DM Kathy Friday July 29th, 2022 11:07:20 PM
[Everybody take 500 XP for that last scene.]
Nighingale buys a basket and modifies it for the kitten. The basket weaver is actually intrigued by your project and helps you by loosely weaving a little "cover" right there on the spot. The cover matches the rest of the basket, but the weave is loose enough to allow air and light in.
Panzer begins decorating his new home. Between your furniture, the kiln project, and the animal handlers, there are actually quite a few workmen in Freedom's Landing over the next week or so, but you can still escort them back to Karri if you want.
Beech begins sketching designs for a home of his own. You ask about grafting, and get a "yes" answer, along with advice to wait until spring to attempt it.
Sahabiel thinks to acquire some lumber before leaving Karri, which is much appreciated by all. You continue with the leshy project until you decide there are enough.
Lothlo and Naithi help with construction, and in a few days you have both a chicken coop and a three-sided shelter for the goats.
Many of the workmen return to Karri, but more arrive. Specifically, Master Sarquinal arrives with a journeyman builder he introduces as Hundik Bitterforge. Hundik is a young dwarf, who seems to know his trade. Master Sarquinal helps him get the project started, then returns to Karri, explaining that he has other projects to oversee. This is not quite what you'd talked about, but Hundik does a good job, and Sarquinal does return every few days to check on the project, and it is done to everyone's satisfaction.
The last of the harvest is brought in, and stored in the inn cellar, as well as the Town Hall, because you don't really need all that space yet. The herbalist shop is set up, and work continues on getting the inn finished and furnished.
Within two weeks after your return from Karri, you judge that Freedom's Landing is pretty much ready for winter. Of course, that doesn't mean more projects can't be started, although building is often an challenge in winter weather.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+13=27 ; d20+13=18 ; d20=14 ; d20+5=10 ; Saturday July 30th, 2022 12:21:32 AM
Naithi continues training her kitten over the next few weeks. She starts with the basics...come, fetch, maneuver (to grab items), and seek. In her mind these are the perfect skills for Jen. Especially after training her a little in stealth/sneak so she can avoid any combat the group is part of.
Camalayas is combat trained, Fizzgig is the perfect hunting and guard dog, Cuddly Mule is good for hauling gear and heavy labor, and now Jen can fetch items and serve her.... That's when she realizes her mistake. Those skills, when given to a kitten make it the perfect cat burglar! Unable to untrain the kitten, she quickly teaches it the exclusive trick, so no one else might take advantage of her.
ooc: With handle animal I trained Jen for the steal purpose. The skills it gives the kitten make it much more flexible as a service animal or feline butler than training it to serve does, although the DC to train it is higher. It also only takes one week of training.
Handle Animal Check to train to steal = 27, beats dc 25, pass Handle Animal to train to listen exclusively to me = 18, +2 for Camalayas aid another check= 20, pass Camalayas Handle Animal Check/aid another= 10 pass
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Saturday July 30th, 2022 12:06:55 PM
Panzer's home was coming together and he was pretty well settled in. Once that was done he helped the rest of the settlement gather and char the fuel for winter. His home should need only a minimal amount of fuel since it is below ground and the earth will regulate the temperature in the home. He was unsure why they were so wood poor though, so he asked as he helped gather and prepare for the cold. " Why does the settlement have so little wood for cooking, building and heat? Is it because of Parnoth's 'beautification' when he reigned, removing most of the trees to create an open woods rather than a dense forest or is it because many of you wished to live more in harmony with the Culverwood and not use it's trees for those purposes?"
OOC This is mainly because Panzer came to this place after it was going and he doesn't know the reasons . Just waned to know more about where he lives.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday July 30th, 2022 8:20:46 PM
Sahabiel is happy to answer Panzer's question...
"It is a little of both... this town has chosen to pursue harmony and heed the covenant of the Culverwood, which includes to only harvest the wood of trees where they fall naturally. In itself that is eminently sensible, as the Culverwood is watchful, powerful, and right over there-" she points in the nearest direction where the Deep Culverwood is only a few hours' ride away, far closer than Karri or any other settlement that might be considered Freedom Landing's neighbors. "...the problem therein however is that this way of living presupposes there being quite a lot more trees than Parnoth left behind. This... pastoral parkland... just does not provide natural yield of wood to be freely taken, that a proper dense woodland would."
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday July 31st, 2022 3:53:12 AM
Like Naithi, Ash plans to train her pet kitten. Not nearly as intensely though. For her, Silk will be a mouser and housecat. Something to come home to after a busy adventure, and snuggle up with in front of a fire.
She sets Briana to work in the herbalists, and tries to make herself useful around town by lending a hand with various spells (Mending and Create Water no doubt getting some good use).
----------- Naithi:Highlight to display spoiler: {Steal, Maneuver and Exclusive are all non-core.}
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Sunday July 31st, 2022 2:22:47 PM
ooc: Handle Animal is a unique skill in that you are not limited to the listed tricks. You can make up your own. I'm basically teaching it to bring me what I ask for and to stay out of sight. Since these animals are not used in combat, the steal maneuver was just for flavor. I'm picturing the nanny/dog that takes care of the kids in Peter Pan in the beginning of the movie, except as an adorable kitty butler.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Sunday July 31st, 2022 5:12:28 PM
Zazu hands the magic seeds to Naithi for safekeeping until Spring.
"Also, what about Buggo! Let's make sure he has good winter quarters too!"
[OOC: For those who do not recall, Buggo is a giant dire grasshopper we raised from an egg and tamed. He lives in our village.]
Listening to Sahabiel talk about building materials, Zazu reminds the group about the ability to mine stone at our quarry, and the plan to make bricks coming soon.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Sunday July 31st, 2022 6:36:20 PM
Sahabiel approaches her little Nibin with the hopeful expression of one intending to train a pet... but after an exchange of glances the half-elf quickly recognizes that the kitten is as likely to teach her about mousing as the other way around. So instead she settles for familiarizing it with such classic expectations as stay-off-the-table.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Sunday July 31st, 2022 8:38:12 PM
Beech sets up his tent, and goes about making it as ready as he can for cold weather. He beings to wonder if the town had an attraction, like a Zoo, if it'd draw in any money... The group was halfway there already.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday August 1st, 2022 12:53:18 PM " True Zazu, but in the cold of winter bricks do not burn to warn food or homes. Sahaviel, I know yuou and Naithi have been up to something to help regrow the trees and I have seen the little stick men wandering around, Is there a plan afoot to regrow the dense woods that used to be here, thus making future winters easier and leave the crafters with the materials to craft their works? Is the Culverwood on board with that? And if things get desperately cold this winter, is there a way to appease the Culverwood if we need to harvest more fuel?" " Try as I might there is no good alternative anywhere near here for wood. I have looked for coal, for Peat, and found nothing. And a forge and brickworks will need fuel to make things, in addition to the need to cook food for this many people."
CDM Jerry [OOC post] Monday August 1st, 2022 2:33:15 PM
DMs check email and DMboard please.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday August 1st, 2022 9:21:45 PM
Lothlo's kitten appears to be a natural mouser and has a blast in his new home in the woods.
Speaking of woods, Lothlo listens to the team discuss their concerns about firewood. As far as firewood goes, could we go up river away from the Culverwood and find large logs to float down the river? It may not be ideal, but we should have enough firewood at the moment, we are just looking for enough to act as a buffer should it be a longer winter than normal
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday August 1st, 2022 10:58:39 PM "If we commune with the Culverwood and perhaps make offerings, maybe it will let us harvest some trees from time to time?"
DM Kathy Monday August 1st, 2022 11:12:34 PM Naithi sets about teaching her kitten some tricks. A cat has an Int score of 2, and can therefore learn 6 tricks. Naithi teaches hers to fetch things for her, which may have been a mistake. Exclusive or not, nothing will stop the kitten from picking up things she finds interesting.
Panzer asks about the wood situation, and Sahabiel is happy to answer. It's a combination of the woods being somewhat tamed, and a reluctance to cut living wood if it is avoidable. There is plenty of brush to burn, however.
Ash trains her own kitten, and helps out around the village.
Zazu hands the enchanted seeds to Naithi for safekeeping, and goes to check on Buggo. Buggo is living like a king in a cloth-lined cage, fed leaves by fascinated children who take turns looking after him.
Beech sets up his tent and muses about setting up a zoo.
Lothlo's kitten is a natural moser.
The village does have enough fuel to last the winter. Next winter may be more of a challenge, but one thing at a time. Indeed, you can all feel proud of the village you helped create. The sentry towers mark the corners of the village. On the river, the bridge and quay provide a welcome for travelers. A road or path has been worn up the bank there in a sweeping curve, which leads past the little building set up as a harbormaster or possibly trade office. There's no call for one now, which is why Zazu has set up temporary residence there, but the "Welcome to Freedom's Landing" sign hints at things to come.
Next, the road sweeps past the brand-new inn, to end in a village square of sorts, bordered by the town hall, the shop building, and a few wattle-and-daub houses. The kiln is set back a ways, for safety, but visible from the square. The remaining houses are scattered in among the trees, all snug and ready for winter. It seems like only yesterday this place was a collection of tents, but now it looks like a real home.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday August 1st, 2022 11:16:50 PM
"I still think we should burn as little wood as possible. Maybe we can get some coal from Karri. Maybe we can get more warm clothes for everybody. Maybe we can get more food for everybody."
"Hey wait, we can buy a few wands of Rose's Temperature Control. Heck, if Ash and I put it in our spell books, the casters in the party can cast it enough times a day to keep everyone toasty."
"Who needs adventuring in the winter anyway!"
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday August 1st, 2022 11:18:06 PM
OOPS! Posted the same time as the DM. Still think it is a good idea to get that spell in our books!
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 2:27:59 AM
Ash grins. "Roses Temperature Control? Oh, I already have that one in my book but I know how to cast it anyway". It's one of those Bloodwitch spells that Ash has up her sleeve to cast as needed. "If it's to keep people warm though, an Endure Elements spell might be better. It lasts longer and I think most of us can cast it already too".
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 7:16:45 AM "Ya may be worrying overmuch. Our shortage is mostly of wood for light construction, such as when we needed some to build the chicken coop. But it is not that big of an inconvenience, or a threat to our future. Between reed weaving and clay, we have already been managing with very limited wood for construction, and we are really not short fuels for our cooking and heating... I have been personally working on that with the villagers and we really have quite enough plant matter, it just needed a little drying and rendering into charcoal to make it burn cleanly enough for use indoors."
"The more important thing, is to understand why we must. Before Parnoth, this land here, all of it, was forest. The Culverwood stood right here where you and I do now. And now that Parnoth is gone and what remained of his power in the land is waning, if nature takes its course then it will be overtaken by the woods again. Not all of it overnight. Not even in the lifetime of one generation of mortalkin. But eventually, year over year, by seed on the wind, by fruit and by root, the edge of the forest will move into this clearing that Parnoth made for himself and called his kingdom. To oppose this would be to continue the dragon's hubris, but without the benefit of the beast's power... and it would not end well. It is true that the Culverwood can not do much directly beyond its own boundary, and this may lead some to think they can keep it at bay forever if they are diligent in uprooting yearlings before the magic of the Culverwood follows behind. But the Culverwood is an entity almost as old as the world, well aware and steeped in power. If it perceives that those living in its shadow are fighting against it, it will fight back by indirect means. It may inspire the most fecund of monsters that dwell within to breed far beyond their usual numbers, and cause them to stampede from the forest to bring chaos where there was order, if that order was hurting it." Sahabiel smiles... "In a way, I myself am part of this, am I not? I am from the Culverwood, I hear Wood's Will, and I came here to promote that this settlement will live in harmony with nature. I am one person and ya have seen some of what I can do. If the Culverwood's attitude towards the people living on its fringes were forced from curiosity to hostility, the next of my clan and kin to emerge from the forest would not do so as helpful envoys. Me, I'd much rather we all get along, and that means to see harmony take root here, that those who live here and their descendants learn to thrive in a way of life that right from the start will keep them out of unendurable conflict and instead will come to reap the benefits of living on the back of a benign great power."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 12:20:01 PM
Nightingale grins, "Well said Sahabiel. As for blankets and overcloaks, I can help show some of the folk how to sew simple, sturdy cloaks, and how to make some simple but warm blankets."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 3:48:23 PM " OK, I like the way you put that, and I am all for harmony with the 'wood. I know some of you have left offerings to the Culverwood , what would constitute a suitable offering, rather than a hollow plea to just be left alone?" Panzer's attitude has changed from indifferent and curious toactually wanting to understand and participate with the Culverwood. He lives in it's shadow now and he wants to be a good neighbor, helpful even. He does not want to be 'that guy' who lives next door and rails at his neighbor's ways.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 9:19:58 PM Let's also not forget that we already spent one winter here, and we are in much better shape this year than the same time last year. We planned our firewood on a grandiose vision of how much building we could accomplish over a full year, and while our construction dreams may have fallen short it does mean that we have fewer buildings to heat with the wood we did collect. But as was mentioned our concern is more about wood construction in the future than firewood.
Regarding a suitable offering, I don't know much about the Culverwood's desires in an offering, but from what I know about trees, perhaps we could take a cutting from the tree to transplant at the Culverwood's edge so that the tree can continue to grow and the magic of the Culverwood can be welcomed deeper into the land again.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 9:30:31 PM
Naithi continues training her kitten and leaves the others to talk about cooking and heat, an issue that she has already given her input on several times.
ooc: What exactly does domesticating an animal mean in Pathfinder, I couldn't find an explanation. Also, can I change maneuver(steal) to serve meaning to act like a service animal that can handle act as a butler.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 10:12:39 PM
Zazu snuggles up to Boyo. "I've got the cutest bunny ever to keep me warm!"
DM Kathy Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 11:11:03 PM Zazu mentions the Rose's Temperature Control spell, and Ash confirms that she can cast it. However, Endure Elements might be a better choice. However, magical protection from the elements might be more than what is needed. After all, the villagers have snug houses, decent clothing, and enough fuel to burn. Unless there's an unprecedented cold snap, they'll probably be fine.
Nightingale offers to teach the villagers how to make cloaks and blankets. However, when you attempt to undertake this task, you find that the village already has a small group of seamstresses who are busily at work turning furs (saved from animals hunted for food) into warm jackets, hats, and gloves.
Sahabiel stresses the importance of living in harmony with the Culverwood, even though you are outside of its strongest influence. Panzer is persuaded, and asks how he might make some kind of offering to the Culverwood. Lothlo has some suggestions, and your DM will also remind you that some of the group started a druid's grove across the river; that might be a good place to do something like that.
Naith continues training her kitten. You can certainly train her to pick up things and bring them to you. However, she remains a cat. There is no guarantee that she won't also sometimes pick up things she thinks are interesting and bring them to you unprompted.
You can, if you like, undertake building projects over the winter, but most of the villagers seem content to wait until spring to make further improvements. You can also add to the druid grove, or work on your own residences.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 11:37:53 PM
Ash hasn't spent a lot of time in the grove but certainly wants to make sure it too is prepared for winter.
She looks over the plants and grasses to try and work out which ones are resilient to the cold and which might need some extra tending during the cooler months. She fully expects that some of the herbalists have been spending time here, gathering different components for their wares. She will take some clippings herself as well and store them in her woven sargrass pouch to keep them fresh.
If the grove is doing well she'll check if the ground is fertile enough for her to try growing a few more herbs. You can never have too many, she figures. The more herbs, the more concoctions, the more trade. Worst case, they'll have more to add to soups and broths.
Mmmm. Warm soup in winter. She can just imagine tucking into a large bowl of pumpkin soup and using a big chunk of crusty bread to sop up the remains. That kiln Zazu arranged is going to get some good use.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 10:33:22 AM
Beech helps out where he's needed, he can't cast the spell he needs for his future home, and he just doesn't have the money to purchase it from the Catacombs, currently. He could probably ask his mom, but that would just leave him owing her a big favor sometime, and she liked being owed favors. He will draw up plans for skid to pull boats out of the river to be worked on. As well as a rotating area so it can be turned to continue the move to a place where the craftsman can work.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 12:05:52 PM
Nightingale will help out where she can to prepare for winter. She'll also be spending time in her own home making sure it is prepared as well. She will also be playing with her kitten, and figure out where it's bed is going to be from watching where it falls asleep ...
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 3:12:06 PM
Panzer uses the wall coverings he bought to make doors to separate some of his house from other parts . In both winter and summer that should work to keep some parts warm and others coolHe will also pitch in around town when and where needed to get whatever others need done finished before the snows.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 7:38:15 PM
ooc: We were hit by a large storm last night when 80mph winds and lost power and internet. I'll try to catch up tonight, but they're is some storm damage to deal with first
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 9:18:36 PM I'm not sure what building projects would make sense in the winter. I'm up for it if we have one, but it seems to me we would be better off spending our energy hunting and finding food in the winter instead of building. But some of you probably have better ideas than I have.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 9:59:29 PM (ooc: All the best there James!)
Sahabiel would answer Panzer's questions, but the obvious replies have kind of already been given and don't really need repeating, so please assume Sahabiel answered along similar lines while I make my actual post for today about something else :)
As winter descends, Sahabiel feels that Freedom Landing has.. perhaps not had all that many occasions to really come together to celebrate anything, since it has been so busy just providing the essentials. So she plans to have a bit of a cookout for the winter solstice to keep everyone's spirits up. Nothing too grand, but with a small shipment of flour and some other easily transportable ingredients to augment the food stores, and enough helping hands doing the making, the entire town should be able to eat its fill of croustillons and get together with music and songs.
(ooc: Traditional croustillons are the medieval precursors to doughnuts; balls of leavened dough made with flour, eggs, milk, salt, yeast, and dried fruit, fried in vegetable oil or lard - it is a tasty, filling, hot, and very high-calorie treat traditionally eaten in the heart of winter here in times when fresh rich food would have been unavailable to the masses. It also happens to be great festival and fairground food because they smell great and are easy to hand out. They're not glazed, but usually get powdered sugar on top when served.)
DM Kathy Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 10:53:50 PM Ash visits the druid grove to evaluate it for winter. You see that some of the freshly transplanted saplings may need some protection at some point, but for the most part the plants here are native to the region and should come through the winter just fine.
Beech helps out where he can. Plans for his own home are on hold until he can muster some more spellcasting power. He draws up plans for a way to pull boats out of the river so they can be worked on.
Panzer and Nightingale work on their homes. Nightingale finds that her kitten favors two spots: one in front of a window and one near the hearth.
Lothlo comes to the conclusion that construction projects probably don't make a lot of sense in winter. It might be better to focus on hunting.
Sahabiel begins making plans for a little celebration. She'll need to go to Karri for some of the ingredients, but that shouldn't pose a problem. [OOC: So, kind of like beignets?]
[OOC: Unless somebody has something else they'd like to do, we'll move on from town-building tomorrow.]
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday August 4th, 2022 12:24:21 AM
Zazu spends some time practicing riding and illusions. That way everybody will know when real fog or mist is cast, and when it is illusionary.
Code words should get the job done, probably.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday August 4th, 2022 4:48:36 AM
Ash takes a snipping from some herbs here and there, and stores them in her pouch. She searches in particular for something that smells nice. Some wildflowers? Lavender or perhaps jasmine? She isn't entirely sure what she'll find in the grove but will let her nose lead her.
She's not as focused as the others on construction and town building, and is instead happy to enjoy time to relax.
Ash takes her flower clippings home and places them by her bed.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday August 4th, 2022 1:24:43 PM
Nightingale will make the kitten two small warm beds for it to rest in/on. She'll also work on embroidering some more flowers and butterflies into her clothing. She also thinks it may be time for a new hairdo and will seek help from the other girls in the group for ideas and help with coloring it some other color than green.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday August 4th, 2022 1:39:56 PM
Panzer decides that he wants to talk to the Leshy (pl?) that have been summoned around town, but he doesn't speak anything they do. He knows that many of his companions speak Sylvan and begins to train wih any of them that will teach it to him. To that end he begins trying to ask for things in sylvan and tries to take correction when it is given. (preparing for next level up and maybe a point into linguistics, but fighters get so few)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday August 4th, 2022 1:46:14 PM
Naithi checks on her grove and takes care of her menagerie. As she goes about her day, she collects herbs for cooking and begins transfoming random pieces of her gear into easier to manage flowers.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday August 4th, 2022 8:20:39 PM
Sahabiel does not believe it helpful to try to continue construction through winter (the only focus on building she entertains for the winter months is building community), although she does continue performing her daily ritual to strengthen her tree even through winter, also because the effect of the lingering background magic from all those plant growth rituals on the soil around her tree is still being used by the leshy who prepare the plant bodies for their additional numbers to inhabit there.
The leshy for their part are seeing to making sure every young tree is winter ready before any frost or snow comes to the land.
Sahabiel is also willing to help Panzer learn the Sylvan language, and gives him a few practice phrases to work on pronunciation.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday August 4th, 2022 8:58:48 PM
Lothlo takes his kitten to visit Naithi and her menagerie. Naithi, I'm not sure if there are any big constructions projects left before winter, but I was thinking of crafting a few simple board games. Have you ever played backgammon? It's something we used to play on slow nights at my mom's tavern.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Thursday August 4th, 2022 9:45:29 PM
Beech, practices throwing his party favors down the river, seeing how far he can throw them.... He makes sure no one gets hurt, although if he precooks a bird or two, he's gather the bodies and bring them back to camp.
Highlight to display spoiler: { Party Favors = Fireball }
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday August 5th, 2022 12:37:22 PM
Panzer walks the perimeter of the village looking for where a wall would do the most good with the least work to erect. Maybe he will learn some stone work and get to work using that quarry to get that work done. Probably not while the snow is on the ground but after, that could be an idea.
The Lodestone
DM Kathy Friday August 5th, 2022 2:54:08 PM Zazu practices riding and illusions. He works out some simple signals to let his companions know when something is an illusion.
Ash looks for fragrant herbs. It's too late in the year for lavender or jasmine, but you do find some fragrant rosemary and sprigs of mint.
Nightingale makes beds for the kitten. She likes the one by the hearth; the one by the window is kind of hit and miss.
Panzer decides he should try to learn Sylvan.
Sahabiel continues strengthening her tree and planning for the winter celebration.
Lothlo hits upon the idea of crafting a few games to while away the winter hours.
Beech practices his spellcasting.
Naithi tends her animals and checks on the grove.
One morning, Naithi, Ash, and whoever else wants to tag along go to visit the druid grove on the other side of the river. It is a frosty morning, and all the trees and bushes have a thin coating of white. The bridge is a trifle slippery, but it has a handrail and you cross safely enough. Your breath steams in white clouds as you make your way to the grove.
In the grove, the plants are unchanged, but there is something new. It is an odd piece of metal, about 2 inches long, roughly carved in the shape of an arrow. It is not an arrowhead; it’s the wrong size and there’s no way to attach it to a shaft. It is something else.
Knowledge: Dungeoneering, Geography, or Engineering 15 Highlight to display spoiler: { The material is lodestone, a naturally magnetized metal that always points north.}
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday August 5th, 2022 3:26:52 PM
Of course Nightingale would want to go check the Grove. She sees the piece of metal, wondering what it is and who left it behind...
OOC: She has none of those skills lol
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+3=9 ; d20+3=12 ; d20+3=23 ; d20+14=26 ; Friday August 5th, 2022 9:04:54 PM
Lothlo looks from a distance at the odd piece of metal That looks like it might be a loadstone (engineering = 23)... I suppose the question is whether it's pointing north.
Should we be worried that this was found in the middle of the grove? Should we be worried that someone may have been messing around out here?
Lothlo looks around the area, knowing that the frost and frozen ground would have helped preserver any signs if someone had been walking around here recently. (perception = 26).
Dungeoneering=9 Geography =12 Engineering = 23
perception = 26
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday August 5th, 2022 10:44:54 PM
Most days, Sahabiel does not personally go to check on the grove even though she is one of the people that started it and continues to look after it -- instead trusting that the leshy tending it on a daily basis will let her know if there is some problem. Today however it seems that a rather large group of her companions have all decided to visit the grove-to-be together, so she tags along.
When the curiously out of place item is found and Lothlo speaks of it being a navigation aid, Sahabiel says; "I hope whoever lost this has a good sense of direction without it, else ya may need to keep yer eyes open for someone looking a bit lost in the area...?"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday August 5th, 2022 10:58:29 PM
Ash is quite confident that this is in fact a lodestone.
"Wonder if someone from town dropped this? If not, we might have a visitor" Ash will pick it up, and holding it gently on her open palm turns to face north. She looks it over closely for any markings or signs of blood, and tries to discern it's value.
------------- Knowl check: Take10 = Pass all! Probably know the right direction in town, but in case, Survival check to discern north? 14 (Take10) Appraise: 21 (Take10) - to determine value Perception: 19 (Take10) - to examine it in detail
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday August 5th, 2022 11:33:43 PM
Zazu rides Boyo, like usual, on the outing to the grove. "Honestly, a person gets tired of not being on an adventure, ya know." Thinking of adventure, the wizard casts Mage Armor from a scroll before entering the grove.
"No Boyo, you don't need one. Look at your new shiny armor." Boyo is wearing his new magic mithril chain shirt!
Zazu plays with the lodestone marvel, seeing if it sticks to any of the metal the elf possesses -- thieves tools, crafting tools, magic rings, bits of metal on Boyo's saddle.
And then does the same thing using the arcane trickster's ranged legerdemain.
"Is it magical, do you think, Miss Ash?"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Saturday August 6th, 2022 4:34:29 AM "Good thinking Zazu!" Ash will follow up with a Detect Magic spell to see if it has a magical aura.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Sunday August 7th, 2022 4:28:18 PM
Beech sees most of the group heading towards the grove, so he tags along, a bit behind the others....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday August 8th, 2022 3:34:55 PM
Naithi ponders the strange arrow with Ash, but the knowledge of such things is beyond her. [b]I bet the feet left this, but I have no idea what it is supposed to mean. Let's bring it back and show the others. Perhaps one of them knows more.
ooc 1: Those skills are both untrained for Naithi
ooc 2: I'm out if town for two weeks in vacation. I'm try to post every day, but I would appreciate it if someone would post for me if I'm about to miss one.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+4=12 ; Monday August 8th, 2022 8:49:18 PM
seeing everyone all grouped up, Panzer joins them Engineering 12 " Isn't that kinda big for an arrowhead Lothlo?" A Lodestone? Naturally magnetized iron? I've heard of them but never seen one. How'd that get in the grove?"
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday August 8th, 2022 9:01:14 PM If that were an arrow head, I'd hate to see the giant carrying the fifty foot bow that would be needed to launch it... but it would make a good story. Perhaps I'll right a song about that this winter.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday August 8th, 2022 9:35:25 PM
Nightingale clears her throat, "Who might have dropped it here, if not for us, or the leshy, that's what I would like to know."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday August 8th, 2022 9:59:22 PM
While the find of a lodestone --an object that nobody had expected to turn up in the grove this morning-- is an intriguing one, Sahabiel also remembers why they are here and while some of the others group around the object, she inspects the young trees planted here in the care of the leshy.
DM Kathy Monday August 8th, 2022 11:06:14 PM Nightingale does not recognize the piece of metal, but Lothlo identifies it as a lodestone.
Sahabiel and Ash express some concern for whoever dropped it. Will they get lost without it? Ash places it on her palm to try to watch it in action, but you soon realize that the slight magnetic pull of the lodestone isn't enough to overcome the friction of your palm. To see it work, you'll need to place it on a smooth surface. A tin plate would work, if somebody has a mess kit, or a smooth stone. A worn coin would do in a pinch.
At Zazu's suggestion, Ash casts detect magic. The lodestone does detect as magic, you see a faint Illusion aura and a stronger Transmutation aura. You do not recognize the specific spells. [OOC: These are special plot-advancing spells that are not in any spellbook, so all the Spellcraft checks in the world aren't going to identify them. :) ]
Naithi suggests bringing the lodestone back to town.
Panzer also recognizes it as a lodestone, and wonders who left it here. Beech is content to watch for now.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday August 8th, 2022 11:34:39 PM
Ash lays her mithral buckler on the ground and places the lodestone atop it. The smooth, polished shield should be easy enough for the lodestone to move against.
"Weird. There's some strange magic here. Some of it is from the illusion school. I don't recognize the specific spells though." Ash looks to Zazu. The wizard is far more familiar with illusions than she is.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday August 8th, 2022 11:40:09 PM
"Well clearly, we have to make a real compass of it!"
Zazu takes a cup (from the mess kit that never got jotted down on my PC Sheet, but which is definitely there!), fills it with water, sets a small leaf on the surface (with surface tension), or a bit of wood that floats maybe, and then sets the lodestone on that. Ranged Legerdemain is likely good for this kind of delicate work.
The elf pushes a strand of long hair back behind an ear so that it will not fall onto the makeshift compass and peers down to see if the lodestone will swivel.
"I bet it points somewhere interesting to go! Someplace magical."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday August 9th, 2022 12:22:49 PM
Nightingale ponders a moment, "Maybe someone needs help and this is how they are asking for it?"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20=14 ; Tuesday August 9th, 2022 2:09:44 PM
Beech looks around, to see if anyone is watching the group at the item....
Perception 14
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday August 9th, 2022 3:38:33 PM " You might be giving that leaf alot of credit Zazu." Anyway, Panzer had no idea why the lodestone was there, how it had gotten there, or what it meant. It was natural, though odd. And it was in the most 'natural' place in the village, the grove. He went on with his day and continued to make charcoal out of brush and what wood had been previously collected.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+13=22 ; Tuesday August 9th, 2022 4:08:16 PM
Naithi agrees with Zazu. We should also verify if it is pointing true north. If magic is involved, perhaps it is leading us elsewhere.
Survival to identify true north= 22
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday August 9th, 2022 6:50:19 PM
Sahabiel looks nonplussed at Zazu's words. They are standing in a druidic circle, tended by nature spirit leshy, within only a few hours overland of a living god whose physical aspect could in its entirety be described as "someplace magical", so enchanted to or not the lodestone needle would be hard-pressed not to point in the direction of something like that. Having grown up in a Culverwood elf settlement herself, she is not sure why her friend looks almost giddy at the idea.
In any case, Sahabiel is cautiously optimistic about a strangely enchanted compass part turning up in the fledgling grove. Optimistic because as a member of the priesthood serving the immortal power of the Culverwood, she wants to believe it was its power that set them on this trail as a boon, perhaps to mark the creation of a new grove. Cautious because.. well, almost as much because of what it might lead them to if it is a boon from the Culverwood, as because of what it might be if its original was another...
With her trained eye, she starts looking for traces of activity in the grove... whether the work of friend or interloper, if she could find some tracks, or a lack thereof, that by itself might be able to tell her something new.
(ooc: Survival (tracking), Take10 and using Guidance cantrip, = 10+15 +1 = 26)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday August 9th, 2022 9:02:29 PM
Lothlo watches as they prepare the load stone. If it's not pointing to north and not pointing to the grove... what would that mean? Would that mean that someone left it for us? The they took a nap here and left without it to point them wherever they were going? Could it be a trap?
I'm getting ahead of myself, it may just be a standard compass or one pointing to the emerald city. Only one way to find out I suppose.
DM Kathy Tuesday August 9th, 2022 10:29:09 PM Nightingale suggests that maybe this is someone's way of asking for help.
Lothlo wonders what the whole thing means.
Beech keeps a lookout, but sees nobody.
Ash puts the lodestone on her buckler. It slowly pivots, stopping to point in one direction. As it does so, those closest to the lodestone hear a whispered "come find us." It sounds like several voices, all female.
Naithi can tell you that, whatever the lodestone is pointing at, it isn't pointing north. Instead, it seems to be pointing northwest.
Zazu attempts to create a compass with a cup and some water and balancing the lodestone on a sturdy leaf. But as Panzer predicted, this doesn't work as well. When he lodestone moves, it becomes unbalanced and slips off the leaf.
Zazu is still hopeful that the lodestone will lead you someplace magical, which makes Sahabiel roll her eyes a bit.
The direction the lodestone is pointing, more or less northwest, would shortly take you into the Deep Culverwood, a place some of you have not yet ventured.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday August 9th, 2022 11:15:13 PM
Zazu shrugs and laughs. "I know how to make books and traps ... compasses, not so much!"
"Ash, your idea worked better than mine. But either way, we have a direction and a mission! Let's go!"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday August 10th, 2022 2:05:28 AM "So someone left us this stone and wants us to find them. Why not just walk into Freedom's Landing and say hi?" Ash is sure there's more to the story, and that the person probably had their reasons. "So help someone, trap, thieves guild seeking revenge. Pretty much any of the above."
"Well, no way to know I guess without checking it out. Say, does anyone have a Detect Evil spell they can cast on the stone? Just in case"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday August 10th, 2022 11:24:37 AM
Panzer had been turning away when the lodestone whispered, in female voices. Hey now... Suddenly much more interested he hears Ash's comment and shrugs. " The fey are quite strongly attached to the Culverwood, aye? They are also notorious tricksters, which might explain the mysterious circumstances. But I kinda think it's something else." " This is a test. We are making a name for ourselves, AND we are trying to befriend the Culverwood. Going out on a limb, I think that this is an invitation to see what we bring to the table. We will receive direction, but the use of and the finding of the lodestone and the help it gives are an invitation to find this power and show that we are up to the challenge of working with it. I'm not tracker, or spellcaster and generally I act before thinking, alot. But if a threat looms in front of us I am the guy that will bite it in the shins and kick it's butt, or at least keep it busy while you guys kick it's butt. Anyway, I find this to be a great opportunity to show that we can work together to find this group of ladies and be of use to them. " " Lemme grab my gear and lets go follow this lead." He turns and scampers back to his home, grabbing his pack, Armor and weapons and returning a few moments later.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday August 10th, 2022 1:57:51 PM
Nightingale ponders the situation, then smiles, "Maybe it's an invitation to another Fey Dance ... of course, it's probably someone in need of our help, and who couldn't walk into town and say 'Hi'" she smiles as she pokes Ash.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Wednesday August 10th, 2022 4:25:24 PM
Beech, follows Panzer and grabs his adventuring pack and heads back with him to the glade, "Well, We're being invited for some reason. Either for or as Dinner..."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday August 10th, 2022 4:41:53 PM
Naithi shakes her head. It would be unwise for anyone to set a trap for us in a place like this. They run the risk of offending all the local fey and druids.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday August 10th, 2022 8:20:20 PM
Sahabiel too feels that this could very well be the work of fey. "Well, if it is the fey, then nothing good is going to come from ignoring the invitation... they'll only take that as a challenge to try harder at persuading us. At the same time though, it would not be something to walk into unprepared. Let us resolve to set out to find these message-senders tomorrow, and take the rest of today to think of what we are going to bring - in magics, in expedition gear, and in gifts."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday August 10th, 2022 9:01:13 PM
Lothlo watches in fascination as the lodestone slowly turns and points in the direction of the Deep Culverwood. If we think it may be a trap, we don't want to be too cavalier about running in the direction it's pointing. I don't suppose anyone knows a spell to see who the owner of the lodestone is or to use it to scry on they person who dropped it?
DM Kathy Wednesday August 10th, 2022 10:52:17 PM Zazu is eager to get started.
Ash wonders why whoever left the stone didn't just come to Freedom's Landing. She asks if anyone is able to cast a Detect Evil on the stone.
Panzer suggests this is a way of testing your mettle. He returns to town to fetch his gear. Beech likewise returns to fetch his gear.
And indeed, if you are going to leave right away, there are a few things to be taken care of first. You need to let the townsfolk know you're going to be gone, as you left this morning to complete a short errand. And some of you have kittens to look after.
Nightingale suggests that it might be the fae, which explains why they wouldn't come into town. Sahabiel agrees, and adds that if it is the fae, it's probably not a good idea to ignore the invitation. Summons. Whatever it is.
Lothlo suspects a trap, and asks whether there is a way of finding out who dropped the lodestone here.
So, some of the party is eager to be off, and others have doubts. But even the eagerest of the eager ones probably want to make arrangements in town before you head off. Seeing as you'd be headed into the Deep Culverwood, there may be other precautions you want to take.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday August 10th, 2022 10:53:03 PM
"Probably some fey playfulness. Let's not worry too much about a trap. If it's a trap, it's a pretty esoteric one. How would they know we were headed here? What if we did not realize it was a compass?"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday August 11th, 2022 3:37:11 AM
Ash goes in search of one of the town's children to deputize as her official cat minder. "That means making sure Silk gets plenty of belly rubs" she 'warns'.
It doesn't take long to pack and soon she's ready to hit the trail once more.
Ash hunts about for a glass jar big enough to put the lodestone in such that it can freely turn. She can't very well keep using her shield, and a glass jar means everyone will be able to clearly see it.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday August 11th, 2022 12:40:33 PM
Nightingale will follow Ash's idea, and find a young girl to watch over Ghost while she's away. "She has food over there, and she likes to sleep in the window sill."
Nightingale will gather up her adventuring gear, and then find the others.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday August 11th, 2022 2:22:04 PM
Panzer turns to Sahabiel and asks, " I have the other two covered what would be an appropriate gift? Only time I have even seen the fey is that little dance party in the woods. I'm guessing some good food or fine drink would be a start?"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Thursday August 11th, 2022 2:54:37 PM "I don't really have any gifts, other than cooking food for them." Beech chimes in. He heads back to town with the rest, since they are staying another night.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday August 11th, 2022 5:07:01 PM
Sahabiel appreciates Zazu's optimism. To Panzer, she replies, "If we assume it is the fey, then depending on the type.. what they like best might be anything from a priceless gemstone to wine, a piece of string with a knot in it, or a smelly fish. Some lust for gold, and to others a coin is just a shiny bauble with a picture stamped on it. Something like a gemstone of course does have a better chance to go across well if what we are dealing with might yet surprise us by not being fey or sylvan beings. In any case, what fey pretty universally like, is the feeling that you are showing them proper respect and giving them something good - from your own point of view as much as their own. It has something to do with how concepts, intent, emotion and meaning attached to things are a bit like tangible, discernible properties in the primal home realm of their kind."
She playfully cautions her Beech against a display of skill, lest the liontaur give any fey folk ideas that they'd want to keep him to cook more for them. "Something you prepared well yourself could have a nice personal touch to it though.. didn't I see you preserve some of those berries that we have been getting by the basket from the bushes around the settlement? A jar of sweet home-made jam could satisfy a fey. Oh, not just any old pot of jam of course. That would just be jam. But one from your personal store for this winter, that you made with the intention that you'd enjoy it yourself... well, then you'd be giving up to them something that was yours. Fey have a quirky sense of valuing things, okay?"
She shrugs, "You might know some the stories... like how a noble lady of the fey world on a whim went to sit at the roadside disguised as an old beggar-woman to watch mankind. In the morning, a king rode by in his rich carriage, and selfishly desiring to be known for magnanimity he threw a coin out the window without even looking at her. The coin was gold, but it did not please her. In the afternoon, a merchant walked past, and selfishly desiring to show off that he could afford it, threw a coin at her. The coin was silver, but it did not please her. Then in the evening as it was getting dark, a kind but unfortunate man who himself had fallen on hard times came along and saw that she had neither fire for warmth nor anything on her but her clothes, and he stopped and offered to share with her half of a piece of bread that he had bought for only the value of a copper coin, if she'd share with him the story of her own circumstances. This man, she rewarded with a place in her own court." Sahabiel winks. "Faerie tales of course.. but why do you think there are so many like that?"
