"Alright you two....oh sorry three" Aluve notices a third crew member jump from the side of the ship and join them on the shoreline. "I have reason to believe there is something in this forest that needs to be looked into. Now by the looks it is very thick and the terrain is most likely going to be difficult. I know the forest and the wilds places of the world....stick with me and you wont get lost."
Aluve follows gestures to the group. "Come on everyone, follow that Firbolg."
Bramble stops after he hears people calling after him. He looks at Branch with a curious expression. "I... I thought I was Bramble and you were Branch? ... Did I... confuse my own name? Huh..."
Han shrugs to the crew man “Well lads I guess do what you can for the ship and take stock of supplies. We’re going scouting do you need anything particular for the ship?” After getting a rundown of what the ship needs for repairs he runs to catch up to the foraging/scouting party.
The path twists and turns through the forest, at times back-tracking, but always righting itself again to travel in the direction of this combat. Eventually, they reach a spot along the trail where the sound seems the loudest, it couldn't be more than a hundred feet away, but the trail begins to veer off in a different direction.
Game trails such as this often do utilize man made paths and clear cuts to make their own travel easier, and the path may simply be backtracking again only to reach its destination a little later down the path. However, there's no guarantee. The path may never connect with the location of this combat, which has now been going for some time. Assuredly. The combatants grow wearied by their exertion.
The party could leave the trail, dive into this dense vegetation and forge their own path. It would guarantee that they would, eventually, arrive at the source of this sound. To dive into the vast wall of undergrowth would be treacherous, however, and if the path does connect forging their own may be significantly slower.
"We have made good progress" Aluve speaks to the party
"This trail however seems to go in the wrong direction....it leads away from the sounds of battle."
"I figure we have 3 options...we could follow the path and hope for the best.....try and make away through the scrub....or split into smaller parties. The later probably isnt a great idea considering our situation. If we are to make a decision perhaps a vote?
I would vote carving our own path through the forest, I am sure it wont be easy though....what does everyone else think?"
"Ah! I knew callin you my name would get you to stop!" Branch is a bit out of breath as she catches up with Bramble, but seems exhilarated by the chase and what is in front of them. "Wow, that is a thick grove of trees. Is that what it is like where you're from?"
When Aluve proposes the options to the group, she scratches her head. "I'm not sure which way is best, but I agree with your thought on the last situation. With what happened with the ship, one of our groups might just disappear!"she appears to think a bit more, "But I will go with whatever you'd all like to do, though not sure how much help I would be trying to go through the scrub."
"It, ah, certainly perplexed me long enough to... slow me down. Branch is close enough to Bramble to... well, never you mind. This wood... is, ah, somewhat like my forest home. Though this place is a... tad more foreboding. I don't feel the same comfort here as I did back in Keeneyes territory..." Bramble muses. "If we must cut some lumber, let us do it quickly. I am not that strong, so perhaps we should leave the cutting to someone else while the rest of us keep watch for any dangers... Um... I am Bramble Keeneyes, by the way. My name is not Branch. Her name is Branch. Just for clarification. Yes."
Branch holds up her hand to cover her mouth as she stifles a giggle watching Bramble introduce himself. Once he points her out, she flourishes a bow and as she rises, "Yes, I am Branch. Just Branch, but you all can call me Bramble." she winks and then all out laughs. And then changes her mind on getting out of the way, pulling out her rapier, she decides to try and assist as best she can.
As one, the group set against the wall of vegetation before them. The trees are much to difficult to fell now, but steadily a path is carved through the lesser, woody-stemmed bushes that permeate the area. All the while, the sound of combat continues, louder and louder until finally the last foot is cut down, and a clearing in the forest is revealed.
Smoke fills the landscape, drifting off the charred corpses of sailors. It is entirely insufficient to mask the most striking feature of the scene before them, however. It is a ship, two-masted and once beautifully shaped. Now, it sits rent in two pieces, it's back broken upon the land. There is no sign how the vessel made its way so far inland, but the journey nearly destroyed it, and have driven the crew half-mad, as they fight desperately amoung themselves in the shadow of its ruin, and atop its splintered deck.
On a second glance, the scene becomes even stranger. The crew not driven mad, but instead posessed by some foul force that drives them onward. A flaming bolt strikes a sailor, only for the man to stand again, a hole where one side of his body had been. A black substance webs the empty space, pulling and pushing in the way of some alien muscles, contorting the dead sailor's body and forcing it onward. He falls upon the magician, tearing chunks out of flesh. All around are similar scenes, dead or half-dead sailors falling upon their crewmates with tooth and nail, hammer and sword, whatever can be used to snuff out the quickly dwindling fires of life that yet remain.
Aluve looks upon the battle. His eyes narrow as he examines the madness. He had never seen such a thing. It was far beyond the knowledge of the wilds. "This looks like some serious magic.......I dont know if this is real.....or some kind of mystical illusion." He notices Archibald look towards the group as if looking for answers....something which Aluve could not provide. "I think getting involved in this may be a bad idea......." Aluve instructs the three crewmen to hide in the scrub whilst the party tries to figure this out.
Aluve turns his body away from the group and has a quick swig of the flask, trying his hardest to do so unnoticed.
Deception roll: 17 +1 = 18
He turns back around and tries to make sense of the scene.
"But how did they get here? How did this happen? What if this fate will become us? I feel like we need to help the remaining survivors to see if we can garner any information from them" Branch pleads her case as she watches on in horror at the creatures on the ship fighting the remaining sailors. She shudders at the sight.
"Alright you two....oh sorry three" Aluve notices a third crew member jump from the side of the ship and join them on the shoreline. "I have reason to believe there is something in this forest that needs to be looked into. Now by the looks it is very thick and the terrain is most likely going to be difficult. I know the forest and the wilds places of the world....stick with me and you wont get lost."
Aluve follows gestures to the group. "Come on everyone, follow that Firbolg."
Survival: 17 + 4 = 21
Bramble stops after he hears people calling after him. He looks at Branch with a curious expression. "I... I thought I was Bramble and you were Branch? ... Did I... confuse my own name? Huh..."
Han shrugs to the crew man “Well lads I guess do what you can for the ship and take stock of supplies. We’re going scouting do you need anything particular for the ship?”
After getting a rundown of what the ship needs for repairs he runs to catch up to the foraging/scouting party.
The path twists and turns through the forest, at times back-tracking, but always righting itself again to travel in the direction of this combat. Eventually, they reach a spot along the trail where the sound seems the loudest, it couldn't be more than a hundred feet away, but the trail begins to veer off in a different direction.
Game trails such as this often do utilize man made paths and clear cuts to make their own travel easier, and the path may simply be backtracking again only to reach its destination a little later down the path. However, there's no guarantee. The path may never connect with the location of this combat, which has now been going for some time. Assuredly. The combatants grow wearied by their exertion.
The party could leave the trail, dive into this dense vegetation and forge their own path. It would guarantee that they would, eventually, arrive at the source of this sound. To dive into the vast wall of undergrowth would be treacherous, however, and if the path does connect forging their own may be significantly slower.
"We have made good progress" Aluve speaks to the party
"This trail however seems to go in the wrong direction....it leads away from the sounds of battle."
"I figure we have 3 options...we could follow the path and hope for the best.....try and make away through the scrub....or split into smaller parties. The later probably isnt a great idea considering our situation. If we are to make a decision perhaps a vote?
I would vote carving our own path through the forest, I am sure it wont be easy though....what does everyone else think?"
"Ah! I knew callin you my name would get you to stop!" Branch is a bit out of breath as she catches up with Bramble, but seems exhilarated by the chase and what is in front of them. "Wow, that is a thick grove of trees. Is that what it is like where you're from?"
When Aluve proposes the options to the group, she scratches her head. "I'm not sure which way is best, but I agree with your thought on the last situation. With what happened with the ship, one of our groups might just disappear!" she appears to think a bit more, "But I will go with whatever you'd all like to do, though not sure how much help I would be trying to go through the scrub."
Chatcho points in the direction of dense vegetation.
"Chop all the trees, as many as we can. That seems a good idea." Archibald nods along, sagely.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Han just looks at Archibald and nods sagely as well “Indeed but we should probably take turns you got first what do you say 5 trees to a man.”
"It, ah, certainly perplexed me long enough to... slow me down. Branch is close enough to Bramble to... well, never you mind. This wood... is, ah, somewhat like my forest home. Though this place is a... tad more foreboding. I don't feel the same comfort here as I did back in Keeneyes territory..." Bramble muses. "If we must cut some lumber, let us do it quickly. I am not that strong, so perhaps we should leave the cutting to someone else while the rest of us keep watch for any dangers... Um... I am Bramble Keeneyes, by the way. My name is not Branch. Her name is Branch. Just for clarification. Yes."
Branch holds up her hand to cover her mouth as she stifles a giggle watching Bramble introduce himself. Once he points her out, she flourishes a bow and as she rises, "Yes, I am Branch. Just Branch, but you all can call me Bramble." she winks and then all out laughs. And then changes her mind on getting out of the way, pulling out her rapier, she decides to try and assist as best she can.
Chatcho proceeds to use his dagger to cut through the dense flora.
Attack: 15 Damage: 3
Archibald begins cutting trees... Dual wielding! He chops twice as fast as a normal man!
(Cue montage)
Paladin - warforged - orange
As one, the group set against the wall of vegetation before them. The trees are much to difficult to fell now, but steadily a path is carved through the lesser, woody-stemmed bushes that permeate the area. All the while, the sound of combat continues, louder and louder until finally the last foot is cut down, and a clearing in the forest is revealed.
Smoke fills the landscape, drifting off the charred corpses of sailors. It is entirely insufficient to mask the most striking feature of the scene before them, however. It is a ship, two-masted and once beautifully shaped. Now, it sits rent in two pieces, it's back broken upon the land. There is no sign how the vessel made its way so far inland, but the journey nearly destroyed it, and have driven the crew half-mad, as they fight desperately amoung themselves in the shadow of its ruin, and atop its splintered deck.
On a second glance, the scene becomes even stranger. The crew not driven mad, but instead posessed by some foul force that drives them onward. A flaming bolt strikes a sailor, only for the man to stand again, a hole where one side of his body had been. A black substance webs the empty space, pulling and pushing in the way of some alien muscles, contorting the dead sailor's body and forcing it onward. He falls upon the magician, tearing chunks out of flesh. All around are similar scenes, dead or half-dead sailors falling upon their crewmates with tooth and nail, hammer and sword, whatever can be used to snuff out the quickly dwindling fires of life that yet remain.
"Good heavens! That's disgusting!" Archibald exclaims and then looks around to the others for some idea of what they should do
Paladin - warforged - orange
Aluve looks upon the battle. His eyes narrow as he examines the madness. He had never seen such a thing. It was far beyond the knowledge of the wilds. "This looks like some serious magic.......I dont know if this is real.....or some kind of mystical illusion." He notices Archibald look towards the group as if looking for answers....something which Aluve could not provide. "I think getting involved in this may be a bad idea......." Aluve instructs the three crewmen to hide in the scrub whilst the party tries to figure this out.
Aluve turns his body away from the group and has a quick swig of the flask, trying his hardest to do so unnoticed.
Deception roll: 17 +1 = 18
He turns back around and tries to make sense of the scene.
Roll Arcana: 18 + 4 = 22
"But how did they get here? How did this happen? What if this fate will become us? I feel like we need to help the remaining survivors to see if we can garner any information from them" Branch pleads her case as she watches on in horror at the creatures on the ship fighting the remaining sailors. She shudders at the sight.
Fear grips Chatcho’s heart as he attempts to discern the number of surviving crew.
Perception: 8
Bramble's heart hammers in his chest as he heeds Branch's words. "Something's twisted these men into monsters! We have to help those still living."
With that, he nocks an arrow and fires it at the nearest monstrous sailor. Attack: 11 Damage: 5
"I'll stand with you Bramble! We need to do what we can!" and she also pulls out her short bow, aiming at the same creature.
Attack: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.