Lost Lab of Kwalish

You'll eventually get to both, it's just which one you want to do first. In a sense it doesn't matter, but I thought it would be interesting to let you guys decide

Leann stares at the rude elf for a long moment, then glances to the others of her group. "I have no need, or desire, to travel with this presumptuous elft." She tells the others. "We have our own map, and our own destination. I say we move along on our own and continue as we have." She then turns back to the elf in question. "If you want demon slayers go find a member of the Silver Gauntlet. I folow Torm, and the way of the Ancients. You have been nothing but rude, demanding, and condescending. If you wish our aid I would have expected more respect and, frankly, an attempt to give us some reason to aid you, other than that you need this magic item, and are concerned a demon lord will get to it first." She turns to the group again. "I will do what ever you think best, but my vote is to continue onward as we have, and head along the map we already have."

30

39

Mary will take her leave of the group. "If you do not see the value in a partnership, then I bud you fare well.  Just keep clear of the fens and stay out of my way." She turns to Ctenmiir, "See you around," she says and turns to walk away.  As she heads over the first small hill, a deck of cards appears in her hand and she begins to shuffle them as she walks away, her cat in tow.

The previous encounter nets each of you 3270xp.  I think I missed telling you the last xp you gained, but my count now has you at 16995xp total.

As you head off into the mountains, the treants plant themselves behind you, ready to intercept anything nefarious that wanders down from the peaks above. 

Your path takes you across a natural bridge. You notice some small dwellings carved into the cliffs higher up.  An owl familiar or Huarache's spyglass will reveal these to be the home of a small group of kenku.  Beneath the village on the path you follow, Leann finds  a metal spinning top that never tips over when spun. In fact, it's still spinning when she finds it.

Further along your path, you see several large tunnels opening along rhe walls of the narrow canyon you pass through, some far above the path you follow, a few right along the path. In total you see eight tunnel openings.  Three of these tunnels are accessible without the need for any climbing.  All appear of similar dimension: 5ft wide and 8ft tall.

"Something big made those holes." Ctenmiir warns, "Big things gotta eat big meals." 

Anyone can make a perception, survival or investigation check.

22 for Investigation. Also, two questions: 1, how long did it take us to get to these tunnels, and 2, is anyone worried that our characters are all in a dream now?

::Twilight Zone theme music:: (it's not, though}

You've been walking a few hours.  It's afternoon, skies are clear.  If you want to throw in any activities I might have glossed over on the way, now would be a good time.

Your investigation of the holes suggests they were not made by precision tools.  Furthermore, you note that the first two openings are a single connected tunnel.

Dorian will promise to notify Mary if anything related to this crosses their path, but for now they must focus on their employer's task.

A short rest at some point would be nice, if we're into the afternoon.

If we have someone who's good at Survival wants to look for tracks, that'd be good. In the meantime, Dorian's going to have his owl do a swoop around, looking for signs of anyone watching them. Perception: 14 (Dorian's passive is 19, the owl's is 13)

(OOC: Leann is not good at survival, but would 'help' anyone who wishes to do so. (Only a +3 for her...)) Leann studies the spinning top as they reach it, but would give it a good deal of space, leaving it to keep spinning as she continues along.

Yes, take your short rest yiu had it while leanne played with her new top. The warlocks will surely be grateful.

The owl sees the earth behind you is disturbed, as if something is pushing up from underneath,  the disturbance is 30ft behind the last member of the party.  Initiative follows Dex, but post in any order.  You're walking on a narrow path, 20ft wide. Your relative positions are as follows, given in distance from the disturbed ground (rounded up to the next 5, ie 27 would become 30, 31 would be 35, etc.).  So the lower your number, the further 'back' you are and the closer to the disturbance:

Leann 31

Dorian 31

Huarache 30

Samogri 30

Shutorn 27

Initiate Combat!

Here is the formal initiative order, not accounting for any special abilities you might be using, (eg Bladesong)

Initiative: 

Leann: 10

Dorian: 11

Shutorn: 12

Huarache: 13

Samogri: 11

A successful survival roll would have told you the tunnels were dug recently, the nearest being very fresh, within the last couple of hours, but I think you had enough to go on with the successful investigation and perception checks.  The tracks if any were seen would not be recognized other than being notes as large, made by one bipedal creature.  If anyone still wants to attempt *extreme* success, there is one more thing.

Sorry if this was unclear, but if anyone wants to do anything this round, you are acting in preparation of something emerging from the ground behind you. This might include buffs, movement or some other creative thing.  If you don't want ro do anything or say anything, give me a "..."

Im planning on opposing action in about 11 hours.

Dorian will make sure the others are aware of the disturbance. He'll hold a chill touch until the creature is in sight and definitely hostile.

Huarache will do the same with his blunderbuss, waiting for it to come within 15 feet, at which point he will fire twice and move back to a midfielding position, so to speak.

As the group anticipates the lurking subterranean horror looming, the stony path cracks apart, revealing the claws which precede the emerging 8 inch mandibles and burly mass of the monstrous umber hulk. 

 it wastes no time and rushes headlong toward the party.  (Its initiative is 11; characters with higher initiative go first.  It was well aware of your positions due to tremorsense; no one is surprised)  Huarache (if I'm interpreting properly) is holding his shots until the creature comes with 15ft before acting.  Echo may act, (I believe).  Shutorn is also up.  Dorian will act before the umber hulk as well, as may Sam.

To restate the situation, you're all between 30 and 40ft of an umber hulk. If your initiative is +1 or higher, act now if you haven't already posted otherwise im moving forward in a couple of hours.

Dorian will use his reaction to cast the chill touch he'd been holding: Attack: 21 Damage: 14

Then he'll back up (looking around to make sure there isn't sign of another umber hulk coming through the ground where he's headed) and he's going to try casting Faerie Fire on it. DC 15 DEX save.

Sam will cure wound first level 

7

then hunters mark as bonus 

Dorian's chill touch cant get a solid hold on the bulky beetle's dark shell.

The umber hulk approaches the party, moving 20ft toward them, (the intent is to have everyone within 30ft, if I missed someone moving, please remind me) and stares vacantly through the small crowd of humanoids, it's confusing gaze permeating their minds. {Make a DC15 Cha save, also include a d8, as this will determine your actions on a failed save. A failed save also prevents a creature from taking reactions. Full description in spoiler.}

Leann is up - note: spoiler may contain spoilers

Dorian moved away on his turn, plus he was initially 35 feet from the creature, so he's right on the borderline. Also, the Umber Hulk still needs to make a dex save for the Faerie fire.

Dorian: