Altani smiles, "A woman of passion and conviction in her ways, I can see why she makes a good capitan of the guard. She may be misguided, friends, in her focus and rejection of the old ways of her people and the power of nature that mother Mielikki grants her servants, but we should not hold that against her or find dismay in her words. We are ment to aide those of Ambersilt. Let us find this lake, someone will know of it."
As Leetha starts to speak, Mazin's face has a shocked expression, taking a step back at the sudden verbal assault. As she continues her fiery admonishment, Mazin seems to just melt,; by the end, his head is hanging low and his shoulders are slumped. He lifts his head as she starts to walk away, as if he's about to say something, but nothing comes out.
Mazin turns to look at his compatriots, but averts his gaze. He heads to the back of the group, looking out away from the town, with his back to the party. He takes a deep, turns his head enough to speak with them "I..... seem to have .... upset.... the Sargent. Apologies." Standing tall, he stares out into the wilderness, away from the town and civilization.
DC 10 Insight Check on Mazin
The mention of "Goliath" is when Mazin appears to start getting sad during Leetha's tirade.
As he stands, staring off into the wilderness, you can tell that he is trying to put on a brave face. While he is standing tall, it is obviously forced.
'After her explosive tirade against the two adventurers, the still seething Sergeant Leetha dissapears along the West road into the guts of the small frontier town. Warily watching one of their commanders depart the scene of her scathing criticism, the other three militia members look at each other somewhat awkwardly for a moment, before the two women on duty go back to watching the roads and sky, while the slightly older man hesitantly approaches your group, speaking specifically to Mazin as the black bearded watchman casts a worried stare down the road after his departing superior,'
"Hey... you're the ones who cleared out the Oak's cellar yesterday an' helped Thurk bring Exbrin's body back to town, right? Deliahh said that was you lot, so I thought it worth coming to have a quick word while Sergeant Leetha goes off to... well, clear her head, I guess.
The name's Eskan. I know that the Sergeant can be tough at times, excessively so with some, no doubt, but I heard one of you mention her mother earlier an'... well, for the sergeant, like many of the lizardfolk in town, family ties an' loyalty to the Alliance isn't quite as simple as it is for many of us. Old traditions, beliefs an' gods, an' all that goes with that, I suppose.
Look, I hate to seem like I'm speaking out of turn or anything, but she's a good officer an' a damned fine warrior, so it needs to be said. She's not been herself of late, an' more than a few of us are worried about her. She'd stand before a charging moorcat for any of us, an' we know it since she's actually done it before, so the least we can do is let outsiders know that sh'es a damn strong woman an' a damn trust worthy leader. So if she goes off a little hot-headed an' all, maybe try an' keep that in mind.
Anyway, on behalf of our small militia, thanks for helping out. Some don't like adventurers round these parts, poking through old ruins an' older secrets an' such. Not me though. The more dark things brought into the light an' clear view, the better as far as I'm concerned. So yeah... thanks.
'The almost apologetic soldier nods his chiselled, angular head as he walks back to his fellow militia members.'
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land DM Beyond the Bitter Shore DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Mazin listens to the soldier as he speaks, but doesn't turn around until he finishes. He turns and nods to Eskan. "It appears we both struck a nerve without intending to. I do not fault Leetha for her words, she is a good person. It's a persons actions that define them, not the words they speak."
After Eskan leaves, Mazin will take a deep breath and turn to the others. "So, we still need to find this Frogmaiden. Any ideas? Who else can we ask?"
'Wazzock nods in gratitude to the militia member.' "Thank you, don't worry, I won't say a word to the sergeant."
'Wazzock returns from her conversation with the other guard, striding up and putting a meaty hand on Mazin's shoulder.'"I am told that the Frogmaiden may be a dryad who makes her home near Bullcroak Creek. Come, friends, let us see what this Frogmaiden is or is not, knows or does not know."
As Cinder comes over and provides words of comfort Alwin just gives a faint smile as she nudges him and just looks at her and softly says“Ha…rd to d….d….o when you do…n’t like yourse….lf.” He just listens as the soldier mentions their previous accomplishment, a little bit of pride building up in him. Alwin wasn’t just reading stories anymore, he was now becoming the story.
As Cinder pats him on the back he nods“Le…t’s go. People ne…ed our he…lp.”He just takes a deep breath placing his hand on the hilt of his sword “Th…ank you though Cinder.”
Altani's eyes widen as Wazzock mentions that the Frogmaiden could be a dryad, excitement clealy visible on her face as she starts to circle impatiently. She glances over at Alwin,
"That's the spirit Alwin. Ride on!"Altani proudly says to her companions, slapping her chest with a closed fist.
"This Bullcroak Creek that Wazzock mentions, is this not the very same place we did battle with the crocodiles?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Mazin looks surprised at Wazzock when she says where to go. Then he lets out a full belly laugh. "So, while I was making a fool of myself, you got the information we needed. I'm glad! Onwards!"
As they head out to Bullcroak Creek, Mazin will walk beside Alwin. "I enjoyed your story, about the wolves. I feel like we are similar, in some ways. One of our wolves seems to have been born stronger then the other. Still, we solider on, feeding the good wolf as much as we can."
Mazin pauses for a moment. "I saw you training this morning. Next time, come find me. It is better to train with a friend then with shadows, yes?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the group began to travel, Alwin found himself lost in his thoughts. Jumping a little when Mazin began to speak, mostly from not paying attention to his surroundings. He listened to him and just nodded"Th..ank you. Its one of my mas...ters favorites to tell."He didn't respond to the feeding of he wolves - he knew which one he fed, and it was good to hear that someone else could acknowledge the similarities in their wolves.
When Mazin brought up that he saw him training he just nodded "Th...at sounds like it could be a good t...ime. W...e spare the shadows to reveal our weakness. I...t is a dif...ferent type of training. Th...ough yes sparing with a friend can be fun and ed...ucational on its own."
As they walked Alwin kept his eyes open for anything that could indicate where the ruins maybe hidden.
[OOC]
perception check for signs leading to the ruins: 5
As the group began to travel, Alwin found himself lost in his thoughts. Jumping a little when Mazin began to speak, mostly from not paying attention to his surroundings. He listened to him and just nodded"Th..ank you. Its one of my mas...ters favorites to tell."He didn't respond to the feeding of he wolves - he knew which one he fed, and it was good to hear that someone else could acknowledge the similarities in their wolves.
When Mazin brought up that he saw him training he just nodded "Th...at sounds like it could be a good t...ime. W...e spare the shadows to reveal our weakness. I...t is a dif...ferent type of training. Th...ough yes sparing with a friend can be fun and ed...ucational on its own."
As they walked Alwin kept his eyes open for anything that could indicate where the ruins maybe hidden.
[OOC]
perception check for signs leading to the ruins: 7
'Recalling that Sergeant Leetha had mentioned that the body of the first murder victim, a lizardwoman named Mirinah, had been found at Bullcroak Creek almost a ten-day ago, you ask around town and discover that the creek lies about five miles Northwest of Ambersilt. Heading out the Northgate as you did last night when accompanying Thurk, you this time take a small trail Westward instead of East. The ground underfoot quickly becomes heavy and wet, as the area you find yourself travelling through is criss-crossed by small rivulets and spotted with stagnant pools of varying sizes. Gnarled, partially sunken trees dot the landscape, most covered in brown and green lichen with branches draped in curtains and streamers of moss. Before you have gone more than a mile, the already sparse trail fades into muddy ground and marsh grasses.
As the growing wind and increasingly cloud shrouded sky layers the region in shifting shadows, you also notice an increase in insect and small wildlife in this verdant if wild countryside. The *buzzing* of large dragonflys and small but persistent mosquittos soon becomes incesant, as does the slithering and *hiss* of small lizards and serpents. Besides the lush greens and dark browns of the vegetation, mud and marsh water, streaks of bright oranges and reds can be glimpsed intermittently decorating both the fauna and flora here. Between the soggy ground that sucks at ones boots and the possibly venomous animal and plantlife, you find yourself moving cautiously across the swampy terrain.
After a few more miles of difficult travel, you reach a slow flowing ribbon of silt-heavy water larger than any of the other smaller streams that you had seen so far. Following the brackish creek for a few minutes, you are soon led to a bank where you can see that the flow of water terminates in a wide lagoon of indeterminate depth. The lazy trickle of the creek quickly gives way to the still greeny-brown lilly covered waters of the pool, which is itself closely surrounded by thick foliage of large leafed bushes, ferns and tall cyprus trees. The *croaking* of frogs and toads is perpetual here, the air almost vibrating with the resonant songs of the slime covered amphibians, some of which are as big as small cats and can be seen amidst white flowers and broad green pads of the water lillies.'
[OOC] Alwin sees nothing that resembles ruins of any kind on the trip to Bullcroak Creek.
Everyone may make a perception check and read the relevant spoilers below:
DC10:
'Standing on the South bank of the lagoon where the creek runs into the large placid pool of water, you see directly to your left a tall cyprus tree, it's roots partially exposed as its trunk leans to one side. Some of the bark on the trunk and lower branches seems to have been scraped away, and you see what looks to be deep scratches and grooves carved in the trunk and branches. An old knotted length of hempen rope hangs from the top-most branch, the tip of which is ten feet from both the ground and the lagoon's edge.
DC15:
'Almost lost amidst the thick foliage on the oppostie Northern bank of the lagoon, set back a little in the dense greenery from the waters edge, you somehow spot a medium sized cyprus tree especially heavy with drooping leaves and moss. Unsure at first why this particular tree caught your attention, you soon realise that the curtains and streamers of moss hanging from this tree seem to be interwoven with a latticework of tiny wildflowers, almost impercetable at this distance. The lagoon waters closest to the tree are completely covered by lilly pads and flowers, and the seemingly indifferent stare of dozens of yellow amphibious eyes are visible atop both the bank and floating green pads.'
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land DM Beyond the Bitter Shore DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Cinder gets the groups attention, and points at the south bank.
“There’s a tree with a rope there, but I think it’s a decoy because over on the north side, if you look closely, there’s wildflowers woven into that trees moss. There’s also ways more frogs over there, and we are looking for the frog maiden right?”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Altani frowns and squints her eyes as Cinder points out the two locations. She looks back and forth "...a rope...flowers in moss...it's all mossy....yes she is meant to be the Frogmaiden...I wonder...I wonder if they will look the same...so which is the best path to take if we head north?"
OCC: Survival check to pick the easiest and least hazardous looking path to head north to the treehouse Survival3
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Mazin looks forward across the Lagoon and tries to observe his surroundings. There are too many bugs here! Every time he tries to focus and look out, he just sees and hears all the annoying insects. The forests and the mountains are much better than this swamp, much fewer bugs.
"Yes, lets go to where the frogs are.... maybe they will eat some of these blasted bugs." He says as he swats another mosquito on his neck. He will follow the others North. If anyone makes another Survival check, he will help.
Altani frowns and squints her eyes as Cinder points out the two locations. She looks back and forth "...a rope...flowers in moss...it's all mossy....yes she is meant to be the Frogmaiden...I wonder...I wonder if they will look the same...so which is the best path to take if we head north?"
OCC: Survival check to pick the easiest and least hazardous looking path to head north to the treehouse Survival14
'Studying the banks which encircle the lagoon either side of the creek mouth, Altani sees that the dense foliage hugs the lagoon right up to the waters edge, with no sign of any discernible trails heading around either side of the lagoon to the North bank. While predominantly a lush, dark green, the centaur warrior notices the odd splash of colour amidst the thick plant stems and broad leaves. Here a profussion of bright orange berries, there a spread of scarlett coloured flowers and still further around the lagoon, a number of lilly pads supporting a clutch of tiny almost luminous emerald green frogs.'
[OOC] While Altani doesn't specifically recognise any of these plants or creatures (being markedly different to those of the Plains, she has seen enough poisonous plants and venomous creatures in her time to understand that at least some of what she is seeing could hold such potential dangers.
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land DM Beyond the Bitter Shore DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Cinder gets the groups attention, and points at the south bank.
“There’s a tree with a rope there, but I think it’s a decoy because over on the north side, if you look closely, there’s wildflowers woven into that trees moss. There’s also ways more frogs over there, and we are looking for the frog maiden right?”
