As they lead the oxen and cart to the hiding place Mal opens up a crate that Crom pointed out had some dried foodstuffs in and drags it to the very back of the cart before hopping off,
"Ok eat well from here so we don't use up the rations we have on us, once we've eaten our fill we move. we don't know if this excursion wil take a couple of hours or a full day, so this might be the last chance we get for a while."
Once people have eaten, if they accept, Mal gladly accepts the help to hid the cart, moving foliage and loose flora over the cart, evey now and again walking back to the trail and looking in to make sure the cart cannot be spotted.
Calantha helps Mal cover the cart with foliage after she ate a quick meal from the food that was in the cart. Once the cart is fully covered, she turns back to Crom.
"Looks like it's time to go and rescue our employers," she says. "Can you lead the way, Crom?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Crom stretches some of the stiffness out of his leg. "Yeah, shouldn't have too much trouble locating their tracks again."They hadn't been subtle.
He begins quietly laying out his plans as he leads the group up the road. "Okay, everyone stick close to the north bank so we are harder to see from above. Now, we're heading into my kind of turf, so once we get to the trail back up the road, follow along in a single file line 30 ft behind me. Someone small and quiet should be up front. Maybe Ink or Chensica so they can provide support from a distance while I fall back if we run into trouble. I take it that lion's roar during the last fight was your doin', Chensica? That was good. Calantha and Mal, your armour makes a lot of noise when you move, so I would suggest you take up the rear guard, but keep yer wits about you. Ragnarok, you know how to step lightly when you need to, right? You I think would be best near the front, ready to rush in if need be.
If I do this-" Crom holds up his hand in a fist "-it means stop moving and be quiet. If I do this-" he repeats the motion, but this time his hand is open, fingers together "-it means advance to my position, be quiet and wait while I go off the trail. I won't go more 'an 30 feet though, because I think Mal's right about splittin' the group. This- " he points to the side "-enemy coming, be quiet, get off the trail, and prepare to ambush when I whistle. And if I be doin' none of he above, that means be quiet. Pickin' up on a theme here?" He looks back at the group with his awkward smile. "Any questions, concerns, critiques, or addede- addendums?" His smile fades a bit in embarrassment as he trips over the last word of his confident speech.
26 on Survival in case Gorgogi wants me to make a new tracking roll
Ink brushes a few food crumbs from the front of his robe and readies himself for the hike.
"Friends, the bit of magic I've used today has left me with minimal ability to tap into the arcane until I've taken a good night's rest. Just a few cantrips...mage hand and mind sliver and a bit of illusion...that's all I can muster. I can offer, however, the services of Master Po..." (as he draws a tawny-colored weasel from his robe pocket)"...who might be helpful if the situation is right."
Ink then goes on to explain that he communicates telepathically with Master Po and, furthermore, can see and hear what Po sees and hears. "So long as the little fellow isn't too far away, of course."
Ink tucks the weasel away, and says, "So, there you have it. Master Po is at the ready."
"Magnificent,"Crom breathes. "He may serve as a better scout than me. Small, quiet, and best of all, not like to set of any alarms even if he's spotted. What if I hang back closer ta the group while Master Po sweeps the area before us lettin' ya know of any danger? S'that somethin' the two a' you could pull off?" he asks Ink.
"Anyone who has a problem being stealthy should stick to me, if you Crom give me a heads up when we get close to the encampment I can cover our sound with a trick I've known since I was a lad, as for you Ink it might be safer to stay back, If you can mess with their minds from a distance that's a good strat"
As Mal listens to the codes and ideas of Crom's he shuffles toward Calantha, looking more at the floor whilst they walk than Calantha herself he half mumbles in a conspiratorial tone;
Erm.. we have some similar fightin styles and we've got the armour an the shields and all that, I think we should stick together in fights an try to draw the attacks from Rag over there, He's all healed up now but he looked like crap earlier, don't want that to happen again.. and uhh thanks for the compliments, looks like you were meant to be more than a blacksmith after all, I'm just hoping the same can be said for me.
Calantha nods as Crom lays out the plan for tracking down the goblins. With luck they would be able to ambush the ambushers.
"I'll bring up the rear with Mal and try not to make too much noise," she says, wincing at the heavy chain mail armor she wears. Stealthy she is not. She's never had much of a taste for it anyway. A straight-up fight is more her style. She can't wait to get revenge on the little goblin bastards and rescue their employers from whatever devilish fate the green buggers have concocted for them.
As Ink tells the party about Master Po, she marvels at the little creature. If he could be as quiet and stealthy as Ink says, they might well be able to take the goblins by surprise after all.
Calantha is surprised by Mal's words, but she smiles at the old genasi and whispers back to him.
"Sounds like you've still got a few tricks up your sleeves, Mal," she whispers. "And thank you. Yes, when the fight breaks out let's try to get the goblins' attention focused on us and not our new friends." She looks pointedly at Ink and Chensica as she says this; with their size, she has no doubt the goblins could fit them in a stew pot or something else terrible. Ragnarok also took quite the beating from the nasty creatures.
"Magnificent,"Crom breathes. "He may serve as a better scout than me. Small, quiet, and best of all, not like to set of any alarms even if he's spotted. What if I hang back closer ta the group while Master Po sweeps the area before us lettin' ya know of any danger? S'that somethin' the two a' you could pull off?" he asks Ink.
"Without question," replies Ink. "Whatever Po sees and hears will be relayed to the rest of the group. If he's within a hundred feet of me, that is."
After covering up the cart sufficiently you all begin to make your way back on the trail to where you were ambushed. It is nearing mid-day as you set off, the sun high in the sky and beating down. Fortunately the trail is a bit overgrown, so the trees around provide a bit of shade.
The forest is peaceful as you march your way back to the west. Again the loudest sounds are your footsteps and the clanking of your gear, but without the oxen and cart adding to the chorus the silence of the woods sets in.
Eventually you see the horses in the road again and Crom leads you all to the edge of the woods where a trail that was hard to see before becomes clear to everyone, leading off into the woods.
As they reach the ambush site and start along the trail, Mal swaps out his mace for his longer and slightly lighter morningstar, the weapon is very obviously homemade and far from perfect, the misaligned spikes look more like they might mulch flesh and muscle into a wet pulp rather than simply pierce skin and break bone. Mal clears his throat and reveiws the plan as they progress.
"So Mister Po and Mister Crom are on scouting detail, you'll warn us when we get close and I'll stealth up Myself, Ragnarok and Calantha, as the assault group. then Crom guides Ink and Chensica to a vantage point to support. is that correct? I'm not missing anything out, Right?"
Crom, Chensica are either of you good with climbing trees? I reckon if they have a camp then the easiest way to tell distance is to look for the smoke from their fires.."
Crom looks Chensica up and down. "It coudn't hurt, though it may be early yet for them to have fires a goin'. Still, I canhelpya out with a boost up," he says to Chensica. "If yer comfortable with heights, that is"
Calantha follows the others along the trail, bringing up the rear with Mal and Ragnarok. The plan as Mal lays it out seems sound to her. She can only hope that they will be able to rescue their employer in time. Who only knew what the goblins had planned for them?
"I'm ready for a little goblin hunting," she says with a grim smile.
Crom continues to guide the party quietly along the trail, pausing occasionally to inspect a foot print or a broken branch, or to look back at Ink for confirmation that Master Po had not encountered any threats yet, all while keeping his own eyes trained on the woods all around for any dangers or important details.
“I’m not particularly great with climbin or spotting for that matter” says Chensica as they follow the trail. “However” she gives a little nonchalant shrug and says:“I’ve got a knack for staying hidden and remaining out of sight “ (stealth).
”We obviously have trackers already but, for what it’s worth!”
Ink nods in agreement with Mal. "No time for whimsical tunes. Understood. Nervous habit."
