"if none else object im willing enough to have you on, just dont stand too close behind me" vidruth says amiably enough "and if you can fight then all the better. as for thundertree, well i hope the tales are as tall as they sound" (history 15) "if they arent watch for ghosts, and regardless for goblins"
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This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic byVitaly S Alexius
Berry remembers that he had heard in a tavern in Neverwinter someone speak about Thundertree. With a gleam of excitement in his eyes, he began to recount the tale. It spoke of a brave band of explorers who dared to venture into the ruins of Thundertree, drawn by the lure of buried treasures.
"With lanterns in hand and hearts full of courage, they crept through the overgrown streets, their footsteps echoing against the crumbling walls of once-sturdy buildings. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the shadows seemed to dance with malevolent intent. As they delved deeper into the heart of the village, they stumbled upon a hidden chamber beneath the ruins of an old inn. Inside, they discovered a large cache of gold coins gleaming in the dim light, tempting them with promises of untold riches. But their triumph was short-lived, for as they reached out to claim their prizes, a deep rumbling echoed through the earth. Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, and the very stones of Thundertree seemed to cry out in agony. With a deafening roar, the ruins collapsed around them, trapping the adventurers in a tomb of rubble and dust. And though some say they can still hear the echoes of their cries carried on the wind, none have dared to brave the haunted ruins of Thundertree since that fateful day, or so they say," Berry concludes. "I should have remembered earlier, I guess I assumed we are looking for a druid and he'd be found in a grove of some sort and the name '...tree', well, I guess I wasn't thinking too much. Not sure what the druid is doing in a haunted place, but anyway, we should probably be careful in Thundertree."
vidruth listens to berry's story with obvious interest, and when its completed he laughs "i must say, it sounds much more heroic than it felt" he comments
when berry looks down he claps him on the back "chin up berry! theres no shame in recognizing an enemy's strength! besides, i dont much like the idea of facing glasstaff again myself!" he frowns "and if we can avoid making any contact with the black spider that would be best, we get our friends out and then we clear out and let the army do its job"
Nosam sits down and listens to the back and forth conversation as his brain slowly lifts from its overnight fog. Vidruth's contribution to story time causes a chuckle and big grin to appear on Nosam's face, "Ha, goin' down the water slide o' doom was indeed quite epic and heroic. Can't discount that!"
Marten clears his throat and shakes his head sharply at Berry's mention of the Wave Echo Cave. He listens with interest to Berry's tale of Thundertree, but the story doesn't give a lot of clues. When people go missing, storytellers like to spin tales of "haunted" places and ancient curses, but in his experience, it often just means that a band of goblins or perhaps a monster of some sort has taken up residence. Then again, Marten has recently seen with his own eyes skeletons that were walking around and swinging swords beneath the Tresendor Manor.
At Perrin's offer, Marten raises his eyebrows and looks around at Vidruth, Berry, and Nosam. He says uncertainly, "I don' know, Perrin. Like I said, we've faced danger 'n' death in the last couple o' weeks; I reckon we got more o' that ahead. We can't guarantee y'r safety. If you proved true 'n' helpful, I'd be happy t' give you an even share of any treasure we find. But as I said, it's a rescue mission, not a treasure hunt." Marten gives Perrin a doubtful but appraising look. He takes in the halfling's stature but notes his armor, daggers, and staff. "Other than being another body t' stand against a troop o' goblins and," with a glance at the coin that the halfling flipped, "y'r own luck, how could ye help us?"
After Perrin replies, Marten looks down as though considering Perrin's response. He shrugs uncertainly as he says something in Goblin, clearly but almost as though talking to himself:
"What do you think? Safety in numbers? Or does a stranger bring too much risk?"
However it comes about, the decision is made to head to Thundertree together. Camp is unmade, the farmer waved goodbye to up the hillside where he and a hand busily work at mending a wooden fence’s dislodged beam, and your party of five now moves eastward along the river road toward their goal or goals, depending perhaps on who you ask.
The farm abuts an area of rocky meadows where a flock of sheep grazes while a lone shepherd wearing a light hooded cloak sits on an ancient low rock wall and passes the time playing reedy notes on a shawm. But it is the last farm on the road before rocky meadows lead to rocks alone, and the road cuts through gray shale before passing another mile of, first, a copse of verdant growth clinging to the rocks, and then, a blackened area of dead forest. A fire burned here some time ago and the wood never recovered. One would conjecture that a pair of half-buried, shining black boulders may have been the fiery cause of the conflagration here years ago.
Fifteen minutes later and you are on the edge of ruins, where, under black, ashy mud an old paved path of pink flagstones peeks out from time to time.
It is mid-morning by now, the sun having caused you to squint and adjust the brims of your caps to avoid its bright gaze directly ahead of you as you hiked, and now the sun hangs above the ruins, backlighting the stony husks of hillside homes and edifices that stand crowded together in what must have once been a comfort to approaching travelers, but whose upper floors now loom upon the steep incline, overgrown with vines and moss, crumbling and bearing the sad tale of lives torn apart in a single day by what must have seemed to its inhabitants a tragic and tyrannical act of divine punishment.
(OOC: you have not yet entered the ruins and you shouldn’t yet post that you do. I’ll place you on a map after you have had a chance to describe your character’s thoughts, reactions, passage through the preceding hike.)
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DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
As Berry ascended the rugged path toward the abandoned village, he couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy wash over him at the sight of the crumbling ruins. The once vibrant homes now stood as silent witnesses to the passage of time, their decay a poignant reminder of the lives that once thrived within their walls. With each step, Berry couldn't shake the sense of sorrow that enveloped him, imagining the stories of the villagers who had called this place home, now lost to history. Surely, they would have had a harvest festival just about this time of year, a thought that deepens his melancholic feeling further.
In all of the stories he heard of Thundertree, one common thread was that adventurers did not return, so in anticipation of an ambush or whatnot, he dons his shield and keeps his new scimitar in easy reach. It's already much easier walking since Nala carries the bulk of his pack, he shoots a grateful glance to the trusty horse, and makes a mental note to look for some wild carrots once they'll stop for a short break.
worst to worst all he'd gain from betrayal is the cookpot
vidruth replies a little callously, the goblin language well suited for it, then finishes in common "i look forwards to a successful collaboration" as they walk he organizes the pouch at his waist, cluttered with spell components
as berry starts feeling melancholic, vidruth is there at his side "need to talk about it?" he offers quietly
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This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic byVitaly S Alexius
Berry shrugs at Vidruth‘s suggestion, „It’s just that… Well, I was wondering how this village must have been when it was still there. I mean the people, if the people were still here. It would be so lively and beautiful and then, then I was thinking that now it would be harvest time, or the end of harvest and they would have cakes and breads and meat pies and sausages and for sure roasted pork or lamb. Everyone would be so happy and they would celebrate a festival for sure. With dance and music and play and acrobats and everything. But nothing of this is here, they’re all gone. And we also missed to celebrate with the living back in Phandalin. And instead we’re here in this burnt grave. It could only get worse if the dead invite us for dinner with us as the main course.”
However it comes about, the decision is made to head to Thundertree together.
Marten acquiesces to the inclusion of Perrin. He sees no reason that the halfling cannot come with him, but he avoids talking much with Perrin during the rest of the journey to Thundertree. Marten worries that Perrin could get hurt -- or worse! -- and he still feels a mixture of guilt and sadness over Kiselina and especially Mistress Daphyra. His heart heavy with grief whenever he thinks of them back in Phandalin, slowly recovering under the care of Sister Garaele.
Initially, as they walk out of the farmland, Marten walks with the group. His mind and conversation turns to tactics in case they run into more goblins or bugbears or something worse in Thundertree. He says, "I'm happy t' scout ahead, but if it looks like danger, we got t' stick together. If we're smart, we can take on a bigger force." To justify the serious topic, he simply explains, "We don' want another disaster like th' fight at th' Redbrands' base!"
Marten briefly points out that if Thundertree is an old ruin, they'll probably be moving among old, ruined buildings. If they face some big, scary opponent, like an ogre, it could be useful to fight out in the open. Berry and Nosam could challenge the creature, and the others could find cover and fight from a distance. But if they face another troop of goblins, like before, they need to find a way to avoid facing all of them at once. "If we can pick 'em off, a few at a time, that would be best,"he says. "Or maybe we could draw 'em into a trap, like a narrow spot where they can't bring reinforcements to bear?"
Marten points out that Perrin, like Vidruth and Marten, doesn't wear heavy armor. He says somewhat apologetically, "I don' mean to hang you out as a sacrifice, y' understand? But, Nosam, you're the best protected against reg'lar weaopns. And no one is as tough as you, Berry! If we get attacked by a whole troop o' orcs or somethin', I want to put you two 'tween us 'n' them. We should find a spot where Vidruth 'n' I can still see th' enemy but where they have t' get through a narrow spot, like a doorway or a bridge or somethin', t' get to us. That way, you two can hold 'em back while we try to thin out their numbers as quick as we can. It's hard for me to be use my crossbow if I've got a goblin swingin' a sword at me."
Finally, Marten says, "And if we can't find a good place t' fight, I reckon it's better t' run away. Sildar won' be comin' t' our rescue out here. An' Gundren isn't in Thundertree himself, so we don' have a deadline here. Better t' get away 'n' draw 'em into our own ambush. Or jus' get out alive 'n' figure out some other way t' find Gundren. We shouldn't fight if the terrain's not t' our advantage or if we're facin' an overwhelmin' enemy, like a whole army of orcs 'r a true giant."
rocky meadows lead to rocks alone, and the road cuts through gray shale before passing another mile of, first, a copse of verdant growth clinging to the rocks, and then, a blackened area of dead forest. A fire burned here some time ago and the wood never recovered. One would conjecture that a pair of half-buried, shining black boulders may have been the fiery cause of the conflagration here years ago.
