Hewwatches the turtle leave from the shore. For a moment, some of you are certain he plans to hop onto its departing shell and pursue it to the depths of the river, but eventually he turns, sheathes his rapier, and looks at the chaotic campsite.
"Aye. We have to stay. We're not like to carve another campsite out of these thickets in the dark. Come, though. Mica, Ran, help me. We'll drag the canoes and some of those brambles we cut so they block off our campsite from the beach. If the battle does draw the attention of any crocs or screamers, maybe a poor man's wall will keep them out of camp."
"You would do the same for me," Inete says to Meiliwith a smile that is contagious. "We must all protect one another if we are to survive this journey." She also nods to Danica. "I have never seen such a transformation. Are you a sorceress?"
***
Hewjoins in all the watches, taking a few short catnaps but otherwise patrolling the perimeter of the camp, watching the beach, and advising the other watchers on the nighttime jungle sounds.
There are no other disturbances in the night.
[Everyone may take a LONG REST, and Danica can repeat her CON save DC 11.]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Ran smiles at Meili's description of her fighting for her life. He wouldn't to be on the wrong side of that fury.
After the makeshift barrier is made, he settles into second watch, trying to manage to look at the river and the jungle at the same time. He gives up after awhile and tries to concentrate on the sounds.
"It's as loud as the Dock Ward out here," he says to himself as he listens to the river, the creaking and cracking of branches, the hum of insects just outside the incense cloud, and the calls of all sorts of beasts "but there isn't a single sound that's the same."
Come morning he watches Meili's routine and does his best to mimic some of the movements. He'd never be as quick as she was, but the moves did limber up his shoulders and he'd be feeling some of it in his abdomen later.
Once he's got his gear packed and helped strike camp he nods at Hew.
Hewsuggests most of the group stay at camp a little later than planned into the morning. "It will give our monk more time to recover, and perhaps the boss will shake her shivers.Ran, would you keep an eye on security here? Mica, you seem to have a nose for the bush. Care to join me on a little hike to find the footpath around the falls?"
[Mica, give us a perception and a survival check.]
Velan, as the camp is being broken down, Ineteapproaches you with a question.
"Good morning, Mr. Velan. I hope I am not disturbing you. The incident last night was so traumatic, I thought it might do us both some good to discuss something a little more... joyful, maybe? Let me explain. I am still a novice at the arts of divination, but nothing will ever change that but practice. So I spent some of last evening performing some rudimentary divinations upon the group. Simple things... trying to see the monastery where Meili trained... trying to see the first time Hew Hackinstone set foot in the jungles of Chult... that sort of thing. Nothing too prying or invasive, I swear." As she says this, he color and posture changes, as though she is just now realizing you and the others might see this as unwelcome spying, but has already outed herself and cannot walk it back.
"Anyway... what I wanted to ask... I had an odd result with you. I tried to see a vision of when you first discovered you had a skill for magic. Instead..." she pauses, searching for the words. "Was your mother or grandmother a mage? Instead of a vision of your past, I saw a kindly older woman, standing beside you with her hand on your shoulder. Strange... it was as though she was right here, in real time. She smiled and said she would 'never forget about you.' Does that sound like it could be someone you really know?"
"The thing is... when I get the art wrong, I can get wildly inaccurate results. So I was wondering if this might have been something real... someone important to you... or if I botched the ritual...".
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
At Hew’s remark, Mica looks up from smearing inspect repellent over himself and nods. He had already helped pack up camp and secure the equipment and was preparing for the day. Likely another hot one, and with time spent away from the water and busting through the brush he figured the bugs would be out in full force. He finished applying the repellent and grabbed his gear, pulling one of his hand axes out to aid in clearing any brush if needed.
“Yes, let’s go. You can show me more of your tricks along the way.” Mica follows Hew into the underbrush, looking for any sign of a trail, any recent passage by others, or any threats to the camp. He keeps his ears open for any jungle knowledge Hew can share along the way.
He was relieved to see the turtle retreat and more yet, to see that both Meili and Danica could recover with the longer rest, although in the case of the Druid it could be not that much of a complete healing. Even if not particularly dangerous, the Shivering Sickness could be persistent. The owl-like cry worry him, but he ultimately accepts the judgement of Hew. When the day comes he repeats the routine of the day before, studying his spell book, casting mage armor upon himself and recovery the energy spent in doing so through Arcane Recovery. More than once the images of the day before, of the large herbivore dinosaur, crosses his mind. It was a fantastic creature and he would love to study it. It was Inete’s words that brought him back to reality.
At first he imagined she would ask further detail about the plan to poison the Red Wizards. Much like the monk the novice seemed opposed to the idea. When she spoke about divining on the previous night his expectations changed. Velan was readying himself to explain how he was neither servant nor ally of a hag when Zitembe’s granddaughter explained her vision. His eyes widened and he could sense a hole forming in his stomach. All the heat of the chultean jungle was not enough to prevent him from feeling a cold in his spine.
“We are definitely connected by blood.” He said thinking about the last pact. She shouldn’t be able to come to him. She shouldn’t be able to look for him. “But I will never call her family and believe me, she is anything, but kind.” Zitembe’s voice echoed in his mind. You cannot escape this fate, even if you wish. Your pasts weave you into this; your pasts will haunt this journey. “The next time we stop to rest I would like to ask for you to try the ritual again. An even stronger version of it, if possible.” The vision could be a reflexion of their blood, but it could also mean that the Crone found a way around the pact and if it was they case then they would need as much information as they could get. “I don’t mind how prying or invasive you need to be but I have to warn you that if you accept this request it won’t be without risks. This woman is more likely than not a better spellcaster than both us together can ever hope to be. If you look again and catch her eye…”
The old whore can scry on others, intervene with them! If he just so happens to be there while she is doing so, she would not be breaking the deal. It would take time for her to find him this way, unless she sent him there because of how easy it would be to do so. Maybe she divined with whom he would met and saw more about his fate than Savras himself.
“Either way, it is your choice and please do not call me mister. We are already compatriots that faced death two times.”
You and Hewwork your way back toward the first set of falls, trying to pick the path of least resistance through the thick, scratching brambles. As you close on the falls, Micayou find the path almost immediately. The landing along the river was almost completely overgrown with fresh vines, explaining how you missed it in the dark last night. "Good eyes... trust them. Half the business of staying alive out here is just paying attention... spotting what doesn't belong... catching a bit of movement where there shouldn't be any... or anything else out of the ordinary..." he trails off as he looks at something on the ground.
You notice sections of the path have piles of ash, and a few of the trees are scorched near ground level. Hewinvestigates for a time. "This wasn't any natural burn." His eyes follow the path... there seem to be scorched marks as far as you can see, wherever the brambles grew thick near the trail. "I think its safe to assume those wizards your friends are hunting came this way."
On the way back, Hewbrings a concern to your attention. It didn't rain last night and the morning doesn't promise rain any time soon. Skins were last filled in Waxan'abu and everyone should be dry by now. He has the 5 gallon keg of clean water, but it won't be enough for everyone. He describes a couple of different kinds of jungle fruit that should be in season and that can provide a bit of moisture in a pinch. You spread out and take your time coming back to camp, but neither of you are able to come across anything he was looking for.
"Its not the end of the world. We should hit the Brave and Bold Camp tonight and can refill all our skins there. I will take a light share of water. But... if anything prevents us from reaching that camp tonight, and if we don't see rain, we will be in real trouble tomorrow. That's a lot of 'ifs' but I want at least one of you to be aware."
Velan:
Ineteis shocked. "I - I did not realize. Savras preserve me. I would never have guessed... the figure seemed cut from the purest vision of a sweet old grandmother." She's obviously nervous about trying the ritual again, "... But if you think it is required, then I will make the attempt."
As she returns to finish packing her tent, you hear her say, "Perhaps I should cease gazing into your pasts... It is not my wish to reopen old wounds."
***
Micaand Heware gone for approximately an hour, but they return with the good news that they have found the trail, and it isn't far.
[Let's see how Danicadoes on her CON save and then I need to know how you plan to arrange for the porting of the canoes. There are 7 of you, but Hewcannot carry a canoe, and it takes two per canoe. If Danicafails her CON save, she will be unable to carry a canoe at a pace necessary to cover enough ground to make the next protected camp by nightfall. Once we know who is carrying what and what your marching order looks like... we will go for a nice hike in the woods.]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Indeed, in the morning Meili felt much better in every meaning of the word. She expected it in regards to the physical wounds (and was glad that correctly assessed the risk and mindfully refused additional healing from Danica - the captain had to conserve her energy). But most importantly, she was fine (or at least thought she was) mentally. After brushing with death and escaping it only by the miracle and collective determination of the group, she looked at the world around her differently. More seriously, with the greater awareness of the danger, yes, but at the same time the colours definitely looked brighter, the smells felt sweeter and even the heat did not bother her that much. It felt good to be alive!
Ran's interest in the technics she was trying to master only added to the sense of wholeness of this morning. She gladly showed some particularly tricky shifts from one move to another. "Should you find some time and be willing, I would be grateful for sparring sometime with the weapon. Eldath is my witness, I do need training."
Meili did her best not to slow down the camp packing, participating where possible and felt like she was fully ready to return to the rowing, as soon as the small scouting party returned with news about the path.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Shaking her head at Inete's query, Danica replied with a faint tired smile, "Just a druid. Though my mother always said that my head was in the clouds, my heart lay in the stars." Briefly helping what she could with the poorman's wall by using Druidcraft to try and make things grow around it to seem more natural and hopefully deter wildlife away. That was about all she could do before the chattering of her teeth became too much and she did a vague wave of goodnight before retreating into a tent to try and rest.
((I'm assuming Guidance wouldn't be able to help future rolls due to it only lasting a minute, correct?))
Danica was the last one to rouse and when she did, she looked no better than the night previous, bags under her eyes as if she hadn't slept though she had certainly been unconscious, it had been far from a restful sleep. "Seems like though my entire body's shakin', I can't shake this sickness, heh."Trying to make light of it even as she applied more insect repellant to herself, motioning for the others to do the same if they hadn't already. Her movements were slow and blinks were long as she did so and asked what the plan for the day was. "Can't stay here, not that it's safer than just continuing. And might as well try and make headway."Her words were more confident than her stature at the moment though.
"Not nearly as quick as you, but I can fight with anything," Ran says. "You'd be surprised how many people don't want to be found and how angry they get when you do find them."
When Danica emerges in the morning and still looks as shaky as she did the night before his eyes narrow and a frown line appears on his forehead.
"Minimum amount of gear for you today," Ran says to Danica. "Hew, can you carry Danica's extra gear?"
He then looks around the group.
"Going to suggest Hew leads the way," Ran begins. "Danica why don't you stay behind him. Mica and Inete can take the first canoe and Velan and I will take the second. And Meili, if you can watch our back and give a good holler if any beasties jump out we should be good to go."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
With no complaints on marching order, the group sets out, with Hewin the lead followed by Danica, then the two canoes, and with Meilibringing up the rear. It is slow going at first until you reach the trail Micaand Hewhad located.
You all soon notice what they already discovered... wherever the stinging, thorny brambles overtook the path, there are scorch marks and piles of ashes. It looks like someone in the not too distant past utilized a great deal of fire magic to blaze a passable trail. At the same time, there are no recent humanoid prints. It doesn't seem that anyone has passed through here, either heading deeper upriver or coming back out, in at least a couple of weeks.
The path mostly hugs close to the riverbank, at times emerging completely from the jungle to follow the rocks along the rivers edge. Other times it does depart deeper into the jungle, though you are never far enough away that you cannot hear the roar of the rapids.
The temperature remains hot and the sky is clear. The sun beats down when you pass through clearings, but the shade is seldom much relief either. The morning hike is taxing, and those of you carrying canoes feel ache and agony in your arms and shoulders as the hours pass.
The walk is blissfully uneventful. A handful of times Hewmotions for you to stop while he peers into the jungle, or stops to listen to some strange call.
Just as your stomachs are growling and you hope for Hewto call a halt for lunch, you all notice a droning, buzzing sound. Not those murderous wasps again, no, this is a more mundane insect sound. Hewmotions for you to stop, and he draws a paddle from one of the canoes and approaches a tree just off the path. He reaches us and pokes something lodged in the crook of the tree...
... and a column of black flies take to the sky, buzzing and swarming before they depart, driven away by the odor of your bug repellant. Another whack, and the object is dislodged and it falls to the jungle floor in front of you, rattling on the way down. It is a gruesome sight; the head, torso, and left arm of a man. Most of the flesh has been pecked clean, and what remains is dessicated by the hot sun. The half-body is still wearing its backpack, and it seems to be wearing a fouled and tattered white robe. Hewkneels beside it. "Looks like he's been up there a while. Hard to say what got him."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ran’s plan is a sound one and Mica shoulders one of the canoes with Inete and follows Hew and the others down the trail. He glances up at the sky nervously, Hew’s words echoing in his head, but he puts it out of his mind and pushes on for now. The group pauses as Hew finds the body, or what was left of it, in the tree.
“Appears that we are still on the trail of the white wizards. Though, between this and the story we heard back in the village, their are far fewer of them. The jungle is taking its toll” He looks at Ran “Can you make out the face, is this your man? Would he even be wearing white robes like a wizard?”
Unbothered by the decomposing corpse, Mica bends down and looks through the wizards backpack, looking for any useful supplies or information on who they were or where they were going. Perception: 7 or Investigation 22.
Ran doesn't expect the robed figure to be Tobem Rosznar. It's unlikely his sister, Shepherd, would have continued on if it was, but he looks carefully nonetheless.
He takes a long pull of water while he looks at the corpse.
He watched as the acolyte agree with attempting the ritual, feeling anything but surprised with her impression about the Crone. Her kind, their kind, to certain extent, had its way with curses and charms and even amongst them she was ancient and cunning. As Inete enters her tent her hear her thoughts.
“Thank you and instead of opening a wound you may just have saved us from many.”
As the group starts moving he commands Ninlil to take to the air and keep her keen eyes open for the presence of any enemy. To retreat on the first sign of danger and warn him through telepathy. The days before had showed that the range of their bond and leaves of the trees were obstacles to the owl’s perception, but even then it should be enough for her to detect any threat before ambushing them. It had work just fine at the river.
The entire walk he was lost in his thoughts. Memories of the past and arcane theories taking hold of his mind. He needed to grow stronger and fast. Each time Hew ordered a stop he was brought back to reality, half surprised, half expecting a fight. Fortunately no such thing happened. The greatest surprise came in the form of a corpse. Not that it was surprising to find a dead body in Chult. Least of all in the jungles. It was the fact that said corpse belonged to a white robbed wizard, maybe someone Ran knew, that was unexpected.
“The jungle or someone on it.” Velan said waiting for the warrior’s words. “We should check his equipment. If there is no rations, arcane focus or spell component nor his spellbook then he was not alone when he died and considering how we found him, I don’t think he passed on the company of friends.”
Velan, give me a perception check for Ninlil[for later.].
Mica, you open up the backpack. The bottom is torn at one corner, and it looks like some of the contents may be missing. What you do find are the following:
6 hooded white robes, tightly rolled and folded and largely spared the worst effects of being strapped to a decomposing corpse. In addition to those, there are another 3 hooded crimson robes with black and gold stitching.
An ornate wooden box carved from a solid chestnut burl. It is eighteen inches long and weighs about 5lbs. It is held closed by an intricate lock. There is no key in the pack. Etched on the box are the words, 'May the influence of House Kul extend ever as far as you can see.'
There is no spellbook, component pouch, or other obvious magic related items on the corpse.
Ran, you take a close look at the half corpse. One look at the head is enough to confirm this is not the Rosznar boy. Under the stringy, faded hair, the scalp is covered in tattoos.
Arcana DC 15 [anyone who looks closely at the tattoos on the corpse]:
These are runes and symbols related to the School of Enchantment. They are not themselves magical. They seem to be decorative only, but would have largely been hidden by the man's hair while he was alive... only visible now as the sun and exposure have weathered and thinned the hair.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"I don't recognize him," Ran begins, "but from the state of the bugger, even his mum would probably be hard pressed to identify him. He does have these weird tattoos on his scalp. Look vaguely familiar but it's not coming to me."
He looks over at what Mica's found.
"White and red robes?" Ran says. "This guy might have been neither and that's what got him killed."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Meili was guarding the rear as Ran suggested when the body was found. The gruesome sight was unpleasant though not that unfamiliar. She only glanced at the content of the bags, slightly rasing brows, when the red robe was found among the white (they talked so much about colour coding among the wizards, even she noticed the difference) but the main thing that interested her was the wounds. Were these only animals? Or were there signs of a weapon attack? Even at this state of decomposing something could be found. At least she hoed for that.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nodding with a sigh at Ran's proclamation, Danica shifts around gear before continuing with the others. The sun beating down on the party was nearly welcome to her, the shivering abating just slightly less when walking under it but returning in the shade. When their guide knocked loose a bug covered carcass from inside a tree, her hand raised to her mouth but it seemed the poor bugger had already half rotted away. Hanging back with Meili at first, not surprised that it was one of the white robes they were trailing behind, their numbers having been thinned slightly, but was confused to hear he was also carrying a red robe. What peaked her interest though was tattoos being mentioned around his skull. "Always one to appreciate a bit o' ink."She took a step to get closer but felt a bit woozy so thought better of it. Seeing Meili peer at the corpse though, she muttered something under her breath as she made a show of leaning on the monk for support as she asked, "Any guesses as to what did him in?"
Hew watches the turtle leave from the shore. For a moment, some of you are certain he plans to hop onto its departing shell and pursue it to the depths of the river, but eventually he turns, sheathes his rapier, and looks at the chaotic campsite.
"Aye. We have to stay. We're not like to carve another campsite out of these thickets in the dark. Come, though. Mica, Ran, help me. We'll drag the canoes and some of those brambles we cut so they block off our campsite from the beach. If the battle does draw the attention of any crocs or screamers, maybe a poor man's wall will keep them out of camp."
"You would do the same for me," Inete says to Meili with a smile that is contagious. "We must all protect one another if we are to survive this journey." She also nods to Danica. "I have never seen such a transformation. Are you a sorceress?"
***
Hew joins in all the watches, taking a few short catnaps but otherwise patrolling the perimeter of the camp, watching the beach, and advising the other watchers on the nighttime jungle sounds.
There are no other disturbances in the night.
[Everyone may take a LONG REST, and Danica can repeat her CON save DC 11.]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Ran smiles at Meili's description of her fighting for her life. He wouldn't to be on the wrong side of that fury.
After the makeshift barrier is made, he settles into second watch, trying to manage to look at the river and the jungle at the same time. He gives up after awhile and tries to concentrate on the sounds.
"It's as loud as the Dock Ward out here," he says to himself as he listens to the river, the creaking and cracking of branches, the hum of insects just outside the incense cloud, and the calls of all sorts of beasts "but there isn't a single sound that's the same."
Come morning he watches Meili's routine and does his best to mimic some of the movements. He'd never be as quick as she was, but the moves did limber up his shoulders and he'd be feeling some of it in his abdomen later.
Once he's got his gear packed and helped strike camp he nods at Hew.
"Let's find that trail."
Hew suggests most of the group stay at camp a little later than planned into the morning. "It will give our monk more time to recover, and perhaps the boss will shake her shivers. Ran, would you keep an eye on security here? Mica, you seem to have a nose for the bush. Care to join me on a little hike to find the footpath around the falls?"
[Mica, give us a perception and a survival check.]
Velan, as the camp is being broken down, Inete approaches you with a question.
"Good morning, Mr. Velan. I hope I am not disturbing you. The incident last night was so traumatic, I thought it might do us both some good to discuss something a little more... joyful, maybe? Let me explain. I am still a novice at the arts of divination, but nothing will ever change that but practice. So I spent some of last evening performing some rudimentary divinations upon the group. Simple things... trying to see the monastery where Meili trained... trying to see the first time Hew Hackinstone set foot in the jungles of Chult... that sort of thing. Nothing too prying or invasive, I swear." As she says this, he color and posture changes, as though she is just now realizing you and the others might see this as unwelcome spying, but has already outed herself and cannot walk it back.
"Anyway... what I wanted to ask... I had an odd result with you. I tried to see a vision of when you first discovered you had a skill for magic. Instead..." she pauses, searching for the words. "Was your mother or grandmother a mage? Instead of a vision of your past, I saw a kindly older woman, standing beside you with her hand on your shoulder. Strange... it was as though she was right here, in real time. She smiled and said she would 'never forget about you.' Does that sound like it could be someone you really know?"
"The thing is... when I get the art wrong, I can get wildly inaccurate results. So I was wondering if this might have been something real... someone important to you... or if I botched the ritual...".
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
At Hew’s remark, Mica looks up from smearing inspect repellent over himself and nods. He had already helped pack up camp and secure the equipment and was preparing for the day. Likely another hot one, and with time spent away from the water and busting through the brush he figured the bugs would be out in full force. He finished applying the repellent and grabbed his gear, pulling one of his hand axes out to aid in clearing any brush if needed.
“Yes, let’s go. You can show me more of your tricks along the way.” Mica follows Hew into the underbrush, looking for any sign of a trail, any recent passage by others, or any threats to the camp. He keeps his ears open for any jungle knowledge Hew can share along the way.
Perception: 23 (Passive Perception 13)
Survival: 12.
@DM (response to the question):
He was relieved to see the turtle retreat and more yet, to see that both Meili and Danica could recover with the longer rest, although in the case of the Druid it could be not that much of a complete healing. Even if not particularly dangerous, the Shivering Sickness could be persistent. The owl-like cry worry him, but he ultimately accepts the judgement of Hew. When the day comes he repeats the routine of the day before, studying his spell book, casting mage armor upon himself and recovery the energy spent in doing so through Arcane Recovery. More than once the images of the day before, of the large herbivore dinosaur, crosses his mind. It was a fantastic creature and he would love to study it. It was Inete’s words that brought him back to reality.
At first he imagined she would ask further detail about the plan to poison the Red Wizards. Much like the monk the novice seemed opposed to the idea. When she spoke about divining on the previous night his expectations changed. Velan was readying himself to explain how he was neither servant nor ally of a hag when Zitembe’s granddaughter explained her vision. His eyes widened and he could sense a hole forming in his stomach. All the heat of the chultean jungle was not enough to prevent him from feeling a cold in his spine.
“We are definitely connected by blood.” He said thinking about the last pact. She shouldn’t be able to come to him. She shouldn’t be able to look for him. “But I will never call her family and believe me, she is anything, but kind.” Zitembe’s voice echoed in his mind. You cannot escape this fate, even if you wish. Your pasts weave you into this; your pasts will haunt this journey. “The next time we stop to rest I would like to ask for you to try the ritual again. An even stronger version of it, if possible.” The vision could be a reflexion of their blood, but it could also mean that the Crone found a way around the pact and if it was they case then they would need as much information as they could get. “I don’t mind how prying or invasive you need to be but I have to warn you that if you accept this request it won’t be without risks. This woman is more likely than not a better spellcaster than both us together can ever hope to be. If you look again and catch her eye…”
The old whore can scry on others, intervene with them! If he just so happens to be there while she is doing so, she would not be breaking the deal. It would take time for her to find him this way, unless she sent him there because of how easy it would be to do so. Maybe she divined with whom he would met and saw more about his fate than Savras himself.
“Either way, it is your choice and please do not call me mister. We are already compatriots that faced death two times.”
Mica:
You and Hew work your way back toward the first set of falls, trying to pick the path of least resistance through the thick, scratching brambles. As you close on the falls, Mica you find the path almost immediately. The landing along the river was almost completely overgrown with fresh vines, explaining how you missed it in the dark last night. "Good eyes... trust them. Half the business of staying alive out here is just paying attention... spotting what doesn't belong... catching a bit of movement where there shouldn't be any... or anything else out of the ordinary..." he trails off as he looks at something on the ground.
You notice sections of the path have piles of ash, and a few of the trees are scorched near ground level. Hew investigates for a time. "This wasn't any natural burn." His eyes follow the path... there seem to be scorched marks as far as you can see, wherever the brambles grew thick near the trail. "I think its safe to assume those wizards your friends are hunting came this way."
On the way back, Hew brings a concern to your attention. It didn't rain last night and the morning doesn't promise rain any time soon. Skins were last filled in Waxan'abu and everyone should be dry by now. He has the 5 gallon keg of clean water, but it won't be enough for everyone. He describes a couple of different kinds of jungle fruit that should be in season and that can provide a bit of moisture in a pinch. You spread out and take your time coming back to camp, but neither of you are able to come across anything he was looking for.
"Its not the end of the world. We should hit the Brave and Bold Camp tonight and can refill all our skins there. I will take a light share of water. But... if anything prevents us from reaching that camp tonight, and if we don't see rain, we will be in real trouble tomorrow. That's a lot of 'ifs' but I want at least one of you to be aware."
Velan:
Inete is shocked. "I - I did not realize. Savras preserve me. I would never have guessed... the figure seemed cut from the purest vision of a sweet old grandmother." She's obviously nervous about trying the ritual again, "... But if you think it is required, then I will make the attempt."
As she returns to finish packing her tent, you hear her say, "Perhaps I should cease gazing into your pasts... It is not my wish to reopen old wounds."
***
Mica and Hew are gone for approximately an hour, but they return with the good news that they have found the trail, and it isn't far.
[Let's see how Danica does on her CON save and then I need to know how you plan to arrange for the porting of the canoes. There are 7 of you, but Hew cannot carry a canoe, and it takes two per canoe. If Danica fails her CON save, she will be unable to carry a canoe at a pace necessary to cover enough ground to make the next protected camp by nightfall. Once we know who is carrying what and what your marching order looks like... we will go for a nice hike in the woods.]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Indeed, in the morning Meili felt much better in every meaning of the word. She expected it in regards to the physical wounds (and was glad that correctly assessed the risk and mindfully refused additional healing from Danica - the captain had to conserve her energy). But most importantly, she was fine (or at least thought she was) mentally. After brushing with death and escaping it only by the miracle and collective determination of the group, she looked at the world around her differently. More seriously, with the greater awareness of the danger, yes, but at the same time the colours definitely looked brighter, the smells felt sweeter and even the heat did not bother her that much. It felt good to be alive!
Ran's interest in the technics she was trying to master only added to the sense of wholeness of this morning. She gladly showed some particularly tricky shifts from one move to another. "Should you find some time and be willing, I would be grateful for sparring sometime with the weapon. Eldath is my witness, I do need training."
Meili did her best not to slow down the camp packing, participating where possible and felt like she was fully ready to return to the rowing, as soon as the small scouting party returned with news about the path.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Shaking her head at Inete's query, Danica replied with a faint tired smile, "Just a druid. Though my mother always said that my head was in the clouds, my heart lay in the stars." Briefly helping what she could with the poorman's wall by using Druidcraft to try and make things grow around it to seem more natural and hopefully deter wildlife away. That was about all she could do before the chattering of her teeth became too much and she did a vague wave of goodnight before retreating into a tent to try and rest.
Con Save: 17
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
((I'm assuming Guidance wouldn't be able to help future rolls due to it only lasting a minute, correct?))
Danica was the last one to rouse and when she did, she looked no better than the night previous, bags under her eyes as if she hadn't slept though she had certainly been unconscious, it had been far from a restful sleep. "Seems like though my entire body's shakin', I can't shake this sickness, heh." Trying to make light of it even as she applied more insect repellant to herself, motioning for the others to do the same if they hadn't already. Her movements were slow and blinks were long as she did so and asked what the plan for the day was. "Can't stay here, not that it's safer than just continuing. And might as well try and make headway." Her words were more confident than her stature at the moment though.
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Ran happily agrees to spar with Meili.
"Not nearly as quick as you, but I can fight with anything," Ran says. "You'd be surprised how many people don't want to be found and how angry they get when you do find them."
When Danica emerges in the morning and still looks as shaky as she did the night before his eyes narrow and a frown line appears on his forehead.
"Minimum amount of gear for you today," Ran says to Danica. "Hew, can you carry Danica's extra gear?"
He then looks around the group.
"Going to suggest Hew leads the way," Ran begins. "Danica why don't you stay behind him. Mica and Inete can take the first canoe and Velan and I will take the second. And Meili, if you can watch our back and give a good holler if any beasties jump out we should be good to go."
19
6
5
13
11
2
6, 2
47, 13
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
With no complaints on marching order, the group sets out, with Hew in the lead followed by Danica, then the two canoes, and with Meili bringing up the rear. It is slow going at first until you reach the trail Mica and Hew had located.
You all soon notice what they already discovered... wherever the stinging, thorny brambles overtook the path, there are scorch marks and piles of ashes. It looks like someone in the not too distant past utilized a great deal of fire magic to blaze a passable trail. At the same time, there are no recent humanoid prints. It doesn't seem that anyone has passed through here, either heading deeper upriver or coming back out, in at least a couple of weeks.
The path mostly hugs close to the riverbank, at times emerging completely from the jungle to follow the rocks along the rivers edge. Other times it does depart deeper into the jungle, though you are never far enough away that you cannot hear the roar of the rapids.
The temperature remains hot and the sky is clear. The sun beats down when you pass through clearings, but the shade is seldom much relief either. The morning hike is taxing, and those of you carrying canoes feel ache and agony in your arms and shoulders as the hours pass.
The walk is blissfully uneventful. A handful of times Hew motions for you to stop while he peers into the jungle, or stops to listen to some strange call.
Just as your stomachs are growling and you hope for Hew to call a halt for lunch, you all notice a droning, buzzing sound. Not those murderous wasps again, no, this is a more mundane insect sound. Hew motions for you to stop, and he draws a paddle from one of the canoes and approaches a tree just off the path. He reaches us and pokes something lodged in the crook of the tree...
... and a column of black flies take to the sky, buzzing and swarming before they depart, driven away by the odor of your bug repellant. Another whack, and the object is dislodged and it falls to the jungle floor in front of you, rattling on the way down. It is a gruesome sight; the head, torso, and left arm of a man. Most of the flesh has been pecked clean, and what remains is dessicated by the hot sun. The half-body is still wearing its backpack, and it seems to be wearing a fouled and tattered white robe. Hew kneels beside it. "Looks like he's been up there a while. Hard to say what got him."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Ran’s plan is a sound one and Mica shoulders one of the canoes with Inete and follows Hew and the others down the trail. He glances up at the sky nervously, Hew’s words echoing in his head, but he puts it out of his mind and pushes on for now. The group pauses as Hew finds the body, or what was left of it, in the tree.
“Appears that we are still on the trail of the white wizards. Though, between this and the story we heard back in the village, their are far fewer of them. The jungle is taking its toll” He looks at Ran “Can you make out the face, is this your man? Would he even be wearing white robes like a wizard?”
Unbothered by the decomposing corpse, Mica bends down and looks through the wizards backpack, looking for any useful supplies or information on who they were or where they were going. Perception: 7 or Investigation 22.
Ran doesn't expect the robed figure to be Tobem Rosznar. It's unlikely his sister, Shepherd, would have continued on if it was, but he looks carefully nonetheless.
He takes a long pull of water while he looks at the corpse.
@DM:
He watched as the acolyte agree with attempting the ritual, feeling anything but surprised with her impression about the Crone. Her kind, their kind, to certain extent, had its way with curses and charms and even amongst them she was ancient and cunning. As Inete enters her tent her hear her thoughts.
“Thank you and instead of opening a wound you may just have saved us from many.”
As the group starts moving he commands Ninlil to take to the air and keep her keen eyes open for the presence of any enemy. To retreat on the first sign of danger and warn him through telepathy. The days before had showed that the range of their bond and leaves of the trees were obstacles to the owl’s perception, but even then it should be enough for her to detect any threat before ambushing them. It had work just fine at the river.
The entire walk he was lost in his thoughts. Memories of the past and arcane theories taking hold of his mind. He needed to grow stronger and fast. Each time Hew ordered a stop he was brought back to reality, half surprised, half expecting a fight. Fortunately no such thing happened. The greatest surprise came in the form of a corpse. Not that it was surprising to find a dead body in Chult. Least of all in the jungles. It was the fact that said corpse belonged to a white robbed wizard, maybe someone Ran knew, that was unexpected.
“The jungle or someone on it.” Velan said waiting for the warrior’s words. “We should check his equipment. If there is no rations, arcane focus or spell component nor his spellbook then he was not alone when he died and considering how we found him, I don’t think he passed on the company of friends.”
Velan, give me a perception check for Ninlil [for later.].
Mica, you open up the backpack. The bottom is torn at one corner, and it looks like some of the contents may be missing. What you do find are the following:
There is no spellbook, component pouch, or other obvious magic related items on the corpse.
Ran, you take a close look at the half corpse. One look at the head is enough to confirm this is not the Rosznar boy. Under the stringy, faded hair, the scalp is covered in tattoos.
Arcana DC 15 [anyone who looks closely at the tattoos on the corpse]:
These are runes and symbols related to the School of Enchantment. They are not themselves magical. They seem to be decorative only, but would have largely been hidden by the man's hair while he was alive... only visible now as the sun and exposure have weathered and thinned the hair.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Ran Arcana: 14
"I don't recognize him," Ran begins, "but from the state of the bugger, even his mum would probably be hard pressed to identify him. He does have these weird tattoos on his scalp. Look vaguely familiar but it's not coming to me."
He looks over at what Mica's found.
"White and red robes?" Ran says. "This guy might have been neither and that's what got him killed."
Ran then notices the box.
"Anything good in there?"
Meili was guarding the rear as Ran suggested when the body was found. The gruesome sight was unpleasant though not that unfamiliar. She only glanced at the content of the bags, slightly rasing brows, when the red robe was found among the white (they talked so much about colour coding among the wizards, even she noticed the difference) but the main thing that interested her was the wounds. Were these only animals? Or were there signs of a weapon attack? Even at this state of decomposing something could be found. At least she hoed for that.
Medicine: 11 or Nature (?) 20
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Nodding with a sigh at Ran's proclamation, Danica shifts around gear before continuing with the others. The sun beating down on the party was nearly welcome to her, the shivering abating just slightly less when walking under it but returning in the shade. When their guide knocked loose a bug covered carcass from inside a tree, her hand raised to her mouth but it seemed the poor bugger had already half rotted away. Hanging back with Meili at first, not surprised that it was one of the white robes they were trailing behind, their numbers having been thinned slightly, but was confused to hear he was also carrying a red robe. What peaked her interest though was tattoos being mentioned around his skull. "Always one to appreciate a bit o' ink." She took a step to get closer but felt a bit woozy so thought better of it. Seeing Meili peer at the corpse though, she muttered something under her breath as she made a show of leaning on the monk for support as she asked, "Any guesses as to what did him in?"
Guidance for Meili: 2
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Ninlil's Perception Check: 22
Velan's Arcana Check: 23