Heroes of Augera - campaign thread

Ghurr nods at Faera volunteering to be bait.

”Ghurr very good at being quiet in woods. Sit nearby and then forest spirits help Ghurr move instantly next to you when trouble.”

(Referring to misty step)

You judge there to be at least an hour of sunlight remaining, as grey as it is at this time of year. You had about two hours left while at the tavern and it hasn't been an hour yet since you left it. You remember that Tobias lives in a house close to the cliffs, which are about a quarter mile away from the town. Getting there should only take a matter of minutes if you choose to go.

Faera smiles up at the big bugbear, "Sounds like a plan, Ghurr."  she turns to the rest of the group, "Looks like we have time to visit Tobias, but I think I'd rather spend the rest of the daylight scoping out the area we hope to catch the creature in?"

Mala nods, "I agree Faera, we should find a likely spot to observe from. Tobias can wait."  She will suggest the group head out of town, preferably to areas in the general vicinity of where previous victims were found.  She looks for a good spot where the ground might have some cover and be able to see their surroundings. (Survival: 15)

Thurodim grunts and follows along, helping Mala to find a good spot to set a trap for the heartripping beast.
Survival: 18
When done he would hide and sit down and drink from his dwarven tankard, Skullcleaver by his side, waiting for the taloned killer to appear.
Stealth: 23 Perception: 9

Following what you remember being told of the locations of the killings, you head north out of town into the farmland between Soft's Rest and the woodland, where the more recent attacks took place. It's a very gentle slope downwards away from the cliffs. The winter wheat is at its most mature, and stands just under 4 feet tall. The harvest should be well underway by now, but you can see that it has barely started.

If you hunker down the wheat might hide you, but the land here is otherwise quite open, aside from a few low stone walls marking boundary lines. Those Survival rolls will tell you that this is not the place to hide from something that probably has the ability to fly - looking down into the wheat from above would remove any cover you would otherwise have at ground level. If you are going to have any chance at hiding from this thing, and ambushing it, you will have to go into the woodland to the north, where the first attacks took place. 

The treeline is not a sudden shift from farm to forest - it is gradual over about half a mile, growing steadily more dense, though it never reaches the density of some areas you are likely to have heard of - the Magnal Forest, the Ornost Silna, the Romien Woods. You follow a thin trail, presumably used by hunters and foresters, until you reach a spot that seems like it would work - enough of a clear open space for your bait to be seen, while the rest of you can hide beneath the cover of nearby trees. 

If you would like to hide beneath a tree, please let me know which one - up to 2 can hide beneath a single tree before any stealth rolls have to be made with disadvantage. If anyone wants to hide elsewhere, please describe it to me.

Everyone also please make Stealth and Perception checks (except Thurodim who has already made them).

The bait will presumably be somewhere in the location of the log across the path, which in actuality does not exist, I just liked the rest of the map too much, please ignore the log, it is not there. Or pretend that is it off to one side, either way, not blocking the path.

Faera enjoys scoping things out in the woods, here at the golden hour of the day what they are actually here doing does not put a damper on her spirits.  (I picture the log on the side of the path) Once everyone is situated with where they are going to hide, Faera takes her place as bait sitting on the log, sharpening her rapier.

She sends Oliver up to the top of tree #1, hoping to get a good vantage point view of anything before it makes the drop on her.

Faera's perception  11

Oliver's perception  23

Thurodim wants to stay close to the bait and thusly hides under the closest tree (Tree 1). There he hunkers down, drinking dwarven ale but still ready to swing Skullcleaver ready by his side. He makes sure to not be right beneath Oliver as he prefers not to be the target of any unfortunate droppings.

Ghurr runs his hands along the top of the stalks of wheat as they walk toward the forest, smiling at the feel of the grain against his hand. His smile widens more at the sight of the forest. While it's not nearly as thick and dense as the forests he played in as a small bugbear, it's still far more comforting to him than any city or town will ever be.

When Faera takes a seat on the broken log, Ghurr moves his way undercover to the bushes and trees to the north. He sticks a few twigs and leaves into his armor to try and make himself more tree like.

Stealth: 6  

Perception: 9  

After walking through the wheat field and into the forests, Mala takes a moment to check for any signs of tracks on the pathways. (Survival: 9)  She then takes up a positing hiding behind one of the trees. (9)

(Stealth: 10, Perception: 10)

“Far from me to discard any possibility this early on the investigations, but I think it more likely that someone is just taking some kind of inspiration on the death of Valleron on the time to choose some kind of signature for the killings.” He answered to Othri, hoping she was right. If tale and song about serial killers could be believed they liked to have a mark to identify their work. This one, Ilithir thought, may like local legends. Terrible as it could be the possibility was still far better than having to deal with an undead spellcaster.

He left with the rest of the group, dividing his attention between reading the notes given by the cleric and walking, trying to find some connection he missed on a first reading. His companions discussed if they were going to visit Tobias or just patrol the surroundings of the village.

“I am fine with whatever you guys decide, but I don’t think that having a back-liner as the bait would be the best of ideas.” He said glacing at Faera. “No offense.”

The elf insisted on reading time and again the piece of paper until they arrived at the farmland between Soft's Rest and the woodlands. In a whisper he asks guidance from the Seldarine and takes place under a tree, alert to the approach of any creature.  

Notes: Ilithir casts Guidance and hides under the tree 4

Stealth + Guidance: 21 + 4
Perception: 6

You all find your positions - out in the open, or hiding under trees, peering up through branches, awaiting any sign of your murderous, taloned creature.

Making your way here and establishing a position used up the last moments of the day, and as you wait the light begins to wane. The air chills, and a faint mist rises from the bracken-covered floor of the woods. 

You wait - an hour, two. It's dark now, and some of you have to squint in the dim moonlight to make out Faera's position. Staying so still, the cold creeps into your joints. Perhaps you shuffle a little, stamp your feet to keep the blood flowing.

You all feel a slight rumble, so faint that perhaps you imagined it. But for Ghurr and Mala, it grows stronger. The ground below your feet begins to shake, the sticks and stones under the tree bouncing like buttered corn in a hot pan, but not for long - with a spray of soil you both find yourself faced with a pair of huge hook-spiked claws, dripping pincer mandibles, and four beady, black soulless eyes, attached to a red-brown shell of an enormous insect, at least 8 feet tall. The explosion of dirt and the clacking, chittering sounds these monstrosities make from what must be their mouths alerts you all to their presence, so you all get to join in the...

Initiative:

23 - Mala
23 - Faera
19 - Ankheg A (by Ghurr)
19 - Ankheg B (by Mala)
12 - Thurodim
10 - Illithir
4 - Ghurr

Mala and Faera to go first!

Ghurr, despite expecting an attack ends up being caught off guard when the assailants come up from the ground below. That was unexpected. He finds himself examining the enormous insect when he should be drawing his sword.

Mala draws her two long knives, quickly preparing to attack. She first calls out, casting Hunter's Mark on the creature nearest to her. (Bonus Action) She then moves to the attack with one of her knives (Action - Attack).
(Shortsword Attack: 12 Damage: 16 piercing)
(Shortsword Attack: 17 Damage: 11 piercing)

If one of the attacks hit, she uses Favored Foe to mark the ankheg. (Additional damage: 2 piercing) 

With lightning reflexes, Mala draws her blades and attacks the giant insectoid that is bearing down on her.

Her first attack deflects harmlessly off the thing's carapace, but the second sticks deep between the overlapping plates of its shell, around where you imagine its neck might be. Its large front claws flail in the air, and it croaks out a weird rattling shriek.

As the creatures pop up from underground, she sees Mala attack as fast as it appears, but Ghurr stare in wonderment.  So she decides to help the bugbear out as much as she can.  She runs her 30' towards that giant insectoid and hurls a [Tooltip Not Found] at it.

Attack: 10 Damage: 8

(Firebolt, sorry!  not sure why that isn't working)

(The white gridlines are 5x5ft, so 30ft would actually put you on top of the ankheg. I'm assuming you don't want that... Given it's well within range of Fire Bolt, I can leave Faera where she is, or let me know where you'd prefer her to be.) (There are faint dark gridlines underneath the white ones, but I couldn't get it to line up, I'm working with the white grid.)

The creature by Ghurr recoils a little as the mote of flame sent by Faera blossomed on its side leaving a black scorchmark. It screeches, and lunges towards Ghurr, it's mandibles wide and dripping.

Bite: 18 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.

The creature by Mala writhes as she withdraws her blade, and instinctively tries to scratch at its wound with its legs. Then it faces Mala directly and, bracing itself on its four legs opens its mouth wide. Two glands on either side of its mouth spray forth a viscous black liquid. Mala manages to sidestep the worst of the spray, though it is unpredictable and some of it does land on her. (Mala rolls a 24 DEX save against DC 13 [Game log]). (Mala takes 6 acid dmg).