Wake - Daveth eagerly accepts your instruction. Isadore relaxes on his bed roll with a pipe in hand and a mug of ale next to him and watches as you don the shield to let Daveth get a feel for swinging the warhammer. After a few wild swings with tangled foot work, Ariana steps in and decides to forego the armaments and focus on the foundations, specifically his. Once his stance has been worked into a decent starting point, he returns to you and his form is much better. Alternating attacking with the warhammer and defending with the shield, he gains a basic knowledge of how to attack and defend himself in combat.
Ruby - Daveth looks a bit relived when you decided not to have a training match with him.
With your investigation check, you don't see or hear any signs of bandits in the area. Perception would be a more accurate skill to use for checks of that type, though the results still would have been the same, nothing appears untoward. You do get the sense that Daveth is relived not to have sparred with you as he's likely not very confident in his skills yet and getting beat by a woman half his size isn't high on his to-do list.
Ariana - Daveth makes noticeable improvements after you step in and offer your advice. He thanks you and over the next few days you often find him practicing some of the stances and movements you taught him.
Kulogall - Daveth is clearly impressed by your show of magic, "I've never seen magic before, it's amazing." He watches with wide-eyed wonder as you perform various cantrips. He diligently practices the few attacking and defensive movements you show him with the spear, thanking you for your tutelage.
Elwyn - Daveth even tries his hand at the lute, though the sound of it wasn't very pleasing to the ear. As you tell the tale of The Daring Damsel and the Daveth in Distress, Isadore spews his ale in a fit of laughter. He wipes teary eyes with an ale soaked shirt as he chuckles off and on.
As for the information about Bravid Nan, I'll say you've heard of a blind monk known to help Waterdeep's young street urchins and families in need. His origins are a mystery, but his reputation and exploits within the city are well known to most. Feel free to decide what those might be.
All - It's been seven days since you've left Waterdeep, four since you found Daveth. The High Road begins to wend away from the coast and edge closer to the vast forest known as the Dreadwood. The trees become more numerous and eventually you find yourself in the outer fringes of the Dreadwood. Isadore adopts a more serious tone, putting a halt to the lessons and lute playing in the evening. On the morning of the ninth day, the caravan is making its way along the path, flanked by tall trees and thick undergrowth. Suddenly, the mules stop and refuse to proceed. Their ears and tails flick back and forth as they paw and stomp the ground. Isadore turns to the party and says, "Somethin's spooked the mules, everybody on alert. Time to show some steel if ye've got it, make ourselves look like too much trouble." He then hops out of the driver's seat and fetches a crossbow from the back of the wagon.
Wake will ensure that the brake is set on the wagon he’s riding in and the step up onto the bench seat to make himself the most obvious target for ne’r do wells. He will don his shield but leave his other hand free, for now.
”OI, ANYONE OUT THERE? SHOW YERSELVES!”He shouts in a semicircle. While he surveys the area, he quickly says a prayer for guidance to aid him look for movement.
Kulogall hunkers down in the wagon behind any barrel or equipment, trying to give himself partial cover as he scans the woods and surrounding scene, looking for movement or source of the disturbance.
Perception : 16
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Ruby would jump out pressing her back against the side of the wagon that casts a shadow, putting her gray hood up so she may be harder to spot. " Does anyone see anything?" She asks the others, her own eyes scanning her surroundings.
Elwyn grabs his loaded crossbow and seeks cover from the sides of the cart, scanning the surroundings for threats. "Hush, quiet." he says, listeining intently for sounds of movement. Perception:5
Wake - Your shouts echo through the forest and fade... You don't hear a response, in fact you don't hear anything other than the sounds of the others readying themselves. Elwyn's "Hush, quiet." also fades away to nothing as everyone tries to keep silent and listen. The forest is silent around you, only the fidgeting of the mules is heard until...
Kulogall - You peek out on either side of the barrels you're leaning against and don't see anything just yet. Crack. A branch snaps in the distance to your left. You look to where you thought the sound came from and see something large and dark moving around about 30 yards away. Whatever it is is clearly heading your way, faster now, with no regard to the amount of noise it makes. You finally get a clear look as the shape bounds through an opening in the trees. Your eyes widen and your blood runs cold as you see...
