Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 9/9 Wednesday January 4th, 2023 3:05:17 AM
After taking a watch, then spending some time catching up on sleep, the elf awakens. She finds the small treasures she won while taking advantage of the ability of Woldian adventurers to show up at the Giggling Ghost tavern while sleeping.
She sits up, stretches, circles her ankles a few times, squeezes muscles all over, then stands up with a measure of grace. In her left hand she holds a stout spear - it looks rather large based upon her slender frame. "Say, big guys. Are either of you skilled with a spear? 'Cause this cold iron spear is a masterwork item, and might come in handy from time to time." She shows marks along the length of the 20-lb. spear. "This is where lightning struck the weapon some time ago. Still should work well." She gently touches the sharp, pointy end. "Nicely honed stabber."
"So, Grim Repr? Kazzor? You want to give it a try?" [Note: Source is the Giggling Ghost, December 31st 2022: "Yofiel - A masterwork iron longspear that was once owned by a man struck by lightning; the weapon weighs 20 lbs and is marked by the scorches of the lightning. Non-magical."]
DM Mitch Wednesday January 4th, 2023 6:54:43 AM Kazzor does his best to bundle up as much equipment as he can adding it to the already sizable bundle of food staffs he is carrying. He takes the time for what he considers a well deserved rest. Marest asks the others if they are going to camp here and prepares accordingly whether the consensus is to leave or stay. R.J takes a moment to help set up camp and gather supplies.
The party is in the basement of the fort/castle, where supplies are kept. They have gathered food, medical, supplies, and a variety of weapons and survival gear. Though their mission is complete they still must make their way safely out of town which is still infested if dinosaurs and scavengers.
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 9/9 Wednesday January 4th, 2023 4:18:49 PM
Wait - have we explored all of the fort/castle there is to explore? Because if not, Yofiel wants to do so. Why? She has hope that she can possibly find her mother, or to find out if she somehow got away.
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 12 CMD 14 Wednesday January 4th, 2023 5:11:05 PM
RJ notes that they still have the northern towers to check out… by engaging the dinosaurs. He’s rather blunt, though, that finding survivors is both futile and not on the agenda.
He’s prepared to scout again, preferring stealth to speed.
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 Wednesday January 4th, 2023 6:44:50 PM
"Finding my mother is on my agenda. If there are any here still alive - they may be hanging on by a thread," returns Yofiel to RJ's contention. "Also, might we be able to get into the northern towers by going along the upper walls, rather than across the feasting site?
"As to engaging the dinosaurs - I think we could take them down - or lower their numbers, with arrows, from above. I think taking out the larger ones first, then the smaller, is not a bad approach.
"However, I could entertain the notion of taking what we have found thus far back to the caves, as there are people there who need the food and medical supplies - and weaponry. So long as we agree to return here to clear out the lizards feasting here, and look for survivors."
Marest Bralfah(Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:12, Saves:(F:3/R:3/W:2), HP:11/11 Wednesday January 4th, 2023 8:21:01 PM First Watch
"So, who has first watch?" asks Marest of the group. "Also, now that we know what Yofiel's agenda is, what is on everyone else's agenda?" ponders Marest.
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 8/8 Wednesday January 4th, 2023 9:41:46 PM
"Let's see, what's on my agendas? not get eaten by thundy-gizzards and impress a party of adventuresome-types with my wisdom and magic," says Ezekiel. "I think I'm good here."
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 12 CMD 14 Thursday January 5th, 2023 1:17:04 PM
RJ glances at Marest. "My agenda is to keep alive long enough to get paid and maybe find some stable employment. Anything else stems from my duty."
He stared out a bit. "If ordered, I'll walk right up to a dinosaur and kick him in the shins. But if you want my opinion, we'd be putting ourselves and the guys in the cave at risk without great odds of finding more survivors. Say what you will about these dinos, but they've been thorough.
"But if we're going to insist on being all heroic, I am capable of scouting ahead to determine if anyone is in the north east tower. If I recall, that's the only other place we might find survivors."
Dapple (Kathy) Thursday January 5th, 2023 2:46:42 PM
"ff there are survivors, then we have a duty to try to help them," Dapple says. "However, running into a pack of dinosaurs is not going to help anyone. If we can find an alternate route to the north tower, I would like to try it. If we can't--well, I don't think we're strong enough to take on those creatures."
Kazzor (Jeremy) AC 15/10/15 CMD 18 HP 16/16 Thursday January 5th, 2023 4:11:48 PM
Kazzor shakes his head at Yofiel's offer, "I don't think that toothpick will work for me, it's a little small, besides, my ax is much more comfortable to me."
When the talk turns to the next move, Kazzor merely keeps quiet and waits for the other's to decide what's next.
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 14 Tch 9 Ffted 13 HP 19/17 CMD 12 Thursday January 5th, 2023 7:30:34 PM
Grim looks at Yofiel. Takes the spear, spins it around, flips it back and forth, gives out a wild growl holding it in a threatening stance, then hands it back. "Sorry, just not me, to flimsy."
He keeps watch while the others discuss their next steps, to the Thunder Gods and the north tower or to safety of the cave.
He gives Muffins a slap on the shoulder, "Grim got great stable job for you back home. We always need someone to clean out the Worg stables! HAHAHAHAHAHA! You learn quick! Maybe stay alive to learn how to ride one! HAHAHAHAAHAHA!"
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 d100=37 ; d20+11=16 ; Thursday January 5th, 2023 7:41:17 PM
Twisting the braid of red hair over her right shoulder, Yofiel listens to the others. She closes her eyes for a moment and considers.
"All right, look, let's do this," the elf says, eyes still closed. "Back up the stairs, skirt the courtyard, climb the tower we came down earlier, down the ropes - and then back to the caves - we can deliver what we have gathered. Then, whether later today, or early tomorrow, those who want to can return with me, and we shall see about exploring the Northeast tower. I shall pray, should there be any survivors there, that they will endure a little more before receiving help." She opens her eyes again. "If there are none, then the matter is moot - but at least we will learn what is in that tower, perhaps recover something else useful to us."
A couple of more ideas occur to her. "Unless it would be as easy to walk out through the gate as to use the rope. I found some more rope down here, anyway. Or, is there a way up through the tower we are in now?"
Yofiel will check to see if there are inner stairs leading up through this tower toward the top of the wall - inviting along any who care to explore that option.
So: - Check to see if we can ascend this tower to the top. If we can, do so, then descend the rope. -- If not, then: Is out through the front gate a reasonably safe option? If so, take it. --- If not, then: Retrace the steps that got us here. Return to cave ========= d100 roll - to help decide her response Perception: 16
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 Thursday January 5th, 2023 7:47:13 PM
Sorry - forgot one thing: If we can ascend back to the top of the wall, and from there descend the NE tower, and others agree, then Yofiel is up for that.
Marest listens to each member of the group states their opinions, turning to the group, suggesting, " Alright, who wishes to engage in these ideas and if any, which ones?"
Dapple (Kathy) Friday January 6th, 2023 5:46:50 PM
"I like Yofiel's plan," Dapple says.
DM Mitch Friday January 6th, 2023 7:40:05 PM Yofiel wants to explore all of the fort / castle. R.J. notes that they still have the northern towers to check out by engaging the dinos but he isn’t hopeful on the survival front. Yofiel claims that finding her mother is her agenda and suggests they scale the walls of the tower rather than across the feasting site as they could then thin the herd with ranged weaponry. She is ok if they wanted to go back with the supplies they had as long as it was promised they’d come back to find survivors Marest volunteers first watch and reasons since they know Yofiel’s agenda asks about the agenda of the others Ezekiel says his agenda is not to get eaten by the thunder gizzards and to impress a party of adventurers with his wisdom and magic R.J. says his agenda is to keep alive long enough to get paid and maybe find gainful employment. He admits if ordered he would kick a dino in the shin but reiterates his opinion that the odds are not good for the risk but if they are insistent on being heroic he could scout to the north. Dapple points out that if there are survivors then they have a duty to try to help them but running into a pack of dinos isn’t going to help anyone. She agrees about finding an alternate route to the north tower. Kazzor says that he doesn’t think the toothpick will work for him then keeps quiet as the others discuss the next move. R.J. notes they still have the northern tower to check by engaging the dinos but again he doesn’t think there will be any survivors though he is prepared to scout again.
Grim looks at Yofiel, takes the spear and tries it out before handing it back claiming it is too flimsy. He keeps watch while the others discuss next steps. He slaps R.J. on the back and says he has a job back home available cleaning out the Worg stables. Yofiel suggests they go back up the stairs, skirt the courtyard and climb the tower they came down earlier to deliver supplies before returning back later in the evening or the next day to checkout the tower and hopefully find any survivors. She also hopes they can hold on for aid for the delay and has a couple more ideas with respect to movement options. She goes looking for more stairs leading up or if the front gate is safe otherwise they have to come back the way they came. Alternatively if they can ascend and then make it to the NorthEast tower she is okay going that way too. Marest asks who wishes to engage in any ideas and if so which ones. Dapple like’s Yofiel’s plan.
The tower you are currently in does not have roof access. It is solid and acts mainly as a way to enter the basement stores. The northwest tower is the prison tower and has only one access point into the main room. The northeast tower is the guard barracks and can be entered from the ground floor or roof, so that one you can search by going up and over. You came down the other southern tower.
You have searched the two southern towers thoroughly and found no survivors, though there are hints that at least a few people made it down here. Neither northern tower has been explored, and though you passed through the enclosed courtyard an examination of the bodies to find useful items or familiar corpses has not been done - the party just kind of passed through while keeping their eyes open, they didn’t flip over corpses or rifle through pockets. It might be possible to move carefully around the dinosaurs to search the northern towers without drawing their ire but it would require skill or luck.
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 24 CMD 15 Friday January 6th, 2023 8:46:04 PM
RJ sighs, seeing the writing on the wall. What Grim said regarding employment didn't sound too hot, either.
"We do have other options," he intoned. "But they all lead to keeping the dinosaurs on the east side of the room while we head to the northwest tower."
Marest Bralfah(Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:12, Saves:(F:3/R:3/W:2), HP:11/11 Friday January 6th, 2023 9:01:26 PM Other Thoughts?
"Ok, well we need a consensus here on our next series of actions... "says Marest. "What say yee?" states Marest to the group?
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 14 Tch 9 Ffted 13 HP 19/17 CMD 12 Friday January 6th, 2023 9:12:37 PM
Spells in effect: none
Grim figures if there any survivors in the northwest tower it would be prisoners still behind doors/bars. They might be alive if they haven't starved to death yet and the T.Gs. bothered to squeeze through the narrow passages and bust down the doors/bars. He states that out loud. "Rescuing prisoners can create its own problems, of course. We don't know what crimes they committed and letting them loose along with the others might work against us. And the only way is the only way out. Meaning we have to get past the Thunder Gods twice. Sounds like something to tray another day. Maybe dump a pile of wood, set the pile on fire and smoke them out."
Maybe he's being too smart for a half-orc, but then again, he was sent here because he's one smart half-orc.
"We get to the northeast tower same way we got here. We explore it, then head home."
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 d20+11=31 ; d20+11=24 ; Saturday January 7th, 2023 1:12:41 AM
Getting a clearer idea of the circumstances, Yofiel, reluctantly, recommends, "New friends, let us now return to the caves with what we have gathered. We may have other beasts to fight on our way back, laden down as we are. I do want to return later to explore the northeast tower - but not much later, whether today or tomorrow. I suggest going now back the way we came, at least to the bottom of the wall. From there, let's take whatever way seems best back to the caves."
She does also say that perhaps they might see if there be useful items to recover from the bodies of those they pass by. "I'd like us to give a decent burial to those whose remains we find, but first we must serve the living, and bring what healing and sustenance we can to those in the cave."
Assuming the group chooses that option, Yofiel can use the ropes they picked up from storage to help lower the gear down to the bottom edge of the outer wall, with the help of some of the stronger and bulkier members. She will be the last to descend. ======= Perception: 31 (nat 20) for finding useful items among the remains of dead Perception: 24 for being alert to dangers along the way back toward their exit.
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 8/8 Saturday January 7th, 2023 12:39:24 PM
"I have learned to go where the wind blows," says Ezekiel. "And then blow everything up when I gets there."
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 8/8 d6=6 ; Saturday January 7th, 2023 1:23:03 PM
Level update
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 16/17 Saturday January 7th, 2023 1:23:27 PM
HP header update
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 16/16 Saturday January 7th, 2023 1:23:46 PM
HP header update correction
Kazzor (Jeremy) AC 15/10/15 CMD 19 HP 29/29 Sunday January 8th, 2023 6:33:03 PM "Either way we have a chance to die, but we don't know if there are any survivors here, and we know we have some back at the cave. So let's head back and face death in pursuit of saving others."
Dapple (Kathy) Sunday January 8th, 2023 6:50:23 PM
"I'd rather not face death at all," Dapple says. "But I agree that bringing this stuff back to the caves is the right course of action."
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 Sunday January 8th, 2023 11:50:39 PM
OOC: updated header. Have not uploaded new pc sheet yet.
DM Mitch Monday January 9th, 2023 7:34:24 AM R.J. sighs, seeing the writing on the floor and reflecting on what Grim said about employment. He points out they have other options but they involve keeping the dinos on the east side of the room while they go to the Northwest Tower.
Marest suggests they get a consensus on their next course of action and polls the group.
Grim figures if there are any survivors in the northwest tower it would be prisoners behind bars and that they might be alive if they haven’t starved to death yet and the Thunder Gods decided not to squeeze through the narrow passages to break their doors. He states that out loud. He points out that rescuing prisoners creates its own problems considering they don’t know the crimes they committed or if they would be trustworthy and then there is still the problem of needing to get past the Thunder Gods twice. He suggests waiting another day and perhaps dumping a pile of wood, setting it on fire and smoking them out. He suggests heading to the northeast tower the same way they got here and then head home after exploring it.
Yofiel suggests they return to the caves with what they have gathered as they may have other beasts to fight on the way back considering they’ll be encumbered. She maintains she wants to return later to explore the tower but not much later whether that is the same day or the next. She suggests heading back the way they came to the wall and then onward back to the caves. She also suggests checking the bodies they pass along the way for useful items. She is prepared to use the ropes she picked up to help the party lower the gear down the wall should they go with her course of action.
Ezekiel states he has learned to go where the wind blows and then blow everything up when he gets there.
Kazzor points out that they have a chance to die whatever they do but they don’t know if there are any survivors in the keep but there are survivors in the cave so it would be better to aid those in the cave.
Dapple says she’d rather not face death at all but agrees returning their haul to the caves is the correct course of action.
The party agrees that they should head back, maybe searching the guard tower on the way out. Advancing up the stairs and into the main room you find the dinosaurs continuing their feast. Yofiel looks over the corpses on the way by and finds something interesting. A corpsed dressed in ruined robes and near the edge of a scorched area of ground has two red beads, like you might fight on a necklace. He is holding one with the other next to his hand. They are unusually large and he seems to have written “fireball” in blood right next to the one on the ground.
Dapple (Kathy) d20+5=21 ; Monday January 9th, 2023 4:28:12 PM
Dapple scans the area to see if she can find anything useful. [Perception 21]
Kazzor (Jeremy) AC 15/10/15 CMD 19 HP 29/29 Monday January 9th, 2023 6:53:55 PM
Kazzor doesn't try to be stealthy, as he just isn't, instead he tries to stay far enough behind RJ so as to not give him away, but is ready to charge into the fray if things go south.
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 24 CMD 15 d20+13=18 ; d20+8=11 ; Monday January 9th, 2023 7:45:17 PM
(Sorry Jeremy but the last post was a repeat from when I looked at the page on my phone.)
RJ continues to move stealthily (18) as he looks around (perception 11 as to dino movements).
RJ keeps an eye, thinking about what looks like a trap to him. No real ability to hit the dinosaurs with a fireball, though.
He takes a moment to load, and keeps an eye for any dinos that are near walls.
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 Monday January 9th, 2023 8:50:01 PM
"Oh, my. Oh my," breathes out Yofiel. "This poor soul left us a message. See, right there? 'Fireball.' These two beads can, I believe, be cast out, and when they land, a huge ball of fire will erupt!" She thinks about how they might be used to defeat the dozen lizards as they engorge themselves.
"Well, let's save these until later." She wraps the two beads in a cloth, which goes into a pouch. "Let's get everything to the cave now."
At the wall top, as earlier stated, she will use ropes to help lower the gear to the ground. She takes a moment to breathe a prayer for the soul of the fellow who died, leaving behind a message in his life's blood.
Marest Bralfah(Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:12, Saves:(F:5/R:2/W:3), HP:16/16 d20+2=15 ; Monday January 9th, 2023 9:15:09 PM I Owe, I Owe, so it's off to work I go...
Marest will scan the area using her dark vision (Perception: check: 15) to see if anything out of the ordinary catches her eye. As the group approaches the outside, Marest will don her smoked glass from their resting spot nestled in her braids.
Marest will hang back with Ms. Dapple.
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 Monday January 9th, 2023 11:39:20 PM
OOC: testing header
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 Monday January 9th, 2023 11:43:26 PM
OOC: testing header
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 Monday January 9th, 2023 11:44:58 PM
OOC: I don't get the Norton warning going to the other pages (LnB, Woldepedia, etc.) but I do get the warning on Cloudhaven.
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 Monday January 9th, 2023 11:54:01 PM
OOC: DMs, Grim's PC sheet ready for review, link should work.
IC: Grim takes up the rear, guisarme at the ready.
DM Mitch Tuesday January 10th, 2023 7:28:16 AM Dapple scans the area to see if she can find anything useful. Kazzor doesn’t try to be stealthy and instead tries to stay far enough behind RJ so as not to give him away but ready to join the fray should things go south. RJ continues to move stealthy as he looks around. He thinks the fireball thing looks like a trap but it doesn’t really have the ability to get any of the dinos though. He loads and keeps an eye out for any dinos near walls. Yofiel guesses at what the beads are and suggests they save them. Marest keeps her eyes open for loot. Grim is ready for combat, just in case.
The party is able to move past the dinosaurs safely. Other then the fireball beads they find nothing of use. They climb up the tower and to the roof. It’s easy enough to lower everything down with ropes, and there shouldn’t be difficulty climbing down themselves either. Do they check the guard tower before leaving since it has safe access from up here?
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 d20+11=24 ; Tuesday January 10th, 2023 7:37:21 AM
"Oh, look, there's a way into the guard tower, looks safe enough. How about a quick check?" asks Yofiel.
If a few would like to do so, she'll join in with them. If some don't want to, she says, "Would it be all right if you just wait here for a few minutes, a few of us will look, then let you know what we find?"
As long as two or three beside herself are okay with checking it out, she does so with them. Whoever wants to go first is fine with her. If no one else wants to go first, then she will. ========= Perception: 24
Kazzor (Jeremy) AC 15/10/15 CMD 19 HP 29/29 Tuesday January 10th, 2023 12:28:11 PM
Kazzor is about to follow his new friends, or lead if they would prefer his strength at the lead, but he spots something he missed before, a dead minotaur. Knowing it could only be one person, Kazzor rushes over to the body of his fallen father. He kneels down and rolls his father over, so he can look at his face one last time, and than tears begin to run down his bovine cheeks. He had hoped that somehow his father may have survived, but now he knows he is truly alone. First his mom and fiance, and now his father. He sees his father's ax, the Great Ax Bonvar, laying next to his dad's lifeless body, and he say's, "Father I don't know what happened here, but I don't understand how this tragedy could have happen naturally. Lend me Bonvar so that I may avenge the loss of so many, especially you, mom, and Rina!"
As he is takes up Bonvar, Fenton appears before him, "You should leave your old ax with your father's body. if anyone else saw him unarmed, they may think he was a coward and tried to run away from the fight, instead of dyeing trying to save lives." Kazzor nods to the dragon only he can see, and lays his mundane ax where Bonvar was. Turning to his new friends, and wiping the tears from his eyes, he growls, "Let's get out of here!"
(In case anyone was wondering, Bonvar is my legacy Item for co-DMing the Taur Island game)
Dapple (Kathy) Tuesday January 10th, 2023 6:51:50 PM
"Oh, Kazzor, I'm so sorry about you father," Dapple says.
"I'll come with you," she tell Yofiel.
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 16/16 Tuesday January 10th, 2023 7:44:14 PM
Ezekiel will detect magic.
"Ah, so that's how you do that," he says. "Good to know."
Marest thinks this is a good opportunity to examine the other guard tower as it appears to be safe to do so, this time. (Perception check: 2+2=4)
Marest will accompany anyone else going to the guard tower just to look around. Using her Engineering Knowledge skill (Knowl (Engineering ) 1d20+9 = 29 NAT 20), Marest will try to recall lore and the inner workings of architecture, fortifications about the guard tower, and how the group might be able to use this knowledge to our advantage.
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 24 CMD 15 d20+8=27 ; Tuesday January 10th, 2023 8:53:05 PM
RJ looks mournful as some of the others discuss or look for their loved ones. "I do mourn with you, even if my own family passed long ago. It is hard for me to know how you must feel."
With a couple of others volunteering, RJ stays behind. He prefers to use the tower's vantage point to look around, seeing if there are any dinosaurs nearby (Perception 27).
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 d20+6=15 ; Wednesday January 11th, 2023 1:00:19 AM
Spells in effect: none
"Let's search the tower then. Won't take that long and we can honestly say we've done all we could manage at this time."
Grim leads the way into the top level of the tower and looks around, listening.
Perception +6 = 15
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 d20+11=22 ; Wednesday January 11th, 2023 2:43:20 AM
Kazzor's discovery of his father's body must have taken place in the courtyard, as no doubt the minotaur would have been discovered in the area down below the NE tower - and earlier they had rather hastened across the yard, not taking much time to inspect the fallen.
Yofiel hears Kazzor's conversation with his papa. Tears flood her eyes. Kazzor makes his declaration, and the elf concurs. They climb the SW tower, and she seeks to dry her eyes, with mixed success on the way upwards.
At the top, as they move along the crenelations, the door to the guard tower is spotted, and the decision to take a look is reached. She places her hand on Kazzor's forearm, looks up at him, and blinks. She then moves forward, following Grim Ripr, Dapple near her, and Marest. She glances at Ezekiel, raising her eyebrows as if to ask whether he plans to join them.
She trusts RJ to keep a good lookout, and to ascertain what might be the best way to go once they get done with the guard tower. =========== Perception: 22 within the guard tower. Looking and listening, and taking the steps downward with care, a hand on the railing or wall.
DM Mitch Wednesday January 11th, 2023 9:02:33 AM Yofiel points out the way to the guard tower and asks for a quick check. She prepares to check it out whether anyone else is interested or not. Kazzor finds the corpse of his father and claims his father’s axe as his birthright leaving a mundane ax in its place lest someone think he a coward. He swears vengeance for his family. Dapple offers Kazzor condolences and plans to go with Yofiel to investigate the guard tower. Ezekiel casts detects magic. Marest accompanies Dapple and Yofiel to the guard tower thinking what she might know about it from an engineering perspective that could work to the party’s advantage. R.J looks mournful as some of the others discuss or look for their loved ones offering some condolences of his own although his family died long ago. He prefers to stay put using the vantage point offered to look out. Yofiel is moved by Kazzor’s grief.
The party does a quick check on the guard tower. There is surprisingly little chaos here, though a few signs of a hasty arming and exit remain - a desk with papers knocked off it, a mostly empty weapon rack with things knocked askew, etc. There’s a lot of files and administrative stuff in the tower, maps showing patrol routes and reports of problems various people have made. Other then a few pieces of gear to add to the pile found stored below there is nothing of use and no survivors hiding inside.
WIth their mission done the party heads out. They don’t run afoul of any major threats on the way out, just more corpses and scavengers. A few passing corpses are probably recognized, but there remains no sign of survivors or missing parents. All that’s left to do now is creep through the jungle to the cave everyone is hiding.
Kazzor (Jeremy) AC 15/10/15 CMD 19 HP 29/29 Wednesday January 11th, 2023 11:14:43 AM
Kazzor isn't sure how to take the outpouring of support he is receiving from his new friends. He is touched of course, and he finds himself allowing the wall of gruff indifference, he had built around himself, to slip a bit, in their presence at least. He says to Yofiel, "I hope we find your mother soon. Hopefully she's alive, but if we find her otherwise, at least you can find closer, like I have with my father." Turning to the rest of the party he says in a very stern voice, "None of you better die, because I've already lost the 3 people dearest to me, and I'm not losing anyone else!" By saying this, he has said that he cares for the rest, without actually coming out and saying it. To come out and say he cares about the rest of the party members, would be way to much to ask from the grumpy minotaur.
As the party reaches the outskirts of town, and are about to head down the trail to the cave, Kazzor asks, "How do we want to proceed? I'm not worth anything when stealth is required, but I hit hard, and can take a hit. I can take the vanguard if we opt to not use stealth, otherwise I'll linger in the back, hoping not to give away any of your positions."
Dapple (Kathy) Wednesday January 11th, 2023 4:19:32 PM
Dapple avoids looking too closely at the bodies on the ground. Her family is safely far away, for which she is grateful, but there are many townsfolk she would recognize. Nearly everyone in town had swung by the temple at one time or another, and there were many that Dapple had helped. She didn't want to see them now.
"I've never trained to be sneaky," she says, "but I'm little and don't make a lot of noise."
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 d20+6=17 ; Wednesday January 11th, 2023 7:06:48 PM
Spells in Effect: none
Grim's eyes are on things that might help fight or defend, not paper stuff so he ignores the documents and stuff. He does not know anyone here so the corps' are just decaying faces, although the minotaur one is obvious and he fells for Kazzor. However, as far as orcs go, you mourn the loss by killing the perpetrator and all his kin.
"Lugging all this stuff, stealth is out of the question no matter who takes the front. I'll lead the way and cut a save path through if necessary."
Carrying as much as he can, he lumbers onward, weary of scavenging Thunder Gods. Perception + 6 = 17
Marest Bralfah(Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:12, Saves:(F:5/R:2/W:3), HP:16/16 d20+4=19 ; Wednesday January 11th, 2023 7:42:43 PM
Marest tries to stay solemn while making their way back to the cave. She is not a rogue, and not accustomed to needing to be sneaky, people normally feel uncomfortable around her anyway, no need to hide.
Using her Perception Skills, Marest tries to stay in the know about people, places, and things around them on their long road back. (Perception skill check: 19)
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 24 CMD 15 d20+11=15 ; Wednesday January 11th, 2023 8:50:26 PM
"So if stealth is out of the question," RJ asked, "then is there any way to move through the jungle quickly?"
RJ still agrees to move through the jungle as a scout, though he has a medium load at this point. (Stealth 15).
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 d20+7=20 ; d20+11=29 ; Thursday January 12th, 2023 2:20:19 AM
Yofiel takes up some of the maps and a few files. Maybe looking through administrative files later will help them get a better idea at least as to what has gone on here before, who the players were, and what the comings and goings to the plateau have been.
She is touched by Kazzor's words and wishes, but simply nods as he speaks.
"We can always go for a mixture of subtle and blatant, RJ. If some of the big guys make a hullabaloo, and the smaller, sneakier ones take advantage of the attention drawn to the big guys to sneak through the brush, well, that's an approach we can take. I'll go with the quiet group, at least this time."
"Hey, where's Ezekiel?" she asks, looking around, and staring through the sorcerer as though he were invisible. Then, her focus coming closer, she gives him a little poke in the ribs. "You've been so quiet, I thought you disappeared!"
"Let's stick together, Dapple. You can maybe teach me to seem smaller," she says with a wink. Yofiel manages a semi-respectable stealth of 20 while wending her way through the brush. And manages to keep a fairly sharp eye and ears out for what is going on in their surroundings. ======== Stealth: 20 Perception: 29
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 16/16 Thursday January 12th, 2023 6:19:14 AM
"Sorry, must have drifted there," says Ezekiel. "Losing folks is hard. Brought back some memories. At least I think they're memories."
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 16/16 Thursday January 12th, 2023 6:22:56 AM
"Sorry, must have drifted there," says Ezekiel. "Losing folks is hard. Brought back some memories. At least I think they're memories."
DM Mitch Thursday January 12th, 2023 8:19:39 AM Kazzor isn’t sure how to take the support he is receiving from his new friends and allows the wall of indifference he built up around himself to slip a bit. He hopes Yofiel finds her mother alive and if not then at least she’ll have closure. He tells the other party members not to die b/c he isn’t losing anyone else and then questions how best to proceed moving forward. Dapple avoids looking too closely at the bodies on the ground. Her family is far away but there were many townsfolk she’d recognize since many of them visited her temple. She chimes in that she never trained to be sneaky but she’s little and doesn’t make much noise. Grim isn’t really interested in the papers and he doesn’t really know any of the corpses though he empathizes with Kazzor course with orcs you mourn loss by killing the perpetrator and their kin. Grim volunteers to lead the way since stealth is out of the question with all the stuff they are carrying. He takes point, wary of scavenging Thunder Gods. Marest tries to stay solemn on their way back. She isn’t stealthy either and since people were usually uneasy around her anyway she didn’t have a need to hide. Still she keeps an eye out for familiar landmarks and other distinguishing features on their way back. R. J. Muffins asks if there is any way to rush through the jungle. Yofiel is touched by Kazzor’s words. She makes a suggestion about stealth and asks about Ezekiel. Ezekiel apologizes for drifting.
The party is able to leave town without much trouble. The trip through the jungle is uneventful, though at times awkward with the amount of gear they are carrying. They pass a small group of monkeys who eye them with interest but do nothing else but see nothing else larger then a songbird.
At the cave a pleasant surprise awaits the party. A group of people rush out to meet them as they approach and one of them is Yofiel’s mother. After a tearful reunion it’s explained that 5 or so people managed to get to the supply tower and lock themselves in a storage room. They snuck out the day before and have been looking for other survivors in the jungle since. They found the cave while the party was away.
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 16/16 Thursday January 12th, 2023 8:34:11 AM
"Huzzah! The successful heroes return! Naturally, our success was entirely due to my wits and my magic."
Kazzor (Jeremy) AC 15/10/15 CMD 19 HP 29/29 Thursday January 12th, 2023 1:31:08 PM
Kazzor sets his large bundle of provisions on the floor of the cave, without saying a word. He is a ball of mixed emotions. On the one hand he is happy for his friend, and that she was reunited with her mother, but on the other, he struggles with a hint of jealousy. He retreats to his place at the back of the cave, and as he does, Fenton appears again, "You should be happy for your friend, why are you acting so gloomy?"
Kazzor answers the invisible dragon, "I just found the lifeless body of my father, and you want me to be Mister Happy Man? I have no one left, I watched helplessly as a t-rex devoured my precious Rina, and my mother, and though I had little hope of finding my father alive, I still hung on to that little hope like a fool. Now I have no one, I'm alone in this Wold, and I... I... well, I don't know what I want."
Fenton responds, "You have much to grieve, of that their is no doubt, but you are far from alone. you have your new friends, who are now your brothers in arms, and you have all these survivors who are counting on you and your comrades. You will find out why this tragedy happened, and you will avenge your loved ones, but for now you need to live."
Kazzor doesn't respond to his imaginary friend, only shakes his head in agreement.
Dapple (Kathy) Thursday January 12th, 2023 7:06:44 PM
Dapple carefully unloads her little jar and vials of spices, herbs, and medicine. She rolls her eyes a little at Ezekiel's speech. "Sure," she says. "Yeah, okay, let's go with that."
"Hey," she adds, "where'd Kazzor go? I'm kinda worried about him."
Marest Bralfah(Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:12, Saves:(F:5/R:2/W:3), HP:16/16 d20+4=18 ; d20+9=19 ; d20+9=18 ; Thursday January 12th, 2023 8:27:43 PM
Marest listens to Ezekiel's boasts and wonders aloud, "If Ezekiel isn't overcompensating for a shortfall somewhere else?"
Marest ties to ride the tide of good cheer now that they have returned. She did feel poorly about Kazzor's lot in this dinosaur event, no matter how horrific it was, as many people known & unknown were needlessly cut down. The event touches close to the heart when your companion(s) are the ones that have the loss.
As a loner, Marest tends to keep to herself most of the time, and this time is no different. She stands aloof from the rest and observes while using her skills:
Looking at the cave mouth and the surrounding areas, Marest wonders if it's possible to beef up the security or concealment of the cave mouth itself. What does Marest see in the surrounding area that would help with this task?
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 24 CMD 15 Thursday January 12th, 2023 9:04:17 PM
RJ unloaded his gear quietly as the rest of the group continues to mix in with the town. He watches them grandstand, think of their lost ones, bond with the ones that are left.
As others respond to Ezekiel, RJ decides not to test how well he can catch. Instead, he takes some time to note Marest looking over the security. "A welcome instinct, though I doubt the townspeople plan to stay here much longer. Be kind of nice to hunt some of these dinos on our terms, though. So, what's your story? No loved ones for you to search for or mourn?"
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 Thursday January 12th, 2023 11:34:37 PM
Grim is surprised that others survived however, considering the amount of 'food' laying around keeping the Thunder Gods rather busy, he shrugs, accepting the obvious. It could be that last tower has some survivors after all.
He immediately heads to the back of the cave where they stash the goods and unloads his burden.
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 Friday January 13th, 2023 7:48:39 AM
"Aiti!" Yofiel says with sing-song emotion, and she and her mother rush together to embrace. They spin together, then her mother leans back enough to pull her taller daughter's head down enough that she can kiss her forehead. "Tytaruh," she whispers to Yofiel. "How I prayed." They talk quietly together for half a minute, then the red-haired bard turns to her friends and says, "This is my mother, Diennia. She is a weaver, litster, and does fine embroidery. Mother, this is Dapple, a healer. Ezekiel, a sorcerer. Marest, a bloodwitch. RJ, a sharpshooter. Grim, a mighty warrior. You saw Kazzor walk by, a minotaur? He is also a fearsome fighter, and my friend. These are all my friends, though we met only a few days ago."
Diennia looks at each person in turn, acknowledging them. "Some of you I saw about town before the... attack. We mourn. We must survive, together. Thank you for your bravery, friends of my daughter. May heaven help us, and we, one another."
Yofiel returns several steps to where she dropped much that they had carried, and adds a lot of it to the pile that others have begun.
She says to those who had waited for them in the cave, "We brought food. And spices. Some weapons."
DM Mitch Friday January 13th, 2023 9:31:56 AM Ezekiel celebrates the groups success and suggests it was due to his own wits and magic. Kazzor drops his load and then runs off to the back of the cave and has a conversation with the imaginary dragon only he can see. Dapple unloads her jar and vials of spice and medicine and rolls her eyes at Ezekiel’s speech. She notices Kazzor’s absence. Marest wonders if Ezekiel is compensating for something. Marest then keeps to herself and looks for ways to either conceal the entrance or make the cave more secure. R.J. unloads his gear and thinks better of testing Ezekiel’s ability to catch. Instead he notices what Marest is doing and suggests the townfolk probably won’t want to stay in the cave much longer and that it would be nice to hunt dinos on their terms. He also asks Marest her story seeing as she doesn’t seem to be looking for any friends or family like some of the others were. Grim is surprised there are other survivors. Yofiel has an emotional reunion.
The townsfolk demand a detailed explanation of all that happened in town and help sort out the supplies brought back. Once the full story is shared a fierce debate begins. The news that all the big dinosaurs are gone cause widespread calls for returning to the town. Rothlorien is immediately against it.
Arguments for going back include burying and honoring the dead, the seeming lack of danger in town for the moment, and that the town is far more secure then some random cave in the woods in case of a future attack. Arguments against are that secrecy and hiding is all that kept everyone alive who is still alive and that the town defenses were not enough the first time, why would that change with so many fewer combatants?
Kazzor (Jeremy) AC 15/10/15 CMD 19 HP 29/29 Friday January 13th, 2023 10:51:07 AM
When people begin debating moving to town, or staying here, Fenton says, "You need to go help Rothlorien convince these people to stay put. Sure there aren't any large dino's there now, but how long until they return? We have no way of knowing where they went!"
Kazzor stands up and walks over to those debating, "Any of you who thinks it's safe to return to town is a fool!' he growls, "How many of you can swing a sword with proficiency? Not many I'm sure, otherwise you wouldn't need Rothlorien, and those of us who went to retrieve these supplies, would you? If you want to go, than leave, but this minotaur isn't going anywhere! We don't know what happened to the big dinosaurs, they could return at any moment, but we do know their are a bunch of the little guys, and I can say for certainty that you don't stand a chance against even them. We few train combatants struggled against them, how do think you will fair? There is anger in Kazzor's voice as he growls at the debaters.
Of course if the whole band of survivors decide to return, Kazzor will go with them, in spite of what he said. He may be a grumpy pessimist, but inside he feels responsible for the safety of the survivors, but he will never let them know that.
Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 13/13/10; HP 16/16 Friday January 13th, 2023 3:50:30 PM
"Once a ship sinks, it makes a poor sailing vessel," says Ezekiel. "We will need to patch the hull before the town be seaworthy again."
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 Friday January 13th, 2023 7:43:04 PM
"As we mentioned," says Yofiel, taking a step forward, "there are about a dozen small and medium-sized critters we left behind an hour ago, sating themselves on the body of a larger lizard. We would do well to rid the plateau of them before any sort of full-fledged return.
"How about if we take a short time to prepare ourselves? Some of us with some skill or training in combat can then return, as see about taking them down. There were other lizards scattered about, as well. Can we consider whittling down the population of the invading animals prior to a measured return to the town?" she asks those assembled, and looks to Rothlorien for his take on the idea.
R.J. Muffins (Melvin) AC 19 (before prone)/15/15 HP 24 CMD 15 Friday January 13th, 2023 8:40:43 PM
RJ thought about his options, not really wanting to weigh in.
"Are these really the only two options?" he finally asked Rothlorien. "No other nearby towns we can evacuate to? No military camps for reinforcements? Not even a larger space for growing crops and starting a new town? Because I can't really say I think the old town or the cave is a forever solution. You say the town has been hit by these things before?"
Beyond that, RJ doesn't have any strong opinions one way or the other, and tries to remain neutral.
Marest Bralfah(Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:12, Saves:(F:5/R:2/W:3), HP:16/16 d20+4=21 ; d20+9=22 ; d20+9=20 ; d20+3=4 ; Friday January 13th, 2023 8:55:26 PM Should we stay or should we go?
Marest turns to the Muffins man and explains that "I am not from these parts, so there is no one to look for or to morn for. I was only in town a short time before the Dino Rampage."
Turning back towards the townsfolks, Marest scans the growing crowd to look for any recognizable notables from the town like Mr. Rothlorien. (Perception Check: 21) If she finds any, she will recall anything she read or learned of the local history to see if it can be used to persuade them to stay in the cave a while bit longer. (Knowledge Local = 1d20+9 = 22 & Knowledge History = 1d20+9 = 20)
Not being a good charismatic speaker, Marest waits for her turn to chime in. "Good People of CloudHaven, having accompanied these brave souls to what's left of your town, I can tell you from first-hand experience, it is not currently safe to do so. All the major buildings took damage some more severely than others, but nonetheless, as it wasn't a military training ground, but rather an up-and-coming yet important trading route to The Floating City, it is best to have experienced adventurers eliminate the existing dangers for you prior to you formulating your return. (Diplomacy check: 1d20+3=4 NAT 1)
Grim Ripr (JonathanT) AC 16 Tch 11Ffted 16 HP 30/30 CMD 13 d20+8=22 ; Friday January 13th, 2023 10:59:43 PM
OOC: just a reminder, as it is easily forgotten: A NAT 1 on a skill check just means you rolled a one. You can still succeed in a skill check when rolling a 1. Hard, but not impossible.
IC: Grim returns from the inside of the cave where he unloaded his cargo to hear the commotion about returning to the town. After listening for a bit he stomps over to the crowed pushing to return flexes his muscles up, looking a good bit taller and bigger, more like an ogre, and lets out a huge, loud, roar:
Intimidate +8 = 22
That getting their attention, he shouts, "He said the Bit Thunder Gods are gone! Only the little ones are still around. Fools, the Little ones he's talking about are still as big as I AM!'.
He turns to head on over to Rothlorien then pauses. He pulls out his sack from his backpack and pulls the Compsognathus head out and rushes them, bellowing "Looky who's gonna eat you! Yum-Yumy! Human in my Tumy!"
Dapple (Kathy) Friday January 13th, 2023 11:27:31 PM
Dapple closes her eyes for a moment. Kazzor and Grim mean well, but half-orcs bellowing at the townsfolk is probably not the ideal strategy.
"If the town sounds safe to you," she says, "then we've been describing it wrong. There are still many, many dinosaurs, most of them carnivorous. Would you go out there if there were a few dozen hungry lions waiting for you? We don't need to stay in this cave forever, but we do need to stay until the dinos run out of food and go somewhere else."
Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard AC 14/14/12 HP: 14/14 d20+7=17 ; Sunday January 15th, 2023 11:59:09 PM
"Boys, boys," Yofiel moves to face the two members of the away team who issued vehement rebukes against those who want to return to town. "They are not fools. They feel cooped up, and want to get out and reclaim what the lizards have taken. They are showing a measure of bravery. And wanting to bury the bodies of those who died, and honoring them, is a noble desire. Let us show them some respect - those who want to do so are not fools for having such a desire. So, please, let us drop the name calling."
Then she turns her back on Grim, specifically, and faces those who were advocating for returning to the town.
"Keep in mind, though, that even the little ones can kill you. They spit poison, and it weakens you quickly, and they gang up on you. The larger ones - 'medium-sized,' - right? They can rip your arm, or head, right off. And they practice team tactics.
"So, my request to those who want to rush out right away is this: Prepare. We brought some weapons. Who of you have skills with them? Who can learn?
"Rothlorien, are you open to gauging the skill sets of those who want to go out? Because if a bit of testing and training can be set up, drills run, and abilities known, then, after that, several may be made ready to do as they are asking.
"But in the meantime, let those of us who have proven we - each one of us an adventurer - let us go out again, clear out more of the lizards, and report back when we have most of them, or all of them, dead, or captive.
"It is possible that one or more of us may die as we endeavor to finish clearing out the invaders. I pray that does not happen. Please, you also pray for us, for our safety.
"We need someone to help plan the rebuilding, also. And doing so in such a way that we will be able better to defend should such an attack recur in the future. Also - who of you know how to run the lift? And who has carpentry skills?"
"Last thing: Our large companions here speak so boldly because they do NOT want harm to come to you. Their words may have upset or angered some of you, or caused others of you to fear.
"I think their point is: Respect how even the smaller critters can harm us... and take time to prepare, as we whittle down the worst of them. Does that sound okay to you all?" ========== Diplomacy: 17
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