Ashton pulls up beside the elf. "Ok, so who is not allowing you to go further, the same person that told you to put all you could find in the cart? What exactly is in the cart?"
The elf looks at Ashton with a slightly distorted face as Ashton grabs him a bit harder at the arm and asks him the questions.
"Ouch ... The ... the other bandits. The ones that are in the band longer than me. And they told me to but everything in that cart and then go back to Palebank and wait for other instructions. ... Ouch! ... The cart was meant for us to deliver the stuff from Pelc's. I guess it is empty!"
Carina does not know how to properly skin and prepare the hare corpse (not proficient in Survival). She guesses that the Elmira, the ranger, might be best at such Survival skills and so turns to her. "Could you help a city girl like me with this hare? I've never foraged much in the wild before."
She lets out a throaty chuckle at the elf bandit's fearful words. "What do you mean as far as you'reallowed to go? Are you under the impression that you still work for Hulil Lutan? Think she's going to accept back and pay a turncoat with a missing hand like you? You know we can't leave you behind to run ahead and warn the others, so we'd have to tie you up, where you'd stay and freeze if we never come back. So I'm thinking you should lead on."
She turns to the others, having kept her voice low. "Any ideas on approach? Maybe something with the cart? Should we take it with us? Also, let us proceed carefully. There may be watchers hidden in the trees near the cart. I could try a Minor Illusion to draw them out?"
"You are not allowed to go to the cave? Do you know how many bandits are waiting for us there? You better answer my friend." Pandora is stunned. But that doesn't stop her from demonstratively playing with her dagger again. "This means to me that they are more professional than I assumed. Did you expected that? But maybe it's good for us. That could mean that their is only a small inner circle waiting for us in the cave." She looks questioningly at the rest of the group and back to the elf bandit, still waiting for his answer.
"Carina i like your idea. We can try Minor Illusion to check this cart and see if we can find other hints around it." she says.
"I hate to waste a spell if we don't need to. I will walk over with the prisoner to check the cart, you guys be ready to shoot arrows, or magic, or whatever to help me if anything happens."
Ashton pulls the elf up, not hard enough to hurt him, and leads him toward the wagon in the center of the clearing.
(@Carina - Tha elf is looking heavily nervous. It is not super clear to you if that is because he himself does not know what to expect or because he knows that something might happen, or because he is completely overwhelmed by the situation.
@Ashton - Regarding the map posted. Which way would you and the elf take towards the cart?
@Everyone - Where would you all like to position yourselves on the map as Ashton and the elf are walking towards the cart?)
On the words of the group, the elf is still visibly frightened and as Ashton grabs him and pulls him in the direction of the cart, he follows but seems absolutely not comfortable with the whole situation.
(I assume we came up the trail in the SW corner, so I would probably hug the treeline going west around the clearing until I got to about E12, then I would stop and look around. Perception: 20
Carina would love to circle around through the trees to the east so that they have the clearing surrounded. But she knows with her Scale Mail, she is not the stealthiest. So instead, she decides to follow Ashton and the prisoner, staying about 30' behind them, close enough to get to melee range.
Slowly and watching the environment closely, Ashton, Xerim and Carina, guarding the elf, start crossing the small path to the other side of the clearing. On the path, the cold wind hits the four of them a gain and the now better visible sky reveals some clouds again. All the time, the elf stays nervous and is clearly uncomfortable. The snow crunches soft and silently under the careful steps of the group before you reach the other side. Ashton and the elf are taking the lead again on the front of the small group and as they are about to step under the next tree (E29) Ashton suddenly grabs the shoulder of the elf and pulls him back hard...
"Watch out!" - Ashton shouts, as the elf lands backwards on his bottoms.
Ashton had stopped the elf one step before he would have stepped into a sling trap, almost perfectly hidden under the snow, that would probably have pulled the elf up a good way into the tree.