Ruby - With your back pressed up against the wagon, you edge over to the rear of it and peek around. Daveth is crouching wide-eyed on the other side, head whipping back and forth. He locks eyes with you and shrugs as he adjusts his crouch. Crack.You hear a branch breaking in the woods in front of you. You whip back around and scan the trees... You spot a large dark creature heading in your direction, its bulk smashing aside the undergrowth. Like a boulder crashing down a hillside, an owlbear is charging through the dense forest and it's headed right toward you. Its vicious beak opens wide and lets out a screeching roar and you see its large yellow eyes filled with hunger. Long, dark claws tear up the earth as it propels its feathery bulk in your direction.
Elwyn - The mules attached to the wagon begin braying in terror, jerking the wagon around as they both mindlessly pull in either direction. Please make a DC 12 Dexterity Saving Throw to see if you can set the handbrake in front of the driver's seat.
All - Lets roll for initiative! Ruby I have you in front of the middle wagon, on the same side as the owlbear. Daveth is on the opposite side of the wagon. Everyone else, please indicate which wagon you are near and whether or not you are in the wagon.
After seeing the owlbear rushing toward them she will shout at Daveth. "Run! It´s coming this way!" And if she can, she will try and dodge the owlbear, leaping under the first wagon. Ruby´s intiative: 19
When Isadore indicated danger and the caravan halted, Ariana jumped out of the wagon she was in (perhaps the first wagon? She's finally warming to Isadore) on the more dangerous side--the one nearest the woods. She readied her quarterstaff and took a stance in preparation for a fight.
When she caught sight of the owlbear, her eyes flashed wide with fear, but she quickly steeled herself for battle.
Kulogall is crouched behind barrels and supplies in the second wagon, looking to the left, startled by the appearance of the owlbear.. He raises up as he sees it, holding his quarterstaff.
Initiative : 21
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Hearing the beast coming crashing through the undergrowth Elwyn agilely leaves the wagon to get a line of sight to the owlbear. As it comes into sight he wills forth a spectral tentacle in its path that immediately starts attacking the beast. He then raises his crossbow, takes a quick aim and fires a bolt at the owlbear. "Take cover everyone, I heard a story about an owlbear that tore a fully armored Purple Dragon knight to pieces, limb by limb." He shouts to the others.
Movement: L7 to O9 (Acrobatics if needed:20) Bonus action: Tentacle of the deeps: 17 Cold damage: 6 + speed reduced by 10 feet until the start of next turn. Action: Attack Light Crossbow: 12 Damage: 5
Kulogall comes down from the wagon and moves to 010, beside Elwyn. He points his finger at the Owlbear and a bolt of fire shoots from his hand toward the creature. “I will move around the left side to flank him. I can run up and blow him back with the power of thunder if needed!”
Fire bolt : Attack: 17 Damage: 10
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Elwyn - You nimbly vault over the edge of the of the wagon and stick the landing. Daveth watches as your eyes turn as cold and black as a burial at sea. A fountain of water erupts near the owlbear, birthing a writhing tentacle. The tentacle whips out, just missing the owlbear but ripping a large chunk of bark from a near by tree. The owlbear is unperturbed by the sudden appearance of the tentacle, but it gives a shriek of pain when your crossbow bolt slams into its flank. It stumbles a bit, then continues its charge.
Kulogall - The firebolt rips through the air with a crackle, illuminating the dim forest. It slams into the owlbear's right arm and washes over its body. Again the owlbear shrieks in pain as its arm gives out and it falls forward, skidding across the ground. It stands and shakes, bristling its feathers and roars before bounding forward at a run.
Ruby will take Elwyn´s advice and take some cover behind the second wagon. As she runs she will shout to Daveth: "Run to the first wagon! This thing is rushig right at us!" She will draw her shortsword, waiting for the creature to come closer.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ruby - Daveth drops to the ground and looks under the wagon. His eyes go wide and he says, "Oh gods!" as he sees the oncoming owlbear. He scrambles to his feet and presses himself flat against the wagon, trying to steel himself for the run over to the first wagon.
Isadore
Isadore will shout, "Stay away from it! We can't outrun it but we can hit it from afar!" He then shoulders his crossbow and looses a bolt at the owlbear before taking cover behind the first wagon.
Action: Attack - Crossbow, 15 to hit, for 9 damage.
Movement: M19 to P19
Owlbear
The owlbear charges forward with a shriek, trampling bushes and crushing fallen tree branches as it makes a bee-line for the mules attached to the second wagon. Isadore's crossbow bolt slices a gash across its back, but it doesn't seem to notice as it closes in on the mules. It raises a huge paw and swipes at the closest mule, breaking its neck and very nearly tearing the head from its body in one blow. The owlbear then begins tearing large chunks away from the mule with its fearsome beak. The other mule is trying in vain to get away from the carnage but its harness holds it in place. Isadore shouts, "Dammit! Protect the mules! We can't afford to lose another!"
Action: Multiattack - Claws, 24 to hit, for 13 damage. Beak, 13 to hit, for 7 damage.
Ariana hesitates when Isadore says to keep distance, but instinct kicks in when she sees the poor animal destroyed and Isadore's demand to save the others.
She runs to the beast's back and leaps, cracking her quarterstaff down with both hands, then follows with a rounding kick to its flank.
Movement: L20 to J18
Quarterstaff attack: 18 to hit, 7 bludgeoning damage
Ariana - The owlbear's large yellow eye tracks you as you run by, but it continues to feast on the mule. As you bring your staff down it gets caught in the branches of a tree, hindering the momentum and throwing off your aim. The staff glances off the owlbear, inflicting no damage. Your kick however connects solidly and you feel something break inside the owlbear as it turns its head fully around and glares at you. Its bloody beak parts and it howls at you in anger.
Now so close to the owlbear, you notice a large metal collar around its neck with a length of rusty chain dangling from it.
Daveth
Daveth finally manages to get his feet under him and bolts for cover behind the first wagon. He squats near Isadore and says, "What can I do to help?" Isadore is reloading his crossbow as he says, "Just stay in cover and let us handle it, lad."
Wake will exit the wagon and proceed as close to the owlbear as possible, to give it more to think about. With his shield raised, he will cast Faerie Fire on the beast.
Movement: M8 to DM’s discretion due to possible movement penalties in exiting the wagon. Preferably not stopping where he would block line of sight or provide cover for the owlbear.
Action: Faerie Fire DC 13 Dex or advantage on all attacks against.
Wake - Daveth eagerly accepts your instruction. Isadore relaxes on his bed roll with a pipe in hand and a mug of ale next to him and watches as you don the shield to let Daveth get a feel for swinging the warhammer. After a few wild swings with tangled foot work, Ariana steps in and decides to forego the armaments and focus on the foundations, specifically his. Once his stance has been worked into a decent starting point, he returns to you and his form is much better. Alternating attacking with the warhammer and defending with the shield, he gains a basic knowledge of how to attack and defend himself in combat.
Ruby - Daveth looks a bit relived when you decided not to have a training match with him.
With your investigation check, you don't see or hear any signs of bandits in the area. Perception would be a more accurate skill to use for checks of that type, though the results still would have been the same, nothing appears untoward. You do get the sense that Daveth is relived not to have sparred with you as he's likely not very confident in his skills yet and getting beat by a woman half his size isn't high on his to-do list.
Ariana - Daveth makes noticeable improvements after you step in and offer your advice. He thanks you and over the next few days you often find him practicing some of the stances and movements you taught him.
Kulogall - Daveth is clearly impressed by your show of magic, "I've never seen magic before, it's amazing." He watches with wide-eyed wonder as you perform various cantrips. He diligently practices the few attacking and defensive movements you show him with the spear, thanking you for your tutelage.
Elwyn - Daveth even tries his hand at the lute, though the sound of it wasn't very pleasing to the ear. As you tell the tale of The Daring Damsel and the Daveth in Distress, Isadore spews his ale in a fit of laughter. He wipes teary eyes with an ale soaked shirt as he chuckles off and on.
As for the information about Bravid Nan, I'll say you've heard of a blind monk known to help Waterdeep's young street urchins and families in need. His origins are a mystery, but his reputation and exploits within the city are well known to most. Feel free to decide what those might be.
All - It's been seven days since you've left Waterdeep, four since you found Daveth. The High Road begins to wend away from the coast and edge closer to the vast forest known as the Dreadwood. The trees become more numerous and eventually you find yourself in the outer fringes of the Dreadwood. Isadore adopts a more serious tone, putting a halt to the lessons and lute playing in the evening. On the morning of the ninth day, the caravan is making its way along the path, flanked by tall trees and thick undergrowth. Suddenly, the mules stop and refuse to proceed. Their ears and tails flick back and forth as they paw and stomp the ground. Isadore turns to the party and says, "Somethin's spooked the mules, everybody on alert. Time to show some steel if ye've got it, make ourselves look like too much trouble." He then hops out of the driver's seat and fetches a crossbow from the back of the wagon.
Wake will ensure that the brake is set on the wagon he’s riding in and the step up onto the bench seat to make himself the most obvious target for ne’r do wells. He will don his shield but leave his other hand free, for now.
”OI, ANYONE OUT THERE? SHOW YERSELVES!” He shouts in a semicircle. While he surveys the area, he quickly says a prayer for guidance to aid him look for movement.
Guidance adding: 2 to
Perception: 10
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Kulogall hunkers down in the wagon behind any barrel or equipment, trying to give himself partial cover as he scans the woods and surrounding scene, looking for movement or source of the disturbance.
Perception : 16
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Ruby would jump out pressing her back against the side of the wagon that casts a shadow, putting her gray hood up so she may be harder to spot. " Does anyone see anything?" She asks the others, her own eyes scanning her surroundings.
Perception: 14
Elwyn grabs his loaded crossbow and seeks cover from the sides of the cart, scanning the surroundings for threats. "Hush, quiet." he says, listeining intently for sounds of movement.
Perception:5
Wake - Your shouts echo through the forest and fade... You don't hear a response, in fact you don't hear anything other than the sounds of the others readying themselves. Elwyn's "Hush, quiet." also fades away to nothing as everyone tries to keep silent and listen. The forest is silent around you, only the fidgeting of the mules is heard until...
Kulogall - You peek out on either side of the barrels you're leaning against and don't see anything just yet. Crack. A branch snaps in the distance to your left. You look to where you thought the sound came from and see something large and dark moving around about 30 yards away. Whatever it is is clearly heading your way, faster now, with no regard to the amount of noise it makes. You finally get a clear look as the shape bounds through an opening in the trees. Your eyes widen and your blood runs cold as you see...
Ruby - With your back pressed up against the wagon, you edge over to the rear of it and peek around. Daveth is crouching wide-eyed on the other side, head whipping back and forth. He locks eyes with you and shrugs as he adjusts his crouch. Crack. You hear a branch breaking in the woods in front of you. You whip back around and scan the trees... You spot a large dark creature heading in your direction, its bulk smashing aside the undergrowth. Like a boulder crashing down a hillside, an owlbear is charging through the dense forest and it's headed right toward you. Its vicious beak opens wide and lets out a screeching roar and you see its large yellow eyes filled with hunger. Long, dark claws tear up the earth as it propels its feathery bulk in your direction.
Elwyn - The mules attached to the wagon begin braying in terror, jerking the wagon around as they both mindlessly pull in either direction. Please make a DC 12 Dexterity Saving Throw to see if you can set the handbrake in front of the driver's seat.
All - Lets roll for initiative! Ruby I have you in front of the middle wagon, on the same side as the owlbear. Daveth is on the opposite side of the wagon. Everyone else, please indicate which wagon you are near and whether or not you are in the wagon.
After seeing the owlbear rushing toward them she will shout at Daveth. "Run! It´s coming this way!" And if she can, she will try and dodge the owlbear, leaping under the first wagon.
Ruby´s intiative: 19
Elwyn is taking cover in the last wagon, trying desperately to set the handbrake. Dex save:18
Elwyn initiative: 22
When Isadore indicated danger and the caravan halted, Ariana jumped out of the wagon she was in (perhaps the first wagon? She's finally warming to Isadore) on the more dangerous side--the one nearest the woods. She readied her quarterstaff and took a stance in preparation for a fight.
When she caught sight of the owlbear, her eyes flashed wide with fear, but she quickly steeled herself for battle.
Initiative: 9
Kulogall is crouched behind barrels and supplies in the second wagon, looking to the left, startled by the appearance of the owlbear.. He raises up as he sees it, holding his quarterstaff.
Initiative : 21
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Wake sees the approaching beast and widens his stance on the bench in case of collision.
Initiative: 5
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Initiative order is as follows:
Elwyn at L7
Kulogall at N14
Ruby at L13
Isadore at M19
Owlbear at C16
Ariana at L20
Daveth at O13
Wake at M8
The grey circles in front of each wagon are the mules.
ROUND 1
Elwyn is up!
Hearing the beast coming crashing through the undergrowth Elwyn agilely leaves the wagon to get a line of sight to the owlbear. As it comes into sight he wills forth a spectral tentacle in its path that immediately starts attacking the beast. He then raises his crossbow, takes a quick aim and fires a bolt at the owlbear. "Take cover everyone, I heard a story about an owlbear that tore a fully armored Purple Dragon knight to pieces, limb by limb." He shouts to the others.
Movement: L7 to O9 (Acrobatics if needed:20)
Bonus action: Tentacle of the deeps: 17 Cold damage: 6 + speed reduced by 10 feet until the start of next turn.
Action: Attack Light Crossbow: 12 Damage: 5
Kulogall comes down from the wagon and moves to 010, beside Elwyn. He points his finger at the Owlbear and a bolt of fire shoots from his hand toward the creature. “I will move around the left side to flank him. I can run up and blow him back with the power of thunder if needed!”
Fire bolt : Attack: 17 Damage: 10
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Elwyn - You nimbly vault over the edge of the of the wagon and stick the landing. Daveth watches as your eyes turn as cold and black as a burial at sea. A fountain of water erupts near the owlbear, birthing a writhing tentacle. The tentacle whips out, just missing the owlbear but ripping a large chunk of bark from a near by tree. The owlbear is unperturbed by the sudden appearance of the tentacle, but it gives a shriek of pain when your crossbow bolt slams into its flank. It stumbles a bit, then continues its charge.
Kulogall - The firebolt rips through the air with a crackle, illuminating the dim forest. It slams into the owlbear's right arm and washes over its body. Again the owlbear shrieks in pain as its arm gives out and it falls forward, skidding across the ground. It stands and shakes, bristling its feathers and roars before bounding forward at a run.
ROUND 1
Ruby is up!
Ruby will take Elwyn´s advice and take some cover behind the second wagon. As she runs she will shout to Daveth: "Run to the first wagon! This thing is rushig right at us!" She will draw her shortsword, waiting for the creature to come closer.
Movement L13 to N10
Ruby - Daveth drops to the ground and looks under the wagon. His eyes go wide and he says, "Oh gods!" as he sees the oncoming owlbear. He scrambles to his feet and presses himself flat against the wagon, trying to steel himself for the run over to the first wagon.
Isadore
Isadore will shout, "Stay away from it! We can't outrun it but we can hit it from afar!" He then shoulders his crossbow and looses a bolt at the owlbear before taking cover behind the first wagon.
Action: Attack - Crossbow, 15 to hit, for 9 damage.
Movement: M19 to P19
Owlbear
The owlbear charges forward with a shriek, trampling bushes and crushing fallen tree branches as it makes a bee-line for the mules attached to the second wagon. Isadore's crossbow bolt slices a gash across its back, but it doesn't seem to notice as it closes in on the mules. It raises a huge paw and swipes at the closest mule, breaking its neck and very nearly tearing the head from its body in one blow. The owlbear then begins tearing large chunks away from the mule with its fearsome beak. The other mule is trying in vain to get away from the carnage but its harness holds it in place. Isadore shouts, "Dammit! Protect the mules! We can't afford to lose another!"
Action: Multiattack - Claws, 24 to hit, for 13 damage. Beak, 13 to hit, for 7 damage.
Movement: C16 to K17
ROUND 1
Ariana is up!
Ariana hesitates when Isadore says to keep distance, but instinct kicks in when she sees the poor animal destroyed and Isadore's demand to save the others.
She runs to the beast's back and leaps, cracking her quarterstaff down with both hands, then follows with a rounding kick to its flank.
Movement: L20 to J18
Quarterstaff attack: 18 to hit, 7 bludgeoning damage
Unarmed strike: 9 to hit, 4 bludgeoning damage
Ariana - The owlbear's large yellow eye tracks you as you run by, but it continues to feast on the mule. As you bring your staff down it gets caught in the branches of a tree, hindering the momentum and throwing off your aim. The staff glances off the owlbear, inflicting no damage. Your kick however connects solidly and you feel something break inside the owlbear as it turns its head fully around and glares at you. Its bloody beak parts and it howls at you in anger.
Now so close to the owlbear, you notice a large metal collar around its neck with a length of rusty chain dangling from it.
Daveth
Daveth finally manages to get his feet under him and bolts for cover behind the first wagon. He squats near Isadore and says, "What can I do to help?" Isadore is reloading his crossbow as he says, "Just stay in cover and let us handle it, lad."
Action: Dash
Movement: O13 to P20
ROUND 1
Wake is up!
Wake will exit the wagon and proceed as close to the owlbear as possible, to give it more to think about. With his shield raised, he will cast Faerie Fire on the beast.
Movement: M8 to DM’s discretion due to possible movement penalties in exiting the wagon. Preferably not stopping where he would block line of sight or provide cover for the owlbear.
Action: Faerie Fire DC 13 Dex or advantage on all attacks against.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde