One party member is going to need to be removed from foraging duty to lead him/watch him. And he's 1 extra mouth to feed.
Are Tozer and Bold back?
Does Sarith have a ballpark guess on when they'll get to Neverlight Grove. (Assuming that the group never got lost or had terrain problems, how many more days?)
I'm fine with what the others decide. My suggestion is Derendil change from water foraging to prisoner guarding. Narstin will have to Create Water most days, but hopefully that won't be an issue.
Tozer and Bold have let me know why they are absent, and it is not my place to say why. But they will be back and I'm sure you'll know when I do.
Sarith is hard to get focused enough to answer a direct question, but when you manage, he apathetically says a round trip from Velkinvelve to Neverlight Grove and back to Velkinvelve took around 2 months.
I will follow up with narration and the new encounter tomorrow.
Tozer and Bold have let me know why they are absent... But they will be back and I'm sure you'll know when I do.
I asked because originally you mentioned "a few days" (which sounded like the weekend), but that was 5-6 days ago. If they were expected back any minute now, I would have recommended a short delay.
Do you want VanderLegion and I to run their characters in the short term, or should we post suggestions here, or will you (the DM) be handling them? Both Jimjar and Eldath are the NPCs that our absent players were handling.
Suggestion for the encounter: with a "fairly sizable" group approaching, they would wake everyone up and have Stool spore the party.
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Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
You can handle their NPC's. I will play Tozer and Bold's actions if it comes to combat, that way it's my fault if their characters die.
Assume Eldeth directs Jimjar to wake the others, while she stays up on her shelf where she can clearly see and hear them coming (although she is not hidden either.)
As for Tozer and Bold, I understand why they are absent but I don't know exactly what day they will return. Hopefully it won't be too long.
How far apart are the groups? I'm not asking for a map, just a rough distance.
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Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Hmm. I said the bend was around 40 feet away. They have 4 dancing lights that spread dim light in a 10 foot radius, with the second light above the lead human. Each dancing light has to be 20 feet from each other. I said that they moved up far enough when they started talking that the lead dancing light still wasn't illuminating the party. Hoping my math and narration work out...
... and it doesn't. So let me RETCON and say the bend is 60 feet away, the lead light was 20 feet away (now the 5 lights are a bit behind you), the lead human is 40 feet away, with 2 humans behind him every 5 feet tucked behind stalactites on each side of the tunnel.
Totally forgot we were in a narrow, single-file tunnel right now. That'll make a fight interesting if it comes to one. Are they between us and where we're tyring to go, or behind us?
The way thru is single file. However, the cave is wider, just riddled with stalactites and stalagmites on both sides which produces all kinds of nooks and crannies which both groups are using to obtain almost complete cover from each other.
I also never clarified, but I decided (justified by the possible narrative) that this other group came up the tunnel from behind you (the way you came) during your long rest. So it is entirely possible to just pick up and keep going in the direction you were already heading... assuming you can leave quietly enough.
What do you think, VanderLegion? I'm inclined towards ruthless agression. You gave them a chance to run, and the boss keeps threatening the party. Even if we leave, they might trail. (Or if our drow pursuers are close behind, then they would gladly point the way.)
I'm thinking this... Our group rushes them at the same time. Hopefully the same initiative order (to make combat simpler), even if it is behind the bandits initiative.
Beegred would go slightly ahead of the party, and use the Dodge action. Assuming they are holding their action, they'd shoot with disadvantage at the halfling. If you've seen the movie 'Dances With Wolves", this is the John Dunbar charge in the opening scene where no one hits him (except Beegred is not committing suicide).
Then everyone else can move (or double move) with less worry of being pincushions, and attack at will.
Sarith casts faerie fire, but stays back. So would Valthana, Stool, and Derendil (don't want him to go berserk). Those 4 will act as rear guard, and only attack if the bandits approach them.
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Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Whatever VanderLegion prefers (flight or fight), I'll follow.
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Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
I'm fine with going for a fight. As much as I might love to pick up and move on, I doubt they'll let us get away that easy, and a running chase doesn't sound pleasant.
I meant to work on a map last night, but I slept instead. I'll work to put one together quickly.
Yeah, I've done that a few times.
You have in-person gaming tonight, right? If you'd like to delay the map until after the weekend, that is fine with me.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Apologize for the crappy map. I have nothing pre-made that has lots of nooks and crannies while being narrow. And my map making aspirations always lead me to make maps that would take weeks to finish, so I hope this is good enough to get the story moving again.
The leader hid around O14 and his men are in nooks and crannies behind him.
Edit: You can place yourselves where you want. I just plopped everyone on the map to get things started.
I think the locations are pretty good. I forget, who is the 5th figure in the upper left (that is not Stool, Valthana, Sarith, or Derendil)?
Do you want initiative rolls? Since both sides have been there a while, it might be simpler to have Beegred go (lighting the match), then bandits, then party.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Day 17 Guard duty during long rest:
Random Encounter:
Tozer and Bold have let me know why they are absent, and it is not my place to say why. But they will be back and I'm sure you'll know when I do.
Sarith is hard to get focused enough to answer a direct question, but when you manage, he apathetically says a round trip from Velkinvelve to Neverlight Grove and back to Velkinvelve took around 2 months.
I will follow up with narration and the new encounter tomorrow.
I asked because originally you mentioned "a few days" (which sounded like the weekend), but that was 5-6 days ago. If they were expected back any minute now, I would have recommended a short delay.
Do you want VanderLegion and I to run their characters in the short term, or should we post suggestions here, or will you (the DM) be handling them? Both Jimjar and Eldath are the NPCs that our absent players were handling.
Suggestion for the encounter: with a "fairly sizable" group approaching, they would wake everyone up and have Stool spore the party.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
You can handle their NPC's. I will play Tozer and Bold's actions if it comes to combat, that way it's my fault if their characters die.
Assume Eldeth directs Jimjar to wake the others, while she stays up on her shelf where she can clearly see and hear them coming (although she is not hidden either.)
As for Tozer and Bold, I understand why they are absent but I don't know exactly what day they will return. Hopefully it won't be too long.
Losing interest? Or waiting for Tozer/Bold to return?
How far apart are the groups? I'm not asking for a map, just a rough distance.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Hmm. I said the bend was around 40 feet away. They have 4 dancing lights that spread dim light in a 10 foot radius, with the second light above the lead human. Each dancing light has to be 20 feet from each other. I said that they moved up far enough when they started talking that the lead dancing light still wasn't illuminating the party. Hoping my math and narration work out...
... and it doesn't. So let me RETCON and say the bend is 60 feet away, the lead light was 20 feet away (now the 5 lights are a bit behind you), the lead human is 40 feet away, with 2 humans behind him every 5 feet tucked behind stalactites on each side of the tunnel.
Totally forgot we were in a narrow, single-file tunnel right now. That'll make a fight interesting if it comes to one. Are they between us and where we're tyring to go, or behind us?
Here's what I envision for this tunnel:
The way thru is single file. However, the cave is wider, just riddled with stalactites and stalagmites on both sides which produces all kinds of nooks and crannies which both groups are using to obtain almost complete cover from each other.
I also never clarified, but I decided (justified by the possible narrative) that this other group came up the tunnel from behind you (the way you came) during your long rest. So it is entirely possible to just pick up and keep going in the direction you were already heading... assuming you can leave quietly enough.
What do you think, VanderLegion? I'm inclined towards ruthless agression. You gave them a chance to run, and the boss keeps threatening the party. Even if we leave, they might trail. (Or if our drow pursuers are close behind, then they would gladly point the way.)
I'm thinking this... Our group rushes them at the same time. Hopefully the same initiative order (to make combat simpler), even if it is behind the bandits initiative.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
I'm going to need a bit of time to put a map together if you're resolving this with combat.
Whatever VanderLegion prefers (flight or fight), I'll follow.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
I'm fine with going for a fight. As much as I might love to pick up and move on, I doubt they'll let us get away that easy, and a running chase doesn't sound pleasant.
I meant to work on a map last night, but I slept instead. I'll work to put one together quickly.
I've also reached out to Bold to see what their status is, but no response yet.
Yeah, I've done that a few times.
You have in-person gaming tonight, right? If you'd like to delay the map until after the weekend, that is fine with me.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Sleep is good I hear
No, not this week. But at worse I will give myself until end of weekend to make a map.
Apologize for the crappy map. I have nothing pre-made that has lots of nooks and crannies while being narrow. And my map making aspirations always lead me to make maps that would take weeks to finish, so I hope this is good enough to get the story moving again.
The leader hid around O14 and his men are in nooks and crannies behind him.
Edit: You can place yourselves where you want. I just plopped everyone on the map to get things started.
I think the locations are pretty good. I forget, who is the 5th figure in the upper left (that is not Stool, Valthana, Sarith, or Derendil)?
Do you want initiative rolls? Since both sides have been there a while, it might be simpler to have Beegred go (lighting the match), then bandits, then party.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Jimjar is beside Sarith. Not in combat yet, but if you make an aggressive move, we will roll initiative and follow the order.