At the same Time carina notices a movement on another tree (C34). She looks inconspicuously up into the tree without moving her head to give the look away and glimpses an humanoid foot that stands on some kind of a platform, that is pretty good disguised as a part of the tree. Distracted by Ashtons shouting she looks towards Ashton and the elf before looking back up, without actually looking. Nothing had changed. The figure was clearly waiting.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Nathaniel 'Nate' Bishop - LVL 5 Illusionist Wizard - Homebrew Alicindra Campaign || Eli Watson - LVL 3 Artificer Alchemist - Rime of the Frost Maiden || Ameera - LVL 1 Cleric - Lost Mine of Phandelver || Cilla Morningsong - LVL 1 Bard - Forgotten Survivors || Eli 'Copperman' Watson - LVL 2 Artificer Armorer - Forgotten Vigilantes || Samuel 'Sam' Bishop - LVL 1 Conjuration Wizard - Descent into Avernus
Ashton has no idea about what Carina sees, but he turns slowly to inform her and Xerim that there is a trap in the tree at E29. He looks at the elf, "I guess you don't know much about the area do you? Lets be careful of this trap and keep moving north." Slowly, Ashton will start to move around the trap, now on guard against more traps.
Pandora was still thinking about Carina's idea with the minor illusion, when Ashton starts to move together with the bandit. Oh crap. Hope this goes well.
She looks at Elmira "I would suggest we wait here. I don't trust all of this. Let's watch the three of them. If they get into trouble, we'll be their backup."
The elf watches her other group members in the distance. She sees Ashton inspecting something on the ground. A trap, perhaps? Her gaze wanders to Carina. She stands there without moving. Why doesn't she react to Ashton's trap? Does she see something different? "Oh i don't like this at all. Be attentive Elmira." Pandora sneaks to the tree (i36) right next to her to get a better look at the scene.
Carina casts the Minor Illusion cantrip, gesturing and touching her harmonica and holding a tiny wisp of fleece.
Specifically one of more branches and leaves and pine cones (if the trees are confiers), naturally where they would be if the tree's canopy were thicker just under the platform. Blocking the humanoid's direct downward view so they cannot see Carina for several seconds.
During this time, she touches Xerim's shoulder and silently gestures furiously at all of her companions, to the extent they are looking in her direction (which Elmira and Pandora may be), pointing up at the platform and mouthing the word "Sentry". She makes a motion like drawing and shooting a bow to ask help bringing them down from Elmira. IF it looks like the others see her, she counts down the attack on her fingers, ready to fire an Eldritch Blast, 3... 2... 1...
(If they don't see her gestures or seem to understand, she holds off, but maintains the Minor Illusion and the gesturing upward.)
Elmira watches Carina and looks over to Pandora, "Do you think she's doing a shadow puppet show?"
(Elmira got a 1+6 on her perception check... :) )
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
"No Elmira. I don't think she is doing a shadow puppet show. To be honest, I don't think Carina is a funny person. She is good at what she does though. Something seems to be wrong but I can't say exactly what." Pandora looks tensely in Elmira's direction.
That's the best Carina can do while still trying to preserve surprise. She is going to surprise attack the sentry from behind cover of he Minor Illusion. Giving her advantage because she is unseen? Hoping Xerim joins in as well. If only I knew the Message cantrip...
Ashton pulls up beside the elf. "Ok, so who is not allowing you to go further, the same person that told you to put all you could find in the cart? What exactly is in the cart?"
The elf looks at Ashton with a slightly distorted face as Ashton grabs him a bit harder at the arm and asks him the questions.
"Ouch ... The ... the other bandits. The ones that are in the band longer than me. And they told me to but everything in that cart and then go back to Palebank and wait for other instructions. ... Ouch! ... The cart was meant for us to deliver the stuff from Pelc's. I guess it is empty!"
Nathaniel 'Nate' Bishop - LVL 5 Illusionist Wizard - Homebrew Alicindra Campaign || Eli Watson - LVL 3 Artificer Alchemist - Rime of the Frost Maiden || Ameera - LVL 1 Cleric - Lost Mine of Phandelver || Cilla Morningsong - LVL 1 Bard - Forgotten Survivors || Eli 'Copperman' Watson - LVL 2 Artificer Armorer - Forgotten Vigilantes || Samuel 'Sam' Bishop - LVL 1 Conjuration Wizard - Descent into Avernus
Carina does not know how to properly skin and prepare the hare corpse (not proficient in Survival). She guesses that the Elmira, the ranger, might be best at such Survival skills and so turns to her. "Could you help a city girl like me with this hare? I've never foraged much in the wild before."
She lets out a throaty chuckle at the elf bandit's fearful words. "What do you mean as far as you're allowed to go? Are you under the impression that you still work for Hulil Lutan? Think she's going to accept back and pay a turncoat with a missing hand like you? You know we can't leave you behind to run ahead and warn the others, so we'd have to tie you up, where you'd stay and freeze if we never come back. So I'm thinking you should lead on."