For her own preparations, Sahabiel packs her gear (pretty much the same as what she came walking -out- of the Deep Culverwood with earlier in the year) arranges for Nibin to be looked after, and if she can persuade the others to hold their departure until the next morning, she will pray to replace some of her prepared magics with others more suited to an expedition, instead of the ones she uses in the settlement's day-by-day. She also fills a belt pouch with dark earth she gathers at the base of her tree.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday August 11th, 2022 5:23:38 PM ( OOC: Oh no! After I had Sahabiel speaking in Elven (and therefore normally) during our time in Karri, I completely forgot to put her accent back in now that she speaks Common again. Please just imagine that every "you" instead says "ya" and every "your" says "yer" in the post above ;)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday August 11th, 2022 9:01:07 PM
Lothlo looks for a cat sitter as well,and lets her know that Mr. Scruffy like to wander around and help keep the mice out of the town. I have no idea if it's a trap or not, but even if it's not the Culverwood is one of the least safe places I've ever been, not to mention crazy confusing. We should make sure we are prepared if that's the direction we are heading. And Naithi, I suggest no unscheduled baths this time.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday August 11th, 2022 10:14:21 PM
'Unsafe, crazy, and confusing is why I love it!"
DM Kathy Thursday August 11th, 2022 10:29:12 PM Zazu points out that if this is a trap, it has a very odd hook.
Ash arranges for kitten care, and finds a glass jar for the lodestone.
Nightingale and Lothlo likewise arrange for kitten care.
Panzer and Beech ask Sahabiel for guidance on what kind of gift would be best for fae. Sahabiel is happy to answer, although the answer is far from straightforward. Rather like the fae in that respect.
Your preparations don't take more than an hour or so, so unless anybody plans on taking the time to prepare a really elaborate gift for the fae, you don't have to spend another night in town unless you want to. There's still plenty of daylight left if you want to leave now.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday August 12th, 2022 8:41:32 AM
Ash explains to the leaders of Freedom's Landing what the party will be up to. "Basically, we're heading THAT way.. " she says pointing in the direction the lodestone indicates "... because someone wants us to find them. Not sure why just yet. Hopefully we'll be back soon. Seeya!" She gives a big smile and a wave and then heads off to join the rest of the party.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday August 12th, 2022 12:58:11 PM
Panzer wasn't set on getting out there today. He was almost always ready because he no longer had spells to worry about. Many of the others did, and they did far different things while in town than while out in the wild. He was perfectly willing to allow those folks to change there 'hanging around town' spells into 'going out to get murdered' spells. He figured his survival chances went way up if they were as prepared as possible. His talk with Sahabiel had made up his mind on what an appropriate gift might be, so he was ready to go whenever. He just hung loose and waited for the others to be ready.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday August 12th, 2022 2:05:51 PM
Beech, doesn't need to prepare spells as his choices are limited already. When they are headed out, he keeps his bow at hand as usual.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday August 12th, 2022 3:27:48 PM
Nightingale sighed as she walked out her front door, knowing that she had prayed for spells to be used around town. "Oh well, I'll fix that later," she thought to herself as she met up with her friends.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday August 12th, 2022 9:00:58 PM
Lothlo does a quick check of his arrows and bow, making sure he has everything he needs for their excursion into the Culverwood Deep. Hopefully on this trip we'll have more need for music and berry jam than we do a bow and arrows, but there's no way of knowing until we see who sent us that locator.
DM Kathy Friday August 12th, 2022 10:21:34 PM
You make your final preparations, and although some peoples' spell selection is not ideal, you decide to start out today. The frost still clings here and there, but the day is warming. The sun is just a bright spot in the clouds, but it is doing its work nonetheless. You cross the bridge again and, following the lodestone, you step into the Deep Culverwood.
You notice the change immediately. It is still winter here--you can feel the chill in the air--but there is no frost and the day seems a little warmer. The trees and other plants are bigger here, healthier, more alive somehow. You sense a presence in the woods, a living force of some kind. You're pretty sure it's watching you.
[I need a marching order and Survival checks. Also, who is carrying the lodestone?]
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+4=8 ; d20+9=17 ; Friday August 12th, 2022 10:28:56 PM
Survival in the woods just isn't Ash's thing (yet?). She's more a 'town' person.
She carries the jar with the lodestone in it so that everyone can clearly see it. She only needs one hand to cast spells so that leaves the other free, and she does try to stay away from up-front fighting.
As for marching order, she tries to stay near the middle of the pack. With her survival skills she'd likely lead the party right into a ditch somewhere.
-------------- Survival: 8 Perception: 17
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+9=17 ; d20+19=31 ; d20+12=28 ; d20+20=29 ; d20+14=24 ; Friday August 12th, 2022 10:49:23 PM
"Naithi is likely better than me in the woods, but I know a little."
Survival, with Culverwood bonuses, 17
Zazu does not cast another Mage Armor yet, but the wizard is ready to.
As the party moves, Zazu, riding Boyo, tries to be sneaky, and off to the side 20 ft. Zazu Stealth 31 Boyo Stealth 28
And they keep their senses receptive. Zazu Perception 29 Boyo Perception 24 plus scent
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20=1 ; Friday August 12th, 2022 11:46:13 PM "Survival, no one said I needed survival, I cast spells for a living." Beech quips. He's also not a front line type of guy...
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+6=11 ; Saturday August 13th, 2022 12:43:29 PM
Panzer takes point. He isn't really any good at navigating, but with knowledgable people behind him directing him he can do his part and walk into trouble first. Survival 11 to aid the main navigator. Panzer has no Culverwood knowledge so relies on the others to keep him from getting lost. He walks with one Kukri drawn, using the free hand to move branches out of the way rather than cutting them.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Sunday August 14th, 2022 7:49:21 PM "I did not expect to return to ya so soon.", Sahabiel says with a strange kind of smile as she rides atop Kohlrabi towards the Deep Culverwood. From the look in her eyes, she seems to be speaking to the place itself, rather than to any person.
She will ride at the front, behind Panzer so that she can give him timely warning of things to be aware of in the (to her) holy forest. At the point where they cross into the true Deep Culverwood, Sahabiel beckons all to stop for a moment as she offers up a few prayers in Sylvan tongue.
"Don't spread out too much, it will only be easier for ya to get lost if ya lose sight of the others", she warns her companions, "That's a bit easier here than ya might be used to."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Survival check: d20+7=26 ; Monday August 15th, 2022 3:47:37 AM
Nightingale can find her way in the woods, although not as good as some ... she'll be somewhere close to the front, in an offensive role
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday August 15th, 2022 5:19:42 PM
Panzer tries to keep Kohlrabi's hoof beats at the same distance behind him trying to keep his pace even and not get too far ahead of the others
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+5=15 ; d20+14=34 ; Monday August 15th, 2022 5:37:59 PM Hmm, no frost, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. I'm not sure how well you can track thing in a forest that's constantly moving regardless of frost. At least it's not so chilly in here. Lothlo takes a spot 2/3 back and scans the area as they march for danger, making sure to keep an eye for anything in the trees that may be waiting for them.
survival = 15 Perception = 34 (nat 20)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday August 15th, 2022 8:24:08 PM
Sahabiel rides in her elven armor and with her morning star at her side, but she seems less fighting-tense than those of her companions that act as if an ambush might happen at any time. It is not out of some overconfident belief that these woods would not hold potential dangers even to her however, and rather more out of how aware she is that your troubles in the Deep Culverwood may well start with disorientation and getting lost, or any of a number of other seemingly minor events.
She keeps herself very conscious of the living, watching presence(s) she feels in the woods... finding comfort in her certainty that at least one of these presences always watching here will be the sentient will of the Culverwood itself. "Wood's Will be done", she goes through in thought, and her lips silently mouth the words.
( ooc: And in case other Survival checks than navigating the forest are needed, as long as she is within this magical forest Sahabiel's survival skill is at +25 for finding her way safely, and +19 for any other survival checks in this environment such as identifying edibles or hazards. When she needs to make an active survival check not related to just finding her way, she will do so while invoking the minor prayer of Guidance, bumping her +19 up to +20 so that she can consistently succeed on up to DC30 checks just Taking 10)
DM Kathy Monday August 15th, 2022 10:18:08 PM
You move through the Deep Culverwood. Panzer takes point, guided by Sahabiel. Next comes Nightingale, ready to support her companions in a fight. Naithi follows, on Camalayas, and then Ash and Lothlo. Beech brings up the rear. Zazu moves away from the group, intending to parallel them.
You have a rough time of it. Zazu finds that if he loses contact with the group, he and Boyo are soon lost and on their own. One time it takes nearly an hour to reunite again. You try to move in a northwesterly direction, but find that you are constantly getting turned around. Even Sahabiel cannot keep you on track, although at least she knows when you are moving the wrong way. The forest is definitely doing its best to confuse you, and if it weren't for the lodestone, you'd be hopelessly lost.
Luckily, though, you do have the lodestone, and Ash finds that she has to call out corrections every few hundred feet to keep the group headed in the right direction.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday August 15th, 2022 10:38:06 PM
Zazu sticks closer to the group. "It's not worth it if I'm wandering away when the battle comes."
"Thanks, Ash, for leading us!"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday August 15th, 2022 10:52:15 PM
Ash smiles but can't take any credit here. "It's not me, Zazu. I've got no idea where we are or what direction we should be going. I'm just calling out the direction the stone is pointing". It's true. The others know far more than Ash does about navigating in the Culverwood. She's also a little worried about how the group will get out of the Culverwood when this expedition is done.
"Say, I know people get lost all the time in the Culverwood but I don't think we've seen it this bad before. Is it possible it's treating us as unfriendly and actively trying to steer us away from where the stone is pointing?"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Tuesday August 16th, 2022 7:25:37 AM
Beech, even though he won''t say it outload, really don't trust the Culverwood, the Fey are flighty and random, the Culverwood is just plain nasty.... But he does trust in his new "Family" and half of them or more are enthralled with the area... He tries to stay prepared.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday August 16th, 2022 11:51:39 AM
Nightingale is watching out for butterflies, and ambushes ... and although the "Wood" is messing with them, she still enjoys the walk
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday August 16th, 2022 4:27:58 PM
Like Sahabiel, Panzer was more concerned with the Culverwood trying to get them lost than with something toothy and fearsome trying to eat them. But he watches for the toothy stuff anyway because his little brain is already so stressed out with going in a straight line that his brow is visibly damp with sweat. [i] Thinking is hard, no wonder I try not to do it most of the time[/i/
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday August 16th, 2022 6:14:41 PM
Sahabiel is glad that the lesson about staying close together was learned without anyone becoming permanently lost. "Let's just follow the way the needle points, shall we? Also, I think ya should know... for the misdirection glamours on this area to be this strong --and presumably permanently so or it would have been a bit much that someone'd have bothered with making that compass-- there must be something here that should not normally be found, and I 'ave no idea what that would be." She looks seriously concerned. "While we may just be walking towards a particularly reclusive tribe of isolationists, right now I also would not rule out the seat of an elder fey, a grand sylvan being, or even a passage to their primal realm itself. Those are not laughing matters even if we come invited, so.. let's try not to do anything foolish."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+14=30 ; Tuesday August 16th, 2022 9:00:40 PM I don't think it's being particularly unfriendly with us, I get the impression that this is just the nature of the Culverwood. Maybe it's more likely to ignore your presence if you're not an outsider, but if it was being unfriendly towards us I don't think there would be any doubt about that.
Lothlo continues to scan the are. Even if the Culverwood itself isn't being hostile towards them right now, the know from their past visit that there are no end to the surprises that await in this magical place.
Perception = 30
DM Kathy Tuesday August 16th, 2022 10:38:36 PM Zazu decides to stick closer to the group.
Beech, Nightingale, and Panzer try to stay alert.
Ash wonders why the Culverwood is messing with you to this extent. Lothlo suggests that it's just the nature of the Culverwood.
Sahabiel cautions her companions not to do anything foolish.
The lodestone can keep you on course, but it cannot protect you from all the dangers of the Culverwood. Luckily, Lothlo sees the danger in time, and shouts a warning, just as a cloud of pollen surrounds you.
Everyone needs to make a DC 24 Will save. You get a +2 on the attempt because of Lothlo's warning.
You immediately see the source of the cloud--a large plant with vinelike tentacles. Knowledge Nature 23 Highlight to display spoiler: {It is a Viper Vine}.
Those who fail their Will saves become captivated, and can take no actions except to move toward the plant.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday August 16th, 2022 10:43:44 PM
Zazu agrees and rides Boyo with the group.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+12=15 ; d20+12=30 ; d20+13=24 ; Tuesday August 16th, 2022 11:04:16 PM Wow. Look at all the pollen!" Ash reaches out her hand to touch it, but quickly recoils. "Uh, this isn't the good kind of pollen" She gets a little distracted by it, but maintains her senses.
Ash notices the plant that created all this and calls out in alarm: "Viper vine!" She does her best to think of any strengths or weaknesses the plant may have.
She doesn't think everyone in the party will have the same strength of Will as she does, so she does what she can to stop them from doing anything silly.
Ash casts a Silent Image spell to create a wall surrounding the Viper Vine. If the party can't see the vine, maybe they won't approach it? If the Viper Vine can't see the party maybe it can't attack? It's all theoretical but she tries it anyway. "Casting a Wall spell!" She doesn't actually know a wall spell though.
Once she gets a better idea on who is affected and who isn't she'll be ready to drop the wall. First step is getting everyone ready for the fight.
--------------- Will Save vs DC24. 15=Fail! Use Improved Iron Will ability to reroll. 30=Pass! Know Nature vs DC23: 24=Pass!
Standard: Cast Silent Image. Create the image of a 20ft tall stone wall surrounding the vine. Will Save DC18 to disbelieve if interacted with. Move: Move to the West and hopefully out of the pollen
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+11=23 ; d20+17=34 ; Tuesday August 16th, 2022 11:42:02 PM (Knowledge (Nature) vs DC23: 1d20+11 = 23, success)
"Viper vine!", Sahabiel calls out in alarm.
(Will save vs DC24: Spending hero point before roll for +8, 1d20+17 = 34, success)
Sahabiel musters her strength of will, helped by her faith and knowing that today she walks within the domain of the immortal power she serves, and she shrugs off the effect of the spore cloud with barely even a tug on her mind.
Not wanting to breathe in more spores and risking it wearing her down, she realizes she must seek to get the spores out of the air by any means possible, fast. Although weather magic to directly command the wind is not the way of her path, the elementals will heed her when she calls - and call she does.
Summon Monster II -> Air Elemental (small). Since air elemental will get to act before Sahabiel needs to roll her next saving throw, she has it use its body of animate air to sweep away the pollen from the air around her and as many of her comrades close to her as its 100ft movement allows, prioritizing those that make their save. Thank goodness for Sahabiel being close to the center of the group, if the map grid cells are 5' each, the elemental would have enough movement to move in a spiral that passes through the squares of each of her companions where they are now - although in the time it takes her to complete the summoning some of them may fail their saving throw and start moving further away.)
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 WILL Save: d20+11=25 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 12:31:33 PM
Nightingale shakes her head as the pollen floats in the air. She doesn't recognize the plant, but does know there are many that will trap and eat whatever happens by. She will back up enough to avoid the pollen and try to figure out what she can do in this situation...
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20+7=18 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 2:28:31 PM
Beech begins to stroll towards the vine, and then a wall appears.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+5=22 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 8:05:43 PM
Panzer takes the puff of pollen right in the face as he hears Lothlo call out. He tries hard to resist it but the pollen overwhelms his control over his body and he starts to walk toward it. Will save 22 fail
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+7=13 ; d20+15=17 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 8:29:13 PM
Lothlo spots the Vipervine, but it is too late. The pollen has captivated him and he starts to move towards the giant plant
will = d20+15=17 ;
DM Kathy d20+6=19 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 11:14:15 PM Ash calls out that the strange plant is a Viper Vine. She casts a Silent Image of a wall, in hopes of slowing down those captivated. She moves away, but not out of the pollen cloud. You need to make another DC 24 Will save or be captivated.
Sahabiel begins summoning an air elemental. Summoning is always a full-round action, so the air elemental will not be here before you need to make another saving throw. DC 24 Will save or be captivated.
Nightingale also tries to back out of the pollen, but the cloud has a 60-foot radius and you don't get out of it. You need to make another DC 24 Will save or be captivated.
Beech, Panzer, and Lothlo are all captivated.
The viper vine finds itself enclosed it a stone wall. It moves closer to the wall to try to find a way over or under it. As it probes with its tentacles, it realizes that the wall isn't really there, but I'm going to say that took a full round so it's down.
We still need initial saves from Zazu, Boyo, Naithi, and Camalayas.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+9=17 ; d20+8=17 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 11:15:56 PM
Zazu save 17 Boyo save 17
Neither save, and they move toward the vine, Zazu riding Boyo per usual. There's a wall in the way, so they try to go around.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+12=13 ; d20+12=24 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 11:36:37 PM
Ash keeps concentrating on the wall. While it's in place her friends might not know which way to go.
It takes some effort but she keeps her senses and moves further to get away from the pollen.
----------- Will Save vs DC22: 19=Fail! Use hero point to reroll: 24=Pass!
Standard: Concentrate on keeping up the wall Move: Move up to 30ft North (or NW or SW or SE - whichever gets her out of the pollen)
RobC posting for Naithi d20+7=25 ; Wednesday August 17th, 2022 11:58:38 PM
Naithi and Camalayas hold off on attacking until the can work out a plan with the rest of the party. They don't succumb to the effects of the pollen, and move to the east to get outside of it's range.
------------- Will Save vs DC24: Naithi rolls 25. Lost Child ability means Camalayas saves too DM: Please advise how far east they need to go
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 WILL Save: d20+11=27 ; Thursday August 18th, 2022 1:01:32 PM
Nightingale will take her full and move 50' away to get out of the pollen cloud. She's desperately wracking her brain trying to come up with someway to save her friends (either east or west, whichever way is further from the pollen)
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20-5=12 ; Thursday August 18th, 2022 4:13:52 PM
Beech is stymied by the wall....
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+3=7 ; Thursday August 18th, 2022 6:14:46 PM (ooc: sorry, I was belatedly reminded by Zazu and Naithi's posting saves for animal companions that I had neglected that Sahabiel was riding on Kohlrabi at the start of this scene. Since Kohlrabi can't spend Hero points to reroll, I have to backpaddle on what I was able to do previous round - trying to do an elegant recovery that doesn't affect anyone else.)
Kohlrabi's Will save last round: d20+3 = 7, failed!
Sahabiel musters her strength of will, helped by her faith and knowing that today she walks within the domain of the immortal power she serves, and she shrugs off the effect of the spore cloud with barely even a tug on her mind. However, Kohlrabi under her suddenly starts uncertainly walking towards danger without her command, and Sahabiel has no choice but to quickly dismount before it picks up any speed.
Dismounting uses up her Move action. This means Sahabiel only had a standard action left and could not take a full action to start casting a summoning spell, so much as she'd like to play hero and deal with these spores for everyone, she can't.
Sahabiel has some idea of how to get rid of these spores, but for now it is all she can do to protect herself. Blocking her nostrils and holding her breath so that she will not be able to smell anything, she begins making her way towards the edge of the affected area, but she will not be casting any spells this way.. nor be able to communicate her ideas to her comrades.
Current round would see her complete the distance to be out of the cloud, and Kohlrabi being stumped by the wall, but Sahabiel has not even started summoning the elemental yet.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday August 18th, 2022 6:59:54 PM
Controlled by the pollen Panzer approached the wall since the object of his infatuation was behind it.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+17=28 ; Thursday August 18th, 2022 9:06:38 PM
Lothlo continues his mindless march towards the Viper Vine, unable to focus on anything but the creatures movements.
*** Will save in case something happens that could wake Lothlo... at which point Lohtlo will sprint out of the pollen Will= d20+17=28
DM Kathy d20+23=37 ; d20+21=23 ; d20+21=31 ; d20+21=38 ; d20+21=38 ; 2d6+6=10 ; 3d6=8 ; d6+4=8 ; d6+4=9 ; d6+4=10 ; d6+4=7 ; d20+28=36 ; Thursday August 18th, 2022 10:38:28 PM Zazu and Boyo succumb to the pollen and approach the wall.
Ash maintains the wall, heroically resisting the spores herself.
Naithi and Camalayas both save, and move outside the range of the pollen.
Nightingale also moves away.
Beech, Panzer, and Lothlo approach the wall.
Sahabiel makes her save, but Kohlrabi does not. Sahabiel dismounts and moves out of the cloud.
Normally, the spore cloud of a viper vine hangs in the air for several rounds. However, it is winter, and the spores are a little less robust. Those not captivated realize that the area around the viper vine is now safe. Well, safe from pollen. There are still tentacles.
However, those who were captivated are still captivated. The viper vine attacks the largest target, Beech. Its horrible, gaping maw bites for 10 damage, plus 8 acid damage. Four tentacles follow, hitting for a total of 34 damage. Beech is grappled. That's the bad news. The good news is he gets a new Will save, DC 24, as a free action.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday August 18th, 2022 10:47:13 PM
Ash drops her concentration on the wall, allowing the illusion to fade away. The group can now clearly see their target
--------------- OOC: Just posting that for now so others can make their actions. Rest of Ash's actions coming shortly
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday August 18th, 2022 11:56:10 PM
OOC Do any of those adjacent to Beech being killed get a new save? I mean he was pretty much just ripped to pieces in front of us.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday August 19th, 2022 5:37:04 AM "Mother Maab!" Ash gasps at how brutally the vine attacks Beech.
She quickly casts a pair of spells to try and weaken the plant.
----------------- Standard: Cast Spectral Hand Hero point: Cast Bestow Curse. Vine to make a Will Save vs DC21 (using Focused Curse) or be cursed: "Each turn, the target has a 50% chance to act normally; otherwise, it takes no action."
RobC posting for Naithi d20+10=21 ; Friday August 19th, 2022 5:40:46 AM
Naithi is the nature guru of the team, and tries to think if there are any weaknesses or tactics that could be used against the plant.
-------------- Knowl Nature: 21 to work out any weaknesses that can be exploited
OOC: Does anyone want to post some other actions for Naithi?
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday August 19th, 2022 9:09:12 AM
Beech dies from the attack... so no save needed
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP -12/40 Character Friday August 19th, 2022 9:09:37 AM
updating header... sorry
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday August 19th, 2022 12:52:36 PM
Panzer stands and waits his turn to be brutally ripped limb from limb.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday August 19th, 2022 2:11:27 PM
Nightingale drops to her knees upon seeing Beech so brutally treated. She pulls out her wand and summons her celestial pitt bull and has it attack the viney plant
DM Kathy Friday August 19th, 2022 3:16:56 PM
Oops! I made a mistake. Beech did not die from the attack, because one of the tentacles missed. Beech took 26 damage from the tentacles, and should still be alive.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP -4/40 Character Friday August 19th, 2022 4:23:12 PM
Beech, seems to moan, but is still out cold.....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+9=23 ; Friday August 19th, 2022 8:24:57 PM
[OOC: Sorry Confused ... are the captivated still captivated? If so, Zazu and Boyo walk up to the plant monster. If not. we'll take a round backing away and casting scorching ray from a scroll and hitting touch AC23]
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d6=4 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; Friday August 19th, 2022 8:25:30 PM
For 4d6 fire damage - 12 hp.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday August 19th, 2022 9:02:33 PM
Lothlo would be petrified at the horror the just befell Beech, but he's still too captivated by the Viper Vine to do anything.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+11=18 ; Friday August 19th, 2022 10:18:43 PM
She is barely out to the edge of the spore cloud, or it starts to disappear - giving Sahabiel cause to turn around and head right back towards the viper vine. Distance spares her from the details of what happened to Beech, but from the amount of flailing of the vine tentacles alone she can already tell things are not good up there!
Knowledge (Nature) d20+11 = 18
Sahabiel tries to gauge the power of this particular viper vine.. it is a full grown specimen? Plants are literally her sphere of specialization and he has the received from the Culverwood sacred words to Command Plant creatures, but nothing in what she was taught suggests that she, as she is now, would be able to affect something this monstrous...
(ooc: Consulting with the DM, will have to post result during the weekend.)
DM Kathy d20+6=24 ; Friday August 19th, 2022 11:18:55 PM Ash drops her illusory wall. She calls up a Spectral Hand and, making a heroic effort, attempts to curse the viper vine. The plant resists. [Will save 24]
Naithi gives the situation some thought. The plant does not like cold. If anybody has a cold attack, even a Ray of Frost, now is the time to use it.
Nightingale summons a celestial pit bull, but does not put it on the map. Please put a token on the map, then roll the pit bull's attacks.
Zazu, Panzer, and Lothlo remain captivated. Beech is unconscious.
Sahabiel considers how she can best help her companions.
[Bad guy actions are suspended for the moment. Nightingale needs to roll her summoned creature's attacks, and Sahabiel needs to figure out what she's going to do. And Sahabiel's action may affect other PCs, so I'll wait on the viper vine's actions.]
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Saturday August 20th, 2022 1:15:42 AM
ooc aren't summons a full round action?
DM Kathy Saturday August 20th, 2022 2:24:01 PM
Right. Summon is a full-round action. I'd thought that casting it from a wand made it a standard action, but I was wrong about that.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP -5/40 Character d20=2 ; Saturday August 20th, 2022 4:13:20 PM
Beech is bleeding out... The numerous slashes, gashes and punctures all ooze out quite a bit of blood.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Saturday August 20th, 2022 11:08:26 PM
Pander stands by as the plant chooses its next victim.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Sunday August 21st, 2022 7:08:01 PM (ooc: This continues my turn of last round)
It was going to be a gamble, but even if she kept moving in she was not going to be able to reach Beech before the vine would be ready to strike again anyway, so... clutching her holy symbol, Sahabiel intoned the words of the most powerful miracle she was capable of among the prayers specific to her area of specialty. Even throwing her all behind the battle of wills this was only going to be about even chances that it might work or not, but if it did, it would end this battle here and now so that they'd be able to safely attend Beech's wounds.
(ooc: Sahabiel casts Command Plants. It would not normally be possible for a cleric of her level to affect a creature of this many HD, but throwing in a Hero Point, now she has a fighting chance... The viper vine gets to roll another Will save vs. DC17 - if it fails, Sahabiel commands it to heed her and stop attacking the party immediately.)
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday August 22nd, 2022 12:00:45 PM
Zazu rides on up to the big bad plant.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday August 22nd, 2022 8:16:00 PM
The Viper Vine continues to hold Lothlo captivated.
DM Kathy d20+6=14 ; Monday August 22nd, 2022 9:52:01 PM Sahabiel casts Command Plants, making a heroic effort to try to command a plant bigger than she normally could. The viper vine extends its tentacles--and then stops, twitching slightly. The spell worked.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday August 22nd, 2022 11:14:57 PM
Sahabiel senses her triumph in the battle of wills, and sighs with relief.
"Everyone, don't attack the viper vine, I have it - tend to Beech! And if at all possible, someone try to lead Kohlrabi back here too?
With the magic establishing a path for her to communicate to the huge plant creature, that actually leaves the question of what she is going to do now that it is listening to her. For the moment, she is satisfied to have it stand down and wait.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday August 22nd, 2022 11:24:51 PM
Pander continues st stand next to the vine captivated
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP -5/40 Character d20=19 ; Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 12:05:43 AM
Beech, miraculously stops bleeding....
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+13=25 ; Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 12:17:04 AM "There's still the matter of what to do with our friends that are captivated." Ash holds her ground and doesn't approach the plant "I wonder what would happen if they were to be knocked out?"
If the party aren't brought to their senses, they could be blindly following the plant for quite some time.
---------------------- Knowl (Nature): 25 - to think of a way to break people free of the pollen effect
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 9:14:18 AM
Lothlo stands captivated, blissfully unaware that Ash is talking about knocking him out.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 CMW 2d8+3=12 ; Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 12:31:52 PM
Nightingale will order her pittie to grab Beech and drag them away from the plant ... Nightingale then hurries towards them already starting to call out for aid. Once she gets her hands on Beech the air explodes into the scent of fresh cut grass ... OOC: Nightingale's normal move is 50' ... and she's spontaneously casting Cure Moderate Wounds
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 12:58:51 PM
ooc: I'm back from vacation. I'll try to catch up and post tonight after work.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP -5/40 Character Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 5:47:44 PM
Beech lays there like a beached whale....He's large and not in the least helpful with his being moved to a safer location....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 8:04:57 PM
Zazu is still mentally fascinated, but at some level the elf is glad the plant isn't eating anybody.
DM Kathy Tuesday August 23rd, 2022 11:13:31 PM Sahabiel warns her companions not to attack the viper vine.
Ash points out that many of your companions are still enthralled.
Nightingale drags Beech back and casts a healing spell.
You find that the captivation effect does not last long. In less than a minute, Zazu, Lothlo, Panzer, and Beech are back to normal--although in Beech's case still badly wounded. You can easily put the viper vine behind you.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday August 24th, 2022 2:07:17 AM "I'm certain there are worse things in the Culverwood than a viper vine" Ash warns "I think we're lucky that's all we've encountered so far"
She waits for the others to gather their senses and bearings.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday August 24th, 2022 9:37:20 AM " So are we going to keep going deeper or are we cutting our losses and getting out of here?" Panzer is clearly upset at having lost control of his actions and seeing the state that Beech was in when he regained his senses.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 CMW: 2d8+3=12 ; Wednesday August 24th, 2022 12:29:46 PM
Nightingale will cast another healing spell on Beech before the group decides their actions
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 19/40 Character Wednesday August 24th, 2022 4:47:53 PM "What the Heck?" Beech asks when he recovers, then after its explained, he suggests... "Maybe those who are the ones familiar with these sorts of things, should notice them...." It's not hard so realize he's being mostly sarcastic... Beech does thank Nightingale.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday August 24th, 2022 7:23:09 PM
Lothlo teases Beech back a little. I don't think noticing makes much difference. I had no problem noticing that thing for all the good it did. It just gave us a split second of awareness that we were already ambushed before we were under it's spell. Perhaps the real trick is not to try in a comically exaggerated manner, let the dangers of the forest worry that our nonchalantness is really just a trap we are setting for them.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday August 24th, 2022 8:23:32 PM (ooc: I gather from DMs phrasing that the rest of this adventure is not ready for Sahabiel to command the living, vegetable, equivalent of a siege engine, and we probably do not want to travel with something that only moves at 10’ per round, so…)
Sahabiel was feeding the charmed plant creature a set of string suggestions that would stop it from attacking them again for the remainder of the duration of her control over it. It being just a creature following its nature as an apex predator, without cruel intent or malice, stopped her from seeing this as an existence she was justified to snuff out, so she made sure to still allow it to hunt.. just not people, and if at all possible also not here on this path they’d be taking back later.
After listening to opinions from Ash and Beech, she shrugs; “Oh come now, ya are talking as if the whole Culverwood is just a death trap. People live here, ya know? It is just that yer used to living in a world where people and settlements dominate over nature, and here… they don’t. If ya live here, ya do so under a covenant with the Will of the Wood, under the rules of necessity it sets, instead of trying to impose what would suit us. As long as we’re not breaking any rules, the Culverwood shouldn’t turn on us. Running into that viper vine and not seein’ the signs of it in time is bad luck, but ya can say the same about being struck by a cart in a town market, no?”
Sahabiel is in favor of following the magicked compass to find out what it was leading them to, as soon as everyone is back on their feet.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday August 24th, 2022 8:26:12 PM
ooc: Strong. A set of strong suggestions.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday August 24th, 2022 9:33:22 PM
Naithi catches up with the others and asks if everyone is alright. We need to brush up on our survival skills and make sure we are keeping an eye out for trouble as we travel
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+20=35 ; d20+10=18 ; Wednesday August 24th, 2022 10:00:32 PM
Zazu recovers and looks around standing right next to the viper vine. What if it has loot? Maybe something from a fallen foe? The sharp-eyed elf takes a look ...
Perception ... 35
If there is something valuable to be seen, Zazu tries to snag it covertly with a legerdemain trick while Boyo backs away.
Sleight of Hand at -5 ... 18
Succeed or fail, the elf encourages Boyo to get out of there on the toot sweet!
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday August 24th, 2022 10:22:33 PM "In a town market I know enough to look out for carts. Since you are good at 'seein’ the signs' of things that are higher on the food chain than me, you could take point and like a tour guide point them out as you lead us past them. I would be hard pressed to cut my way through the hide on that thing and the minuscule amount of damage I would cause it IF I managed to hurt it is laughable. It could take the punishment I can dish out on my best day for a couple of minutes, fart out a cloud of that pollen and then have it's way with me as it slowly peels of my armor off, one plate at a time, to get at the gooey center. I saw what it did to Beech. I think it tripped over it's own tentacles trying to get to him and thus missed once. Aside from that I am pretty sure I saw it yawn before it nearly decapitated him. Nope, not my forte and I'm not walking into another leafy meat grinder like that. An entire thieves guild you say? Heck yeah lets go. This, Nope." Clearly that took alot out of the little badgerkin because he is breathing hard when he finishes. If you listen closely you can hear the panic in his voice because this thing had him dead to rights and shrot of the miracle Sahabiel pulled out of her faith, he is certain he was staring his death in the face, er, bloom, whatever. Flustered and embarrassed, Panzer steps away from the 'leafy meat grinder' so that in case another puff of pollen lets loose he has a chance to flee.
DM Kathy Wednesday August 24th, 2022 11:09:23 PM
You continue to recover from the viper vine fight.
Ash remarks that you're lucky this is the worst thing you encountered so far.
Panzer asks whether the group intends to keep going, and adds that he'd rather take on another Thieves' Guild than another of those plants.
Nightingale continues healing Beech, who feels that someone should have seen the viper vine sooner.
Lothlo says he did the best he could, and suggests you try to lull the Culverwood into a false sense of security.
Zazu looks around, but he and Boyo don't see anything unusual apart from the viper vine.
Naithi suggests the group brush up on their survival skills.
But the thing is, as experienced adventurers, you know that sometimes the Universe just decides that you need to randomly encounter something, and there's little you can do about it.
Sahabiel's spell lasts a day per level, and there's nothing stopping her from commanding the viper vine to accompany the group. However, as she points out, its speed is 10. Also, you are moving toward people who have asked for your help. How are they going to react if you show up with a hostile plant creature in tow?
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday August 25th, 2022 3:50:35 AM "There may be people living here, but I'll bet there's a whole lot more than that could kill a person. Kind of the reason more people live in towns than in here." She isn't quite sure why Sahabiel keeps referring to her as a city person. Ash grew up in and around different forests, and knows quite a bit about nature too. "I like your optimism, but the Culverwood is a fickle place. It's mood can quickly change no matter who you are or what your intentions."
She says no more about it and looks to the lodestone to see where it points.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday August 25th, 2022 12:31:50 PM
Nightingale throws in her two coppers, "The Wood is alive, cities aren't. We are essentially walking around in someone's home if you think about it. The Wood is alive, so think of the viper vine as a guard dog, to be respected, and avoided if possible. Out here, we will rely on our survival skills more than our combat skills, and I think that's what has tripped us up. Anyway, this is where the viper vine lives, we're the intruders, I'm up for moving on and leaving it be."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday August 25th, 2022 4:38:04 PM "Intruders are not invited. If you ask me to come to your house you don't leave an attack dog chained at the door to eat me."
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 19/40 Character Thursday August 25th, 2022 7:18:55 PM
Beech nods in agreement with Panzer, and he keeps a seed in his hand for the foreseeable future, mumbling something about party favors.....
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d6=4 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; Thursday August 25th, 2022 8:59:19 PM
Sahabiel feels that not everyone is quite on the same page about the Deep Culverwood and various metaphors flying around, and at the same time she is concerned that any attempt to sort that now might result in the party suffering a case of philosophy. Which would not be inherently a bad thing, just really inopportune in the current time and place.
"Alright, let's get everyone fit to travel again before something else happens..", she urges, and as the can tell that Beech is not looking so good after his experience with the viper vine, she channels some of the vibrant, regenerative power of nature for him and the group around them. (ooc: Channel Energy, one daily use now expended, 13 points of healing to everyone)[/b]
After, she gets back into the saddle, and from horseback keeps her eyes on the surroundings while Ash gets the compass back in working order so that they can continue.
Survival (navigate Culverwood) Take10 + 25 = 35
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday August 25th, 2022 9:05:03 PM I feel that it's more like choosing to walk into flood waters than someones back yard. It doesn't really matter what you do, the situation can change in an instant and you are already surrounded by the danger. You don't necessarily get a warning before the water suddenly becomes more dangerous, and in the end it was your choice to enter the water in the first place.
Still... I can't help but be upset with myself for not seeing the Viper Vine in time for it to be helpful.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+10=20 ; d8=8 ; Thursday August 25th, 2022 9:37:23 PM
Panzer pulls out his healing wand and drops back near Beech. As the others move out he taps the Wemic a couple times to close the last of his wounds and burns. UMD 20, heal 9 points of damage With Beech back in top shape the Beastkin moves back near the front, falling in behind Sahabiel.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday August 25th, 2022 10:06:11 PM
Naithi is disappointed the plant wasn't destroyed. It looked tasty and there were several recipes it might go well in.
DM Kathy Thursday August 25th, 2022 10:17:23 PM
You continue to debate the dangers of the Culverwood, and whether or not it's a good place to live.
Sahabiel provides Beech with some healing, and Panzer uses a wand to top him off.
Naithi is disappointed not to be eating a really big salad, but she keeps her thoughts to herself.
Ash takes a bearing, and soon you are on your way again.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday August 25th, 2022 11:05:49 PM "So are we sticking with the same marching order or mixing it up?" Ash still plans to be away from the front of the pack.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday August 25th, 2022 11:09:24 PM
Zazu grins and offers a few more metaphors.
"The Culverwood is a moon, because she is made of green cheese."
"The Culverwood is a book, because she has many leafs."
"The Culverwood is a traitor, because she has many trees on."
"The Culverwood is a simile, because there is always like in the middle."
Boyo bucks Zazu off!
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday August 26th, 2022 2:25:54 PM
Beech, feels a whole lot better, and says thanks. He thinks on various magics and what he needs to try to focus on learning, when he can....
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday August 26th, 2022 3:27:38 PM
Nightingale didn't take any damage, but she does say a short prayer to Queen Maab thanking her and asking her for aid while travelling the Wood
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday August 26th, 2022 8:36:13 PM
Naithi checks on Camalayas, Fizzgig, Cuddly Mike and Jen to make sure they are ok.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+14=28 ; Friday August 26th, 2022 9:13:28 PM I suppose we should keep moving, make sure to keep your eyes peeled
Perception = 28
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+20=38 ; Friday August 26th, 2022 10:46:31 PM
"That's a good idea, Lothlo!"
Zazu tries to stop fooling around and keep alert.
Perception 38
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20=13 ; d20=20 ; Friday August 26th, 2022 10:49:53 PM " Sure, let's go." Panzer heads of in whichever way the lodestone points Perception 17 Survival 30
Dryads
DM Kathy Friday August 26th, 2022 11:20:05 PM
You gather yourselves and your animals, organize yourselves into a marching order, and resume your journey.
You continue for another three hours or so before coming to a grove of trees. There are oak, spruce, alder, and maple trees, all clustered around an enormous yew. Knowledge Nature DC 15 Highlight to display spoiler: { The yew tree is thousands of years old!}
Even for the Culverwood, these trees are unusually large and healthy-looking. Knowledge Nature DC 20 Highlight to display spoiler: {It is likely they are homes for dryads.}
Moss grows thick on the ground here, and a little brook trickles through a corner of the grove. Apart from the brook, there is little sound; the hush is oddly pleasant. The whole place smells green and fresh.
Ash consults the lodestone, which swings back and forth. It would appear you have arrived at your destination.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday August 27th, 2022 5:21:43 AM (ooc: not rolling dice, both DCs are in the range that as long as she is not distracted and can Take10 on the Knowledge check, she would just know)
Sahabiel bows her head reverently in the presence of a living tree of such great age, and she greets the grouping of trees with a curtsy. Speaking Sylvan, and doing so in a tone of voice that suggests respect as like she were speaking to royalty, she greets; <"May the sun and moon shine on you, may gentle wind caress you, may peace be ever yours.">. She waits a few moments before daring to ask; <"We were called, and this call has brought us to here before you. Was it by your will?">.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Saturday August 27th, 2022 3:08:51 PM
Panzer hears the silence descend on the 'wood as they approach the clearing. What survival tells him and any other hunter about sudden silence is that the creatures in the surrounding area sense a threat and go silent so as not to be attacked. In one fluid motion he drops into a crouch. His main hand knife drawn and a wand being pulled in his off hand. He doesn't understand what Sahabiel is saying. The tone sounds reverent, but he sees no one for her to actually speak to. He waits to see what unfolds before tapping himself with the wand.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday August 28th, 2022 1:30:10 AM
Ash whispers to the group. It seems like a whispering moment. "That tree there is thousands of years old. Also, these trees around us look like they might be the homes of some dryads. Let's try and appear friendly"
Ash's greeting may not be perceived as reverent as Sahabiel's, but it's still friendly. She speaks fluent sylvan and elven, but opts to speak in common.
"Hi there! I'm Ash!" She slowly turns and waves at the area around her. "We found this stone by our settlement and it directed us here. There was also a voice telling us to come and 'find us'. Was that you?" She holds up the stone in case someone is actually watching them right now.
Ash realises a group of armed people might be a bit alarming, and if they didn't understand the context of the fight with the viper vine it could also look a bit suspect. "We don't mean any harm. We might not look it, but we really are friendly! If you didn't call us here then I'm sorry if we disturbed you. We'll leave you in peace if you'd prefer."
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Monday August 29th, 2022 8:53:52 AM
Beech keeps the seed palmed.... His basic understanding was plants plus fire equals fire wins... He wasn't into doing unto others first, but he was ready to return if done unto....
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+14=26 ; Monday August 29th, 2022 9:12:05 AM
Lothlo looks around at the gigantic trees. A dryad's home? I suppose that makes sense, but if a dryad called us here they would have had a hard time traveling the distance to leave the loadstone to guide us. And if they had someone else leave it I wonder why they wouldn't have reached out to us directly.
Lothlo looks around the grove for signs they are being watched or are in danger.
Perception = 26
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20=8 ; Monday August 29th, 2022 1:03:03 PM
OOC why is Lothlo down HP? IC Know nature(unskilled) 8 Panzer heard Ash's words and laughed out loud. He sheathed his knife and stowed the wand. He was blushing under his fur. This place was akin to a cathedral to Sahabiel, of course she spoke in Sylvan and reverently. Of course he had read the signs wrong. Wasn't that what he was best at, missing social ques? He tried to recall what he knew about dryads, but all he knew were old wives tales. They were the forester's boogeyman, Charming the foresters to serve them and abandon chopping down trees. They lived not in a tree but INSIDE a tree, and supposedly they were bound to stay within a certain radius of it or fall ill. That might explain their need for help, it would also explain the musical singsong words of 'come find us' that the lodestone expresses when it was made into a compass. Panzer laced his hands in front of himself and waited for the denizen's of the circle to respond. This was far from the fight he had at first anticipated.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday August 29th, 2022 1:03:38 PM
Nightingale has a huge smile on her face. Those close to her can hear her humming, but not dancing, yet.
OOC: I think I need for her to pick up Know: Nature, she doesn't have it
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+10=27 ; d20+10=19 ; Monday August 29th, 2022 8:12:55 PM
Naithi stress stares in awe and wonder at the old growth trees. Something about the place seems to ask for revenant silence for the moment.
Knowledge Nate t= 31 Knowledge Nate= 23 +4 added for Forest Walk in the Culverwood
DM Kathy Monday August 29th, 2022 10:13:01 PM Sahabiel offers a blessing in Sylvan.
Panzer, alarmed by the absence of animal noises, goes on alert.
Beech is also on alert.
Ash says that this grove is home to dryads and that the yew tree is thousands of years old.
[OOC: if you have a minute, search for images of ancient yews. They're really cool-looking.]
Lothlo wonders how dryads would be able to make it all the way to their grove. He looks around, but sees nothing untoward.
Nightingale and Naithi simply take in the scene.
Panzer, relieved by Ash's explanation, relaxes his posture of alertness.
Although you have addresed the dryads respectfully, and in Sylvan, nothing happens yet. It is getting to be late afternoon; the shadows are getting long. You are beginning to wonder whether it would be disrespectful to set up camp here, when a young dryad steps out of an alder tree.
"Oh!" she exclaims, then continues in Sylvan, Highlight to display spoiler: {"I didn't know anybody was here."}
As minutes go by, more dryads begin to emerge. An older dryad steps out of a stately old oak tree and moves directly toward your group. Although she is slender and graceful like all dryads, she somehow manages to look matronly as well. "Hello," she says in common. "My name is Quercia. Welcome to our home. Are you the ones from the druid grove?"
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday August 29th, 2022 10:55:26 PM
Sahabiel, who is not entirely surprised at having to be patient in any dealings with the fey, repeats her respectful greeting and follows up with a reply to the elder dryad, <"You honor us with your welcome. A fledgling grove I will call ours at best, but it was in our grove that a compass that lead us here turned up nonetheless. My name is Sahabiel, in service to the Culverwood. Here with me are Naithi who is a druid, Nightingale and Ash, who heed Queen Maab, and other allies of various talents.">
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday August 29th, 2022 11:40:41 PM
"Quercia, it is so good to meet you and your people. I am Zazu, and my companion is Boyo. It is as Sahabiel says -- we all respect and some love the Culverwood, and a magical summons led us here to lend a hand."
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+7=9 ; Tuesday August 30th, 2022 2:40:11 AM "Hi there! I'm Ash" she gives a wave to Quercia and to the other dryads nearby. For some reason it doesn't feel like a 'handshake' moment just yet.
She thinks back to when she first heard the voice saying 'find us', and tries to work out if it sounded like Quercia.
Ash looks around and up to the tops of these mighty tree. "These trees really are magnificent. I can see why you'd live here. That one alone is surely several thousand years old". It never hurts to compliment someone's home
She tries to get a feel for the crowd to see how they feel about the party being here.
------------- Sense Motive: 9 - to get a sense of how the other dryads are feeling right now Perception: 19
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Tuesday August 30th, 2022 5:30:42 AM
Beech, is not introducing himself, but will remain quiet. He will give his name if asked, but is still ready. They either called us, or whatever is associated with them....
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday August 30th, 2022 12:27:54 PM
Nightingale also gives Quercia a bow, then grins at her, "I love your tree. She is tall and wise. I am sure that butterflies and birds alight in her branches to bask in the sunlight."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday August 30th, 2022 4:52:45 PM
Panzer smiles with relief as Quercia greets the group in the common tongue. He was not looking forward to needing a translation of what went on here. When it is his turn he bows and says , " Panzer Braun Ma'am. I would like to thank you for speaking plainly in the common tongue. I prefer to make up my own mind on things and that is hard when the words need to be translated for me. It seems that as the lodestone asked we have done. We found you, what is it you would like to speak about?."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday August 30th, 2022 8:34:02 PM
Sahabiel, for the moment, will wait patiently for Quercia to speak again. She hopes this encounter will go easy on her companions... she probably is going to owe Beech an apology for not having done more to prepare those of them that are not entirely comfortable around the fey. Pixies, sprites and leshy are one thing, powerful fey like dryads quite another. And this is not one, but a whole cluster of them... she can almost feel the ancient power permeating this area. Panzer was not wrong when he likened this place to a cathedral, at least in some aspects.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday August 30th, 2022 9:00:48 PM
Lothlo bows before the Dryads. Hello Quercia, I am Lothlo Windwood. I hope we correctly interpreted your message as a friendly invitation.
Also, forgive me for asking, but I am unfamiliar with the ways of the Culverwood. This grove has seemed very peaceful while we were looking for you, am I correct that in this grove is safe from the dangers that are found in the Culverwood?
DM Kathy Tuesday August 30th, 2022 9:39:32 PM
I am in the hospital, so no DM post today. (It’s not at all serious; I’ll be back tomorrow.)
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+14=19 ; Tuesday August 30th, 2022 10:23:48 PM
Zazu looks carefully around and tries to note any clue that would give more information about this place or these people.
Know Nature 19
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday August 31st, 2022 2:37:02 AM
Ash waits for a response from the dryad. She looks about at the others that are circling the group and tries to work out whether they are a family, a community, or perhaps something larger?
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday August 31st, 2022 8:48:24 AM
Lothlo takes a moment to admire the ancient trees and all the history they must have been around for.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday August 31st, 2022 12:34:00 PM
Nightingale enjoys her surroundings, looking for butterflies, and at/for other dryads
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday August 31st, 2022 3:34:44 PM
Panzer was happy to wait while the Dryads figured out if their band of heroes was up to the task they had in mind. He was surrounded by a bunch of pretty Fey ladies and they were not trying to kill him, currently anyway. Win-win
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday August 31st, 2022 8:03:33 PM
ooc: working on my post. I'm not sure how I missed yesterday
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday August 31st, 2022 8:42:52 PM
Naithi bows low with Camalayas, Fizzgig, Jen and Cuddly Mule following suit.
My name is Naithi if the Drochil clan. If you are referring to the grove between Freedom's Landing and The Deep Culverwood where we found your compass, then that would be correct.
I have dome my best to embrace and bring forth the natural beauty of the forest. It is my hope they it will develope into a peaceful haven of nature where fey and leshy can reflect on the majesty of nature as pad through The Culverwood and visit Freedom's Landing.
If there is anything we might do to make it more inviting, please let us know.
She then goes on to describe the current groove. A place of honor was given to the largest and oldest tree in the area, a massive Weeping Willow with a small Druid Tree planted to either side
They're are currently two large circles of weeping willows that serve as the groves root stock. The entire outside of the grove will be ringed to with weeping pine, spruce, elm, cedar and willows to create a wall of privacy. The inner ring will be Weeping flowing trees including weeping cherry, redbud and wisteria. (Right now it is just weeping willow trees, which can be grown from cuttings from one tree, and she will do the grafting in the future, but thanks to magic it is developing much faster than normal)
Towards the center a large mushroom has sent out underground tendrils, that have formed a large circle of mushroom which serve as a fairy circle the fey can dance around.
As the grove matures, I'm hoping to infuse the trees with the magic of the Culverwood to enhance it's beauty and tranquility.
(ooc: looking at magic tree cultivation as a possible black genie project)
She then touched up on Sahabiel and Ash's contributions, but let's them give more detail. The three of us are all followers of Maab, and we hope to make the grove open and inclusive to all who respect and wish to embrace or reflect upon nature.
I must admit, the sight of these ancient yews left me speechless. Just standing under them brings a sense of peace. Thank you for inviting us
DM Kathy Wednesday August 31st, 2022 10:38:15 PM Sahabiel, Panzer, Lothlo, Ash, and Zazu introduce themselves to Quercia.
Nightingale doesn't give her name, but compliments Quercia's oak.
Beech resolves not to give his name unless Quercia asks for it, which she does not.
Ash tries to remember the voices that said "find us." It was multiple voices, and they all spoke in a whisper. Was Quercia's voice among them? Ash isn't sure.
Lothlo asks whether the grove is safe from the dangers of the Culverwood. "Safe enough," Quercia replies. "This is the dryads' grove, and the dryads belong here in the Culverwood. For the most part, the other forces in the Culverwood respect that."
Naithi describes the current druid grove. "Yes, that is the one we saw," Quercia replies. "We hoped that those who created it would be beings of good heart--or at least, beings who respect nature."
Panzer asks what the dryads want to talk about.
"Plain speaking," Quercia responds with a smile. "I agree it has its advantages. And our concern is simple. One of us is missing, and has been missing for over a week. Her name is Brancha, and she is a rather flighty thing, but we love her and worry about her. We are hoping you can find her for us."
She glances at the ancient yew with a little sigh. "I believe Grandmother Yew may know more. I hope she may yet emerge and speak with you. She does not emerge often these days, but she is fond of Brancha." Quercia gestures at the mossy clearing and brook. "You are welcome to camp here. It grows dark, and I believe people like you do not like to travel by dark. There is water in the brook and if you like, my sisters and I will gather deadfall and bracken that you might have a small fire."
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday August 31st, 2022 11:15:52 PM "Oh dear. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?" Ash doesn't believe a dryad would seek to leave the Culverwood, but if Brancha was in the Culverwood, the dryads here would be far better at finding her. Why contact outsiders like the party? Something is up.
"Finding a missing person is something that we are getting quite good at. Did she have a reason to leave? Obviously the more information you can provide the better our chances of finding her". Ash is interested in things like who was the last person to see her, does she wander off often, does she have a favorite place to go, did she seem happy before she left, and so on. Any information she can pry from the dryads will surely be useful.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday August 31st, 2022 11:41:48 PM
Zazu bows and accepts the hospitality of the dryads.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Wednesday August 31st, 2022 11:52:08 PM
Beech, hears that they are to find a missing person, he thinks, [i]*It could be worse*[/b] He pulls out his tent and goes about setting it up. He will then start cooking something to eat....
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday September 1st, 2022 12:12:47 AM (ooc: a small correction, Naithi would know that Sahabiel greatly respects Queen Maab, as Quercia put it; "For the most part". In the religious sense of 'follower' though, she belongs to The Culverwood itself, so if there is ever a situation where the interests of the Immortal Powers do not align, she'd have to prioritize the Will of the Wood first and foremost, though she seeks to be in good standing with both. Dryads, being themselves of the fey but bonded spiritually to the wood, are probably in a comparable position coming from the other direction - you'd never ask a dryad to choose between the fey court and their tree)
Sahabiel looks shocked and immediately shares Quercia's concern, knowing that for a dryad to not return to her tree for that long would under most circumstances be almost impossible to weather. "Already a week? A fortunate decision then that we did haste here without delay..." She looks around to the various trees in the grove. "Do ya sense if her link to her tree is still here? It would make rather a difference if she was able to bind herself to a new home where she is now, or if she is somehow surviving away for so long.."
After doing her part in setting up camp for the night, Sahabiel will seek the dryad's permission to pray at the foot of the ancient yew, where she will meditate and pray to The Culverwood for the vitality of the dryad's grove and the safety of the missing Brancha.
In addition to just praying, Sahabiel channels the rejuvenating power of the wood through her body and into her immediate surroundings, hoping that the wash of divine power with the 'signature' of the Culverwood will be noticed by Grandmother Yew, and might help to benevolently stir such a venerable dryad from her slumber to notice the plight of her kin.
(ooc: Spending a daily use of Channel Energy)
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday September 1st, 2022 1:02:02 AM
Nightingale seems to snap out of her reverie on the discovery of a missing dryad. "Oh dear, yes she must be found. I'm sorry, the presence of such beauty caught me off guard. I am Nightingale du'Cullain, a votary of Queen Maab."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday September 1st, 2022 3:18:23 PM
Panzer looks thoughtful for a moment, then speaks. " Is there a way for you to make a cutting of her tree, something that we can take with us to sustain her until we get her back here? It may also let us home in on where she is, like the lodestone helped us find you here."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday September 1st, 2022 9:07:20 PM
Lothlo listens to them talk about the missing Dryad. If you have brought us here to help, does that mean you have reason to believe she is somewhere outside of your reach?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday September 1st, 2022 9:19:18 PM
Naithi listens to the dryad's and takes in the others comments. Can you tell us how long she can be away from her? Is the extended departure a problem?
DM Kathy Thursday September 1st, 2022 10:24:20 PM Ash asks whether the dryads knew where Brancha might have gone, or why she would have left. "No, we don't know," Quercia replies. "She is, as I said, rather flighty, and I think we're all afraid she wandered off and got herself into trouble somehow."
Beech begins setting up camp. If you cook, what do you do for a fire?
Sahabiel, alarmed that the dryad has been missing for so long, asks whether Brancha's link to her tree is still intact. "We think so," Quercia says. She gestures to a nearby dogwood tree, which is tall and healthy-looking. "Her tree gives us hope. It appears she is not far away. But it is puzzling, too, for we have looked and looked and found no sign of her."
Panzer asks whether you could take a cutting of Brancha's tree with you, to help sustain her. At the word "cutting," a shudder runs through the dryads. "That--that's probably not a good idea," says Quercia at her most diplomatic.
Lothlo asks whether the dryads think Brancha is somewhere out of their reach. "Perhaps," Quercia replies. "As I said, we have looked everywhere nearby without finding her. Grandmother Yew hinted that there were other nearby places to look, but wouldn't give details when we asked. That's one of the reasons we hope she'll talk to you."
Naithi asks how long Brancha has been away and whether her extended absence would be a problem. "Ordinarily it would," says Quercia. "But her tree thrives. That would seem to indicate that she is somewhere nearby, but we have searched nearby without finding her."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20=18 ; Friday September 2nd, 2022 12:30:34 PM
Panzer picks up on the obvious dislike of the word and concept of ;cutting; one of their trees, tough he knows farmers that care deeply about their fruit trees that have propagated them from cutting. Mentally he shrugs. So this dryad is missing, close by, and the other druids can't find her. He thinks, but only for a moment and then his eyes light up. Dryads were tree people. Trees grow up,because trees need the sun, so they grow towards it, so likely they have only been looking at ground level and above. What if she fell in a hole, or like Ena was taken captive and down into the ground? " Have you looked below ground? I mean, she must be close by for her tree to still thrive, right? You say you have searched the places you know, and your concern is clear, so that is a given, but you are still , well, plant-like and plants need the sun so her being below ground wouldn't be a place you might look right off. But we had another missing woman to find and it turned out she was taken captive and hidden under the city. Underground is an often overlooked place."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday September 2nd, 2022 12:39:55 PM
Nightingale turns at Panzer's idea, "That actually makes sense. Are there any caves in the region that say have pretty stones or some form of rare plantlife?"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+10=14 ; Friday September 2nd, 2022 2:56:52 PM
Naithi speaks in her most polite tone. I hope you'll pardon my ignorance, but we have several companions they might be able to pick to her scent. Do you know if her scent would be on her tree? I'm sure her trail would be cold but now, but it might help locate her if we get close enough.
I was also wondering, is it possible someone is delaying her? A romantic interest or an enemy of the forest? And is there any chance that she has since bound to another tree? I know you said this tree is healthy, but if she were to be captured or detained away from her tree, could she bond to a different tree to avoid the consequence of being separated and do you know what effect that would have on the tree? Knowledge nature= 14
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday September 2nd, 2022 4:08:26 PM
While the others speak with Quercia, Sahabiel has a momen of prayer at the magnificent ancient yew tree, hoping that her presence, prayer, or the channeling of divine energy within the area of the grove will increase the chance that Grandmother Yew might show herself before the next dawn. She is rather interested in what the elder may have meant to hint at to the younger dryads. As Panzer said, underground was certainly possible. But in these enchanted parts of the deep woods, so was a portal to the fey realm, and she was less than at ease about that prospect.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday September 2nd, 2022 9:22:42 PM Thanks, hopefully we can talk to Grandmother later and it will give us some ideas. Is there a particular direction or item of interest in the forest she tended to gravitate to? Now that I think about it, I've found the Culverwood prevents all normal methods of navigation, how is Brancha able to find her way back when she wanders off normally? Is it possible something is preventing from navigating her way back?
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday September 2nd, 2022 10:01:07 PM
Ash considers the conundrum. She's nearby but the dryads themselves can't find her. Underground makes a lot of sense. Above the treetops could be a possibility, though perhaps less likely. Stuck inside a different tree perhaps? Maybe she has been trapped within one. Ethereal? She knows that sort of overlap is possible. In the end she thinks she's narrowed the possible areas to above, below, within, or overlapping. That is to say, she hasn't really narrowed it down at all.
"How far away would she need to be before her tree starts to show the effect?" she asks. That might help narrow down the distance.
DM Kathy Friday September 2nd, 2022 10:31:23 PM Panzer asks whether the dryads have looked below ground. Quercia looks thoughtful. "No. No we haven't looked underground. Perhaps that's something you could do for us."
Building on the theme, Nightingale asks whether there are caves nearby. "No," says Quercia. "And we saw no evidence of any new areas opening underground--sinkholes and what have you. Though I admit we weren't looking for them specifically."
Naithi asks whether Brancha's scent would still be on her tree. "Truthfully I have no idea," Quercia says. "You are welcome to try." She also asks whether Brancha might have bonded to a different tree. "It's possible," Quercia says slowly. "We would expect her tree here to show signs of sickness, but after all her tree is young, like Brancha herself. Maybe it is healthy enough to withstand the blow."
Lothlo asks whether something might be preventing Brancha from returning. "I suppose it's possible," Quercia replies thoughtfully. "Though the rest of us have been all over these woods looking for her and none of us have been captured or impeded."
Ash asks how far away a dryad would have to be before the tree started to show signs of trouble. "It varies a bit," Quercia says. "Anywhere between a quarter and a half a mile."
Sahabiel takes the opportunity to try to get Grandmother Yew's attention. Nothing happens immediately.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday September 2nd, 2022 10:48:33 PM
Beech, continues to listen. He may be the best as speaking, but these are the Woods, and are not his bailiwick. He pulls out a flint and steel and lights a small fire so he can heat some food, because he doubts the residents would come anywhere near him if he started the fire the way he prefers....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Saturday September 3rd, 2022 12:09:31 AM
Zazu thanks everybody for their great ideas.
The trickster and Boyo hop over to the tree to get the scent.
"We will do our best to find her, for sure! We have some ideas on how to start, and we'll get started right away!"
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday September 3rd, 2022 5:57:13 PM "...come dawn tomorrow, I would be able to petition the Culverwood to grant me the selfsame magic for long range communication that I used from a scroll given me by Hríw-calen Gildin back in Karri.", Sahabiel offers. "With all her sisters here to guide me, and.. well, if she still remains spiritually connected to her tree, then I believe I would be able to satisfy the required familiarity by being in touch with Brancha's birch at the time of prayer, even though I have never met her as a person before. Even if we do not get a reply, we could at least hope to let her know her sisters are worried and looking for her. And if she does answer... that might make our search quite a bit easier, no?"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Saturday September 3rd, 2022 9:15:33 PM "Can you tell us what means you've already tried in an effort to locate her? Were there certain spells that you cast? It may be that we know some other ones that might help. Are there any other allies you have contacted for help?". Between them the group are very capable casters. She wonders whether it's possible that Brancha doesn't want to be found. "Does Brancha know many spells?"
Ash considers a Detect Magic spell to see if there is a lingering aura about that might indicate how Brancha departed (such as via a teleport spell or tree stride) but given how long she's been gone it's more than likely the auras have faded.
------------ Knowl checks. All hit DC23 (Take10). Knowl Nature: Ways to wake up Yew, whether underground areas are found within the Culverwood, Knowl Planes: Whether the fey realm overlaps this area
Perception: DC29 (Take20) - looking for any other tracks in the area that might indicate a non-dryad had been here recently
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Sunday September 4th, 2022 1:13:00 PM
Beech cooks a simple spicy stew, with enough for everyone and a couple guests, but he doubts any of the dryads will join in...
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday September 5th, 2022 11:26:41 AM " Right then. Since time is of the essence here we should start our search as soon as possible. If I understand correctly the further and longer she is away from her tree her health and the tree's health could deteriorate." Panzer thinks she may be below ground and thus beneath the view of her sisters. He has absolutely no way to prove this and aside from randomly falling into a hole in the Wold no way of effectively finding Brancha. But he is aware of the time sensitivity of the whole affair.. If the dryad goes too far from her tree she will, what? Weaken? Sicken? Die? Again he isn't sure. Like in Ena's case he has a good idea where to look, but little ability to do so.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday September 5th, 2022 1:44:19 PM
Nightingale will approach Grandmother Yew, bow, and then begin humming a tune while communing with Queen Maab. She will reach out to lightly run her hands over the tree, tracing the bark, while simply saying Hello in the one way she has gotten responses to before
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday September 5th, 2022 5:37:16 PM
Naithi and her menagerie gather the scent and she prepare her spells for the next day. She then surge the evening in the tranquility of the forest.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday September 5th, 2022 7:25:03 PM I would suggest we wait until morning, unless Grandmother suggests otherwise. In the mean time, that stew smell delicious.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday September 5th, 2022 10:24:33 PM
Zazu hops over to the stew and is eager to chow down. Boyo is content to munch on nearby foliage or plants, after Zazu asks if that's OK.
DM Kathy Monday September 5th, 2022 10:33:40 PM Beech starts a small fire. Quercia had offered to have the dryads gather bracken and fallen branches for fuel, but nobody responded. We'll assume, though, that they did it anyway and you have something to burn in your fire. You begin cooking a stew.
Zazu and Naithi bring their companions to Brancha's tree to get her scent. The results are inconclusive. The entire grove smells like dryad. You think maybe your companions might have some idea of what her scent is, but you are far from confident.
Sahabiel contemplates preparing and casting a Message spell in the morning.
"We tried some simple divinations," Quercia replies to Ash. "They did not work. Our magic is....not like yours. Brancha is not a caster," she adds.
Nightingale attempts to commune with Grandmother Yew.
Panzer wants to get started right away, but it is getting dark and that stew smells really good. Most of the group is inclined to follow Lothlo's suggestion and wait until morning.
You set up your camp and eat your dinner. The dryads politely decline to share it. Quercia assures you that you will be safe here in the grove, but you can set a watch if it will make you more comfortable.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Tuesday September 6th, 2022 4:46:55 AM
The dryads might not want to join in with the meal, however Ash will try and sit near some of them just to chat and talk. They're practically neighbours after all. It would be good to build a trusting relationship with them and have them as allies in these woods.
Hopefully finding Brancha will also show that the party are good intentioned.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday September 6th, 2022 12:03:36 PM
Naithi spend some time anything the Dryads if there is anything she can do to allow them to more easily visit her grove without suffering from the journey.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday September 6th, 2022 3:22:17 PM
Panzer, headstrong as ever, can see fine in the darkness and like a dog with a tasty chew toy, doesn't give up. These dryads asked for help and their plight is time sensitive, at least to the beastkin. "Quercia, are there any other dryads around Brancha's age and maturity that would be willing to walk the edge of their range with me? Brancha's range from her tree is dictated mainly by her age and maturity, right? To me that would mean that another of her sisters that is roughly the same age and maturity would have close to the same range. If a few, or even one of them would be willing to walk to the point that they feel the tug of their tree calling them home with me tonight, I might be able to mark the edges of where we should search tomorrow so that we have a defined area to look in. Then when the others, who cannot see as well as I can in the dark wake up tomorrow we will be looking in productive places rather than all over the Culverwood. Is that possible?" If any of Brancha's sisters will humor him, Panzer will take some charcoal from the fire, or better yet chalk if someone has any and mark the edges of the dryad's supposed range.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday September 6th, 2022 5:38:26 PM
Nightingale continues to commune to see if "Grandmother" will talk to her, and/or her friends
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday September 6th, 2022 7:30:52 PM
Sahabiel trusts the Dryads if they say no dangerous creatures dare come to the grove. With the difficulty they had to get there even with a compass and an invitation, she doubts there would be a lot of things that could get to this part of the woods without getting turned around.
She will spend the evening, and then sleep so that she can get enough rest to renew what magics are given to her by the Culverwood come the morning.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday September 6th, 2022 8:45:31 PM
Zazu helps Ash in visiting with the dryads. "Yes, we are practically neighbors. It is an honor to visit with you all."
Like Sahabiel, later on Zazu rests with no fear or need to set watch.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday September 6th, 2022 9:05:33 PM
Lothlo trusts that the grove will be safe. I know Grandmother doesn't come out as often, but do you know if there is a time we are more likely to catch her? We want to be prepared for her should she come out to talk to us.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Wednesday September 7th, 2022 6:52:41 AM
Beech, pays attention to the beast-kin and his actions.... He's only set up the tent and and pulled out his pan, so breaking down, won't be very hard to do....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday September 7th, 2022 2:33:04 PM
Naithi prepares her bedroll for sleep.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday September 7th, 2022 7:40:33 PM (ooc: the spell Sahabiel would be using after refreshing her allotment of divine favors is 4th level Sending, not the Message cantrip.)
While Panzer is looking to team up with one of the dryads to do a little preliminary search in the dark, Sahabiel has begun thinking about the words to put into the message she would send to the missing Brancha... the prayer of Sending comes with a bit of a budget in words, and she needs to both convince Brancha of their good intentions, convey that her sister dryads are looking for her, and ask her to reply with something that would help them find her...
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday September 7th, 2022 7:45:25 PM
Lothlo ladles a second bowl of stew and enjoys the tranquility of the grove.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday September 7th, 2022 9:25:53 PM
With her humming and not seeing any reaction, Nightingale will try to get all the "nature lovers" in the group to join her to see if they can coax Grandmother from her slumber
Grandmother Yew
DM Kathy Wednesday September 7th, 2022 10:30:37 PM Panzer is able to find a few young dryads for his experiment, and is able to rough out a search area.
The rest of the group turns in for the night. Eventually. You are able to get a full night's rest and prepare spells anew.
You are still finishing up your breakfast when you hear a stir among the dryads. "Grandmother!" someone says.
You look over to see a dryad with long white hair emerging from the ancient yew tree. Her face remains unlined, but her eyes are old and full of wisdom.
"I see we have visitors," she says.
"Yes, Grandmother," Quercia replies. "These are the once who will help us find Brancha. Here is Panzer, and Lothlo, and Zazu, and Nightingale, and Naithi, and Sahabiel, and Beech. We have been hoping you would speak with them."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday September 7th, 2022 11:27:15 PM
Zazu bows low, and Boyo kneels.
"Lady, we are happy to help however we can."
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday September 7th, 2022 11:30:38 PM
Ash looks about and then to Quercia. Had she done something wrong to be omitted from the introductions? Maybe speaking to the dryads while she was eating was a faux-pas? Best not dwell on it. She'll ask Quercia about it later. Ash steps forward. If there is any ceremony required for speaking with Grandmother Yew, no-one has told her about it.
"Hi there! I'm Ash" the bloodwitch introduces herself with a smile. "We do hope there's something we can do to help find Brancha. It sounds like her being gone for so long is out of character for her. Is there anything you can tell us that might help us find her?"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20+6=26 ; Thursday September 8th, 2022 12:45:33 PM
Beech gives a formal bow to the ancient Dryad, watching those who came to his mother for advice and or permission had at least taught him how to address an Elder, initially. He remains quiet, allowing those more attuned to "The Woods" to carry out the questioning. If asked Directly, "We as the founding members of our village, wish to have peaceful relations with those around us. A token was left leading us here, asking for assistance. We have arrived to offer that to you, we just don't know where to begin or at least what direction to go in."
He knows it just rehashes what has already been stated, but its best to start at the beginning, just to be clear...
Diplomacy 26 (nat 20)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday September 8th, 2022 1:09:05 PM
Panzer dusts the crumbs of breakfast fro his chin fur and steps before the Granmother Dryad and bows. " Thank you for trusting us with this task. With the help of (names of the dryads who helped him last night) I managed to narrow down where we should expect to find Brancha. Hopefully we can get her back here before she suffers any harm from being away from home."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday September 8th, 2022 2:01:50 PM
Now that Grandmother is awake, Nightingale will wait for the others to finish badgering her, and give her a bow, "Nightingale Du'Cullain, votary of Queen Maab. We've come to help your lost daughter."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+14=15 ; Thursday September 8th, 2022 2:14:42 PM Noble Grandmother of the Forest, we will do all that we can to assist you in locating Brancha. I pray they I'm not being rude or too direct in asking this, but what would happen if you were to enter Brancha's tree? I have heard it said that when a Dryad enters her own tree that it becomes an extradimensional living space she may bring others into. Are you able to enter this space without her, and if you are, could you bring me with to look for clues and to isolate her scent? If not, can you tell if she is still bonded to the tree or is she might have bonded to another tree since her departure? This may help us to quickly locate her.
Knowledge Nature= 15 to recall knowledge about tree melding
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday September 8th, 2022 2:30:59 PM
Sahabiel, now having heard the sound that an Oak makes in the forest when introducing a Beech and an Ash to a Yew to help find a Birch, feels very briefly enlightened before reminding herself this is not how a koan is supposed to work.
She curtsies, or as close to it as goes while wearing armor for the search, before Grandmother Yew. Beech seeks to be making a good introduction for all of them and she simply does her part to support that. She trusts that Beech will address the claim of the other dryads that Grandmother Yew knew more secrets of the local area and where Brancha might have ended up, but will nudge the conversation in that direction if necessary.
(ooc: Aid Another, +2 to Beech' diplomacy check)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday September 8th, 2022 8:14:32 PM
Setting down his coffee cup, he turns toward the white haired dryad and gives a little bow. It is a pleasure to meet you Grandmother, I am Lothlo Windwood. Lothlo realizes that he doesn't have anything to add at the moment that wasn't already shared, so he waits to see what Grandmother has to share with them.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday September 8th, 2022 9:51:48 PM
Zazu listens to the members of the party offer their names and titles, and, honestly, the elf is impressed and proud of them all.
"We've come a long way, Boyo," the trickster whispers, "since our days as slaves in an orc camp!"
DM Kathy Thursday September 8th, 2022 10:54:05 PM
"It is very nice to meet all of you," says Grandmother Yew. [OOC: Sorry, Rob! Ash was left out because your silly DM didn't double-check her post.] "Thank you for agreeing to help us."
Panzer reports on the results of his experiments, and Naithi suggests looking for clues inside Brancha's tree.
"What clever children you are!" Grandmother Yew says. "But I don't think any of that will be necessary." She turns to the other dryads. "Run along, now, and let me talk to these nice people." The other dryads depart with varying degrees of reluctance.
Grandmother Yew seats herself on a mossy rock. "Now, then," she says. "I do have some idea what might have become of Brancha. You see, the Culverwood is---" she breaks off. "How to begin," she says with a rueful smile.
After a short pause, she says. "Perhaps I'll start with a riddle of sorts: Where do you go when you go to sleep?"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday September 9th, 2022 1:49:06 AM
Ash finds it interesting that Grandmother Yew doesn't want the other dryads present while she talks with the party. Is there something she doesn't want them to know?
She considers the question put to her before responding. "My body stays in place, but my dreams take me away. Sometimes to good places and sometimes to bad. Sometimes to the past and sometimes to the future. My mind is free to take me anywhere".
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday September 9th, 2022 11:58:43 AM
Panzer gets a weird look on his face. Did thid dryad go to sleep somewhere? Why? And why can't the other Dryads know? He answers " I go to sleep in my bed, usually in a safe place. Either my new home or in a camp with my friends to watch out for me while I rest." " Did Brancha go to sleep to become something else, like Naithi?"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday September 9th, 2022 12:24:40 PM
Beech, speaks up. [b]"I take it you mean another Realm. My mom traveled to at least two other realms that she has spoken of, there might be a third she visited. Some sort of Dreamscape or something similar?" As usual, Beech brings it straight to the point....
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday September 9th, 2022 3:16:24 PM
Nightingale will listen quietly to what Grandmother Yew is saying
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday September 9th, 2022 5:47:55 PM
Trying to answer from her understanding of basic general theology, since this is definitely outside the more specific interests of her branch of faith, Sahabiel answers; "Um.. what Beech said sounds familiar. I have heard of debates on whether the realm of dreams exists outside of ourselves, and if so, where it fits in the cosmology, but that's a bit out my area of expertise.. I'm much better with growing plants and trees and dreaming doesn't really come up much there."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday September 9th, 2022 9:03:23 PM
Lothlo considers Grandmother's question. I suppose a bedroll or hammock, though it doesn't particularly matter. A bed is just a place you store your body when you're not using it. As for my mind, I suppose it goes wherever it fancies while I dream, though I don't know much about the physical nature of dreams.
DM Kathy Friday September 9th, 2022 10:37:52 PM
Grandmother Yew nods. "Yes. You see what I mean. There are two answers, are there not? One answer is, you don't go anywhere. The other answer is, you wander among dreams. Both are true. And in a sense, the land of dreams is in the same place as your body. It is just...a different facet of the place. Or perhaps we could say a different realm, as young Beech suggests. Both your dreams and your hammock in the same place, separated by a veil of sorts."
She looks around, as if to see if you are following her. "The Culverwood has similar facets that can be visited during your waking hours, if you know how. Your body and mind remain together, and you go...deeper."
"Going deeper usually requires an act of will. However, some fae from time to time go deeper without meaning to. I believe that is what has become of Brancha. She went deeper, and something is preventing her from returning. She and her tree are both still healthy because they are not far apart. But she is on the other side of the veil."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday September 10th, 2022 9:03:04 PM
Sahabiel tries to imagine, and is left with a lot of questions, one above all the rest; "If this is where she is stuck... and ya say that if we knew how to, we too would be able to cross... then, would ya be able to teach us how to reliably reach across the veil? For it to just happen must be rare even among the fae, if none of the younger ones thought of the possibility?" Other thoughts were of how dangerous travel into an overlapping plane might be. The closest thing she had previously thought about anything like this was how travel into the fae realm always seemed a questionable pursuit for mortals, and the realm where dreams happened hardly sounded more stable.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday September 11th, 2022 10:20:01 PM "When you say preventing, is it possible that she just doesn't know her way back? Or is the way back and forth clear, and something must be holding her back?"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Sunday September 11th, 2022 11:19:45 PM "I expect we wouldn't have been brought here, had this Dream Realm explained to us, and get told, sorry, we can't get you there... When it's time, which will when it's decided, we will be told how."
Beech, could almost picture his mother doing something like this....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday September 12th, 2022 12:31:10 AM
"We shall not see her this side of the Veil," Zazu says sadly. "So needs must we pass the Veil and hope against hope to return with her. Grandmother, tell us, please, about this act of will, and how to execute it."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday September 12th, 2022 9:22:52 AM Since the other side of the veil is also one where our physical body can reside, can you tell us a little more about how it differs from our normal dream world? I assume that if our bodies are there then we could also be in physical danger. Do our thoughts have any control over the realm like in our dreams, or is it shaped by the Culverwood, or something else entirely? And do you know if our presence will be tolerated there to a similar extent that it is in the Culverwood?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday September 12th, 2022 2:46:50 PM
Naithi nods in agreement. We would also appreciate anything you can tell us about what to expect on the other side.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday September 12th, 2022 5:42:07 PM
Nightingale seems in awe as the topic of "crossing veil's" is discussed - she keeps her mouth shut though so she doesn't mess up whatever plan Sahabiel is cooking up
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday September 12th, 2022 8:32:58 PM
If Panzer didn't ave fur, you would note that he has gone rather pale. After all of the other chime in with their 'absolutely we will go' remarks he just shakes his head and waits for them to stop asking questions so he can make sure he heard Grandmother Yew correctly. " I just want to be sure I understand, because I am not always the sharpest pebble in the river" ". Brancha, either unknowingly or intentionally, went through this 'veil' into the dream world and either got stuck or is being kept there. You understand the hows and whys of this place, but you want US to go there instead of you, when we have more or less never heard of this place and can't or don't really understand it, and bring her back here. The bringing back part may or may not involve negotiating with a fey creature, who are known to be somewhat fickle in their desires. If this creature that can probably come and go in our dreams whenever it wants says 'nope, I caught her and now she is mine' you want us to set her free only to bring her back here." " Is that about the idea in a nutshell?"
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday September 12th, 2022 10:17:56 PM
"Panzer," says Zazu, touching his arm and laughing, "Where is your sense of adventure! Come, throw caution to the winds and embark with us on a grand quest! Fear not, these dryads are friends and in need of our help."
"Of course they cannot pursue their lost friend. They are tied to their trees, and no doubt are reluctant to leave them."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday September 12th, 2022 10:24:46 PM
Sahabiel quietly pays attention not only to what Grandmother Yew is going to answer to the questions of her companions, but also to any sudden shifts in the voices or attitudes of her companions. She has no means of knowing if any of them are not under the influence of charms or other plays with the mortal mind that fey of this stature are easily capable of, and dryads do have a bit of a reputation for securing the cooperation of others by any means if they really wish something done. So far the meeting has been entirely amicable, and she has no reason not to treat friendly with these fey who share her love and protectiveness of the wood, but she kind of wants to keep that thought in mind as a safeguard just in case.
Of course, if there is a means to visit the realm on the other side of the veil of dreaming, a form of crossing that is not beholden to advanced magics, then some part of Sahabiel is at least... intrigued, as learning it might open to her a means to commune more clearly with the Will of the Wood, as that too speaks to her in dreams more than in the waking world.
