((A solo breakout for the forest of wonders administrated adventures, to get the hand of it))
The morning saw Faith Fal’mann outside the inn. The sun had only just risen, but even with the directions and the map that Sylpeiros’ assistant had given to guide Faith to the archmage’s camp Faith had no reason to hang about. New as he was, even he knew the reputation of the forest of wonders; the way it could change and turn the moment you took your eye off it, and the strange phenomenon that sprouted from nowhere and vanished into nowhere almost by the day.
The boulevard took him down a spacious path to the easterly gate, down the rise from the west of the city. From here, he could see over the wall to the canopy of the nearest forest and the ancient trees that grew almost up clear to the gatehouse. Like a sea, the forest stretched to the horizon, and like a sea, the wind rippled the canopy to create the impression of waves.
There were few on the street at this time in the morning and Faith made it almost to the guardhouse before the others caught up to him.
“Ho! Hold there, Stranger. You. In the white leather armor.”
Clear enough now that he was the one being called for, he stopped to see four well equipped strangers approaching him at a quick march. Two wore heavy armor, that looked well worn and well cared for. Bringing up the rear a human man and a half-elfen woman bore large crossbows on their back.
The largest of the four, a two handed great sword on his back, was the one who stepped forward.
“You’ll be the one with the map to Sylvanos? Change of plans, we’ve worked with the Arcanist Forest Society before and got back yesterday. They want us to take the case, now we’re available.”
He smiled kindly at Faith. “I’m glad we managed to catch you before you went out there alone. You’re brave, but maybe not very wise. Or very, very new.”
Faith hesitated. Though the promised spell scroll was a generous reward, it wasn’t the reason he had agreed to help. He was here to challenge himself, to take risk, to grow and so by diminish the enemies of the heavens.
“No reason we can’t all go together,” offered Faith.
At that, the stranger’s smile drops. Without it, the scarred man’s face looks much less kind.
It’s immediately clear to Faith the game these ‘officially sanctioned’ adventurers are playing. He takes out the rolled up map and unrolls it, showing it to the larger man. Before he can do much more than glance it, Faith rolls it up again and stows it on the side of his backpack.
“First one there gets it, I say, and good luck.”
The scarred veteran growls, but before he can do more than take a step forward, Faith turns the ring on his finger and whispers in old Primordial. His voice crackles and spits like a log fire. With that, he turns invisible and runs out the gate house and into the shadows of the treeline. While he does little to disguise the noise of his footsteps, the competing adventurers are left flat footed.
Once he slows, and begins to pick his way through the treeline, he does what he can to head in the direction the map had indicated.
He sends his eagle up with directions to look for the camp while he focuses on making his way through the forest without making too much noise. It’s not just those following him that Faith is thinking of. The dappling of the light on the undergrowth and the dense canopy makes the early morning seem like late evening.
The camp is found quickly with the Eagle’s help, and with a cry Faith knows to take a moment to look from behind its eyes.
Goblins, more than a dozen with more than a dozen dead. He sees green and not green bodies mingled together close to a large bonfire. Three goblins pick through their bodies, squinting so close to the firelight.
Knowing exactly where to go it does not take Faith long to sneak to 60 feet from them. He takes them by surprise.
He turns the ring on his finger and mutters his Hex, targeting the one closest to him, and its nimbleness. Little more is needed. He aims his ring at the Goblin and a firey, crackling bolt of force fires forth.
The first attack launches forth like a bolt from heaven and strikes the largest goblin in the back of the neck. Its head kindles with dark flashes, and enflames, and even from a distance its veins flash black and its skin withers to become a dried husk in a matter of only seconds. Only a perfect circle is evidence of the blast that has torn through it from back to front.
With the first goblin down, Faith has little time to consider more than how unexpectedly effective it was, the sudden explosion of violence surprising the goblins more than him. Their pause gives him time to act again, he taps his ring, and the hex moves to the next closest goblin. It’s all the time needed for his eagle to fly down and distract the Goblin while he sights down his ring at the target.
((A solo breakout for the forest of wonders administrated adventures, to get the hand of it))
The morning saw Faith Fal’mann outside the inn. The sun had only just risen, but even with the directions and the map that Sylpeiros’ assistant had given to guide Faith to the archmage’s camp Faith had no reason to hang about. New as he was, even he knew the reputation of the forest of wonders; the way it could change and turn the moment you took your eye off it, and the strange phenomenon that sprouted from nowhere and vanished into nowhere almost by the day.
The boulevard took him down a spacious path to the easterly gate, down the rise from the west of the city. From here, he could see over the wall to the canopy of the nearest forest and the ancient trees that grew almost up clear to the gatehouse. Like a sea, the forest stretched to the horizon, and like a sea, the wind rippled the canopy to create the impression of waves.
There were few on the street at this time in the morning and Faith made it almost to the guardhouse before the others caught up to him.
“Ho! Hold there, Stranger. You. In the white leather armor.”
Clear enough now that he was the one being called for, he stopped to see four well equipped strangers approaching him at a quick march. Two wore heavy armor, that looked well worn and well cared for. Bringing up the rear a human man and a half-elfen woman bore large crossbows on their back.
The largest of the four, a two handed great sword on his back, was the one who stepped forward.
“You’ll be the one with the map to Sylvanos? Change of plans, we’ve worked with the Arcanist Forest Society before and got back yesterday. They want us to take the case, now we’re available.”
He smiled kindly at Faith. “I’m glad we managed to catch you before you went out there alone. You’re brave, but maybe not very wise. Or very, very new.”
Faith hesitated. Though the promised spell scroll was a generous reward, it wasn’t the reason he had agreed to help. He was here to challenge himself, to take risk, to grow and so by diminish the enemies of the heavens.
“No reason we can’t all go together,” offered Faith.
At that, the stranger’s smile drops. Without it, the scarred man’s face looks much less kind.
(roll insight; DC 10)
((20+3))
It’s immediately clear to Faith the game these ‘officially sanctioned’ adventurers are playing. He takes out the rolled up map and unrolls it, showing it to the larger man. Before he can do much more than glance it, Faith rolls it up again and stows it on the side of his backpack.
“First one there gets it, I say, and good luck.”
The scarred veteran growls, but before he can do more than take a step forward, Faith turns the ring on his finger and whispers in old Primordial. His voice crackles and spits like a log fire. With that, he turns invisible and runs out the gate house and into the shadows of the treeline. While he does little to disguise the noise of his footsteps, the competing adventurers are left flat footed.
Once he slows, and begins to pick his way through the treeline, he does what he can to head in the direction the map had indicated.
He sends his eagle up with directions to look for the camp while he focuses on making his way through the forest without making too much noise. It’s not just those following him that Faith is thinking of. The dappling of the light on the undergrowth and the dense canopy makes the early morning seem like late evening.
(Perception: DC 9)
(Stealth: Goblin’s passive)
(Eagle Keen sight w/ advantage (4, 23)
(stealth: 20+3)
The camp is found quickly with the Eagle’s help, and with a cry Faith knows to take a moment to look from behind its eyes.
Goblins, more than a dozen with more than a dozen dead. He sees green and not green bodies mingled together close to a large bonfire. Three goblins pick through their bodies, squinting so close to the firelight.
Knowing exactly where to go it does not take Faith long to sneak to 60 feet from them. He takes them by surprise.
He turns the ring on his finger and mutters his Hex, targeting the one closest to him, and its nimbleness. Little more is needed. He aims his ring at the Goblin and a firey, crackling bolt of force fires forth.
(Roll attack with advantage, roll initiative.)
The first attack launches forth like a bolt from heaven and strikes the largest goblin in the back of the neck. Its head kindles with dark flashes, and enflames, and even from a distance its veins flash black and its skin withers to become a dried husk in a matter of only seconds. Only a perfect circle is evidence of the blast that has torn through it from back to front.
(attack: nat 20+5) (damage: [10 + (rolled)6 + 3]force, + 2 fire, + (rolled)4 necrotic)
With the first goblin down, Faith has little time to consider more than how unexpectedly effective it was, the sudden explosion of violence surprising the goblins more than him. Their pause gives him time to act again, he taps his ring, and the hex moves to the next closest goblin. It’s all the time needed for his eagle to fly down and distract the Goblin while he sights down his ring at the target.
(Attack, 12; 21) (Damage: 6+3 force, 2 fire, 1 necrotic)
The bolt flies true as he takes his time to aim. The bolt catches on the soaked rags and the goblin catches on fire, and falls to the ground dead.
Faith moves to take cover behind a tent as the goblin runs toward him, preparing himself for what is to come.