Tests and Trials Game Thread

Hmmm.  Jaq will actually stay awake the first two hours.  Just staying quiet but attentive.  Then he will do his trance time.  He will follow Thir’s direction and not stray from her. 

((Jaq certainly hears some of that while he sits awake but...))

Jaq opts to remain awake, and perhaps to his relief, Thir quickly falls asleep beside him despite the press. The mass of bodies actually keeps it quite warm, and he notices a few holes in the ice ceiling have been opened to allow the cold air and moonlight in.

After another hour most of the tribe have fallen asleep in various states of sitting up, leaning or laying on-top of a neighbor, only a few sentries posted around the walls remain upright and watchful. A few hacking coughs from different spots in the mass of bodies break the snores and other night sounds. Jaq doesn't need to be well trained in medicine to know this place is likely to be consumed with sickness quickly, and it is surprising it hasn't already been.

After the second hour Jaq doesn't notice anyone new approach him and Thir has spooned another neighbor, which Jaq maybe doesn't know how to feel about.

((67))

The tomb crew rise for another day and find it be heavily overcast and slightly warmer than the day before, just frigid rather than bone chilling.

Mikram, poking his head out, agrees to accompany the group now that,

"The roof it back in place, but too bright still."

((Anything special today? Also can I get some perception rolls from those heading to the tomb.))

----

Jaq exits his trance before most people have woken up and finds that people nearest the areas that are clearly exits are being woken, given food and moved to the side. Not much later everyone is woken up with different people weaving between them and repeating something. Jaq can tell there is a sense of general unease and worry going around the tight space.

Thir wakes with a start and, wiping her chin of drool, smacks her lips and smiles at Jaq.

"We go."

Rising and stretching she grabs Jaq and starts wading through people up to group of people standing by an in the ice and says something, gesturing at Jaq. The bugbears and goblins, young teens if Jaq would hazard a guess, in the group all turn to look at Jaq, some clearly hostile and others more weighing. A minute later Jaq and the Thir find themselves on the surface where nearly two dozen bugbear wait. Thir explains the plan,

"You, me and some more go now. Then, when know safe, some more come back. Do many times. Take all time." She looks with concern up at the heavily overcast sky, "Take all, all time. Much all time."

((Perception and survival check please Row!))

Kroshav Perception: 11

Kroshav will ask the Librarian and Joe if they can whip up some food that can be carried out to the cave for when Jaq and Thir return, presuming that his elven friend is safe and bringing a tribe of folks as hungry as Thir was with them. He'll explain to Joe that something along the lines of travel rations, if the Librarian's food will stick around for more than the day she summons it, to provide stores that can be eaten from longer term, figuring that Joe will have a better chance of explaining it to their host than he would.

He'll encourage everyone going to the tomb to carry what they can, and loading packs on Ealu and Charlie as well (Mikram may be riding one of them, if he's not getting a golem ride?).

"Don't want our guests showing up and going hungry!", he says cheerfully, sampling some of what gets whipped up (and trying to keep a smile on his face after).

Cladmir follows Kroshav's lead and carry on as much food (if that works out) as he can with him.  He is still feeling a bit uneasy about the non-experience he had with the prayer, but he suppose that that sort of things would take time like anything else... time to study?  Practice?  All he knows right now tho is that Kroshav has managed to come out on the right side of this despite of everything, so at least the paladin is doing something right.

Perception: 8

Perception:  23

Survival: 18

Noticing that many here don't remotely like him and don't hide the fact, he sticks very close to Thir.

He nods and smiles to the explanation, "Yes, taking groups over separately is smart.  All of us at once might be easily seen."

The Librarian explains that her food only lasts a day but is happy to make a load of dried meat. Joe has a worried look on her face as a stacked pile of what looks to be smoked meat slices appear. The Librarian doesn't wait to see if anyone tries it before heading off. 

Once the Librarian departs Joe will say quietly,  looking at the nearest golem,  "I can't be making it taste better,  me spell only lasts an hour." 

The meats are, perhaps not unsurprisingly, very stackable and packable. Mikram and the food, probably only enough to feed maybe 20 people,  loaded up on the horses. 

Grabbing a slice of the meat Kroshav takes a bite... It's like biting through a banana with its skin still on. The flavor is...well it's not her worst try! Mostly nothing with a hint of grass. 

Cladmir follows Kroshav around,  happy to be of help. He does think he sees some shadows moving out of the corner of his eye a few times,  but that's probably just nerves!

It's an uneventful trip back to the tomb, it's also easier as their trail is better stomped in now and it hasn't snowed much. 

Ernos notes a thin stream of steam a ways off to the north but figures it was the pool he saw the other night, it's in the right spot.  

((Straight to the normal digging stuff?)) 

________________ 

Retracing their path, Jaq and Thir lead a group of about twenty to the north. Jaq notes these appear to be on par with Thir in terms of gear and weapons. They also move forward with the practiced movements of those accustomed with moving quickly and quietly. Everyone is scanning the sky and trees. The sun still hasn't risen behind the clouds.

After a half hour a trio peel away and head back the way you came and a pair move to hide. 

Thir explains quietly,   "Some go back, get first group. Slow, slow group. Some stay here, warn maybe." 

An hour later another three have peeled away, one hiding and two heading back.   It is as the sun starts to rise that Jaq hears a creaking noise a short ways to the side of their chosen path. Looking that direction Jaq spots a pile of snow covered large rocks making a low rise amongst the trees.

As his gaze starts to swing away he sees a trail, a wide trail, in the snow that has been hidden. It's not perfect,  but given the size of the trail it's still pretty good. The trail looks to start or end at the rise. 

((What's Jaq's going to do?))  

Jaq will wave his hands or tap them lightly together if needed to get Thir’s and some of the others attention.    He stops right where he is at to stay quiet.    And he points at the rocks which are moving to probably un-hide some of what he thinks will be the dragon’s minions.  Or, he thinks,  maybe more of this tribe???    Either way.  He points out what he sees and then follows suit with what Thir does.   He has come to trust that she will do what is at least best for them to complete this trek. 

((The rocks weren't moving, it was just where the trail ended/started and where the sound came from. It didn't sound like rock moving, and given the perception of 18 I would say that Jaq would say it sounded more like nut shell being cracked or thickish, dry branch snapped.))

With a bit of gesticulating Jaq silently catches Thir's attention. She makes a hand gesture and the dozen or so others also turn their attention to him.

Jaq indicates the rocky rise and then the obscured trail and, after a few moments of silent observation and consideration Thir waves everyone backwards with a concerned expression. A few hundred feet back, Thir asks,

"Jaq see what make path? See us?"

On getting a no to that she starts a hurried discussion with a couple of the other scouts. When that ends she asks,

"We think go round? Longer, slower. But if fight, many eyes come maybe. What Jaq think?"

Jaq nods.  "A loud fight would not be good.  But we must also be sure we have not been seen, and that we are not followed."

After a moment he states, "I can try to sneak over there and see what is over there.   Or I could use magic and just fly straight up.  (He points upwards as he says this) and look over the entire area.  But again, then I might be seen."   

He asks, "Who else here, is best at being quiet and sneaky?"

((@Tomb crew, normal procedure? Cladmir outside working on defenses?

If Kroshav is digging, could I get a d100 please.))

----

Thir nods along with Jaq's words and quietly translates what he says. When he gets to the point about flying up above the trees there is a lot of uncomfortable movement and head shaking and swiping of hands in the negative.

"No fly. Dragon see. Dragon come."

Thir says, clearly carrying the concern of the rest in her statements.

When asked who can be quiet all of the gathered indicate themselves as being the best at being quiet and sneaky with gesturing. Only Thir adds in a whisper,

"Thir is best."

Which actually makes her the least quiet of the group.

((How many would Jaq like to go with him? Or just taking Thir?

If you could describe your approach and give me a stealth roll as well.

The environment is a moderately forest mainly pine with a few leafless deciduous trees interspersed. The boulder hill isn't separated from the forest at all but there are fewer trees around it for 70-100 feet, giving better sight lines. The hill is quite low, no more than 15ft from base to top and most of that may be snow. Stones poke out of the snow as do a few smaller trees on the hill. Oh, and the ground is covered in an icy layer of snow. The kind that crunches with you walk on it. The trail to the hill moves from east to west.))

64

((@everyone but Spider bump))

Jaq can't help but smile when everyone says they are the best at being sneaky!  

He will, however, go with the choice of the one he trusts will not backstab him.  He takes only Thir with him.

He indicates to have Thir follow him, stepping in his footsteps in the snow.  They will take a wide path to where he heard the noise, going far to the right of them, then moving up to where he can take a look.  He will work to say behind trees and stay low when they can.

Stealth 28

(Well, that was a good time for a nat 20!)

Ernos doesn't have much going on other than keeping the place clean.

((18))

((I was going to have you role perception but with those rolls you can pretty much sit outside and listen.))

Jaq and Thir move forward, each of them making less noise than the sound of the wind rustling the icy branches. They are so good that they lose each other a few times and are startled, the first time it happens, when they nearly step on the other ducking into the very same, very good hiding spots.

Doing a wide loop around the icy hill the pair come up more or less behind where the path was. They manage to get very close to the hill using the natural cover, so close in that Jaq can hear low voices coming from the hill. Edging closer Thir listens for a few minutes before waving Jaq back. In that time Jaq is able to make out a few expertly hidden holes that must be functioning as lookout spots. Through one of the holes Jaq is able to spot a bit of movement.

Once the pair edge away far enough Thir whispers,

"Goblins and kobolds. Good to avoid. Probably many. Maybe ogre. Smelled like ogre."

She meets back up with the rest of the scouts and a pair quickly peel off to likely inform the others of the change in course while another pair crouch down to watch the watchers.

Thir nods and, following a new path, heads slightly to the northwest.

"Keep watch now. Harder way. Hole in snow. Fall long."

Perception from Jaq please!

----

Kroshav gets back to work and, with Mikram's help, continues to clear more space for the incoming goblinkin. Mikram is not very impressed by the work from the day before,

"Ye are lucky ye didn't drown yerselves."

But does seem to approve of the solutions.

((Can I get a perception with disadvantage from Ernos, Eula (if she is outside) and Cladmir please))

"Yeah, it was a close one! Would have drowned and frozen into a block of ice!"

Ealu Perception: 9 (passive 11)