DM Kathy Monday September 12th, 2022 10:25:37 PM
There are many questions for Grandmother Yew, and a few of them make reference to a "Dream World."
"I should clarify," she says. "I used the idea of a dream world only as an example, something you were already familiar with. The place beyond the veil should not be mistaken for any kind of dream realm. It is very real: another facet, or perhaps another version, of the Culverwood you see around you now. You cannot visit it in dreams; only by actually moving yourself there."
Ash asks whether Brancha is just lost, or whether she's being prevented from returning. "I don't know," says Grandmother Yew. "I hope she is simply lost. But we have to be prepared for anything."
Panzer, in his blunt way, asks about what you're expected to do. "I want to send you instead of going myself," says Grandmother Yew, "because I am but one person, and am fae like Brancha. If she has been ensnared by something, it could well ensnare me, too. There are many of you, not fae. You stand a better chance. I do not ask you to do more than you are comfortable with. If Brancha's situation proves too much for you, you should come back and tell us, so we might decide what to try next. But it is my hope that so many brave folk will prevail."
The rest of the group ask how to cross the veil, and what to expect when you get there. "To cross over, you must open your mind to the possibility. See your surroundings with more than just your eyes. Then gather your will and--push. You do not need to be moving, but it might help."
"As for what you might find there, it has been many years since I went deeper. I remember seeing a Culverwood much like this one, yet unlike it as well. Everything seemed more. More green, more lush, more alive. That is what I remember."
"I have heard that there are yet more Culverwoods beyond that one. That, having gone deeper, it is possible to go deeper still. I do not know whether this is true, and if it is true, I do not know how deep all the Culverwoods go."
She seems to remember something. "I have something that may help you," she says. She rises and returns to her tree, emerging a few moments later holding something in her hand. She sits down again and shows it to you--something wrapped in a large, fresh, green leaf. She opens the leaf to reveal a fine pale powder with a faintly greenish cast. "This powder," she says, "is made from basidirond spores. Some fae use it for vision quests. It may help alter your consciousness so that you may move through the veil more easily."
[It is a DC 15 Knowledge: Nature check to know more about basidironds.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday September 12th, 2022 10:36:14 PM "So some sort of hallucinogen?" Ash's mother had always told her to stay away from drugs. Would it be ok to try it this one time? She knows quite a bit about basidironds though.
"Is there some way for us to communicate with you while we're 'deeper'?"
--------------------- Knowl Nature vs DC15: 23 (Take1) = Pass!
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday September 13th, 2022 11:54:42 AM
Panzer mentally shut out the jibes from Zazu. He kinda remembered Zazu's time in the Den of Thieves and that was not his idea of adventure. Panzer liked adventures he could remember, adventures he got to remember because he lived through them. Keeping his focus on Grandmother Yew he smiled at her reply and said, " I gathered that you wouldn't go yourself as your community does not seem to be all that martial in nature, and I understand that. From the tales I have heard I also realize what Zazu is saying in that having gotten us here you could just order us to do this and we would be unlikely to resist. The thing that gives me hope is that you haven't done that but have asked us for a favor, like one neighbor does to another. 'if you help me plow my field this spring I will help you plant yours' 'Many hands make light work' and all that. That makes me happy that I have something I can use to contribute." " I suppose my biggest question is if Brancha is being restricted from returning and it comes to a confrontation, be it a contest of wills or an actual fight, how do we proceed without incurring the wrath of the fey on the other side of the veil. I mean they can travel through more easily than we can, yes? If we end up slighting or outright angering them I fear what they might do in return, to us and to those we represent. We are part of a community, and as such we don't want to do things that could come to negatively affect that community." "Despite what Zazu says I enjoy a challenge. I have no problem in starting a fight that will just blow back on me. but I have no wish to drag the family down the street into it just because I wave to them as I pass the on the street. I strongly believe you understand what I am saying, because you have excluded the rest of your dryads from hearing this lest they test the veil and get in trouble like Brancha. I just want some advice for avoiding collateral damage."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday September 13th, 2022 12:21:39 PM
Nightingale, curious as ever, will wander closer to the dust, in her heart, she is ready to aid the Culverwood, but again, until her compatriots are also ready, she's keeping her mouth shut, but she is humming under her breath.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday September 13th, 2022 6:57:32 PM
Sahabiel looks at the supposedly mildly hallucinogenic powder, and then looks over t Panzer. "...it is probably a good thing ya did not try to explore any local caves on yer own last night. These spores must have come from somewhere."
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Tuesday September 13th, 2022 7:38:40 PM
Beech not knowing a thing about natural things, pretty much ignores it, until he hears its a drug. He's not all that thrilled with taking it....
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday September 13th, 2022 9:01:58 PM
Lothlo listens with interest as they are told about the deeper culverwood. From the way you speak of going deeper it sounds like people who go deeper tend not to go "deeper still". I know there is no way to tell for sure, but would Brancha have been more likely to avoid going "deeper still, or would you guess that the fact she hasn't returned indicates that it's more likely she found herself going deeper still?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+10=20 ; Tuesday September 13th, 2022 9:04:42 PM
Naithi shares what she knows of the spores. While we are there, are there any unique plants or animals that we might wish to bring back to cultivate? This sounds like the type of place I have heard rare medical ingredients can be found.
Knowledge Nature = 10
DM Kathy Tuesday September 13th, 2022 10:46:15 PM Ash asks whether you will be able to communicate with Grandmother Yew from the other side of the veil. "No" is the sad reply. "If there was a way to communicate, rest assured I would have spoken to Brancha well before now."
Panzer explains that he fears retaliation should your group anger the fae. "I do understand what you mean," Grandmother Yew assures you. "But fae on the other side of the veil are unlikely to know what community you represent. We ourselves did not know, when we left the lodestone for you to find. But I repeat, if a situation seems too fraught with pitfalls, you are welcome to return here and consult us about it."
Lothlo asks whether it is likely that Brancha went even deeper, into the facets beyond. "I have never heard of a dryad unintentionally going deeper still," Grandmother Yew replies. "I suppose nothing is impossible, but I think it is very unlikely."
Naithi asks about unique plants or animals, but Grandmother Yew has no information about that.
Many of you are eyeing the powder with varying degrees of skepticism. Grandmother Yew smiles. "The powder may help you go deeper," she says. "But it is quite possible to go deeper without it, using just your will and your connection to the Culverwood. Each of you can decide whether or not to use the powder."
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday September 14th, 2022 3:23:24 AM "I'd rather try and go deeper without using the powder first. Mother Maab might help guide me if I focus hard enough" Ash means no disrespect at all to Grandmother Yew. She'd just really prefer not to use performance enhancing powder if it can be avoided. "Perhaps if we were all holding hands it might help? Maybe being in contact with one another might make sure we all end up in the same place. We don't want to land on different levels of 'deep'."
She then has another thought. "Is there anything we need to help us come back though? The powder or our will might be strong enough to get there, but what do we need to do to come back?"
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday September 14th, 2022 12:18:08 PM
Nightingale looks up into the sky, then at the grove around her, "Does this grove exist in the "deeper," because if it does, then that would be a good starting spot...and a place we can find again to come back through."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday September 14th, 2022 1:17:24 PM
Panzer cracked his knuckles and stood up. He stretched uneasily, as if shedding the tension he had felt while making sure he understood the job they needed to do. " Let me get my armor on and then we can see about this thing. I don't want to be impaired by hallucinations so I would like to try slipping deeper on my own first." He stepped away to strap on his armor
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Wednesday September 14th, 2022 3:37:15 PM
Beech agrees that he'd try without, at least at first... He has his gear except the tent, and leaving it here, just made sense...
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday September 14th, 2022 6:08:54 PM
Sahabiel has her own reasons for declining the spore powder, of which she politely informs the elder dryad. "It is not that I do not trust the efficacy of the powder, but I believe it would be worth it to put in more effort in mastering the trick to it, and not rely on such.. artificial ease. Since we can't know if we will not end up staying on the other side longer than the powder's effect can last, we should be certain that we can make the return crossing without such a stimulant - and the best test of that is if we also got there that way. It would do nobody much good to have more people stuck on the wrong side."
That said, it looks like everyone is getting ready, and their attempt to pierce the veil will begin soon. Her own imbuement with the Wood's ancient magic feels renewed after her morning prayers. She has the prayer of Sending she would originally have used to try to contact Brancha prepared, so sending a message across the boundary of worlds back to Quercia or to Grandmother Yew, both of whom she is now sufficiently familiar with, would be possible if needed.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday September 14th, 2022 6:36:29 PM
Zazu accept the spores in case the effort to get deeper fails, or to help getting back if needed.
"But I would rather do it on my own, because then I could come back whenever I wanted!"
"Grandmother, I have to bring Boyo. Will that be a problem?
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday September 14th, 2022 7:07:27 PM
Lothlo has some reservations about not taking the powder, as Grandmother seems to know what she's talking about and has their best interest in mind. Since this is a physical place, if the ones not taking the powder aren't able go deeper without it, would all of us be prevented from going deeper, or would we be split from them? And how hard would it be to find each other should we be split.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday September 14th, 2022 8:37:56 PM
Naithi asks if she can store the spores for later use, incase the group leaves or is expelled prematurely and needs to return to the deeper, or incase it is needed for Brancha or another to return.
DM Kathy Wednesday September 14th, 2022 10:37:22 PM Ash asks whether it would help to hold hands. "You may hold hands if you wish," says Grandmother Yew, "but each of you must find the veil and push through it on their own." You ask how to get back. "It is easier to get back than to go deeper. The process is similar, but it should not be as great a challenge."
Nightingale asks whether the grove exists in the deeper Culverwood. "It has been many years since I went deeper," Grandmother Yew said. "There was no grove then. There may be one now."
Panzer goes to put on his armor.
Beech and Sahabiel decide not to take the powder.
Zazu and Naithi want some powder to keep with them. Grandmother Yew has no objection, but you have to figure out how to carry a very small amount of very fine powder without losing it.
Lothlo is inclined to accept the powder, but asks what will happen if only some of the group moves through the veil. "You would be separated," Grandmother Yew says. "But those who did not succeed could try again, and yet again. If those beyond the veil are patient, there is not need for the separation to last long."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday September 15th, 2022 12:29:26 PM
Nightingale looks at the powder again and then shakes her head. "I'm ready to try this, Brancha needs our help."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday September 15th, 2022 1:31:49 PM
Naithi consults with Camalayas and her animal companions to makes sure they are all ready to head out, and gives (will give right before leaving) Camalayas a potion of mighty fang... Just in case.
As for the the basidirond spores, she stores them in a special potion bottle made from a polished badger skull (Giggling Ghost Prize). Although she will use them if she needs to, she would rather avoid the potential Con damage from a failed save.
I think we are about ready, but I have one more question I just thought of. You said that these spores can be used as part of a vision quest. What does that entail exactly? Could Brancha be on a vision quest, and are there any rules we must observe if she is?
Also, are there any guideline on who can do a vision quest? I am fae touched and in the future will be among the fairykin. This sounds like it might be a beneficial experience for me, if I am prepared, or that it might complicate our search if I am not and start a vision quest unknowingly.
ooc: Naithi has two levels of morphling. At five levels of morphling she will become a fairykin, grow shorter and lighter, grow point ears and fairy/butterfly wings.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday September 15th, 2022 4:05:53 PM
Once he is wearing his kit, Panzer steps to the water source for the glade (spring, pond, stream whatever the glade has) and selects a dry, dead cat tail.and cuts it cleanly off with his kukri. Looking through the straw he has just made , he crimps and ties one end and scoops a small amount of the spores into it to store in case he needs them. He crimps and ties the other end and has a dry tube in which to store a dose of the spores. His preparation complete he returns to Grandmother Yew and says he is ready to learn how to cross the veil.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday September 15th, 2022 4:16:45 PM
Not wanting to bother Grandmother Yew with such trivialities, Sahabiel asks Quercia if she and her sister dryads could look after Kohlrabi until she returns. The warhorse is a smart animal, but, well, an animal. Sahabiel has no means to even explain to it where she will be going, let alone teach her mount the trick of crossing in any coordinated way with the rest of them.
(ooc: Is crossing going to be a skill check of some kind?)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday September 15th, 2022 6:51:16 PM That's all I had. If some people are going to attempt this without assistance I would suggest setting a time frame for how long we try so that if we are split up we rejoin quickly, and so we know if something has gone wrong.
DM Kathy Thursday September 15th, 2022 10:38:41 PM Nightingale declares that she's ready to try.
Naithi is curious about vision quests. "Dryads do not do vision quests," Grandmother Yew replies. "So I doubt Brancha decided to do one on her own. Other fae do vision quests, but as I'm sure you know, there are all different kinds of fae. So there are all different kinds of vision quests. There isn't one universal set of rules."
Panzer creates a container for his powder, and is ready to depart.
Sahabiel asks the dryads to watch her horse while she is gone, and they accept.
Lothlo suggests setting up a timeframe.
The powder that Grandmother Yew offered you is a drug derived from basinirod spores. It is not the same as having a handful of "raw" spores. There is no risk of Constitution damage, for example.
Moving beyond the veil will require a skill check, DC 20. You can use Survival, Knowledge: Nature, Spellcraft, or Knowledge: Planes. If you can make an argument for using a different skill, feel free to make it.
Anyone who uses the powder gets +4 to the check. It can be inhaled or ingested.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday September 15th, 2022 10:46:28 PM
Ash is ready to get moving. "We'll be back as soon as we can". She still politely declines the use of the powder.
When the group is ready, Ash concentrates hard on her breathing and the sounds of the forest around them. She pictures the different planes of the Wold in her mind and focuses on going 'deeper'. Deeper.
-------------- Taking 10, Ash can pass either of the Knowl checks and the Spellcraft check
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday September 15th, 2022 11:41:47 PM
ooc: Do animals need to make a check, and can we take 20?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+14=26 ; Thursday September 15th, 2022 11:57:32 PM
Zazu holds on tight to Boyo and thinks deep nature thoughts.
The elf's Kmow Nature is +14. If taking 10 is an option, no prob. If not, Zazu rolls a 26.
Does Boyo come thru?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday September 15th, 2022 11:58:30 PM
Oh, and Zazu uses one of the untrapped little boxes to store spores.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+7=24 ; d20+17=24 ; Friday September 16th, 2022 12:09:35 AM
Naithi thanks the Grandmother for her help and hospitality and joins with the others.
Naithi gathers her animal friends up as she and Camalayas prepare to dive deeper into The Culverwood. Both of them are well trained in the knowledge of the forest, and even moreso in survival. Even without the aid is the spores they are able to slide in deeper with surprising ease.
ooc: I'm assuming pets and pack animals don't need to make a check. I added +2 to Camalayas for aid another, but she passes even without it.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday September 16th, 2022 12:21:30 AM
Beech will try without.....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday September 16th, 2022 12:24:44 AM
Naithi takes a moment to ponder the nature of dream quests and quickly decides she go on one. She just needs to decide if she will go on one now, or when she is not looking for a missing person.
ooc: Are you open to Naithi doing a dream quests as part of this module or at some future time?
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20+16=25 ; Friday September 16th, 2022 10:55:56 AM
Beech, will hold a dose of the powder, he will then examine it. Us his detect magic to examine it further magically. And then try to activate it without actually using it to shift to this deeper version of the Culverwood...
want to use UMD to shift deeper.... Skill Check 25
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+6=14 ; d20+10=12 ; d20+10=24 ; Friday September 16th, 2022 1:06:03 PM
Panzer concentrates on what he knows about surviving in the wild. He visualizes it as trying to follow the trail of Brancha into the deeper Culverwood. It is going well, until he comes into a clearing and the track simply vanish. He looks up and at the edge of the clearing is Brancha's tree. He asumes she went into the tree and then deeper, but he can't go that way. Survival 14 He sighs as he open his eyes and is exactly where he started. Mental feats were never is strong suit so he accepts the aid offered by Grandmother Yew. The derivative of the spores tastes...like musty peanuts.This time he concentrates harder and really looks at the tracks as he follows them. Round the village they go and lead again to her tree. He stops and this time examines the tree more cloesly. Being a terrestrial creature, fond of being underground he finally spots the small hole at the base of the tree. a squirrel burrow maybe? It is tiny but he knows how to open it up without losing the trail. Take 10 on survival for 20 He exits into the deeper Culverwood by sputtering his way up out of the earth. Deep musty earth rich with fertilizer from the pine dull and leaf mould cover him. He stands and brushes it off, looking for the ohers.
OOC took 2 tries as long as take 10 is OK, 3 tries with the fungus aid if not. 2nd roll was 12, 3rd 24
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Spellcraft Check: d20+7=17 Friday September 16th, 2022 4:24:12 PM
Nightingale will find a space away form the others, and begin singing and dancing while calling on Queen Maab to assist her in travelling through the veil
[forgot to add the roll, sigh]
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Spellcraft check #2: d20+7=24 ; Friday September 16th, 2022 4:26:47 PM
Nightingale will increase her speed, adding her martial arts kata to her routine ... when she comes out the "other" side, she will stop and thank Queen Maab for her help
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+19=30 ; Friday September 16th, 2022 5:46:14 PM
Sahabiel listens closely as Grandmother Yew teaches the trick to crossing the veil. When it is her turn to try, she attunes herself for full awareness of the forest around her, feeling around with her senses for thin spots in the veil now that she has some idea of what she is looking for. Borrowing from how in fey lore crossroads and thresholds are places of significant power, she picks a spot where passing between two young trees standing close to each other creates the impression of going through a naturally framed doorway and starts walking towards it while she blinks rhythmically to allow for the moment where 'this side' becomes 'that side'.
After one such blink, her senses tell her that her environment has changed, and she looks around to take stock of where she is, and to locate her companions making the same crossing.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+9=11 ; Friday September 16th, 2022 8:48:32 PM
Lothlo takes the spores and anxiously waits for the affects to take place. Perhaps a little too anxiously, as he seems to have trouble letting himself be be carried deeper.
Survival = 11
The Reflecting Pool
DM Kathy Friday September 16th, 2022 11:31:39 PM Ash, Zazu, Naithi, Beech, and Sahabiel make it through the veil on their first attempt.
[Your animals come with you automatically]
Nightingale makes it on her second attempt.
Panzer, after failing his first attempt, uses some of the powder. Please make a DC 13 Fortitude save. If you fail, Highlight to display spoiler: {Lothlo's nose has grown really long and it is hilarious}. With the powder's help--or perhaps in spite of it--Panzer makes it through on his second attempt.
Lothlo also uses the powder. Please make a DC 13 Fortitude save. If you fail, Highlight to display spoiler: {your feet are melting. It doesn't hurt or anything, but for some reason it's really embarrassing.} Even with the powder's help, however, he is unable to push through on his first attempt. He can try again, and the powder bonus is still in effect.
For those who made it through (everyone but Lothlo, I believe), you find yourself in a forest clearing. You see a grove, similar to the dryad grove, but smaller. Everything here seems...more. The colors are more intense, the air is sharper, the forest itself seems even more alive.
As you look around, you see that there is a small forest pool nearby. Sitting beside it, propped on one arm, is a dryad. She is gazing intently into the pool and seems lost in thought.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday September 16th, 2022 11:54:44 PM
"Hello miss. I am Zazu, a friend of the Culverwood. Are you the Lady Brancha?" asks Zazu.
The elf repeats these words in Sylvan.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Saturday September 17th, 2022 1:23:38 AM
Ash does a quick head count. "Where's Lothlo?" she's a little alarmed. Either he didn't make it through, or he's gone somewhere else. Even deeper perhaps?
On seeing the dryad, Ash gives her traditional greeting. "Hi there! I'm Ash". She keeps looking about to try and see the archer. "I don't suppose you've seen anyone else around here lately?"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Sunday September 18th, 2022 2:27:20 PM
Beech, stays where he appeared, he will wait for everyone to make it through to this Deeper Culverwood. "Don't wander to far, at least until everyone makes it. Splitting up is a bad idea anyways, splitting up here, I'm betting it's an absolutely a terrible horrible idea." Beech, pulls his bow and just waits....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday September 19th, 2022 5:18:16 PM
Naithi climbs on Camalayas back and checks on her animals. She says hello, but let's the others speak, not wanting the dryad to r overwhelmed.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday September 19th, 2022 6:52:28 PM
Sahabiel simply smiles at the dryad by the pool, as it would not do to be broken from reverie by a half dozen people trying to introduce themselves at the same time. The half-elf wonders if it might be a comforting sight for the dryad that her skin too is a sylvan green, the Wood's mark on her from years of training to be a channel and vessel for the energies of the Culverwood.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+9=25 ; d20+6=11 ; Monday September 19th, 2022 8:19:34 PM
fort save = 11 My feet... I think they've forgotten how to... be feet. Dude... look at my feet... they're melting. This is sooo awkward. I can't even remember how feeting works... footing... feetering...
After a brief moment Lothlo is able collect his thoughts and tries to once again go deeper.
DM Kathy Monday September 19th, 2022 10:16:59 PM
Upon seeing the dryad, Zazu and Ash move closer to speak with her. When you get within 5 feet of the pool, you are suddenly struck with a knotty moral or philosophical question. Questions might include “is it morally right to kill baby dragons, even evil ones?” or “how do creatures with natural telepathy ever learn a language?” or “what do the gods really want from me?” Make a DC 18 Will save. If you fail, you are compelled to sit by the pool, reflecting on your question. [If you have an idea what question suddenly strikes your character, please feel free to share it, even if you make your save.]
Beech hangs back and draws his bow, watching for signs of danger. Naithi and Sahabiel also hang back.
A moment after you arrive, Lothlo shows up, seeming oddly obsessed with his feet. Lothlo Highlight to display spoiler: {yes, they're still melting.}
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+7=24 ; Monday September 19th, 2022 10:35:13 PM
Zazu wanders closer and is suddenly struck by a question that has been a puzzlement to the elf from time to time: "What is more true? The way you see yourself? Or the way others see you?"
But the trickster has worked with illusions and pondered appearances and realities for a long time now, and the philosophical puzzle does not force any entrancement on the elf. [Will Save 24]
Zazu pushes away the long brown strands of hair that obscure vision. "I suppose we'll just see," the elf says. "But anyway, Lady Dryad, we have come looking for a Miss Brancha. Are you her?"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+10=11 ; Monday September 19th, 2022 11:14:36 PM
Ash doesn't get a chance to look for Lothlo, and finds herself lost in thought. "If the gods have a plan for me, am I simply acting out that plan? Do I have free will? Does anyone have free will? Is even just thinking this a part of the plan and I'm not thinking it by choice?"
She takes a seat next to the dryad and dwells on the question. "Did I sit down by choice or was it already decided I would sit? If it was decided I would sit, does that mean everything that brought me here was also a part of the plan just to get me to sit here? What does this all mean!?!"
Ash stares into the pool as she tries to find an answer.
-------- Will Save vs DC18: 11. Nat1= Fail!
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Tuesday September 20th, 2022 12:11:58 PM
Beech continues to wait and watch, there is still a group member not yet here, he'll worry about those who are here after everyone arrives. He hears both those that approached the dryad, and watches the reaction.... he tries to figure out why they reacted that way....
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday September 20th, 2022 12:26:58 PM
Nightingale takes a few moments to become accustomed to the new environment. She notices the lady by the pool, and then also notices Ash go sit next to the dryad ... Nightingale will hang back and keep an eye out for "danger"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+4=23 ; Tuesday September 20th, 2022 5:45:29 PM
When Panzer arrived he saw the same things the others saw. The greens were greener and the woods were woodsyer. He also saw that everything had a more sinister aura, at least to him. each leaf was hiding some toothy horror and the shadows were much deeper and more sinister. Just about when Beech mentioned not wandering off, Ash and Zazu went over to the woman by the pool and spoke to her. Heres to following orders he thought The woman acknowledged neither of his friends and Ash sat down beside her. Odd. He pulled out the pair of Kukri that were at the small of his back, different from the ones he normally used. These were cold iron and from what he knew, the Fey didn't like that. He scanned the area for a bush or tree or something that might use the water as a lure. Something was not right. Perception 23
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+7=22 ; Tuesday September 20th, 2022 7:14:04 PM Sorry I'm late... My feet melted. Suddenly Lothlo is overcome with the question If your feet melt in the forest and no one is around to see it, did they really melt? He puzzles over this for a minute, but then realizes there is a simple solution. Hey guys... do my feet look melted to you?
Will save = 22
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday September 20th, 2022 7:22:57 PM
Sahabiel is briefly distracted by the intensity of this place.. it is as if the Culverwood on this side of the veil is even more vibrant, more present, more alive, more divine than on the other. Surely everyone is noticing the increased intensity, but to Sahabiel just being here feels like a religious experience... she considers sheepishly that she may have been more right than she imagined, earlier when she thought that learning this crossing technique could be useful in helping her commune more closely with the power of the Culverwood. Tracing a holy symbol in the air with her finger, she thanks the Culverwood and closes with the words whispered to herself, "Wood's Will be Done". Which still somewhat timely reminds her that she has something to do here. Looking back to Beech, she asks softly; "Is the area secure?"
DM Kathy Tuesday September 20th, 2022 10:39:29 PM
As Zazu and Ash approach the pool, they are struck by deep philosophical questions. Zazu resists the urge to pause and think about his, but Ash sits next to the pool to reflect upon hers. Zazu calls out to the dryad, but she continues gazing into the pool and does not respond.
Beech continues his vigil with his bow, now joined by Panzer with his kukri. Nightingale is also on alert.
Lothlo arrives, asking if his feet look melted. [You only need to save against the pool if you approach within 5 feet of it.]
Sahabiel offers up a brief prayer before asking Beech whether the area is secure.
So far, you don't see anything that seems like it's going to attack you. But there is that pool, which seems to have ensnared the dryad and now Ash as well.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Tuesday September 20th, 2022 11:13:25 PM "Well... It's the Culverwood.. umm, excuse me, the Deeper Culverwood. I don't see anyone about to attack, but there's something strange about the pool over there. With it being the Culverwood, you never know about the environment itself. Panzer seems on edge, but that seems to be just his normal reaction to anything strange. Maybe someone should break Ash free of whatever has a hold."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday September 20th, 2022 11:57:13 PM
Zazu says, "Come on, Boyo, let's save them."
The elf cleverly ties one end of a silk rope to Ash and another to the dryad. Boyo holds the middle firmly in his teeth. "Hyaa!" calls Zazu, and the dire bunny pulls the two people free of the entrancing pond.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday September 21st, 2022 8:30:20 AM
Ash considers the big questions. "Does this mean that Zazu was meant to buy a silk rope for this occasion, or was it just luck? Is there such a thing as luck, or is it simply the way things were supposed to be? Who decided what was supposed to be?"
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday September 21st, 2022 11:35:53 AM
ooc: I intended to join the group at 5 feet from the pool so I made a roll. It was unclear if I was joining with the group or where they originally landed
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday September 21st, 2022 1:28:23 PM
Nightingale is surprised at the ingenuity of her companion, but is also worried about how the "Wood" will react. "Sahabiel, is this going to make the Wood mad?"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+7=24 ; d20+8=15 ; Wednesday September 21st, 2022 2:18:14 PM
Naithi and Camalayas pause a moment, suddenly overwhelmed by the question "At what point does self defense become genocide?" as images of a race connected by a hive mind flood their senses... And just like that it is gone.
With their minds clear they quickly attempt to grab those that succumbed and pull them back from the pool.
Naithi save= 24 Camalayas save = 15 (fail, but due to Share Hitpoints (Ex) if either Naithi or Camalayas pass they both pass)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday September 21st, 2022 2:19:43 PM
ooc: I somehow overlooked Zazu's post. We will assist him if he needs help, or help Ash and anyone who needs help if not.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday September 21st, 2022 6:32:29 PM
Zazu urges Boyo onwards, and thanks Naithi for the help.
"I'm little when I'm riding Boyo, so I appreciate your muscles, my friend!"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+10=12 ; Wednesday September 21st, 2022 7:04:25 PM
Looking on, Panzer come by himself to the same conclusion that Nightengale has. This is probably gonna make the Culverwood or whomever is keeping Brancha here angry. Because of this he pulld out his wand and taps himself with it, gearing up for a fight. The wand fails to function. UMD 12, not a 1 so still usable today.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday September 21st, 2022 7:58:34 PM
Sahabiel shakes her head, not even sure of what is going on over there by the pool, but Ash and Zazu seem to be doing.. something involving rope.. and she is going to trust that her companions on the spot had more of an idea of what was needed there than she did. With a reassuring look to Nightingale she replies; "I can hope that if the Culverwood as a whole has much of a stake in this one way or the other, someone would have mentioned it in the teachings of harmony... and nothing specific comes to mind right now. I think ya should be safe from any imminent smiting if that is what ya are worried about. But if the Will of the Wood speaks to me in my next dream and demands yer atonement, I will let ya know. Anyway, we are being noisy so let's keep our eyes open in every direction."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+7=12 ; Wednesday September 21st, 2022 8:10:28 PM
Lothlo approaches the water, but this time fails to shake his thoughts.
Will save = 12
DM Kathy Wednesday September 21st, 2022 10:11:44 PM Beech isn't sure about surrounding dangers, but does suggest that someone break Ash free.
Nightingale asks whether this will make the Culverwood angry. Sahabiel isn't sure, but is inclined to think it won't.
Panzer, ever the pessimist, prepares himself for battle anyway.
Zazu pulls out some rope, ties it to Ash and the dryad, and has Boyo pull them away from the pool. It is a successful, if somewhat rough, means of restoring them. The dryad looks up with a plaintive "ow."
Ash returns to herself, conscious of having been scraped along the ground for a ways, and perhaps still with unanswered questions about predestination.
Lothlo, having successfully resisted the pool's pull once, now succumbs and sits beside it. However, Naithi and Camalayas are able to pull him free.
Nobody is currently ensnared by the reflecting pool, and as long as nobody else wanders over there, you are free from its threat.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday September 22nd, 2022 12:44:22 PM " Too easy> There has to be a catch"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20=12 ; d20+1=2 ; d20+10=21 ; d20+12=30 ; d20+13=24 ; d20+13=28 ; Thursday September 22nd, 2022 1:53:00 PM
Naithi scratches Camalayas ear as she observed the others. The Culverwood it's dangerous, but that doesn't make it malicious. This might be a natural feature as opposed to a trap. This pool might be doing anything from helping us to answers questions they are preventing us from finding a deeper spiritual peace to helping The Culverwood developer it's own philosophical understand if morality.
Ms. Dryad, are your alright? Do you need any healing? I cannot restore and constitution damage your might be experiencing from behind separated from your the, but I may be able to give you a temporary boost with bears endurance.
Are your by any chance Brancha, the Dryad we have been asked to look for?
Naithi quickly checks for traps and enemies as well as noting interesting features of the forest trying to determine the nature of the pool and is anything may be beneficial to bring back to Freedoms Landing.
Perception = 30 Knowledge Nature = 25 Survival = 28 Camalayas diplomacy = 12 Naithi diplomacy= 1 Survival to keep from getting lost = 38
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Thursday September 22nd, 2022 1:59:41 PM
Beech, thinks there will be more... Nothing and he means nothing is ever as easy as this has been.... He continues to keep watch.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday September 22nd, 2022 3:54:11 PM
Nightingale, while she appreciates the 'Wood, is also uncertain about how their actions will be perceived. "Friends, we might want to move further back from that pool, just in case..."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday September 22nd, 2022 6:45:57 PM
Sahabiel cautions the others against damaging or taking anything that looks important - from what she has heard and seen, she presumes that this is either a coexistent plane, or the border of a coterminous one - and in either case, this side of the veil would, in some ways, come to reflect the other and vice versa. To remove anything of power on this side then, might in the long run diminish the dryad's grove on theirs in some way...
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+14=33 ; Thursday September 22nd, 2022 8:06:37 PM I don't know if it's malicious or not, but I really need someone to answer a question for me... are my feet melting? Or are those spores messing with my head?
Lothlo takes a moment to analyze what exactly is going on with his feet and to try to determine if it's real or if it's just in his head,
Perception = 14
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday September 22nd, 2022 9:56:59 PM "That was ... interesting" Ash likes to dwell on the mysteries of the universe, but that was just a little too compelling for her liking.
She doesn't want to overwhelm the dryad and wants to try and put her at ease. "Grandmother Yew sent us"
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20=2 ; Thursday September 22nd, 2022 10:18:19 PM
Zazu bows to the Dryad and tries to aid everybody in making friends.
Diplomacy vs DC10 to Aid Another ... 2 oops.
DM Kathy Thursday September 22nd, 2022 10:48:36 PM Panzer thinks the whole thing was entirely too easy. Beech is inclined to agree, though he doesn't say so out loud.
Nightingale suggests everyone move farther from the pool, and Sahabiel cautions the group against taking or damaging anything.
Naithi speaks kindly to the dryad, who holds up an arm. "I got scraped when that rope dragged me along the ground," she says. Looking at it, you can tell that it's superficial (nonlethal) damage, but the dryad is clearly sheltered and not used to rough treatment. "Why yes, I am Brancha," she replies.
Ash adds that Grandmother Yew sent you. "Well, that was thoughtful of her." She frowns. "I-I don't remember how long I was sitting next to that pool. It seemed terribly important at the time. Have I been gone long?"
Zazu tries to help with the get-acquainted conversation, but doesn't have much luck. It seems, though, that Brancha is well-disposed toward your group.
Lothlo can tell that his feet are not melting. Also, the weird floaty sensation he'd been feeling has subsided. You're pretty sure the powder has just about worn off.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday September 22nd, 2022 10:56:00 PM
Zazu suggests that maybe there is treasure at the bottom of the pool. After all, this magic acts as a great guardian to stop creatures from exploring the depths.
The arcane trickster tries to grope around in the pool with ranged legerdemain.
If that does not work, maybe there is another option. "If you tie a rope to me, I could dive in, and you guys can pull me out. Or someone with a stronger mind than me."
"Anybody have a water breathing spell?"
"Or send an unseen servant?"
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Heal Check - to check for maladies? d20+9=16 ; Friday September 23rd, 2022 12:00:59 PM
Nightingale sadly shakes her head, "I don't have access to either of those spells." The dryad hasn't responded to anything asked of her yet, is she aware of the party, or still under the grasp of the pool?
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday September 23rd, 2022 6:45:13 PM
Panzer stares the stare of disbelief at Zazu as the elf suggests doing exactly what the person who should know best just advised against. While continuing to stare down the forest waiting to be eaten he responds. " Wecould also all strip out of out armor, slather ourselves in butter and await the forest eating Us Zazu. I mean that makes as much sense as trying to do exactly the opposite of what it was just suggested we not do. I mean maybe I'll even make it easy for the Culverwood to eat me and shave off my fur first so that the butter can really soak in." He pauses a second and then continues. " Even though I would love to become better acquainted with our new druid friend here, could we please stick to the plan and appraise her of the situation and quickly and quietly return to the relative safety of the druid grove before I have a stroke worrying about what out here wants to messily eat lil' ol' me? Please?"
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday September 23rd, 2022 8:48:07 PM
Sahabiel feels that she still has some work to do with her own comrades when it comes to convincing them that the Culverwood is not actively conspiring to kill them at every turn. In any case, it would appear that the dryad just Zazu drew away from the pool is indeed the one they were looking for, and hopefully that means that they will be able to return to the regular side of the world with a minimum of complications for once...?
"Ya have been not been seen on the other side of the veil for over a week, according to what Quercia told us. Long enough that yer sisters were worried and called on us to help look for ya where they can not easily go themselves.", she begins answering a few of the dryad's questions, "And speaking of that.. Miss Brancha, are ya aware of where ya are relative to your home tree?"
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday September 23rd, 2022 9:06:00 PM Those are all... ideas... I think. Probably best not to do anything crazy until we've got our bearings. Give me a moment, those spores did a number on me, I want to make sure I'm clear headed.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday September 23rd, 2022 9:25:15 PM
Ash is also curious about the water, though not so much what might be at the bottom of it. She's considering using an unseen servant to take an empty vial and fill it with water from the pool. The water might have magical properties that she can learn from.
She waits to see what happens with Zazu's ranged legerdemain attempts before offering a spell.
"I've got an unseen servant spell ready to cast. Let's wait a moment for people to get a safe distance from the pond before we try anything though"
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday September 23rd, 2022 10:04:25 PM
"Range on Unseen Servant is only what mages call 'close,' now that I recall," says Zazu. "And it can't swim, though it can walk on water."
DM Kathy Friday September 23rd, 2022 11:19:49 PM Zazu devises various schemes to search the pond for treasure. Your ranged legerdemain turns up nothing. You suggest using a rope or an Unseen Servant spell.
Nightingale doesn't have that spell, and is concerned because she didn't hear Brancha's answers to the questions she'd been asked. She did answer, though.
Panzer, exasperated, sarcastically suggest slathering everyone with butter to make them more appetizing to whatever's going to come out of the woods and eat them.
Sahabiel tells Brancha she's been missing for over a week. "No, that's not possible," Brancha says. "I admit I lost track of time there by the pool, but it was only a few hours, surely." Sahabiel also asks where Brancha's tree is. The dryad turns to face the smaller grove that is on this side of the veil, and frowns. "It's over there," she says, gesturing vaguely. "But I don't see it. And I don't recognize this pool. Where are we?"
Lothlo declines to do anything for the moment, wanting to make sure he is clear-headed.
Ash can cast Unseen Servant. People are already a safe distance from the pool, unless you're going to throw a grenade or something.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday September 23rd, 2022 11:43:31 PM
Beech gets a bit "technical" and explains that she is "Deeper" in the Culverwood than she realizes and that the group was sent to make sure she returned safely. He explains about going deeper into the fae realms and that she seems to have done so by accident. And that they should proceed to get back across the veil to the relative safety of her sister and the grove....
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday September 26th, 2022 11:49:03 AM
Nightingale will walk over and gently hug the dryad. "You've gone deeper. Grandmother Yew told us that our perceptions of time and distance would be altered here. What were you thinking about by the pond?"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday September 26th, 2022 1:31:59 PM
Naithi listens carefully. It is possible they time passes differently here in the Deep Culverwood. If so, we should return as quickly as possible.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday September 26th, 2022 3:48:33 PM
Sahabiel supports Beech's explanation. "Ya can think of it as having unintentionally walked one of the old paths, and ended up on the other side of the féth fíada** between the Wold and this place. The smaller grove on this side is.. sort of a reflection of the one at home -- but in any case, I believe we should all head back and find out how long we've been gone from our side? Miss Brancha, if you are unfamiliar with how to cross back, I have memorized the instructions as Grandmother Yew taught them to us so I could pass them on to ya."
Sahabiel makes a mental note also of the relative direction of the pool to the center of the grove... if a powerful site like the dryad grove is reflected on this side of the veil, she has a theory of what the pool might be... but they would have to return and ask a few questions of Quercia.
(** in Irish faerie lore, the veil between magical places and the normal world )
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday September 26th, 2022 8:26:42 PM
Ash casts the Unseen Servant spell and directs it to carry an empty vial to the pool of water and fill it up. She then directs it to return to her with the vial. If she starts to feel compelled to ponder life's meaning she'll have it pour the water back.
If the water has magical properties, then she's curious what they might do to some of the plants in the grove back home (after testing it of course).
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday September 26th, 2022 8:38:23 PM
"The nice lady said it was easier to return to the shallow Culverwood than to go deeper. Anybody have any idea on how to do that?"
On a whim, Zazu clicks heels three times and says, "There's no place like home."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday September 26th, 2022 9:00:56 PM I would give you my theory, but I have a hunch you have far more knowledge about the Culverwood than I could ever dream of. What I can tell you for sure is that the amount of time since we were contacted to help find you because you were missing is already many times longer than you think has passed.
You said that that's the direction you came from? Then that may be the best way to leave again, can we escort you back?
Lothlo looks in the direction the Dryad pointed to and makes a note on if it's the same direction they came from when they left the glade.
DM Kathy Monday September 26th, 2022 10:49:43 PM Beech starts to give a very technical explanation of going deeper. Sahabiel adds a more intuitive explanation, and Brancha seems to understand.