To Crom's offer, Ink replies, "A good time indeed."
And with whatever strength and skill he has, the gnome contributes to the effort of hiding the oxen and wagon.
As they lead the oxen and cart to the hiding place Mal opens up a crate that Crom pointed out had some dried foodstuffs in and drags it to the very back of the cart before hopping off,
"Ok eat well from here so we don't use up the rations we have on us, once we've eaten our fill we move. we don't know if this excursion wil take a couple of hours or a full day, so this might be the last chance we get for a while."
Once people have eaten, if they accept, Mal gladly accepts the help to hid the cart, moving foliage and loose flora over the cart, evey now and again walking back to the trail and looking in to make sure the cart cannot be spotted.
Survival; 16
Calantha helps Mal cover the cart with foliage after she ate a quick meal from the food that was in the cart. Once the cart is fully covered, she turns back to Crom.
"Looks like it's time to go and rescue our employers," she says. "Can you lead the way, Crom?"
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Second survival roll from Mal, for the advantage; 9
Crom stretches some of the stiffness out of his leg. "Yeah, shouldn't have too much trouble locating their tracks again." They hadn't been subtle.
He begins quietly laying out his plans as he leads the group up the road. "Okay, everyone stick close to the north bank so we are harder to see from above. Now, we're heading into my kind of turf, so once we get to the trail back up the road, follow along in a single file line 30 ft behind me. Someone small and quiet should be up front. Maybe Ink or Chensica so they can provide support from a distance while I fall back if we run into trouble. I take it that lion's roar during the last fight was your doin', Chensica? That was good. Calantha and Mal, your armour makes a lot of noise when you move, so I would suggest you take up the rear guard, but keep yer wits about you. Ragnarok, you know how to step lightly when you need to, right? You I think would be best near the front, ready to rush in if need be.
If I do this-" Crom holds up his hand in a fist "-it means stop moving and be quiet. If I do this-" he repeats the motion, but this time his hand is open, fingers together "-it means advance to my position, be quiet and wait while I go off the trail. I won't go more 'an 30 feet though, because I think Mal's right about splittin' the group. This- " he points to the side "-enemy coming, be quiet, get off the trail, and prepare to ambush when I whistle. And if I be doin' none of he above, that means be quiet. Pickin' up on a theme here?" He looks back at the group with his awkward smile. "Any questions, concerns, critiques, or addede- addendums?" His smile fades a bit in embarrassment as he trips over the last word of his confident speech.
26 on Survival in case Gorgogi wants me to make a new tracking roll
Ink brushes a few food crumbs from the front of his robe and readies himself for the hike.
"Friends, the bit of magic I've used today has left me with minimal ability to tap into the arcane until I've taken a good night's rest. Just a few cantrips...mage hand and mind sliver and a bit of illusion...that's all I can muster. I can offer, however, the services of Master Po..." (as he draws a tawny-colored weasel from his robe pocket) "...who might be helpful if the situation is right."
Ink then goes on to explain that he communicates telepathically with Master Po and, furthermore, can see and hear what Po sees and hears. "So long as the little fellow isn't too far away, of course."
Ink tucks the weasel away, and says, "So, there you have it. Master Po is at the ready."
"Magnificent," Crom breathes. "He may serve as a better scout than me. Small, quiet, and best of all, not like to set of any alarms even if he's spotted. What if I hang back closer ta the group while Master Po sweeps the area before us lettin' ya know of any danger? S'that somethin' the two a' you could pull off?" he asks Ink.
"Anyone who has a problem being stealthy should stick to me, if you Crom give me a heads up when we get close to the encampment I can cover our sound with a trick I've known since I was a lad, as for you Ink it might be safer to stay back, If you can mess with their minds from a distance that's a good strat"
As Mal listens to the codes and ideas of Crom's he shuffles toward Calantha, looking more at the floor whilst they walk than Calantha herself he half mumbles in a conspiratorial tone;
Erm.. we have some similar fightin styles and we've got the armour an the shields and all that, I think we should stick together in fights an try to draw the attacks from Rag over there, He's all healed up now but he looked like crap earlier, don't want that to happen again.. and uhh thanks for the compliments, looks like you were meant to be more than a blacksmith after all, I'm just hoping the same can be said for me.
Calantha nods as Crom lays out the plan for tracking down the goblins. With luck they would be able to ambush the ambushers.
"I'll bring up the rear with Mal and try not to make too much noise," she says, wincing at the heavy chain mail armor she wears. Stealthy she is not. She's never had much of a taste for it anyway. A straight-up fight is more her style. She can't wait to get revenge on the little goblin bastards and rescue their employers from whatever devilish fate the green buggers have concocted for them.
As Ink tells the party about Master Po, she marvels at the little creature. If he could be as quiet and stealthy as Ink says, they might well be able to take the goblins by surprise after all.
Calantha is surprised by Mal's words, but she smiles at the old genasi and whispers back to him.
"Sounds like you've still got a few tricks up your sleeves, Mal," she whispers. "And thank you. Yes, when the fight breaks out let's try to get the goblins' attention focused on us and not our new friends." She looks pointedly at Ink and Chensica as she says this; with their size, she has no doubt the goblins could fit them in a stew pot or something else terrible. Ragnarok also took quite the beating from the nasty creatures.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
"Without question," replies Ink. "Whatever Po sees and hears will be relayed to the rest of the group. If he's within a hundred feet of me, that is."
After covering up the cart sufficiently you all begin to make your way back on the trail to where you were ambushed. It is nearing mid-day as you set off, the sun high in the sky and beating down. Fortunately the trail is a bit overgrown, so the trees around provide a bit of shade.
The forest is peaceful as you march your way back to the west. Again the loudest sounds are your footsteps and the clanking of your gear, but without the oxen and cart adding to the chorus the silence of the woods sets in.
Eventually you see the horses in the road again and Crom leads you all to the edge of the woods where a trail that was hard to see before becomes clear to everyone, leading off into the woods.
As they reach the ambush site and start along the trail, Mal swaps out his mace for his longer and slightly lighter morningstar, the weapon is very obviously homemade and far from perfect, the misaligned spikes look more like they might mulch flesh and muscle into a wet pulp rather than simply pierce skin and break bone. Mal clears his throat and reveiws the plan as they progress.
"So Mister Po and Mister Crom are on scouting detail, you'll warn us when we get close and I'll stealth up Myself, Ragnarok and Calantha, as the assault group. then Crom guides Ink and Chensica to a vantage point to support. is that correct? I'm not missing anything out, Right?"
Crom, Chensica are either of you good with climbing trees? I reckon if they have a camp then the easiest way to tell distance is to look for the smoke from their fires.."
Crom looks Chensica up and down. "It coudn't hurt, though it may be early yet for them to have fires a goin'. Still, I can help ya out with a boost up," he says to Chensica. "If yer comfortable with heights, that is"
Calantha follows the others along the trail, bringing up the rear with Mal and Ragnarok. The plan as Mal lays it out seems sound to her. She can only hope that they will be able to rescue their employer in time. Who only knew what the goblins had planned for them?
"I'm ready for a little goblin hunting," she says with a grim smile.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Crom continues to guide the party quietly along the trail, pausing occasionally to inspect a foot print or a broken branch, or to look back at Ink for confirmation that Master Po had not encountered any threats yet, all while keeping his own eyes trained on the woods all around for any dangers or important details.
Perception: 15
“I’m not particularly great with climbin or spotting for that matter” says Chensica as they follow the trail. “However” she gives a little nonchalant shrug and says: “I’ve got a knack for staying hidden and remaining out of sight “ (stealth).
”We obviously have trackers already but, for what it’s worth!”
Ink shakes his head and whispers, "Po senses nothing. If you see anything ahead worthy of investigation, say the word and we'll send him as a scout."