'Her senses extended and alert for possible danger, Cinder notices what appears to be a submerged log beneath the ponds surface, running out from the bank near the tiefling in the rough direction of the distant flower decorated Cyprus tree. The sharp-eyed monk can tell that the fallen trunk runs for at least twenty feet but the murky water and dim light make it impossible to see if the potential walkway traverses the entire lagoon.'
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land DM Beyond the Bitter Shore DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Cinder walks up to the log and tests her weight on it. Does it seem like it could hold Altani? If not Cinder will try to scout ahead on the log to see if she can find a way around, and to see if it goes all the way.
Altani watches Cinder test the log with a quizzical expression before adding, "I hope you are not considering that we should walk across that little stick? These legs where made to run free across the wide plains, not tiptop across ropes like those performers from the circus."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
“Well if we can’t find a better way, then yes? I’m just trying to find this person, and this seems like the best option. I’ll go across to try to find a path for you and the rest Altani.”
Cinder walks up to the log and tests her weight on it. Does it seem like it could hold Altani? If not Cinder will try to scout ahead on the log to see if she can find a way around, and to see if it goes all the way.
'Walking to the lagoons edge, Cinder can see that the submerged log lies beneath about two inches of the lagoons brackish water. The potential bridge is approximately a foot wide, though of indeterminate length. Near the edge of the water, the monk can see the muddy lagoon bottom, as well as a few algae covered rocks and branches, but the murkiness of the water and the dimly lit clearing itself mean that Cinder can't tell the depth of the lagoon out past any more than three or four feet. Placing one foot upon the log to test its weight, the tiefling grimaces at both the cold temperature of the water and the algae-caused slipperiness of the log itself.'
“Well if we can’t find a better way, then yes? I’m just trying to find this person, and this seems like the best option. I’ll go across to try to find a path for you and the rest Altani.”
Cinderwill go across the log.
'Stepping onto the narrow log with arms outstretched to either side, Cinder immediately realises just how slippery this walk will be, though the agile warrior recalls a lesson atop criss-crossed suspended ropes taught her by Latanu that was likely as difficult or perhaps moreso than this. Of course, the young martial artist still recalls bruises she sustained in the numerous falls that she took prior to conquering the rope dance. Taking a deep breath and visualising her goal, the poised monk begins to carefully and purposefully step across the water and slime covered log, eventually making it about half way across what perceptive tiefling judges to be the forty-foot wide body of water. The broken end of the log is barely visible five feet in front of Cinder, fully fifteen feet short of the pond's Northern bank.
Nimbly standing atop the slippery log, out of the corner of her right eye, the mindful warrior notices a slight ripple across the top of the lagoon's surface about fifteen feet out towards the Eastern edge of the murky water, seeming to originate amidst a tightly spaced cluster of lilly pads. At the barely perceptible movement, a few of the bright emerald green frogs hop about on their floating platforms or off into the surrounding water.'
[OOC] Guy, make a acrobatics check for Cinder please. *Roll of 19 taken from OOC thread.
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land DM Beyond the Bitter Shore DM Echos of a Burning Crown
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Altani smiles, "A woman of passion and conviction in her ways, I can see why she makes a good capitan of the guard. She may be misguided, friends, in her focus and rejection of the old ways of her people and the power of nature that mother Mielikki grants her servants, but we should not hold that against her or find dismay in her words. We are ment to aide those of Ambersilt. Let us find this lake, someone will know of it."
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
'After her explosive tirade against the two adventurers, the still seething Sergeant Leetha dissapears along the West road into the guts of the small frontier town. Warily watching one of their commanders depart the scene of her scathing criticism, the other three militia members look at each other somewhat awkwardly for a moment, before the two women on duty go back to watching the roads and sky, while the slightly older man hesitantly approaches your group, speaking specifically to Mazin as the black bearded watchman casts a worried stare down the road after his departing superior,'
"Hey... you're the ones who cleared out the Oak's cellar yesterday an' helped Thurk bring Exbrin's body back to town, right? Deliahh said that was you lot, so I thought it worth coming to have a quick word while Sergeant Leetha goes off to... well, clear her head, I guess.
The name's Eskan. I know that the Sergeant can be tough at times, excessively so with some, no doubt, but I heard one of you mention her mother earlier an'... well, for the sergeant, like many of the lizardfolk in town, family ties an' loyalty to the Alliance isn't quite as simple as it is for many of us. Old traditions, beliefs an' gods, an' all that goes with that, I suppose.
Look, I hate to seem like I'm speaking out of turn or anything, but she's a good officer an' a damned fine warrior, so it needs to be said. She's not been herself of late, an' more than a few of us are worried about her. She'd stand before a charging moorcat for any of us, an' we know it since she's actually done it before, so the least we can do is let outsiders know that sh'es a damn strong woman an' a damn trust worthy leader. So if she goes off a little hot-headed an' all, maybe try an' keep that in mind.
Anyway, on behalf of our small militia, thanks for helping out. Some don't like adventurers round these parts, poking through old ruins an' older secrets an' such. Not me though. The more dark things brought into the light an' clear view, the better as far as I'm concerned. So yeah... thanks.
'The almost apologetic soldier nods his chiselled, angular head as he walks back to his fellow militia members.'
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist
DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land
DM Beyond the Bitter Shore
DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Mazin listens to the soldier as he speaks, but doesn't turn around until he finishes. He turns and nods to Eskan. "It appears we both struck a nerve without intending to. I do not fault Leetha for her words, she is a good person. It's a persons actions that define them, not the words they speak."
After Eskan leaves, Mazin will take a deep breath and turn to the others. "So, we still need to find this Frogmaiden. Any ideas? Who else can we ask?"
'Wazzock nods in gratitude to the militia member.' "Thank you, don't worry, I won't say a word to the sergeant."
'Wazzock returns from her conversation with the other guard, striding up and putting a meaty hand on Mazin's shoulder.' "I am told that the Frogmaiden may be a dryad who makes her home near Bullcroak Creek. Come, friends, let us see what this Frogmaiden is or is not, knows or does not know."
~♡~
Patting the elf on the back Cinder says,
”Well let’s go! The sooner we get there, the sooner we can ask questions.”
As Cinder comes over and provides words of comfort Alwin just gives a faint smile as she nudges him and just looks at her and softly says “Ha…rd to d….d….o when you do…n’t like yourse….lf.” He just listens as the soldier mentions their previous accomplishment, a little bit of pride building up in him. Alwin wasn’t just reading stories anymore, he was now becoming the story.
As Cinder pats him on the back he nods “Le…t’s go. People ne…ed our he…lp.” He just takes a deep breath placing his hand on the hilt of his sword “Th…ank you though Cinder.”
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
Altani's eyes widen as Wazzock mentions that the Frogmaiden could be a dryad, excitement clealy visible on her face as she starts to circle impatiently. She glances over at Alwin,
"That's the spirit Alwin. Ride on!" Altani proudly says to her companions, slapping her chest with a closed fist.
"This Bullcroak Creek that Wazzock mentions, is this not the very same place we did battle with the crocodiles?"
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Mazin looks surprised at Wazzock when she says where to go. Then he lets out a full belly laugh. "So, while I was making a fool of myself, you got the information we needed. I'm glad! Onwards!"
As they head out to Bullcroak Creek, Mazin will walk beside Alwin. "I enjoyed your story, about the wolves. I feel like we are similar, in some ways. One of our wolves seems to have been born stronger then the other. Still, we solider on, feeding the good wolf as much as we can."
Mazin pauses for a moment. "I saw you training this morning. Next time, come find me. It is better to train with a friend then with shadows, yes?"
As the group began to travel, Alwin found himself lost in his thoughts. Jumping a little when Mazin began to speak, mostly from not paying attention to his surroundings. He listened to him and just nodded "Th..ank you. Its one of my mas...ters favorites to tell."He didn't respond to the feeding of he wolves - he knew which one he fed, and it was good to hear that someone else could acknowledge the similarities in their wolves.
When Mazin brought up that he saw him training he just nodded "Th...at sounds like it could be a good t...ime. W...e spare the shadows to reveal our weakness. I...t is a dif...ferent type of training. Th...ough yes sparing with a friend can be fun and ed...ucational on its own."
As they walked Alwin kept his eyes open for anything that could indicate where the ruins maybe hidden.
[OOC]
perception check for signs leading to the ruins: 5
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
'Recalling that Sergeant Leetha had mentioned that the body of the first murder victim, a lizardwoman named Mirinah, had been found at Bullcroak Creek almost a ten-day ago, you ask around town and discover that the creek lies about five miles Northwest of Ambersilt. Heading out the Northgate as you did last night when accompanying Thurk, you this time take a small trail Westward instead of East. The ground underfoot quickly becomes heavy and wet, as the area you find yourself travelling through is criss-crossed by small rivulets and spotted with stagnant pools of varying sizes. Gnarled, partially sunken trees dot the landscape, most covered in brown and green lichen with branches draped in curtains and streamers of moss. Before you have gone more than a mile, the already sparse trail fades into muddy ground and marsh grasses.
As the growing wind and increasingly cloud shrouded sky layers the region in shifting shadows, you also notice an increase in insect and small wildlife in this verdant if wild countryside. The *buzzing* of large dragonflys and small but persistent mosquittos soon becomes incesant, as does the slithering and *hiss* of small lizards and serpents. Besides the lush greens and dark browns of the vegetation, mud and marsh water, streaks of bright oranges and reds can be glimpsed intermittently decorating both the fauna and flora here. Between the soggy ground that sucks at ones boots and the possibly venomous animal and plantlife, you find yourself moving cautiously across the swampy terrain.
After a few more miles of difficult travel, you reach a slow flowing ribbon of silt-heavy water larger than any of the other smaller streams that you had seen so far. Following the brackish creek for a few minutes, you are soon led to a bank where you can see that the flow of water terminates in a wide lagoon of indeterminate depth. The lazy trickle of the creek quickly gives way to the still greeny-brown lilly covered waters of the pool, which is itself closely surrounded by thick foliage of large leafed bushes, ferns and tall cyprus trees. The *croaking* of frogs and toads is perpetual here, the air almost vibrating with the resonant songs of the slime covered amphibians, some of which are as big as small cats and can be seen amidst white flowers and broad green pads of the water lillies.'
[OOC] Alwin sees nothing that resembles ruins of any kind on the trip to Bullcroak Creek.
Everyone may make a perception check and read the relevant spoilers below:
DC10:
'Standing on the South bank of the lagoon where the creek runs into the large placid pool of water, you see directly to your left a tall cyprus tree, it's roots partially exposed as its trunk leans to one side. Some of the bark on the trunk and lower branches seems to have been scraped away, and you see what looks to be deep scratches and grooves carved in the trunk and branches. An old knotted length of hempen rope hangs from the top-most branch, the tip of which is ten feet from both the ground and the lagoon's edge.
DC15:
'Almost lost amidst the thick foliage on the oppostie Northern bank of the lagoon, set back a little in the dense greenery from the waters edge, you somehow spot a medium sized cyprus tree especially heavy with drooping leaves and moss. Unsure at first why this particular tree caught your attention, you soon realise that the curtains and streamers of moss hanging from this tree seem to be interwoven with a latticework of tiny wildflowers, almost impercetable at this distance. The lagoon waters closest to the tree are completely covered by lilly pads and flowers, and the seemingly indifferent stare of dozens of yellow amphibious eyes are visible atop both the bank and floating green pads.'
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist
DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land
DM Beyond the Bitter Shore
DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Cinder gets the groups attention, and points at the south bank.
“There’s a tree with a rope there, but I think it’s a decoy because over on the north side, if you look closely, there’s wildflowers woven into that trees moss. There’s also ways more frogs over there, and we are looking for the frog maiden right?”
Altani frowns and squints her eyes as Cinder points out the two locations. She looks back and forth "...a rope...flowers in moss...it's all mossy....yes she is meant to be the Frogmaiden...I wonder...I wonder if they will look the same...so which is the best path to take if we head north?"
OCC: Survival check to pick the easiest and least hazardous looking path to head north to the treehouse Survival 3
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Mazin looks forward across the Lagoon and tries to observe his surroundings. There are too many bugs here! Every time he tries to focus and look out, he just sees and hears all the annoying insects. The forests and the mountains are much better than this swamp, much fewer bugs.
"Yes, lets go to where the frogs are.... maybe they will eat some of these blasted bugs." He says as he swats another mosquito on his neck. He will follow the others North. If anyone makes another Survival check, he will help.
'Studying the banks which encircle the lagoon either side of the creek mouth, Altani sees that the dense foliage hugs the lagoon right up to the waters edge, with no sign of any discernible trails heading around either side of the lagoon to the North bank. While predominantly a lush, dark green, the centaur warrior notices the odd splash of colour amidst the thick plant stems and broad leaves. Here a profussion of bright orange berries, there a spread of scarlett coloured flowers and still further around the lagoon, a number of lilly pads supporting a clutch of tiny almost luminous emerald green frogs.'
[OOC] While Altani doesn't specifically recognise any of these plants or creatures (being markedly different to those of the Plains, she has seen enough poisonous plants and venomous creatures in her time to understand that at least some of what she is seeing could hold such potential dangers.
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist
DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land
DM Beyond the Bitter Shore
DM Echos of a Burning Crown
'Her senses extended and alert for possible danger, Cinder notices what appears to be a submerged log beneath the ponds surface, running out from the bank near the tiefling in the rough direction of the distant flower decorated Cyprus tree. The sharp-eyed monk can tell that the fallen trunk runs for at least twenty feet but the murky water and dim light make it impossible to see if the potential walkway traverses the entire lagoon.'
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist
DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land
DM Beyond the Bitter Shore
DM Echos of a Burning Crown
Cinder walks up to the log and tests her weight on it. Does it seem like it could hold Altani? If not Cinder will try to scout ahead on the log to see if she can find a way around, and to see if it goes all the way.
Altani watches Cinder test the log with a quizzical expression before adding, "I hope you are not considering that we should walk across that little stick? These legs where made to run free across the wide plains, not tiptop across ropes like those performers from the circus."
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
“Well if we can’t find a better way, then yes? I’m just trying to find this person, and this seems like the best option. I’ll go across to try to find a path for you and the rest Altani.”
Cinder will go across the log.
Altani takes out a javelin and readies it at her side, watching for any movement.
"Well I don't like this...you be careful, make sure none of those logs are crocodiles."
OCC: Altani gets ready to throw her javelin if anything jumps from the water and tries to attack Cinder.
Perception 7 to spot any movement
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
'Walking to the lagoons edge, Cinder can see that the submerged log lies beneath about two inches of the lagoons brackish water. The potential bridge is approximately a foot wide, though of indeterminate length. Near the edge of the water, the monk can see the muddy lagoon bottom, as well as a few algae covered rocks and branches, but the murkiness of the water and the dimly lit clearing itself mean that Cinder can't tell the depth of the lagoon out past any more than three or four feet. Placing one foot upon the log to test its weight, the tiefling grimaces at both the cold temperature of the water and the algae-caused slipperiness of the log itself.'
'Stepping onto the narrow log with arms outstretched to either side, Cinder immediately realises just how slippery this walk will be, though the agile warrior recalls a lesson atop criss-crossed suspended ropes taught her by Latanu that was likely as difficult or perhaps moreso than this. Of course, the young martial artist still recalls bruises she sustained in the numerous falls that she took prior to conquering the rope dance. Taking a deep breath and visualising her goal, the poised monk begins to carefully and purposefully step across the water and slime covered log, eventually making it about half way across what perceptive tiefling judges to be the forty-foot wide body of water. The broken end of the log is barely visible five feet in front of Cinder, fully fifteen feet short of the pond's Northern bank.
Nimbly standing atop the slippery log, out of the corner of her right eye, the mindful warrior notices a slight ripple across the top of the lagoon's surface about fifteen feet out towards the Eastern edge of the murky water, seeming to originate amidst a tightly spaced cluster of lilly pads. At the barely perceptible movement, a few of the bright emerald green frogs hop about on their floating platforms or off into the surrounding water.'
[OOC] Guy, make a acrobatics check for Cinder please. *Roll of 19 taken from OOC thread.
D&D is a game, but it's not just a game. It's the ultimate storyboard, a campfire to share with friends, an imaginary call to imaginary arms and a ship to sail to horizons yet undreamt of...
Vassa Sunstar (half-drow bard) - Waterdeep Dragonheist
DM Ghosts of a Forgotten Land
DM Beyond the Bitter Shore
DM Echos of a Burning Crown