[DM StevenVdB] - "Look, Captain. A ship up ahead. Do you think that is, you know who?" Thursday July 30th, 2015 6:32:51 PM
The next day the Barge leaves early. Dwayne is at his post early. Lucius joins a bit later not saying a word about the contest last night. He has a job to do and will do so.
Bliss's the first to notice the other barge up ahead and warns the others. He immediately prepares for a potential fight and simply vanishes from sight...
Bliss spoiler Highlight to display spoiler: {... you have the impression the barge up ahead isn't moving... you don't see anyone walking around on board either}
With Bliss's warning Alleah peers off into the distance and confirms there's another barge up ahead.
While Bliss and Alleah begin talking about the Barge, Murpheagle calles out using the code he mentioned the day before... Keeping his altitude he examines the barge... it's shape, how many are on board, cargo...
Muprhy spoiler Highlight to display spoiler: {... that's odd... the ship lies motionless against the shore. You think to see ropes to tie the Barge to the shore. Yet... there's no trace of any living soul on board. The Cargo appears to be untouched and is very similar to what the Barge you're sailing with is hauling. }
Having noticed the ship as well Shell questions the captain if it could be, you know who...
"It can't be Malcolm... he was way ahead of us and his barge is about as fast as mine... "
The Captain slows down speed as he approaches the other Barge...
(make some checks folks)
Hazel - (by Kim for Corsario/David Sol) d20+13=22 ; Thursday July 30th, 2015 7:10:23 PM
Hazel also notes the vessel a ways ahead. "Captain, any instructions? I'll have my sling staff at the ready. Do you know anything about the barge?"
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) d20+16=32 ; Thursday July 30th, 2015 7:27:26 PM
Murphy comes down closer, and cries out - wanting to see if any who may be hidden aboard emerge from hiding. If none come forth, he draws closer still, flying only twenty feet above the moored vessel, again calling out. Along the shore near the barge, he checks to see if he can see tracks on the earth marking people's passage. If he can find such, and figure out which direction the tracks head toward, he will ascend again high in the air, and see if he can see a small group of travelers moving off in the distance. [Perception: 32]
If none of that proves fruitful, and If he finds no tracks that seem to go beyond the immediate area, he ponders the question as to whether he should alight on the barge, or... he will fly back to his approaching friends, land on their barge, get Shel's attention, and claw write the following: "Barge moored with cargo, no one aboard."
The little fellow calls to Mookie for a ride to the vessel. He casts Longstrider and Deathwatch spells (good to see if there are living things or undead around). Bliss refreshes his own Reduce, casts Enlarge on Mookie, and flies over to the other ship. "Okay, thanks Mookie," he whispers. "Now skeedaddle!"
The raven nods and flies off.
Bliss hides in plain sight, keeping within 10 ft of shadows cast on the boat, hiding behind things when he can. He scouts all around without going belowdecks. He keeps an eye on Murphy and nods to him, in case he sees him.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+11=20 ; d20+9=29 ; Thursday July 30th, 2015 9:25:28 PM
With all eyes on the barge, Alleah looks elsewhere. This could quite easily be a trap. Lure the party in that direction and then attack from behind. On the other hand, it could just be a local merchant. Perhaps they need aid? Perhaps they have goods to sell?
Perception: 20 - Looking everywhere except at the other barge. Are those crocs about? Any blood in the water? Any hiding places nearby that ambushers could be waiting? Knowl Nature: 29! - Which way is the water flowing? Is the natural current drawing the other barge towards us, away from us, or perhaps unaffected by the current as our barge is?
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Friday July 31st, 2015 5:50:48 AM
Shel wasn't well versed in scouting situations. She waited on deck with the others, looking for any information the scouts might bring back to her. She takes care to cast a Shield on herself, once the boats close to a boarding distance...better safe than sorry.
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) d20+16=24 ; Friday July 31st, 2015 10:16:10 AM
Perhaps Shel noticed the big eagle in front of her, scratching out the words, "Barge moored with cargo, no one aboard, except Bliss." Or perhaps a crew member or someone else noticed the same thing.
He likely noticed Mookie and Bliss as they flew over, but Bliss disappeared from his sight once Mookie set him down.
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) Friday July 31st, 2015 9:29:18 PM
Bliss looks back. If his friends are in range, he casts Message to be able to whisper to them. If not, he casts it so he can whisper to Mookie.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Sunday August 2nd, 2015 4:15:24 AM
Alleah also has the message cantrip, so if Mookie is in range, the bird-brain can act as an intermediary.
[DM StevenVdB] - ""Captain, any instructions? " Sunday August 2nd, 2015 5:43:18 PM
FRIDAY POST
"Captain, any instructions?", Hazel asks and he prepares his slingstaff. As he asks for specifics about the barge, the captain shrugs his shoulders and answers: "It's just a barge like mine... nothing special... similar cargo also... Like I said, we're no longer partners but rather competitors now..."
Murpheagle comes down closer and cries out hoping to see if someone down there will emerge from hiding. Nothing... he drawn closer still flying only 20ft above the moored vessel calling out again. Still flying he checks if there are tracks to see... There are indeed a bunch of tracks down there but from his elevated position he can't be certain on the type. Yet... it's all quiet down there... perhaps too quiet?
"I'll scout it out", Bliss declares and calls for Mookie for a ride. With a number of spells cast on himeself and on Mookie the little shadowdancer flies towards the barge. Surprise to all that the Raven hasn't got any witty comments now!? Stealthy he approaches the vessel... hiding in shadows...
silence...
The sun is now burning down on the river...
The captain has slowed down his Barge with just enough speed to keep going upstream.
You scout the barge... the sun's playing on the water casting a mirriad of twinkling lights on it's surroundings...
... nothing ...
An occasional bug comes to disturb you as you stare at the Barge....
While most are watching the barge without blinking, Alleah figures this could well be a trap! Instead, she looks around... In all directions the place is quiet... Like Bliss's Deathwatch spell, Alleah's too shows no sign of any life (apart from the usual forest life that is... )
Alleah notices no crocs... no blood in the water... the barge is secured to the shore. It's ropes are tight from the pull from the river current.
Not good at scouting Shel waits on deck with the rest looking for any information the scouts might bring back. Murpheagle scratches some words on the ground? Trying to inform Shel of his findings... or ... non-findings...
... ever the place remains quiet...
... dead quiet ...
Bliss looks around at his friends and casts a Message spell... so does Alleah...
... a bird ... a rustling leaf ... that's all ...
And a seemingly deserted Barge...
Then suddenly someone breaks the silence...
"I'd say we get the hell out of here!", Lucius says to the captain, "... this is your chance to get ahead of Malcolm!!"
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) Sunday August 2nd, 2015 8:45:54 PM
Murphy scratches a message. "Go if must. We stay, find people."
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Sunday August 2nd, 2015 10:03:29 PM "Is this Malcolm's barge? If so, we shouldn't just run off...maybe something has happened and he needs our help. He was once your friend, Captain, we shouldn't just abandon him. It won't take 15 minites for us to do a quick search of the ship. Your two men can stay here and protect this ship in case anything sketchy could happen."
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) d20+16=28 ; d20+11=27 ; Monday August 3rd, 2015 1:44:55 AM
Murphy flies back to the shore, closely examines the footprints, looks further to see which direction they headed toward - as well as to determine if there was any sort of scuffle along the shore, and what sorts of people and, if present, animals, carts, made a mark in the ground. He follows their path for a few hundred yards, then returns to the party. He tries to communicate what he learned.
[Perception: 29; Survival (tracking): 27]
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+11=30 ; Monday August 3rd, 2015 6:36:50 AM "How long would it take you to load their cargo onto your barge? Any trader worth his salt wouldn't leave perfectly fine goods lying on the wayside. How about for as long as it takes you to transfer the cargo, we get to search to see if anyone is about?" In Alleah's mind, the best way to get these guys to see her point of view is to make it in their interests. "Better yet, if noone is about, perhaps we could sail it behind you? Twice the cargo would mean twice the payday, wouldn't it? We already made up 4hrs of sailing yesterday. What's thirty minutes of checking about going to hurt?"
Of course, Alleah is anything but subtle
"HELLO? Er, AHOY THERE? Er, EVERYTHING OK?" she calls out quite loudly
Perception: 30
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+16=29 ; Monday August 3rd, 2015 4:32:04 PM
Bliss gives up on stealth and joins his voice to Alleah's ... although he is right there on the boat.
If nothing happens, he messages that back to the others.
He looks to see what signs of life there may have been ... personal effects ... food in the galley ... cargo?
Perception 29
[DM StevenVdB] - "HELLO? Er, AHOY THERE? Er, EVERYTHING OK?" Monday August 3rd, 2015 6:51:18 PM
Murphy scratches something in the ... in the what?! ... the sand? Mud? The Deck of the Barge?
Shel asks for confirmation that this is indeed Malcolm's Barge and then tries to rely on the captain's lost friend... for friends they once were. 15 minutes would be sufficient to look through the ship.
Clearly the captain hesitates... right now this is his chance to get his Barge first to Angel's Spring! And the barge that arrives first sells the goods first... pure business.
Murphy flies back to the shore and examines the tracks... yes he sees some footprints. Human... 3 for sure. Most likely Captain Malcolm with two armed hands. One track is slightly deeper than the other two... probably the captain has a bigger belly than trained mercenaries. But Murphy spots some other tracks as well... these are odd... more like something that is sliding over the ground... you can see some drag marks as well! A footprint... then as if it's pulled away from the barge into the jungle beyond... Murphy follows the tracks into the forest... he goes further and further away from the shore. There he stumbles on something parchment like... like a shed skin... a snakeskin?!? ...
(now Murphy is going to need a big space for scratching all that on the ground... curious what you will come up with :-) )
Alleah tries a different approach...
"How long would it take you to load their cargo onto your barge?", Alleah asks clearly getting the captain's attention...
"I can never haul mine AND Malcolm's goods... but I know he got his hands on some very nice spices... I bet I could get those on board!"
Now that the captain has decided to tie his bargo onto Malcolm's and transfer part of Malcolm's cargo onto his own barge the Humble's Sword can examine the other boat. There's plenty of food and drinks. All looks fresh and tasty.
There nothing special about it indeed. There are no traces of fighting or anything else... but on the shore you now all see the tracks Murpheagle tries to explain about.
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Monday August 3rd, 2015 9:15:28 PM
Shel was pleased the Captain would allow the group to investigate. Shel waits for Hazel or one of the sturdier members to leads the way over to the newly found ship. As they departed, she quickly casts Shield on herself and Protection from Evil on Hazel. "No telling what might be waiting for us over there..."
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) d20+16=26 ; Monday August 3rd, 2015 11:19:58 PM
Murphy flies back to the group. On the dirt near the shore, he writes large, "Malcolm - Captured by Serpent People !?! - A RESCUE NEEDED!"
He sees some of the goods being transferred from one barge to another. What is this? He really is not in a position to delve into the niceties. He flies to the barge. He alights before the captain. He lifts one wing, pointing toward the forest.
Giant EagleMurphy calls out a loud scream. His wing maintains its posture, and he crooks his head, one eye looking right at the captain.
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 Monday August 3rd, 2015 11:32:18 PM Hi Guys! Sorry for the missing posting, I was unable to connect to the Wold for a while (in fact, it is harder during the day now). What did I miss? I will post for Hazel tomorrow. Glad to be back!
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d100=88 ; Tuesday August 4th, 2015 1:09:59 AM "Captain, Lucius , Dwayne - could you describe Malcolm to me? In as much detail as you can please. What does he look like? How is his hair? What does he usually wear? Does he have a preferred weapon of some sort? Any notable jewellery or something specific he always has with him?" Alleah hasn't ruled out that this could be someone else's barge and cargo.
Stepping off the barge and onto the shore, she looks about for a tree. No, Alleah has better manners than that. She's not after a toilet break. She wants to hear what the tree saw
Alleah reaches for a leyline - particularly strong in this area - and casts Speak with Plants. (Leyline check: 88 = Freebie! Dur 5mins) Starting with the tree, and then any shrubs or other greenery in the nearby area "Hello there! I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but I wonder if you could help me? Did you happen to notice what happened to the people that were on this barge? Why did they leave it here? I'd be ever so grateful if you could tell me what happened. While I'm here, could I offer you some fresh water?"
[DM StevenVdB] - "Malcolm - Captured by Serpent People !?! - A RESCUE NEEDED!" Tuesday August 4th, 2015 5:59:26 PM
Shel's pleased the captain allows the group to investigate - even though the captain's motives aren't exactly the purest... She hopes to their ranger Hazel to take point and track the trail ahead...
"Malcolm - Captured by Serpent People !?! - A RESCUE NEEDED!", the Eagle Murphy scratches near the shore. But when he sees what is going on with the cargo Murphy's kinda upset! He flies to the bargo and alights before the captain... lifting on wing and pointing to the forest...
Captain Angus waves with his hand and shakes his head... "No no no! I'm not leaving my ship and will definetely not venture in those woods! Who knows what dragged Malcolm and his crew away!! Lucius and Dwayne stay here."
Murphy's wing maintains its posture, and he crooks his head, one eye looking right at the captain.
"No I said! If you and your friends want to go look for Malcolm than by all means be my guest... or you can come with me... ", the captain says.
Alleah interferes: "Captain, Lucius, Dwayne - could you describe Malcolm to me?"
With an agitated look at Murphy, Captain Angus replies: "Hmpf... Malcolm... if you see a well dressed fat man out here in the jungle it'll be him al right. He only carries a short sword... but knows not how to wield it properly. For that he relies also on a couple of hired hands. Trinkets are not his thing... he hates spending his hard earned gold on them."
With that info Alleah steps off the barge and onto the shore. There she looks about for a tree and casts Speak with plants. She launches a whole lot of full and complicated sentences at the poor tree... it remains silent...
"... snake ... human ... taken ... strangle ..."
(A normal plant's sense of its surroundings is limited, so it won't be able to give (or recognize) detailed descriptions of creatures or answer questions about events outside its immediate vicinity. )
Bliss says, "Well, wowsy! We gotta go save him. Mister Captain, will you at least stay and wait for us here for a day or two? That's not too much to ask, is it?"
Mookie makes a horrid coughing sound. Maybe it is the raven equivalent of "AHEM."
"Look, Kid, sure, saving people is your thing, I get it, but aren't you on a timetable? Literally a timetable? How close are you cutting it to get back to the falling giant tower in time?"
Bliss's eyes crinkle and he hops on one foot, then another. "Huh. Huh."
He turns to his wise friend Alleah. "Miss, do we have time? Can we save this merchant fellow AND get back to Crescent Valley in time?"
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 d20+7=22 ; Tuesday August 4th, 2015 8:57:29 PM "If the Captain won't give us time, we need to stay on the boat. We have to get back to the Ford. You all know that. There's no telling what has happened there....the Giants may be on the March. We don't even know if Malcolm is alive. The 'Serpent people' might have taken him and eaten him already. Or done some such awful other thing. We owe it to our families to make sure they are safe, I think."
Shel turns to the Captain. "Are you sure you won't give us a few hours? We've done right by you so far, and will continue to do so. Take all of Malcolm's trade goods. If he's alive, he won't care, if we can rescue him. Give us the chance, and don't make us leave him..."
Diplomacy 22.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Wednesday August 5th, 2015 12:24:45 AM
Alleah thanks the plants for passing on what they saw, and as a gesture of gratitude, casts Create Water lightly around them.
"I can see the honourable Captain's point" Alleah addresses the man with as much tact as she can muster "If Malcolm and his crew were taken, then it would be foolish to place others in the same peril. Perhaps I could suggest a compromise of sorts? You continue upstream towards Humble's Ford. The day is drawing to a close, so I suspect you may only make it a few more miles before calling it a day. We can scout around here a bit more and try and discern what happened. When we finish, we shall sail this other barge upstream to meet you again. If you don't see us by morning, then you continue on your way."
She looks to Shel and Bliss "It would just be a few hours... hopefully. We have made great time so far so will still be arriving in Humble's before we left anyway. I think"
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 d20+1=8 ; d20+7=13 ; Wednesday August 5th, 2015 1:50:19 AM "Seems like a good idea... let me track them, I hope we can catch up with them." Hazel Survival (Track) Check (+4 Giant;+2 Goblinoid): 19 Faoil Survival (Track) Check (Scent): 13 OOC: I mess up Hazel's Survival check, instead of +1 is +12
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Wednesday August 5th, 2015 2:36:01 AM
If the group agree, Alleah will cast Toros Taur try. First on Hazel (granting a +2 Survival bonus) and then on Murphy (granting a +1 Perception bonus)
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) d20+17=22 ; d20+17=32 ; d20+11=22 ; Wednesday August 5th, 2015 4:37:40 AM
Murphy did not earlier try a prolonged staredown with the captain - only looked at him long enough to make his point.
Giant EagleMurphy seems to be in agreement with his friends who want to try a rescue. He wonders whether Captain Malcolm would have left behind Captain Angus Lurchengo to fend for himself had he found their situations reversed.
Regardless, the druid is eager to begin a search. He rubs his head against Alleah's shoulder after she cast Toros Taur try upon him.
Impatient to be off, he takes to wing, and returns to the edge of the forest. He flies at a few hundred feet altitude, and glides silently on occasion, listening [Perception 22], looking [Perception 32]. As he gets to the edge of where he tracked them earlier, he continues trying to follow their pathway [Survival, tracking 22]. Sometimes he flies off the pathway, collecting information, getting a lay of the land, and returning to fly above his friends, then back to the trail.
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+16=29 ; Wednesday August 5th, 2015 3:25:33 PM
Bliss is on board if everyone else is! He Reduces himself, Enlarges Mookie, and mounts up. "Come on, Mookie! We got hero work to do!"
In the air, Bliss keeps his eyes peeled. Perception 29
[DM StevenVdB] - "Malcolm - Captured by Serpent People !?! - A RESCUE NEEDED!" Wednesday August 5th, 2015 5:19:38 PM
The moment Bliss hears Captain Malcolm is most likely in great peril he is eager to embark on a rescue mission. Mookie however reminds the little witch of the timetable they are on... would this little excursion make them arrive late in Humble's Ford again? Bliss turns to Alleah for her wisdom.
Shel's fears that if their captain isn't giving them time to find Malcolm they will be forced to stay on the barge. Taking about all sorts of tings that could have happened to Malcolm Shel once again asks the captain for a few hours of time. They've made good time so far so what's a couple of hours?
Again the captain is struggeling to decide...
Alleah comes with a compromise. The captain, Lucius and Dwayne continue upstream and after a couple of hours they stop for the day. The Humble's Sword will go find Malcolm and then sail his barge upstream as well hoping to catch up again.
It would just be a few hours and having made good time so far Alleah is convinced they won't be arriving late in Humble's.
"OK", the captain answers Alleah, "You do what you must. If you fail to join me by morning with this barge I shall continue on my journey forgetting I have ever met you lot... Sorry... just business."
"Seems like a good idea... let me track them, I hope we can catch up with them." Hazel adds!
Alleah casts a spell on Hazel and then on Murphy assuming those two will do the scouting. One from below... one from above...
Muprhy wonders if Captain Malcolm would have left Captain Angus behind had it been the other way around. Yet he no longer wants to debate with the captain. He's impatient to be off, takes to wing and returns to the forest in order to scout the track.
With everyone ready to venture away from the river the captain says goodbye. Slowly he puts more water between his barge and the shore... was that the Humble's Swords safest transport to the valley?!
(DM note to Murphy: You'll be flying over forest like terrain so it will not be easy to see through the canopy of trees... even though eagles are able to see a mice from incredible hights, you may miss certain info about the tracks you are following. )
(DM note to all: even though we are not in combat rounds yet - not that there will be combat of course - it would be handy if you could all make some plausible moves compared to one another. Back at the barge, most are working in rounds, Murphy is flying to altitude, gliding, flying off the pathway, returning to his friends, back to the trail... no can do that if the others are still on the barge so I won't be taking all those moves in to action... )
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) d20+17=36 ; Wednesday August 5th, 2015 8:32:47 PM
[Understood. Sometimes I will post a bit more, in case there is the time for it, but have no problems with "DM Braking" so as to allow for character synchronization.]
If needed, as needed, Murphy will occasionally drop below treetop levels in order better to follow the tracks, then fly back up. He won't go more than a few hundred yards past the edge of the forest, though, thinking it might be best to stay within reasonable distance of the rest of the party. So, say 300 yards in, no more, then he will be back to the party. When Hazel is tracking, he may fly up a bit higher, relying upon the paws on the ground, catching glimpses of the hound and ranger as they move through the trees. [Perception: 36]
[How dense are the trees? Some forests are thick, some are sparse. Let's say 100% means one cannot from above see the ground for the trees, 50% means you can see about half of the ground through the trees, etc. - What kind of cover does this area of the forest give? 10%? 80%? 35%?]
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 d20+12=23 ; d20+7=26 ; Thursday August 6th, 2015 1:20:48 AM
Hazel thanks Alleah for her help. "Working as a team I am sure we will rescue them in a flash!" He winks at Shel, and smiles confidently. He, and Faoil, keep tracking them, while keeping an eye up for Murphy and Mookie-mounted Bliss. Hazel Survival (Track) Check (+4 Giant;+2 Goblinoid; +2 Forest): 23 Faoil Survival (Track) Check (Scent): 26 I forgot his Favored terrain bonus, another +2 to Survival in Forest.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+11=24 ; Thursday August 6th, 2015 3:30:07 AM
Alleah guides Thistle from the barge and safely ashore. She's not going to let the Captain take her pony away!
"We'll catch up to you soon. And if we don't, may Wardd guide you on your journey!" she calls after the departing barge.
Alleah gets atop Thistle and happily follows one of the more skilful trackers.
Perception: 24
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+16=20 ; Thursday August 6th, 2015 11:50:43 AM
With Murphy taking to the high skies, Bliss and Mookie stay close to ground, flitting from branch to branch, staying near shadows and concealment. A typical move for Mookie is to fly 80 ft, then land, then the next round fly another 80 ft, then land. He does not outpace the party because he zigs and zags to and fro, staying with the group.
He does not try any fancy flying tricks or maneuvers.
Meanwhile, Bliss keeps busy renewing the sizing magic that makes it all work, plus casting Guidance and keeping alert.
Perception 20, 21 with Guidance
When Mookie flaps a lot, or has a shaky take-off, or tilts in flight, Bliss whispers to him, "Looks like we're having some turbulence, Captain Mookie! Here, let me stabilize you!" Then the tiny fellow casts Stabilize on his familiar, which of course has nothing to do with flying! He does this repeatedly. And then more repeatedly.
:-)
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Thursday August 6th, 2015 6:24:55 PM
Shel flows the group. She wasn't great at tracking, so she stayed close to Hazel, trusting his senses over her own. "Yell if there's trouble.".
She stared at the tall trees, wondering if they could ever catch up with that comfy boat again.
[DM StevenVdB] - "Yell if there's trouble." d20+8=13 d20+8=24 d20+8=21 Thursday August 6th, 2015 6:27:50 PM
Last one to leave the Bargo was Thistle. Alleah guides her safely ashore. She waves goodbye to Captain Angus saying they will catch up with him quickly!
And so the group heads out into the forest...
Bliss, riding Mookie, and Murpheagle scout from above. Flying a bit, swooping down, going back to the rest. Alleah rides on Thistle. Shel trots behind. Hazel's the scout on the ground.
About 10 minutes pass like this... Following the trail is actually pretty easy with the adept scouts in the group! The sun's breaking through the canopy here and there. The air is damp beneath the trees. The forest is filled with life...
After a while you come to a clearing... Hazel notices the ground becomes more muddy. Footprints left behind you quickly fill with water... Still the traces continue forward.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Friday August 7th, 2015 12:08:55 AM "Shel, how rude of me. Would you care to hop aboard Thistle as well?" Alleah lowers a hand to Shel to help pull her up, should she choose.
She'd make the offer to Hazel, but he seems to like to stay close to the ground and the trail.
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 d20+14=33 ; d20+7=13 ; Friday August 7th, 2015 1:54:01 AM "Trouble will be when we get back home, and Alleah comes to tell me about my "eloping"... I'm sure I will scream then." He and Faoil keeps tracking as fast as they are able. Hazel Survival (Track) Check (+4 Giant;+2 Goblinoid): 33 Faoil Survival (Track) Check (Scent): 13 Already added the forest bonus for Hazel.
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Friday August 7th, 2015 11:26:20 AM
Shel didn't have much experience riding. "Will it slow you down, Alleah? I don't want Thistle to be too loaded down.". If Alleah assents, Shel hops up on board. She tightly grabs Alleah's waist and holds on for dear life as the horse trots along.
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) Friday August 7th, 2015 2:21:20 PM
Murphy drops down to the clearing, and stares at the tracks. He looks to see if the serpent-like tracks are also visible. Then he continues on as before.
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) Sunday August 9th, 2015 8:03:10 AM
Mookie perches on a sturdy branch. "Looks like quicksand to me down there," the cautious old bird says.
"Sure I'm cautious!" he declares. "You don't get to live as long as me without being careful."
"What?!" says Bliss. "Who are you talking to/"
Mookie looks around. "Only person around here worth talking to. Myself!"
"Oh," says Bliss. Then on a whim, he throws his arms around the bird and gives him a hug.
"What?!" says Mookie.
Bliss calls down: "WATCH OUT FOR QUICKSAND!"
[DM Hugh] Monday August 10th, 2015 7:11:30 AM
(OOC: Taking over for StevenVdB expect DM post tonite)
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Monday August 10th, 2015 9:30:56 PM Under the weather. Going to bed, but just checking in.
Bliss realizes that he should take his own advice. He looks for quicksand ... and other hazards:
Perception 28
[DM Hugh] WATCH OUT FOR QUICKSAND!" d20+8=27 ; d6+10=12 ; d20+16=28 ; d20+8=28 ; d20+8=16 ; d6+10=11 ; d20+16=31 ; d20+8=15 ; d2=1 ; d20+8=22 ; d6+10=15 ; d20+16=30 ; Monday August 10th, 2015 11:18:07 PM Alleah offers Shel a ride on Thistle. Shel accepts.
Hazel and Faoil continue tracking.
Murph-eagle drops down to check out the tracks.
Mookie cautions Bliss about the dangers of quicksand, the tiny halfling hugs his bird mount and passes this warning down to those below.
Bliss notices 4 large snakes under the surface of the standing water a moment before they lash out to attack.
Snake 1 targets Thistle and bites the pony for 12 damage and the large snake starts grappling the pony.
Snake 2 targets Hazel and bites the ranger for 11 damage and starts grappling the ranger.
Snake 3 targets Faoil and misses the dog.
Snake 4 targets Shel and bites the sorceress for 15 damage and starts grappling Shel.
(OOC: Sorry this is late. I will make a map for tomorrow's post...had a long day, really tired.)
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+8=18 ; d100=43 ; Tuesday August 11th, 2015 12:43:43 AM "Not Thistle!" Alleah cries. She does her best to stun the snake, and then guide Thistle to safety.
Leyline check: 43=Pass. Cast Hold Animal. Will Save vs DC18 or the snake is paralyzed If the snake ges stuck, Ride check 18 to guide Thistle away from the snakes? A 'Withdraw' action for Thistle to avoid any AoOs
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 Tuesday August 11th, 2015 12:55:06 AM OOC: Hard day at work, will post tomorrow.
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) -->Giant Eagle (dire bat) d20+5=7 ; d20+17=29 ; Tuesday August 11th, 2015 2:42:23 AM
Murph-eagle drops down slightly to try to attack and distract the snake which is attacking Shel, but in the flurry of movement his bite misses entirely. Though he has seen birds tussle with serpents before, he realizes he has some things to learn.
He flaps his wings to gain just a bit of height and perspective on the situation [Perception: 29].
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+11=14 ; d6+2=4 ; Tuesday August 11th, 2015 7:13:54 AM
"You were right, Mookie!" says Bliss.
Mookie says, "Naturally."
From his tree perch, Bliss unships his bah and takes a shot at a snake that is not grappling, that would be snake three. Since it is large, I'm hoping Bliss can aim at the tail, away from the melee, and avoid the -4 for shooting into combat.
Bliss hits AC 14 for 4 damage.
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 24/39 d20+3=15 ; Tuesday August 11th, 2015 6:01:18 PM [OOC: Substitute Cayzle Made This Post!]
Shel struggles mightily against the coiling snake.
[OOC: Shel's CMB check to escape the grapple is a 1d20+1 roll. Or escape artist is a 1d20+3 roll. She'll try that.]
Shel looks for a chance to wriggle free: Escape Artist check 15.
Current Status: hp 24 of 39, grappled.
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 44/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 d20+7=15 ; d20+5=22 ; d6+4=10 ; d20+5=25 ; Tuesday August 11th, 2015 7:21:30 PM
Hazel tries to grapple the creature (attempt to become the "dominant" grappler). CMB Check: 15 Faoil grows and tries to bite the snake that attacked him. Bite Attack: 22 Damage: 10 Free Trip Attempt: 25 (Got it!)
Bliss sees that Faoil is trying to grow. "That's a good idea that doggie has!" he says. "It is harder for snakes to squeeze you when you are bigger. Sorry I can't make a dog bigger though. I could make Shel or Hazel bigger, though ..."
OOC: Anyone want an Enlarge Person spell next round?
[DM Hugh] Not Thistle" d20+6=10 ; d20+16=34 ; d6+10=15 ; d20+16=19 ; d6+10=16 ; d20+8=14 ; Tuesday August 11th, 2015 10:23:17 PM
(OOC: I need another day for the map...really sorry but I gotta get up early tomorrow and something at work threw my day off)
Alleah casts hold animal on snake 1 while crying, "Not Thistle." The snake fails its will save and uncoils around the pony slumping back into the water.(snake 1 now has cover, but is paralyzed) Alleah manages to get Thistle 40 feet away from snake 1 without provoking attacks from any of the other snakes, seeing as she is in shallow bog terrain.
Murph-Eagle misses the large snake before flying higher to get more perspective on the battle. Murphy notes that the snakes appeared from deep bog terrain and those that were attacked were in shallow bog terrain.
Bliss tells Mookie that the bird was right to which Mookie cockily replies, "naturally." before attempting to shoot the snake attacking Faoil with his bah. The shot goes wide.
Shel tries to struggle against the grapple but is still trapped by the coiling snake.
Hazel fails to become the dominant grappler but Faoil succeeds at biting the snake, unfortunately you can't trip a snake because they don't have legs (OOC : this is actually in the entry)
Snake one is paralyzed in the deep bog square.
Snake two tries to maintain the grapple and constrict. It succeeds and Hazel takes another 15 bludgeoning damage.
Snake three attempts to attack Faoil again and misses the nimble dog.
Snake four tries to maintain the grapple and constrict. It succeeds and Shel takes another 16 bludgeoning damage.
"Oh know!" shouts Bliss, fearing his friends are going to die. "No time to Enlarge! I'll try Miss Alleah's idea!!
Bliss comes closer if need be. He tries to cast Hold Animal on Shel's snake.
Ley check 26 = A-OK.
Will save is DC14 to resist the paralyis.
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 29/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 d20+7=19 ; d20+5=7 ; Wednesday August 12th, 2015 3:29:16 AM
Hazel keeps trying to dominate the grapple with the snake. "Help Shel!" CMB Check: 19 Faoil grows and tries to bite the snake that attacked him. Bite Attack: 7 But completely miss this time.
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) d20+5=20 ; Wednesday August 12th, 2015 4:06:36 AM
Murphy-eagle drops down upon the snake and Shel that the snake so strongly constricts, grasping the clothing on her body [AC 20]. He transforms from eagle into his own form as a halfling. Still holding firmly to her clothing with his left hand, Murphy calls upon his love and respect for his dear friend, and strong desire to save her, ignoring his own peril. He draws from reserves to cast a spell upon her. "Shel, I'll let you become as a vapor for a few minutes - float away to safety," and [expending a hero point for an extra standard action] casts gaseous form on Shel.
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Wednesday August 12th, 2015 6:38:52 AM Current status. 8 HP of 39. Gaseous form.
Shel couldn't really make out what Murphy was saying from all the pain she was in. She knew he was trying to help, and the next thing she knew, she was free and floating through the air. She looked at her hand and noticed she could see right through it. Assuming she lived, she really needed to figure out what Murphy did for her. It was most neat.
She floated to a safe distance from the snakes, making sure her feet were on steady ground before she became material Shel again.
[DM Hugh] "Help Shel" d20+6=19 ; d20+6=11 d20+16=35 d6+10=13 d20+8=10 d20+8=24 d6+10=13 d20+16=32 Wednesday August 12th, 2015 9:50:28 PM Bliss comes closer to the snake grappling Hazel and attempts to cast hold animal on the snake. The snake succeeds on the save.
Hazel attempts to get control of the grapple but does not succeed. (OOC: the snake's CMD is 24)
Faoil also fails to bite his snake.
Murphy makes a heroic effort and saves Shel from death by constriction by turning her into gas.
Shel run flies 40 feet away from battle, next turn she can re-materialize if she wishes (OOC: you have a fly speed of 10)
Snake 1 attempts to break the paralysis but fails.
Snake 2 attempts to maintain the grapple against Hazel and deals an additional 13 bludgeoning damage.
Snake 3 misses biting Faoil.
Snake 4 bites Murphy for 13 damage and starts grappling the druid.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+8=15 ; d8+1=2 ; d8+1=3 ; Wednesday August 12th, 2015 10:03:13 PM "Shel! Over here!" Alleah guides Thistle towards Shel.
She reaches into her kit and grabs the CLW Wand, ready to give Shel a tap (Shel will be healed for 3pts is in range)
----------------------- Free action: Guide Thistle with knees. Ride check: 15 = Pass Move action: Retrieve CLW Wand Standard action: Use Wand. 1d8+1=2. Rerolling the 1. 1d8+1=3. Not much better :(
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 16/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 d20+7=10 ; d20+5=24 ; d6+4=8 ; Wednesday August 12th, 2015 11:26:23 PM
Hazel keeps trying to dominate the grapple with the snake, while he feels his air running out. "Thanks for helping Shel, now help Me!" CMB Check: 10 Faoil grows and tries to bite the snake that attacked him. Bite Attack: 24, Damage 8
Murphy CMD 14 AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) d20+5=24 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+5=10 ; d8+2=7 ; d6+2=3 ; d6+2=6 ; d20+17=22 ; Thursday August 13th, 2015 4:46:01 AM
Much as he would like to oblige Hazel, Murphy finds himself wrapped up in local work. Anger at the snakes' mistaking them for handy meals, the druid transforms his anger so that the halfing grows into the size and shape of a dire bear. He bites the snake (AC 24; dam 7), and rips off a large strip of flesh with one paw (nat 20, crit confirmed if AC18; dam 9) for 16 hp total damage. His other paw does little (AC10).
[Help me, here: First time rolling CMD. Is 10+BAB(4)+Str(0)+Dex(2)+Size Mod(1)+Other(? anything for dire bear grab ability?) = 17, so, do I roll d20+17 (=22 in this case)? Or did I do it all wrong? Instruction/correction humbly solicited. Am trying to figure out how to break the constriction. Feel free to roll something else on my behalf for this turn to reflect that. Also, with his Murph's grab ability as a dire bear, if it succeeds, does it allow him also to constrict? If so, he would have done so - but, I don't get the rules. New turf for me in Pathfinder. Grappling rules make me gag.]
Rob: I don't know if it helps, but you don't actually get to roll CMD. Think of it like "Combat Manoeuvre AC". That the figure the attacker needs to beat
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 3d4+3=9 ; Thursday August 13th, 2015 5:01:05 AM
Shel casts a Magic Missile after materializing and getting healed at the snake wrapped around Hazel, doing nine points of damage. "Everyone help Hazel now! Looks like Murphy might be ok for a second."
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+11=18 ; d6+2=4 ; Thursday August 13th, 2015 8:37:05 AM
Bliss sighs when his spell fails. He's just not good at that. He turns to what he does best. He fires at Snake One. It is not engaged, so no fear of hitting a friend.
He hits AC18 for 4 damage.
[DM Hugh] "Thanks for helping Shel, now help Me!" d8+2=10 ; 2d6+2=5 ; d8+2=3 ; d20+11=20 ; d20+11=19 ; d20+6=14 ; d20+16=19; d20+8=27 ; d6+10=13 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=29 ; d6+10=15 ; Thursday August 13th, 2015 10:08:11 PM Alleah guides Thistle over to Shel and heals her a little.
Hazel fails again at gaining control of the grapple though Faoil once again takes a bite out of his snake.
Murphy turns into an animal (OOC: you can't be a Dire Bear yet because of the rules change as a Dire Bear is CR 7 and you are only Character Level 6, may I recommend tiger, you can turn into one of those and each attack has grab, plus the bite and claws do more damage than a dire bear...I'll re-roll your damage for tiger and we'll sort it out next post) and fights the snake by biting and clawing, both attacks hit but neither strikes anything vital. (15 damage total no crit) (As a large animal Murphy's CMD is 10 + 4 + 2 (enhanced Str) + 1 (penalized Dex) + 1 (size) = 18 or 22 vs Grapple (if bear or tiger) and your CMB is 4+2+1 = 7 or 11 w/ grab)
Shel casts magic missile on the snake grappling Hazel.
Bliss misses snake 1 (remember it is in deep bog = has cover)
A strange halfling female with striking purple eyes bursts through the undergrowth on the opposite side from where most of the party is gathered. (OOC: Everyone give a warm re-welcome to Kent, your former DM from a loooong loooong time ago...before I joined the Wold)
Snake 1 attempts to rid itself of paralysis and fails.
Snake 2 attempts to maintain the grapple against Hazel, but Shel's missiles distract it so that it fails to maintain the grapple.
Snake 3 finally manages to catch Faoil with its teeth for 13 damage and starts coiling around the dog.
Snake 4 maintains the grapple with animal Murphy and deals an additional 15 bludgeoning damage.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d100=75 ; d100=36 ; Thursday August 13th, 2015 11:29:25 PM "So not good!" Alleah sees Murphy could really use some help, and Faoil is in much the same predicament.
She can't save them both. Can she? "Wardd if you're up there and watching, guide my hand!"
Drawing on her heroic reserves, Alleah draws power in from a leyline and expends it - casting 2 spells! (Use hero point for extra standard action. Casting 2 x Hold Animal Spells. One on the snake grappling Murphy, and the other on the snake grappling Faoil. Leyline checks: 75 & 36. Both pass. Range=150ft so ok. Snakes 3 & 4 to make Will Saves vs DC18 or be paralysed)
"Look out! Snakes!" she alerts the halfling in the distance.
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) d20+12=32 ; d20+12=17 ; d4+2=4 ; d6=3 ; d4+2=5 ; d6=5 ; Thursday August 13th, 2015 11:58:55 PM
Having been drawn to the hubbub and aware that something was going on, Trill was still a bit shocked to see a party of halflings and a dog struggling with some very big snakes. Hearing the warning and taking in the scene she quickly whips out her bow and sends an arrow flying toward the snake that has lost hold of its opponent (snake 2) and watches with satisfaction as the arrow flies true striking the snake solidly with an extra little bang as the electrical charge zaps out as well.
Hits AC 32 (Natural 20), crit threat AC 17 Damage: 7 points plus possible crit damage 11 pionts
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 16/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 10/23 AC 21/14/18 d20+10=28 ; d4+6=9 ; d20+5=15 ; d6+4=5 ; Friday August 14th, 2015 2:30:48 AM
Hazel smiles. "Thanks Alleah, that is what I needed!" He gets his Sling staff out and tries to hit the snake (#2) with it, using all his strength. Power Attack, Attack Roll 28, Damage 9 Faoil yelps and tries to bite the Snake. Attack Roll 13 (forgot to add the -2 as grappled); Damage 5
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 3d4+3=9 ; Friday August 14th, 2015 8:14:08 AM
With her legs finally underneath her, and not being harassed by anything, Shel was able to focus and really put some oomph behind her Magic Missiles. A much stronger set of missiles exploded from her fingertips at the snake grappling Murphy.
OOC: cast Empowered Magic Missiles at snake 4. 9 points of damage multiplied by 1.5 yields a total of 13 damage to the snake.
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+11=15 ; Friday August 14th, 2015 3:09:26 PM
Bliss whispers a swear he is not supposed to know. And tries again.
He hits AC15, a miss.
He says the swear again.
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+10=26 ; d20+10=15 ; d20+9=18 ; d8+6=13 ; 2d6+6=9 ; Friday August 14th, 2015 11:02:00 PM
Murphy works to counter the snake with his tigrish claws and feline jaws. [Claw AC 26, dam 13; bite AC 18 dam 9, total from two attacks 22]. If with any of his attacks he can succeed to grab (/grapple?) the serpent, he does so, seeking to reverse the situation. [DM Hugh, please make appropriate roll(s) for this as needed, and I will watch.]
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Saturday August 15th, 2015 3:13:42 AM
If Alleah could hear what Bliss just muttered she would wash out his mouth with soap. She knows Create Water and has a bar of soap, so don't think she wouldn't!
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) Saturday August 15th, 2015 8:24:50 AM
Future Bliss sees bar of soap in the hand and fearsome look in the eye of approaching Alleah.
...
Future Bliss hides in plain sight.
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) Monday August 17th, 2015 10:35:21 PM
(Monday Place holder)
Trill readies another arrow looking around the area to see what her next target should be.
Bliss looks at Mookie. Mookie looks at Bliss. They both sigh at the same time.
[DM Hugh] "Thanks Alleah, that is what I needed!" d20+6=12 ; d20+6=10 ; d20+11=26 ; d20+6=18 ; d20+8=20 ; Monday August 17th, 2015 11:06:10 PM Alleah alerts the newly arrived halfling to the snakes' presence and then attempts to paralyze the snakes tangling with Murphy and Faoil.
Both snakes fail their saves.
Trill, the new halfling lets fly an arrow at snake 2. The arrow lodges solidly into the snake, but did not hit anything vital.
Hazel whaps snake 2 soundly with his sling staff. Faoil though no longer grappled has his bite turned aside by the snake's thick scales.
Shel hits snake 4 with some extra powered Magic Missiles.
Bliss misses again and swears a swear he is not supposed to know.
Murphy-tiger hits the snake with both a claw and a bite. As the snake released the grapple when it became paralyzed, Murphy-tiger gets some free attempts to control the grapple. Murphy-tiger attempts to initiate a grapple for free with the bite attack (Combat maneuver roll for CMB + 11 = 26 vs CMD 24 = success) Murphy-tiger now controls the grapple with the snake.
Snake 1 tries to break the paralysis and finally does.
Snake 2 tries to bite Hazel but its fangs are turned aside by the ranger's armor.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d100=6 ; Monday August 17th, 2015 11:23:32 PM
With no more hold spells at her disposal, and feeling a little drained from the effort of casting two at the same time, Alleah tries to settle this combat peacefully.
She tries to cast a Speak with Animals spell, but the good Wardd taketh away the ley line! (Leyline check: 6 = Lost spell!)
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+13=14 ; d20+13=22 ; d20+13=23 ; d8+2=9 ; d8+2=6 ; Tuesday August 18th, 2015 5:15:29 AM
Murphy-tiger decides to try to inflict a bit more damage to the snake, then to get away from it. His bite does not take, but his claws deal an additional 9+6=15 hp damage, after which he leaps away from the momentarily slumbering critter, ending up out of the swampy area, and back on firmer ground (column 19, row 11). Turning to face the malodorous serpent, Murphy lets loose with an angry snarl - then he looks toward Hazel.
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 3d4+3=10 ; Tuesday August 18th, 2015 6:59:31 AM
Shel tries to finish a snake. If Murphy's attack finished number four, she directs her missiles toward number two.
OOC: yet another empowered magic missile for 15 points of damage.
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) d20+12=22 ; d4+3=6 ; d6=1 ; Tuesday August 18th, 2015 7:10:17 AM
Seeing that thing turning the halflings' ways are, Trill takes aim at snake 2 once again and lets fly with another arrow. Again she watches with satisfaction as it flies true and strikes with yet another jolt of electricity.
AC 22 Damage 6 pts + 1 point shock
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+11=21 ; d6+2=6 ; Tuesday August 18th, 2015 8:59:22 AM
Bliss shoots again, the fourth bolt in his clip of five. He shoots at Murphy's snake, since it is not engaged any more and he does not have to worry about hitting a friend. Maybe he even gets a bonus because it is paralyzed?
He hits AC 21 for 6 damage.
[DM Hugh] "Rawr" d20+6=24 ; Tuesday August 18th, 2015 10:15:15 PM Alleah tries to cast speaks with animals but the spell fizzles.
Murph-tiger claws his snake up something fierce then retreats.
Shel fires off more empowered magic missiles at snake 2.
Trill shoots another shocking arrow at snake 2.
Bliss finishes off snake 2. (OOC: Murphy's snake was already dead)
Snake 1 slithers menacingly towards Trill.
Snake 3 tries to shake off the paralysis and succeeds.
Key: light green: light undergrowth dark green: heavy undergrowth light brown: shallow bog dark brown: deep bog
Mu = Murphy 28 damage Sh = Shel 28 damage Ha = Hazel 39 damage Al = Alleah unscathed Fa = Faoil 13 damage Bl = Bliss unscathed Mo = Mookie unscathed Th = Thistle 12 damage Tr = Trillium unscathed
Snake 1 : unscathed Snake 2 : dead Snake 3 : 18 damage Snake 4 : dead
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 3d4+3=11 ; Tuesday August 18th, 2015 10:53:22 PM
Not wanting to use all of her strongest magic yet, Shel summons regular Magic Missiles at the snake focusing on the newcomer. "Run away from it! Don't let it grab you!"
Damage 11.
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+7=16 ; d20+7=16 ; d20+7=22 ; 2d6+2=7 ; d8+2=5 ; d8+2=6 ; d20+11=24 ; Wednesday August 19th, 2015 3:03:09 AM
The feline sees that the canine is threatened. The large cat leaps forth, landing on the south end of northbound snake #3, attempting to bite (AC 16 Dam 7), and claw (AC 16 dam 5) and claw again (AC 22 dam 6) as well as grab with the last attack (CMB + 11 = 24 vs CMD 24 - tie goes to the defender? - unless he gets another +2 on CMB due to flanking, in which case the grab succeeds - let me know). Murphy loves Hazel's dog, and does not want his good buddy to lose so long time a bonnie animal friend.
Was he wise, being so injured himself? Not too wise. Yet he hopes his friends will help bring down the snake, too. Murphy doesn't have anything in particular against snakes, except the really big ones who think that halflings make a nice snack.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d100=35 ; Wednesday August 19th, 2015 6:23:43 AM
Alleah spurs Thistle towards dead snake #4. She dismounts and checks to see if the snake can be saved at all
-------------------------- Free action to guide Thistle to snake #4 Move action to dismount Standard action to cast Stabilize on the snake, just in case. Leyline check: 35 = Ok
Bliss shoots at Snake 1 with the last bolt in this clip. He shoots at the end sticking out away from Trill.
He hits AC 21 for 8 damage.
"Boo-ya!" says Bliss.
Mookie says, "Hush, Kid."
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) Wednesday August 19th, 2015 10:06:11 PM
Seeing the snake come into range (attack of opportunity) Trill realizes she can't attack it with her bow and with the warning shouted to her, she decides to "Withdraw" in order to give her some space to work. (Full double move withdraw)
(Moving 40 ft due south from her previous position.)
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 22/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 10/23 AC 21/14/18 (Kim for Corsario) d8+1=6 ; d20+9=17 ; d6+4=9 ; d20+10=21 ; d4+6=10 ; d20+5=21 ; d6+4=10 ; Wednesday August 19th, 2015 11:12:39 PM
[If permissable, posting for prior round and this round for Hazel - he cannot get on the internet at the moment, as he earlier indicated could be an occasional problem.]
Seeing the snake go quiet before him, Hazel, sorely wounded, takes out a potion of cure light wounds and drinks it down (got 6 hp back) as he steps away five feet to the south. Foail, finding the snake has relaxed its grip in slumber, bounds out of its coils, turns and bites (AC 17, 9 dam).
Then he sees Faoil still in jeopardy, with a snake in his face - what kind of cat is tha... a tiger?
He moves forward, and, raising up his staff sling, brings it down full force on the side of the snake (AC 21, dam 10)
Faoil finds a spot just behind the snake's jaw and clamps his jaws down, trying to rip out the throat (AC 21, dam 10), then letting go and stepping back five feet to the north.
[DM Hugh] "Boo-ya!"" d20-14=5 ; d20+8=15 ; Wednesday August 19th, 2015 11:51:21 PM
(OOC: DM Post incoming...fell asleep)
Shel casts magic missile against the snake threatening Trill
Murph-tiger attacks the snake with everything his catform has. His first bite and claw are dettered by the snakes scales, but his last claw hits and he finds himself grappling the snake yet again. (CMD is your CMB AC if the CMB >= CMD it succeeds)
Alleah finds that there is nothing to be done for snake 4.
Bliss hits snake 1 with his last bolt and is proud of this. This time it is Mookie that tells him to hush.
Trill withdraws away from the snake threatening her.
(OOC: yup I'll allow a double post)
Hazel and Faoil both do further damage to the snake Murph-tiger is grappling after Hazel quaffed a potion and Faoil got a teeth full of scales last round.
Snake 1 charges Trill and fails to bite the nimble ranger rogue.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+8=12 ; d20+8=18 ; Thursday August 20th, 2015 12:50:22 AM
Snake 4 has gone to slither in the beyond, so there is nothing Alleah can do to help it now. Save for seeing its skin turned into something fashionable at some stage.
She sets her sights on Snake #3 and guides Thistle toward it.
Move action: Mount Thistle (Ride check vs DC20 to fast mount as a free action: 12 = Fail) Guide Thistle to Snake 3 If Alleah can reach the snake from the back of Thistle - Cast Stabilize Otherwise - Move action: Dismount Thistle (Ride check vs DC20 to fast dismount as a free action: 18 = Fail)
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 22/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 10/23 AC 21/14/18 (Kim for Corsario) d20+9=20 ; d6+4=5 ; d20+14=31 ; d4+6=7 ; d4+6=7 ; Thursday August 20th, 2015 1:32:32 AM
Faoil growls, leaps forward again, bites (AC 20, dam 5), and keeps his teeth embedded, trying to shake the snake, but more making his own body dance back and forth.
Hazel attempts a coup de grace (just in case, rolled to hit AC 31, but think it's an automatic hit, and critical hit - damage 14).
"Let's get out of this swamp!" says Hazel, another dead snake before him. He looks over at Alleah, seeing her put her hand on the snake. "Nice skin, eh?"
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) Thursday August 20th, 2015 1:36:48 AM
Bliss reloads his bah with a new clip.
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+16=24 ; Thursday August 20th, 2015 1:50:34 AM
As Hazel and Faoil seem to have this creature well subdued... he turns his head, looks about - and sees a snake chasing another halfling. The threats are not over yet. He leaps from the back of the giant snake, staying to the shallow marsh, round the corner on the grass. He runs, using the back of the snake as one landing/launching place for his feet to get its attention, and continues his run about 30 feet beyond the snake, turning to face it, Murphy-tiger snarls, hoping to distract the huge serpent from the fleeing figure. He thinks, as he cannot say, "No halflings for you or yours today." He prepares to attack should the snake come his way. Really, he prepares to attack whatever direction the snake goes, unless it is totally away from the party and... whoever this is.
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 3d4+3=13 ; Thursday August 20th, 2015 7:38:08 AM
Shel continues trying to assist the newcomer from range. Seeing the others occupied and not close to the new halfling, Shel uses her final Empowered Magic Missile of the day. It strikes the snake soundly.
OOC: damage 19.
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) d20+12=30 ; d20+12=29 ; d4+6=10 ; d4+6=10 ; Thursday August 20th, 2015 4:21:20 PM
Dropping her bow into a nearby square, Trill draws her rapier as she moves 5 feet south east and then tries her hand at the rapier, striking the snake a solid blow.
[DM Hugh] "Nice skin, eh?" Thursday August 20th, 2015 10:45:55 PM Alleah tries to prevent snake 3 from expiring but, Hazel and Faoil finish it off, so it too joins its reptile companions in the lands of rest.
Bliss reloads his bah
Murph-tiger chases after the snake threatening Trill and prepares himself to attack it should it move in any direction.
Shel fires off her last empowered magic missile at the remaining snake and Trill skewers the snake in the eye with her rapier, so it expires as well.
All of the snakes are dead, some of you are wounded and there is the matter of the newcomer. The newcomer has long loose; dark auburn hair that seems to be mussed up. Her eyes are her most startling features. They are fairly large and a deep violet in color. Her skin tone is quite dark but not quite black. She is wearing a very large loose and baggy outfit that covers her leather armor and a grey cloak wrapped around her shoulders that is held in place by a silver Trillium broach.
Perception DC: 19 Highlight to display spoiler: {There are further signs of large snakes headed deeper into the swamp. These tracks appear to be a little different than the ones from the snakes you just dispatched.}
(OOC: Combat is over)
Summary of everyone's statuses:
Mu = Murphy 28 damage Sh = Shel 28 damage Ha = Hazel 33 damage Al = Alleah unscathed Fa = Faoil 13 damage Bl = Bliss unscathed Mo = Mookie unscathed Th = Thistle 12 damage Tr = Trillium unscathed
Bliss looks around for berries to cast Goodberry on.
Knowledge Nature untrained 2
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Thursday August 20th, 2015 10:56:26 PM "Is everyone alright? Those snakes were awfully strong! I hope we don't find anymore like that."
She takes a deep breath and looks at Alleah. "Can you wait to check on the creatures attacking us until we have all safely gotten away from them in the future? One of us could have been killed while you were checking on the snakes, instead of helping us out defeating them. ."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+11=30 ; d20+8=22 ; Thursday August 20th, 2015 11:40:54 PM "I was only going to stabilize it and stop it from dying. It would have still been unconscious for a while" Alleah looks sheepishly to Shel "Does anyone need any healing?"
"There! More tracks!" she points, changing the topic "Different to these snakes, but headed further into the swamp"
She is happy to be the one to skin the snakes. They are dead after all, and it would be a waste to leave them here like this. In addition, she wants to check what they've eaten lately. Perhaps Malcolm in inside one? "We're sorry, Queen Maab, for having to kill four of your creatures. Please realise it was in self defense". After that quick silent prayer, Alleah draws her Cold Iron dagger and goes at it.
----------- Perception: 30 Survival to skin the snakes: 22 Cast 'Clean Blood' cantrip to remove the blood from Alleah's hands after skinning the snakes
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+16=35 ; Friday August 21st, 2015 12:40:46 AM
Seeing that some little bright lights entered along the back of the snake, and that this other one thrust into the brain of the snake, the tiger moves from a combative posture to a relaxed posture. The tiger walks somewhat casually in the direction of this other halfling, not looking at it, but pausing for a moment, looking at the nearby brush apparently crushed by another serpentine presence a little while ago. The amber, black and white cat then resumes his approach until about ten feet away. He then settles onto the ground, with sphinx-like posture, and looks up into - her face. The newcomer hears a sound begin to arise from the chest of the tiger. Is that a purr? He looks up at her, and blinks once or twice. He then bends down his neck, and licks a wound along his foreleg. The purring continues.
[Perception: 35]
[OOC: Welcome in your new guise, Kent]
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) d20+11=18 ; Friday August 21st, 2015 7:08:04 AM
Removing her blade from the snake's eye, she quickly scans the area for other dangers and then using a large leaf wipes her blade clean, and then retrieves her bow from whence she dropped it. Looking around yet again she watches the other halflings go about the skinning and offers of healing and keeps a wary eye on the dog watching its every move and obviously more than a bit worried about it. And until it is pointed out she has no idea that there might be other snakes around. Her mind occupied, by the dog, for a moment she barely hears some soft noise from behind her and turns, hand on sword hilt, only to find the tiger that was attacking the snakes, with the halflings, approaching her and settling onto the ground in front of her with a purr. Looking the cat straight in its eyes, she muses out loud with a twinkle in her eye.
" My, you look like you might be fun to go for a ride on."
Turning to rest of the group she continues.
"Good day to you all! Well met. My name is Trillium, but I go by Trill. Could any of you tell me exactly where I am? The strangest thing just happened to me. I mean other than being attacked by large snakes. Please tell me that "DOG" is properly trained and safe. I am not a big fan of them. Oh and why are you all out here in the middle of this snake filled swamp? Does anyone else need a little healing? I do have a couple of mild healing draughts."
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Friday August 21st, 2015 10:07:32 AM "I think we all need some healing," Shel calls out, feeling pain in her ribs from the constriction. "I'm Shel. This is Hazel, Alleah, Bliss, Mookie, you've met Murphy in tiger form, and Faoil is the dog," she calls out as she points to everyone. " All of us are friendly, so long as you are the same! I'm not 100% sure exactly where we are, to be honest. Geography isn't really my thing. We are here trying to follow some tracks. We think someone was taken from their vessel, and we are checking to be sure they are okay."
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 22/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 10/23 AC 21/14/18 (Kim for Corsario) Friday August 21st, 2015 3:49:25 PM
Hazel checks over Faoil. The wolfhound looks to be favoring his right hind leg. "We'll get you fixed up, boy."
He says, "Hello, Trill! Look, this here is Faoil, and I'll make sure he knows you're a friend. He gets on pretty well with halflings - unless they decide to attack me or my friends, that is. Glad to have your help today. Oh, like Shel said, my friends call me Hazel."
The ranger looks around. "Hey, who has that wand for curing?" He has several wounds, and blood on his shirt.
He looks back to Trillium. "It's mighty brave of you, being out in a place like this all by yourself. Did you see some snakes escorting some people around here?"
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger Friday August 21st, 2015 7:36:03 PM
The mighty cat begins to scratch away an area of grass, until, after a minute or so, a patch of bare dirt remains. The tiger's paws smooth out the dirt.
Standing on three legs, his right forepaw hovers above the smooth patch. With a long claw extended, a curved shape is sketched on the fertile canvas. A similar shape, a foot away, at about a 120 degree angle, is drawn. Then a third identical shape. Three leaves? He then moves a bit, and, in the space between two of them draws a larger shape, two curved lines which meet in a point away from the center of the circle. Then a second, and a third, each one between the gaps left by the leafy figures. In the center of the drawing, what looks like a curvy triangular shape, with one of the three sides only half completed.
Then, in the halfling tongue and script, the tiger writes the word, Trillium
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=2 ; d8+1=2 ; d8+1=9 ; d8+1=7 ; d8+1=7 ; d8+1=7 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=9 ; d8+1=8 ; d8+1=4 ; d8+1=7 ; d8+1=2 ; d8+1=9 ; Friday August 21st, 2015 9:22:06 PM
After skinning the snakes and cleaning herself off, Alleah beams a smile and goes to shake Trill's hand.
"Now everyone gather close"
She unleashes 3 channels of positive energy to heal the group (Everyone is healed for 10pts)
With that done, she then pulls out the CLW wand and goes to work. Hazel is healed for a total: 33pts Faoil is healed for a total: 17pts Murphy is healed for a total: 31pts Shel is healed for a total: 30pts Thistle is healed for a total 10pts
The Party CLW wand now has a very 'stick' feel to it (ie: It's empty)
[DM Hugh] "Now everyone gather close" d100=60 ; Friday August 21st, 2015 11:07:51 PM Bliss looks for berries to cast goodberry on, but comes up empty.
Shel asks if everyone is alright and then chastises Alleah for seeing to the snake while some of the party was still in battle.
Alleah sheepishly defends her actions, then asks if anyone needs healing before noticing more tracks. She skins the 4 snakes that they fought and killed and finds the remains of some animals in some and potentially a humanoid in one of their stomachs but it is hard to tell. However, as Malcolm did have other people with him the possibility remains that other members of Malcolm's entourage could still be alive or Malcolm himself for that matter.
Murph-tiger licks his wounds then cozies up near Trill and purrs.
Trill cleans her rapier and then takes stock of her surrounding. She eyes Faoil suspiciously and then introduces herself.
Shel introduces Humble's Sword and reassures Trill that they are friendly.
Hazel checks over Faoil and finds the wolfhound favoring its right leg. He reassures Trill that Faoil is friendly and asks after the wand of healing.
Murph-Tiger scratches a Trillium in the dirt and labels it as such in the Halfling language.
Alleah asks for everyone to come close and then channels positive energy and heals everyone.
Everyone is back to full health save Thistle. The pony is not in danger anymore but is still a little worse for the wear from its encounter with the snakes.
You have found the questionable remains of a medium humanoid in one of the snake's gullet. Trillium has introduced herself and you have found the trail of 3 more snakes headed deeper in the swamp. What do you do now?
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Saturday August 22nd, 2015 6:41:56 PM "Thanks, Alleah. I feel much better now!". Shel looks away at the grisly find of the what might have been humanoid. "Can anyone tell how long ago, this thing was eaten?"
She wasn't sure exactly what to do, but she cast Detect Magic, looking for any clues that might have survived the snake's gullet.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+11=16 ; d20+9=26 ; Saturday August 22nd, 2015 10:17:00 PM
As well as the skins, Alleah takes a couple of snake teeth as a souveneir. (Highlight to display spoiler: {At higher levels, a witch can 'tinker' with spells by adding material components she has personally collected. In anticipation of this, Alleah is already collecting tokens})
She grimaces at the discovery of the devoured humanoid. "Ugh, not a good way to go" She then looks to the rest of the party "Think we have time to bury whoever it is properly?"
------------------------------------------------------ Perception to try and ID the remains: 16 Knowl Nature to try and ID the remains: 26
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+16=35 ; d20+10=20 ; d20+11=17 ; Sunday August 23rd, 2015 3:39:08 AM
Murphy-tiger gives Alleah a gentle head butt in a show of feline affectionate gratitude for her use of the healing wand.
When the humanoid remains are extracted from one of the snakes, Murphy sniffs the body, and looks it over, trying to get a feel for how recently it may have been swallowed. He also notes what sort of clothes were worn, colors and materials and general quality, as much as he is able.
A snake tends to break some of the bones of its victims as its powerful muscles force it back into its lengthy digestive tract. Acids and enzymes would accelerate the process of digestion. It may have been within the range of the past 10 to 36 hours is his first guess, but he considers the remains to try to narrow that range. [Perception: 35; Knowledge, nature: 20; Survival: 17]
When the suggestion to bury the poor person's remains is made, he goes beyond the grassy area about ten feet inside the beginning of the forested area, finds a soft spot of ground roughly equidistant between trees - trying to find a fairly good gap, so he does not have to contend overmuch with roots, and uses his sharp claws to begin digging with vigor a hole large enough in which to fit the remains. He piles the dirt so that about half of the excavated dirt is on one side, and the other half on the other.
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) Sunday August 23rd, 2015 6:19:03 AM
Trill watches each of the group members as they are introduced and or introduce themselves, and while the tiger doesn't seem to bother her, it is very obvious that Faoil makes her very nervous even when assured that he is gentle and well trained.
To Hazel's query, she seems a bit unsure how to answer but decides that the truth however weird would be the best.
"Ummm, I can't say as I have seen any snakes escorting people. In fact I'm not really sure how I got here or even where in the Wold this is. The last thing I remember was, ummm, listening in on a conversation my mother was having with some of her old friends and then I was here.
So what is this about someone being taken and people being escorted around by snakes?"
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+8=14 ; Sunday August 23rd, 2015 6:47:18 AM "Hmmm.... " Alleah mutters to herself as she walks around Trill, inspecting the halfling from top to toe "Might I check your head for any bumps or bruises? Do you feel ok otherwise?"
What Trill said about arriving here magically could well be true, but then again, she could also be a looney under the sway of Wardd's moon.
Heal check: 14 - Perform a quick health check on Trill
Bliss steps up eagerly, undaunted by his failure to find any berries.
He is a slender foot and a half tall, wearing a worn uniform of some sort. In the place on the uniform where an insignia of rank should go, he has a Woldian League of Adventurers pin. He has a tiny backpack and a tiny basket tied to the pack. And he is carrying a repeating crossbow that's almost as big as he is.
"Hi Miss Lady Stranger! I'm Bliss! What's your name? Boy it sure is funny to meet someone out here in the wilderness. Unless you're an adventurer. Are you an adventurer? Thanks for helping us fight those snakes. I'm sorry we had to kill them. When we get some treasure, I'm gonna get my bah upgraded so it won't kill people. Or snakes. I bet they were just hungry. Too bad about that person they ate."
"Look, that's Mister Murphy there digging a hole. He's a druid fellow and likes to be different animals. That would be a great hole to put the dead person in, don't you think? I can say a prayer if nobody minds. I got Lord Gargul as a patron, see, just like my mom, and he would probably like that."
He sticks out his hand (also up) to shake Trill's.
"And this is Mookie, my spirit familiar. He's got a lot of spirit."
The raven caws and speaks. "Hush Kid, you talk too much!"
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 (Kim for Corsario) d20+11=20 ; Monday August 24th, 2015 4:02:03 AM
Friendly Faoil does not quite understand the nervousness of this new halfling. Hazel calls out, "Heel!" and Faoil dutifully comes to his side. "You can take your time warming up to him, ma'am," he tells Trill.
"Sure, Bliss, do your thing." He helps to move the sad carcass over to the hole that Murphy built, asking two or three others to help him move it. [Race? Gender? Size? Weight? How dressed?] They lower it in the hole. He waits for Bliss to say his words, then starts pushing the dirt over the body.
Giving a suitable moment of silence after the burial, Hazel then says, "All right. let's start tracking the other snakes, and see if we can find the other raft people."
Tracking (Survival: 20)
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) Monday August 24th, 2015 5:35:02 AM
Bliss recites, in his piping voice, "Now we lay you down to rest. Pray the Lord and pass the test. If you do, then sleep a spell. If you don't, we wish you well."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Monday August 24th, 2015 6:19:27 AM
Alleah just raises an eyebrow. At least Bliss gave it a shot.
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) Monday August 24th, 2015 9:54:05 PM
As she tries to evade Aleeah's ministrations and looking at her as if she is crazy she tries to answer Bliss's ramblings.
"Yes Bliss, I am an adventurer. My name is Trillium, though most people just call be Trill. Yes, that hole would make a good burial ground."
Shaking his hand she looks at the raven wondering just who these people are.
As Hazel reins in Faoil, she looks over.
"I am sure he is a fine dog. It's just, well it is a long and old story from my childhood and umm, well ....
As Bliss does his blessing, Trill looks on again wondering if perhaps she has fallen in with some sort of traveling troupe of entertainers.
After the ceremony, Trill looks over at Hazel when he mentions trailing the snakes and finding the raft people.
So who are these folk you are looking for, why do the snakes want them and would you like some additional help? (It is kind of obvious that she is looking for a way to either invite herself along or get invited along.)
[DM Hugh] "Can anyone tell how long ago, this thing was eaten?" Monday August 24th, 2015 10:47:34 PM Shel thanks Alleah for the healing and then turns her attention to the grisly remains, asking if anyone knows how long ago the being had been eaten. She then casts detect magic, but does not find any auras.
Alleah takes some snake teeth and then turns her attention to poor soul who got eaten, asking if they have enough time for a burial.
Murph-tiger also investigates the body trying to pinpoint a more exact time of death. He then starts digging a hole.
Murphy Highlight to display spoiler: {By your reckoning it appears as if the corpse has been in the snake's gullet for at least 36 hours if not longer. }
Trill answers the group's questions and asks some of her own. She doesn't know how she got there and has not seen any snakes escorting people.
Alleah checks Trill out for any head injury.
Bliss formally introduces himself and the rest of Humble's Sword to Trill before being told to hush by Mookie.
Faoil does not understand Trill's aversion and Hazel tries to reassure her before giving Bliss the nod to bury the remains.
Bliss gives a piping rhyming prayer over the snake's victim and Alleah raises her eyebrow.
Trill continues her conversation with Humble's Sword and explains that she too is an adventurer.
The corpse had been that of an average sized male human with black hair. The outfit the corpse was wearing had been badly damaged by the snakes digestive enzymes, so it is hard to estimate the quality of the outfit.
Appraise DC 25 Highlight to display spoiler: {If you had to guess, the raiment was most likely an explorer's outfit.}
After your brief service for the man, Murph-tiger covers the man with earth and you are able to follow the snake's trail further into the marsh. Eventually the trail stops at the entrance to a swampy cave deep in the bog. What now?
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+7=26 ; d20+11=22 ; d20+8=10 ; Monday August 24th, 2015 11:12:32 PM "Looks like an explorer's outfit. Perhaps some poor soul got lost and ended up as a snake's dinner"
Alleah will take it with her - perhaps someone will recognise it somewhere - and gets back atop Thistle, ready to follow the scouts of the group
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 (Kim for Corsario) Monday August 24th, 2015 11:48:39 PM
"Don't worry. I'll scout on ahead, and try to keep him at a distance from you, much as the situation allows. Far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to join us, unless someone else objects. You've got bow and arrows, and a useful rapier, Trill. Might come in handy."
Hazel continues, "Basically you're in the middle of Izen. We've been riding a barge heading northward. We came up for a ways by land from Goblin's Inn on the road between Dirt City and Aisildur. But the last few days we joined up with a barge, their captain and crew. We passed by Mount Bone, I think, which is a ways to the west of the river, maybe a day or two past. Well, today we came upon another barge a few miles back that way," he says, pointing back the way they came. "We found signs the captain and crew had left that barge, then got taken by some sort of snake creatures this a way. So, the barge we were on in continuing north, but if we can catch back up to them by some time tonight or early tomorrow morning, after we rescue the missing barge captain... well, who knows whether we'll do that?"
Hazel takes a waterskin from his side and takes a drink. "Don't usually talk this much." He shrugs his shoulders. "We need to get back up to our home in the Crescent Valley, east of the Culverwood, to Humble's Ford. They need our help. We need to help them.
"So, if any of that makes sense, and you want to come along, and you don't cause an unusual amount of trouble - like I said, you're welcome to do so." He takes another swig of water.
Faoil has taken to drinking from the swamp.
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+16=28 ; d20+11=25 ; Tuesday August 25th, 2015 2:43:10 AM
Murphy-tiger repeats his now standard form of communication when in animal form. He takes a few friends over to the patch on which he earlier drew a trillium, smooths it out, and writes, "Man dead day and a half."
He writes also, "Anyone want to ride on back?" So, if anyone wants to ride the tiger...
If one or more take him up on his invitation, he first travels slowly, gently, allowing them to become accustomed to the movement, to gain balance. Once the rider(s) seem more comfortable, he picks up the pace. Though he can track, he allows Hazel to take the lead on this one. And, we arrive at the cave. He lies down, allowing for dismounting.
Then he begins sniffing about, and examining the tracks - looking to see if there are multiple trails leading to this spot, or only the one they came down. He also listens, taking in the sounds of the area.
[Perception: 28; Survival: 25]
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Tuesday August 25th, 2015 7:13:51 AM
Shel hops on tiger-Murphyand tries to balance herself on the ride. "Now, go slow, Murphy. Remember there's no saddle back here," she advises as she pats him on the back.
"Oh! Oh!" says Bliss. "That cave looks mighty shadowy! Let me go shadowdancing in! I'm very sneaky!"
If no one has stopped him, he drinks an elixer of hiding (+10 on Stealth checks) and disappears in plain sight.
He casts Message on Mookie and Alleah.
"Miss Alleah, you cast Message on Mookie too, please. That was we double the range to about 250 feet that I can whisper to you guys in."
He casts his Longstrider spell, his Deathwatch cantrip, and renews his Reduce Person spell last of all.
Bliss moves at 40, full speed, with no penalty to stealth. He heads into the cave and scouts it out. he uses cover when he can find it, sticking to walls, since the HiPS ability is not foolproof, and cover never hurts.
Stealth checks: 53, 39, 37
He whispers back what he sees to Mookie, who rolls his eyes and relays it back to the party.
Bliss keeps alert as he moves out.
Perception checks 33, 33, 29
========
DM Sanity Info
Spells: level 1: 0+1 of 2+1 cast (Longstrider) Level 2: 1+0 of 1+1 cast (Hold Animal)
Current effects: Reduce Person: 1 rounds of 30 rounds gone Deathwatch: .2 min of 30 min gone Longstrider: .3 min of 3 hours gone Message: .4 min of 30 min gone Elixer of Hiding .5 min of 60 min gone
Other resources used: 5 bolts.
Note: Fully equipped, Bliss weighs 6.5 lbs, FYI, so he may not activate pressure plates and the like.
[DM Hugh] "Do the tracks continue on?" d100=48 ; d20+11=18 ; d20+11=14 ; d20+11=29 ; d20+10=26 ; d20+10=27 ; d20+10=20 ; d100=85 ; Tuesday August 25th, 2015 10:34:35 PM Alleah takes the remains of the explorer's outfit and gets back atop Thistle.
Hazel volunteers to scout ahead with Faoil and gives Trill a little more info about the party.
Murph-tiger lets his companions know how long the corpse was dead for and offers the party a ride.
Shel accepts the offered ride.
When the party reaches the cave, Bliss excitedly takes the chance to use his Hide In Plain Sight Ability. He downs an elixer of hiding, sets up a message relay using Mookie, and casts longstrider, deathwatch and reduce person on himself.
The cave is crude and natural. The entrance leads to a straightish passage that curves sharply to the left about 48 feet in. The sharp turn greatly reduces the illumination in the cave as not a lot of light filters through. The cave is damp and Bliss can hear the plink, plink of liquid dripping.
At the next turn about 40 feet in the cave starts to get a little lighter. Some bio-luminescent moss has made a home of the cave wall and there is dim illumination again.
Roughly 46 feet from there Bliss comes to a large chamber with a pool in the middle. In the center of the pool there is a small patch of land. Three large snakes with slightly different coloration from the ones you fought earlier appear to be resting on the island. They don't seem to notice Bliss. The snakes appear to be healthy. What do you do next?
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) Tuesday August 25th, 2015 10:37:35 PM
Slightly disappointed that Shel beat her to the punch about riding the tiger, Trill follows along watching for side trails and any other traces of things that might have passed the way they are going or might have been diverted. As they reach the cave she takes out her bow and again begins looking for signs that things are not what they seem.
Perception roll #1 Perception roll #2
(I tried to roll but the dice roller is not working for me now for some reason)
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+11=29 ; Tuesday August 25th, 2015 11:03:07 PM OOC: If you are having die roller issues (as I did) try reloading the page. For me it fixed the issue. If the problem persists, please drop me an email and I'll try and get things working for you
Alleah nods at Bliss' plan. As much as Mookie's constant talking is a nuisance, the bird does come in handy from time to time.
She leaves Thistle outside the cave and just hopes the poor pony will survive until she gets back.
In terms of marching order Alleah will be near the rear.
Perception: 29
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+16=23 ; Wednesday August 26th, 2015 12:01:46 AM
Bliss looks at the ground to see if there are any tracks. Perception 23.
Bliss backs up around the corner 40 - 50 ft back, whispers what he has learned, and asks the party what is next. "Maybe we do not have to kill the snakes this time," he suggests. "Like we have druids with us, right? So maybe some druiding would be good?"
He remains hidden.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Wednesday August 26th, 2015 12:51:28 AM "If one of the druids wants to give it a try, excellent. Otherwise, I can try speaking with them halfliing to, er, snake?"
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Wednesday August 26th, 2015 7:09:14 AM "If any of you want to talk to the snakes, more power to you. But I'm going to remain really far behind. Last thing I want is for another of those no good snakes to squeeze the ever loving life out of me again. Those things hurt!"
ADM Kim Wednesday August 26th, 2015 9:19:15 AM
[Can someone else post for Hazel? I'm on a 24-hour work schedule today - will try to get in a post for Murphy later]
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) Wednesday August 26th, 2015 5:15:00 PM
Listening to Bliss' report and some of the other comments she replies.
"Well Bliss, first off did you see any people or signs of people or anywhere they might be keeping the people?" Did you see any other passage or chamber leading from where they are?
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) Wednesday August 26th, 2015 5:22:40 PM
Bliss relays the answers to these and any other questions.
[DM Hugh] Last thing I want is for another of those no good snakes to squeeze the ever loving life out of me again. Wednesday August 26th, 2015 10:55:19 PM Trill is a little disappointed that Shel beat her to the punch as far as tiger rides go. Be that as it may Trill keeps her eyes peeled as far as other paths go, but does not find anything.
The rest of the party sans Thistle join Bliss in the cave. The party stays a good bit of difference back from the snakes and Shel and Alleah are in the rear.
Attempting to talk with the snakes is suggested and Trill asks Bliss if he sees any signs of the people or where they might be kept.
Bliss does not see any people but on the far side of the cave past the pool of water and the mini island the snakes are lounging on he thinks he sees the glint of metal. It may be a blade or two and some mail. The owners of the blades and mail do not appear to be anywhere. Bliss relays this to the rest of the group.
(OOC: Sorry that this post is kind of short, but I get the sense that Murphy / Alleah are going to try to reason w/ the snakes sometime soon, so once I have that information we can advance things further)
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d100=84 ; d20+5=22 ; Wednesday August 26th, 2015 11:06:27 PM "Ok, I'm going to try and talk them. Bliss - think you can cover me in case things turn hostile?"
Alleah will carefully edge forward towards where Bliss saw the snakes. She wants to try and stay some 40ft away from them. The ley line in this place is strong, and she finds she is able to finally cast the spell she failed with outside (Leyline check: 84! Free spell. Cast Speak with Animals)
"Excuse me, oh great and powerful serpents of this cave. Might this humble traveller speak with you?" (Diplomacy: 22) Alleah says as confidently as she can manage.
Ready action: If a snake gets within 20ft of Alleah she will move backwards
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Thursday August 27th, 2015 5:56:39 AM
Shel shakes her head. I just know Alleah is going to get eaten. I tried to warn her.. The sorcerer hangs back, looking behind them, making sure no sneaky serpent plans on having her for dinner.
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) Stealth d20+13=18 ; Perception d20+11=25 ; Thursday August 27th, 2015 6:42:07 AM
With her bow t the ready Triss moves up along with Alleah and Bliss but stays a few feet behind them. Whey they stop she stops and and takes a scan of the area.
Stealth d20+13=18 ; Perception d20+11=25
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 43/43 - (Kim) Tiger d20+16=28 ; d20+7=11 ; Thursday August 27th, 2015 2:55:20 PM
Murphy considered what Bliss, Alleah, and Shel have to say. He was about to change back into his normal body, when Alleah said she would go forward. Well, there may be some advantage to remaining as a tiger a little longer...
The tiger pads forward carefully, slowly, as quietly as he might (which, as it turns out, is not as quiet as he intended - Stealth 11), while also looking along the passageway to discern if there may be side passages, openings in the ceiling (Perception 25), and comes to stand slightly behind Alleah, waiting to see how the serpents will respond to her appeal.
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 (Kim for Corsario) Thursday August 27th, 2015 3:09:38 PM
Hazel grumbles a bit before the party enters the cave. "Talk to them? Snakes speak with forked tongue." Despite his misgivings about the suggested approach, he halflings up and readies his sling staff. "Keep quiet, Faoil," he instructs his hound. He comes up behind, leaving only Shel behind him.
Bliss oh-so-sneakily walks over to the other side of the pool, where he sees the weapons and armor. He makes sure to keep to the concealing shadows created by the glowing moss.
Stealth 55
He looks around carefully, trying to see interesting and dangerous stuff before it is too late!
Perception 17
[DM Hugh] "Excuse me, oh great and powerful serpents of this cave. Might this humble traveller speak with you?" d20+11=22 ; d20+11=23 ; d20+11=21 ; Thursday August 27th, 2015 10:43:55 PM Alleeah edges carefully toward the snakes, stops about 40 feet from them, taps into a leyline and attempts to use diplomacy.
Shel shakes her head and hangs back, trying to see if anything is sneaking up behind them.
Trill moves up with Alleah, staying a few feet back her bow at the ready. Trills scan of the area reveals nothing new.
Murph-tiger attempts to silently pad behind Alleah keeping his eyes open for side branches in the cave but he finds none.
Hazel grumbles about this plan to talk to the snakes and readies his sliing staff, telling Faoil to remain quiet. The ranger and dog leave Shel in the rear guard.
Bliss sneakily moves to the far side of the cave near wear he spotted the weapons and mail. He looks for other dangers, but aside from the snakes there are none. He does however see bracers, a cloak, the chain shirt he spotted earlier, a rapier, a short sword, a shortbow, 20 arrows in a quiver, a tanglefoot bag, a wand, a potion, a pearl and a small feather.
Alleah Highlight to display spoiler: { "It ssssspeaksssss. Issss it prey?" you hear one of the snakes asks it companions.
"I don't know. It hassss a tiger and some friendsssss." you hear another one say.
"I'm sssstill hungry. Those humanssss did not fill me up. Let'ssssss eat it and the tiger and the friendssss."
"little one, come closssser so that we may talk." You hear the first one say
"Yessss, come closssser." You hear the second one echo.
"clossssser." Says the third.
}
The snakes slither into the water and swim toward the shore and Alleah. They slither onto land and Alleah moves back 20 feet as the snakes get within 20 feet of her.
Alleah Highlight to display spoiler: { "Where are you going, little one?" You hear the first one ask
"Come back." You hear the second one say.
"Clossssser." says the third
, }
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 d20+4=21 ; Friday August 28th, 2015 1:00:53 AM
Highlight to display spoiler: {"Er, Now listen here. That huge army outside already killed off those other four snakes. I have their teeth here to prove it. If you don't want the army to kill you too, you'll stop right there, behave yourselves and answer my questions"} Alleah continues moving backwards towards the rest of the party (Bluff: 21)
"If they keep approaching it may be best for someone to, you know, use some muscle to stop them" Alleah says calmly in common, still keeping a lot of space between her and the snakes.
She fears these snakes are so hungry that combat is inevitable.
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Friday August 28th, 2015 7:35:58 AM
Shel was hanging petty far back from the action, but she was able to make out the serpents heading right for the party. She moves up, so that she wasn't all alone back there, but still remained at the back of the party. "So is it time to use magic on them? I can fry a couple of them up, I think!"
Trill (AC: 21/16/21, HP: 54/54, CMD: 20) (Kent) move silent d20+13=24 ; hide d20+13=33 ; Friday August 28th, 2015 8:25:16 AM
Watching the movement of the snakes coming forward and toward them makes Trill very nervous but she waits to fire until she sees if they continue to move forward or not. meanwhile she moves a bit so that she is off to one side of the snakes and not in front of them.
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Friday August 28th, 2015 8:38:49 AM "I've tried to bluff them, but if they keep coming, yeah, a show of force might be needed. They've already started talking about eating us, so things don't look promising"
Bliss (AC20, HP43) & Mookie (AC19, HP21) (Cayzle) d20+11=23 ; d6+2=3 ; Friday August 28th, 2015 4:59:00 PM
Bliss likes the loot, if that's what this is, but he sees the snakes over there looking threatening. He readies an attack on a snake if it attacks first.
Readied attack with bah: hits AC23 for 3 damage.
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Tiger Friday August 28th, 2015 5:48:42 PM
Murphy-tiger snarls in warning as the snakes approach. He looks at the layout.
If the snakes do not stop immediately after Alleah speaks to them, he runs to his right, takes a few steps on the side of the wall to get to the other side of these marvelous creatures who will soon die because they want to make of him and his friends a tasty snack.
If they do stop, he still moves to the right, but more casually.
[OOC: It would help to know the physical layout of things, the width of the tunnel, the height of the cave, etc.]
Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 55/55 AC: 28/14/15 - Faoil: 23/23 AC 21/14/18 (Kim for Corsario) d20+10=28 ; d20+10=14 ; d6+2=5 ; Friday August 28th, 2015 9:52:06 PM
"Stay back, snakes, or you'll get more of this!" Hazel shouts, bopping the center snake in the nose for 5 hp damage.
He slings a second stone toward the snake on his left, but it skips lightly off the snake's back. "Those are just warning shots."
Not that the snakes will understand his words. For Hazel, actions speak louder than words - and the snakes' aggressive advance tells him all he needs to know.
[DM Hugh] "Stay back, snakes, or you'll get more of this!" d20+3=11 ; d20+3=16 ; d20+3=13 ; Friday August 28th, 2015 11:44:09 PM Alleah attempts to bluff the snakes, advising her companions that if they keep advancing more aggressive measures may be appropriate.
Shel offers to make barbequed snake and advances to be closer to the rest of the group.
Trill nervously observes the snakes and then quietly moves off to the side.
Bliss readies an attack.
Murphy-tiger snarls in warning of the snakes approach.
Hazel lobs a bullet from his slingstaff at the center snake.
Alleah : Highlight to display spoiler: { "It hasssss an army." The first snake says, halting its movement.
"The army attacked me." The second snake cries, "can we ssssstill eat them?"
"Sssssilence, let'sssss ssssssee what it wantssssss." the third snake opines.
"If we don't like itssss quesssstionssss can we sssstill eat them? They did hurt me and I am sssstill hungry." The second one asks.
"Let ussss sssssee." The third one answers.
"What are your quesssstionssss?" The first snake asks, speaking for the group.
}
All of the snakes have halted their advance toward the party.
(OOC: If you need it I will create a map for Monday, but you may still be able to resolve this peacefully...Diplomacy won't work of creatures < 3 int for future reference, but bluff does not state any intelligence requirement so you can bluff animals)
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Friday August 28th, 2015 11:55:28 PM
Alleah blinks in surprise. Wow, the snakes actually stopped. She feels a little courage start to return.
Highlight to display spoiler: {"We only wish to know what happened to a few men that we think came past this way. If it turns out that you ate them, well, I'm sure you had your reasons. This IS your cave after all and you do need to eat.
In return, I would be happy to have everyone leave you to this fine lair and would gift you several hunks of meat as thanks and homage"}
"Where in Wardd's name is Bliss?"
Alleah calmly lets the others know what is going on "Ok guys. I think we might have a dialogue going here, but it may only be temporary. What's the plan?"
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Saturday August 29th, 2015 12:36:59 AM
Murphy-tiger changes into Murphy-halfling. He casts speak with animals, and says, Highlight to display spoiler: {"One moment, snakes. My friend and I will arrange so you can live, and we do not kill each other, and you get something to eat, but not us. Also, we get back things belonging to our friends."}
In halfling he says, "Good work, Alleah. What did you tell them? Hazel, stop with the sling bullets.
"There is plenty of food for them - snakes eat snakes - I've seen it before. What did you tell them, Alleah? Based on what Bliss reported, there is some armor left behind. We take whatever belonged to the raft people - if there is someone still alive, we take them, too. We promise not to kill them, and they do not kill us. We will not let all the unseen people harm them."
Alleah -- RobC -- AC 14/13/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 39/39 Saturday August 29th, 2015 3:01:54 AM "Well I kind of exaggerated about our numbers. I may have mentioned an .. army outside waiting to kill them." Alleah says quietly and calmy in common
Murphy CMD 18/22v grapple, CMB 7/11w/grab AC 16 HP 15/43 - (Kim) Saturday August 29th, 2015 4:13:42 AM
"All right. Let's let General Mookie take care of the army for us," Murphy answers in halfling. "He should tell the unseen soldiers to take to the trees, and not to harm the passing snakes. No doubt he can improvise." He shouts towards the opening of the cave, filling the cavern with his voice, "General Mookie, sir, tell the unseen soldiers to fly to the trees, and to let the three snakes pass unharmed. Take them to the field of battle, where they will find much to eat."
He says to the snakes in their tongue. "Give us a moment. The leader of the army, General Mookie, will command our unseen soldiers to fly to the trees, and to let you pass unharmed, so long as you attack none of us. I have told our soldiers to strike you no more, as long as you do not try to eat any of us. If you attack any of us, your bodies will be sliced into small pieces, and you shall never eat again. If you follow General Mookie, you will find a great feast, and General Mookie shall lead you there. He is disguised as a crow. Follow his call, and enjoy the good food."
Shel Gerald--AC 15/14/12--CMD 14--HP 39/39 Saturday August 29th, 2015 10:12:22 AM
Shel still wasn't sure she felt great about conversing with these serpents. "When did Mookie become a General? Did I miss something," she whispers to the others. Despite her hesitency, she lets Murphy and Alleah do their thing. "Just keep them far away from me. I've developed a fear of snakes today, fgor some reason!"
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