Erenaeth catches up from his rearguard position and steps out from the tree line onto the road, next to the party. He peeks around the corner to see what everyone is looking at, and speaks, "Something feels amiss. Perhaps we should remain on our guard. I would suggest a quick perimeter check. I can be back in a moment?" Erenaeth appears to be waiting for acknowledgement before heading off, meanwhile he scans the area near the party and wagon.
Leek recoils from the contact with Kitryn, shaking off her hand. He then looks up to the sky and begins to make loud bird-like noises. Surprisingly, the birds that some party members were not even aware of, make cawing sounds in response.
Rindelk brandishes his arcane focus, speaks a few quiet words and a shimmer appears around his form. He then looks around and listens, the quietness of the wildlife, which is expected as the party was travelling, suddenly being broken by the cawing from Leek and then the birds above. Speaking almost on top of Erenaeth, Rindelk whispers for the whole group to hear, "Look, we either walk up the road and take our chances, or we scout the woods around the road to see if this really is a trap. If we scout the wood, should we all go together?"
Leek whispers to the others: The predators are still around. They are keeping the birds at bay...
Rolling perception, specifically searching for these "predators"
[roll]1d20 + 2 /roll]
OOC: Almost had it. You're missing a bracket: [/roll]
I'll do the roll for you: 9
You look around, but you can't see, smell or hear anything. That being said, there's near 50 feet of treeline between you and the dead horses, and the treeline is thick enough it wouldn't be hard to effectively hide within 10 feet from the road.
ooc I think I understand, but please correct if I am wrong.
Katerielle wishes to investigate in order to find artefacts. She does not wish to fight, but will need to keep protection around the group.
ooc what would she roll and how?
OOC: Finding artifacts is probably your life's goal, but in this specific situation there's no reason to think there are artifacts nearby. You took a job to escort a wagon to Phandalin with a promise for an offer of something along your line of expertise once there. But right now there's something blocking the road on a stretch that is known for not being safe. You and the others need to figure out how to keep going and survive the job.
Look at your skills, what you're good at. The higher the number, the better you are at that. Even if you are not good at a skill, you can still try and hope for a natural 20. Those are always successes, no matter what. Also look at your spells. How could your spells be used to help in this situation? For example, you have the spell Beast Bond and Leek tends to have a little pet with him. If Leek lets you, you can bond his pet and it can go scouting the the woods along the road, letting you know what it sees. Or you can sneak in the woods yourself to try to see enemies before they see you. Or, you can be blazen and just walk down the road, setting off the trap if there is one.
How do you want to solve this situation, on your own, or working as a team with your party?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
noticing Rindelk cast a spell; " well looks like one of you elves has the sense to expect trouble now.."
addressing Rindelk directly and the group generally " we've not an ounce of mail nor shield amoung us, i'm not one to allow the enemy to hold the advantage of us blundering into the open to join those two (points to horses). Leek, can you walk the wood without another racket of broken twigs? or maybe send that mouse familiar of yours? better even i'll join in.. if you take the south wood and i the north, let us see from closer on, caw like the birds twice as you have and we will return to tell the others what lays ahead"
I move within the wood ( assume 2x to cover 50 feet) and be parallel the horses (stealth) 1817
OOC: game pieces are stacked up to the right(west) of horses, by my count 16squares/80ft/3turns away i assume that to be wrong. is that correct? i can't figure out the cord from that, i'm backwards? if my earlier post is correct (left right as seen, up down mirror) was correct then i move t17 then r12? can you see in map? i also own my failure roll.. and allow the other to revel in my shame! (ie successfully navigate my way through the woods, as i approach the horses to investigate my concern is so focused that i forget the basics of my craft, stepping on entrails and fat warmed by the sun i lose footing and slip face first into the rotting flesh) =p there i DM'd for ya
OOC: game pieces are stacked up to the right(west) of horses, by my count 16squares/80ft/3turns away i assume that to be wrong. is that correct? i can't figure out the cord from that, i'm backwards? if my earlier post is correct (left right as seen, up down mirror) was correct then i move t17 then r12? can you see in map? i also own my failure roll.. and allow the other to revel in my shame! (ie successfully navigate my way through the woods, as i approach the horses to investigate my concern is so focused that i forget the basics of my craft, stepping on entrails and fat warmed by the sun i lose footing and slip face first into the rotting flesh) =p there i DM'd for ya
OOC: I regret not taking the time to flip the map. It's confusing you. Forget the cardinal directions for this map. You are traveling from bottom right to top left. The stacked tokens are where your party is now.
Your character has a walking speed of 30 feet. If you want to do stuff, you pretty much have to stick to walking. Each square is 5 feet, so you can move 6 squares. The foliage/trees/forest should be considered difficult terrain, which cuts your speed in half. But we're just learning here, so I'll work difficult terrain in another situation.
Look at Roll20. I'm going to draw an example of a path you can take, using 2 turns worth of movement.
And, I'll work on creating an overlay that shows the rows numbers and column letters right on the map. It'll make everything easier.
EDIT: Fixed the map. Those are your positions, and you're all now approx. 50 ft from the dead horses.
Has a decision been made? Are we walking down the road or scouting the woods? I vote for scouting. While scouting I will speak to any animal I can find to try and get intel.
If we do choose to scout, I would double back and head up what seems a rocky outcrop (perfect place for people to ambush us from, maybe) and end at around N2. If no one is there, at least I'll have a nice bird's eye view of the surroundings.
ooc: that path is about right. i was basically looking to be within range for a proper investigate. creeping within the woods and doing a perception check before leaving cover to look up close.
i thought 2 turns at max move of 30 feet.. i'm fine with the extra time moving in thick cover if everyone else is ok with all the the turns taken until something happens (we return or trigger a trap event). if you want the extra rolls, i'll do em. we'll learn as we go.
sounds like Leek an i both heading on the same side of road, i'll swap to the low side (f8/e7)via (i13) if that works. do you want to go into PM for what we do as we go along till we regroup or do it in public so every can benefit from the visible mechanics?
i drew some lines in D20 map
Leek your double back action is like 5 turns or (10 if heavy applied) or the direct route up the cliff?
if you're intent to go the i'll be at the horses first, i'll need a signal that you have arrived before leaving cover? anyone else want to take actions while we move do stuff and then move back?
OOC: I have updated Roll20 to show the path I interpret Leek wanting to take (red dots). Kitryn is going to move to F9 and wait for "a signal" from Leek to move closer to the dead horses.
I will be busy tomorrow, and won't post or update until evening, so the rest of the party has until then to make plans and describe their movement or actions. When I log on, I'll move this story forward.
ooc; Kerrec is letting us roll 1 action check for the 'plan' vs a check every 30 feet and will let us know if we are interupted via our rolls or a trigger.
so going back with existing rolls averaged i've got a 12 for stealth and a story for my original failure!
some brief chatter between Kitryn and Leek seems to have yielded an agreement, Kirtyn will take the shorter route and wait on a "signal" of all clear from Leek once he reaches his vantage point via a longer but safer approach of the cliff.
having just chided the gnome for his broken branch racket, Kitryn begins her movement across the road and into the wood. a large fallen tree is perched as waist height. not willing to crawl under, she executes a hand vault over the timber, only to be met by the moisture of rotten wood.. thought slighter in frame than nearly all her kind she is she heavy enough to see her hands yield deep into the log, barely able to hold the landing on the other side, her brief relief is halted as the damaged timber now yields under its own weight and crashes to the forest floor with the heavy thud of splintering wetrot.. if she had turned for any to see before disappearing into the shadows.. one could have answered the question of whether a half orc can blush from embarrassment.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: Erenaeth emailed me, indicating he wants to provide cover for Kitryn. My interpretation to that is; He will follow Kitryn to the spot where they'll wait for Leeks' signal, then he'll cover Kitryn as Kitryn goes to investigate the dead horses.
Erenaeth Stealth: 18 and Perception: 17
UPDATE: Rindelk emailed me, asking to follow Kitryn.
Leek doubles back with the intention of climbing to the top of the small cliff face, to view the situation from a better perspective. Kitryn decides to move closer to the dead horses, under cover of the forest to wait for some signal from Leek that it is all clear. At that point, Kitryn will move onto the road to investigate the horses. Erenaeth and Rindelk decide to follow Kitryn and provide cover from the behind the trees. Katerielle moves back to the oxen and the wagon, to protect it from a potential rear action.
As Kitryn enters the thicker foliage, she attempts to vault a large fallen tree trunk. However, it was much more rotten then anticipated and instead Kitryn causes it to crash down to the ground due to her weight. Erenaeth and Rindelk shake their heads and prepare weapons, the element of surprise a pipe dream at this point.
Leek makes chirping and chittering noises, seeking out the creatures of the forest he knows must be around.
Katerielle vaults onto the wagon and takes the reigns, prepared.
OOC: You do not complete your plan as something occurs. Check your private messages. Roll20 map has been updated with current positions.
All of a sudden, birds take flight from the canopy of the trees, as Erenaeth shouts, "Foul creatures, taste my wrath!" followed by something screaming out gibberish in the direction Kitryn, Erenaeth and Rindelk took. Soon after, you hear a yelp of pain.
OOC: Roll initiative. See your character sheet for your modifier (at the top right) and add it to a 1d20 roll.
Erenaeth catches up from his rearguard position and steps out from the tree line onto the road, next to the party. He peeks around the corner to see what everyone is looking at, and speaks, "Something feels amiss. Perhaps we should remain on our guard. I would suggest a quick perimeter check. I can be back in a moment?" Erenaeth appears to be waiting for acknowledgement before heading off, meanwhile he scans the area near the party and wagon.
Leek recoils from the contact with Kitryn, shaking off her hand. He then looks up to the sky and begins to make loud bird-like noises. Surprisingly, the birds that some party members were not even aware of, make cawing sounds in response.
Rindelk brandishes his arcane focus, speaks a few quiet words and a shimmer appears around his form. He then looks around and listens, the quietness of the wildlife, which is expected as the party was travelling, suddenly being broken by the cawing from Leek and then the birds above. Speaking almost on top of Erenaeth, Rindelk whispers for the whole group to hear, "Look, we either walk up the road and take our chances, or we scout the woods around the road to see if this really is a trap. If we scout the wood, should we all go together?"
Leek whispers to the others: The predators are still around. They are keeping the birds at bay...
Rolling perception, specifically searching for these "predators"
[roll]1d20 + 2 /roll]
ooc I think I understand, but please correct if I am wrong.
Katerielle wishes to investigate in order to find artefacts. She does not wish to fight, but will need to keep protection around the group.
ooc what would she roll and how?
noticing Rindelk cast a spell; " well looks like one of you elves has the sense to expect trouble now.."
addressing Rindelk directly and the group generally " we've not an ounce of mail nor shield amoung us, i'm not one to allow the enemy to hold the advantage of us blundering into the open to join those two (points to horses). Leek, can you walk the wood without another racket of broken twigs? or maybe send that mouse familiar of yours? better even i'll join in.. if you take the south wood and i the north, let us see from closer on, caw like the birds twice as you have and we will return to tell the others what lays ahead"
I move within the wood ( assume 2x to cover 50 feet) and be parallel the horses (stealth) 18 17
if successful perception check 15
if no threat investigation of horses close 14
ooc.. apparently Leek is not the only one to trip on branches.. doh! roll for embarrassment natural 20!
too early for that inspiration re-roll?
OOC: No, not too late. But an inspiration dice lets you roll that dice and add it to the total. It's not a reroll. Use it if you want to.
If you're moving, give me coordinates. You can give me several if you're not travelling in a straight line.
Kitryn has queued up 2 turns worth of movement. Everyone else give me 2 turns worth of actions and I'll narrate what happens.
OOC: game pieces are stacked up to the right(west) of horses, by my count 16squares/80ft/3turns away i assume that to be wrong. is that correct? i can't figure out the cord from that, i'm backwards? if my earlier post is correct (left right as seen, up down mirror) was correct then i move t17 then r12? can you see in map? i also own my failure roll.. and allow the other to revel in my shame! (ie successfully navigate my way through the woods, as i approach the horses to investigate my concern is so focused that i forget the basics of my craft, stepping on entrails and fat warmed by the sun i lose footing and slip face first into the rotting flesh) =p there i DM'd for ya
Has a decision been made? Are we walking down the road or scouting the woods? I vote for scouting. While scouting I will speak to any animal I can find to try and get intel.
If we do choose to scout, I would double back and head up what seems a rocky outcrop (perfect place for people to ambush us from, maybe) and end at around N2. If no one is there, at least I'll have a nice bird's eye view of the surroundings.
Sneak roll [roll]1d20 + 2 /[roll]
Perception roll [roll]1d20 + 2 /[roll]
OOC: Kitryn wanted to make two movements to approach the horses, staying in the treeline. I can work with that.
Leek gave me enough direction to complete his movement. I'll fix his rolls (the slash goes in the brackets).
I'd like for Eren to tell me a direction or a destination for his sweep and that will be enough to narrate the next bit
ooc: that path is about right. i was basically looking to be within range for a proper investigate. creeping within the woods and doing a perception check before leaving cover to look up close.
i thought 2 turns at max move of 30 feet.. i'm fine with the extra time moving in thick cover if everyone else is ok with all the the turns taken until something happens (we return or trigger a trap event). if you want the extra rolls, i'll do em. we'll learn as we go.
sounds like Leek an i both heading on the same side of road, i'll swap to the low side (f8/e7)via (i13) if that works. do you want to go into PM for what we do as we go along till we regroup or do it in public so every can benefit from the visible mechanics?
i drew some lines in D20 map
Leek your double back action is like 5 turns or (10 if heavy applied) or the direct route up the cliff?
if you're intent to go the i'll be at the horses first, i'll need a signal that you have arrived before leaving cover? anyone else want to take actions while we move do stuff and then move back?
OOC: I have updated Roll20 to show the path I interpret Leek wanting to take (red dots). Kitryn is going to move to F9 and wait for "a signal" from Leek to move closer to the dead horses.
I will be busy tomorrow, and won't post or update until evening, so the rest of the party has until then to make plans and describe their movement or actions. When I log on, I'll move this story forward.
ooc; Kerrec is letting us roll 1 action check for the 'plan' vs a check every 30 feet and will let us know if we are interupted via our rolls or a trigger.
so going back with existing rolls averaged i've got a 12 for stealth and a story for my original failure!
some brief chatter between Kitryn and Leek seems to have yielded an agreement, Kirtyn will take the shorter route and wait on a "signal" of all clear from Leek once he reaches his vantage point via a longer but safer approach of the cliff.
having just chided the gnome for his broken branch racket, Kitryn begins her movement across the road and into the wood. a large fallen tree is perched as waist height. not willing to crawl under, she executes a hand vault over the timber, only to be met by the moisture of rotten wood.. thought slighter in frame than nearly all her kind she is she heavy enough to see her hands yield deep into the log, barely able to hold the landing on the other side, her brief relief is halted as the damaged timber now yields under its own weight and crashes to the forest floor with the heavy thud of splintering wetrot.. if she had turned for any to see before disappearing into the shadows.. one could have answered the question of whether a half orc can blush from embarrassment.
OOC: Erenaeth emailed me, indicating he wants to provide cover for Kitryn. My interpretation to that is; He will follow Kitryn to the spot where they'll wait for Leeks' signal, then he'll cover Kitryn as Kitryn goes to investigate the dead horses.
Erenaeth Stealth: 18 and Perception: 17
UPDATE: Rindelk emailed me, asking to follow Kitryn.
Rindelk Stealth: 10, Perception 22
Leek doubles back with the intention of climbing to the top of the small cliff face, to view the situation from a better perspective. Kitryn decides to move closer to the dead horses, under cover of the forest to wait for some signal from Leek that it is all clear. At that point, Kitryn will move onto the road to investigate the horses. Erenaeth and Rindelk decide to follow Kitryn and provide cover from the behind the trees. Katerielle moves back to the oxen and the wagon, to protect it from a potential rear action.
As Kitryn enters the thicker foliage, she attempts to vault a large fallen tree trunk. However, it was much more rotten then anticipated and instead Kitryn causes it to crash down to the ground due to her weight. Erenaeth and Rindelk shake their heads and prepare weapons, the element of surprise a pipe dream at this point.
Leek makes chirping and chittering noises, seeking out the creatures of the forest he knows must be around.
Katerielle vaults onto the wagon and takes the reigns, prepared.
OOC: You do not complete your plan as something occurs. Check your private messages. Roll20 map has been updated with current positions.
All of a sudden, birds take flight from the canopy of the trees, as Erenaeth shouts, "Foul creatures, taste my wrath!" followed by something screaming out gibberish in the direction Kitryn, Erenaeth and Rindelk took. Soon after, you hear a yelp of pain.
OOC: Roll initiative. See your character sheet for your modifier (at the top right) and add it to a 1d20 roll.
Initiative roll : [roll]1d20 + 2 [/roll]