Grungs are aggressive froglike humanoids found in rain forests and tropical jungles, such as Chult. They are fiercely territorial and highly hierarchical within their societies. Green grungs are the tribe’s warriors, hunters, and laborers, and blue grungs work as artisans and in other domestic roles. Supervising and guiding both groups are the purple grungs, which serve as administrators and commanders. Red grungs are the tribe’s scholars and magic users. They serve as superiors to purple, blue, and green grungs and are given proper respect even by grungs of higher status. Higher castes include orange grungs, which are elite warriors that have authority over all lesser grungs, and gold grungs, which hold the highest leadership positions. A tribe’s sovereign is always a gold grung.
A grung normally remains in its caste for life. On rare occasions, an individual that distinguishes itself with great deeds can earn an invitation to join a higher caste. Through a combination of herbal tonics and ritual magic, an elevated grung changes color and is inducted into its new caste in the same way that a juvenile of the caste would be. From then on, the grung and its progeny are members of the higher caste.
Until very recently, Khan (a.k.a. d’Ahten’khan) used to lead a prominent grung battling unit nicknamed One Grung Above, or OGA. Not the most studied grung herself, Khan relied heavily on c’Ahbülos, a male red grung and her second-in-command, for relevant information and lore. The third-in-command was a female purple grung nicknamed Ang (a.k.a. b’Ang’r’Ang), a higher caste hunter and purple grung. Ang is the tactical, courageous leader and devoted mentor of the hunting sub-team within OGA, which is comprised of Ang herself and four lower cast green grungs. The most conscientious of the group, Ang bears the burden of responsibility for her green cousins, who are all nearly identical green grungs raised from an egg as siblings. The green grungs were trained from hatchlings to be the ultimate band of hunters. The quietest and most methodical of them all is Bleep (a.k.a. b’Leep), and he is secretly Ang’s favorite. The other three are b’Lip, b’Loop, and b’Lahp. Bleep is extremely loyal to his siblings and Ang.
OGA had a number of successes under their collective belts, to the point that talks were underway within the highest of grung circles regarding Khan’s possible “promotion” to the next color-status. Khan caught wind of this, which fueled her outspoken desire to become a noble within grung society. Laurels would also have cascaded down to the rest of OGA.
But fate would throw a stone on their path. Just a few days ago, OGA was ambushed by a group of Batiri, a collection of clans and tribes of green-skinned goblins in Chult who are known and feared for their tracking skills. OGA was outnumbered and caught by surprise. c’Ahbülos perished in the ensuing fight, while the rest of OGA scattered to the four winds. Once they were able to deceive the Batiri tracking party, Khan, Ang, and Bleep were reunited, but the whereabouts of b’Lip, b’Loop, and b’Lahp remain unknown. Either rescuing or getting closure regarding the three missing grungs is of paramount importance to the grung trio. The grung live and die by their no-frog-left-behind policy, and until closure is attained OGA is sure to be shunned within the larger grung society. Even worse, rival grung battling units are allowed to seek closure their own way: by hunting the disgraced grungs. OGA is in a race to either clear their name or die trying.
Allies are hard to come by in such situations, but OGA can count on at least one. Once news of OGA’s fate reached the ears of Khan’s old master, Ghee (a.k.a. Mee’Yah-Ghee), the drunkard informant to the Ytepka Society set out to lend a hand or two… literally. Ghee has ventured into the jungle to find his student and help her in any way he can. He has since found Khan, Ang, and Bleep, and is committed to help them find their companions, whether they are alive or not.
The Watchers of Candlekeep are the guardians tasked with the protection of the library-fortress of Candlekeep. These protectors were led by the individual known as the Gatewarden and were aided in their efforts by a separate group of soldiers who stood guard over the keep's main entrance. Each of four Elite-Watchers leads a contingent of a dozen well-armed and powerful warriors. Most of these warriors are monks, but a few others pursue different interests such as wizardry and druidism. Regardless of their inclination, all Watchers have scholastic responsibilities and are scholars of their own right.
It is not uncommon for some Watchers to be sent out on missions on behalf of Candlekeep. Mostly, these missions consist of the retrieval of valuable tomes or magic items to be studied further within the fortress. Recently, a small contingent of three Watchers were sent out to find and retrieve a mysterious tome titled "Brain Dead, a Psionic’s Guide to Necromancy." The dwarf Darrik Orcfoe, the gnome Saros Rockfoot, and the kenku Cawkrin Jones traveled for a long period of time to reach the jungles of Chult, but should now be close to their target if the intelligence they received on it is indeed accurate.
After a night of camping out in the jungle, Cawkrin Jones set out ahead of his two companions do some recognizance but never reported back. Darrik and Saros now have a double mission on their hands: finding the book and the kenku.
While looking for Cawkrin, Darrik and Saros stumbled upon OGA, still within the jungles of Chult. Suspicions were high on both sides, especially from Ghee, whose job as a member of a secret society dedicated to the protection of Chult from foreigners (Ytepka Society) is to be suspicious. Nonetheless, since both parties were missing integral members, none was willing to initiate a fight. A conversation ensued instead, and both groups soon realized they had a predicament in common. The grung shared their knowledge of the existence of a nearby outpost, within the jungle, a small village called Weirding. In return, the Watchers provided OGA and their albino hermit companion a perfect opportunity the enter the village in search of the missing grung while raising less eyebrows than otherwise. Realizing that their separate search and rescue missions would have higher chances of succeeding if they were to unite their efforts, OGA + Ghee and the Watchers agreed on a temporary alliance while they searched the village of Weirding.
The adventure begins as the party, now six-strong, are setting camp for the night. They are still within the jungles of Chult, a full day’s walk away from Weirding.
(OOC: Let us begin by setting the camp. Please describe how your character looks, what they are doing, and how they have contributed to setting up camp. This is the perfect opportunity to start our adventure with some early RPing. Let’s get started.)
For any who meet Saros for the first time, he appears dressed is dusty grey robes, holding a quarterstaff cut down to size and wearing odd shaped glasses, and appears unimposing at first, a trait that is reinforced by his small gnomish stature, being only 4ft tall. But having already seen 80 years come and go he is anything but, and any who engage with him fully will find Saros somewhat initially guarded, and instantly feel an intense scrutiny as he seeks to analyse and determine the meaning behind their words and deed, to garner their true intentions, a trait that befits a divination wizard. On his shoulder or perched in a nearby tree his raven familiar "Omen" mirrors Saros's intensity of gaze and you can feel the ravens eyes always watching and regarding everything and everyone near his master.
Whilst he a comfortable in his relationship with Darrick, it is more businesslike than fraternal in nature but he will not remain aloof, and will engage socially as necessary to maintain harmony and focus on whatever orders are given to him by the senior Watchers.
The arrival of the Grung pique his scholarly interest however and he finds himself wanting to understand more about their new allies given fates interference to merge their paths together.
With regards the camp, with his vocation not suited to the physical aspects of setting up for the night, Saros sends Omen out to act as a scout and report back anything that might be approaching, and focusses his attention on setting up a small fire for the group. Later in the evening his is likely to pull out a glass eye and cast Clairvoyance (sight) in order to provide more surety for the group by spending time to sweep the surrounding 1 mile radius, looking for the presence of any creature that might be a danger to the group during the night.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Darrik is a short, squat dwarf, with a bedraggled beard he's somehow dyed a spectacularly awful shade of green. He's wearing what appears to be half-plate, but covered with a generous heaping of twigs and other randomized detritus that still fails to disguise the fact that the armor is metal. It does, however, make a rather pleasant whispering noise when he moves. If you ignore the sounds of metal clanking. His fiery hair is also filled with various twigs, and has the overall effect of making him look like a very angry bush with hair.
He's currently hunched over a campfire, muttering to himself as he tries to light it ablaze. He finally manages to get a spark, but doesn't accomplish much other than lighting part of his beard on fire. After he pats it out an acrid smell of burnt dwarf hair and dye fills the campsite, although he seems blissfully oblivious to it.
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Bleep (short for b'Leep) is the only green skinned grung of the bunch. A fact that never really bothered him much as he wasn't alone in that. However, recent events has changed that and now many of the others have gone missing. He carries a small armory on him, so much that one often wonders how his small stature can move that amount on him. But, he more than manages.
In fact, he has climbed a nearby tree to keep as overwatch for the camp, with crossbow at the ready. Both from outside and inside. First that fateful attack and the arrival of these strangers? Seems too much of a coincidence to him. Khan said to work with them, that's one thing. Trust is another matter.
As a future noble -- NAY, someday empress of her tribe, 'Khan' had no business doing menial labor. At least no more than absolutely necessary while she yet had servants, er, underlings compatriots at her beck and call. It simply was not done. That said, she would not be cruel to them either. While standing an opposing three foot tall upon a conveniently placed boulder observing and delegating, both Ang and b'Leep, fellow frog-like humanoids, were to use whatever available vegetation was about to make her a hammock to rest within before seeing to their usual bedding.
Well, that and of course do one last perimeter search for any local pools or rivers they may yet use for the evening bath. Even after the most recent discovery of such necessity, her orange scales felt far too dry to her liking. If she hadn't already known better, she would think the dark splotches that conveniently shaped themselves into a sort of laurel atop her head might just peel off at any second! The very thought of which had her hugging herself and shuddering over. Inevitably, her attention would drift over to her teacher's direction, and that of the other non-Grung's nearby.
She squints at Saros in particular, having decided from the start that the gnome warranted an ever close eye aimed in his direction when possible. He looked far too much like a sickly Grung or far too large goblin. Both concern she had shared with Ang and 'Ghee' in the recent past in confidence, as well as a like wish for the former to be especially to wary. For once, she is hardly in any mood to profess her usually claims of climbing to the top of tribe hierarchy, or say much of anything at all. In fact, that too was somewhat another sidebar she had with Ang when it came to the foreigners, in that she was to be her voice in their regards. For now, and for the most part.
Having thus thoroughly agitated herself again with idle thoughts, Khan adjusted her battle loin cloth once more so that the slingshot didn't sit so uncomfortably anymore, and set her sights on observing her fellow Grung work. When she looks back and sees Bleep up in a tree instead, there's a look of utter incredulousness on her face.
With the others concentrating on scouting out the area, keeping watch and lighting a fire, Fire settles down to the real business of setting up camp: driving away as many biting insects as possible!
Dropping his pack by a likely rock, the albino dwarf stretches out his squat frame and removes the bone clasp from the hair clip which creates his top knot, letting a wave of pure white hair cascade down over his shoulders and back and obscures most of the network of cross crossing orange tattoos that line his body.
Beginning by jabbing his spear into the bushes surrounding the camp, he continues to almost brush whatever insects he finds there with the flattened end. After completing his sweep, muttering all the time about "wee biting buggers", he passes a stick of incense to Darrik with instruction to burn it once he stops trying to set himself alight and gets a fire going. "It's not like any muck you've brought over from the mainland. It still smells like a wet goblin been dead a week, but it keeps anything might want to take a nip at ye at bay. Least til morning."
With that, he settles back against his pack, removes a particularly ornate waterskin and battered tin cup from an easily accessible pocket on his pack. Caressing the decanter he whispers "aqua vitae" to it in a gentle loving tone, before pouring a cup of clear fluid and offering the decanter to the group, "Before we get to Weirding, let's have a few festivities of our own. Let our evening respite be-GIN."
Regardless of anyone else's reaction, Ghee chortles merrily to himself, clearing enjoying his own joke.
Ang, short for b'Ang'r'Ang, is a female purple grung, and used to be the third highest caste member within her battling unit. She is the tactical officer and bears the burden of responsibility for her green cousins. In that regard, the disappearance of b’Lip, b’Loop, and b’Lahp causes her great grief and her main focus is to find them. She talks rarely and prefers listening to people, engraving any important piece of information in her memory. She always found that investigating in advance friends and foes leads to crucial advantages during battle. Information is the key to success.
Ang is siting around the campfire for now, in silence. Her slow-trusting instincts is what kept her alive all these years. Only actions and not words can earn her trust. Tonight is no different. Sharing food and playing some tunes with her whistle-stick, Ang uses this evening to get as much information as she can from those two newcomers. When rested, she will take part of the watch duty.
The group begins to set camp for the night. Darrik busies himself with the campfire, but his somewhat comical failure begs for assistance on the dwarf's behalf. His fellow Watcher, Saros, comes to his aid, but more out of a practical interest in getting a fire going than some sense of sympathy for his fire-haired companion. Meanwhile, Ghee stabs foliage and does his best to clear the area of insects. The incense he gives Darrik is well received, and together the two dwarves add their own scent to the campsite; burnt dyed hair and wet-goblin incense.
The grungs focus more on keeping watch while the others start a campfire and begin to unroll their bedding. Bleep does so from atop a tree, watching the camp just as closely as he watches its perimeter. Ang focuses on OGA's new companions instead, preparing and sharing some food while listening to their stories (Wanderer feature for the win.) She even shares her whistle-stick tunes. Under Khan's directions, the grungs also locate a nearby river and collect some foliage for both camouflage and bedding, though the other grungs seemed to prioritize their watch and information-gathering tasks instead.
For the next two hours, the entire party remains awake. Some keep a lookout, others converse and plan their approach on the small village of Weirding. When individuals begin signaling that they are ready to call it a night, Saros decides it is time to perform a more thorough scan of the general area. The wizard places a stationary and invisible orb high above the campsite and looks through his glass eye as if he was physically up there in that vantage point.
-> Rolling a perception check on behalf of @Saros (please make sure to roll one whenever you cast this spell): 17
The deep gnome's superior darkvision comes in handy at night. Through his sensor, he can see leaves and branches being pushed aside, as if a group of individuals was trying to move carefully towards the campfire. Saros figures they have but a few moments before their visitors arrive. Despite his insistence, Bleep is unable to confirm this discovery once Saros shares the information.
(@Grimnir: Ang's perception check doesn't come into play because you specified you'd keep watch after being rested.)
(@All: You have a few moments to prepare before being visited. What do you do?)
Saros commands Omen to fly up into the trees about 50-100ft out from camp in the direction they approaching group is coming from and report what it sees but remain hidden.
And being cautious Saros moves to the far side of the camp away from whatever is approaching and triggers his Svirfneblin magic to cast Blur and attempts to hide (as I assume moments literally means moments - not minutes)
4 (LOL - why am I getting a sense of deja vu)
He will ready Hypnotic Pattern if time permits (DM to determine)
Ghee waggles the decanter at the others, the liquid inside sloshing around, offering a drink to any who would take it. Assuming none do, he shrugs and tops off his own mug before tucking the decanter back into his pack.
Getting to his feet, the dwarf sways slightly, brushing down his skirt and putting his hair back into a top knot with a practised flourish. Feeling he now looks the part, Ghee picks up his mug, taking a sip and then picks up his spear from its resting position against a tree.
Taking a few backwards steps away from the campfire, it appears the dwarf may have imbibed a little too much as he appears to topple over into the surrounding jungle. There is the unmistakable sound of a dwarf collapsing into a bush and if any looked in his direction a pair of feet, albino skin clashing with the days accumulated filth would be visible from the patch of greenery.
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
Khan looked tempted even despite the bad joke, but waved off the offer. With the ever present pressure of the mission at hand, Ghee would and Ang would at least know she was not one take unnecessary risk... however cast iron her stomach was after her "training" alongside the drunken master.
Later on, As Khan yet trusted Bleep more than the gnome, she scoffed and would've brushed it off more whole sale if not for having seen Ang duck off as well. Now clearly worried, she hops on over and leaps into a nearby tree and climbs up further into the boughs to hide and keep a closer eye out on things below. Though if none are readily available, she would absent-mindedly somewhat fall back to Darrik's side and ready her slingshot for any approaching foes to come within sight.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
With everyone alerted to something approaching the camp, Bleep uses his natural coloring to blend in with the foliage of the trees. He aims his crossbow at the movement in case it is something that intends to do them in.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
DM's Screen:
6
Omen flies off in the northwest direction, heading straight to the point identified by its master. The bird flies below the canopy, swerving between trees in an attempt to make its approach somewhat camouflaged. Once it notices some approaching creatures, it perches on a branch and looks on. What Saros sees through his familiar's eyes is a scene that is reminiscent of his latest encounter. Several humanoid frog-like creature leap from branch to branch, approaching the campsite quickly. He counts six of them, though he is sure there are more. He saw a couple of green frogs, a purple one, an orange one, and two reds. They also passed by Omen without turning an eye, except for the reddish ones. One of them stops and calls the other's attention. They stare at the obviously non-native bird for a second, but decide to leave it undisturbed as not to fall too far behind the other frogfolk.
Back at the camp, the party begins to prepare. Either with intent or by accident, almost all of them find some foliage to hide behind, though some are more successful than others. Darrik stands right next to the campfire, while Saros and Ghee standout like sore thumbs despite their best efforts. Ang too wishes she could have picked a better spot, but she has no time now to find a thicker cluster of leaves. The wizard compensates it by making his visage magically blurry,Darrik prepares by hardening his weapon, and the grungs keep themselves ready to attack at a moment's notice.
Surely enough, another grung battling unit reaches their camp within a few extra seconds. Omen is some yards behind them. One of the grungs that Saros failed to see though his familiar's eyes, one of golden and moist skin, speaks up in its native language upon spotting Ang.
@Khan, @Ang, @Bleep, & @Ghee:
"You mingle with outsiders now? You only make the target on your back larger. Surrender now and we shall not kill you on the spot."
(OOC: You understand this to be a small window of opportunity into parleying your way out of a fight. What do you do?)
Welcome to The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
BACKGROUND: THE GRUNG (1/3)
Grungs are aggressive froglike humanoids found in rain forests and tropical jungles, such as Chult. They are fiercely territorial and highly hierarchical within their societies. Green grungs are the tribe’s warriors, hunters, and laborers, and blue grungs work as artisans and in other domestic roles. Supervising and guiding both groups are the purple grungs, which serve as administrators and commanders. Red grungs are the tribe’s scholars and magic users. They serve as superiors to purple, blue, and green grungs and are given proper respect even by grungs of higher status. Higher castes include orange grungs, which are elite warriors that have authority over all lesser grungs, and gold grungs, which hold the highest leadership positions. A tribe’s sovereign is always a gold grung.
A grung normally remains in its caste for life. On rare occasions, an individual that distinguishes itself with great deeds can earn an invitation to join a higher caste. Through a combination of herbal tonics and ritual magic, an elevated grung changes color and is inducted into its new caste in the same way that a juvenile of the caste would be. From then on, the grung and its progeny are members of the higher caste.
BACKGROUND: ONE GRUNG ABOVE (2/3)
Until very recently, Khan (a.k.a. d’Ahten’khan) used to lead a prominent grung battling unit nicknamed One Grung Above, or OGA. Not the most studied grung herself, Khan relied heavily on c’Ahbülos, a male red grung and her second-in-command, for relevant information and lore. The third-in-command was a female purple grung nicknamed Ang (a.k.a. b’Ang’r’Ang), a higher caste hunter and purple grung. Ang is the tactical, courageous leader and devoted mentor of the hunting sub-team within OGA, which is comprised of Ang herself and four lower cast green grungs. The most conscientious of the group, Ang bears the burden of responsibility for her green cousins, who are all nearly identical green grungs raised from an egg as siblings. The green grungs were trained from hatchlings to be the ultimate band of hunters. The quietest and most methodical of them all is Bleep (a.k.a. b’Leep), and he is secretly Ang’s favorite. The other three are b’Lip, b’Loop, and b’Lahp. Bleep is extremely loyal to his siblings and Ang.
OGA had a number of successes under their collective belts, to the point that talks were underway within the highest of grung circles regarding Khan’s possible “promotion” to the next color-status. Khan caught wind of this, which fueled her outspoken desire to become a noble within grung society. Laurels would also have cascaded down to the rest of OGA.
But fate would throw a stone on their path. Just a few days ago, OGA was ambushed by a group of Batiri, a collection of clans and tribes of green-skinned goblins in Chult who are known and feared for their tracking skills. OGA was outnumbered and caught by surprise. c’Ahbülos perished in the ensuing fight, while the rest of OGA scattered to the four winds. Once they were able to deceive the Batiri tracking party, Khan, Ang, and Bleep were reunited, but the whereabouts of b’Lip, b’Loop, and b’Lahp remain unknown. Either rescuing or getting closure regarding the three missing grungs is of paramount importance to the grung trio. The grung live and die by their no-frog-left-behind policy, and until closure is attained OGA is sure to be shunned within the larger grung society. Even worse, rival grung battling units are allowed to seek closure their own way: by hunting the disgraced grungs. OGA is in a race to either clear their name or die trying.
Allies are hard to come by in such situations, but OGA can count on at least one. Once news of OGA’s fate reached the ears of Khan’s old master, Ghee (a.k.a. Mee’Yah-Ghee), the drunkard informant to the Ytepka Society set out to lend a hand or two… literally. Ghee has ventured into the jungle to find his student and help her in any way he can. He has since found Khan, Ang, and Bleep, and is committed to help them find their companions, whether they are alive or not.
BACKGROUND: THE LOST KENKU (3/3)
The Watchers of Candlekeep are the guardians tasked with the protection of the library-fortress of Candlekeep. These protectors were led by the individual known as the Gatewarden and were aided in their efforts by a separate group of soldiers who stood guard over the keep's main entrance. Each of four Elite-Watchers leads a contingent of a dozen well-armed and powerful warriors. Most of these warriors are monks, but a few others pursue different interests such as wizardry and druidism. Regardless of their inclination, all Watchers have scholastic responsibilities and are scholars of their own right.
It is not uncommon for some Watchers to be sent out on missions on behalf of Candlekeep. Mostly, these missions consist of the retrieval of valuable tomes or magic items to be studied further within the fortress. Recently, a small contingent of three Watchers were sent out to find and retrieve a mysterious tome titled "Brain Dead, a Psionic’s Guide to Necromancy." The dwarf Darrik Orcfoe, the gnome Saros Rockfoot, and the kenku Cawkrin Jones traveled for a long period of time to reach the jungles of Chult, but should now be close to their target if the intelligence they received on it is indeed accurate.
After a night of camping out in the jungle, Cawkrin Jones set out ahead of his two companions do some recognizance but never reported back. Darrik and Saros now have a double mission on their hands: finding the book and the kenku.
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
While looking for Cawkrin, Darrik and Saros stumbled upon OGA, still within the jungles of Chult. Suspicions were high on both sides, especially from Ghee, whose job as a member of a secret society dedicated to the protection of Chult from foreigners (Ytepka Society) is to be suspicious. Nonetheless, since both parties were missing integral members, none was willing to initiate a fight. A conversation ensued instead, and both groups soon realized they had a predicament in common. The grung shared their knowledge of the existence of a nearby outpost, within the jungle, a small village called Weirding. In return, the Watchers provided OGA and their albino hermit companion a perfect opportunity the enter the village in search of the missing grung while raising less eyebrows than otherwise. Realizing that their separate search and rescue missions would have higher chances of succeeding if they were to unite their efforts, OGA + Ghee and the Watchers agreed on a temporary alliance while they searched the village of Weirding.
The adventure begins as the party, now six-strong, are setting camp for the night. They are still within the jungles of Chult, a full day’s walk away from Weirding.
(OOC: Let us begin by setting the camp. Please describe how your character looks, what they are doing, and how they have contributed to setting up camp. This is the perfect opportunity to start our adventure with some early RPing. Let’s get started.)
For any who meet Saros for the first time, he appears dressed is dusty grey robes, holding a quarterstaff cut down to size and wearing odd shaped glasses, and appears unimposing at first, a trait that is reinforced by his small gnomish stature, being only 4ft tall. But having already seen 80 years come and go he is anything but, and any who engage with him fully will find Saros somewhat initially guarded, and instantly feel an intense scrutiny as he seeks to analyse and determine the meaning behind their words and deed, to garner their true intentions, a trait that befits a divination wizard. On his shoulder or perched in a nearby tree his raven familiar "Omen" mirrors Saros's intensity of gaze and you can feel the ravens eyes always watching and regarding everything and everyone near his master.
Whilst he a comfortable in his relationship with Darrick, it is more businesslike than fraternal in nature but he will not remain aloof, and will engage socially as necessary to maintain harmony and focus on whatever orders are given to him by the senior Watchers.
The arrival of the Grung pique his scholarly interest however and he finds himself wanting to understand more about their new allies given fates interference to merge their paths together.
With regards the camp, with his vocation not suited to the physical aspects of setting up for the night, Saros sends Omen out to act as a scout and report back anything that might be approaching, and focusses his attention on setting up a small fire for the group. Later in the evening his is likely to pull out a glass eye and cast Clairvoyance (sight) in order to provide more surety for the group by spending time to sweep the surrounding 1 mile radius, looking for the presence of any creature that might be a danger to the group during the night.
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Darrik is a short, squat dwarf, with a bedraggled beard he's somehow dyed a spectacularly awful shade of green. He's wearing what appears to be half-plate, but covered with a generous heaping of twigs and other randomized detritus that still fails to disguise the fact that the armor is metal. It does, however, make a rather pleasant whispering noise when he moves. If you ignore the sounds of metal clanking. His fiery hair is also filled with various twigs, and has the overall effect of making him look like a very angry bush with hair.
He's currently hunched over a campfire, muttering to himself as he tries to light it ablaze. He finally manages to get a spark, but doesn't accomplish much other than lighting part of his beard on fire. After he pats it out an acrid smell of burnt dwarf hair and dye fills the campsite, although he seems blissfully oblivious to it.
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Class Guides: Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer, Bard General Guides: PvP
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
Bleep (short for b'Leep) is the only green skinned grung of the bunch. A fact that never really bothered him much as he wasn't alone in that. However, recent events has changed that and now many of the others have gone missing. He carries a small armory on him, so much that one often wonders how his small stature can move that amount on him. But, he more than manages.
In fact, he has climbed a nearby tree to keep as overwatch for the camp, with crossbow at the ready. Both from outside and inside. First that fateful attack and the arrival of these strangers? Seems too much of a coincidence to him. Khan said to work with them, that's one thing. Trust is another matter.
Perception: 15
Extended Signature
As a future noble -- NAY, someday empress of her tribe, 'Khan' had no business doing menial labor. At least no more than absolutely necessary while she yet had
servants, er, underlingscompatriots at her beck and call. It simply was not done. That said, she would not be cruel to them either. While standing an opposing three foot tall upon a conveniently placed boulder observing and delegating, both Ang and b'Leep, fellow frog-like humanoids, were to use whatever available vegetation was about to make her a hammock to rest within before seeing to their usual bedding.Well, that and of course do one last perimeter search for any local pools or rivers they may yet use for the evening bath. Even after the most recent discovery of such necessity, her orange scales felt far too dry to her liking. If she hadn't already known better, she would think the dark splotches that conveniently shaped themselves into a sort of laurel atop her head might just peel off at any second! The very thought of which had her hugging herself and shuddering over. Inevitably, her attention would drift over to her teacher's direction, and that of the other non-Grung's nearby.
She squints at Saros in particular, having decided from the start that the gnome warranted an ever close eye aimed in his direction when possible. He looked far too much like a sickly Grung or far too large goblin. Both concern she had shared with Ang and 'Ghee' in the recent past in confidence, as well as a like wish for the former to be especially to wary. For once, she is hardly in any mood to profess her usually claims of climbing to the top of tribe hierarchy, or say much of anything at all. In fact, that too was somewhat another sidebar she had with Ang when it came to the foreigners, in that she was to be her voice in their regards. For now, and for the most part.
Having thus thoroughly agitated herself again with idle thoughts, Khan adjusted her battle loin cloth once more so that the slingshot didn't sit so uncomfortably anymore, and set her sights on observing her fellow Grung work. When she looks back and sees Bleep up in a tree instead, there's a look of utter incredulousness on her face.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
With the others concentrating on scouting out the area, keeping watch and lighting a fire, Fire settles down to the real business of setting up camp: driving away as many biting insects as possible!
Dropping his pack by a likely rock, the albino dwarf stretches out his squat frame and removes the bone clasp from the hair clip which creates his top knot, letting a wave of pure white hair cascade down over his shoulders and back and obscures most of the network of cross crossing orange tattoos that line his body.
Beginning by jabbing his spear into the bushes surrounding the camp, he continues to almost brush whatever insects he finds there with the flattened end. After completing his sweep, muttering all the time about "wee biting buggers", he passes a stick of incense to Darrik with instruction to burn it once he stops trying to set himself alight and gets a fire going. "It's not like any muck you've brought over from the mainland. It still smells like a wet goblin been dead a week, but it keeps anything might want to take a nip at ye at bay. Least til morning."
With that, he settles back against his pack, removes a particularly ornate waterskin and battered tin cup from an easily accessible pocket on his pack. Caressing the decanter he whispers "aqua vitae" to it in a gentle loving tone, before pouring a cup of clear fluid and offering the decanter to the group, "Before we get to Weirding, let's have a few festivities of our own. Let our evening respite be-GIN."
Regardless of anyone else's reaction, Ghee chortles merrily to himself, clearing enjoying his own joke.
Ang, short for b'Ang'r'Ang, is a female purple grung, and used to be the third highest caste member within her battling unit. She is the tactical officer and bears the burden of responsibility for her green cousins. In that regard, the disappearance of b’Lip, b’Loop, and b’Lahp causes her great grief and her main focus is to find them. She talks rarely and prefers listening to people, engraving any important piece of information in her memory. She always found that investigating in advance friends and foes leads to crucial advantages during battle. Information is the key to success.
Ang is siting around the campfire for now, in silence. Her slow-trusting instincts is what kept her alive all these years. Only actions and not words can earn her trust. Tonight is no different. Sharing food and playing some tunes with her whistle-stick, Ang uses this evening to get as much information as she can from those two newcomers. When rested, she will take part of the watch duty.
Perception if needed: 15
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
The group begins to set camp for the night. Darrik busies himself with the campfire, but his somewhat comical failure begs for assistance on the dwarf's behalf. His fellow Watcher, Saros, comes to his aid, but more out of a practical interest in getting a fire going than some sense of sympathy for his fire-haired companion. Meanwhile, Ghee stabs foliage and does his best to clear the area of insects. The incense he gives Darrik is well received, and together the two dwarves add their own scent to the campsite; burnt dyed hair and wet-goblin incense.
The grungs focus more on keeping watch while the others start a campfire and begin to unroll their bedding. Bleep does so from atop a tree, watching the camp just as closely as he watches its perimeter. Ang focuses on OGA's new companions instead, preparing and sharing some food while listening to their stories (Wanderer feature for the win.) She even shares her whistle-stick tunes. Under Khan's directions, the grungs also locate a nearby river and collect some foliage for both camouflage and bedding, though the other grungs seemed to prioritize their watch and information-gathering tasks instead.
(Another post coming soon.)
DM's Screen:
12.125
For the next two hours, the entire party remains awake. Some keep a lookout, others converse and plan their approach on the small village of Weirding. When individuals begin signaling that they are ready to call it a night, Saros decides it is time to perform a more thorough scan of the general area. The wizard places a stationary and invisible orb high above the campsite and looks through his glass eye as if he was physically up there in that vantage point.
-> Rolling a perception check on behalf of @Saros (please make sure to roll one whenever you cast this spell): 17
The deep gnome's superior darkvision comes in handy at night. Through his sensor, he can see leaves and branches being pushed aside, as if a group of individuals was trying to move carefully towards the campfire. Saros figures they have but a few moments before their visitors arrive. Despite his insistence, Bleep is unable to confirm this discovery once Saros shares the information.
(@Grimnir: Ang's perception check doesn't come into play because you specified you'd keep watch after being rested.)
(@All: You have a few moments to prepare before being visited. What do you do?)
Saros commands Omen to fly up into the trees about 50-100ft out from camp in the direction they approaching group is coming from and report what it sees but remain hidden.
And being cautious Saros moves to the far side of the camp away from whatever is approaching and triggers his Svirfneblin magic to cast Blur and attempts to hide (as I assume moments literally means moments - not minutes)
4 (LOL - why am I getting a sense of deja vu)
He will ready Hypnotic Pattern if time permits (DM to determine)"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Ghee waggles the decanter at the others, the liquid inside sloshing around, offering a drink to any who would take it. Assuming none do, he shrugs and tops off his own mug before tucking the decanter back into his pack.
Getting to his feet, the dwarf sways slightly, brushing down his skirt and putting his hair back into a top knot with a practised flourish. Feeling he now looks the part, Ghee picks up his mug, taking a sip and then picks up his spear from its resting position against a tree.
Taking a few backwards steps away from the campfire, it appears the dwarf may have imbibed a little too much as he appears to topple over into the surrounding jungle. There is the unmistakable sound of a dwarf collapsing into a bush and if any looked in his direction a pair of feet, albino skin clashing with the days accumulated filth would be visible from the patch of greenery.
"Good news everyone! I didnae spill ma drink!"
Stealth 7
see other thread for Omen's rolls....
Link to post re Omen
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Ang's gets ready for a possible fight and hide on the other side of the campfire. Keeping an eye out for hidden creatures, she loads her crossbow.
Stealth if needed: 11
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Darrik looks around at the various attempt disappearances.
"Oi, where's everyone goin'?"
He shrugs, and casts shillelagh on his staff. Then goes right back to burning suspicious dwarf incense.
Check out my Extended signature here
Class Guides: Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer, Bard General Guides: PvP
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
Khan looked tempted even despite the bad joke, but waved off the offer. With the ever present pressure of the mission at hand, Ghee would and Ang would at least know she was not one take unnecessary risk... however cast iron her stomach was after her "training" alongside the drunken master.
Later on, As Khan yet trusted Bleep more than the gnome, she scoffed and would've brushed it off more whole sale if not for having seen Ang duck off as well. Now clearly worried, she hops on over and leaps into a nearby tree and climbs up further into the boughs to hide and keep a closer eye out on things below. Though if none are readily available, she would absent-mindedly somewhat fall back to Darrik's side and ready her slingshot for any approaching foes to come within sight.
Stealth: 20.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
With everyone alerted to something approaching the camp, Bleep uses his natural coloring to blend in with the foliage of the trees. He aims his crossbow at the movement in case it is something that intends to do them in.
Stealth: 26
Extended Signature
DM's Screen:
6
Omen flies off in the northwest direction, heading straight to the point identified by its master. The bird flies below the canopy, swerving between trees in an attempt to make its approach somewhat camouflaged. Once it notices some approaching creatures, it perches on a branch and looks on. What Saros sees through his familiar's eyes is a scene that is reminiscent of his latest encounter. Several humanoid frog-like creature leap from branch to branch, approaching the campsite quickly. He counts six of them, though he is sure there are more. He saw a couple of green frogs, a purple one, an orange one, and two reds. They also passed by Omen without turning an eye, except for the reddish ones. One of them stops and calls the other's attention. They stare at the obviously non-native bird for a second, but decide to leave it undisturbed as not to fall too far behind the other frogfolk.
Back at the camp, the party begins to prepare. Either with intent or by accident, almost all of them find some foliage to hide behind, though some are more successful than others. Darrik stands right next to the campfire, while Saros and Ghee standout like sore thumbs despite their best efforts. Ang too wishes she could have picked a better spot, but she has no time now to find a thicker cluster of leaves. The wizard compensates it by making his visage magically blurry, Darrik prepares by hardening his weapon, and the grungs keep themselves ready to attack at a moment's notice.
Surely enough, another grung battling unit reaches their camp within a few extra seconds. Omen is some yards behind them. One of the grungs that Saros failed to see though his familiar's eyes, one of golden and moist skin, speaks up in its native language upon spotting Ang.
@Khan, @Ang, @Bleep, & @Ghee:
"You mingle with outsiders now? You only make the target on your back larger. Surrender now and we shall not kill you on the spot."
(OOC: You understand this to be a small window of opportunity into parleying your way out of a fight. What do you do?)