Red Dead Annihilation: Campaign Thread

As the party begins their descent, Hew scoffs at the idea of visiting the pirates.  "I didn't realize that was an option you were seriously considering.  That fact that those priests you were traveling with," he says to Nalomanterys, "were suggesting it - I think it speaks to their situation and desperation being more dire than you realize."  He shrugs.  "Or maybe they were just continental idiots, who thought 'pirate' meant 'smuggler you can hire' rather than 'cutthroat thieves, murderers and slavers' which is the sort we have down here."

"I've no hands on experience with them myself, but I have heard stories.  If you want a boat out of Jahaka, then you had best plan on having to take it from the pirates, not hiring them."

Climbing along the narrow ledge with his one arm, he smiles then.  "Heh.  Though I suppose that would be something.  Pirating from the pirates.  Too bad we don't have a bard with us to whip up a song about it."

Ran again raises an eyebrow at his new walking companion.

”My family are more of the finders of wayward sons and those who don’t want to be found,” Ran says as he walks. “I can’t imagine fighting in someone else’s war. Lot of work for little reward.”

Ran pats the pouch at his side and the absence of much in the way of clinking coins might be answer enough but Ran adds ”This walkabout hasn’t quite hit profitable yet.”

Ran smiles at Hew when he mentions stealing a pirate ship.

”Now you’re thinking straight. We’ve a captain already. We don’t need the pirates.”

Stubbornness on Meili's face changed into much relief once Danica had spoken. She could not put it better herself (definitely could not) and was even happier to see others agreed with the reason. The rest - where to go first - was less important. By now hiking with a canoe on her shoulder or rowing said canoe felt as natural as walking itself.

"If the Captain can make a crew out of us, I would not mind sailing." She did not comment on the idea of stealing the boat. "Not sure it's the right direction but if we can get to the right spot faster, it's good. The way prophecy sounded, our destination is somewhere behind the "Peaks of Flame". Or in front of them? If we are to go straight south from Port Nyanzaru and if the map is accurate. But it is still a big territory."

She climbed down and waited for the consensus on the next step.

Mica looks up as Meili mentions the Peaks of Flame and he thinks of the map  “Mountains to the east, mountains to the west.  Not behind them, our destination may just lay in between the Peaks of Flame and the Skylizard Mountains.  That’s where I would look first.”  He remembers something else from the map and turns to Hew “There was a marking for Hrakhamar to the south.  What is it? A village, ruin?  Have you been there?”

Nodding at Hew's suggestion for them to get off the plateau, Danica does one more cursory glance around to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything before looking towards the hag's hut. "Goodbye Nanny." The sailor calls out. "Thank you for the trade. And for helping our guide." 
She might not like or fully trust the hag (rightfully so), but she felt it would still be rude and possibly a bad omen to not thank someone for help given. 

Putting a hand on Mica's shoulder, Danica says, "If the Sisters have her and they're behind this Curse, then we might find her yet. Just have to keep a lookout." 
As everyone complained about the canoes and how glad they were to not have to return to them, the elf called out, "Bunch of land lovers, the lot of ya!" Before chuckling. "Always wanted to say that."

Hearing Nalomanterys speak of finances, Danica pipes up, "Fairly sure all we have left after buying supplies and Hew is pocket change." 
Frowning at mention of a whole colony of pirates and the wizards mischievous look, she asks, "What 'other ideas' are you havin'? Pirates are no pushovers usually, let alone a whole colony of em." 

Groaning at Hew's amusement at the idea and Ran and Meili's interest, the druid protests, "I feel as if I need to come clean, though I would swear to Selune herself that I've never once said I was a Captain before... My decades on ships have been spent as a navigator. You're a fine crew, but have any of you helped sail a ship before? A single person can't sail a ship alone. It's about teamwork. Though it might be easier with a small enough vessel since we don't have plans on going out into open waters..." 

After Mica asks about certain areas on the map, Danica chimes in, "And will the River Tath be difficult to cross on foot?"

Hew continues to field questions as you climb down from M'bala.  He seems more relaxed now, like something has been lifted off of his shoulders.

First talking to Mica, "The peaks of flame are three massive, active volcanoes."  He points south, past the Basin.  They loom there on the horizon, their smoking peaks visible even over the towering heat-haze of the swamps.  "Very dangerous.  At least one of them is always erupting, tossing lava and burning stones for miles in all directions.  The valleys on both sides of the range are desolate wastes of ash and soot.  But not empty.  Firenewts, salamanders and worse make their lairs in the caves and old lava tubes of the angry mountains."  

"And on the other side of that valley, near the Skylizard Mountains, yuan-ti and lizardfolk tribes have been warring since the world was young." 

"Altogether, that's some of the most dangerous terrain in Chult."  After a pause, he adds, "Though I think there are less zombies down that way, which is something."

Asked about Hrakhamar, he just nods.  "Aye, I'm familiar.  It used to be a great hall of the wild dwarves.  It was overrun by monsters and the dwarves have tried and failed many times to reclaim it.  Hrakhamar itself has fallen, but there is a village of wild dwarves in the jungle nearby.  They hope to rebuild their strength until they can reclaim their home."  He throws a thumb over his shoulder, pointing north.  "Do you recall that albino fellow from the Thundering Lizard?  Musharib?  That is his clan.  His work as a guide is just to finance the dwarven reclamation of Hrakhamar, and to try and convince continental do-gooders to sign on as extra muscle."

"If we find ourselves in the neighborhood, it wouldn't hurt to pop in and visit the village.  It could at least be a safe spot to make camp if we need a breather."

Turning to Danica and her question, "The river is wide but cold.  It's fed from the mountains, not the jungle swamps, and thus there is less to fear by way of croc and giant reptile.  But be prepared to do a lot of climbing.  You may not have realized it, but on our journey up the Soshenstar we climbed several hundred feet in elevation.  Well, the Tath drops all that in the last mile when it reaches the Mistcliffs.  Big waterfalls.  Breathtaking to see from a boat below, but it would be less fun to climb down if coming from this direction."

"Heh.  I enjoy the idea as a thought exercise, but I'm not sure I want to err on the side of encouraging a trip to Jahaka."

Meili listened carefully and attentively. "This is what I meant - past those fire mountains. Youan-ti's presence also sounds scary but promising, as a "city crawled with snakes" can be a "city full of yuan-ti"." She immediately shook her head. "Not saying it is, just that it can be. It is too far anyway to decide now."

Once everyone was safely down she did ask, though. "So... What did we decide? We left canoes a day of walking behind. Can pick them up, I suppose, but... will we? Or should we walk straight to that wild dwarves and then keep moving south on foot?"

"Alright, we'll put the idea of acquiring a pirate ship on hold for now," Ran says. "But it would be your chance, Cap'n, to become a true captain."

He looks south and then towards the mountains that they've talked about.

"I don't want to back track," Ran says. "If I have to see the same bit of grotty jungle again I might just cry. Let's just keep moving forward. Let's go have a chit chat with these wild dwarves. Maybe they've heard of our snake city."

“Yuan-Ti?” Mica looks up like his is trying to remember something.  “Those the snake people that Volo wrote about?  That would be something to see.” He looks back at the trail to where they stashed the canoes “Yes, no use going back.  The canoes will be of little use on our new path.  Let’s put some distance between us and Nanny before nightfall.  I still don’t trust her.”  He moves to the front of the group with Hew, helping them stay on the right path and keeping one hand axe out to clear away the underbrush when needed.

"It appears that the Amaunatorites were doomed to failure from the beginning! There is a lesson here about preparation and up-to-date maps, no matter how many supplies one has... Very well. I am content to abandon the idea of the pirate stronghold." Nalomanterys trudges along with the group down the plateau. The wind looks like it might toss him off the side of these treacherous paths a few times, but the whip-thin wizard manages to stay grounded.

As the group breaks under the tree line, Nalomanterys takes his book off his head and lets the shade from the copious palms, ferns, and other jungle trees protect him from the sun instead. "These 'wild Dwarves'... Are they well established in the region, Mr. Hew? How many do they count among their numbers, and can we count on supplies from them?"

As the party reaches the bottom of the cliff, Hew and Mica lead the way as they start southward into the jungle.  Hew looks back and Nalomanterys' latest question.  "I can't say for certain.  They are excellent survivors, those dwarves.  I expect they may have supplies to trade but as to creature comforts, I wouldn't - " but he doesn't complete the sentence.  No sooner do Hew and Mica enter the tall ferns at the edge of the jungle, then the foliage around them explodes in a flurry of motion and animal calls.  

Danica and Meili both notice something is wrong a heartbeat before the trap is sprung.  [Everyone else is surprised for the first round.]

Two groups of colorful feathered dinosaurs burst forth from the tall grasses, each about the size of a wild turkey.  While their size doesn't intimidate, the 4" claws on their hind feet mark them as predators.  As they fan out to attack, they communicate with one another with complex, multi-tonal bird-like calls.  Nalomanterys might recognize some of the noises as the enchanting bird calls that followed him to base of the cliff this morning....

1. Danica
2. Meili
3. Ran  (Surprised)
4. Hew (Surprised)
5. Velociraptors 2
6. Mica  (Surprised)
7. Velociraptors 1
8. Nalomanterys  (Surprised)

It was a good question, about supplies. Not that the group needed much food urgently (not after finding that chest full of rations) but medical herbs would not last long. Meili was trailing behind the group, looking for anything similar to the plants used in her kit. (Survival: 8)

She almost missed the sudden appearance of raptors but Chult-honed danger senses kicked in in time. Hew told enough about that dangerous packs to lose any time on contemplating. Meili ran to the closest enemy as fast as she could getting her sword ready.

((I believe with her extra speed Meili can reach the top two raptors of the left group))

Movement: to the left group
Sword Attack: 22 Damage: 4
Flurry of Blows: 1. Attack: 7 Damage: 5
                             2. Attack: 21 Damage: 6

((Forgot to say - all attacks at one dino))

Nalomanterys looks behind him when he hears the chorus of chirps. "Egad! Those birds again? Do they follow me?" When he turns back around, Meili is already wading into the swarm of dinosaurs, chopping them away like so much shrub brush. (Surprised)

Ran's words caused Danica to become quiet, mulling over the idea. She didn't feel like she deserved the title they gave her, and only partially because she didn't have a ship. But she couldn't wallow too deeply, having to focus on what Hew said as well as descending carefully. It would seem that south was the way to go. Or at least it was until they were suddenly ambushed. Gritting her teeth, Danica readied her shield but summoned an Ice Knife in her right hand before launching it towards the opposite group she saw Meili dart towards. "Don't let them surround us! Stay tucked away Pterry." She cautions to the pterosaur with her. 

Movement: Moving up within melee of the group on the right.
Action: Spell Attack with Ice Knife: 5, Damage: 3  /  2
Bonus Action: None

[Since pre-flight placement was arbitrary on DM's part (in combination with some checks to see who climbed down the easiest) I will say Meili was close enough to reach the dinosaur she targeted.]

The young monk doesn't hesitate, charging down the slope to address the threat.  A velociraptor turns to face her, snarling in anticipation of a meal.  As Meili pierces it with her sword and kicks it off the blade to the ground, it honks in confusion.  Its large eyes convey an awareness that something hasn't gone according to plan before it shudders and dies on the jungle floor.

[Trying to decide how to adjudicate a critical miss on a spell attack roll that also includes an AoE component.]

Danica fires her spell, but catches a foot on a cycad at just that moment, sending the mote of ice up and over the heads of the dinosaurs.  Six saurian heads snap upwards to track the ice, then return in unison to look at Danica, hissing.  Just then, the ice explodes, catching the two furthest to the west.

• 1 Save:  13.
• 2 Save: 18

Then the velociraptors spring into action.  The jungle is full of squeals, honks and squawks as they communicate with one another in real time.  Waist high, they cut trails through the fronds and foliage as they fan out and surround the five adventurers at the front.   Two each attack Meili, Danica, Nalomanterys, Hew and Mica.  They work in near expert-coordination with one another, attacking from different directions to give their prey the hardest possible time defending against both [Pack Tactics].  They jump first, slashing with their long hind limb talons and then follow up with bites.

[Meili may use a reaction if she likes to take an AoO against either one of the velociraptors that pass her on their way to attack Nalomanterys.

Danica may use a reaction if she likes to take an AoO against V5 as it passes her to attack Mica.

V-11 is dead.]

Meili:

• V-7 Claws:  Attack: 20 Damage: 5
• V-7 Bite:  Attack: 9 Damage: 4

• V-8 Claws:  Attack: 11 Damage: 5
• V-8 Bite:  Attack: 23 Damage: 7

Nalomanterys:

• V-9 Claws:  Attack: 6 Damage: 4
• V-9 Bite:  Attack: 6 Damage: 8

• V-10 Claws:  Attack: 7 Damage: 4
• V-10 Bite:  Attack: 8 Damage: 7

Hew:

• V-1 Claws:  Attack: 19 Damage: 4
• V-1 Bite:  Attack: 5 Damage: 7

• V-2 Claws:  Attack: 18 Damage: 3
• V-2 Bite:  Attack: 22 Damage: 8

Danica:

• V-3 Claws:  Attack: 13 Damage: 3
• V-3 Bite:  Attack: 21 Damage: 5

• V-4 Claws:  Attack: 22 Damage: 4
• V-4 Bite:  Attack: 12 Damage: 3

Mica:

• V-5 Claws:  Attack: 24 Damage: 7
• V-5 Bite:  Attack: 7 Damage: 6

• V-6 Claws:  Attack: 21 Damage: 6
• V-6 Bite:  Attack: 22 Damage: 7

Round Two (Surprise Over!)

1. Danica
2. Meili
3. Ran  
4. Hew 
5. Velociraptors 7-11
6. Mica  
7. Velociraptors 1-6
8. Nalomanterys  

((Don't think anything Ran does will affect Danica and Meili so tosses his in now))

Ran stops for a moment when he sees the jungle foliage erupt with small dinosaurs. Before he can even ask if they're dangerous he sees the vicious dinos lash and bite at the rest of the party.

Nalo being just in front of Ran and potentially the most in need of help in a close combat situation focuses his mind and the fighter charges forward straight into velociraptor #10, both blades sweeping out and slashing at this bundle of muscle and teeth.

Action: Longsword at V10 - Attack: 18 Damage: 11  

Bonus Action: Lonsword 2 at V10 - Attack: 19 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.  

"Get behind me," he shouts at Nalo as he attacks.