Nightingale asks Brancha what she was thinking about. "I was wondering," Brancha says. "There are so many stars in the night sky. But where do they go in the daytime? And how do they know where to go when they return? Is there ever a mixup?"
Naithi points out that time may move differently here, and suggests you return as soon as possible.
Ash has her Unseen Servant bring her some water. It seems to be just water; Ash does not feel the need to sit down and ponder some deep question.
Zazu reminds the group it should be easier to return than it was to get here.
Lothlo looks in the direction Brancha pointed. To be clear, she wasn't asked which direction she came from; she was asked where her tree is. It is not quite the same direction you traveled to go deeper.
Returning is easier than going deeper; if just one of the party succeeds at their check, the entire group can go with them.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Tuesday September 27th, 2022 9:10:04 AM
Ash is capable of concentrating and helping the group return to the less deep version of the Culverwood. She doesn't presume to do it until everyone is ready to go though.
-------- Take10 passes both the Knowl check and the Spellcraft check to return
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday September 27th, 2022 10:09:22 AM "Oi Nightingale, just to satisfy my curiosity.. if ya are still carrying that compass around, could ya take it out and tell me if the needle might be pointing either away from or towards that pool?"
On the Wold side of this area, the woods are covered in a large area enchantment that befuddles the mind to keep people turning away from the direction of the ancient, ancient grove... and Sahabiel has been thinking that enchantment must be anchored somewhere. Her initial guess would have been the thousand-year-old sacred yew tree, but now that she can see a discrete spot on this side of the veil that enchants and befuddles the mind into not moving away from it, it is not a large leap to wonder if this might not be a reflection of that anchor, or perhaps even the opposite pole of the very same enchantment? Eldritch magic had always been about balance, give and take... so a quirk like this would not surprise her in the least.
Of course, the compass might have been keyed to something else independent of the enchantment around the grove, so the compass might not even respond to anything here.. but Sahabiel still thinks it will be interesting to at least try that before they cross back.
Regardless the result of the compass reading, Sahabiel offers to attune herself to the forest again and lead the path to slip back through the veil, though she knows she is not the only one in the group who can expect to succeed with pretty much certainty.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+6=11 ; Tuesday September 27th, 2022 12:22:55 PM
Panzer concentrates on Survival but is unable to pass back through the veil on his own
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Survival check? d20+7=20 ; Tuesday September 27th, 2022 3:37:06 PM
Nightingale will look at the compass, but not sure what the needle is telling her, as it took her a few times to get to this side of the veil
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday September 27th, 2022 5:30:06 PM
Zazu has mixed emotions. On one hand, this is a marvelous place. On the other, the party has obligations to meet, not least being to bring back this dryad.
"Seeing as we are so deep in, we should at least say a prayer," suggests Zazu, and then calls out, in Sylvan, "Thank you, mighty Culverwood, for the marvels and wonders of this visit, and for the privilege you accord us in allowing us to be here!"
Then it is time to return.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Tuesday September 27th, 2022 7:21:19 PM
Beech is ready to go.... but most of the others seem to find things to do yet....
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday September 27th, 2022 7:58:54 PM Brancha, everything here is somehow... more than back home. Do you know if it would be acceptable to bring back a small token from this place, such as a leaf or small pebble, as a reminder of the incredible life and energy of this place? Or would the Culverwood typically frown on that?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday September 27th, 2022 8:19:27 PM
Naithi is torn between jumping into the pool to explore and getting Brancha back quickly.
If we want to explore the water, I have the best chance since Camalayas can help keep me grounded, and I can change into an animal to explore the water. If I tie a rope around me, you can easily pull me back... But I understand if we need to get Brancha back quickly.
DM Kathy Tuesday September 27th, 2022 11:17:00 PM Ash can succeed at the check to move the group back to where they started, but the group is divided on whether or not they want to leave yet.
Sahabiel asks Nightingale about the compass. As a reminder, you do not have a compass; you have a lodestone. You used it to put together a kind of makeshift compass and if that's still together, that's fine. I just don't want people thinking you have an actual compass compass because you don't.
[Mind you, this is the same group that kept referring to the powder as "spores" long after I specifically said it was not spores, so I fully expect that everyone will come to believe you have an actual compass. :) ]
Nightingale checks the lodestone and finds that it is behaving much as it did when you were in the druid grove. That is, it spins in a lazy circle, indicating you are at your destination.
Zazu offers up a prayer, then he and Beech and Panzer are ready to go. So is Brancha.
Lothlo asks Brancha if he might bring back a token, but Brancha does not know the answer.
Naithi is keen to explore the pool. She offers to turn into an animal and tie a rope around herself.
You can leave whenever you're ready. But it looks like not everyone is ready.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Know: Nature (not proficient yet) d20+2=11 ; Survival check (if that will help) d20+7=24 ; Wednesday September 28th, 2022 12:19:09 AM
Nightingale sighs, then brightens, "Naithi you do that, we'll pull you out if needed, if the pond doesn't draw you in, would you grab me some nice rocks?" Nightingale will then look around for any seeds or seedling plants that she could bring back to plant at her house ...
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+10=15 ; Wednesday September 28th, 2022 12:44:52 AM
Panzer pulls out the tube of powder he brought and pours some on his tongue. He then again tries to track his way back to the grove. Again, he fails.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+7=11 ; d20+8=21 ; Wednesday September 28th, 2022 1:46:44 PM
Naithi asks for suggestions on the best animal to use for exploring. Her best idea is an octopus they can grab and pick things up, but she is open to suggestions.
She then sets out a rope with a bag tried to it, and empty potion bottle(s) to collect samples of water, rock and soil, or treasure.
If there are no objections she will transform and tie the rope around herself.
Will save = 21
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday September 28th, 2022 4:40:17 PM
Sahabiel would very much prefer if Naithi did not unnecessarily go near the pool again at all, if she is honest... but she is hesitant to act as if she is in charge of the mission. "Naithi... I will not stop ya from trying, but Quercia and the others are no doubt waiting for us on the other side to return with news of Brancha, and also.. well.. the Culverwood is a fairly innately magical place to begin with, and we are much closer to the fey side now - if we are going to explore every enchanted site as if someone deliberately created it to guard some treasure, we might be a while...? Besides, like I said, things on both sides of the veil can reflect or influence each other, and with a sacred tree of over ten centuries at stake, here in particular is not somewhere that I would want to shift any balances without first having some extensive communion with the Will of the Wood... please?"
(ooc: once everyone is on board with returning, I think we can move the scene back to the other side without ado? Since only one of us needs to make the roll, and several of us beat the DC automatically just taking 10)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday September 28th, 2022 6:52:44 PM
Naithi will return if that is the groups will.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday September 28th, 2022 8:47:37 PM
Zazu sees that some people want to play in the enchanting waters. "Having had my own chance with Ranged Legerdemain, I can empathize," the trickster says, "But at some point you have to ask yourself, is it safe to taunt the Happy Fun Pool?"
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday September 28th, 2022 9:08:02 PM Naithi, didn't you already have a lesson with jumping in a Culverwood pool? We are deeper now, I have to assume that any effects would be even stronger, if not permanent. Are you sure you want to do this?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d8=7 ; Wednesday September 28th, 2022 10:50:41 PM
Naithi smiles. Last time I temporarily turned into an animal, yet I'm one of the sloth people actively merging with my wild sibling and taking on more and more her animal traits. You warn of the fey, yet as a morphling I embrace the whimsical fluidity they embody and I'm in the process of becoming feykin myself. Change isn't as scary as you think
The Dark
DM Kathy Wednesday September 28th, 2022 11:26:16 PM
Some party members are dubious, but Naithi goes to the pool, ties a rope around herself, and changes into an octopus. Octopus-Naithi explores the pool thoroughly, but there is no treasure. She turns over rock after rock and finds nothing but silt. And more rocks.
She emerges with a few rocks for Nightingale. Whether they are nice rocks is a matter of opinion, although one is definitely a piece of schist.
Having satisfied yourselves that there is no treasure in the pool, no really, we looked twice, you prepare to return to the dryad grove. The check is easy enough to make, and soon the entire group is transported.
But when you look around, you are not in the dryad grove. You don't see the reflecting pool, either. You are someplace else. Have you gone deeper still?
The deeper Culverwood seemed more alive. This Culverwood seems more menacing. It is darker, with a low, sullen overcast in the sky. Hemlock and poplar trees move in the slight wind, creating moving shadows that somehow seem a little darker than shadows ought to be. You keep thinking you see something out of the corner of your eye.
"This isn't home," says Brancha, sounding scared.
Then you are plunged into total darkness.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday September 29th, 2022 6:48:28 AM
Ash waves her hand in front of her face. "Have I gone blind, or is it super dark?"
Hoping it's the latter, she casts a Dancing Lights spell to create 4 glowing spheres of light to circle the group.
The hemlock is interesting though. Taking a snipping of it back could prove useful.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday September 29th, 2022 10:02:10 AM
Sahabiel gasps in the dark.. did they take a wrong turn or were pulled forcefully astray?
"Okay.. now.. we have two problems. And that is a conservative estimate. Ash, if ya can hear me, I would really value yer opinion on this.. so, if this does not have that energy we felt on the First, and we clearly did not land back home, and it all feels a bit too tangible for the aetherial shores... now call me a novice at cosmology compared to the learning ya arcane types do, but doesn't that leave only the realm of shadow and darkness?"
The greenskin half-elf is a guardian of the Culverwood and a herbalist... traveling the other worlds had never been on her mind, and her knowledge of the shadow world is limited to knowing it supposedly exists since it appears in several of the old stories of her faith and her people.. usually as a place where the Will of the Wood and heroes of the honored ancestors would exile great evil beings to.
She is not happy about being here at all, and readies her morning star to defend herself..
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday September 29th, 2022 12:19:17 PM
Nightingale accepted the rocks with pleasure. When they stepped into what was "deeper" to her knowledge, she stepped closer to Brancha, and murmured, "We've gotten out of some tight spots before, we will all get out of this one I am sure."
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Thursday September 29th, 2022 1:47:34 PM
Beech pulls out his Ioun Stone, With a Caster Level of 6, he hopes his Continual light, no pun intended, Sheds some light on the issue....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday September 29th, 2022 2:27:06 PM
Naithi immediately stops anyone from casting or using light as she whispers, Light will only reveal our location and make us targets. Prepare to light the area up if battle starts, but for now wait until we know it is safe
Naithi tries to examine end are with her low light vision, but if that doesn't work she will gently rub her eyes. As she does so, her face begins to look smoother, paler and completely unblemished with her soft eyes seeming a enlarged as her irises brighten to an unnatural shade, her cheeks blush and her lips shine a glossy pink. In essence, her face has taken on the childish essence of a pixie, making her look even more innocent and child like as she draws Maab's power of the fey into her eyes and gains dark vision. (Picture Yui from Sword Art Online, except blond and more pink skin tones)
Let me tell you what I see, and Camalayas can relate what she smells.
ooc: Taking 20 on perception and scent checks. +10 to determine or location and not get lost in a magical forest. Naithi's ability is a spell like ability. I believe it has a 2hr duration. Her appearance change is just rp to highlight the fey nature of the magic and has no in game mechanical effects.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday September 29th, 2022 4:18:17 PM " Lets go to the Deep Culverwood and fool around instead of going right home. What could possibly go wrong?" "THIS! This could go wrong." Learning to fight in total darkness was one of the things on Panzer's to do list. However since he could see in the dark it kept getting put off. Can Panzer see in this darkness? Weather or not he can his cold iron Kukri come out and he prepares for battle. " Keep sounding off so that I don't accidentally murder you while fighting in the dark please."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+14=23 ; Thursday September 29th, 2022 6:36:22 PM
Zazu does not know if a light is a good idea or a bad one.
"Boyo, please follow Camalayas's good example -- sniff around and let me know if you smell any creatures or dangers," Zazu says to the familiar on which the elf sits.
Boyo's Perception with scent: 23
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+14=15 ; Thursday September 29th, 2022 8:56:48 PM I'm not sure you thought through the whole keeping things dark idea. If we suddenly find ourselves in darkness, then that probably means that anything here was expecting it and prepared to act.
Lothlo stares into the darkness looking and listening for signs they are about to be ambushed. He finds his torch and prepares to light it at the first sign of danger.
perception = 15
DM Kathy Thursday September 29th, 2022 10:38:33 PM
When the darkness hits, Ash and Beech start to conjure lights. Naithi asks them not to, as light sources may give your position away. If you do conjure lights, Highlight to display spoiler: {you find that they are not as bright as you had anticipated. Instead of bright light, they give off dim light.}
Naithi alters herself so that she has darkvision. She (and anyone else with darkvision) can see that the darkness does not extend very far past your group, and that if you head that way, you'll move out of it.
Sahabiel speculates that you have traveled to the realm of shadow. However, the spellcasters in the group can tell you that's extremely unlikely without a Plane Shift or similar spell. It seems more likely that you have somehow gone even deeper, rather than returning to the surface Culverwood.
Nightingale moves closer to Brancha and tries to reassure her.
Zazu asks Boyo to smell for creatures or dangers. Boyo lets you know--and Camalayas also tells Naithi--that there is a creature, but they're not sure where.
Lothlo is opposed to staying in darkness, pointing out that whoever caused it probably had some kind of plan. He watches and listens.
Suddenly..."HahahahaHAHAHA!" mocking laughter fills the clearing, seeming to come from everywhere at once. Then Nightingale, who is closest to Brancha, hears a voice say "Boo!" right next to the dryad's ear. Brancha screams.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+4=17 ; d20+16=23 ; d3+9=10 ; Thursday September 29th, 2022 11:35:16 PM
Panzer can see and knows the way out of the darkness. He does his best to get his friends out of the darkness. " It is a small pool of darkness. Step carefully towards my voice and you will be able to see." The Badgerkin says as he steps out of the darkness and keeps speaking to give the others a target to move to. He is concerned that he cannot see what is making the laughing noise but when have his concerns ever been noteworthy? He keeps his blades drawn. If he senses anything near him that is invisible he will slash at it. Perception 17 main hand slash hits AC 23 for 10 damage cold iron
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Intimidation check: d20+8=12 ; Friday September 30th, 2022 12:08:37 AM
Nightingale isn't very happy, as she stomps her foot and growls, "That's not nice nor funny, now knock it off and show yourself!"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday September 30th, 2022 3:04:40 AM
Ash considers the wisdom in Naithi's words, but concurs with Lothlo's assessment. Anything already here would have adapted to the environment and already be able to see them (if not smell and hear as well). The party are already at a disadvantage and that laughing confirms it. Something already knows the party are here.
She casts the dancing lights spell and has the balls of light spiral out and away from the party up to a range of 50ft.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday September 30th, 2022 7:30:56 PM
Boo... Who says boo? This feels more like a prank them an attack. Still, or could be meant to trick them into running into a trap or danger. She without tries to see what is outside the darkness and will head there if it looks safe.
ooc: I'm assuming it's I can see in the dark that I can see iti into the light as well. If so, Naithi and Camalayas will relay what they are and exit the darkness of it appears safe
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday September 30th, 2022 7:42:41 PM
Sahabiel will follow Panzer's voice out of the dark area, while remaining wary. Laughter from every direction and none could be a fey thing, or a very theatrical villain. And it does sound as if they might be targetting Brancha especially?
(ooc: Brancha has been reacting rather childlike to a lot of the things so far, and the other dryads referred to her as young.. I know that age is kind of pointless with a fey creature, but as an estimate, how 'mature' for a fey does Sahabiel estimate Brancha to be?)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday September 30th, 2022 9:00:31 PM Boo? Hahaha? Terrifying, but much better that screams of pain. As the group is guided out of the dark, Lothlo replaces his torch with his bow, but doesn't hold it in a threatening manner, in the hopes that someone is just having fun at their expense, and not actually trying to harm them.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Friday September 30th, 2022 9:08:13 PM
Beech follows Panzer's voice hoping he knows what he's doing....
DM Kathy Friday September 30th, 2022 11:51:50 PM Panzer shows his friends how to move out of the darkness. Naithi can get herself out; Sahabiel, Lothlo, and Beech follow. Hesitantly, Brancha follows as well.
[OOC: Brancha is an adult, but a very young one. And it's pretty clear from talking to the other dryads that they have protected and sheltered her. To use a modern-world equivalent, she's a college freshman away from home for the first time.]
Ash decides to cast her Dancing Lights. Your lights are the equivalent of torches, so you would expect them to shed normal light in a 20-foot radius. However, inside the darkness, your lights only shed dim light in a 20-foot radius. If you move them 50 feet away, you can no longer see them from inside the darkness.
Nightingale says That's not nice nor funny, now knock it off and show yourself! The mocking laughter resumes, followed by high-pitched voices crying "that's not nice! that's not nice! that's not nice!"
And then the party is plunged into darkness again.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Saturday October 1st, 2022 2:09:10 PM
Zazu casts Spider Climb on Boyo, who carries his owner up the nearest big tree, a double move for 40 ft of elevation.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday October 2nd, 2022 1:18:31 AM
Ash brings her lights in close enough that she can still see her surrounds. With four lights she is able to spread them out evenly around the party and have them moving in a circle.
She casts a Detect Magic spell and keeps her eyes open. It's possible the voice is an illusion of some kind, or perhaps some sort of ventriloquism, and there isn't anything in striking distance of the party.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+4=6 ; d20+16=23 ; d3+9=11 ; Sunday October 2nd, 2022 7:45:31 PM
Panzer steps over to Brancha. " For your safety, stay behind me and stay back to back with me. Move when I move. This fey seems to be focusing on you.I'll keep you safe." To the others he says, "We should group up and move again. Some of you can do this effortlessly, not me. I think it is best if we just go." Panzer will again prepare to swing at anything invisible he senses coming near himself/Brancha. Perception 6 Main hand slash hits Ac 23 for 11 cold iron damage
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday October 3rd, 2022 10:44:00 AM
As darkness falls over her a second time just as she was making her way out of the last blotch of it, Sahabiel sighs. In the dark, her voice goes a little icy as she states, “I see. Or rather I do not, yet I see by more than light alone.”
She changes her grip on her morning star, holding the weapon instead as a very heavy staff as she taps the ground with the butt of the weapon while holding her holy symbol high. “Déanaim iarracht gan do ghreann a dhiúltú duit, ach an é seo an bealach chun caitheamh le dílis adhmaid an tsinsir faoi scáth a gcraobhacha a ndearna tú do ríocht?”
Then she inhales, and loudly declares, “Iarraim Sean-Dlíthe na Fáilteachais!”
“Le linn dom bheith anseo, táim faoi cheangal ag na traidisiúin chéanna is a bheadh i bhfeidhm dá mbeinn mar aoi ar cuireadh duit. Ní thairgfidh mé aon dochar d'aon duine a ghlac tú isteach i do theach, ná ní dhéanfaidh mé aon ghníomh a mheasfaí a bheith míchuí d'aoi. Ní dtuairisceoidh mé aon ní a fheicim agus a chloisim san áit seo, agus déanfaidh mé gach dícheall cúnamh agus cúnamh a thabhairt do do theaghlach agus d'aíonna eile le linn dom fanacht.”
(ooc: It has been a while since I used gaelic Irish for when Sahabiel speaks fey-sylvan, but I feel it just comes out so much more flavorful I thought I'd go back to it.)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday October 3rd, 2022 10:51:11 AM (ooc: You do not need to copy-paste the Irish bits out of my post to get them translated, just copy-paste the entire post text into Google Translate and it should autodetect for Irish to English and will know which parts to translate.)
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 3rd, 2022 1:24:08 PM
Nightingale listens to her sister call out to the 'Wood, or whatever being is tormenting poor Brancha. Nightingale will look at all the rocks that Naithi brought her, select the smallest and cast Light upon it ... and then hand it to Brancha, as she seems to be the target of the voice... "Something to help keep the darkness at bay."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday October 3rd, 2022 2:48:06 PM
Naithi and Camalayas stay with the group, figuring they will want some one with dark vision to stick by then
Naithi keeps looking for danger.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Monday October 3rd, 2022 4:39:04 PM
Beech is tired of these games....he gets a target, he plans on giving it a gift....
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+3=21 ; Monday October 3rd, 2022 8:42:31 PM
Lothlo keeps his bow held in a non-hostile manner. He's not sure what twisted game is being played right now, but a game without bloodshed is always preferred to the alternative.
Lothlo tries to think back to his times in the tavern and whether anyone had ever told a tale of a similar character in the Culverwood. Knowledge (Geography/local) = 21
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+20=37 ; Monday October 3rd, 2022 8:48:10 PM
Zazu looks around if he ascends above the dark: Perception 37
DM Kathy Monday October 3rd, 2022 10:33:09 PM Zazu and Boyo climb a tree.
Ash casts Detect Magic. You see several auras; it will take some time to sort through them.
Panzer tells Brancha to stay with him, and remains alert.
Sahabiel calls out in Sylvan. There is no immediate response.
Naithi remains close to the party; Beech remains alert.
Nightingale casts light on a stone and gives it to Brancha.
Lothlp tries to remember tales of a similar encounter. You remember all too many--ghost stories told around the campfire. Some of them might even be true. Nothing particularly stands out, however.
You hear a voice again, this one deep and ominous. "None shall escape. You are doomed" You feel a wave of despair wash over you. Everyone but Zazu and Boyo, make a Will save, DC 21, or take a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+10=19 ; Monday October 3rd, 2022 10:39:29 PM
Perhaps it was all the unanswered big life questions from earlier, but Ash just feels disheartened. Despair washes over her and it feels like there is little hope left in the Wold.
She gives a loud sigh and lets her shoulders slump.
----------- Will Save vs DC21: 19=Fail! Not a good day for Will saves.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 WILL Save check: d20+11=21 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 1:58:05 AM
Nightingale hears the voice again, which makes her growl and say something unladylike under her breath
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+20=22 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 10:16:53 AM
Zeoll listens to the voice and gets a feel for its location ...
[OOC: Hearing someone talk is a DC0 check. At DC20 (a -20 penalty) you can pinpoint their location. Zazu has a +20 Perception, so no roll needed.]
Then the elf directs Boyo to the right spot with a move action. And then Zazu casts Color Spray to get the speaker in the cone. Hopefully without getting friends with the spell!
Will save DC is 18. Effect varies by hit dice Color Spray.
Zazu tries to hear any clue as to the results of the spell. Perception 22.
Then Boyo takes a move action to ascend back up.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20+6=22 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 10:23:48 AM
Beech ignores the Ominous Voice as it threatens the group, he expects its more directed at the young Dryad.
He still doesn't have a target, but he's still ready to give him a party gift, one the Voice won't soon forget....
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+9=16 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 2:57:40 PM (Will save d20+9 = 16, failed. -2 to most rolls, but for how many rounds?)
Sahabiel is thrown off guard and feels uncertain now about her next move.. she was expecting that their harasser would at least offer a proper response to the words of the Old Law. That it is not, leaves her grasping at what manner of being or beings would be so gutsy as to ignore it entirely, with all the ignominy that could earn them?
Darkness and voices in that dark.. so far nobody has been hurt, but Sahabiel does not know how this is going to continue. For the moment, knowing that these patches of darkness are small, she picks a direction and starts finding her way to the edge of this one - following Panzer's voice for guidance if it is available again.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+7=25 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 8:29:30 PM
A wave of despair starts to com over Lothlo, but he manages to shake the feeling.
Things are starting to get a little nasty in here. You think there is any chance we can just try to return again like we did before before whoever is outside this darkness shows us what other tricks he has up his sleeve? save = 25
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+7=20 ; d20+8=9 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 8:34:34 PM
Naithi and Camalayas struggle against the wave is despair.
Well save= 20 for Naithi and 9 for Camalayas. Or 24 if this is a fey ability
Starting at 4th level, a druid gains a +4 bonus on saving throws against the spell-like and supernatural abilities of fey. This bonus also applies to spells and effects that target plants, such as blight, entangle, spike growth, and warp wood.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday October 4th, 2022 8:52:10 PM
Naithi and Camalayas quickly exit the darkness and direct the others so they they can exit from different sides to avoid all getting caught in another spell at the same time.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+3=7 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 8:56:38 PM
Will save 7 fail Panzer does not have the mental fortitude to withstand the doom and despair being thrown at him, but it doesn't dampen his desire to find whomever is making his life hard and disembowel them.
DM Kathy Tuesday October 4th, 2022 10:35:30 PM Ash succumbs to the feeling of despair, as do Sahabiel and Panzer. The effect will last for several minutes.
Naithi and Camalayas are safe, because this is a fae ability. They exit the area of darkness, as does Sahabiel.
Nightingale says something unladylike. Beech stays on alert. Lothlo suggests you try to return.
Zazu is able to locate the square that the voice is coming from. Boyo moves you into position, and you cast your Color Spray. You don't see any immediate effect. Boyo then climbs you back up the tree.
Finally, your opponent shows himself. A lanky, fanged humanoid steps out of the trees. He wears a long dark coat and a tall hat, and exudes an almost palpable aura of horror. Knowledge Nature DC 20 Highlight to display spoiler: {It's a bogeyman}
He points a long, bony finger at Beech. Beech must make a DC 20 Will save or be held in place.
And the map. The gray areas are magical darkness; right now, Ash's dancing lights are illuminating the one you're standing in.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+13=27 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 10:51:39 PM "It's a bogeyman!" Ash calls out. She recalls that Brancha doesn't have any spell abilities, and based on what she's observed so far, it's unlikely Brancha has any real combat abilities either. "Brancha, this might be a good time for you to stay back. We'll deal with this"
Ash casts a Spectral Hand spell then disappears from view.
--------------- Knowl Nature vs DC20: 27=Pass! Please let me know what details Ash knows of the bogeyman. Thanks!
Standard: Cast Spectral Hand Move: Use Fey Hide-away ability to turn invisible for a round Free: 5ft step SE
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+14=26 ; Tuesday October 4th, 2022 11:38:39 PM Guys, this is a fey. I'm guessing cold iron will be needed.
ooc: I suggest we email offline to avoid cluttering the board and discuss tactics.
Knowledge Nature to identify enemies abilities and weaknesses = 26
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character Wednesday October 5th, 2022 12:20:01 PM
Highlight to display spoiler: { Using a Hero Point to boost my roll}
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 40/40 Character d20+14=29 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 12:30:27 PM
Beech switches up his plans, he felt the creature try to hold him, but managed to shake off the magical effect with an extra effort. (HP spent) He drops a Haste, in case he gets taken out of the combat by magic.... He then moves as he's not made for front line combat...
Those includes are... Himself. Sahabiel, Ash, Lothlo, Nightingale, Panzer, Naithi he leaves out the Dryad and Zazu is too far away, and Camalayas is a "mount"
Spells in effect:
Haste 7 Rounds Left
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+10=19 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 1:23:02 PM
Know Nature 19, 23 with Forest Walking bonus.
Zazu wonders why the fey so easily resisted the Color Spray, but at least the trickster will not try another.
"The fey has done no injury to anyone yet. So maybe we should not use lethal damage until it does."
Zazu retrieves and reads an invisibility scroll, self-casting the magic. Boyo climbs down to the base of the tree.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday October 5th, 2022 4:09:22 PM
Nightingale takes a wand out and taps herself with it
[Divine Favor = +1 to hit and damage for 1 minute]
She will then move forward, to place the Bogeyman within 30' range, in case she needs to charge him/it
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+4=23 ; d20+8=14 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 5:08:16 PM
Spellcraft 21 Panzer identifies the spell on Beech as hold person and he realizes that this is going to be a fight, even if Zazu thinks they can talk their way out of it. He waits on attacking regardless, because he doesn't know anything about the Culverwood and this may be typical fey foreplay before they "talk" to people in their realm. He doubts it but prepares anyway. He pops his wand to his hand from his wrist sheathe and taps himself with it and fails to get the spell to fire (use magic device 14). He feels the Haste wash over him and with that speed drops the wand and draws his off hand weapon. (both weapons are cold iron)
Dashboard Doom several Minutes Haste 1/7 rounds used
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+17=35 ; d8+6=14 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 8:43:10 PM We made an effort to be peaceful, said we won't escape and are doomed, blinded us, and attacked us multiple times. We can't just hold back until he kills one of us for fun.
Lothlo follows the advice of the others and pulls out a cold iron arrow. He readies to attack and will let the arrow fly if anyone else attacks this round, otherwise he will hold his attack and will try to interrupt the Bogeyman if he tries to cast a spell.
Attack 1 = 35 Damage 1 = 14
***Active spells and abilities*** Spells and Conditions in effect on self: Hasted for 7 rounds starting round 1 - Sharpshooter Skills "Can shoot ranged weapons at opponents in melee without penalty, +1 bonus on attack and damage with ranged weapons at ranges up to 30 feet, can take a –1 penalty on all ranged attack rolls to gain a +2 bonus on all ranged damage rolls (increases at +4 bab), Only a –1 penalty per full range increment between you and your target, threat range is doubled." -Trick shots available: Disarm Trick, Ricochet Trick, Staple Trick, Slice Trick, Sunder Trick, Grapnel Trick Consumables Tracking: 0 arrows, 0 hero points
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+7=12 ; d20+7=20 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 8:55:38 PM
Naithi directs Camalayas to take her within 40 get of the enemy (I'm having trouble with the map, so someone please move me). She then throws the vial of Basidironds Spores towards the Boogeyman. Let's see how you like being scared.
ooc: It says the spores can form an invisible cloud, so I'm hoping this can be treated as a splash weapon. Die those you can target a square with an attack roll if 5 (If not allowed and the cloud is large enough maybe I could attack the tree behind it. I get an additional +2 to hitting plants). The vial has a rang increment of 10 feet. Throwing 40 requires and additional +6 to hit. I would they're t need a ranged attack of 11 to the square.
Naithi throws the vial at the boogeyman's square. Hit AC 12= Success. (I also made a reroll using a hero point incase my math was off and it was needed. Reroll, if needed=20)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday October 5th, 2022 9:11:45 PM
When feeling despair, Sahabiel does what any priestess would do - she prays, safe in her conviction that doing so is likely to help her and her companions in anything else they might attempt.
ooc: She performs Prayer - and at her current map position, it looks like the whole party and the enemy are all within 40' burst range? Effect: "You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls."
DM Kathy d6=6 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 11:10:10 PM Ash calls out that the creature is a bogeyman before casting Spectral Hand and becoming momentarily invisible. You know that he has a fear aura, and spell-like abilities.
Naithi adds that the bogeyman is fae, and that cold iron might be needed. You know that cold iron bypasses his damage reduction, and that he has Spell Resistance.
Beech resists the affect, then casts Haste on his friends before moving to the back.
Zazu points out that the bogeyman has not hurt you yet, and suggests nonlethal damage. He makes himself invisible and comes down from the tree.
Panzer cannot identify a spell since no spell was cast [the bogeyman has spell-like abilities]. He tries to get a wand to work, but does not succeed. He drops it in favor of an off-hand weapon.
Lothlo doesn't want to wait until the bogeyman kills somebody before acting. He nocks a cold-iron arrow and waits for the opportunity to fire.
Naithi approaches within 40 feet and throws her vial at the bogeyman. However, the vial does not contain "raw" basidirond spores. It contains a powder derived from the spores. The vial gives off a little puff of powder, which seems to have no effect on the bogeyman.
Naithi's action, however, is enough to set off Lothlo's ready. His arrow strikes true and does damage.
Sahabiel casts Prayer. It affects all her companions, but the bogeyman has Spell Resistance. Make a caster level check to see if your spell affects him.
Brancha slips into the trees and tries to hide there.
The bogeyman strides forward. His aura extends for 30 feet, so as he moves, several of you are affected, one by one: Naithi (and Camalayas), Sahabiel, Nightingale, Panzer, and Ash. As the bogeyman approaches, you begin to see a shifting haze of images reflecting your darkest fears. Make a DC 25 Will save or become shaken.
"This fight is hopeless," he says to Panzer. "Throw down your weapons, and I may show you mercy." Panzer, make a DC 20 Will save or drop your weapons.
Beech suddenly sees the most horrible, terrifying beast he can imagine. Make a DC 21 Will save or believe the apparition is real. If you fail that save, make a DC 21 Fortitude save or die of fright. If you fail the Will save but make the Fortitude save, take 16 damage instead of dying.
[OOC: The Bogeyman uses spell-like abilities, so Spellcraft cannot identify them as they are being cast, although you can use Spellcraft to identify them by their effects, if their effects are visible.]
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+7=14 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 11:17:02 PM (ooc: Caster level check to affect Bogeyman with Prayer 1d20+7 = 14, failed)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+12=22 ; d20+12=26 ; d20+8=28 ; d20+8=27 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 11:53:02 PM
Naithi and Camalayas begun to tremble. Blood and Ashes! I cannot believe I wasted that on you! Now I'll have to take a bite out of you to know what it tasted like!
Naithi Save = 22, 28 Pass. (Naithi and Camalayas both roll, and if either succeeds both pass) Camalayas Save = 27 Pass
More to come, but I needed to know the results of the saves before contemplating my next move.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+3=21 ; d20-1=10 ; Wednesday October 5th, 2022 11:59:46 PM
Crushing despair -2 to everything fear save is not a 20 so fail, add shaken to the mix a further -2 to everything Suggestion save 10 fail Panzer drops his weapons
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday October 6th, 2022 12:12:28 AM
At the monster's request Panzer drops his weapons. He looks with a puzzled expression on his face at his empty hands and bends down and retrieves his blades. rolling his shoulders to try and rid his body of the fear he is feeling he takes a 5' step closer to the Boogyman.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 43/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 WILL Save: d20+11=12 ; Normal FoB = +2, she's shaken which drops that to +7, Prayer adds a +1 to hit and damage, Divine Favor adds a +1 to hit and damage, and her thorns add an additional +2 damage: d20+9=28 ; d20+9=24 ; assuming both hit ... d8+5=7 ; d8+5=12 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 12:49:34 AM
[Ok, so she's Shaken = A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks]
Nightingale is VERY unhappy. As a free action her hands become covered in wood with tiny thorns protruding from them. With her move of 50', she's pretty much in his face unleashing a flurry of blows attack on him ...
OOC: Do his "Spell like abilities" count as enchantment spells or effects? If so then she gets a +2 to her saves
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+8=24 ; d20+4=16 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 2:35:59 AM
Ash blinks her eyes and manages to shut-out the terrible images. Just. "Nightingale! Dagger!" Ash draws her cold iron dagger and tosses it over towards Nightingale. It lands at the monk's feet.
-------------- Will Save vs DC25: 24. Wait! Forgot to add the +1 Prayer bonus! 25=Pass!
Free: 5ft step east Move: Draw Cold Iron dagger Standard: Throw it to Nightingale's square. Attack vs AC9(5+2range penalties): 16=Pass!
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+17=25 ; d20+17=34 ; d20+17=28 ; d20+12=32 ; d20+12=20 ; d8+6=9 ; d8+6=9 ; d8+6=7 ; d8+6=14 ; d8+6=9 ; d8+6=13 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 11:11:18 AM
Lothlo sees nightengale running in front of his arrows and calls out to her to guide her to a safer location
Nightengale, you are running in my line of fire, make sure you don't stop in front of me
Lothlo grabs a handful of arrows and lets them fly (if Nightengale doesn't move north one square Lothlo will have to move and only the first arrow will be shot)
Roll each thrice: D20 + 17(+1 within 30'), 1d8 +6 (+1 within 30') Roll each once: D20 + 12(+1 within 30'), 1d8 +6 (+1 within 30')
Attack 1 = 25 Damage 1 = 9
Attack 2 = 34 Damage 2 = 9
Attack 3 = 28 Damage 3 = 7
Attack 3 = 32 crit roll x3 = 20 Damage 3 = 14
ooc: can you include the round number in the posts, it makes it easier to double check which spells are still active
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character d20+7=10 ; d20+7=17 ; d20+8=27 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 2:42:32 PM
Beech fails the will portion of the save.... (will use Hero Point to pass the save or die) Will Save 10 = Fail Fort Save 17= Fail +4 Hero Point = Pass Spellcraft = 27 knows it was a Phantasmal Killer spell.
"Crud.... Watch out, not sure how it's casting multiple spells at once, but it sent a Phantasmal Killer after me. We're in the Deep end and the bottom just dropped out on top of it."
Beech casts a Glitterdust, catching just the Bogeyman in the area of effect. He now looks "Fabulous".... After the spell goes off, He moves even further away....
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday October 6th, 2022 2:45:08 PM
Beech is 50' off the bottom of the map
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+39=41 ; d20+32=52 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 2:56:05 PM
Zany casts invisibility on Boyo. Then the elf takes out a scroll.
Boyo takes a double move back up the tree, well away from the monster.
Zany stealth (+20 with invisibility) 41 Boyo stealth (same) 52
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+12=21 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 7:59:37 PM
Perception = 21 to see if we are back home or even deeper into the Culverwood
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+24=32 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 8:14:46 PM
Naithi begins to worry nd wispers to Camalayas that they will grapple in a pincher attack. Camalayas then runs behind the Bogeyman as Naithi charges straight towards it as she tries to grapple the fey.
ooc: Can someone please mine Camalayas and I? I would also appreciate it if anyone can help aid another, grapple, magically boost the attack roll.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday October 6th, 2022 8:31:54 PM
ooc: that was supposed to say move Camalayas and I on the map
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+9=25 ; d20+10=14 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 8:57:43 PM (Saving throw vs Deepest Despair: d20 + 8 (base) +1 (cloak of resistance) +1 (prayer) +2 (elven immunities) -2 (Crushing Despair) = 26 (The dice roller says 25 but I forgot to add the Prayer bonus in the modifier on that roll)
Sahabiel sees the gloomy creature approach her and her companions, and through the imagery it tries to weave around itself, preying on the fears of others, she sees it for what it is. She would have been prepared to treat with the unseelie court if it had played by its rules, but this creature has no place in the harmony of the woods. It is malignant, too deep into causing fear and pain for their own sake, and apparently uncaring about the Old Laws. A true monster even by the standards of its own kind. "Ya would not head the Sean-Dlíthe na Fáilteachais then?", she says. It is not a question though.. it is justification for any violent acts she must now herself take. "So be it."
Seeing what Naithi is attempting, she quickly moves up and lends her strength!
Using Aid Another to help Naithi succeed at the grapple. d20+10 = 14, success, Sahabiel's CMB is +5 (BaB) +5 (strength) +1 (haste) +1 (prayer) -2 (Crushing Despair) = +10 and she only needs to hit DC 10 if she is not the primary grappler.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday October 6th, 2022 8:59:36 PM ooc: heed, not head
DM Kathy d20+11=27 ; d20+11=28 ; d8=1 ; d8=6 ; Thursday October 6th, 2022 11:10:55 PM
[This is round two.]
Panzer drops his weapons, but is able to pick them up again and take a step closer to his foe.
Nightingale's hand becomes a weapon, and she advances to attack her foe. Flurry of Blows is a full-attack action, meaning you can't do it on the same turn you move. But you can get a single attack, which hits. It does not seem to do any damage, however.
Ash overcomes the fear she feels and tosses Nightingale a cold-iron dagger.
Lothlo fires, hitting 4 times. [Are you still using cold iron arrows?]
Beech warns the others that the bogeyman seems to be able to cast more than one spell per round, and that he just cast Phantasmal Killer. He counters with a Glitterdust, then moves away.
Zazu casts Invisibility on Boyo, then both retreat up the tree.
Naithi and Camalayas flank and grapple the bogeyman.
Sahabiel hurries up to help.
The bogeyman's wounds seem to close up a little.
The bogeyman does not attempt to escape the grapple and instead lashes out at Nightingale with his claws. Nightingale is hit twice, for a total of 7 damage.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 7th, 2022 4:43:57 AM "Probably quickened spells" Ash calls out to Beech. She's planning to learn how to do that herself at some point. For now though, she can only cast one spell at a time. This time that spell will be blindness!
---------------- Standard: Cast Blindness. Bogeyman to make a save vs DC19 or be permanently blinded
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+10=27 ; d20+10=28 ; d20+10=25 ; d20+10=30 ; d20+10=22 ; d20+5=25 ; d20+5=14 ; d20+5=15 ; d20+4=10 ; d3+10=12 ; d3+10=13 ; d3+10=12 ; d3+10=12 ; d3+10=13 ; d3+10=13 ; d3+10=12 ; Friday October 7th, 2022 10:54:49 AM
Panzer takes a 5' step towards the Boogyman and flanks with Nightingale. He launches a full set of attacks plus the hasted attack. He uses Power attack on all of these attacks.
Main hand attack Hits AC 29 for 12 damage Main hand Hasted attack Hits AC 30 and confirms to AC 27 for 28 damage Off Hand Attack Hits AC 32 and confirms to AC 24 for 28 damage Main Hand Secondary Attack Hits AC 27 and confirms to AC 16(miss)( Spend a Hero point to confirm the crit +4) for 28 damage Off Hand Secondary Attack Hits AC 17 Miss Bite Hits AC 12 Miss All attacks are with Cold Iron Weapons except the bite. Forgot to add flanking to the roll so all to hits are bumped up by +2 (so much Math)
Panzer is Hasted 3/7 rounds used Under a Prayer 2/7 used Shaken (forever) Under Crushing Despair (forever)
Shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Shaken is a less severe state of fear than frightened or panicked.
Crushing Despair Each affected creature takes a -2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.
Prayer You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.
Haste A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.
SO.... +1 to AC for AC 29/ T17 /FF24 -4 to saves and skill checks except reflex which is -3 -2 to attack rolls -3 to damage rolls
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+10=23 ; d20+39=45 ; d20+32=52 ; Friday October 7th, 2022 3:15:12 PM
With a move action, Boyo climbs down and moves north to exactly 31 feet from the monster.
Zazu stretches out a hand and uses ranged legerdemain to pluck the hat off the evil thing. The DC is 20, and the check is a 23, even with the -5 for operating at a distance. Zazu secrets it away in Boyo's invisible saddlebags.
With another move action, Boyo backs off 20 feet and hides. So does Zazu.
Zany stealth 45 Boyo stealth 52 -- second nat 20 in a row for Boyo hiding!
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character d20+5=14 ; d20+5=6 ; Friday October 7th, 2022 3:28:36 PM
Beech shoots at the creature, but misses....
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 1st hit attempt: d20+9=26 ; damage is: d4+3=5 ; 2nd Hit attempt: d20+9=28; Crit Check: d20+9=27 ; assuming that hit is a crit = d4+3=5 x 2 = 10; 3rd hit attempt: d20+9=28 ; Crit check: d20+9=26 ; assuming a crit, damage is d4+3=6 x 2 = 12 Friday October 7th, 2022 3:58:12 PM
[Ok, so she's Shaken = A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks]
Taking the hit, Nightingale grabs for the cold iron dagger to retaliate.
Using a free actions, the thors and woodiness of her hands stops. She'll burn a Ki point to get an extra attack on her Flurry of Blows with the dagger
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 d20+17=20 ; d3=3 ; d20+17=32 ; d20+17=26 ; d20+12=29 ; d8+6=12 ; d8+6=12 ; d8+6=7 ; d8+6=12 ; Friday October 7th, 2022 7:38:46 PM
Lothlo sees the Bogeyman get surrounded and being hit pretty hard. He pulls out four cold iron arrows, but holds their release unless the creature breaks free from the grapple.
Attack 1 = 20 Damage 1 = 12
Attack 2 = 32 Damage 2 = 12
Attack 3 = 26 Damage 3 = 7
Attack 3 = 29 Damage 3 = 12
Ooc yes, all cold iron for this fight
***Active spells and abilities*** Spells and Conditions in effect on self: Hasted for 7 rounds starting round 1 - Sharpshooter Skills Can shoot ranged weapons at opponents in melee without penalty, +1 bonus on attack and damage with ranged weapons at ranges up to 30 feet, can take a –1 penalty on all ranged attack rolls to gain a +2 bonus on all ranged damage rolls (increases at +4 bab), Only a –1 penalty per full range increment between you and your target, threat range is doubled. -Trick shots available: Disarm Trick, Ricochet Trick, Staple Trick, Slice Trick, Sunder Trick, Grapnel Trick Consumables Tracking: [i]5 arrows, 0 hero points[/i
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+8=25 ; d3+4=6 ; d20+8=23 ; Friday October 7th, 2022 8:08:46 PM
Unsure if she can maintain the grapple, Naithi stabs the Bogeyman with her cold iron dagger and then bites him for good measure.
Boo! Are you scared yet?
Hit AC 25 with cold iron dagger for 6 dmg Bite hit AC 23... Because she is mad and wants to know what the spores she wasted taste like.
ooc: That was her favorite potion bottle (G.G. Present), so she will gather up the pieces when this is over and repair or with prestidigitation.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+14=24 ; Friday October 7th, 2022 9:02:47 PM Thanks to a few confirmed critical hits, a lot of damage has been dealt this round, so these actions are only if the bogeyman is not already defeated by the end of last round
Sahabiel seeks to maintain the grapple, knowing that whether she can hold it in the end or not, every second that the bogeyman has to spend on breaking free first is time that her companions can use to inflict more damage on it!
Grapple check; d20 + 5 (BaB) + 5 (Str) + 5 (Bonus for the side that starts the round in control of the grapple) + 1 (Prayer) +1 Haste - 2 (Crushing Despair debuff) = d20 + 15 => 25 (yes, I forgot to add the +1 again in my roll above)
The bogeyman takes a -4 to its dexterity for being grappled, and does not add its +1 dodge bonus against someone that is already grappling with it, so its CMD is down from 32 to 29. Sahabiel will spend a Hero Point for +4 Luck bonus to make up the difference, and succeeds in not only holding the grapple this round, but advancing it - the defender (bogeyman) is now not only Grappled, but Pinned and is denied its dexterity bonus to AC, and for being denied its dexterity bonus also loses its dodge bonus against other attackers outside the grapple, plus Pinned condition gives a further -4 penalty to AC. Bogeyman AC this round is only 13, it can not attack anyone outside the grapple without spending a round to break free first, and can also not use spell-like abilities without a concentration check vs DC 10 (base) + 19 (Sahabiel's modified CMB this round) + spell level. Lastly, to keep a pin Sahabiel takes -4 to her own Dex and has no use of her shield, so Sahabiel's AC is down to 18. She is counting on her companions to finish this in the time she is buying them.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 7th, 2022 10:19:15 PM
If Sahabiel continues the grapple then Camalayas will continue as well for a +2 bonus
DM Kathy d20+9=17 ; Friday October 7th, 2022 10:32:34 PM Ash suggests that the bogeyman is using quickened spells--or spell-like abilities. She casts Blindness. The bogeyman fails his save and is blinded.
Then the rest of the group goes to work with cold iron and well...it doesn't go well for the bogeyman. Zazu does not need any fancy magic to get the hat; you can just saunter over and pluck it off his corpse.
Ash and Naithi are aware that these creatures usually hoard treasure. There might be something nearby, and you might not even have to jump into a pond to get it!
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 7th, 2022 11:27:50 PM
Naithi takes the Bogeyman's long coat and says, From what I can recall, these Boogeymen typically hoard treasure. He sounds have a lair near by. Naithi has Camalayas, Fizzgig and Jen pick up the Bogeyman's scent and trace it back to a lair, if they can. (Take 20)
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 7th, 2022 11:56:39 PM
Ash offers to cast a Mending cantrip to fix Naithi's bottle. She then looks about to take stock of how the party are doing and to make sure that Brancha is still with them.
"Just to make sure it doesn't keep healing, uh, Panzer, you want to make sure?" Ash looks at the bogeyman's corpse, and in particular it's head/neck region.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Saturday October 8th, 2022 2:29:25 PM
Beech will return to the party, and will use Ray of Frost on the creature, freezing small bits and letting Panzer break them off once it's in small parts, He'll cook it with a burning hands or two, to be sure it's not coming back....
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 10th, 2022 3:14:50 PM
Nightingale will steer Brancha away from the actions of her friends, "That creature seemed intent on targeting you, are you ok?"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday October 10th, 2022 4:31:31 PM
Panzer follows Ash's gaze as she says to be sure it doesn't 'get back up' and nods. Once Nightingale has taken Brancha away Panzer grips the boogyman around the chest, slips one blade under his chin and swiftly and cleanly removes his head. Beech's plan sounded alot like corpse desecration and Panzer wanted this over with quickly and cleanly so he opted for decapitation. He didn't know of anything corporeal that could heal without it's head attached. He then followed the group and looked around for a stash of goodies.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday October 10th, 2022 7:13:21 PM (ooc: Since the creature died of damage dealt before my turn, Sahabiel did not need to prolong the grapple, so I presume the actions of my last post did not happen)
Sahabiel gets back on her feet, looks down at the creature while catching her breath, and then looks around the group. She remembers that odd store a few of her companions visited last time they were in the capital, and now has some idea of what this group needs. She shakes her head, grins, and says; "Just so ya know... since I've met ya, we've had harpies with entrancing singing, faeries with entrancing dancing, that viper vine's entrancing pollen, and today an entrancing pool of all things, and this monstrosity that tried to get us with fear... I have half a mind to march the lot of ya to The Catacombs and see each of ya pick up something to ward against attacks on yer mind and will. Or two somethings. Or three."
Sahabiel also offers to perform Mending for any companions that need small repairs after that fight, so she can split the queue with Ash.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday October 10th, 2022 8:21:07 PM Yes, we do seem to have a surprisingly large number of attackers that focus on our minds and wills. I wonder if that's a common thing in these parts or just our bad luck. Probably worth preparing for it in the future if it's going to be a regular thing for us to worry about.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday October 10th, 2022 9:06:48 PM
Now that the monster is defeated, Zazu asks Ash to Detect Magic. "How about this hat? I kind of love it, even if it is not magic!"
DM Kathy Monday October 10th, 2022 11:03:40 PM Naithi picks up the bogeyman's coat, and uses it to track his scent.
Ash asks if you're sure the bogeyman is dead. Beech freezes the body, and Panzer removes its head.
Nightingale checks on Brancha. "I'm scared," she says. "I want to go home." She does seem to be all right, though.
Sahabiel points out that many of your foes have attacked your will, and suggests you take steps to augment it. Lothlo agrees.
Zazu requests a Detect Magic. The bogeyman's hat is not magical.
Naithi is able to find the bogeyman's lair and his treasure. You find:
Ring of Sustenance, Wand of Endure Elements (20 charges remaining), Immovable Rod, Scroll of Freedom of Movement, Boots of the Winterlands, Lens of Detection, Ring of Counterspells (empty). Nonmagical: platinum and garnet cloak pin, emerald pendant on a gold chain, jade ring.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday October 11th, 2022 12:02:17 AM
Naithi thanks Ash for the mending cantrip as they are walking.
Upon finding the lair and requests the ring of counter spells and the cloak pin. Sahabiel had a point. My magic is very limited, and this ring could help to counteract that weakness and possibly prevent certain types of mental attacks.
ooc: The ring is my favorite item, but Naithi likes and can use all the items. I think this is the first time that has ever happened!
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Tuesday October 11th, 2022 2:02:03 AM
Ash does what she can to appraise the non-magical items. None of the magical items particularly interest her so she takes a step back from the pile so that the others can get a clearer look.
---------------- Appraise checks: 21 (Take10 on all)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday October 11th, 2022 9:32:57 AM
Sahabiel is interested in the Boots of the Winterlands, as they might soon enough become quite helpful in her responsibilities.. even though winter is going to halt the natural growth of her trees, she is still going to have to go out on both sides of the river in any wintery weather and make sure all the planting sites are doing well and her leshy are cared for.
She also takes a moment to give Panzer a hug, grinning, and tell him that she owes him a mug of ale for that show of skill he gave with his kukri just before - because she had no idea if she was actually going to be able to hold that grapple much longer. (ooc: Panzer rolling high and confirming critical hits was one of the happiest Sahabiel has ever been to see such fierce, angry blows land so close to her)
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday October 11th, 2022 10:47:10 AM
Nightingale isn't interested in any of the magical items, just in getting Brancha, herself, and her friends back to the "correct" depth of Culverwood
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday October 11th, 2022 12:33:47 PM
Naithi also had no idea if she was actually going to be able to hold that grapple much longer and thanks Panzer due his amazing work, and Beri for the damage he did before that
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday October 11th, 2022 12:52:16 PM
"OH! OH! Me please! The rod!"
Zazu imagines slipping it into an enemy's pack and turning it on.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Tuesday October 11th, 2022 3:48:35 PM
Beech, shrugs.... The counterspell ring would be nice, but he has other things he needs.... "If Everyone is ready, lets go home."
Playing with the Magical Essence in the area, He uses his Use Magical Device skill to try and get them back to the Dryad's grove.... (Take 10 = 26)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday October 11th, 2022 6:26:40 PM
Panzer blushes when Sahabiel hugs him. He definitely feels appreciated but honestly the Pin made is alot easier to hit the vital spots on the boogyman.. Panzer looks at the loot and shrugs. None of it does anything for him.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday October 11th, 2022 8:55:27 PM Ooh, a lens of detection! That's always a nice thing to have, helps a ton when tracking animals or keeping an eye out for danger. Hey, do you guys think that Bogeyman had anything to do with us landing off course, or do you think it was just coincidence?
Brancha, you know more about the Culverwood than I do, anything you can suggest to help us get home this time? A specific thing to focus on or something like that?
DM Kathy Tuesday October 11th, 2022 10:34:11 PM Ash looks at the nonmagical items and is able to determine that the cloak pin is worth about 600 gold; the pendant 1000 gold; and the ring 250 gold.
Some of you are interested in the various magical items, but a full discussion can wait until your return to the dryad grove.
Lothlo asks if Brancha knows of any techniques to insure your return, but she does not.
Beech takes the lead on getting you out of this darker, more menacing Culverwood. He concentrates for a moment, and the world seems to shimmer around you. The next thing you know, you are in the clearing with the reflecting pool.
You are halfway back to the grove.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Wednesday October 12th, 2022 1:13:49 PM
Before beginning... "Everyone is all set to try for the Dryad's Grove? You don't want to contemplate life or anything at the pool before we go... Or maybe get another rock from the bottom do you?" Without giving the others time to even answer, he manipulates the raw magic in this fay realm and hopes to arrive back at the dryad grove, with the Brancha and the others in tow, he's really beginning to hate the Culverwood..... it's almost worse than his mother said it was....
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday October 12th, 2022 2:10:36 PM
Panzer looks around, knives out. " Get us out of here. I want to get back to the grove."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Survival check? d20+7=26 ; Wednesday October 12th, 2022 4:29:14 PM
Nightingale wants to look around and see if there are any plants/seedlings catch her eye to take back and plant
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+10=12 ; Wednesday October 12th, 2022 4:36:28 PM
"Well thank goodness we're headed for home."
Zazu takes a closer look at the BogeyHat. Appraise check: 12.
"Anyone want to take a look at my new hat? Please?"
The trickster checks for a label. And for a secret compartment in the hat. If it has none, Zazu thinks about getting a haberdasher to add one.
"Heck, I could get the Catacombs to enchant it as a bag of holding. Boyo, you could hop in, and then I could pull a rabbit out of my hat!"
But there is another toy to try!
Zazu activates the immovable rod and tries to get Boyo to hop up and balance on it. While Zazu is riding, of course.
The trickster thinks about adding a rod holster with four cords, each cord attached to a corner of the harness of the special saddle. Then Zazu could activate the rod and stay in the saddle, suspended in midair with Boyo. "We could jump off a cliff, I cast feather fall, and then activate the rod to stay in midair. And still be able to make an attack or cast a spell!"
"Hmmm ..."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday October 12th, 2022 7:00:02 PM
Sahabiel whispers to Nightingale that this plane is awash in primal magic, and closer to the energy plane than the mundane Wold is. She worries that plants native to it might not grow well if taken home, just as life from the Wold does not thrive unchanged in the draining twilight of the planes in the opposite direction. She suggests that Nightingale might have more luck asking the dryads about interesting plants that do belong in the world we know, as soon as we all find our way back there?
When Beech is making his check, Sahabiel makes her own - not to try to move the party, but just staying attuned to her surroundings so that if something does again take them off track, she might notice it happening.
(Take10 on Survival(navigate magical forests), d20+25 = 35. On our way to the dryad grove using the compass the first time, Sahabiel was unable to prevent the party from getting turned around, but she did pick up when it happened. She is applying her senses in a similar way now here.)
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday October 12th, 2022 8:01:59 PM
Ash assists Zazu with valuing the hat. She's ready to get out of here and head back to the 'normal' Culverwood. She holds onto the jar with the lodestone in it in case they need to move quickly.
---------------- Appraise check: 21 (Take10)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday October 12th, 2022 8:34:00 PM I am all for home, hopefully we don't get lost again. If time is different here, who knows how long we were gone... though I suspect it was more the affects of the pool than an actual change in the flow of time
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday October 12th, 2022 10:08:44 PM
Naithi observed Zazu and does the same checks on the coat she took from the Bogeyman.
The Return
DM Kathy Wednesday October 12th, 2022 11:13:20 PM Zazu, with help from Ash and Naithi, attempts to appraise the bogeyman's hat. It seems like an ordinary hat, now rather the worse for wear. The coat is similar--an ordinary garment, now worn. And bloodstained.
Nightingale looks out for seedlings, but as Sahabiel reminds her, the local flora may need a magical environment in which to grow. In any case, the seedlings you see are fairly ordinary trees you could find within a short walk of Freedom's Landing.
Beech teasingly asks if anybody else wants to contemplate anything, or dive into the pool again. Panzer is all for getting back right away, as is Brancha.
Lothlo wonders how much time will have elapsed when you return.
Sahabiel takes the lead this time, and soon you find yourselves back in the dryad grove. Quercia hurries to greet Brancha, followed shortly by several more dryads. For her part, Brancha is overjoyed, crying a little as she reunites with her family.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday October 13th, 2022 2:59:42 PM
Beech, watches the reunion, hoping they brought the Dryad back that was expected.... They were dealing with Fey and the Culverwood after all...
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday October 13th, 2022 4:15:28 PM
Once he is sure that they have returned to the regular Culverwood where only about 75% of the woods wants to kill him Panzer is very grateful to be home and have at least a little control over what happens to him.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday October 13th, 2022 5:47:08 PM
Sahabiel smiles and greets Quercia when the initial excitement of Brancha's return passes. "I wish I could say that went entirely without complications, but we did run into one or two. Actually, if a few of us could speak with you and Grandmother Yew later, we have a tale to tell of what lies in the Deeper from here.."
She still wants to ask about the possibility of that pool being related to an enchantment on this side of the veil, and if some form of misdirection enchantment could have been responsible for the entire group slipping even deeper without meaning to -- after all, going 'deeper' and winding up in the First World was also sort of how Brancha found herself straying from her family to begin with... if there is something like a current exerting a pull towards the Deeper, it might catch any of the other dryads in the future?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday October 13th, 2022 6:26:56 PM
What Sahabiel had told her made sense. Before leaving the grove, Nightingale will ask any special seedlings or plants that she could take back and grow at or on her house ...
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 13th, 2022 7:19:27 PM
Posting for Naithi
Naithi breaths a sigh of relief to see that they are once again safe in the dryad grove. Se takes a moment to check on Fizzgig and Camalayaas to make sure they are both holding up after their little adventure into the Deeper Darker Culverwood.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+15=16 ; Thursday October 13th, 2022 7:20:05 PM
Zazu looks at the BogeyHat and smiles. "It's not so bad! A little prestidigitation, a little mending, and it will be fine. I gotta take it to the Catacombs to see if they will upgrade it for me."
Zazu agrees with Sahabiel. "There are tricks a-plenty the deeper you go into the Culverwood, for sure!" the elf says. "That's why I love it! Did you know I was a trickster?"
Zazu does some slight of hand and tricks, making little things appear and disappear with his ranged legerdemain and sleight of hand (check is a 16).
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 13th, 2022 9:19:34 PM
Lothlo looks around and is relieved to see that they are back in the grove. Out of curiosity, how long were we gone? Brancha mentioned that she was only aware of being gone a small fraction of the time she was actually away. I don't think we ran into the same issue, but I would rather find out sooner rather than later if we have actually been away several days longer than we thought.
DM Kathy Thursday October 13th, 2022 10:49:48 PM Beech and Panzer are both relieved to get back. Naithi, too, is happy to be back in the grove.
Sahabiel mentions complications and plans for a private chat with Quercia and Grandmother Yew.
Nightingale looks around for anything she could take back to Freedom's Landing--but it doesn't look like the group is leaving just yet.
Zazu has decided to keep the bogeyman's hat, fix it up, and take it to the Catacombs.
Lothlo, curious, asks how long you were away. Quercia tells you it was a few hours, which is how it felt to you in the deeper Culverwood. There does not seem to have been any kind of time distortion--this time.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 14th, 2022 12:50:02 AM
Ash smiles as Brancha is reunited with her people. The party are getting pretty good at finding and saving people. This time went much more smoothly than when they had to rescue Ena!
"I'm glad we were able to bring Brancha home, safe and sound" Ash smiles to Quercia "I hope we can take this opportunity to become friends with your people. We are living rather close to each other, and it's always nice to have good neighbours".
Ash will also ask if the group can keep the lodestone. "Should we ever need to return. Or perhaps, if you ever invite us again?" she asks hopefully.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday October 14th, 2022 7:54:20 AM
Zazu rides Boyo up next to Ash and bows in the saddle. "Wow, that would be swell," the elf says, agreeing with Ash. "My friend here has it right, we would be honored to call you good folk friends, and maybe to visit again, if it is no intrusion?"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 14th, 2022 4:09:53 PM
Naithi rides Camalayas over to the others. Oh Yes! My druid grove is always open to you, should you need a place to stay. In fact, I have been working on a new cultivation method to help make druid grove more friendly and accessable to friendly fey who wish to visit.
ooc: In my extremely limited free time I'm working on a project for the black genie center for an official Woldian Druid Grove and Druid Tree feat, spells, and magical item.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday October 14th, 2022 6:52:48 PM
Panzer just remains happy to be back in the Culverwood he knows
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday October 14th, 2022 8:02:00 PM
Knowing that there will be a few other things before Quercia and Grandmother Yew might have time for her, Sahabiel will quickly stop by where her brave Kohlrabi was given to graze, to let her horse know that she is back. Although a few hours left in the care of the dryads is not a long time, the circumstances here were likely strange to the horse.. and for that matter, having a horse around to look after was probably fairly unfamiliar to the dryads too, so Sahabiel feels she should make sure it is just eating grass and not being spoiled with treats.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday October 14th, 2022 8:36:37 PM Only a few hours, that's good to know. Looks like it was just the effects of the pool that caused one not to notice the passage of time. Lothlo takes a moment to tend his mule and make sure it's got food and water.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Friday October 14th, 2022 9:50:57 PM
Things seem normal enough.... He wonders if they've been gone a day like it seems, or how long it'll be once they leave the Wood.....
DM Kathy Friday October 14th, 2022 10:31:52 PM Ash expresses a wish to be friends with the dryads, and asks if you could keep the lodestone. Zazu asks if you could perhaps visit again.
"We would be honored to host you," Quercia says. "Keep the lodestone, and please consider this grove to be a safe haven for you in the Culverwood."
Naithi reciprocates, offering use of her druid grove to any of the dryads who want it. "Thank you," says Quercia. "it is a lovely grove, and I'm sure some of us will visit it."
Lothlo is relieved that the timeline still adds up.
Panzer is just glad to be back out of deeper.
Beech wonders when you're going home.
Later, Sahabiel has time to sit down with Quercia. Grandmother Yew went into her tree shortly after you went deeper, and she hasn't emerged since. Quercia does not think the ancient dryad will emerge anytime soon, so you probably won't get a chance to speak with her.
"The pools seem to occur naturally," Quercia says. "They spring up in various spots in the Culverwood, and so far nobody has admitted to creating them.
She listens to the rest of your explanation with growing concern. "I've seen no sign of any kind of magical pull," she says, "but of course I haven't exactly been looking for one. We will be vigilant."
The dryads invite you to camp there another night, though of course, you're free to head back right away.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Sunday October 16th, 2022 9:04:16 AM
"Ash, can we stay another night? This place is so beautiful."
Something about it speaks to Zazu's elvish soul.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday October 16th, 2022 2:07:04 PM
Beech, without saying anything, is noticeably ready to go..... He seems to have serious reservations about staying inside the Culverwood any longer than absolutely necessary.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday October 16th, 2022 8:34:08 PM
Ash is in agreement with Zazu. The party took a couple of hits in that last fight and could use a safe place to heal up before venturing through the Culverwood again.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday October 17th, 2022 1:47:31 PM
Naithi also wishes to stay, knowing that travel is always riskier at night. That is especially the l true when only a few have dark vision or accent abilities.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 17th, 2022 5:29:07 PM
Nightingale would love to spend the night with the dryads, maybe learn and teach them some dance moves, or songs, or gossip about boys ... whatever works
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+15=18 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=2 ; Monday October 17th, 2022 6:29:35 PM
After her chat with Quercia, Sahabiel will as a token towards the new friendship between their groups offer the gift she had prepared before leaving Freedom Landing (ooc: remember her gathering a pouch of good soil from the base of her tree? I guess that was lucky since we did not even know that far back that the fey we were going to meet would be dryads.)“Please accept this, Quercia - it is soil from the base of my own treehome, soil through which in order to nurture that tree I did channel the ancient power of the Culverwood day after day, over the course of weeks.”
She also offers to bless the soil in the grove area with the long term Enrichment version of the plant growth prayer, as that is a magic dryads do not themselves normally possess, and she has it prepared right now.
Beyond that.. Sahabiel would stay the night for both reasons given by the others - the dryad’s grove is a wonderful natural temple for her to commune with the wood in, and she also agrees on the precautious argument against needlessly trying to navigate this already confusing part of the wood with only a few hours left before dark.
Lastly, while magical healing helps to patch up the body quickly, Sahabiel is also a firm believer in proper care to make sure there are no other detrimental effects after hurriedly closing up a wound, and she will spend the remainder of the day tending to Beech, who took a lot of pain and damage from the bogeyman’s magic in that last fight.
Heal check d20+15 = 18, so she can provide care at the level of proper Long Term Care for a recovering patient. Since they can not remain there long enough to be actually Long Term though, she will over the course of that still also use a channeling of the wood’s regenerative positive energy to make up for that big hole in the liontaur’s health. 4d6 (reroll 1s) = 14. That plus natural healing from resting the night should top Beech up to his maximum. Also, since Channel Energy is still an area effect, this same channeling should also bring Lothlo up to full even without a night's rest.
“How are ya feeling now? Better?”, she asks Beech with a gentle smile.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday October 17th, 2022 7:27:37 PM
Panzer is not foolish enough to try and navigate the Culverwood in the dark. Besides that there are plenty of pretty and friendly dryads here for him to get to know better. He met and worked with several of them last night to narrow the search area and will try to get to know more about them tonight. Maybe it will make the Culverwood a less daunting place to him.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday October 17th, 2022 9:01:40 PM A good rest would do us some good before we head out, and I assume the Culverwood is safer to travel in the daylight. Thank you for your hospitality.
I know the Culverwood is also hard to navigate, do you have any suggestions so that we can safely find our way back home?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday October 17th, 2022 11:07:17 PM
"Sahabiel, you are so generous! I'm glad you are in our group!"
From another, maybe more jaded, person that might sound like sarcasm. But Sahabiel can tell from Zazu's smile and affect that the elf is truly speaking in earnest admiration.
DM Esther Tuesday October 18th, 2022 3:42:52 AM
A majority of the party decides they would rather not travel the Culverwood at night, and Quercia, pleased by gifts from Sahabiel and the respect and appreciation other party members show for their grove, graciously welcomes their extended stay.
This time, it is Brancha that shows up with her arms full of dry deadfall and bracken before the party goes about any firewood gathering of its own. “I was too confused and scared before to do it properly, so I wanted to thank all of you for rescuing me,” she says.
Nightingale and Panzer are eager to engage more with the dryads socially, and now that they are not quite strangers anymore, they find two more in addition to Brancha curious enough to approach, although they keep themselves at a fair distance from the cooking fire. These attending dryads mostly make smalltalk about the things they know, which is largely down to trees, other plants, and natural cycles of the seasons - until one proposes the common fey passtime of a game of riddles, promising one of her ‘treasures’ for the winner. [You have unlocked an opportunity, see bottom of post]
Lothlo asks for suggestions to ease navigation of the woods on their way back home, but as the party has neither the ability to tree stride nor an intuitive knowledge of the distance and direction to a home tree as dryads do, the dryads do not have much usable advice to share.
A few very fresh tubers, small fruit and nuts, and cooking herbs turn up in the wake of dryad coming and going, no questions asked. The party does not need to rely on adventuring rations tonight.
Sahabiel declares her intention to take care of her companions’ injuries, and is praised for generosity by Zazu.
Everyone will be restored to full hp by the end of the current act. As there will be no further combat until then, you may update your hp now lest I forget.
Beech is less enthusiastic about spending another night here than most, but at least will be well looked after the rest of the evening.
*** The party has been given the opportunity to riddle with the fey - will you accept? There will be a prize for the one that does best in such a challenge ***
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 4:03:04 AM
Ash rubs her hands together. She's feeling lucky this time. The last time she had a riddle competition with a fey he bested her. Of course he didn't exactly play fair, but hey, when do they?
"There's no need to put one of your treasures at risk though. I mean, you can if you want, but you don't need to feel obliged to. I think we're all just happy to be here among good friends" Ash picks at the fruit and nuts. "So. How do we play this game of yours?"
She thinks about the items in her kit and what she could offer in return as a prize. If the dryads are putting in a prize then it's only fair the party should too.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 5:40:22 AM
Nightingale is excited to play the riddle game, "I'm not very good at riddles, but I'd like to try..."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday October 18th, 2022 7:36:48 AM
"Oh, Riddles! Those are fun! Sometimes I get them right away! Other times I get stumped."
The elf pauses, remembering ...
"Honestly, I'm usually stumped."
Then Zazu gasps, and hopes really hard that saying "stumped" to a dryad is not a huge breach of etiquette or offensive or something.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+10=12 ; Tuesday October 18th, 2022 3:24:28 PM Oh, I Love Riddles! I would like to play!
Knowledge Nature to determine if any of the tubes, fruits, herbs, etc are ones she was unaware were edible.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Tuesday October 18th, 2022 4:40:28 PM
Not overly enthusiastic, Beech is willing to give it a go....
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday October 18th, 2022 8:25:52 PM
Panzer is OK with a game of riddles. Way better than dancing himself to exhaustion like the last fey party the were invited to.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 8:55:57 PM
Sahabiel thinks it sounds like fun, but she has her hands full with the various things she took upon herself to tend to tonight already, so she is going to have to let this one go by -- but she is certainly listening in from the sidelines.
(ooc: a bit of a flimsy way to excuse my own character, but riddling against myself would hardly be fair, right?)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 9:08:12 PM A game of riddles, that sounds like a lot of fun, count me in! It feels like ages since the sharp shooter has had a chance to just joke around the fire with his friends, he wonders if he remembers any good riddles to tell
DM Esther Wednesday October 19th, 2022 6:42:11 AM
Everyone seems in for the game, while a concerned Ash assures the dryad Betula that they’d still play without the dryad having to risk one of her ‘treasures’. But the latter smiles back and says, “It is alright. I would not have suggested the game if I saw it as a risk. You see.. this grove is home, where I belong, and we have everything we need here, but.. I also know there is still so much world out there beyond where I can go. If I sometimes let something that has been mine go out there, and other times receive something from far away, I get to feel wonder. Where might that have ended up? Where has this been before? Has it been helpful to anyone? There is a lot of time for idle thoughts when we rest in our tree, so it can be more fun to have things to wonder about than it is to never let things go.”
She looks around the circle. “Let’s do a simple game. I start, and if you guess, you make the next riddle. If nobody can guess, you go again. The person that came up with most good riddles wins? To stop anyone from just making up a series of impossible ones, if the other players all agree a riddle could not be guessed, it does not count, okay?”
The dryad beams.
“Will I begin then? Mmm.. how about; ‘I am at once strong and fragile, I can start my day precious as a pearl necklace yet end it a beggar’s rag. I can appear almost anywhere, but never come about on my own. What am I?’”
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 7:58:19 AM
Naithi ponders the riddle a moment. Her first thought is a baby... Fragile, precious, starting it's day... But she cannot get the beggars rag to fit. Her next thought Is a wedding dress, but she can't see how it would be fragile. Then comes snowv flakes, yet that doesn't seem quite right .
Are you perhaps a spider's web? Strong enough to catch prey many times your size, yet fragile to the passing animals of the first. A beautiful work is art when new, but turn and in disarray after catching and clothing the unwary. And which come about through a spider's weaving.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 8:05:25 AM
Nightingale claps her hands, "That's both beautiful, and hopefully correct as it makes sense to me."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 9:04:44 AM Yes, a spiderweb was going to be my guess too. Good job Naithi. Hmm, I suppose I'll try to think of an alternative since the one was already guessed.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday October 19th, 2022 3:53:13 PM
Panzer has been thinking the answer was something more like 'hope'. Hope didn't work for all of the clues though. He didn't see it turning 'dirty as beggar's rags' and that was his main stumbling block. When Naithi mentioned spiderwebs as a solution he turned it over in his head it followed all of the clues and fit the theme. Panzer nods in approval." Spiderwebs is a better answer than what I was thinking. It fits much better."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday October 19th, 2022 4:32:14 PM
"I think it is DEW on a spider web," Zazu opines. That's the pearl necklace part!"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Wednesday October 19th, 2022 4:42:52 PM
Beech is not answering... he'll let them, for now....
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 6:46:44 PM
Ash struggles to swallow all the fruits and nuts in her mouth in time to answer the riddle. Sure sure isn't going to speak with her mouth full. Her mother taught her better than that.
By the time she's swallowed the food the answers are out there.
"Yes. A spiderweb sounds about right"
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 8:32:52 PM
Sahabiel cheers Naithi on. She also notices Beech growing more taciturn, and worried about her friend she whispers to him, “Are ya not enjoying the game? I have some wine in my flask if ya need something to soothe until yer body fully recovers from that magical attack..”
DM Esther Wednesday October 19th, 2022 8:36:01 PM “You have it, well done!”; Betula enthusiastically applauds as Naithi is the first to arrive at the right answer. As the others fill in with their support and thoughts, she also praises Zazu for catching the hint of dew pearls in the morning as a clue.
Nightingale, Lothlo, Panzer, and Ash all agree with Naithi’s answer, some of them wishing they had thought of it themselves sooner, while Beech seems to be.. a bit brooding? Sahabiel goes to check if he is alright.
With that, it is Naithi’s turn to present a riddle to the group.
Additionally, from Naithi testing her knowledge (nature) on the food - she does come across something unfamiliar that looks like a lumpy chestnut, dark on the outside and solid white within, but when asked about turns out to be a sturdy corm dug up from below a hardy white-flowering plant. It is delicious, of both taste and texture, but the dryads tell her that while the plant is not at all uncommon in the forest, it takes one plant several years to grow a single such nut...
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 9:06:06 PM
Naithi thanks the dryad's for both the information and the food. As she thinks about how to apply this knowledge in Freedom's Landing she recites a riddle she heard back at the bar in the Emerald Kingdom.
Journeying far from Jericho And leaving god's right hand People speaking of ascension Know I was once in this land My story's long, as is such But here's the story's end Left for dead by a brother's touch God brought me home to tend
What's is my name?
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 10:45:47 PM "Oh that's a good one Naithi" Ash nods enthusiastically. "I have about 5 different ideas on who it could be, but I'm going to go with Domi"
"He and Alemi were best friends growing up, so could be thought of as Alemi's right hand. Oh! And followers of Domi are also called hands! Maybe that's a clue! He was mortal before the Year of Ascension, so was once in this land. He was left for dead by Marteus - well, I think killed by him technically - who was a brother of Kevintar. Domi was then brought back to care for and protect others"
The other ideas that Ash has include Gargul, Kevintar and Marteus. Gargul she's pretty sure was never left for dead. Kevintar wasn't able to be touched by his brother Marteus in his fight with the Iron Dragons, and when Marteus was practically dead by Kevintar's touch no-one brought him home - he escaped. Then there's Alemi...
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 20th, 2022 8:58:45 AM Yikes, I didn't know I'd need a history text book! Hopefully it's a misdirect, because I'm not guessing this one otherwise. I'm going to guess tree seeds from the Culverwood, from a felled tree (left for dead by a brother's touch), that were brought back to the Culverwood to be grown in the forest.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday October 20th, 2022 10:01:56 AM
Naithi's fey nature is enjoying watching as everyone guesses, using both history and word play
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday October 20th, 2022 7:40:45 PM
Beech has a riddle.... But waits until the next round....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday October 20th, 2022 8:14:31 PM
Zazu smiles. "I think I heard that story once. Wasn't Kevintar left for dead by his brother, Marteaus?"
"Kevintar!"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday October 20th, 2022 9:09:43 PM
Panzer has no idea about this riddle. Like Lothlo he wasn't expecting to need either a theology or history degree. So he sits quietly and munches on the fare provided by the dryads
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday October 20th, 2022 10:13:54 PM
Listening in, Sahabiel would count herself as not uneducated on matters of the divine or mythical, but this feels kind of outside her area of focus. Too far outside it to make necessary inferences even from the familiar names, anyway. At a little distance from the rest of the group, for the safety and comfort of the dryads, she patiently brings a pot of water to a boil over the smallest possible flame and puts her herbalism skills to use to prepare a fortifying herbal tea infusion.
(No particular effect, just a pleasant, mood lifting cup of hot tea for the evening)
DM Esther Friday October 21st, 2022 6:54:09 AM Note: this post includes material sent privately for the part of Naithi’s exposition
A few people take guesses, a few others feel out of their depth. Ash thinks the answer should be Domi, and can make most of the hints fit. Zazu on the other hand believes it might be Kevintar instead. Lothlo meanwhile approaches the riddle as metaphor and after stripping through a few layers of symbolism arrives at a tree seed as an answer.
Naithi is enjoying to hear everyone try, but does come to acknowledge that perhaps her riddle was not for everyone. (It rested on previous campaign material that some of you were in, some of you were not) She relents, and with a smile explains that the name the riddle was looking for was not of a person. “The answer would be, ‘I am the Ring of Fire’.” She recounts the lore of how the ring was made by the Jericho, makers of the Wold, and was one of the four Rings of Ascension worn by Domi in the end of the First Age. It was later ‘in this land’ because it was kept by the dragon Parnoth, until Marteaus took it. For the last part of the hints, it was with a touch that Kevintar paralyzed his brother Marteaus in the battle between them, after which another god (Jancassis) stole away the ring home.
(ooc: Some of you were either there with The Iron Dragons of Hook City, or CDM’ed the module, but let’s try to make further riddles not require encyclopedic knowledge of the wiki, hm?)
Although nobody quite got it right, the dryads are thrilled with the depth of storytelling Naithi went to, and by the time she finishes the tale that comes with the explanation, Sahabiel has made tea and starts handing cups of the warm beverage to any that would like some.
To speed things up, rather than argue whether this riddle was too obscure, I’ll let it count but Naithi doesn’t get to go again, she has to choose someone she thinks gave a well reasoned enough answer to go next.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 21st, 2022 9:32:17 AM
Naithi was very impressed by Ash's answer and historical knowledge, but feels that Zazu was closer to the actual answer and selects him for the next riddle.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday October 21st, 2022 6:38:48 PM
Panzer waits for Zazu's riddle
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday October 21st, 2022 6:49:50 PM
Nightingale is wracking her brain for a riddle, but so far nothing has emerged to share
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday October 21st, 2022 8:30:46 PM
Lothlo tries to think of some good riddles but for some reason can only think of limericks.
DM Esther Saturday October 22nd, 2022 8:27:39 AM
As it takes Zazu a while to come up with a riddle, several of the others including Nightingale and Lothlo start trying to think up their own. Brancha starts reflecting on her day again. "I really almost can't believe I was so lost in thought.. if you hadn't come along, I don't know when I would have snapped out of that. But everything after that was much scarier! You were armed and ready though, have you fought darker ones like that more often?"
(A small reminder that this intermezzo is a rare couple of turns where you can be certain you are not about to be pulled away towards some other action, so if you want to have a character establishing moment or just exchange some dialogue with their companions, this would be a good time for it)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 9:01:20 AM
Sahabiel nods at Brancha, and drinks a warming sip of tea from her cup. "That kind of creature was a first for me.. but I suppose we do tend to get into a scuffle now and then? Freedom Landing is built on land once cleared under the rule of Parnoth, and for lack of traditional territories or wards it is not protected by anything really but what we put up ourselves. The seed of the settlement has taken, but in the bigger picture I believe our new home is still more seedling than sapling, and from wandering creatures to ambitious new petty tyrants, it will have to weather much before it stands tall and resilient, rooted deep. As I am sworn to serve the Culverwood as a protector, I will nurture that which seeks harmony with it, and uproot that which would threaten it.. so there is much to do every day."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Saturday October 22nd, 2022 10:01:01 AM
Boyo bucks a bit, bringing Zazu out of woolgathering.
"Sorry everybody, what was that? Wow, Naithi! That one was really really good."
"My turn for a riddle? Okay, I'll try to come up with one that nobody every heard before. Won't be as good as Naithi's!"
The elf pauses in thought, then puts hands behind back and declaims:
Softer than stone. Shaped like a cone. Shatters when thrown. Not made of bone. Cries with no moan. Weeps acetone. Alchemist's own.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 10:15:27 AM
Lothlo considers the riddle. Would it be a flask of Alchemist's fire?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 3:40:32 PM
Nightingale is looking up at the trees around her, then she starts smiling, " I have one too ... once we're finished with Zazu's"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 5:40:40 PM
Naithi nods along with Lothlo's answer. That would have been my guess as well... I'll go with a flask of acid.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Sunday October 23rd, 2022 7:07:50 PM " Dynamite?" Panzer asks/answers. " I heard it was something alchemists can make that explodes like alchemists fire but doesn't make, um fire, just outward force."
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday October 23rd, 2022 8:03:48 PM "A Nitro-Glycerin shaped explosive" [b] Beech pitches in, [b]" When processed, it's outside 'crusts' like stale bread, but inside it stays soft. Can be shaped into any form, and it breaks open, then scatters because it explodes. If it's left sitting too long it begins to weep and looks like it's crying. It makes no sound but the tears are acetone, and of course only Alchemists know how to safely create it."
Highlight to display spoiler: { I have a somewhat simple riddle ready}
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday October 24th, 2022 2:42:28 AM
Ash is fairly certain that it's a flask of acid
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 24th, 2022 6:31:57 PM OOC: I'm gonna go ahead and post mine, that way I don't forget to make a post for today
Nightingale's Riddle: "All year long I am green as can be, watch out, i might prick you if you don’t hold me carefully...
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday October 24th, 2022 7:52:25 PM
Naithi has a couple ideas. Are you a cactus?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday October 24th, 2022 8:43:56 PM
"Well, actually, I had in mind a glass funnel, but a flask is a pretty good answer. Good one, Lothlo!"
"I like Naithi's! Very druidic!"
DM Esther Tuesday October 25th, 2022 9:15:44 AM
Another round of guessing passes, and Zazu finds that Lothlo came closest to the intended answer. The dryads did not even come close to guessing, as such implements of alchemy are rather outside their everyday experience. Beech displays a deep knowledge of alchemy that makes Sahabiel take notice.. and she wonders if she should try working with him for synergies with some of her own knack for herbalism.
Nightingale can no longer contain herself, and offers a riddle of her own, to which Naithi immediately takes what sounds like a reasonable guess.
(I apologize for the delay, I have been handling a few things in the background and am rethinking the rules for the riddle contest since clearly more people want to pose each other riddles without first having to have correctly guessed the previous riddle - I will make an additional post later today)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday October 25th, 2022 4:00:13 PM
With the weather turning cool and the leaves starting to change, I think I have created a good one for this time of year.
As the sun rises from the shadows, the smell of a witches brew fills the air a liquid dark as tar bubbles in the cauldron. An ancient potion handed down for countless generations attracting zombies, it breaks their curse and makes them into men once more.
What am I?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday October 25th, 2022 4:06:44 PM
Naithi drools a little. You almost had me. I was going through all the spells I have heard of and writing if some guy called Shakespeare. Then it came to me... Coffee!
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday October 25th, 2022 4:30:08 PM
Panzer smiles as Lothlo makes his riddle out of his favorite beverage. The answer is already given so the Badger kin stays silent.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday October 25th, 2022 8:14:38 PM
Zazu grins at the back and forth.
"You'll have to excuse my friends, please, Miss Dryad," Zazu says, well aware that the party has kind of taken the "contest" off the rails. "Once we get going on something fun or interesting or adventurous, we just keep going!"
DM Esther Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:17:25 PM "...it is nothing we are not accustomed to," Betula graciously accepts Zazu's apology for the derailment of the contest, "the last time we played this with the faun, they were carousing by now." She and the dryad whose name you have not yet heard share a brief moment of mirth at a memory the two must share of the occasion.
Lothlo has a riddle ready for the group now, and the game and fun continues.
ooc: The original scoring format was to encourage people to present riddles that were solvable (or they would not count) but not quite so easy that the turn would go to whoever had the chance to post first, since there was incentive to keep the turn since you score points by being the one that makes the riddles. However, I have come to see that this is not so easy, some people are not trying to guess so would never get the turn, and others are eager to present a riddle but may not be able to get the turn, and it all might end up taking a little too long. So.... I have decided to loosen the format and just let everyone have fun with riddles for a few more rounds, and instead of declaring one winner I will change the prize from a personal item to something that will offer a small benefit to the development of Freedom Landing.
---
In the course of the riddling and storytelling, Quercia comes by to bring another bowl of edibles foraged from around the grove, and whispers something to Betula. "Oh, I think that would be wonderful idea!", the other dryad says aloud and brightens up. Then she looks to the party - and Ash in particular because of their previous exchange, "I did say that I like to send things out into the world because it was as close to traveling as I can experience myself.. and now I know what to give you."
As a reward for riddling with the dryads, the party will receive an enchanted seed pod twinned to Betula's home in the grove. If planted in coming spring in the new grove you are growing back home by Freedom Landing, it will rapidly grow into a white birch tree over the course of one year. The normal distance limit of the Tree Stride spell will not apply for the purpose of traveling between this birch and its twin - however, Betula will automatically sense who has entered the tree and can block such passage at her discretion. In other words - as long as you maintain friendly relations, you will have something like a shortcut to their sanctuary. It will also make it possible for Betula to visit over by the same means, but only the new grove itself counts as within an allowed distance from her home tree.
In addition, as a separate reward for that properly in-game lore dive (and accompanying explanation he sent me) that James D. came up with for Naithi's riddle; the fey were delighted. James, you may add the following to Naithi's character sheet:
Dryad's Favor: You have a lingering effect on your aura from your interaction with a group of dryads. You can expend this to gain a one-time +2 luck bonus on one diplomacy check involving fey. Not transferable. Awarded for excellent use of lore continuity, October 26, 2022. Expires October 26, 2023.
DM Esther Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:24:09 PM ooc: Oh, to be clear, the special tree will just waive the distance limitation. You still need to actually provide a Tree Stride spell yourself from some other source.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:35:41 PM
Beech has a riddle, it's not very hard, but is pointedly regional.... "Name the place an Avian loans it's name, where a Tree is born to a Flower in a city of Acid in a castle of Shadows."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:51:56 PM
ooc: That gift is awesome! I have been trying to figure out the best way to allow the dryad's to visit our grove more easily considering their travel restrictions.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 1:13:54 PM
Naithi's searches her brain for the answer, but comes up short.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 5:53:04 PM
Nightingale gives Naithi a hug, "That is a blessed gift!"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday October 26th, 2022 6:14:50 PM
Panzer is happy that at least one dryad can now visit the town. This will allow them to get help again if they need it without the sending of an intermediary.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 7:36:35 PM "Oh that's very special. Thankyou" Ash is a little in awe of the gift, and clutches her hands together being super careful not to drop the seed. "You know you'll be welcome in our town"
Ash doesn't have anything that could be considered a gift she could give the dryads in exchange, so makes a note to find something in the future.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 8:22:00 PM (ooc: Since John did not send me the answer to Beech' riddle, I will take my own guess too ;)
"..in a city of acid, in a castle of shadows..", Sahabiel repeats Beech' riddle, thinking it over. "Wait, didn't a few of the less isolationist clans trade with somewhere with a name like that..? Down the river from the Culverwood and across the lake.. something-something Acid.. where lies a castle rumored out of shadow born? The outsiders call that lake.. Blackbird Lake? Is that the place an avian lends its name that ya are looking for, Beech?"
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 8:30:21 PM That's a tough one, no idea. A crows nest? The tree is the mast of the ship, rising up from the flower of the ships sails.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Wednesday October 26th, 2022 9:01:21 PM
Beech nods to Sahabiel.... "Maybe one too many clues, but it was made to be solved. The answer is indeed Blackbird Lake..... It refers to me, Beech, the tree, Aztyr, my mother, the Flower, Acid City and the Castle from the Shadow Lands where I grew up."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday October 26th, 2022 11:22:15 PM
"Good one Beech! I'd like to see other magical forests some day."
Zazu is amazed at the gift. "This is a gift of friendship to bind us together in comity and amity," he tells the dryad. "We are greatly honored!"
DM Esther Thursday October 27th, 2022 6:38:31 AM
The evening progresses and it is getting darker. The background sounds of the Culverwood go through something of a crescendo in the twilight as day noises give way to night noises and various unseen creatures in the distance raise songs and calls, bring their family groups together for the night or mark territory. In the peace of the grove meanwhile, Beech's riddle is solved, and (asuming that coffee is the right answer to Lothlo's? Please confirm) only Nightingale's remains as she has to disappoint Naithi that what she was looking for is not a cactus, although that certainly fits the description too!
As the riddle contest starts to wrap up, Ash, Nightingale, Panzer, Sahabiel and Zazu each show their appreciation for their hosts and confirm the friendship forged between Freedom Landing and the dryads of this forest sanctuary.
The party is reminded that they had not settled on the division of items recovered from the bogeyman's lair. There were..
a Ring of Sustenance a Ring of Counterspells (empty) Naithi indicated she liked 'the ring' but did not say which one? a Wand of Endure Elements (20 charges remaining) an Immovable Rod Zazu seems to have ideas in mind with that rod a Scroll of Freedom of Movement Boots of the Winterlands Sahabiel has indicated this item would be useful for her patrols as she will be spending much time outside also in winter a Lens of Detection Lothlo was praising how useful this item could be
For non-magical treasure you recovered a platinum and garnet cloak pin, an emerald pendant on a gold chain, and a jade ring.
Please finalize what goes into whoms character sheet before we go to next morning and the return trip to Freedom Landing?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday October 27th, 2022 9:14:52 AM
ooc: On the 11th I had stayed it was the ring of counter spells. Naithi likes eating too much for the other one. She also showed interest in the cloak pin.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday October 27th, 2022 11:22:47 AM " A pine tree Nightengale?" Panzer asks in solution to her riddle. Panzer has no need for any of the gear, just some gold after the unwanted items are sold.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday October 27th, 2022 4:52:14 PM
"Oh, you mean this Immovable Rod?" asks Zazu. "I can't seem to be able to move it out of my pocket. Sorry. I guess it is mine now!"
The trickster grins.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday October 27th, 2022 6:06:41 PM
Beech has no preference for the items, he has other needs....
He's tired, and decides to turn in....
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday October 27th, 2022 7:41:25 PM
Ash is quiet and just enjoys the company. She keeps an eye on Brancha though. The dryad had it rough on her first trip from home, so might need some time to deal with it all. Ash tries to make sure that Brancha is included in everything.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 27th, 2022 8:55:53 PM
Lothlo takes a sip of coffee from his cup. Yes, that was the correct answer to my riddle, good guess.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 28th, 2022 2:30:33 AM
Ash starts going through the items the party recovered from the bogeyman, works out how much each is worth, and then puts them into piles based on who wants what.
------------ FYI... Link to Loot tracker. Just place your name next to anything that you want to claim
DM Esther Friday October 28th, 2022 8:22:51 AM Beech turns in for rest. Lothlo enjoys his hot brew. Ash socializes with the dryads, making sure Brancha is alright now. Panzer tries to solve the last riddle from Nightingale. Zazu is in a good mood and jokes about the item he picked up from the Deeper. In all cases, the evening is slowly winding to its conclusion.
Later on, Ash helps out sort and identify the items recovered from the bogeyman, and makes certain nothing is forgotten.
The night sounds of the Culverwood are like those of any great wood.. however, the occasional animal screeches, whoops and stranger sounds never seem to come close to the dryad grove, which suggests that either the ward is working very well, or that nothing that lives nearby has a taste for intruding on a long established home of the fey. You are fairly confident that you will be able to spend the night in peace.
The signs are that the weather tomorrow morning will be good for travel, should you want to set out early for the return trip to Freedom Landing.
(ooc: Rob, thank you for handling the loot tracker)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday October 28th, 2022 12:13:56 PM
Panzer wakes up early and makes ready to depart. He will walk near the front, but his Culvewood tracking skills are not the skills that will get the group home. Someone with actual tracking skills will need to take the lead.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday October 28th, 2022 1:56:29 PM
Nightingale giggles as Panzer guesses, "Close, it's a pine cone." Nightingale didn't want any of the MI's.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 28th, 2022 2:31:27 PM
Naithi climbs on Camalayas back and goes over to thank the dryads venue they depart. She is genuinely glad they could help them and thankful for the birth the gift and the blessing. I will plant this as soon as we return and will plan a proper reception for you all when you come to visit through the portal.
Naithi ponders what the best spell to put in a ring is counterspells might be as the group travels back.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 28th, 2022 8:10:51 PM
Ash is ready to bid farewell to the dryads. "Even though it may take a year for the seed to grow to a tree, don't feel like you need to wait that long to visit us. I hope you see us as friends and might let us extend to you the same hospitality that you've shown us. That goes for you as well Bancha. Should you want to venture from home you're welcome to come visit us as a first step".
If Ash were to rely on her tracking skills, the party may as well make the Culver their new home as they'll be here for a while.
Instead, if someone in the party knows the general direction the group should go, she'll hold the jar with the lodestone and make sure it's always pointing behind the group. A bit like going in reverse.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday October 28th, 2022 8:59:30 PM Yes, we would be honored to have you if you would like to visit us some time. Lothlo checks on his mule and make sure his gear is ready for the dangerous journey back to town.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+9=16 ; Saturday October 29th, 2022 3:36:25 PM
Zazu makes sure that the dryads do not want their lodestone back. After all, we'll have the tree to go back and forth; do they want an item out there that leads just about anybody to them? Although of course, we would be super careful with it.
As for finding the way home, this Culverwood native is happy to offer advice.
Survival 16
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+25=34 ; d20+2=18 ; d20+11=20 ; Saturday October 29th, 2022 7:53:39 PM
After a good night sleep, Sahabiel wakes up early for prayer, and then proceeds to help make breakfast. Even with the Culverwood mitigating the worst cold of winter down to merely a cool day, she thinks something warm and filling would be in order. Unfortunately, unlike Beech, she has no talent for meal preparation at all, so the best she can manage is just a decent porridge.. but her knowledge of herbs lets her try to spice it up a little at least.
After breakfast she saddles Kohlrabi for the journey back to Freedom Landing, and says her goodbyes to the dryads.
Survival (navigate magical forest) d20+25 = 34 Craft (meal) d20+2 = 18, result capped at 10 because she is untrained Profession(herbalism) 1d20+11 = 20
DM Esther Saturday October 29th, 2022 8:40:44 PM
Night passes uneventfully and everyone gets at least 8 hours of rest. It is now a chilly but clear morning.
Ash, Lothlo, Naithi, Sahabiel and others(?) make sure to take some time to say goodbye to the dryads, and actually the ones to be found outside their trees this morning seem to be so with the same purpose in mind of seeing the adventurers off as well.
"Some of us will surely visit, in the future, to see how your grove grows.", Quercia, with the younger dryads in a huddle behind her, responds to the party's farewells, "It should be interesting. For one thing that you told me last night, I had never heard of leshy tending trees so close to a mortal settlement..."
Panzer again offers to take point for the group, and asks for guidance to find his way. Zazu does his best to offer direction, but is struggling a bit himself, though still good enough to point out more immediate obstacles. Between Sahabiel being able to tell when the Culverwood is misdirecting them, and Nightingale remembering to use the compass to re-establish their orientation using the dryad grove as a point of reference, the party manages to move through the ancient forest at a cautious speed.
The Viper Vine the party encountered on the way in does not show itself again, and even if it did would still be bound several more days by Sahabiel's command to leave them in peace.
Only a little into the afternoon, the party clears the edge of this part of the Culverwood, and with that there are no further problems keeping their direction. It is definitely colder outside! You make your way to the river, and follow it down until you see your bridge in the distance, and soon after return to the familiar outskirts of Freedom's Landing.
This concludes the module "Deeper". For figuring out how to return from the bogeyman's lair to the normal world (which ended up being rather straightforward because the party had asked the right questions of Grandmother Yew ahead of time) and making your way back out of the warded area of the forest, you were due a final award of 1,200 experience points. That brings the total experience count for this module to 12,000; and according to Kathy's module notes, that brings the party up to level 8 a little ahead of the curve.
We are getting a new DM and a new module is also being written, which will start again with your activities for the development of Freedom Landing, now that winter has properly arrived. Are there any particular npcs your characters want to seek out on your return?
------- Update from ACDM Rob: Hi All. Please know that the Wold removed the use of XP since Kathy wrote this module. We'll all level in Jan :)
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday October 30th, 2022 3:05:04 PM
Back home again, Beech pitches his tent between the four trees he plans on using for his future home. He will need money before he can go any further with his plans...
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday October 30th, 2022 9:14:15 PM
Ash rubs her hands together to get them warm. "We should probably check our stores. It could be a harsh winter and we need to make sure there's enough to last it through. We'll also probably need to head to Karri to stock up on things as well"
She'll also check to see how construction is progressing with the Lyre of Building. In her mind, there should be a renewed focus on getting buildings built so as to get everyone out of tents before winter comes.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday October 31st, 2022 12:37:34 PM
Panzer hangs around town making sure there are no urgent dangers that need sorting. If there are none he will return to helping dig foundation for houses.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 31st, 2022 1:29:42 PM
Nightingale will make sure her home is snug, then go out and see if anyone else needs help to prepare for winter ... she doubts anyone does, but you never know. Also, if there are any pregnant women at the moment, she'll swing by and check in on them as she's a trained midwife
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday October 31st, 2022 7:25:12 PM
Zazu practices with his new Immovable Rod. He practices casting Spider Climb on Boyo and having Boyo balance on it while Zazu is riding.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday October 31st, 2022 9:02:35 PM
Lothlo puts his mule in the stable, then with the sudden cold weather checks to see that the town is on schedule getting ready for the winter weather ahead.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Monday October 31st, 2022 9:12:11 PM
Beech needs more gold, and a trip to the catacombs, then he'll have his living quarters.... the tent is a bit nippy, but he can survive....
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday October 31st, 2022 9:37:53 PM
Sahabiel goes to check on her home and her kitten Nibin first. Even though she had someone look after it for her, a young animal might already start to miss her after just a few days. Next, she'll take good care of Kohlrabi for carrying her on the long ride home.
DM Esther Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:21:06 AM Beech sets up his tent again on his building site. With the greater body mass and natural coat, it is unsurprising he is not as affected by the weather as the average citizen. Beech is also wondering about how he might acquire the extra funds he is going to need to finish his home.
Ash wants to check on the stores and the progress of construction work. The village looks like it is going to scrape by on food as long as nothing too serious happens, and there is easily enough dried fuel for winter. What you could use quite some more of is clothing, especially warm clothing, or at least the materials to make some.
Construction of permanent homes for the population has clearly progressed from last time you saw it, but even with the Lyre of Building only so much can be done in three days - the item is wondrous, not miraculous.
Panzer joins one of the patrols and as they walk, is quickly filled in on anything new that happened in the few days the party was away, but none of it seems noteworthy. The hunters are hunting, the foragers are finishing up bringing in the last wild vegetables and roots before snow will start to hide everything, the fishermen say the water is getting colder, and quietly in the background all the surplus food is being preserved for the months to come.
Nightingale goes around to check on all mothers-to-be, and they are in good condition. The most heard complaint is that in the present state of the settlement there is just so much work still to be done, and not enough hands.
Lothlo arrives at the same conclusions as Ash.
Zazu is trying out this new magical item. Even though neither Zazu nor Boyo can be accused of being big, a single immovable rod is still a rather small thing to balance on. The Spider Climb spell however is made for letting its subjects cling on and remain balanced in places that common sense says they should not be able to, and it makes the whole thing rather unchallenging.
Sahabiel checks on her kitten, which welcomes her return with purring affection before it returns to its nap.
(there is already nobody living in tents anymore that does not choose to - the three remaining shared longhouses are a little cramped when everyone is in, but still have room to shelter everyone that has not already moved out into one of the newly built homes when needed)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday November 1st, 2022 6:25:31 PM
given a choice of helping to make housing when everyone is housed somewhere already, even if it isn't their permanent home or heading out to help pad out the larder so that "asd long as nothing goes wrong" doesn't happen, Panzer chooses to head out hunting. He is not a great hunter, but he knows which end os an arrow is the dangerous one and he has tracked game before. Survival
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+6=8 ; Tuesday November 1st, 2022 6:26:15 PM
duh, forgot to roll.... Survival 8 not so good
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday November 1st, 2022 7:09:14 PM
Until we run off again, and since her home is prepared, Nightingale will help out whomever she is able to.
OOC: I'm gonna work up two spell lists at this point, one for when we're in town and not adventuring, and one for when we leave to have fun =)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:08:30 PM
Lothlo sees Panzer getting ready for a hunt. Panzer, I'm up for a hunting trip if you would like company. A little extra food and furs for the winter is always a good thing.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+17=35 ; Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:28:24 PM
Sahabiel agrees that it is one thing they can provide right now.. and just back in from an expedition to the Deep Culverwood, she too is already wearing her full arms and armament anyway and after tending Kohlrabi can join the hunt and foraging on short notice.
Survival d20+17 = 35
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:33:14 PM
If there is time before returning Naithi makes sure to stop by the WLA for training.
The young morphling continues working on her druid grove, ensuring hey plants will survive the winter and she's what she can to make sure everyone will have enough food. She continuously salts and dries meat and vegetables as well as fermenting and pickling what she can.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:51:22 PM
Beech pulls out his notebook and sketches his current design, he still needs that wands though.... it'll take at least 2/3 of the charges to finish off what he plans... A living tree house..... Live stairs.... should be nice.... He'll talk one of the others into using the wand, but he can probably trick it into working...
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday November 1st, 2022 10:09:16 PM
Zazu checks in with the fishers taught to fish using traps. The trap-crafter repairs anything that needs fixing. Mending spells are useful around town, so Zazu makes sure that anyone who needs one gets one.
Boyo gives rides to the little kids.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 1:51:37 PM
Panzer is glad for the company. All of these folks are better in the woods than he is so he keeps quiet and helps as much as he can.
DM Esther Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 4:43:39 PM Naithi wishes to train with the WLA, but the nearest WLA branch is in Karri, a one or two day journey in the opposite direction of your foray into the Culverwood. She joins the many hands doing food preservation. Salt remains in limited supply and drying things is starting to get hard because little is left of the sun's summer intensity this late in the year, but fermenting and pickling are reliable.
Nightingale starts planning out her spells for the near future.
Zazu makes a round along the riverbank to see how the fishers are doing, and takes care of today's need for small repairs. After three days of most of the people capable of Mending being out of time, it is widely appreciated and from a torn net to a broken plate, things end up as good as new again.
Beech engages with home design. (ooc: John, could you let me know what you are planning? The CDMs have set a few restrictions on treehouses that may be relevant)
Panzer, Sahabiel and Lothlo go on a hunting and foraging trip, and between the three of them return with thirteen person-days worth of food. A drop in a bucket compared with the needs of the entire community for a few months, but that is why you have so many of the villagers involved in their own ways of stockpiling food.
Sort of on that issue, if nobody has claimed it, would you consider keeping the Ring of Sustenance instead of selling it off? I might be of use by the healers, as they sometimes have a patient who can not eat (unconscious, or unable to keep it in), and the ring would be able to keep one from weakening before they recover enough to eat normally again.
Between Naithi wanting to seek out the WLA, and the settlement's overall shortage of clothing for the winter, would you like to take the boat for a trip down river to Karri?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 8:39:58 PM
OOC: That's actually a great idea for the ring ... Nightingale would support keeping it for that purpose
Current Spell Lists: Unless someone thinks she should change them/any:
In Town:
Orisons: Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Purify Food & Drink, Stabilize
1st Level: can cast 3 a day + 1 Domain: Bless Water, Comprehend Languages, Remove Fear, - Entangle (D)
2nd Level: Can cast 2 a day + 1 Domain: Calm Emotions, Make Whole – Barkskin (D)
Spon. Cast: 1st CLW, 2nd CMW
Adventuring:
Orisons: Detect Magic, Guidance, Resistance, Stabilize
1st Level: can cast 3 a day + 1 Domain: Bane, Command, Shield of Faith, Sanctuary – Entangle (D)
2nd Level: Can cast 2 a day + 1 Domain: Sound Burst, Spiritual Weapon – Barkskin (D)
Spon. Cast: 1st CLW, 2nd CMW
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 8:56:36 PM Well, we managed to bring back some meat and some furs but looks like we are still quite a bit short. I'm up for a trip down to Karri,
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 9:37:22 PM
Finding that everyone is quite busy with winter preparations, Sahabiel will join the next supply purchasing expedition to Karri. For this evening, she will hold a gathering in the main square again to spread the blessing of the Culverwood. "Everyone has been working so hard... please, gather round and let me pray for ya, and wash ya in the blessed vitality of the Wood, that ya may the better endure and hopefully all stay healthy another day."
Prayer: +1 to saves for all allies and followers in a 40' radius around her, mostly in case anyone needs a saving throw against common early winter ailments or even just fortitude checks against muscle aches. Furthermore, Sahabiel still has all her uses of Channel Positive Energy remaining today, and with a 30' radius around her, she can gather the people that most need or wish to receive of it around herself to cover as many as possible, healing small scrapes and doing her part to keep the populace healthy and strong. (up to 4d6 = 16 hp of healing for everyone)
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 9:50:07 PM
Ash has confidence that Brianna has the town healing under control, and Mike is there is back her up. Between them, Brother Matthew, and any other herbalists and healers, Ash is convinced that the town has things well covered. She'd be happy to see the ring of sustenance sold off, and to get a few coins in her pocket.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday November 3rd, 2022 9:58:31 AM
Beech, will help out with preserving food and mentions something about a root cellar.... There's no need to go to the city, until there is money to shared out.
DM Esther Thursday November 3rd, 2022 2:05:31 PM Nightingale shares with the group which magics she will be ready to perform depending on whether the day is to be spent around town, or away.
Lothlo is pleased enough with the spoils of the hunt,
Sahabiel accomplishes a little preventative healthcare, and then gets a good night rest herself.
Ash is confident that the other healers in town can deal with any patients coming to them. Brianna reassures her that they can.
Beech argues that there is no need to go to the city until there is money to be shared out, and focuses on needed work on root cellars. Panzer had brought up something similar about cellars not long ago, and the badgerkin might be the best person to talk to about it.
Hilia Nighttongue has caught scent that the leadership is at least considering purchasing clothes from Karri, and being the mother she is, she strongly presses the issue; "...it is going to be a problem soon. The daily Mending sessions help keep what we have, but a lot of us still own only what we had on our backs when we fled the slave life and first came here, and that was not in winter. We have no sheep for wool to spin, nor crops for fiber to weave. Nobody here has made a coin since that time we could trade some woodcrafts for a few bolts of cloth, and last time any of us saw any new clothes was what you shared out from the old resistance cache - and that was only enough to go around a score and half people, and shoes for less than a dozen. But there are eight score of us living here! Please at least try to get something for the younger children and elderly - I hate to ask for charity for the people, but without more to trade we do not have coin floating around to import our own alongside the other essential supplies. Master Beech is right about that much. But if we are all going to have to wait until things get better sometime after winter, we'll be wearing hides and reed before long!"
(ooc: the party will have to make the trip to Karri in any case to convert the jewelry from the Deeper into shareable coin)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday November 3rd, 2022 2:30:41 PM
ooc: Sorry, the posting time keeps moving earlier causing me to miss posts. I'll try to make all my posts yet this week.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday November 3rd, 2022 9:19:14 PM
Lothlo tried to reassure Hilia. I didn't realize that we were looking at a shortage in this area. We had been carefully monitoring to make sure we were in good shape for supplies this winter, but this must have been miscalculated at some point. Don't worry, we will do whatever it takes to get our stores back in shape before the weather get's bad, and we'll be back before you know it..
ooc:I lost track, were the land and river trade routes we had built up removed when the town was downgraded? It doesn't make a difference for the current scenario, just trying to figure out where we are at this point..
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday November 3rd, 2022 9:44:56 PM
Panzer is up for a boat ride. If the crafters have any wares to sell he will help load them up. He is fine with the ring staying in town to help out sick townsfolk too.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday November 3rd, 2022 10:41:29 PM
Zazu has no problem with a quick trip to the Emerald City, for them what wants WLA training, and to cash in loot, and to stock up on supplies.
"We can take the boat there, right? And if we need to stop moving, I can use the Rod!"
OOC: Did we ever figure out the loot split? Does Zazu have to kick in for claiming the Rod, or does is there a little cash coming to the trickster?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday November 3rd, 2022 11:07:25 PM
Nightingasle is game to go shopping. She'll use what money she can to buy raw wool, thread, and bolts of cloth suitable for making into clothing ... plus scoop up whatever cloaks and blankets she can find while at the Emerald City
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday November 4th, 2022 12:07:44 AM
The town still has 18,000gp worth of art, objects and goods. That's in addition to 2,000 gold pieces. Now sounds like a good time to dip into those assets.
It seems like selling just 1 piece of art would be more than enough to buy simple items. Ash will assess them for something portable and that they could get a good price for.
------ Appraise check to find a good item to sell: 21 (Take10)
FYI: Loot split... Ash - 950gp Beech - 950gp Lothlo - 950gp Naithi - Ring of Counter Spells, Cloak pin (4,600gp) Nightingale - 950gp Panzer - 950gp Sahabiel - Boots of the Winterlands (2,500gp) Zazu - Immovable Rod (5,000gp)
We ran into the hurdle of keeping loot for ourselves, selling it, or donating to the town early on in the campaign. The DMs at the time directed us that we could keep what we found and didn't need to worry about the town. Otherwise being the good heroes we are, we'd be donating everything! (ie: we can safely sell the ring of sustenance).
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday November 4th, 2022 8:31:46 AM
Sahabiel feels the truth of Hilia's address, aware in the back of her mind that the enchanted boots alone that she took from the bogeyman are a treasure that if it were measured in gold, would be enough to clothe every soul in Freedom Landing with something decent. And after that altercation with the Thieves' Guild, what she had set aside as her personal travel funds had actually grown beyond what she had originally begun her journey with..
"...let's do it.", she just says.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Friday November 4th, 2022 8:54:40 AM
Beech joins the rest, his mother always said, stick with your friends... (sorry, convention weekend)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday November 4th, 2022 9:33:34 AM
Naithi makes a mental note to purchase hemp seeds for the spring. She made she there were plenty of edible plants, but clothing had slipped her mind
DM Esther -- understanding the state of Freedom Landing Friday November 4th, 2022 10:07:59 AM To help everyone be on the same page, let me provide the short-short version of the current state of Freedom Landing, as approved by the Powers That Be.
"Freedom Landing is a fledgling small village/hamlet. It is not rich, still nearly at the barely-enough-to-survive level, but has enough food and fuel for the winter." It is also "Not self-sufficent on metal tools, glass, luxuries, or anything other than basic foodstuffs."
The players do not need to worry about it in the sense that it is not so bad that player inaction would result in everyone dying, but the settlement is also not going to grow towards prosperity on its own either, because with the players being nominal leaders of the settlement (they even appoint the council) that would equate to an unearned wealth of resources.
Speaking as your Acting DM, I'd tell you that some of the settlement's dilemma’s include…
It has emerged from a refugee tent city into something resembling outwardly a small village in terms of quality of shelter, but thus far retained the character of ‘just trying to survive and get along’ without much beyond that. It is only now that most immediate threats have been quelled and they are not at risk of starving or freezing that people have had real time to think beyond where their next meal was going to come from, and now the question of the day is starting to move from how they are going to survive, to how they are going to live. People starting to care about having winter clothes instead of accepting they can only make do is but one early sign that your people are starting to think more about quality of life.
Until only a generation ago the now dead Parnoth militantly kept the wild forest at bay and made the tamed lands a pastoral landscape, meant to be tended and have food grown through effort - but (echoing that the orcs they were enslaved to were not much of an agricultural society) the demographics of Freedom Landing are a melting pot of people mostly not used to cultivating larger scale than a private garden, nor does it have meaningful numbers of livestock to graze, and many people are almost too in awe of the Culverwood next door to dare do anything with the land around them but harvest what nature provides by itself.
The main sources of food are still hunting and foraging rather than production, and 150-160 people are rather a large group for that. There is backyard subsistence gardening, and that druidic cultivation of wild edible plants you started the hamlet on sure yields a lot of berries to pick, but there are no larger fields of annual staple crops *yet* - this year's adventures saw you acquire quite a lot of seeds to plant after winter, so that may be on the verge of changing. Plans for orchards are long term and not yet yielding anything helpful for the present situation.
It has no road connection to anywhere, so all trade must happen over the river or really rough it over land, and only the party has a boat capable of making trips with a larger volume of supplies.
It has a good number of skilled craftspeople and artisans, but they have no market to sell into nor easy access to much variety of materials.
This all gives it most of the characteristics of an isolated, poor, low supply, low infrastructure small village, while sitting on top of a hoard of treasure based adventuring wealth that has nowhere to move in the local economy. If you gave the average villager here a handful of gold, where would they even take it, to buy anything to improve their lives with?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday November 4th, 2022 12:50:19 PM
Zazu feels super guilty about hogging the loot. "You guys! I got more than anybody, and like 4,000 gp more than most! I'll make it up to you all next time, I promise!"
As for the village, Zazu is proud of what we've accomplished, but knows that it is only a good start. "We need to give our people better lives," the elf says, when the topic arises. "It's not enough to just survive."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday November 4th, 2022 5:16:58 PM
Using the information Nightingale has, what would be some good items to bring back for the community to use ... basic medical would be good, as to raw materials and even livestock, how would we get those items from point A to point B, as we know there are few roads ... is the Emerald City close to any waterways, or is Karri (that's the city close to us right?) ... to her friends she'll mull over a question "Is there a way to make a portal that we could use to get supplies from the Emerald City to us, or vice versa ... I know there are spells that let people move short distances, maybe this is something we could explore while we're on our trip...
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday November 4th, 2022 7:08:25 PM "Since we can reach Karri by river, and that is both the closest to us and the largest city in the Emerald Kingdom, perhaps we should set aside thought of expensive magical portals, and see if we can not get ourselves a plain ol' sturdy barge to ply regular trade between here and there?", Sahabiel offers her thoughts; "It might be slower than our other boat, but if it can make up downstream to Karri in one or two days, and back upstream to Freedom Landing in no more than four, the people of Freedom Landing could take our artisans' goods to the weekly market, right? And carry back the things that we need over here on the return trip? It could be a start to get things moving.. literally."
(ooc: Sahabiel proposes that the party bankroll a river barge, and hire someone to teach some of our people to sail it)
DM Esther Friday November 4th, 2022 8:00:57 PM Lothlo agrees to look into the clothing supply issue the town is facing.
Panzer is up for a boat ride, and helps load up anything that is already waiting to be sold.
Ash gets to work right away, taking inventory of the stock of valuables from previous adventures that could be easily converted into coin.
Beech says nothing of his thoughts, but that he will go where the group goes.
Naithi adds hemp seeds to her list of seeds to wants ready for planting next spring.
Zazu gets a reminder that all things magical are prized treasures by any standard, and promises to make up for getting a larger share of value out of the last batch than anyone else.
Nightingale starts to wonder what kind of means could be used to connect Freedom Landing to Karri, and wonders if some kind of mystic portal like fey are wont to use might be possible.
Sahabiel proposes instead to use the river as a transport connection.
- - -
By almost unanimous decision, the party decides to travel to Karri and convert some gold into goods. It takes you a day by river to get there, and your usual inn has room for you for the night. Karri really is much as it was last time you were here, only this time nobody is trying to have you adopt kittens.
Assume you arrive late in the day as you usually do here, and freeform post what you spend the evening on. Naithi and anyone else that has business there can of course visit the WLA, but to train there you should go on the second day.
The next day you find that in Karri, six to eight gold coins will buy a complete set of cold weather clothes, including such parts as a warm outdoor coats, hats and cloaks to go over proper linen indoor clothes. It is kind of the wrong time of year to hope to find discounted winter clothes, as Karri is itself preparing for winter too. A greater issue than price is that the average store only has maybe a dozen ready-made in stock, and you suspect you can only buy out a shop's entire stock of winter clothes so often before word starts getting around.
(ooc: it is book listing price, 8gp, but 6gp for children sizes. If you try to buy for all your people in one day, you are going to see scarcity drive price up to 8gp-10gp after the first 30)
Bolts of linen and balls of wool yarn are a lot easier to find in bulk, at the right merchants.
Do you want to play out negotiations? If nobody is interested in that, you may instead assume that a total of 1,000 gold will buy some combination of all the ready made clothes and materials you need for the village for this winter, and that will last many winters after.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday November 4th, 2022 8:56:29 PM
The night they arrive Lothlo discusses the with the others what the plan is for the morning while sipping a glass of wine, a rare treat that he doesn't often get in their small village.
Contrary to the advice I've given so many times in the past, we may want to split and see if we can get clothes from a few stores at once just in case they try to raise prices on us. But we still need to watch every copper of the town's money. Sewing is one skill our town has a lot of. We should probably try to get enough material to make the bulk of the clothes we are still short. Then we can visit the WLA once our shopping is done.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday November 4th, 2022 9:32:51 PM "Agreed. What if we split up, scope out the clothing stores and when the sun is at it's highest we all buy as much as we can? Ooh, we could coordinate even more. What if someone was to cast an illusion of something high in the air, and when we see that we take it as a signal to buy? If we coordinate we can buy things before the prices go up"
Ash considers other places where the party might be able to source materials. Some merchants might have blankets for animals (that could be repurposed for people), a sailing yard might have some canvas or torn sails the party could buy cheap, and some tailors might have scrap bins where the group could get materials for free. They have plenty of craftspeople back in Freedom's Landing, and some mending cantrips can do wonders for torn material.
------------- Knowl Local: 23 (Take10) - To know where the wholesale merchants are Diplomacy: 17 (Take10) - To gather information about where the best merchants might be. This could be upped to 27 (Take20) if need be. Appraise: 21 (Take10) - To make sure the party get good value for their gold and don't get ripped off
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday November 4th, 2022 10:08:06 PM
Zazu is happy to help with shopping. "Ash and Lothlo, you guys have the right idea. But we should still travel around in pairs, at least. The Wold is always waiting for the chance to surprise us adventurers!"
[OOC: Spending 1,000 gp to equip the party seems fine. Also, we have a boat already, so why do we need another one? I'm hoping that merchants will begin to ply the river to visit us every so often, anyway.]
