As the group members start to move up, Leftenant starts to moves out to the Northwest, but Kal catches him before breaking the cover of the boulder.
“I’ll go over there and address the watchers. I’ll try to determine their intentions. Be prepared for it to go sideways though. If they’re hostile, hopefully they’ll come towards me. If they do, then you all wallop them from here. Otherwise, we will have to close the distance to them. Let me know when you all are set.”
Glyptemis and Juno creep forward to join Kalamin and Lyra, while Leftenant moves out from the cover of the boulder to get a closer look.
Leftenant
From your new vantage point you can see where the ground starts to slope down on the left side of this curved ridge, but you still can't see over it to see who's making the cries. The four shadowy figures don't take notice of your movement, and now they're you're a bit closer you can tell their heads are turned. They aren't even facing you, instead looking down over the edge of the ridge.
Leftenant takes a breath to steady himself. His mind races, “Your new companions are of the same mind as you, you have to try and help this poor creature who is pleading for assistance. If you do anything, now is the time. They will be there for you.”
The scout now in position, makes the following statement aloud to the shadowy figures, bow in his left hand and at his side. “I say, are you going to lend some assistance there, or shall I just take care of it myself?”
In his head he is replaying the movements his hands will have to take to get a shot off quickly should this turn hostile.
Lyra is a bit puzzled at LT taking the lead in revealing himself conversing with the four shadowy figures instead of just attacking immediately with surprise or trying to sneak up for further scouting. While she respects the grizzled soldier's scouting and archery, she is fairly certain others (such as Lyra herself) can be more intimidating or persuasive than LT. But she does not wish to undermine him and goes along with it. It will likely come to violence, regardless.
Her brown eyes dim to gray as she readies an Eldritch Blast at the nearest shadowy figure at the first sign of any hostility.
As you call out, the creatures don't budge. They don't even seem to take notice of you at all. From the other side of the ridge however you hear, "is someone there?! Please, help me!"
As you call out, the creatures don't budge. They don't even seem to take notice of you at all. From the other side of the ridge however you hear, "is someone there?! Please, help me!"
LT will begin to slowly approach (move 20’ NE) while answering, “I’m here, what happened? Who are these that don’t answer your call for aid?”
The entities still don't acknowledge your presence as you approach. As you get closer, you can just see the tops of a crashed covered wagon that smashed into boulders at the bottom of the ridge. Torn canvas covers most of the wreck.
Leftenant pauses for a moment. He stows his bow and removes a torch from his pack, lighting it a moment later. He feels like he’s missing something and thinks illuminating the area might help him discern that which has evaded him. He looks intensely at the scene trying to figure out if there is a catch, an illusion, or if he’s just being paranoid after his recent captivity. Perception: 18
“Give me a moment, I can’t see where you are at. Are you injured? Are you alone?”
Leftenant The torch illuminates the area around you in a 20 foot radius, you inch just a little bit forward to get the nearest of the creatures within the radius. It still doesn't react to your presence, and you're able to get a clearer view over the ridge. You can see how the ground swings down to its bottom on both sides - and that two more of the mysterious figures stand motionless at the bottom.
The torchlight catches something shifting in the wind off the entity nearest you: a thin tendril of shifting air, almost mirage like, extending from it towards the wreckage of the wagon.
From below the canvas of the wrecked cart you hear, "Yes...."
Leftenant continues to advance slowly, cautiously. (move 15’ closer). Every few seconds he speaks, as if addressing the faceless voice at the bottom. But more so describing that which he is observing to the band of escapees. “Seems your wagon is crashed at the bottom. And you got two more guards there too. I’m coming to help. Any idea what spooked your horses…or where they might be?”
You move up completely to the edge of the ridge - next to you, the shrouded humanoid continues its silent vigil. The inky blackness shifts across its form, occasionally giving you peaks at a skeletal figure within. Below, you can see the complete wreck of the wagon. The corpse of a horse is crushed underneath it, and by the looks of it, it's been dead for more than a few days.
The voice is silent for several moments before you hear it again. "Please...help. It's cold."
"This hasn't gone the way I think any of us expected." Kalamin says quietly to the other three, peaking around the boulder."If those things were going to attack him...I think they'd have done it already."
The consistent cries for help had already been whittling away his patience, and the latest whimpering plea was enough to dash the last of it. "Alright. Stay hidden if you wish it, I can't just sit here anymore."
Holding onto his glaive loosely he walks out from their hiding place, walking up to the ridge far enough to get a general idea of how to get down there before continuing on. "We're coming to help!" He calls out, "now." With a nod at LT he begins to move around the western side of the ridge, down the sloping ground. He doesn't hesitate if the path takes him near any of these strange shadowy figures. If they don't react to him, he blows right past them to the wagon, moving or tearing the canvas to get to whoever is inside.
Lyra too circles the ridge's western edge, keeping her Eldritch Blast readied on the nearest shadowy figure should hostilities ensue.
Following LT and Kalamin, she finds herself disquieted by the similarity between her own Hexblade's Curse and the shadowy tendril extending from at least one of the figures towards the wagon. No... it must not be used so... not against innocents. Yet who is to say who is innocent...
As Kalamin and possibly others move to aid whoever is trapped in the wagon, Lyra shifts her readied Eldritch Blast to the shadowy figure at the bottom from whom the tendril is emanating. Aloud, she muses: "I wonder if they will attack as soon as we disrupt whatever they are engaged in."
The entities still do not react, even as you move past them to the wagon. As you approach it, you are overwhelmed with the stench of death. As you tear away the canvas, the pungent scent intensifies. You can see three bodies pretty far into their decomposition - two adults, curled around the body of a child.
"Help me please...They won't let me leave."
A small ghostly form appears in the far back of the wagon, sitting with their arms wrapped around their knees. Their body is translucent - much of it is dull, devoid of color and glow. But a small portion of his torso is glowing with a faint blue light.
You see six tendrils attached to the phantom of the child, seemingly draining the light from it.
Juno
As your spell takes effect and you get within range of them, the creatures glow with a faint aura.
Kalamin throws an arm over his face, breathing into the cloth of his sleeve to try and ward away the stench. The sight of the dead bodies leads me to feel that surely now the trap is sprung...But still nothing happens. He glances over his shoulder to check on the entities, puzzled by their behavior.
The quiet voice pleads once more and he turns back around as the child materializes. A spirit? 'They won't let me leave.' He spots the tendrils snaking from the ghostly child to the creatures of shadow. His face flushes with anger. "I see, so that's how it is."
"Come with us, we'll walk you out of here safely. You'll have your peace child, I promise."
The child's ghost stands up, looking around fearfully. He reaches out his hand, taking a tentative step towards Kalamin. Silence is broken as the clearing explodes with piercing shrieks. All six of the creatures wail into the night at a pitch and volume that pains your ears. The child flinches and begins to cry, taking back the step and falling to the ground to curl up into a ball.
Glyp looks at Juno grimly, fighting the urge to sink into his shell, but instead says "I think that's our cue to go help"and he steps out from the behind the rock, starting to move towards the rest of the group.
Wincing a bit at the wailing noise, he shouts to LT (who I'm assuming he can see) "What did you do to them?? Why are they making that noise??"
As the group members start to move up, Leftenant starts to moves out to the Northwest, but Kal catches him before breaking the cover of the boulder.
“I’ll go over there and address the watchers. I’ll try to determine their intentions. Be prepared for it to go sideways though. If they’re hostile, hopefully they’ll come towards me. If they do, then you all wallop them from here. Otherwise, we will have to close the distance to them. Let me know when you all are set.”
Kalamin nods, "Good luck. We've got your back."
OoC: Moving forward.
Glyptemis and Juno creep forward to join Kalamin and Lyra, while Leftenant moves out from the cover of the boulder to get a closer look.
Leftenant
From your new vantage point you can see where the ground starts to slope down on the left side of this curved ridge, but you still can't see over it to see who's making the cries. The four shadowy figures don't take notice of your movement, and now they're you're a bit closer you can tell their heads are turned. They aren't even facing you, instead looking down over the edge of the ridge.
"Help, someone please!" the voice pleads.
The voice pleads.
Leftenant takes a breath to steady himself. His mind races, “Your new companions are of the same mind as you, you have to try and help this poor creature who is pleading for assistance. If you do anything, now is the time. They will be there for you.”
The scout now in position, makes the following statement aloud to the shadowy figures, bow in his left hand and at his side.
“I say, are you going to lend some assistance there, or shall I just take care of it myself?”
In his head he is replaying the movements his hands will have to take to get a shot off quickly should this turn hostile.
Lyra is a bit puzzled at LT taking the lead in revealing himself conversing with the four shadowy figures instead of just attacking immediately with surprise or trying to sneak up for further scouting. While she respects the grizzled soldier's scouting and archery, she is fairly certain others (such as Lyra herself) can be more intimidating or persuasive than LT. But she does not wish to undermine him and goes along with it. It will likely come to violence, regardless.
Her brown eyes dim to gray
as she readies an Eldritch Blast at the nearest shadowy figure at the first sign of any hostility.Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
As you call out, the creatures don't budge. They don't even seem to take notice of you at all. From the other side of the ridge however you hear, "is someone there?! Please, help me!"
LT will begin to slowly approach (move 20’ NE) while answering, “I’m here, what happened? Who are these that don’t answer your call for aid?”
The entities still don't acknowledge your presence as you approach. As you get closer, you can just see the tops of a crashed covered wagon that smashed into boulders at the bottom of the ridge. Torn canvas covers most of the wreck.
"I can't get out!"
Glyptemis leans over to Juno and whispers "I've got a bad feeling about this.."
He clears his throat and gets himself ready to start humming, but waits to give LT a chance to figure out what's what.
Leftenant pauses for a moment. He stows his bow and removes a torch from his pack, lighting it a moment later. He feels like he’s missing something and thinks illuminating the area might help him discern that which has evaded him. He looks intensely at the scene trying to figure out if there is a catch, an illusion, or if he’s just being paranoid after his recent captivity.
Perception: 18
“Give me a moment, I can’t see where you are at. Are you injured? Are you alone?”
Leftenant
The torch illuminates the area around you in a 20 foot radius, you inch just a little bit forward to get the nearest of the creatures within the radius. It still doesn't react to your presence, and you're able to get a clearer view over the ridge. You can see how the ground swings down to its bottom on both sides - and that two more of the mysterious figures stand motionless at the bottom.
The torchlight catches something shifting in the wind off the entity nearest you: a thin tendril of shifting air, almost mirage like, extending from it towards the wreckage of the wagon.
From below the canvas of the wrecked cart you hear, "Yes...."
A pause.
"No."
"I don't know." The voice whines at last.
Leftenant continues to advance slowly, cautiously. (move 15’ closer). Every few seconds he speaks, as if addressing the faceless voice at the bottom. But more so describing that which he is observing to the band of escapees.
“Seems your wagon is crashed at the bottom. And you got two more guards there too. I’m coming to help. Any idea what spooked your horses…or where they might be?”
You move up completely to the edge of the ridge - next to you, the shrouded humanoid continues its silent vigil. The inky blackness shifts across its form, occasionally giving you peaks at a skeletal figure within. Below, you can see the complete wreck of the wagon. The corpse of a horse is crushed underneath it, and by the looks of it, it's been dead for more than a few days.
The voice is silent for several moments before you hear it again. "Please...help. It's cold."
"This hasn't gone the way I think any of us expected." Kalamin says quietly to the other three, peaking around the boulder. "If those things were going to attack him...I think they'd have done it already."
The consistent cries for help had already been whittling away his patience, and the latest whimpering plea was enough to dash the last of it. "Alright. Stay hidden if you wish it, I can't just sit here anymore."
Holding onto his glaive loosely he walks out from their hiding place, walking up to the ridge far enough to get a general idea of how to get down there before continuing on. "We're coming to help!" He calls out, "now." With a nod at LT he begins to move around the western side of the ridge, down the sloping ground. He doesn't hesitate if the path takes him near any of these strange shadowy figures. If they don't react to him, he blows right past them to the wagon, moving or tearing the canvas to get to whoever is inside.
Lyra too circles the ridge's western edge,
keeping her Eldritch Blast readied on the nearest shadowy figure should hostilities ensue.Following LT and Kalamin, she finds herself disquieted by the similarity between her own Hexblade's Curse and the shadowy tendril extending from at least one of the figures towards the wagon. No... it must not be used so... not against innocents. Yet who is to say who is innocent...
As Kalamin and possibly others move to aid whoever is trapped in the wagon, Lyra shifts her readied Eldritch Blast to the shadowy figure at the bottom from whom the tendril is emanating. Aloud, she muses: "I wonder if they will attack as soon as we disrupt whatever they are engaged in."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Juno nods, knelt down next to Glyp.
"Yes, something is off here..." Her voice trails off as she gazes upon the scene. Her flesh hand grips her amulet and she mutters a silent prayer.
"Let your fire illuminate the truth, My Lady" And Juno will cast Detect Evil and Good
The entities still do not react, even as you move past them to the wagon. As you approach it, you are overwhelmed with the stench of death. As you tear away the canvas, the pungent scent intensifies. You can see three bodies pretty far into their decomposition - two adults, curled around the body of a child.
"Help me please...They won't let me leave."
A small ghostly form appears in the far back of the wagon, sitting with their arms wrapped around their knees. Their body is translucent - much of it is dull, devoid of color and glow. But a small portion of his torso is glowing with a faint blue light.
You see six tendrils attached to the phantom of the child, seemingly draining the light from it.
Juno
As your spell takes effect and you get within range of them, the creatures glow with a faint aura.
Kalamin throws an arm over his face, breathing into the cloth of his sleeve to try and ward away the stench. The sight of the dead bodies leads me to feel that surely now the trap is sprung...But still nothing happens. He glances over his shoulder to check on the entities, puzzled by their behavior.
The quiet voice pleads once more and he turns back around as the child materializes. A spirit? 'They won't let me leave.' He spots the tendrils snaking from the ghostly child to the creatures of shadow. His face flushes with anger. "I see, so that's how it is."
"Come with us, we'll walk you out of here safely. You'll have your peace child, I promise."
The child's ghost stands up, looking around fearfully. He reaches out his hand, taking a tentative step towards Kalamin. Silence is broken as the clearing explodes with piercing shrieks. All six of the creatures wail into the night at a pitch and volume that pains your ears. The child flinches and begins to cry, taking back the step and falling to the ground to curl up into a ball.
OoC: Here's where I have everyone currently.
Glyp looks at Juno grimly, fighting the urge to sink into his shell, but instead says "I think that's our cue to go help" and he steps out from the behind the rock, starting to move towards the rest of the group.
Wincing a bit at the wailing noise, he shouts to LT (who I'm assuming he can see) "What did you do to them?? Why are they making that noise??"