(OOC: Sorry I didn't post yesterday, had some dental work yesterday, didn't know it would hurt as much as it did.. lol, ended up on meds and in bed all day.)
Ashton Perception: 21 (guessing he can see where it came from)
Seeing that he cannot save the bandit, Ashton will stand and run toward cover from the arrow shouting. "The bandit is dead, but they missed me on purpose."
Ashton was taken by surprise as the first arrow hit the elf, but the second one was so close that he actually could roughly estimate the position where this arrow had came from. To dodge further attacks he backs up to a nearby tree, knowing that he is now in between the shooter and the possible sentry, but at least the sentry had not shoot anything yet.
Meanwhile Carina marvels about the motives of the shooter, but all she can deduct is, that indeed someone wanted to prevent the elf from talking. However, if the shooter had such a good position and could shoot the elf into the throat from a distance, why not taking out Ashton then with the first shot and the elf with the second one? Maybe a matter of thieves honor? Killing the traitor first? But that did not seem to make sense here, since - assuming Pandora and Elmira are hidden - herself, Xerim and Ashton would outnumber the shooter and the sentry. So they should have tried to bring the elf back into their group instead...
(The red area is where Ashton thinks the arrow came from)
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
Carina thinks out loud, trying to reason out the situation.
"So we have shy assassins, who killed the bandit but left us alone, and who do not wish to speak with us or even acknowledge that I noticed them and the platform. They can see us but we cannot see them. Shall we proceed through the trees clockwise or counterclockwise? Keeping cover and looking for traps such as the one Ashton found. Perhaps they will leave us alone if we leave them alone. Any other ideas?"
Pandora sees Ashton sprint back to the trees. Okay screw it. She literally takes her legs in her hands and runs over to Carina and Xerim (C35).The elf places itself under the platform so that it cannot be seen. (Mask of the wild) "Pssst Carina, what's going on here?" she asks the warlock quietly.
A very good question, Carina thinks as Pandora asks her what in the world is happening here in this bit of snowy wasteland. Carina truly cannot say.
"We seem to have multiple shy hidden, assassins in the canopy, at least one on a platform, who for now have chosen not to attack us, nor speak with us, but did not hesitate to slay the elven bandit. It could be they are the bandits themselves. But then why would they have attacked Ashton?"
She taps her finger on her lips. "I suggest we leave the cart and proceed around the outskirts of the clearing, covered by the trees and looking for arrows to dodge. Heading towards the cave path which I think is to the northeast? Looking for traps as well. Clockwise, perhaps?"
Pandora nods while she listen to Carinas suggestions. After a moment of silence she asks "Are you sure we should leave our position while there is a assassins right above us? I don't like that thought." She rubs her forehead thoughtfully. "On the other hand, we are otherwise stuck here. Moving on might be the best option." she says.
"I think if the assassins wished to slay us, they could have easily targeted Ashton just now, and they did not. We should keep the cover of the tree line and circle around the outside of the clearing to get to the northeast path to Croaker's Cave. Either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Someone choose. And watch out for more traps! Unless someone has a better idea? Otherwise, let us move now before they change their minds."
"Ok. Clockwise sounds good." says Pandora and starts moving. Quietly, she puts one foot in front of the other until she reaches the next tree, where she takes cover. (D29)
Carina continues to dodge and moves due north along the tree-line at the western edge of the clearing, giving Xerim a nudge to continue as well and beckoning Elmira to come along as well. Moving to where Ashton is and past, skirting the trap that he had found (and pointing it out to Elmira).
"Clockwise around the edge of he clearing it is, keeping cover under the trees. Keep your eyes open for traps or if the lurkers decide to attack."
I suppose I am glad, for now at least, that I chose not to attack the hidden lurker's platform in the trees. We will see if they hold their peace.
I hope it is okay that I pulled Elmira with the rest of the group now
Ashton is on his way back to the group as Carina signals him to proceed further clock-wise around the clearing but behind the trees. (Hope this is okay Ashton) The rest of the group slowly sneaks along the same path and it is Pandora who spots another trap on a nearby tree and warns the others before they can walk into it. (Trap on C23).
As the group has almost reached the northern side of the clearing, Carina stops them and points at a certain point in front of them. At first it looks like another small snow hill to the rest of the group but then they see the frozen arm and parts of the boots of what must be a corpse, that is hidden under the snow. (F5)
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
"Looks like they have a suprise for us." Pandora nods in the direction of the corpse. "I really like to check this." so the elf runs to the next tree and hides (D4).
Carina whispers, half to herself, half in response to Ashton: "I too do not understand the hidden ones' motivations. But thus far, they seem to just have only had it in for the bandit. I don't even know what they are - I only saw one's foot. Let us hope they continue to ignore us."
She continues cautiously around the tree-line to the tree next to the corpse, squinting at it as Pandora is. Is it another bandit, slain like our captive?
"I like the idea, Pandora, though it is merely a still image and may only briefly fool them, if at all. But let me try."
Carina casts a Minor Illusion of Pandora standing in the snow beside the corpse, hunched over to examine it. On the tree side of the corpse, so she (the illusion) might plausibly have emerged from just behind the tree to the north.
"Okay let's do it quick and dirt." Pandora nods to Carina. The elf sprints to the body, drops to her knees and starts examining it. She tries to kneel down so that she is covered by the body (Mask of the wild).
The illusion seems to work, as no arrow comes flying in Pandora's direction while she examines the body a bit closer.