"What we may need, though, as a future purchase, is a few bags of holding."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday November 5th, 2022 12:52:17 AM I may not have a bag of holding, but I store four 3 cubic ft sacks easy enough.
ooc: Naithi can turn four objects per day into a fruit or flower, more if I increase her charisma. She also has Camalayas and Cuddly Mule to help transport items.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Saturday November 5th, 2022 12:53:40 PM
OOC: Round two of posting ... my computer doesn't like me this morning
Nightingale will clear her throat after taking a healthy slug of mulled hard cider, "I have one of those bags. It isn't the largest, but it can help take some materials home. I'm also wondering if we should bring materials home for knitting, and our leatherworkers."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Saturday November 5th, 2022 1:26:30 PM
Zazu watches Naithi turn things into flowers and back. "Whoa! That is too nifty! I want to learn to do that too!"
"Naithi, you could turn an anvil into a flower, then I stick it in someone's pack, and then you turn it back! Do you have to touch it to turn it back? Would dispel magic do it?"
"What happens if someone eats an anvil-apple? Like say bites it up into pieces and then swallows it? What happens then?"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday November 5th, 2022 10:17:54 PM
Naithi scratches her head as she thinks. I know we talked about having me collect boulders and having you transport them with mage hand, but I never considered what happens if people eat them. It is a dismissable spell like ability with a range of 40 ft. Eventual I'll be able to transform an item 5ft at it's longest length from 50ft, but I don't plan to train after getting my fairy wings. Since it is permanent until I dismiss it, I would assume eating a flower or fruit would destroy the transformed item. However, since it is fairy magic it is fluid. I would expect it to work as placed when playing tricks on someone, but it may be a little more unpredictable if you try to nail down it's effects.
oo: I'm only taking morphling until Naithi becomes feykin for rp reasons.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday November 5th, 2022 10:20:53 PM If you are up for an experiment, after we get back, we can transform some watermelon without the rind and see what happens to you and it after eating some.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday November 6th, 2022 6:24:26 PM
Ash has a terrible image in her mind of Zazu bursting like a balloon. She hopes the experiments start with something very, very small.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday November 7th, 2022 12:08:54 AM
Sahabiel nods, and responds to Zazu’s question of why they might want to buy a new boat rather than hand the one they have over for such weekly runs. “Well.. for one thing the Folding Boat that ya already have is a bit of a magical artifact and we’ve still been using it to go exploring since we can take it out of the water and carry it with us. But in a more practical way, the fishers that know boats say it just isn’t the right kind of boat for moving goods - fine for comfortable traveling with a group of people, but a bit of a pain to load and unload with those high sides, and it is not a flatbottom, so ya could put far less weight in it before this one wouldn’t be able to get through shallows in the riverbed anymore...”
DM Esther Monday November 7th, 2022 3:19:19 AM Lothlo suggests splitting up and buying goods in a few locations at once, to not give the local merchants much time to realize how much you are buying out of the market.
Ash builds further on this idea by suggesting some signal. Karri however already has a rather more convenient usable signal in place than looking up for lights in the sky, as bells chime on the hour across most of the city, and certainly in the trade districts.
Furthermore, Ash's information gathering is fruitful. Mostly. Identifying wholesale merchants is the easy part. Finding the best merchant is less unambiguous, as different people have their own views and allegiances - in the course of which, Ash identifies that there are roughly three factions in the wholesale textile trade in Karri - one centered on the local guild of weavers and dyers, one centered on the largest trade house for imported textiles, and one centered on a loose alliance of independent smaller merchants.
Zazu, Naithi and Nightingale discuss ways of carrying around large amounts of goods more easily, and their discussion leads to talk of.. potentially interesting experiments.
Sahabiel elaborates on why she suggested getting the settlement its own boat to trade down the river with.
(ooc: If you want to purchase bags of holding through the Catacombs, please do so with the incoming DM team)
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday November 7th, 2022 1:22:38 PM
Nightingale listens to what Sahabiel says then smiles, "Shouldn't there be someone here in town who sells boats, or could build us a couple. Asking for boats to move cargo and stuff around would make sense as we are still working on our community."
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday November 7th, 2022 7:19:00 PM "Perhaps it would be worth checking out the local guild of weavers and dyers? If we start a relationship with them now, then we'd have contacts for when we're able to produce materials of our own and want to sell them. A guild would also likely have contacts in other cities, which would open up a larger market for us to trade across".
If no-one has any better ideas, she'll make the guild headquarters her first stop.
Ash has a handy haversack with her that can be used to carry bulky items.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday November 7th, 2022 7:55:10 PM
Panzer suggests talking to the contacts they already have in Karri about getting some clothing and the equipment they will need for planting in the spring, like plows and the beasts to pull them , he assumes oxen.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday November 7th, 2022 8:44:46 PM That's a good idea Panzer. And it would be a good idea to get some sheep as well so that we avoid similar issues with clothes shortages next year.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday November 7th, 2022 9:26:31 PM
Naithi agrees with all the suggestions. We have grown and collected a to lot of root vegetables and wild fruits and vegetables, but we didn't preserve as much meat. There are fish, shellfish, and mushrooms, but they leaves a lot to be desired. Is there any type of spell that can help provide meat? If not, wet may need to organize a hunting party as well as buying some meat.
ooc: Does anyone remember if the EK is up or down river? I believe I recall that we started play with it one way and were later informed that it actually flowed the opposite direction.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday November 7th, 2022 10:14:24 PM
Sahabiel spends the rest of the evening on the day or arrival enjoying herself in the way the inn is starting to know her for - a big meal despite already having had some honey glazed skewers of meat and nuts from a street food vendor on the way in, a good serving of ale, and having some friendly armwrestling matches with the locals for sport.
DM Esther Monday November 7th, 2022 10:32:58 PM Nightingale is getting on board with Sahabiel’s pitch to get a regular boat service going to connect Freedom Landing to the market in Karri.
Ash visits the guild of weavers and dyers, hoping not only to buy goods but also lay a basis for future trade. She learns that Karri has little need of another supplier of common types of wool, so they could only offer low prices for that. The reason for this is its proximity and good road connections to Kovri and Waypoint in the south, both of which occupy hilly terrain less suitable to farming but rather good for grazing herds, and the settlements in the open plains of the Emerald Kingdom on the other side. However, they’d always be interested in more exotic materials. The guild is at least.. curious.. about how Freedom Landing has gained a bit of a reputation, certainly following the public record of your testimonies before the council, for being closer with the Culverwood and its natives than any of the other settlements. Naithi looking more fey every time the group visits, and Sahabiel combining elven features with a forest green skin and being a Deep Culverwood native, contribute to that perception. One representative in hushed tones mentions some aristocrats would pay a small fortune for a pillowcase woven with nymph hair, and you are not sure if the man was joking or not. (Unless of course Ash makes a DC20 on a Detect Motive check, in which case Highlight to display spoiler: {she recognizes he was only using it as a farfetched example of how far the possibilities could go})
Panzer wants to try the party’s existing contacts, and wisely brings up the matter of any additional tools you may need to work the fields you intend to plant in spring. Freedom Landing already has most of the common hand tools for gardening and farming, but no plows. They can easily be ordered from pretty much any blacksmith around Karri for later delivery, since you are not going to need it until spring. Also, any blacksmith will advise Panzer that the common plow animal for the region is mules, so all the plow harnesses are made for that.
Lothlo agrees with Panzer, and additionally suggests buying sheep so that the settlement will have its own local source of wool in the future. Most sheep being sold right now however are older animals for slaughter, because mating season has just been and lambing season will not be for another few months. Farmholders around Karri are not keen on selling off any ewes at this time of year when it is hard to be sure if one is pregnant or not.
Nathi agrees with the suggestions and wonders if there is a spell to provide more meat for the diet of the people at Freedom Landing. (With so many spellcasters in the group, I am not even going to ask you to roll spellcraft for that) She quickly works out that while possible, the proper replication of meat is the province of higher level magic than she is capable of. Heroes’ Feast would do it, but all known food magics below that tier share the regrettable philosophy that also gave rise to pemmican – being more concerned with nutrition than texture of flavor.
(ooc: I have not seen where there was this confusion over the flow direction of the river, but from the map it reads to me as the river flowing west to east there. As a citizen of a country where awareness of flood risk is deeply ingrained in all of us, I know that cities built on a T-junction of rivers are normally on the land wedge between the tributaries, not along the direction of drainage? And Karri is drawn clearly occupying the southwest side of the river junction, so it is intuitive to me that must be the upstream relative to the joining of rivers?)
Sahabiel spends a relaxing evening eating, drinking, and having fun after the long hours spent on the boat. Her unnatural strength wins her about seven out of every eight wrestling matches. She only pays for her meal as her ale ends up being paid for by the spectators.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Monday November 7th, 2022 10:48:53 PM
Beech is about to mention the idea of building the shipyard to repair and build boats at the town again... but then just lets it go... They will eventually get around to hearing his ideas, a few years too late....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday November 7th, 2022 11:05:14 PM
Zazu thinks that since we know some dryads, maybe dryad hair would be an option. But what do dryads even want that they would be willing to trade hair for? Plus, is hair really any good for weaving? Zazu thinks maybe the guy is pulling the party's collective leg or something. (Got no ranks in Sense Motive!)
But the trickster does not say anything either way.
[OOC: Freedom's landing is upriver from the Enerald City. Remember, we traced the source of the river up to the shellfish beds?]
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday November 8th, 2022 2:11:14 AM
As Nightingale is tagging along with whoever is doing exciting things, are sheep the only livestock for sale at this time, or are cows or goats for sale, for their milk and meat? Do we have chickens and turkeys in FL, or do they roam wild in the area?
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+7=22 ; Tuesday November 8th, 2022 3:05:25 AM
Ash raises an eyebrow at the suggestion of a pillowcase woven with nymph hair. She knows it was only thrown out as an example, but she can't help responding. "Hmm. Can't help you with that I'm afraid. If you want one stuffed with mindslaver mold we might have been able to arrange something. Might have. We're shying away from that mold now". She tries to deliver it as straight-faced as possible knowing how insane it must sound. "I don't suppose you've any use for mother of pearl? I believe it's somewhat hard to come by in the middle of the Emerald Kingdog, and We do have a supply of it that we might open for trade. Perhaps for use as embellishments?"
-------------- Sense Motive vs DC20: 22=Pass!
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+5=10 ; d20+4=16 ; d20=9 ; Tuesday November 8th, 2022 5:57:22 PM
( Freedom's Landing has capable smiths, right?) Panzer heads to the arcives in Karri where he hopes to look over some regional maps for stone, ore and mineral deposits. He has tried previously as have others to find a metal source in the area and has come up with nothing. He hopes to rely on his mining knowledge and the maps to find some ore that the local smiths will be able to use to make their own plows Profession miner 10 He then heads to the town market where for lack of a better name, Trash is dealt with. He looks for lots for sale of metal. Maybe a workshop retooled and had to get rid of metal machinery or and armory is selling off old gear at a rock bottom price. He looks for bargains . Perception 16 Diplomacy 9
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday November 8th, 2022 8:21:11 PM
Lotho can see in Beeches eyes that he's most likely thinking about a shipyard again. As much as I like the idea of a ship yard, I think we need to focus on farmland right now. Somehow every year our math has failed, and we are always struggling not to starve or freeze.
ooc: I'd rather not put in any more work on the town until we get some guidelines on what we can accomplish over the next year before winter sets in again.
DM Esther Tuesday November 8th, 2022 11:41:33 PM Beech thinks about bringing up the ideas floated before about having a shipyard in Freedom Landing itself, but decides against it for now. There always seem to be reasons that other things still need to happen first.
Zazu is accompanying Ash and the trickster’s mind goes to other things that might be turned into product.
Nightingale tries to remember what livestock Freedom Landing already has. Last time the party was here, Sahabiel bought five goats and ten chickens - they are hard to forget because the hens were noisy in their cages the whole way back. Other than that there is of course Buggo the giant locust and the party’s own riding animals, and some other few animals owned by this settler or that, but nothing substantial that could be called a herd or flock of something. The kittens probably do not count.
(You can look around for cattle to buy, but I must warn that unless you are going to walk back to Freedom Landing, there is not much capacity left on your Folding Boat for more than the party and the boxes, bales and bolts of clothes, fabrics and essentials you already intended to bring back - not to fit livestock animals in, anyway.)
Ash tests the waters if the weavers and dyers guild would be interested in the purchase of mother of pearl, if Freedom Landing were offering. The representative seems uncertain but helpful; “Not personally, but I could arrange a meeting with someone that might be..”
Ash only: Highlight to display spoiler: {You have a pretty good hunch that he is helpful because he gets a broker commission for this sort of thing, but it does get strings pulled to get you introduced to the right person quickly.}
After about an hour, you get to meet with a well-dressed elven gentleman from an upper class clothier that is a client of the weavers’ guild, and a gnomish woman who from the jeweler’s tools in her belt looks like she knows her minerals. After some negotiation, there is an offer on the table - if the artisans of Freedom Landing take care of the cutting and polishing, you can get one pound of copper and two pounds of iron for one pound of mother-of-pearl. At those rates you probably would not want to sell off too much of your stock, since it is less than the mark-up you can get using the same material to let your artisans make your own finished products, but as a straight resource-for-resource swap it is slightly better value than you’d get if going through a middle man. If you are willing to go a step further; then if the artisans of Freedom Landing can fill orders for mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden, bone, or shell buttons, brooches, buckles, cufflinks, hair ornaments and such, they will be paid per order at the rate for middle class jewelry.
[Possible benefit: instead of having to try to sell your woodworkers’ products at market, you can always assume there are orders to fill for which you have a guaranteed buyer]
- - -
Others meanwhile think about the tools that will be needed to prepare the fields for next year’s planting. Panzer thinks that it would be more practical to somehow acquire iron, since Freedom Landing has capable people that know their way around a forge and plenty of time over winter to craft such tools as plows for the work in the coming spring. The western edges of the Emerald Kingdom, where Freedom Landing sits, have not been explored for ore veins, due to the geology being almost universally covered up by at least ten feet of humus-rich topsoil and vegetation - a little reminder that it used to be a forest floor for ages before Parnoth’s campaign.
While iron is a much cheaper metal than copper, it is still a bit too valuable a commodity that the people of Karri would treat anything made of metal as rubbish when it breaks - especially with many smiths able to do bespoke repairs on such things, or else smelt them to recover materials. Even so, Panzer finds easily enough iron for sale for several plows and then some.
(a standard big bar of pig iron weighs 80 pounds and costs eight gold, while the smallest ingots cost six silvers each at the same cost/weight ratio. Coal can also be bought for the smiths to work on, at the normal core book listed prices.)
Lothlo sees the expression on Beech, and reassures him.
Regardless of your other decisions above, when the party reconvenes, Sahabiel declares that after thinking about it, she would lay out funds to get a regular weekly boat service going between Freedom Landing and Karri, out of her own share in the previous few adventures.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+1=13 Tuesday November 8th, 2022 11:50:41 PM
Zazu offers to help with Sahabiel's financing, but then remembers that the trickster still owes the party a few thousand gold for the Immovable Rod.
"Um, well, thanks anyway for doing that, Miss Sahabiel. I think you are wonderfully generous!"
Zazu spends some time in Kari sniffing sround for rumors or news in general. Anything interesting.
Gather Info, untrained, 13. Maybe nobody has the time of a day for a half-size elf riding a dire bunny?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 12:51:36 PM
Nightingale has some funds, she will help "sweeten the pot" for whoever agrees to Sahabiels boating idea
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Wednesday November 9th, 2022 1:16:24 PM
Beech, is going to keep his money, he really needs to buy that wand to build his home... He then plans on using the remaining charges to build some other things....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 1:56:25 PM
Naithi discusses the groups plans before training at the WLA.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday November 9th, 2022 4:38:53 PM
Panzer purchases one plow and the metal he found to get the smiths going. He then moves all of this to the wharf to get it loaded for the return trip. He will meet the group later, or as they bring stuff to be loaded and see where the town stands.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 6:11:32 PM
Ash shakes hands with the guild representatives. It's been a productive afternoon. She doesn't want to make a commitment just yet. In this regards she too is just the middle man. It's the crafters of Freedom's Landing that would need to agree to the prices for their wares. She promises to put the proposal to them and provide a response as soon as she's able.
She returns to speak with the weavers guild representative and let's him know about the deal that has been discussed. If he gets some commission from the agreement then this might put him in a good mood, or at least start building a little rapport with him. Ash then brings up the topic of cloth and how much the guild might have available for trade at the moment. As he advised there is no further need for a wool trader, she asks about that commodity as well as it sounds like there might be a surplus available.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 9:13:58 PM Naithi, I'll join at the WLA. I want to make sure my training and dues are up to date
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 9:42:26 PM
Sahabiel appreciates the support, and commits the sum of three thousand (3,000) gold to having a simple but robust river barge constructed, of the flat bottom, single cabin, single square sail variety backed up by a dozen oars. She thinks that in the future towed barges might be even more helpful, as they'd require fewer people to operate, but that would require a towpath to be constructed along the entire length of the river between a much more developed Freedom Landing and Karri at some time in the future. Everything must have a beginning somewhere.
She applauds Ash on hearing about the promising trade possibilities!
DM Esther d20=8 ; d20=8 ; d20=2 ; Wednesday November 9th, 2022 11:42:27 PM Zazu goes about gathering information, but ends up mostly gathering people’s impressions of Boyo and Zazu. Of course there are bits of interesting things floating around, but with not much detail - and one tidbit that Zazu learns is that after the exposure of his secret dealings with the now defunct thieves’ guild, suspended councilor Haldir Pagolor’s standing has collapsed and council officers are still investigating.
Nightingale offers her support for the boating idea, both in words and hints of some coin.
Beech has a certain wand on his mind, and is saving his gold for that. Is he going with anyone in particular or just doing his own looking around?
Naithi offers her opinions, and then spends much of the day in intense training at the WLA. (Were you training anything in particular?)
Panzer acquires a plow and a very heavy crate of pig iron. As a service, the seller loans him the use of a wagon and driver to transport it to the docks.
Ash promises a response from the Freedom Landing crafters by next visit, which seems satisfactory to master clothier Jehoel Guldenor. She then asks about the availability of cloth, and wool, as she suspects a surplus. She learns that buying enough material from them to make clothing for the people of Freedom Landing is not going to be a problem - one set of warm clothing each for the seven to eight score settlers isn’t all that big of a bump on the normal winter trade in textiles in the bustling city of thousands that is the capital of the Emerald Kingdom. As for wool… due to the abundance of pastoral land and the relative safety within the Emerald Kingdom, the price of wool will have a circumstance adjustment to a little below book listing.
Multiply three d20s against a logarithmic graph for a realistic price level adjustment: 1d20=8, 1d20=8, 1d20=2. Wool as a trade good in the Emerald Kingdom will trade 1 + ln( 8 * 8 * 2 ) = 5.8% under the book value. This applies to what you can buy it for, but also what you can sell it for, so it cuts both ways.
Lothlo goes with Naithi to the WLA, to make sure also that they are paid up for their membership dues.
Sahabiel puts up a sum of gold and does find a builder of boats who will be able to deliver a barge as desired to Freedom Landing in around 90 days, so it will be in use long before next spring comes around.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday November 10th, 2022 1:25:50 PM
Beech, just wanders around, he'll pick up any spices he needs. And he'll end up at the docks, looking at the flat bottom barges, filing away design ideas....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday November 10th, 2022 2:21:53 PM
Naithi spends her time learning how to keep to the shadows and move silently as she learns about stealth at the WLA. As she trains her mind moves to matters of money... She actually has some for a change. She plans on what to buy at the Catacombs after her training and offers to chip in on the barge once she knows how much money she has saved up.
ooc: I'll work at getting my character sheet updated. My dues are paid up. Next advancement is level 9. I need to update my CS, but assuming there is nothing I need to train for a great prerequisite for a feat, Naithi will be training her stealth again
I'll try to get my wealth update and place a Catacombs purchase the weekend.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday November 10th, 2022 3:39:54 PM
Panzer thanks the ironmonger for the help and gets the crate into the ship and ready to go.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday November 10th, 2022 6:26:11 PM
Ash knows that cotton alone isn't going to make for warm, winter clothes. They'll need some insulation and the price of wool sounds very reasonable. If prices are low then stock levels must be high which also means there could be many different wholesale sellers. That might give her a little more room in negotiations.
She doesn't feel comfortable making solitary decisions, but the party are here to arrange for clothing and materials for the camp. With that in mind she tries to come to an agreement with the guild that the party would hopefully also be comfortable with. 1000gp for the combination of all the ready made clothes and materials the settlement needs plus a full bale of wool. The party will take care of transport. "I'm assuming you'll get some commission from this sale, and if the crafters of Freedom's Landing agree to the deal with the mother-of-pearl, I'll make sure you get that commission too. What do you think? Shake my hand and we'll have a deal right here" Ash taps her coin purse with one hand and extends the other to the guild representative.
If the rep agrees she'll make the necessary arrangements with him and then go and find the party to let them know what she's done. She hopes they think it was a fair deal and she hasn't made a mistake.
DM Esther Thursday November 10th, 2022 8:13:17 PM Beech does shopping on the spice market, and then sets to thinking about boats while studying those at the docks. He will see Panzer return with a wagon of iron and metalware soon after.
Naithi trains her stealth with a league instructor, and gets pointers on footwork, on how to creatively make use of the terrain, the usual barrage of pro tips coming from someone who has been doing this for a longer time of their life than you have.
(remember that we start using the 8th level character sheets as of January, as per PTB decision to sync up when we level up across all campaigns)
Panzer returns to the boat first, with a field plow and materials for the smithy back home. Beech is very nearby though. They both can wait for the rest of their comrades to return while, on the deck of a nearby moored vessel, a trio of crewmen sing boat songs for the amusement of the dockside workers and passers-by.
Ash (and presumably Lothlo who I understood in an earlier post went with her before joining Naithi at the WLA?) has spent an interesting afternoon at the guild of weavers and dyers, and has made a good impression. The guild representative listens to her proposal, then asks for a moment to speak with someone outside the room over inventory, and on his return agrees to the offered deal. Although quite some work will be needed to turn the materials into wearable winter clothes, you know that Freedom Landing has people with the skills and, now that winter has slowed down many other things, the time. The guild very much emphasizes looking forward to your future trade, which clearly means that they more or less expect you to convince at least a few people back in Freedom Landing to fill those requests for mother of pearl buttons and cuff links.
"I believe we have a deal, milady. I will make the arrangements for all the goods to be delivered to your ship then?"
(The ready made clothes will be coming from various seamstress shops and stores, while the fabrics and wool are coming directly from a storehouse. All goods will be delivered to your boat at the docks before the end of the day.)
Sahabiel has one more errand to run after completing her business with the boat builder, and she heads over to Meadow Glade to see the elven priestess Hríw-calen Gildin, and tell her about recent events near the Culverwood and how she intends to continue to pay received favors forward. In the process of talking, she finds herself roped into some garden work for the head priestess as well. She returns to the boat docks later a little more tired and with traces of garden dirt on her that she sets to scrubbing clean.
By evening, everyone meets up back at the boat. Now that it is loaded with goods, you are going to have to spend the night keeping a watch over it, but by now Sahabiel and Zazu have picked up enough local (food) knowledge of the area that you can all celebrate the success of your supply search with a small feast of tasty foods secured from some of the best street vendors that are out in the evening, and drink brought out from a pretty decent tavern on the docks!
(Is everyone ready to sail back to Freedom Landing? On your arrival there, I will review the full extent of what has been accomplished and the results this brings to the settlement, before giving the DM reins over to BatMark and Jon Paul. New module starts Monday!)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday November 10th, 2022 8:37:56 PM
Sahabiel is entirely in favor of the deals done by Ash and Panzer, and shares the details about her own order placed with the shipbuilder as well.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday November 10th, 2022 9:18:38 PM Looks like the town will be in good shape for the winter now, and we'll have a good head start come spring. Looks like we had a very productive trip
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday November 10th, 2022 9:55:48 PM
Before heading out, Nightingale wants to buy whatever sweets she can find, plus any spices that we might not have at home, especially with winter coming on ...
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday November 10th, 2022 10:55:36 PM
Zazu looks at the heavy iron loaded into the boat. "Do you think maybe it will be too much, with all of us?"
"I got two Endure Elements for me and Boyo. So we won't mind the cold." The trickster makes sure that all the papers and scrolls and spellbook are well stored in waterproof skins, well sealed in the saddlebags attached to the magical saddle in which the elf sits.
Then Boyo leaps into the river!
Zazu laughs as the dire bunny paddles adroitly in the water. [Boyo has a Swim speed of 20.]
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday November 11th, 2022 1:46:54 AM
Ash smiles broadly on hearing Sahabiel in agreement with the trader's deal. She listens to what happened while she was on her little shopping spree.
"A barge sounds like a great idea for moving trade goods up and down the river. Much better than horse and cart. You shouldn't be paying for it all yourself though, Sahabiel. It's for the town after all."
Ash proposes that the cost of the barge come out of the substantial pile of art and gold that Freedom's Landing has but isn't making use of. Failing that, she'll match Sabahiel copper-for-copper on the cost.
"I've got a Rose's Temperature Control spell to keep myself nice and toasty during winter. I've also got a couple of Endure Element spells I could cast on others, but not nearly enough to provide to the entire town."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday November 11th, 2022 1:10:04 PM
Hearing Ash's comment, Nightingale adds her two coppers, "I think most if not all the houses are winter-proofed, and with the clothes and cloth we are bringing back, warm clothing will help. That spell might be useful for the healer's or for any births that might happen..."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday November 11th, 2022 1:27:24 PM
OOC (Wait, are we supposed to be leveling now? It will take me about 45 seconds to do but if we need to be lining up WLA training and dues now then I will need a little time to arrange that.) IC Panzer is fine with a vigil on the boat. With the thieves guild decimated he doubts there will be any issues, especially since they know it was this group that ravaged them in their own home base. Attacking on the party's home turf should amount to suicide for them and he doesn't think many of the remaining low level grunts have that kind of death in mind. He will sleep on the boat. His fur, his cloak and his bedroll should keep him toasty but he will not turn down an endure elements.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday November 11th, 2022 2:00:37 PM
ooc: I missed that we are delaying leveling up to level 8 for the time being. Hopefully this will still count for Naithi's level 8. Even so, the next set of WLA dues are at level 9, not level 8, so Panzer is good.
Naithi helps everyone gather up and protect the goods. She also notes they a creative use of Rose's Temperature Control could heat a large building. We already designed a large communal cooking area they can be powered with they spell to help prevent deforestation and wild fires.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday November 11th, 2022 3:27:08 PM
Zazu listens in and adds two more cents from the water.
"I'm happy to teach people how to cast first level spells! Anyone of average smarts can learn. No reason we can't have lots of people who are first level wizards!"
"Even just two or three of Rose's spells will be super useful for someone to cast."
"Who was this Rose, anyway? Super useful spell they invented."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday November 11th, 2022 8:38:41 PM
Sahabiel looks at the large, heavy bars of iron Panzer has brought on board, then looks to Naithi, back at the bars, and finally shakes her head, chuckling at the irony with a you-couldn't-make-this-up look in her eyes. "That is a pity. The first time since we've learned ya can do that trick that it would be really helpful to turn something into a flower for transport, and it just has to be cold iron.. well, I guess we'll have to carry that as it is then?" She laughs, and then adds; "Well, I am confident we will be alright with this load, but let me know if we do hit ground in the shallows and I need to get off and walk for a bit."
(ooc: the muscular Sahabiel is not slight, certainly not for a half-elf, and she is an armored knight-cleric to boot.. at a total geared up mass of 234 lbs, Sahabiel is probably the second heaviest person on board - albeit a distant second, after the large tauric Beech of course)
Sahabiel agrees that such a magic as room wide temperature control sounds like a useful thing in winter. As for whether she thinks Zazu could find many suitable adepts among the settlers to start teaching magic to, she does not say.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday November 11th, 2022 9:04:10 PM Temperature control would be awesome when the weather gets bad, and would help stretch our firewood, though wood is the one thing we have plenty of where we live. I can't wait to tell everyone we were able to obtain everything we were looking for.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Friday November 11th, 2022 9:57:35 PM
Beech, expects to travel by foot, especially since they are going up river.... He's used to it by now...
DM Esther Friday November 11th, 2022 10:25:07 PM
With a little fooling around over how nobody checked if the boat with this weight in cargo in it would not be too deep in the water, the party sets sail back up the river towards Freedom Landing. Along the way, people share yet more ideas, magical and otherwise, that might be of use for the people of Freedom Landing.
(Not to be a killjoy, but don’t count on random npcs being able to learn a level of Wizard - PC classes are for PCs and named major characters only, and even if some NPCs could become NPC Adepts, Temperature Control is not on that spell list)
To the relief of everyone, including Boyo who does actually tire after a while of swimming in the cold river, the sound of the keel digging itself into sand stays away and by halfway through the second day after leaving Karri, you dock at Freedom Landing to be met with a hopeful welcome home by your people.
When your precious cargo is unloaded, the mood turns to joy. Elf fingers test the thickness of the cotton cloth. Orc fingers pick quite skillfully at the bale of wool, and with no more than a pair of smooth sticks spin a small sample off that immediately becomes the subject of discussion between a group of the women of all races of Freedom Landing over how that is going to make many good linings.
You have accomplished several things in your latest visit to Karri, starting with that the winter clothing shortage is now effectively resolved. What is more, you have laid the groundwork for creating a reliable flow of needed goods between Freedom Landing and Karri, and found a buyer for some of your highest value export crafts, with a deal that will secure a steady trickle of income to pay for those goods.
The artisans calmly listen as Ash shares with them the offer that was made to her, and nod. A human craftsman, one you remember making mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden cutlery before, finally speaks up; ”It is not bad business, buckles and attire ornaments.. and the price is fair. Better than us making things we can only hope will be in demand when a traveling peddler next deigns to visit out here we s’pose. We’ve all got some more tools and materials we’d like to get our hands on to make our jobs easier, so certain pay now is better than uncertain sales having to take our things to market ourselves.”
Furthermore, you have revisited old contacts and made some new ones, and collectively spent thousands of gold in Karri in a single day. While that sum is nothing special to bring to the Catacombs, you have spent it in places where common folk notice, on common folk goods – even through the guild middle man, over a dozen shops have felt your spending power, and since they all had to deliver to your boat they are nominally aware of where those purchases are going. The same can be said of a number of Karri shipwrights and workers that will know who they are outfitting a new boat for. In doing all this, you have planted a few seeds of a better reputation for Freedom Landing, bringing it up from “Never heard of”, “Isn’t that where they sent those resettled refugees?”, or at best “That was the adventuring company that took on the thieves’ guild, right?”, and nudged it ever so slightly towards becoming better known as a real place.
- - - [Consequence of your actions: from here on, the settlement of Freedom Landing will no longer be under the ‘dead broke, no money in circulation’ limitation. The rules for making a living as described under the Profession skill will be applicable across the settlement, unskilled labour earning 1 silver per day, and skilled labor earning their profession check times 5 silver per week. People will be using this income to buy tools and household items they need when they can afford them, and living standards will begin to move gradually towards that of a basic but functional village.] - - -
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20=17 ; Saturday November 12th, 2022 7:42:48 AM
Zazu is not in favor of burning wood this winter, if it can be avoided. The wizard wanders around the camp, showing off the Rose's Temperature Control spell, and trying to get a feel for anybody who just might have an aptitude for learning magic. Maybe that's nobody ... but maybe there's SOMEbody!
Gather Info (untrained charisma check) 17! Go me!
"It's really nifty and useful," Zazu explains to any prospect found. "Plus you can cast other spells too! And cantrips, like Mending and Light, as often as you want!"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Saturday November 12th, 2022 3:26:08 PM
Panzer prefers." Isn't that the group that Decimated the thieves guild" but he will take what notice he can get.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Saturday November 12th, 2022 8:36:59 PM
Mike and Brianna are capable casters, and Brother Matthew definitely knows some healing and protective spells. Murzush and even Codru can cast spells too. Between them she thinks they have enough spells to protect the most vulnerable members of Freedom's Landing. She wonders about the value of a spell that controls the weather in case things get a little too hairy. It's a little outside her casting capabilities, however a scroll or two could be nice in case of emergencies.
Ash has no problems burning dead wood. In her mind, there's no way a settlement this big could get away without it. No matter how many layers of clothing they might have, every house needs heating. In fact, she's happy to get timber from anywhere that isn't the Culverwood.
She then has an idea. "You know, I've heard tell of a Hallow spell that lets everyone near it benefit from an Endure Elements spell for an entire year. That would help protect people in the winter and the summer. It would cost about 2,000gp but that might be a bargain for the benefit it provides to everyone. We can either buy it as a scroll and cast it ourselves, or hire someone from Karri to come and cast it. We could center it on one of the long houses and then everyone inside, or even close by, would be covered by it. I mean, we could even buy a few and cover the whole town if we needed to, but that might take more than we can afford right now."
There are a so many other benefits that the spell provides - protection from evil mind control, protection from evil summoned creatures (they can't even enter the area), protection from undead (and becoming one!) - that Ash is pretty convinced this spell is a clear cut 'yes'. She's got some gold put aside that she can spend to provide it, but wants everyone's input first.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday November 12th, 2022 10:31:47 PM
Sahabiel considers Ash the group’s resident authority on magical theory, so if Ash thinks having a hallowed zone within the town would be a good idea, there is probably a good reason for it. She is less convinced about additionally weaving Endure Elements into one at such cost though?
“If ya say so..? But I should tell ya I’ve not known individual hallowed areas to be particularly large, and there is them providing their protective added effects to people only while they stay within them? Don’t ya think that if ya made all the people stay put together in a small enough area to cover with the prayer of hallowing, they’d already stay warm enough in there just ‘cause of the whole being packed together thing? Besides, for the whole last season we’ve been charcoal piling all the reeds we couldn’t use for construction..” Sahabiel pauses and looks at her hands… memories still fresh of treating the frequent little cuts caused by carrying so many sheaves of reeds. “Our stores held enough fuel to feed everyone’s fires through to the other end of the cold months, even before they came to hold enough food to feed the people themselves. And now that there’s warm clothes as well, don’t we have everything that any other village would get through winter on?”
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Sunday November 13th, 2022 12:25:56 PM
"I think a Hallow would be a great idea, Ash," says Zazu. "Does it have to be Hallowed to a particular diety? We could make the town Hallowed to the Culverwood, I guess?"
"I suppose we have provided enough for our village," Zazu adds, "but more does not hurt!"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday November 13th, 2022 5:04:33 PM "It wouldn't cost much more to Widen it to an 80ft radius too"
Ash puts the total cost for a Widened Hallow to be 3,200gp if cast by a local Druid, perhaps from Karri. Maybe even Nelly could do it? It would only be 2,450 for the non-widened version.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday November 13th, 2022 7:57:44 PM
Beech, still keeps his mouth shut....until it gets towards the last part...
"We, and I me our group in particular, can not continually bail out the town. It may be hard, it may be rough, but the town has to learn to survive without us tossing gold at the problem.We've given it a good head start, I plan on a bit more of in kind trading with people here, but unless I hire someone to look after my home once I get it built, no more gold. Without it being earned, it's staying in my money pouch.' He knows it sounds final, because it is, at least for him....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday November 14th, 2022 8:52:23 AM
"The town still has like, what is it, Ash? 15 grand in gold in the treasury? So that should be fine, Beech -- we don't have to kick in more. That said, if someone wants to spend their own personal gold to support their preferred public works, I think that's fine, too! That's what I did to support trade."
OOC to new DMs: Zazu gave 1,000 gp, no strings attached, to an NPC merchant, Master Featherbrook, to promote trade. And 50 gp, back when we were poor, on community fish and crawdad traps. These expenses are tracked as part of my wealth on my sheet, so they continue to ding my WBL. Prolly I'll kick in more to the traps later on, being a trap crafter, and maybe I'll pay for spellbooks if any likely wizard prospects pop up. Zazu's personal public works interest also includes the brickworks and kiln, so I may kick in some gold on that, maybe to subsidize a potter and brickmaker for a year, now that we have a kiln.
"But before I get more loot to spend on myself or Boyo or the village, I owe everybody some cash for the Immovable Rod I grabbed last adventure." [OOC to DM: Zazu is a bit over WBL because he took a valuable item from loot instead of selling it and paying off equal shares.]
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday November 14th, 2022 12:45:50 PM
Sahabiel sides with Beech on this point. “While it was a natural moral duty to help those that followed ya here to get the basic necessities set up, so they can get by without needing to depend on yer charity forever, it is right that we shouldn’t go too far beyond enabling the people to solve the village’s problems by themselves from here on. Especially as.. ah.. not all of ya think about those problems the same way the common folk do, and I worry it is not helping them stand on their own. Magic items and enchantments can be quick and convenient solutions to some problems, but they’ll soak up the whole settlement’s treasury faster than ya can blink. I’ve been volunteering to perform the prayer of mending and the prayer for purity of food and drink a lot, but that’s only because we’ve been in such a pinch that the people just didn’t have the material resources to do repairs the normal way, nor could we or anyone here afford to let any food go to waste. I’d also be perfectly capable of the prayer of light, but when I need a light in the evening at home, I will light a rushlight just like everyone else.. me giving two coppers for a bundle of them that lasts me a week probably helps more for the woman that’s trying to make a living from making those things than if I went around trying to teach everybody that looks even half-smart how to make light with magic, or spent a large sum in gold to put up some everburning magical streetlights for the people to gather under. We really need to pick our projects, step in as unobtrusively as possible when there are.. clear obstacles, and let the people take care of the rest in ways that they will be able to sustain on the back of their own skills, with or without us here. I volunteered to invest in that barge because without a regular river connection the people couldn’t very well get goods to market, and without being able to get goods to market, they would not be able to afford getting a regular river connection running. That circular trap had to be escaped, to enable the people to get on their feet. That is different from wanting to buy them miracles as shortcuts for the realities of normal life. And I believe the same goes for works of too great ambition that this hamlet is not ready for, simply because of how many people actually live here, and with what skills. When ya bring a hermit a cup of water, they may thank ya. If ya build an aqueduct to their place so they can get water whenever, they’ll ask who ya think is going to have to maintain the bloody thing.”
(ooc: Sahabiel uses 'ya' and 'yer' when speaking in Common, as a reminder she has a very noticeable wood-elven accent)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday November 14th, 2022 5:49:06 PM
Panzer walks in halfway through this discussion and while he is confused for awhile he gets the gist of it, but stays quiet. When all the thinkers in town seem to have run out of steam he asks if anyone is interested in helping move 'all that iron' that is still in the boat. Un burdened by his armor he can move a fair bit of it but then it comes down to dropping some and multiple trips and so on. Many hands make light work and all that. He then heads back out to where the smiths and he have been unloading the iron and moving it to the smithy and grabs another armload.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday November 14th, 2022 5:49:21 PM "I was thinking the same as Zazu. The town has had plenty of artworks lying around. Any one of those could be sold and the money used for magical protection. We needn't dip into our own funds unless we want to." Ash explains "It's not our money though, so we should put it to the council to decide what they want to do"
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday November 14th, 2022 7:59:00 PM
Nightingale will help Panzer move stuff where it needs to go ... it'll keep her busy
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday November 14th, 2022 8:20:10 PM That hallowed spell sounds pretty amazing, but I agree that we probably shouldn't be doing that. It's a lot of money, and the town needs to learn to become sufficient. We are already in far better shape than previous winters, and that much money would be much better spent on expanding farm land, raising farm animals, and other projects that will help the town grown over the next year.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday November 14th, 2022 8:51:48 PM
Naithi agrees that the group needs to find a balance between being leaders and babysitters for the town. The town is used to living in this climate and has the skins to survive. This would be a good time to remind everyone of The Choosing Ceremony we talked about where the various masters of their craft and fields talk to the orphans about the various professions and take one of those coming of age under their wing to train. This will be especially helpful if there are some interest in becoming a druid or cleric.
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