It’s been some time since your last adventure - trouble and treasure have both been unusually scarce.
But then you heard a rumor in Triboar. It seems that people have been disappearing on the Long Road, on the hundred-mile stretch between there and Longsaddle.
A large number of people now, all gone without a trace. You joined a grain caravan heading north to investigate. The trip to Longsaddle was quiet, with nothing to show for it but sore feet.
Now your party is heading back south on your own. The journey started well, but then the weather changed. A cold gusty wind has come up along with a thick, wet fog. It seems to have gotten dark early too.
Someone – you can’t remember who - suggested you push on. It was a bad idea, as the road has disappeared and the ground has turned into a smelly, shallow marsh. You are wet and cold, you have no idea where you are, and you can only see about five feet in front of you.
Just as you have resigned yourself to a miserable night squatting in the swamp – there, off in the distance! A warm light!
Nyli felt too miserably to go anywhere by herself. She stroked feathers of the raven, always perching on her small shoulder and sighed: "Check it out, Syllabus". The raven silently took to the air and disappeared in the direction of the light.
Ivan Bloodanvil, a dwarven cleric of Moradin, curses under his breath as he sinks to his knees in the sludge. "Acursed vermin invested swamp! Blast it I can't get me bearings without solid earth under me". He moves quickly to keep up with his companions, reassuring himself that his shield is set in his left hand & with the comforting weight of his warhammer on his right shoulder. He glares angrily at any of his companions who would dare to think a dwarf trudging through swamp water is a comical event.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ivan ceases the muttering under his breath. He stands vigilant to rush to Jelbys' aid should the need arise. He peers into the surrounding swamp.
Perception: 7
He whispers to Nyil & NetherArc, "Stand ready! An ill place to be meeting folks, if ever I seen one to be sure." He shifts his shield & warhammer to be ready.
Oddly the light seems close by and far away at the same time, it seems to wobble back and forth in your vision, making you slightly uncomfortable looking at it for long periods of time. No sound comes back as you issue your demands.
Nyli: Syllabus flies back after a minute or so, reporting a house up ahead surrounded by a wall. There is a gate in the wall directly ahead.
NetherArc follows "So Nyli, what did Syllabus see? These are strange goings on." He is a half-elf with a lot of grey hair. He tries to follow the tree line as well keeping guard for what might come.
"A house," laconically answered Nyli, "just a house with some light in it. We can simply knock at the door and ask for shelter." At least this was what she was going to do. She sent her little mule in that direction (really, how else do you expect a gnome to travel the roads?) and rode to the gates. Should the gates be closed, she would knock loud enough to attract owner's attention.
Ivan moves to follow the rest of the party bringing up the rear. He'll continue to peer into the swamp concerned what the water and undergrowth keep concealed.
The manor house is shrouded in mist and is difficult to make out fully. It is large but not enormous, and has an upper story. The gray brickwork is fractured and ancient, and a number of the facing windows are cracked and broken. A short gravel path leads through the swampy ground up to a heavy, wooden door.
As you walk up to the door and knock on it, you hear a growling from behind you. You turn and see a large feral dog with red glowing eyes staring at you. It growls again and then it's mouth opens to reveal flames licking out each side. It's mouth goes wide and fire spews forth catching you all together clumped on the porch.
(OOC: Everyone can roll initiative as well as a DC 12 dexterity saving throw to avoid the flames)
Ivan swings around embarrassed to be taken by surprise as the rear guard. He squats behind his shield to make himself as small as a target as possible.
NetherArc, and Nyli manage to jump partially out of the way, NetherArc diving behind the low rails surrounding the porch, Nyli diving completely off of it, And Ivan tucking himself behind his shield but Jelbys isn't fast enough and takes the full force of the blast of flame. When it's over, the hound shakes it's head as if the blast of flame took a bit out of it and growls as it prepares to charge you.
(OOC: Everyone but Jelbys made their save, your character sheets have been updated to reflect current HP totals. Everyone make an attack now as the hound will go last.)
It’s been some time since your last adventure - trouble and treasure have both been unusually scarce.
But then you heard a rumor in Triboar. It seems that people have been disappearing on the Long Road, on the hundred-mile stretch between there and Longsaddle.
A large number of people now, all gone without a trace. You joined a grain caravan heading north to investigate. The trip to Longsaddle was quiet, with nothing to show for it but sore feet.
Now your party is heading back south on your own. The journey started well, but then the weather changed. A cold gusty wind has come up along with a thick, wet fog. It seems to have gotten dark early too.
Someone – you can’t remember who - suggested you push on. It was a bad idea, as the road has disappeared and the ground has turned into a smelly, shallow marsh. You are wet and cold, you have no idea where you are, and you can only see about five feet in front of you.
Just as you have resigned yourself to a miserable night squatting in the swamp – there, off in the distance! A warm light!
I walk towards the warm light clutching my longsword, cautiously waiting to see if I can spot what is producing the light.
Nyli felt too miserably to go anywhere by herself. She stroked feathers of the raven, always perching on her small shoulder and sighed: "Check it out, Syllabus". The raven silently took to the air and disappeared in the direction of the light.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Ivan Bloodanvil, a dwarven cleric of Moradin, curses under his breath as he sinks to his knees in the sludge. "Acursed vermin invested swamp! Blast it I can't get me bearings without solid earth under me". He moves quickly to keep up with his companions, reassuring himself that his shield is set in his left hand & with the comforting weight of his warhammer on his right shoulder. He glares angrily at any of his companions who would dare to think a dwarf trudging through swamp water is a comical event.
Jelbys, a petite woman in chain mail, draws her longsword and whispers to her party "Halt, I'll call out to draw out whoever who holds that light."
She steps forward, hides behind a tree, and then she yells "Whoever holds that flame, show thyself or suffer the consequences!"
Ivan ceases the muttering under his breath. He stands vigilant to rush to Jelbys' aid should the need arise. He peers into the surrounding swamp.
Perception: 7
He whispers to Nyil & NetherArc, "Stand ready! An ill place to be meeting folks, if ever I seen one to be sure." He shifts his shield & warhammer to be ready.
Oddly the light seems close by and far away at the same time, it seems to wobble back and forth in your vision, making you slightly uncomfortable looking at it for long periods of time. No sound comes back as you issue your demands.
Nyli: Syllabus flies back after a minute or so, reporting a house up ahead surrounded by a wall. There is a gate in the wall directly ahead.
I sneak ever closer to the light using the trees as cover.
Sneak 10
NetherArc follows "So Nyli, what did Syllabus see? These are strange goings on." He is a half-elf with a lot of grey hair. He tries to follow the tree line as well keeping guard for what might come.
Lot's of stuff ...
"A house," laconically answered Nyli, "just a house with some light in it. We can simply knock at the door and ask for shelter." At least this was what she was going to do. She sent her little mule in that direction (really, how else do you expect a gnome to travel the roads?) and rode to the gates. Should the gates be closed, she would knock loud enough to attract owner's attention.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Jelbys reconvenes with the party, and Nyli tells her what was seen. Jelbys concurs with Nyli, that they should just knock and ask for shelter.
Ivan moves to follow the rest of the party bringing up the rear. He'll continue to peer into the swamp concerned what the water and undergrowth keep concealed.
NetherArc follows as well, hoping for a warm and friendly outcome.
Lot's of stuff ...
Jelbys decides to knock on the door with the rest of the party behind her, she says "Hello! Is anyone in here?"
The manor house is shrouded in mist and is difficult to make out fully. It is large but not enormous, and has an upper story. The gray brickwork is fractured and ancient, and a number of the facing windows are cracked and broken. A short gravel path leads through the swampy ground up to a heavy, wooden door.
As you walk up to the door and knock on it, you hear a growling from behind you. You turn and see a large feral dog with red glowing eyes staring at you. It growls again and then it's mouth opens to reveal flames licking out each side. It's mouth goes wide and fire spews forth catching you all together clumped on the porch.
(OOC: Everyone can roll initiative as well as a DC 12 dexterity saving throw to avoid the flames)
Dex saving throw: 21
Initiative roll: 17
Lot's of stuff ...
Dex Saving Throw: 6
Initiative Roll: 12
Initiative: 18
Dex Save: 12
Ivan swings around embarrassed to be taken by surprise as the rear guard. He squats behind his shield to make himself as small as a target as possible.
Nyli Initiative 9
Dex Save: 13
Nyli ducked (that probably was not that necessary with her high) and exclaimed in fully warranted surprise: "A hellhound!"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
NetherArc, and Nyli manage to jump partially out of the way, NetherArc diving behind the low rails surrounding the porch, Nyli diving completely off of it, And Ivan tucking himself behind his shield but Jelbys isn't fast enough and takes the full force of the blast of flame. When it's over, the hound shakes it's head as if the blast of flame took a bit out of it and growls as it prepares to charge you.
(OOC: Everyone but Jelbys made their save, your character sheets have been updated to reflect current HP totals. Everyone make an attack now as the hound will go last.)