and Vostiuns passage through the brambles.

Meanwhile Haznut shakes his head and picks his way more carefully, easily bypassing the mushrooms as he guides Elde Kon along.

Samara and Haznut made Critical Successes, allowing them to carry Saidou and Elde Kon along.

The chase continues as the party makes easy work of the last obstacle. The goblins trail leads to section of swamp whose footing is questionable. After a quick look around, it appears that the party needs to jump across what could be quicksand, or take time to find a way around that won't waste valuable time.

You passed the first obstacle with ease, allowing you to reach the second obstacle in the same round. Saidou and Elde Kon can finish this round out with their attempts to bypass this next obstacle.

The current obstacle has the following base skill checks:
[*] DC 15 Athletics Check: To leap across.
[*] DC 17 Perception Check: To find solid ground to pass.

Who wishes to go first?

Elde Kon rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Perception (+1 Pursuing a Lead)

Saidou's lips move in silent chanted prayer, eyes darting to try and convey a new edge his friends can use to find a safe route to avoid the quicksand hazard.



20:56, Today: Saidou rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Avoid the hazard! (+1 more if Discern can help).

Saidou finds a path that fits his diminutive size and darts past the obstacle, while Elde Kon is finding that the swamp wasn't built for non-fun-sized persons.

We are now on Round 2.

Thanks to a very successful 1st round, the party currently has 1/5 Chase Points and only need four more to bypass this obstacle.

With the start of a new round everyone gets a chance to clear an obstacle.

Since Saidou has already bypassed the quicksand, he can choose to wait for the others to catch up to him, or he can attempt the next obstacle alone in the hopes of catching up to the goblin by himself and who-knows-what else may lay ahead. He cannot make another attempt at the previous obstacle.

The quicksand obstacle has the following base skill checks:
[*] DC 15 Athletics Check: To leap across.
[*] DC 17 Perception Check: To find solid ground to pass.

Who wishes to go first?

Samara charges out of the brush and into the quicksand.
12:55, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 6 using 1d20+5 ((1)).

Samara attempts to leap over the quicksand but slips on a particularly moist patch and ends up bellyflopping into it. She hauls herself out, but is drenched in mud.

Who's next?

Kon obstinately pokes at the sand with a nearby stick, trying to find the path the little goblin took to get past

Elde Kon rolled 10 using 1d20+7 ((3)).

Vostiun and Haznut are next. Saidou can either wait for the rest of the party or he can rush ahead and attempt the next obstacle without them.

Vostiun stalls as he starts to look for a place through the mire.

Perception: 8
13:47, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 8 using 1d20+3 ((5)).

Haznut barrels ahead through the undergrowth.

Athletics: 13

13:49, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 13 using 1d20+7 ((6)).

Saidou, assuming his companions are right behind him to follow the opening he saw, continues pushing on to find the goblin!

Saidou has raced off into the swamp leaving the rest of you to figure out how to pass the quicksand.

Haznut, Vostiun, Elde Kon and Samara are up. Who's first?

Cursing as one foot slips into water Haznut pulls himself up and races along a log before jumping towards the next bit of, apparent, dry land.

Action: Athletics 11

17:22, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 11 using 1d20+7 ((4)).

Vostiun is more careful as he looks around for a safe way through while holding his glowing stick up high.

Action: Perception 17

17:24, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 17 using 1d20+3 ((14)).

"Oh what the hell...  If everyone else can charge through..."

Elde Kon rolled 4 using 1d20-1.  Athletics...

Kon steps back a few paces, huffs, and takes a running start...

Making a futile attempt to wipe off sand and mud, Samara looks around at her companions' struggles.  Determined to persevere no matter the odds, she leaps across.

13:43, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Athletics: to Leap across.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Mon 14 Aug 2023.

Haznut and Elde Kon continue to have issues with the quicksand while Vostiun and Samara find their inner ranger, Samara is even able to become an example for one of the remining party members.

Samara generated 2 chase points. She may use the extra point to help Haznut OR Elde Kon across the quicksand.

<coin flip> Samara helps Kon.

Vostiun, Samara, and Elde Kon are past the obstacle. They can rush forward to the next obstacle, or they can wait for Haznut.

Let me know what each of you decide.

Kon is a ruffled ball of disgust and frustration, "When I catch up to that goblin I'm going to put the fear of Daikitsu into it!"  Electricity arcs briefly off of his tail and feet to the ground as he continues the chase.

“Shit, shit, shit.” Vostiun mutters to himself as he hurries along. “We’re not supposed to split up!” he yells as he leaves the dwarf trailing behind.

" pretty sure I suggested the short slow people stay back and guard the camp, but all for one and one for all!" Samara grabs a vine and throws it to Haznut to help pull him through the muck.

Vostiun and Elde Kon disappear into the swamp attempting to catch up to Saidou and the goblin, while Samara stays in the vicinity with Haznut, throwing foliage at him along with encouraging words.

Haznut can make another attempt to pass the obstacle.

Haznut continues to push forward.

Athletics: 20

21:18, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 20 using 1d20+7 ((13)).

Haznut and Samara race forward to catch up to the others but as they trudge through the swamp they stumble into a small collection of burrows that soon disgorge a horde of swamp rats who are quite excited about this unexpected meal.

The swamp rat obstacle has the following base skill checks:

• DC 14 Intimidation Check: To scare them off.
• DC 14 Fortitude Check: To rush through them and endure the bites.
• DC 16 Acrobatics or Athletics Check: To somehow avoid them altogether.

In a hurry Haznut keeps the same pace as he tromps directly into the swarm.

Fortitude: 13

07:30, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 13 using 1d20+8 ((5)).

Samara attempt to avoid the buggers.
14:40, Today: Samara abnat-Khafif rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  Acrobatics: to avoid the rats.
"Well, they certainly are good at setting traps, aren't they?"

Samara and Haznut find that avoiding the rats is going to be far more difficult than they expected, likely due to the previous party members stirring up the beasts as they passed.

Haznut and Samara are up.

Samara leaps up to swing from a branch...
12:36, Today: Samara abnat-Khafif rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Acrobatics: to avoid the rats.

“Agh, I don’t have time for this!” Haznut bellows as he slaps rats off himself and continues on.

Fortitude: 28

15:21, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 28 using 1d20+8 ((20))

Samara leaps up for a branch which almost immediately snaps under her weight. She is caught by a very grumpy dwarf as he pounds his way through the rats, sometimes using the catfolk to swat away an overly ambitious rodent. The dwarf continues to rush forward before he almost tumbles into a massive pond of thick mud, he sighs in exasperation as he drops Samara.

The deep mud obstacle has the following base skill checks:

• DC 15 Athletics Check: To slog through it.
• DC 13 Perception Check: To find a solid path.

"It's wonderful being a Catfolk, 'cos Catfolk are wonderful things!
"Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs!"
07:52, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Athletics: to Leap across.

Samara leaps out into the deep mud before slogging the rest of the distance through it to the other side.

Haznut stops only momentarily to survey the surroundings before continuing onwards.

Perception: 19

23:06, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 19 using 1d20+7 ((12)).

Samara and Haznut turdge their mud covered bodies onwards as the swamp undergrowth and trees get denser and more difficult to pass through. As they do, they spot Vostiun trying to find a better route through the bramble.

The dense swamp foliage obstacle has the following base skill checks:

• DC 17 Acrobatics Check: To squeeze through it.
• DC 15 Perception Check: To find a better route.

Vostiun mutters a blessing as the other two arrive but it does nothing to help Haznut find a workable path.

Action: Perception 10

19:17, Today: Haznut Ingut rolled 10 using 1d20+8 ((2)).

06:37, Today: Samara al-Khafif rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  DC 17 Acrobatics Check: To squeeze through it.

Muttering his own cursed blessing lets Vostiun catch a pathway by the light of his magic.

Perception: 18

12:11, Today: Vostiun Hephaurio rolled 18 using 1d20+4 ((14)).