Tests and Trials Game Thread

((Well, glad I crit on the one that Ernie didn't roll for at least...))

Kroshav ponders the magic making the location of the city the Library was part of, but it gives him a headache.

((For when Kroshav takes his watch. Perception: 18))

"Scrying would make sense, yes.  Though, the one to use such magic should know of the subject's death.  Within the ring he will be hidden, but we can only keep the body there so long before it begins to decay again."

Perception for the last watch: 11

Kroshav thinks about how magic made Ernos get lost and his mind nearly instantly wanders to a time when he was little and wandered of in the snow and got lost. He is still pondering the childhood trauma of that when Ernos interrupts his reverie with details on how Lurn was likely being tracked. It does seem to fit how Gethren doesn't exactly know where Lurn has been, just approximately where and where Lurn had been heading.

The comment about decay kicks up a memory that Lurn had said when he was talking about Kevin. The main thing was destroying the undead but that the methods of burial were mostly up to the person being buried, whatever the person wanted was fine. Lurn did seem to have a preference for a dirt burying but a cremation and then entombing the ashes wouldn't break any rules. The warm feeling Kroshav associates with communication from the Five surges on this thought, kinda a Bahumuty but maybe a Heironeous flavor to it.

((@Jaq and Cladmir, watch preferences and rolls please!))

"I think that Lurn would understand a fire burial, and that it wouldn't be against his god's wishes. Getting turned into a zombie by Gethren CANNOT happen, and is he has someone helping in tracking Lurn, he'd find him eventually. Like you said, we can't keep him in your ring forever, we're going to have to bring him out every week to recast my spell on him. My Five think burning him is fitting, or at least some of them approve... But... Don't like suggesting this, but do we use him as bait to try to finish the job with Gethren?"

Perception: 11

"I'll take the third watch."

He listens and nods to Kroshav, "Yes, I agree that he'd want us to do a nice burial, and do anything we can do to stop him from ever, ever rising as an undead anything."

"And I don't know why I feel this way, but I don't think these fires and whoever it is out here, have anything to do with Gethren.  He and his undead don't need fires.  Yes, he could have living minions, but it doesn't feel like him."

Cladmir will do whatever is left.

Perception: 5

"If they're not with him, and they aren't some other baddie, they need to be warned about him. He's still out there, lurking for Lurn."

2

Kroshav is completely distracted during his watch pondering on Gethren and Lurn and everything else. Before he knows it his watch is over and he moves to wake Cladmir. Unlike his role model, the old soldier keeps a wary eye on the surrounding woods. Everything is very quiet except for the pop can crackle of the fire but once Cladmir is pretty sure he hears the faint crunching of snow but doesn't see anything in the low light provided by the fire.

Jaq starts his watch and, much like Cladmir, doesn't hear anything beyond the fire. The woods are still in the cold air. Taking the moment he pulls out his old Dwarven pamphlet to refresh himself on the old syntax and rune shapes, glancing up occasionally to check his sleeping companions and the area around them. One of these reading pauses must of have stretched longer than he thought because as he looks up he is startled by a trio of big humaniods wearing heavy, roughly cut furs. One of the trio is standing over near Eula peering at her while one is crouched beside Kroshav. The final hulking humaniod is looming over Jaq himself.

Blinking and looking up Jaq sees, mostly obscured by the hollowed out head of a bear, the distinctive features of a bugbear. Before Jaq can react the bugbear hunkers down beside the elf to also peer at the pamphlet Jaq is still holding. Another quick look at the three shows all are armed with shortbows and nasty looking clubs but none have their hands on their weapons. The one nearest Eula is moving around the horse considering her from different angles. The one by Kroshav looks to be inspecting the dragonborn's snout and breathing, which seems to be quickening.

Jaq is (possibly) professionally impressed that none of the three have made even the slightest noise that could be heard over the fire.

((Can I get a d20 roll from Kroshav, Sword is giving him some bad dreams right now.

@Row, what is Jaq going to do?))

16

Kroshav

Jaq notes Kroshav's breathing return to a peaceful, steady rate.

Jaq slowly stands up while saying, pretty loudly, in common, “Well, Hello there.  I did  not he you guys walk up here to us.  How are you all doing tonight?”  

Jaq does not reach for a weapon.    He stays very neutral sounding.    And…. I any of the others awaken he says, “Relax (name), they are friendly.”    He says ‘friendly’ with a bit of question in his voice.  

The nearest bugbear rises with Jaq and scratches it's, actually her, armpit. When Jaq starts talking she makes swift cutting motion for him to be quieter and casts a watchful glance out into the darkness. The other two both look sharply over from what they are doing before also looking out, away from the camp, completely still except for the movement of their heads. Each has placed a hand on their club.

Their sudden stillness slowly relaxes, and they return to their examinations. The bugbear nearest Jaq leans in close, Jaq can smell faint rot from the hide and old sour sweat on her, as she gruffly whispers in his ear... something completely unintelligible.

She leans back and looks at Jaq expectantly.

Only Ernos reacts to the noise, shifting in his sleep, but not fully waking.

Jaq responds, “I don’t understand.” And he shrugs.  Again. He speaks kind of loud.      He thinks back. Who has the helm of understanding languages?

Jaq is close enough this time as he speaks to see the bugbear's reaction to his above normal volume speaking.

((Insight please))

This time she places her hand in front of Jaq's mouth, not quite touching it, and whispers something Jaq still doesn't understand. She watches Jaq and, seeing incomprehension, repeats whatever she said more slowly and with quiet emphasis.

((Lurn had the helmet... Lemme check.

Seems like Kroshav probably has it? Kroshav wanted it for Dwarven but used the belt instead. I presume he went back to the helm after returning Joe's belt.

Potentially Jaq could if he'd had a reason. ))

(Jaq would not have taken the helm up to this point, unfortunately)

Insight: 22

At this point, they have not attacked and surely could have if they wished, so he relaxes a bit.  He will put his own hand, palm toward his lips and cover his mouth and will nod as if he understands.  He will then whisper.  "Yes."  He will then point and himself and then to Kroshav.    He will try to mime that he is walking over to his paladin with walking motions of two fingers and then a second mime of quiet, again. Same quiet motion he used before.  And then point to Kroshav and then he will lightly tap both of his own cheeks one at a time (face, Jaq's face) to try to show that he wants to quietly go and wake up the dragonborn. (I hope that makes some sense)

The bugbear looked more afraid than anything when Jaq spoke, and her eyes flicked up to the forest rather than to Jaq's sleeping companions.