Once the group reaches the blackened forest and ashy mud, Marten cautions everyone to slow down and be on alert. He loads a bolt into his crossbow and scouts forward ~90 ft. ahead of the group, moving quietly through the blasted and ashy landscape, looking for any sign of immediate danger. He finds the signs of destruction unnerving and wonders what could have caused so much destruction.
Marten's mind starts running wild with thoughts of powerful wizards, fiery demons, and weird monsters that breathe fire and ash. He slows down to let the group catch up with him so that he's no longer out in front by himself. "I've ne'er seen anythin' like this," he says, looking around in awe at the strange, blasted landscape and ahead to the hollowed-out ruins.
Can Marten guess what could have cause a fire that would take so long for the forest to recover from or what the "shining black boulders" portend? (I'm not sure whether that would be Nature10 or History6.)
Can Marten guess what could have cause a fire that would take so long for the forest to recover from or what the "shining black boulders" portend? (I'm not sure whether that would be Nature11 or History7.)
(OOC: some things are beyond mortal understanding.)
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DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Nosam trudges along toward their destination, but aside the few idle moments of chit chat, he doesn't engage in anything too important or memorable. He is aware of the mood change of the party. No longer a mindless stroll to Thundertree, but a tangible sense of impending doom and unease. Nosam follows the others lead and prepares for something unexpected to crash their plans at any moment. Shield equipped, he makes certain he is in a position to get between attackers and the group quickly.
You all turn a corner, with Marten in the lead, and now the old, overgrown lane winds away between crumbling buildings choked in vines and brush. Ahead of you, in the middle of the settlement, you see the tip of a lone tower with a partially collapsed roof situated higher up the hillside, poking up just beyond the nearer buildings. The pink – and now, orange too – flagstone road hugs the base of the hill and wends its way between old stone houses, many of which are roofless ruins with interiors open to the weather. Other buildings appear more or less intact. The whole place is eerily silent.
Here, a wooden sign is nailed to a post. It reads: “DANGER! Plant monsters AND zombies! Turn back now!”
You are now situated like so:
The nearest ruins or structures are marked with pink numbers on the map:
1) Cowering in the shadow of an old tree is a crumbled stone cottage with no roof. Weeds are rampant here.
2) These ruined, side-by-side cottages look as though they might have been the homes of prosperous shopkeepers or well-off farmers in their time. All that remains are collapsed walls and piles of debris. Several young trees have grown up in the midst of the ruins.
3) A weathered signboard by the door of this large building shows the faded image of a workhorse holding a flagon of ale. The building is sagging and dilapidated, but it is more intact than the ruins across the road.
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DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
"I don' know, Perrin. Like I said, we've faced danger 'n' death in the last couple o' weeks; I reckon we got more o' that ahead. We can't guarantee y'r safety. If you proved true 'n' helpful, I'd be happy t' give you an even share of any treasure we find. But as I said, it's a rescue mission, not a treasure hunt." Marten gives Perrin a doubtful but appraising look. He takes in the halfling's stature but notes his armor, daggers, and staff. "Other than being another body t' stand against a troop o' goblins and," with a glance at the coin that the halfling flipped, "y'r own luck, how could ye help us?"
Perrin smiled. "I don't mind a spot of danger. And while it's a rescue mission, as you say, the die is already cast, my friend. I'm already en route to Rockseeker, and the seer said to find Reidoth, so my path is already set. As for how I might be a service, well... let's just say I know a trick or two, and can heal the wounds of my comrades." The halfling conjures a small sphere of light floating above his palm for a moment, before he closes his hand, snuffing the light with a wink. "More importantly, though, I'm spectacular company."
It is mid-morning by now, the sun having caused you to squint and adjust the brims of your caps to avoid its bright gaze directly ahead of you as you hiked, and now the sun hangs above the ruins, backlighting the stony husks of hillside homes and edifices that stand crowded together in what must have once been a comfort to approaching travelers, but whose upper floors now loom upon the steep incline, overgrown with vines and moss, crumbling and bearing the sad tale of lives torn apart in a single day by what must have seemed to its inhabitants a tragic and tyrannical act of divine punishment.
Perrin keeps up a steady stream of patter as they travel, asking sanguine questions about the party, though he stops short of anything that might appear to be prying. He is forthcoming about himself, though his stories seem to be embellished with scenarios that stretch credibility and probability. As they pass the ruins, Perrin makes note of Berry's apparent sadness.
Berry shrugs at Vidruth‘s suggestion, „It’s just that… Well, I was wondering how this village must have been when it was still there. I mean the people, if the people were still here. It would be so lively and beautiful and then, then I was thinking that now it would be harvest time, or the end of harvest and they would have cakes and breads and meat pies and sausages and for sure roasted pork or lamb. Everyone would be so happy and they would celebrate a festival for sure. With dance and music and play and acrobats and everything. But nothing of this is here, they’re all gone. And we also missed to celebrate with the living back in Phandalin. And instead we’re here in this burnt grave. It could only get worse if the dead invite us for dinner with us as the main course.”