She turns to the others, having kept her voice low. "Any ideas on approach? Maybe something with the cart? Should we take it with us? Also, let us proceed carefully. There may be watchers hidden in the trees near the cart. I could try a Minor Illusion to draw them out?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"You are not allowed to go to the cave? Do you know how many bandits are waiting for us there? You better answer my friend." Pandora is stunned. But that doesn't stop her from demonstratively playing with her dagger again. "This means to me that they are more professional than I assumed. Did you expected that? But maybe it's good for us. That could mean that their is only a small inner circle waiting for us in the cave." She looks questioningly at the rest of the group and back to the elf bandit, still waiting for his answer.
"Carina i like your idea. We can try Minor Illusion to check this cart and see if we can find other hints around it." she says.
"I hate to waste a spell if we don't need to. I will walk over with the prisoner to check the cart, you guys be ready to shoot arrows, or magic, or whatever to help me if anything happens."
Ashton pulls the elf up, not hard enough to hurt him, and leads him toward the wagon in the center of the clearing.
Carina shakes her head. "No wait, Minor Illusion is not wasting a spell. It is a cantrip, meaning I can cast it at will and..."
But Ashton is already heading towards the cart with the prisoner.
Carina takes cover in the trees and prepares to cover Ashton with her Eldritch Blast.
She also attempts to Insight the prisoner's actions - 11 - does it look like he is signaling to anyone or expecting to be attacked?
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
(@Carina - Tha elf is looking heavily nervous. It is not super clear to you if that is because he himself does not know what to expect or because he knows that something might happen, or because he is completely overwhelmed by the situation.
@Ashton - Regarding the map posted. Which way would you and the elf take towards the cart?
@Everyone - Where would you all like to position yourselves on the map as Ashton and the elf are walking towards the cart?)
On the words of the group, the elf is still visibly frightened and as Ashton grabs him and pulls him in the direction of the cart, he follows but seems absolutely not comfortable with the whole situation.
Nathaniel 'Nate' Bishop - LVL 5 Illusionist Wizard - Homebrew Alicindra Campaign || Eli Watson - LVL 3 Artificer Alchemist - Rime of the Frost Maiden || Ameera - LVL 1 Cleric - Lost Mine of Phandelver || Cilla Morningsong - LVL 1 Bard - Forgotten Survivors || Eli 'Copperman' Watson - LVL 2 Artificer Armorer - Forgotten Vigilantes || Samuel 'Sam' Bishop - LVL 1 Conjuration Wizard - Descent into Avernus
(I assume we came up the trail in the SW corner, so I would probably hug the treeline going west around the clearing until I got to about E12, then I would stop and look around. Perception: 20
Carina would love to circle around through the trees to the east so that they have the clearing surrounded. But she knows with her Scale Mail, she is not the stealthiest. So instead, she decides to follow Ashton and the prisoner, staying about 30' behind them, close enough to get to melee range.
Perception: 21
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Would Pandora and Elmira wait?
Where should I move Xerim? (You all can decide)
@Carina and @Ashton: So basically like this?
And you cane from the woods in the south east, not from the road. That was the quicker way.
Nathaniel 'Nate' Bishop - LVL 5 Illusionist Wizard - Homebrew Alicindra Campaign || Eli Watson - LVL 3 Artificer Alchemist - Rime of the Frost Maiden || Ameera - LVL 1 Cleric - Lost Mine of Phandelver || Cilla Morningsong - LVL 1 Bard - Forgotten Survivors || Eli 'Copperman' Watson - LVL 2 Artificer Armorer - Forgotten Vigilantes || Samuel 'Sam' Bishop - LVL 1 Conjuration Wizard - Descent into Avernus
Slowly and watching the environment closely, Ashton, Xerim and Carina, guarding the elf, start crossing the small path to the other side of the clearing. On the path, the cold wind hits the four of them a gain and the now better visible sky reveals some clouds again. All the time, the elf stays nervous and is clearly uncomfortable. The snow crunches soft and silently under the careful steps of the group before you reach the other side. Ashton and the elf are taking the lead again on the front of the small group and as they are about to step under the next tree (E29) Ashton suddenly grabs the shoulder of the elf and pulls him back hard...
"Watch out!" - Ashton shouts, as the elf lands backwards on his bottoms.
Ashton had stopped the elf one step before he would have stepped into a sling trap, almost perfectly hidden under the snow, that would probably have pulled the elf up a good way into the tree.
At the same Time carina notices a movement on another tree (C34). She looks inconspicuously up into the tree without moving her head to give the look away and glimpses an humanoid foot that stands on some kind of a platform, that is pretty good disguised as a part of the tree. Distracted by Ashtons shouting she looks towards Ashton and the elf before looking back up, without actually looking. Nothing had changed. The figure was clearly waiting.
Nathaniel 'Nate' Bishop - LVL 5 Illusionist Wizard - Homebrew Alicindra Campaign || Eli Watson - LVL 3 Artificer Alchemist - Rime of the Frost Maiden || Ameera - LVL 1 Cleric - Lost Mine of Phandelver || Cilla Morningsong - LVL 1 Bard - Forgotten Survivors || Eli 'Copperman' Watson - LVL 2 Artificer Armorer - Forgotten Vigilantes || Samuel 'Sam' Bishop - LVL 1 Conjuration Wizard - Descent into Avernus
Ashton has no idea about what Carina sees, but he turns slowly to inform her and Xerim that there is a trap in the tree at E29. He looks at the elf, "I guess you don't know much about the area do you? Lets be careful of this trap and keep moving north." Slowly, Ashton will start to move around the trap, now on guard against more traps.
Pandora was still thinking about Carina's idea with the minor illusion, when Ashton starts to move together with the bandit. Oh crap. Hope this goes well.
She looks at Elmira "I would suggest we wait here. I don't trust all of this. Let's watch the three of them. If they get into trouble, we'll be their backup."
The elf watches her other group members in the distance. She sees Ashton inspecting something on the ground. A trap, perhaps? Her gaze wanders to Carina. She stands there without moving. Why doesn't she react to Ashton's trap? Does she see something different? "Oh i don't like this at all. Be attentive Elmira." Pandora sneaks to the tree (i36) right next to her to get a better look at the scene.
Carina casts the Minor Illusion cantrip, gesturing and touching her harmonica and holding a tiny wisp of fleece.
Specifically one of more branches and leaves and pine cones (if the trees are confiers), naturally where they would be if the tree's canopy were thicker just under the platform. Blocking the humanoid's direct downward view so they cannot see Carina for several seconds.
During this time, she touches Xerim's shoulder and silently gestures furiously at all of her companions, to the extent they are looking in her direction (which Elmira and Pandora may be), pointing up at the platform and mouthing the word "Sentry". She makes a motion like drawing and shooting a bow to ask help bringing them down from Elmira. IF it looks like the others see her, she counts down the attack on her fingers, ready to fire an Eldritch Blast, 3... 2... 1...
(If they don't see her gestures or seem to understand, she holds off, but maintains the Minor Illusion and the gesturing upward.)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
(OOC: Please everyone, make a perception check to decide if you get the meaning behind Carina's gestures.
@Carina, make a performance check.
The DC for everyone else to get what Carina means is 25 - Carina's Performance Check.
Xermin got a 18)
Nathaniel 'Nate' Bishop - LVL 5 Illusionist Wizard - Homebrew Alicindra Campaign || Eli Watson - LVL 3 Artificer Alchemist - Rime of the Frost Maiden || Ameera - LVL 1 Cleric - Lost Mine of Phandelver || Cilla Morningsong - LVL 1 Bard - Forgotten Survivors || Eli 'Copperman' Watson - LVL 2 Artificer Armorer - Forgotten Vigilantes || Samuel 'Sam' Bishop - LVL 1 Conjuration Wizard - Descent into Avernus
Elmira watches Carina and looks over to Pandora, "Do you think she's doing a shadow puppet show?"
(Elmira got a 1+6 on her perception check... :) )
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Ashton perception: 11
Carina Performance: 11 (sigh, rolled 7 + 4, guess she should stick to the harmonica).
(So Perception DC is 14)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"No Elmira. I don't think she is doing a shadow puppet show. To be honest, I don't think Carina is a funny person. She is good at what she does though. Something seems to be wrong but I can't say exactly what." Pandora looks tensely in Elmira's direction.
Perception: 13
That's the best Carina can do while still trying to preserve surprise. She is going to surprise attack the sentry from behind cover of he Minor Illusion. Giving her advantage because she is unseen? Hoping Xerim joins in as well. If only I knew the Message cantrip...
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk