The monk thanks the heroes again and bids them a successful journey. As the party sets out from the keep, they know the raiders went south, and they would quickly find themselves by the rest area where they first met and encountered Beatrice after crossing the creek and moving past Lillian’s house.
The raiders’ path is easy to follow across the rolling grassland of the Greenfields. A wide swath of grass is trampled down, but it’s impossible to determine the raiders’ numbers precisely. The path only confirms what the heroes already know: there were a lot of them, and they were a mix of humans, kobolds, and trained drakes. (Anyone care for a nature or perception check?)
Kirari searches the ground as they move for other indications (drag marks, size of tracks, etc) left behind as they moved away. [skill]nature[/nature] 11
The professor studies the ground as well. “When large numbers of troops move through an area… sometimes information can be gleaned from what gets tossed aside or falls by chance.”
Cale scouts ahead of the party looking for danger specifically, although he will keep an eye out for any tracks or signs of groups leaving the main hoard that they are tracking.
Travis moves along with the group, clearly the least stealthy among them in his heavy armor, but able to keep up well enough. As the group pauses to inspect the site, he looks about for any clues.
It seems that everyone in the group is scouting ahead and looking for clues, so Inglenook decides that he should be doing the same otherwise it would look strange.
He kicks the dirt in a couple of places and picks up a leaf, examining it and nodding his head. He gives it a sniff and smells something foul, so just throws it on the floor.
"I conclude that nothing came this way." He announces to the others. Then swings his greatclub around a few times for some practice.
The professor as well as Cale quickly discern that the footprints in the ground heading south are much more sunk into the ground than the ones heading north into Greenest. The trail is fairly easy to follow, and if the characters keep heading south, they would encounter not much else than rolling green grass and a 25 yard wide path of where the raiders are or were heading. Now that we have gone about 10 miles, could I get some more wisdom, nature, or perception checks?
As they continue to move south, Kirari will start to look for cover and other sorts of shelter that may come in handy in case of a battle and out of partial suspicion that they may notice that they are being followed and set up an attack. nature8 (Passive perception is 12)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The professor leans down and looks closely at the footprints. “Yes the southbound tracks are fresher. It looks like we are on the right trail.”9 nature
As the party continues to push forward, Kiari's passive perception notices a change in terrain. As the trail leads south to the twelve miles mark, it becomes a more rugged region where steep-sided, rocky plateaus replace the gently rolling hills. The land between the plateaus is largely flat, broken only by outcroppings and wandering streams in steep-sided gullies. The plateaus jut fifty to one hundred feet above your surroundings and are difficult to climb except where rock falls and subsidence created natural ramps.
The professor's later nature check would spot something somewhat odd: there is a small plume of smoke rising from a spot on the horizon about two miles south of where you are in the plateaus. It does not seem to be the product of a wildfire.
As they travel south the professor shakes his head looking at the swath of ground the group trampled. “I’m not even trained in this type of wilderness tracking. I just know some basic stuff from my research on military and fighting. But this... a blind man could follow this trail.” He looks up towards the rocky plateaus. “Cale, Travis! Come take a look at this... do you see that smoke on the horizon, just there coming up in those plateaus? Is that where they’re headed... or just where they’re camping for the night?”
"Well well, that could be worth a cabby" says Cale, looking at the plume and slapping Thaddeus on the arm in applause for the good spot.
Seeing that not everyone gets the expression, he explains: "Have a cabby...have a look at?"
Turning to look at the plume again he says "Yeah it's about two miles away so I'm not scouting that on my own. Shall we try to get up these plateaus, see if there's a way to observe from the high ground?"
Survival check looking for a safe way to ascend a plateau: 5
Perception looking for lookouts and other signs of danger (passive 16): 15
Kirari moves up to take a look too hearing them speak of the fire. "They had quite a lot of loot, can we see which way the horses went? That'd most likely be the easiest way for us." She looks about for heavier tracks and if she can tell which way they headed, up or through. "We should also watch for falling objects, this'd be a great place to leave a few scouts to lay a trap."
If they didn't have horses, she'll look instead for the heaviest tracks indicating weight bearing individuals who'd choose an easier route if known. I think I remember horses though.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Travis looks away from his constant scanning and staring at the professor's call. He nods at the sight of the smoke, assuming it is the enemy camp. Like the others, he begins scanning for a way to safely ascend so they can get a better look.
"Find somewhere that's not too steep please, my little legs may struggle." and the gnome lifts a leg out in front of him as evidence. "If you can get me close I can cause a distraction in the form of an illusion of sight or sound, or if we're further away, say," Inglenook places a finger on his lips and looks upwards in thought, "100 ft or so I could send a message to one of them to spook them, that something is coming from the other direction?" Then he takes a swig from his waterskin and shrugs. "Just an idea."
Although Cale does not spot a way to get up the plateau to the west, there has been some erosion forming a natural ramp up to the side on the eastern plateau. Kiari does not spot any recent horse tracks going up onto the plateau; instead most of the tracks lead down the trail toward the smoke. Travis would see that the ramp seems sturdy enough (it is not made of sand) if the heroes want to climb up for a better look (it is a gentle slope, so no checks needed). The plateau extends for quite a ways on this side as the area looks somewhat like a low canyon flanked by these flat areas on the east and west. The smoke is continuing to rise and is not increasing in volume.
(Does the party want to climb up or continue on through the trail the raiders made? Anyone with a spyglass, etc. could do a check)
"I say at least one of us should go above and take a look at what lies ahead for a better vantage. These tracks continue on, so must go to their destination though or be an elaborate trap." Kirari offers as suggestion. (no spyglass here and her perception isn't fabulous)
“Yes, having the high ground is a large advantage. I don't have a way to see great distances though. Maybe it’s best if we travel together in case there is some kind of trap, though it seems unlikely. A group this large wouldn’t be too worried about people following them.”
Travis points out the relatively easy slope up they can take to get a better look. "I say we all head up there," he says. "Better to stick together for now anyway."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Cale steps up behind Inglenook and puts a wet finger in the gnome's ear "I'm ready, let's go be heroes"
The monk thanks the heroes again and bids them a successful journey. As the party sets out from the keep, they know the raiders went south, and they would quickly find themselves by the rest area where they first met and encountered Beatrice after crossing the creek and moving past Lillian’s house.
The raiders’ path is easy to follow across the rolling grassland of the Greenfields. A wide swath of grass is trampled down, but it’s impossible to determine the raiders’ numbers precisely. The path only confirms what the heroes already know: there were a lot of them, and they were a mix of humans, kobolds, and trained drakes. (Anyone care for a nature or perception check?)
Kirari searches the ground as they move for other indications (drag marks, size of tracks, etc) left behind as they moved away. [skill]nature[/nature] 11
The professor studies the ground as well. “When large numbers of troops move through an area… sometimes information can be gleaned from what gets tossed aside or falls by chance.”
15 nature
Noob
Cale scouts ahead of the party looking for danger specifically, although he will keep an eye out for any tracks or signs of groups leaving the main hoard that they are tracking.
Perception 15
Nature 14
Travis moves along with the group, clearly the least stealthy among them in his heavy armor, but able to keep up well enough. As the group pauses to inspect the site, he looks about for any clues.
Perception 9
Nature 12
It seems that everyone in the group is scouting ahead and looking for clues, so Inglenook decides that he should be doing the same otherwise it would look strange.
He kicks the dirt in a couple of places and picks up a leaf, examining it and nodding his head. He gives it a sniff and smells something foul, so just throws it on the floor.
"I conclude that nothing came this way." He announces to the others. Then swings his greatclub around a few times for some practice.
The professor as well as Cale quickly discern that the footprints in the ground heading south are much more sunk into the ground than the ones heading north into Greenest. The trail is fairly easy to follow, and if the characters keep heading south, they would encounter not much else than rolling green grass and a 25 yard wide path of where the raiders are or were heading. Now that we have gone about 10 miles, could I get some more wisdom, nature, or perception checks?
As they continue to move south, Kirari will start to look for cover and other sorts of shelter that may come in handy in case of a battle and out of partial suspicion that they may notice that they are being followed and set up an attack. nature 8 (Passive perception is 12)
The professor leans down and looks closely at the footprints. “Yes the southbound tracks are fresher. It looks like we are on the right trail.”9 nature
Noob
As the party continues to push forward, Kiari's passive perception notices a change in terrain. As the trail leads south to the twelve miles mark, it becomes a more rugged region where steep-sided, rocky plateaus replace the gently rolling hills. The land between the plateaus is largely flat, broken only by outcroppings and wandering streams in steep-sided gullies. The plateaus jut fifty to one hundred feet above your surroundings and are difficult to climb except where rock falls and subsidence created natural ramps.
The professor's later nature check would spot something somewhat odd: there is a small plume of smoke rising from a spot on the horizon about two miles south of where you are in the plateaus. It does not seem to be the product of a wildfire.
As they travel south the professor shakes his head looking at the swath of ground the group trampled. “I’m not even trained in this type of wilderness tracking. I just know some basic stuff from my research on military and fighting. But this... a blind man could follow this trail.” He looks up towards the rocky plateaus. “Cale, Travis! Come take a look at this... do you see that smoke on the horizon, just there coming up in those plateaus? Is that where they’re headed... or just where they’re camping for the night?”
Noob
"Well well, that could be worth a cabby" says Cale, looking at the plume and slapping Thaddeus on the arm in applause for the good spot.
Seeing that not everyone gets the expression, he explains: "Have a cabby...have a look at?"
Turning to look at the plume again he says "Yeah it's about two miles away so I'm not scouting that on my own. Shall we try to get up these plateaus, see if there's a way to observe from the high ground?"
Survival check looking for a safe way to ascend a plateau: 5
Perception looking for lookouts and other signs of danger (passive 16): 15
Kirari moves up to take a look too hearing them speak of the fire. "They had quite a lot of loot, can we see which way the horses went? That'd most likely be the easiest way for us." She looks about for heavier tracks and if she can tell which way they headed, up or through. "We should also watch for falling objects, this'd be a great place to leave a few scouts to lay a trap."
If they didn't have horses, she'll look instead for the heaviest tracks indicating weight bearing individuals who'd choose an easier route if known. I think I remember horses though.
nature 16
Travis looks away from his constant scanning and staring at the professor's call. He nods at the sight of the smoke, assuming it is the enemy camp. Like the others, he begins scanning for a way to safely ascend so they can get a better look.
Perception 5
Survival 5
"Find somewhere that's not too steep please, my little legs may struggle." and the gnome lifts a leg out in front of him as evidence. "If you can get me close I can cause a distraction in the form of an illusion of sight or sound, or if we're further away, say," Inglenook places a finger on his lips and looks upwards in thought, "100 ft or so I could send a message to one of them to spook them, that something is coming from the other direction?" Then he takes a swig from his waterskin and shrugs. "Just an idea."
Although Cale does not spot a way to get up the plateau to the west, there has been some erosion forming a natural ramp up to the side on the eastern plateau. Kiari does not spot any recent horse tracks going up onto the plateau; instead most of the tracks lead down the trail toward the smoke. Travis would see that the ramp seems sturdy enough (it is not made of sand) if the heroes want to climb up for a better look (it is a gentle slope, so no checks needed). The plateau extends for quite a ways on this side as the area looks somewhat like a low canyon flanked by these flat areas on the east and west. The smoke is continuing to rise and is not increasing in volume.
(Does the party want to climb up or continue on through the trail the raiders made? Anyone with a spyglass, etc. could do a check)
"I say at least one of us should go above and take a look at what lies ahead for a better vantage. These tracks continue on, so must go to their destination though or be an elaborate trap." Kirari offers as suggestion. (no spyglass here and her perception isn't fabulous)
“Yes, having the high ground is a large advantage. I don't have a way to see great distances though. Maybe it’s best if we travel together in case there is some kind of trap, though it seems unlikely. A group this large wouldn’t be too worried about people following them.”
Noob
Travis points out the relatively easy slope up they can take to get a better look. "I say we all head up there," he says. "Better to stick together for now anyway."