"Time is a wheel. Climb upon the spokes, aye, but prepare to be cast down when the wheel turns. In the ever-changing tides of fortune, one must find solace in the whims of Lady Luck. For it is not the steadfastness of fate that guides us, but the playful dance of chance and opportunity. Embrace the unpredictable nature of Tymora's blessings, for in her realm, every twist of fate is a path to new possibilities. Just as the wheel of fortune turns, so too must we spin with the caprices of fortune, trusting in the Lady's favor to lead us through the uncertainties of life. The good times, just like the bad, are always passing away."
"I'm happy t' scout ahead, but if it looks like danger, we got t' stick together. If we're smart, we can take on a bigger force." To justify the serious topic, he simply explains, "We don' want another disaster like th' fight at th' Redbrands' base!"
Perrin asks his friends about the Redbrands, learning about their past adventures. As Marten slows his approach, the looks about, seeing if he knows anything of this place. History9
Perrin smiled. "I don't mind a spot of danger. And while it's a rescue mission, as you say, the die is already cast, my friend. I'm already en route to Rockseeker, and the seer said to find Reidoth, so my path is already set. As for how I might be a service, well... let's just say I know a trick or two, and can heal the wounds of my comrades." The halfling conjures a small sphere of light floating above his palm for a moment, before he closes his hand, snuffing the light with a wink. "More importantly, though, I'm spectacular company."
Marten isn't sure what to make of Perrin: he doesn't look or act like any cleric or druid whom Marten has met before. Then again, Marten hasn't met many clerics, and he hasn't learned much about the religions of the world. He figures that maybe halflings just have their own religious order that follows Tymora. In any case, Marten admits, "Well now, a healer will always be welcome! 'Specially when we're facin' danger. Jus' be careful to keep out o' harm's way if there is a fight."
Perrin keeps up a steady stream of patter as they travel, asking sanguine questions about the party, though he stops short of anything that might appear to be prying.
Marten listens but doesn't say much. When Perrin directs a question at him, he seems to prefer single-word answers. Or, if that's not sufficient, the shortest and most direct answer that'll do.
Perrin asks his friends about the Redbrands, learning about their past adventures.
Marten's unadorned explanation is that the Redbrands were a band of rough men who wore red cloaks and plagued the little town of Phandalin. He says, "They pr'tended t' be a sort o' local guard 'n' defense against th' goblins in the area. But they weren't doin' anythin' t' fight the goblins 'n' caused more trouble 'an th' goblins did. They were jus' bullies 'n' murderers, doin' nothin' t' help the people. Turns out that the goblins, bugbears, and th' Redbrands were all sent by the Black Spider. We went t' th' Redbrands' base t' free some townspeople they took captive 'n' t' try t' learn more about the Black Spider from their leader, a wizard they called 'Glasstaff.' What did Sildar say 'is real name was? Iarno...somethin'?"
Here, a wooden sign is nailed to a post. It reads: “DANGER! Plant monsters AND zombies! Turn back now!”
Marten stops at the sign and waits for the others to join up. He says, "I reckon Reidoth might've put this sign 'ere, but no tellin' if he's still in Thundertree. Prob'ly best t' move quietly 'til we find 'im, eh?" He guesses that if Reidoth is staying in Thundertree, he may be using one of the intact buildings. He suggests that they start by checking the building ahead on their left first (location #3). Besides, if Reidoth isn't there, it may provide a sturdy "base" for the party in Thundertree in case they need to retreat to a secure location that they can defend.
The other option is to check and clear each building as they go (starting with location #1 and #2) to try to ensure that they don't miss anything and end up with enemies both ahead and behind them.
Marten waits to see what the rest of the party wants to do before moving ahead. He's willing to sneak up ahead to the buildings to see whether he can tell what's inside. Or they could assume that they're being watched, in which case, they could all go together. In that case, Marten proposes that he should still go first to check for traps. Outdoor marching order could be:
Berry reads the signpost that Marten points out and draws his scimitar. "This doesn't sound good. As if undead weren't enough. Even the plants hunger for flesh in this place." Berry scans the village entrance with a cursory glance and points out that new, young trees are growing inside some of the inner buildings. "I'd say a druid might have helped them grow there. And perhaps quite recently, I would look for signs of Reidoth there," he argues (location #2). "But I can understand if you want to clear the way to get there or try to secure a building for a safe defendable retreat." He will follow Marten's lead, as he is clearly the most experienced member in Berry's estimation.
"They pr'tended t' be a sort o' local guard 'n' defense against th' goblins in the area. But they weren't doin' anythin' t' fight the goblins 'n' caused more trouble 'an th' goblins did. They were jus' bullies 'n' murderers, doin' nothin' t' help the people. Turns out that the goblins, bugbears, and th' Redbrands were all sent by the Black Spider. We went t' th' Redbrands' base t' free some townspeople they took captive 'n' t' try t' learn more about the Black Spider from their leader, a wizard they called 'Glasstaff.' What did Sildar say 'is real name was? Iarno...somethin'?"
Perrin muses a moment, trying to ascertain why someone would hire guards to "protect" the area against goblins that they were in league with. Were they aware of one another and working as separate cells of a larger organization? Was it a cover for something? The appearance of conflict with goblins would certainly discourage investigation. But of what? Perhaps this druid could shed some light on matters.
