Walt recognizes them as tut-krogh caterpillars. They have particular mystical prominence in Siabsungkoh, and are believed to be messengers of the spirits. They spin stunning iridescent silk before they transform into tea-moths. The caterpillars are neither smart nor fast nor aggressive, but they can see in the dark and can be dextrous when they need to be.
Madam Kulp's challenge is simple: descend the ladder and bring back four caterpillars within 1 minute. Any number of characters may participate, and they may use magical assistance as long as the caterpillars aren’t harmed—Madam Kulp is adamant about the caterpillars’ safety.
Tuuli looks affronted. “I would never harm these little guys. One minute, huh? Is it dark down there? Do they like music?”
As she swings it around you notice for the first time that what you took for a bag slung crosswise across her back is actually a… bag, but with pipes coming out of it. She puts a small pipe in her mouth and blows into it, inflating the bag just a little, then she tucks it under her arm and squeezes, her fingers trilling a few notes out from the other pipes as the air escapes.
(Yes, Tuuli has bagpipes.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
“Ah, yes! I do believe I’ve heard tale of wonderful creatures like these. Quite special indeed!.”
”We would never be so careless to mistreat or harm them. I promise you.
Walt approaches Tuuli and whispers to her, “very good question about the lighting situation. These caterpillars can see in the dark and they can be quite tricky to capture.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Madam Kulp hops up and opens a trapdoor at the center of the tent. A ladder descends into a dark, messy room full of boxes and furniture. She explains that below are a series of rooms where several tut-krogh caterpillars are hiding. Your challenge is to bring back four caterpillars within one minute. The room below looks dimly lit - there doesn't appear to be any light sources in the room below; only the sweet smell of spices.
Madam Kulp responds to Tuuli's question obliquely: "I guess you'll soon find out!"
She smiles at Rycroft and gestures invitingly toward the trap door.
----
Meanwhile, Calista is outside Sid Squid's tent deciding whether to join their upcoming game, "Battle Prawns: The Shrimpening". They're looking for a total of four contestants from the crowd to attempt their shrimp cake cooking challenge; a pair of halfling brothers nearby appear to be tempted. (Shall she play?)
---
(Would Knicknack and Datari like to play a game? Or would they prefer to investigate or keep an eye on the crowd?)
”There is no darkness butignorance.” He grabs a torch and tinderbox from his pack, and climbs down as soon as he is allowed, remaining as quiet as possible.
(I’m assuming the animals are completely new to him, do they make any noise?)
Knicknack sidles up to Calista and sniffs the ingredients. "This would be fun. I'll be on your team, if you want to try, but I want to try the Hide-&-Seek challenge first. Those worms are sneaky."
With that, the young earth genasi will trot over to the Hide-&-Seek challenge. She will follow Rycroft's lead and make sure her candle and tinderbox are easily accessible in her pack. When the time comes, she descends into the dark room beneath.
Rycroft, Walt, Tuuli, Knicknack (and anyone else who joins them at the last minute) descend the ladder into a dimly lit room smelling of dust and sweet spices. A small lantern sheds dim light. Musty furniture and crates are strewn about the space. A door leads north.
Madam Kulp pulls out a golden watch and shouts down, “Ready? Go!”
Roll initiative!
On your turn, you may spend your action to make an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check to look (or listen, or feel) for caterpillars. Without better light, they will be made at disadvantage for now in this room.
(Meanwhile, Calista continues to consider the cooking challenge from afar. Is she prepared to join in? Does Datari want to join her? Or do they want to join the Hide & Seek Challenge? Or wait this round out?)
Calista smiles at Knicknack and decides to follow her to the hide-and-seek challenge. "Let's play! I can do the cooking challenge after this," she says with a smile.
Everyone may act. (A note on initiative in Play-by-Post games: I reserve the right to sometimes resolve your turns in chronological rather than initiative order. So you don't always have to wait until it's "your turn" to post. And feel free to make an if...then... statement if you need to.)
Remember: • You can determine whether there is a caterpillar in a room by spending an action and succeeding on an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check. The light is currently dim here in this room, so that would be made at disadvantage until somebody provides more light. • You may use magical assistance as long as the caterpillars aren’t harmed.
Tuuli slides down the ladder and lands light on her feet. She steps carefully away, glancing about for caterpillars. When Madam Kulp gives the word, Tuuli moves carefully towards the door (so as not to step on any caterpillars in the semi-dark).
Move: to the door Perception (at Disadvantage for dim light): 9
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Walt slowly steps down the ladder and watches Tuuli wall carefully towards the door. He pauses briefly to let his eyes adjust, and then walks ever so slowly over to the spot to the left of the table on the bottom left of the map. As he walks he drags his feet trying not to squish a caterpillar.
Move: from Walt’s icon, moves 4 squares left and 1 square down. Perception check with disadvantage: 2
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Tuuli moves to the door. It's old and rickety, and fits only loosely in its frame. You can push it open with just a light touch. Her eyes adjusting to the dim light, Tuuli can't determine what's exactly in this room.
Walt makes his way to the wall by the dusty table. Scanning the chamber carefully (with a 914) Walt feels confident there are no caterpillars in this room.
(While technically a "Tiny" creature, the caterpillars are fully kitten-sized, so you're unlikely to step on one as long as there's some light.)
Rycroft, Calista, and Knicknack are up next!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Walt recognizes them as tut-krogh caterpillars. They have particular mystical prominence in Siabsungkoh, and are believed to be messengers of the spirits. They spin stunning iridescent silk before they transform into tea-moths. The caterpillars are neither smart nor fast nor aggressive, but they can see in the dark and can be dextrous when they need to be.
Madam Kulp's challenge is simple: descend the ladder and bring back four caterpillars within 1 minute. Any number of characters may participate, and they may use magical assistance as long as the caterpillars aren’t harmed—Madam Kulp is adamant about the caterpillars’ safety.
Tuuli looks affronted. “I would never harm these little guys. One minute, huh? Is it dark down there? Do they like music?”
As she swings it around you notice for the first time that what you took for a bag slung crosswise across her back is actually a… bag, but with pipes coming out of it. She puts a small pipe in her mouth and blows into it, inflating the bag just a little, then she tucks it under her arm and squeezes, her fingers trilling a few notes out from the other pipes as the air escapes.
(Yes, Tuuli has bagpipes.)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
“Ah, yes! I do believe I’ve heard tale of wonderful creatures like these. Quite special indeed!.”
”We would never be so careless to mistreat or harm them. I promise you.
Walt approaches Tuuli and whispers to her, “very good question about the lighting situation. These caterpillars can see in the dark and they can be quite tricky to capture.”
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Madam Kulp hops up and opens a trapdoor at the center of the tent. A ladder descends into a dark, messy room full of boxes and furniture. She explains that below are a series of rooms where several tut-krogh caterpillars are hiding. Your challenge is to bring back four caterpillars within one minute. The room below looks dimly lit - there doesn't appear to be any light sources in the room below; only the sweet smell of spices.
Madam Kulp responds to Tuuli's question obliquely: "I guess you'll soon find out!"
She smiles at Rycroft and gestures invitingly toward the trap door.
----
Meanwhile, Calista is outside Sid Squid's tent deciding whether to join their upcoming game, "Battle Prawns: The Shrimpening". They're looking for a total of four contestants from the crowd to attempt their shrimp cake cooking challenge; a pair of halfling brothers nearby appear to be tempted. (Shall she play?)
---
(Would Knicknack and Datari like to play a game? Or would they prefer to investigate or keep an eye on the crowd?)
Is the caterpillar game a solo thing, or do we go as a team?
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
(It's a team effort. The whole team wins or the whole team loses. It's not competitive - the group is trying to beat the clock.)
Rycroft
”There is no darkness but ignorance.” He grabs a torch and tinderbox from his pack, and climbs down as soon as he is allowed, remaining as quiet as possible.
(I’m assuming the animals are completely new to him, do they make any noise?)
Knicknack sidles up to Calista and sniffs the ingredients. "This would be fun. I'll be on your team, if you want to try, but I want to try the Hide-&-Seek challenge first. Those worms are sneaky."
With that, the young earth genasi will trot over to the Hide-&-Seek challenge. She will follow Rycroft's lead and make sure her candle and tinderbox are easily accessible in her pack. When the time comes, she descends into the dark room beneath.
Hide & Seek Challenge:
Rycroft, Walt, Tuuli, Knicknack (and anyone else who joins them at the last minute) descend the ladder into a dimly lit room smelling of dust and sweet spices. A small lantern sheds dim light. Musty furniture and crates are strewn about the space. A door leads north.
Madam Kulp pulls out a golden watch and shouts down, “Ready? Go!”

Roll initiative!
On your turn, you may spend your action to make an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check to look (or listen, or feel) for caterpillars. Without better light, they will be made at disadvantage for now in this room.
(Meanwhile, Calista continues to consider the cooking challenge from afar. Is she prepared to join in? Does Datari want to join her? Or do they want to join the Hide & Seek Challenge? Or wait this round out?)
Knicknack's Initiative: 4
Tuuli rolled a 16 on Discord for initiative.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Rycroft initiative: 23
Calista Initiative: 8
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Calista smiles at Knicknack and decides to follow her to the hide-and-seek challenge. "Let's play! I can do the cooking challenge after this," she says with a smile.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Initiative:

Rycroft: 23
Tuuli: 16
Calista: 8
Knicknack: 4
Walt: 9
Tut-krogh caterpillars: 3
(Datari may join in, too, if he wants!)
Everyone may act. (A note on initiative in Play-by-Post games: I reserve the right to sometimes resolve your turns in chronological rather than initiative order. So you don't always have to wait until it's "your turn" to post. And feel free to make an if...then... statement if you need to.)
Remember:
• You can determine whether there is a caterpillar in a room by spending an action and succeeding on an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check. The light is currently dim here in this room, so that would be made at disadvantage until somebody provides more light.
• You may use magical assistance as long as the caterpillars aren’t harmed.
Tuuli slides down the ladder and lands light on her feet. She steps carefully away, glancing about for caterpillars. When Madam Kulp gives the word, Tuuli moves carefully towards the door (so as not to step on any caterpillars in the semi-dark).
Move: to the door
Perception (at Disadvantage for dim light): 9
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Walt slowly steps down the ladder and watches Tuuli wall carefully towards the door. He pauses briefly to let his eyes adjust, and then walks ever so slowly over to the spot to the left of the table on the bottom left of the map. As he walks he drags his feet trying not to squish a caterpillar.
Move: from Walt’s icon, moves 4 squares left and 1 square down.
Perception check with disadvantage: 2
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Tuuli moves to the door. It's old and rickety, and fits only loosely in its frame. You can push it open with just a light touch. Her eyes adjusting to the dim light, Tuuli can't determine what's exactly in this room.
Walt makes his way to the wall by the dusty table. Scanning the chamber carefully (with a
914) Walt feels confident there are no caterpillars in this room.(While technically a "Tiny" creature, the caterpillars are fully kitten-sized, so you're unlikely to step on one as long as there's some light.)
Rycroft, Calista, and Knicknack are up next!