As the party made ready to explore the abandoned hamlet, Perrin nodded in agreement, all too happy to remain in the back of the group. Grateful for his smaller stature, he made sure to stay behind his larger companions.
12 [skill]Stealth[/s] roll, untrained. Perrin is untrained, but will make an effort to stay hidden and move quietly.
Perrin: looks about, seeing if he knows anything of this place. History9
Perrin knows nothing about Thundertree that has not already been revealed.
Perrin: make an effort to stay hidden and move quietly.
(You can absolutely make skill checks even for skills you are not proficient in. Also, as a halfling, Perrin can hide behind any creature at least one size larger than him, which includes any of the full-sized people in the party. Noting your stealth roll of 12.)
Marten: Outdoor marching order could be: Marten // Nosam & Berry // Vidruth & Perrin
Okay, Berry will move forward next to Nosam, and Perrin is hiding behind Vidruth.
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DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver// Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever//Dev Horndin Curious Critters//Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
"I'd say a druid might have helped them grow there. And perhaps quite recently, I would look for signs of Reidoth there," he argues (location #2). "But I can understand if you want to clear the way to get there
Marten nods, and loads his crossbow. He looks back at Perrin and says, "Pray that this is one o' th' good times, Perrin." Then he leads the group to location #1.
As Marten approaches the building, he moves slowly and as quietly as he can. (OOC: Does the crumbling cottage have a door or just an open gap like location #2?) If Marten can peer into the "interior" of the building without opening a door, he looks for movement or any other signs of danger within the crumbling cottage.
Berry silently follows Marten once he raises the signal (Stealth:17 - accidentally rolled religion due to big fingers on the mobile, but I used that roll with appropriate modifier). With scimitar and shield equipped, he skips through the shadows to close up to Marten and get a look to the interior of the ruins, too.
"if none else object im willing enough to have you on, just dont stand too close behind me" vidruth says amiably enough "and if you can fight then all the better. as for thundertree, well i hope the tales are as tall as they sound" (history 15) "if they arent watch for ghosts, and regardless for goblins"
This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic by Vitaly S Alexius
Berry remembers that he had heard in a tavern in Neverwinter someone speak about Thundertree. With a gleam of excitement in his eyes, he began to recount the tale. It spoke of a brave band of explorers who dared to venture into the ruins of Thundertree, drawn by the lure of buried treasures.
"With lanterns in hand and hearts full of courage, they crept through the overgrown streets, their footsteps echoing against the crumbling walls of once-sturdy buildings. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the shadows seemed to dance with malevolent intent. As they delved deeper into the heart of the village, they stumbled upon a hidden chamber beneath the ruins of an old inn. Inside, they discovered a large cache of gold coins gleaming in the dim light, tempting them with promises of untold riches. But their triumph was short-lived, for as they reached out to claim their prizes, a deep rumbling echoed through the earth. Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, and the very stones of Thundertree seemed to cry out in agony. With a deafening roar, the ruins collapsed around them, trapping the adventurers in a tomb of rubble and dust. And though some say they can still hear the echoes of their cries carried on the wind, none have dared to brave the haunted ruins of Thundertree since that fateful day, or so they say," Berry concludes. "I should have remembered earlier, I guess I assumed we are looking for a druid and he'd be found in a grove of some sort and the name '...tree', well, I guess I wasn't thinking too much. Not sure what the druid is doing in a haunted place, but anyway, we should probably be careful in Thundertree."
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Nosam sits down and listens to the back and forth conversation as his brain slowly lifts from its overnight fog. Vidruth's contribution to story time causes a chuckle and big grin to appear on Nosam's face, "Ha, goin' down the water slide o' doom was indeed quite epic and heroic. Can't discount that!"
Marten clears his throat and shakes his head sharply at Berry's mention of the Wave Echo Cave. He listens with interest to Berry's tale of Thundertree, but the story doesn't give a lot of clues. When people go missing, storytellers like to spin tales of "haunted" places and ancient curses, but in his experience, it often just means that a band of goblins or perhaps a monster of some sort has taken up residence. Then again, Marten has recently seen with his own eyes skeletons that were walking around and swinging swords beneath the Tresendor Manor.
At Perrin's offer, Marten raises his eyebrows and looks around at Vidruth, Berry, and Nosam. He says uncertainly, "I don' know, Perrin. Like I said, we've faced danger 'n' death in the last couple o' weeks; I reckon we got more o' that ahead. We can't guarantee y'r safety. If you proved true 'n' helpful, I'd be happy t' give you an even share of any treasure we find. But as I said, it's a rescue mission, not a treasure hunt." Marten gives Perrin a doubtful but appraising look. He takes in the halfling's stature but notes his armor, daggers, and staff. "Other than being another body t' stand against a troop o' goblins and," with a glance at the coin that the halfling flipped, "y'r own luck, how could ye help us?"
After Perrin replies, Marten looks down as though considering Perrin's response. He shrugs uncertainly as he says something in Goblin, clearly but almost as though talking to himself:
"What do you think? Safety in numbers? Or does a stranger bring too much risk?"
However it comes about, the decision is made to head to Thundertree together. Camp is unmade, the farmer waved goodbye to up the hillside where he and a hand busily work at mending a wooden fence’s dislodged beam, and your party of five now moves eastward along the river road toward their goal or goals, depending perhaps on who you ask.
The farm abuts an area of rocky meadows where a flock of sheep grazes while a lone shepherd wearing a light hooded cloak sits on an ancient low rock wall and passes the time playing reedy notes on a shawm. But it is the last farm on the road before rocky meadows lead to rocks alone, and the road cuts through gray shale before passing another mile of, first, a copse of verdant growth clinging to the rocks, and then, a blackened area of dead forest. A fire burned here some time ago and the wood never recovered. One would conjecture that a pair of half-buried, shining black boulders may have been the fiery cause of the conflagration here years ago.
Fifteen minutes later and you are on the edge of ruins, where, under black, ashy mud an old paved path of pink flagstones peeks out from time to time.
It is mid-morning by now, the sun having caused you to squint and adjust the brims of your caps to avoid its bright gaze directly ahead of you as you hiked, and now the sun hangs above the ruins, backlighting the stony husks of hillside homes and edifices that stand crowded together in what must have once been a comfort to approaching travelers, but whose upper floors now loom upon the steep incline, overgrown with vines and moss, crumbling and bearing the sad tale of lives torn apart in a single day by what must have seemed to its inhabitants a tragic and tyrannical act of divine punishment.
(OOC: you have not yet entered the ruins and you shouldn’t yet post that you do. I’ll place you on a map after you have had a chance to describe your character’s thoughts, reactions, passage through the preceding hike.)
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
As Berry ascended the rugged path toward the abandoned village, he couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy wash over him at the sight of the crumbling ruins. The once vibrant homes now stood as silent witnesses to the passage of time, their decay a poignant reminder of the lives that once thrived within their walls. With each step, Berry couldn't shake the sense of sorrow that enveloped him, imagining the stories of the villagers who had called this place home, now lost to history. Surely, they would have had a harvest festival just about this time of year, a thought that deepens his melancholic feeling further.
In all of the stories he heard of Thundertree, one common thread was that adventurers did not return, so in anticipation of an ambush or whatnot, he dons his shield and keeps his new scimitar in easy reach. It's already much easier walking since Nala carries the bulk of his pack, he shoots a grateful glance to the trusty horse, and makes a mental note to look for some wild carrots once they'll stop for a short break.
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
worst to worst all he'd gain from betrayal is the cookpot
vidruth replies a little callously, the goblin language well suited for it, then finishes in common "i look forwards to a successful collaboration" as they walk he organizes the pouch at his waist, cluttered with spell components
as berry starts feeling melancholic, vidruth is there at his side "need to talk about it?" he offers quietly
This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic by Vitaly S Alexius
Berry shrugs at Vidruth‘s suggestion, „It’s just that… Well, I was wondering how this village must have been when it was still there. I mean the people, if the people were still here. It would be so lively and beautiful and then, then I was thinking that now it would be harvest time, or the end of harvest and they would have cakes and breads and meat pies and sausages and for sure roasted pork or lamb. Everyone would be so happy and they would celebrate a festival for sure. With dance and music and play and acrobats and everything. But nothing of this is here, they’re all gone. And we also missed to celebrate with the living back in Phandalin. And instead we’re here in this burnt grave. It could only get worse if the dead invite us for dinner with us as the main course.”
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Marten acquiesces to the inclusion of Perrin. He sees no reason that the halfling cannot come with him, but he avoids talking much with Perrin during the rest of the journey to Thundertree. Marten worries that Perrin could get hurt -- or worse! -- and he still feels a mixture of guilt and sadness over Kiselina and especially Mistress Daphyra. His heart heavy with grief whenever he thinks of them back in Phandalin, slowly recovering under the care of Sister Garaele.
Initially, as they walk out of the farmland, Marten walks with the group. His mind and conversation turns to tactics in case they run into more goblins or bugbears or something worse in Thundertree. He says, "I'm happy t' scout ahead, but if it looks like danger, we got t' stick together. If we're smart, we can take on a bigger force." To justify the serious topic, he simply explains, "We don' want another disaster like th' fight at th' Redbrands' base!"
Marten briefly points out that if Thundertree is an old ruin, they'll probably be moving among old, ruined buildings. If they face some big, scary opponent, like an ogre, it could be useful to fight out in the open. Berry and Nosam could challenge the creature, and the others could find cover and fight from a distance. But if they face another troop of goblins, like before, they need to find a way to avoid facing all of them at once. "If we can pick 'em off, a few at a time, that would be best," he says. "Or maybe we could draw 'em into a trap, like a narrow spot where they can't bring reinforcements to bear?"
Marten points out that Perrin, like Vidruth and Marten, doesn't wear heavy armor. He says somewhat apologetically, "I don' mean to hang you out as a sacrifice, y' understand? But, Nosam, you're the best protected against reg'lar weaopns. And no one is as tough as you, Berry! If we get attacked by a whole troop o' orcs or somethin', I want to put you two 'tween us 'n' them. We should find a spot where Vidruth 'n' I can still see th' enemy but where they have t' get through a narrow spot, like a doorway or a bridge or somethin', t' get to us. That way, you two can hold 'em back while we try to thin out their numbers as quick as we can. It's hard for me to be use my crossbow if I've got a goblin swingin' a sword at me."
Finally, Marten says, "And if we can't find a good place t' fight, I reckon it's better t' run away. Sildar won' be comin' t' our rescue out here. An' Gundren isn't in Thundertree himself, so we don' have a deadline here. Better t' get away 'n' draw 'em into our own ambush. Or jus' get out alive 'n' figure out some other way t' find Gundren. We shouldn't fight if the terrain's not t' our advantage or if we're facin' an overwhelmin' enemy, like a whole army of orcs 'r a true giant."
Once the group reaches the blackened forest and ashy mud, Marten cautions everyone to slow down and be on alert. He loads a bolt into his crossbow and scouts forward ~90 ft. ahead of the group, moving quietly through the blasted and ashy landscape, looking for any sign of immediate danger. He finds the signs of destruction unnerving and wonders what could have caused so much destruction.
Marten's mind starts running wild with thoughts of powerful wizards, fiery demons, and weird monsters that breathe fire and ash. He slows down to let the group catch up with him so that he's no longer out in front by himself. "I've ne'er seen anythin' like this," he says, looking around in awe at the strange, blasted landscape and ahead to the hollowed-out ruins.
Can Marten guess what could have cause a fire that would take so long for the forest to recover from or what the "shining black boulders" portend? (I'm not sure whether that would be Nature 10 or History 6.)
Can Marten guess what could have cause a fire that would take so long for the forest to recover from or what the "shining black boulders" portend? (I'm not sure whether that would be Nature 11 or History 7.)
(OOC: some things are beyond mortal understanding.)
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Nosam trudges along toward their destination, but aside the few idle moments of chit chat, he doesn't engage in anything too important or memorable. He is aware of the mood change of the party. No longer a mindless stroll to Thundertree, but a tangible sense of impending doom and unease. Nosam follows the others lead and prepares for something unexpected to crash their plans at any moment. Shield equipped, he makes certain he is in a position to get between attackers and the group quickly.
Thundertree
(Perrin: bot #1)
You all turn a corner, with Marten in the lead, and now the old, overgrown lane winds away between crumbling buildings choked in vines and brush. Ahead of you, in the middle of the settlement, you see the tip of a lone tower with a partially collapsed roof situated higher up the hillside, poking up just beyond the nearer buildings. The pink – and now, orange too – flagstone road hugs the base of the hill and wends its way between old stone houses, many of which are roofless ruins with interiors open to the weather. Other buildings appear more or less intact. The whole place is eerily silent.
Here, a wooden sign is nailed to a post. It reads: “DANGER! Plant monsters AND zombies! Turn back now!”
You are now situated like so:
The nearest ruins or structures are marked with pink numbers on the map:
1) Cowering in the shadow of an old tree is a crumbled stone cottage with no roof. Weeds are rampant here.
2) These ruined, side-by-side cottages look as though they might have been the homes of prosperous shopkeepers or well-off farmers in their time. All that remains are collapsed walls and piles of debris. Several young trees have grown up in the midst of the ruins.
3) A weathered signboard by the door of this large building shows the faded image of a workhorse holding a flagon of ale. The building is sagging and dilapidated, but it is more intact than the ruins across the road.
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Perrin smiled. "I don't mind a spot of danger. And while it's a rescue mission, as you say, the die is already cast, my friend. I'm already en route to Rockseeker, and the seer said to find Reidoth, so my path is already set. As for how I might be a service, well... let's just say I know a trick or two, and can heal the wounds of my comrades." The halfling conjures a small sphere of light floating above his palm for a moment, before he closes his hand, snuffing the light with a wink. "More importantly, though, I'm spectacular company."
Perrin keeps up a steady stream of patter as they travel, asking sanguine questions about the party, though he stops short of anything that might appear to be prying. He is forthcoming about himself, though his stories seem to be embellished with scenarios that stretch credibility and probability. As they pass the ruins, Perrin makes note of Berry's apparent sadness.
"Time is a wheel. Climb upon the spokes, aye, but prepare to be cast down when the wheel turns. In the ever-changing tides of fortune, one must find solace in the whims of Lady Luck. For it is not the steadfastness of fate that guides us, but the playful dance of chance and opportunity. Embrace the unpredictable nature of Tymora's blessings, for in her realm, every twist of fate is a path to new possibilities. Just as the wheel of fortune turns, so too must we spin with the caprices of fortune, trusting in the Lady's favor to lead us through the uncertainties of life. The good times, just like the bad, are always passing away."
Perrin asks his friends about the Redbrands, learning about their past adventures. As Marten slows his approach, the looks about, seeing if he knows anything of this place. History 9
Marten isn't sure what to make of Perrin: he doesn't look or act like any cleric or druid whom Marten has met before. Then again, Marten hasn't met many clerics, and he hasn't learned much about the religions of the world. He figures that maybe halflings just have their own religious order that follows Tymora. In any case, Marten admits, "Well now, a healer will always be welcome! 'Specially when we're facin' danger. Jus' be careful to keep out o' harm's way if there is a fight."
Marten listens but doesn't say much. When Perrin directs a question at him, he seems to prefer single-word answers. Or, if that's not sufficient, the shortest and most direct answer that'll do.
Marten's unadorned explanation is that the Redbrands were a band of rough men who wore red cloaks and plagued the little town of Phandalin. He says, "They pr'tended t' be a sort o' local guard 'n' defense against th' goblins in the area. But they weren't doin' anythin' t' fight the goblins 'n' caused more trouble 'an th' goblins did. They were jus' bullies 'n' murderers, doin' nothin' t' help the people. Turns out that the goblins, bugbears, and th' Redbrands were all sent by the Black Spider. We went t' th' Redbrands' base t' free some townspeople they took captive 'n' t' try t' learn more about the Black Spider from their leader, a wizard they called 'Glasstaff.' What did Sildar say 'is real name was? Iarno...somethin'?"
Marten stops at the sign and waits for the others to join up. He says, "I reckon Reidoth might've put this sign 'ere, but no tellin' if he's still in Thundertree. Prob'ly best t' move quietly 'til we find 'im, eh?" He guesses that if Reidoth is staying in Thundertree, he may be using one of the intact buildings. He suggests that they start by checking the building ahead on their left first (location #3). Besides, if Reidoth isn't there, it may provide a sturdy "base" for the party in Thundertree in case they need to retreat to a secure location that they can defend.
The other option is to check and clear each building as they go (starting with location #1 and #2) to try to ensure that they don't miss anything and end up with enemies both ahead and behind them.
Marten waits to see what the rest of the party wants to do before moving ahead. He's willing to sneak up ahead to the buildings to see whether he can tell what's inside. Or they could assume that they're being watched, in which case, they could all go together. In that case, Marten proposes that he should still go first to check for traps. Outdoor marching order could be:
Berry reads the signpost that Marten points out and draws his scimitar. "This doesn't sound good. As if undead weren't enough. Even the plants hunger for flesh in this place." Berry scans the village entrance with a cursory glance and points out that new, young trees are growing inside some of the inner buildings. "I'd say a druid might have helped them grow there. And perhaps quite recently, I would look for signs of Reidoth there," he argues (location #2). "But I can understand if you want to clear the way to get there or try to secure a building for a safe defendable retreat." He will follow Marten's lead, as he is clearly the most experienced member in Berry's estimation.
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
(OOC: Note that I amended my post just after you posted.)
Perrin muses a moment, trying to ascertain why someone would hire guards to "protect" the area against goblins that they were in league with. Were they aware of one another and working as separate cells of a larger organization? Was it a cover for something? The appearance of conflict with goblins would certainly discourage investigation. But of what? Perhaps this druid could shed some light on matters.
As the party made ready to explore the abandoned hamlet, Perrin nodded in agreement, all too happy to remain in the back of the group. Grateful for his smaller stature, he made sure to stay behind his larger companions.
12 [skill]Stealth[/s] roll, untrained. Perrin is untrained, but will make an effort to stay hidden and move quietly.
Perrin: looks about, seeing if he knows anything of this place. History 9
Perrin knows nothing about Thundertree that has not already been revealed.
Perrin: make an effort to stay hidden and move quietly.
(You can absolutely make skill checks even for skills you are not proficient in. Also, as a halfling, Perrin can hide behind any creature at least one size larger than him, which includes any of the full-sized people in the party. Noting your stealth roll of 12.)
Marten: Outdoor marching order could be: Marten // Nosam & Berry // Vidruth & Perrin
Okay, Berry will move forward next to Nosam, and Perrin is hiding behind Vidruth.
DM for Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver // Story Guide for COYOTE and CROW: Cahokia Forever // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Co-creator: Princes of the Apocalypse - A DnD Story
Marten nods, and loads his crossbow. He looks back at Perrin and says, "Pray that this is one o' th' good times, Perrin." Then he leads the group to location #1.
As Marten approaches the building, he moves slowly and as quietly as he can. (OOC: Does the crumbling cottage have a door or just an open gap like location #2?) If Marten can peer into the "interior" of the building without opening a door, he looks for movement or any other signs of danger within the crumbling cottage.
Stealth 17
Perception 21
If Marten doesn't see any immediate danger, he'll wave the others forward, holding his position just to the side of the door.
Berry silently follows Marten once he raises the signal (Stealth:17 - accidentally rolled religion due to big fingers on the mobile, but I used that roll with appropriate modifier). With scimitar and shield equipped, he skips through the shadows to close up to Marten and get a look to the interior of the ruins, too.
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||