As she brushes away some snow from the corpse she realizes, that this must have been a dwarf, when he was alive. The parts of cloth she can see, do not match with any of the cloth from the bandits. They are way too colorful. Sadly, the corpse seems to be frozen here to the ground for a while, so Pandora is not able to roll it over, but she can clearly see a huge open wound, ranging from the neck over the shoulder of this poor dwarf. Together with some nasty wounds in most of the soft tissue of the face, it looks quite like wounds inflicted by some wild animals. However, Pandora is not sure if these wounds were the cause of death or if they were inflicted after the dwarf was already lying dead in the snow.
She is just about to turn around to Carina as suddenly multiple piles of snow raise from the ground nearby with some deep and roaring screams. The whole group watches as a pack of bandits pushes away the snow from their coats and jackets, holding weapons ready in their hands.
"NOTHING about a well timed ambush!" - Shouts the biggest of them that is close to the wagon.
The group finds itself surrounded by the strange people that have just emerged from the snow and as if to confirm, that they also belong to them, two arrows suddenly hit the snow right before Asthon's and Xerim's feet, coming from the trees with a now visible sentry to the north. From the south, you see the sentry, that carina already spotted in the beginning, now jumping down the tree and running into position to aim at you.
"Well! Well! - Before we take everything from you!" - The big one shouts again and points at the dead bandit - "What have you folks todo with this traitor? You aren't the ones that were sent with him! Speak up! It might be the last things you say, so choose your words wisely."
Pandora and Carina perceive, that the bandit standing closest to Pandora is holding its weapon into the direction of the illusion instead of Pandora, while Pandora herself is half covered in the snow that just fell off of the bandits coat, so that she - with some luck - is currently hidden from the sight of the bandits.
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
"Please! There's no need for that. The Glassblades caught your former companion and we just convinced them to let him lead us here because, um... we have found the cure to the disease that Hulil Lutan has been looking for. But you... you... killed him! Please don't uh... hurt us!"
Carina tries to behave frightened, helpless and pleading as she strides up to the bandit leader, but even she doesn't believe her own act. First, I am holding my warhammer in a clearly ready position. Second, why would we, already having the cure, risk ourselves just to bring it to Hulil Lutan?
(OOC: Sorry I didn't post yesterday, had some dental work yesterday, didn't know it would hurt as much as it did.. lol, ended up on meds and in bed all day.)
Ashton Perception: 21 (guessing he can see where it came from)
Seeing that he cannot save the bandit, Ashton will stand and run toward cover from the arrow shouting. "The bandit is dead, but they missed me on purpose."
Ashton was taken by surprise as the first arrow hit the elf, but the second one was so close that he actually could roughly estimate the position where this arrow had came from. To dodge further attacks he backs up to a nearby tree, knowing that he is now in between the shooter and the possible sentry, but at least the sentry had not shoot anything yet.
Meanwhile Carina marvels about the motives of the shooter, but all she can deduct is, that indeed someone wanted to prevent the elf from talking. However, if the shooter had such a good position and could shoot the elf into the throat from a distance, why not taking out Ashton then with the first shot and the elf with the second one? Maybe a matter of thieves honor? Killing the traitor first? But that did not seem to make sense here, since - assuming Pandora and Elmira are hidden - herself, Xerim and Ashton would outnumber the shooter and the sentry. So they should have tried to bring the elf back into their group instead...
(The red area is where Ashton thinks the arrow came from)
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
Somebody is a good shot..
Carina thinks out loud, trying to reason out the situation.
"So we have shy assassins, who killed the bandit but left us alone, and who do not wish to speak with us or even acknowledge that I noticed them and the platform. They can see us but we cannot see them. Shall we proceed through the trees clockwise or counterclockwise? Keeping cover and looking for traps such as the one Ashton found. Perhaps they will leave us alone if we leave them alone. Any other ideas?"
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
Pandora sees Ashton sprint back to the trees. Okay screw it. She literally takes her legs in her hands and runs over to Carina and Xerim (C35). The elf places itself under the platform so that it cannot be seen. (Mask of the wild) "Pssst Carina, what's going on here?" she asks the warlock quietly.
A very good question, Carina thinks as Pandora asks her what in the world is happening here in this bit of snowy wasteland. Carina truly cannot say.
"We seem to have multiple shy hidden, assassins in the canopy, at least one on a platform, who for now have chosen not to attack us, nor speak with us, but did not hesitate to slay the elven bandit. It could be they are the bandits themselves. But then why would they have attacked Ashton?"
She taps her finger on her lips. "I suggest we leave the cart and proceed around the outskirts of the clearing, covered by the trees and looking for arrows to dodge. Heading towards the cave path which I think is to the northeast? Looking for traps as well. Clockwise, perhaps?"
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
Pandora nods while she listen to Carinas suggestions. After a moment of silence she asks "Are you sure we should leave our position while there is a assassins right above us? I don't like that thought." She rubs her forehead thoughtfully. "On the other hand, we are otherwise stuck here. Moving on might be the best option." she says.
Ashton, staying in hiding, will try to get back to his companions.
Carina pitches her voice low to the group:
"I think if the assassins wished to slay us, they could have easily targeted Ashton just now, and they did not. We should keep the cover of the tree line and circle around the outside of the clearing to get to the northeast path to Croaker's Cave. Either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Someone choose. And watch out for more traps! Unless someone has a better idea? Otherwise, let us move now before they change their minds."
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
"Ok. Clockwise sounds good." says Pandora and starts moving. Quietly, she puts one foot in front of the other until she reaches the next tree, where she takes cover. (D29)
Perception: 18
Carina continues to dodge and moves due north along the tree-line at the western edge of the clearing, giving Xerim a nudge to continue as well and beckoning Elmira to come along as well. Moving to where Ashton is and past, skirting the trap that he had found (and pointing it out to Elmira).
"Clockwise around the edge of he clearing it is, keeping cover under the trees. Keep your eyes open for traps or if the lurkers decide to attack."
I suppose I am glad, for now at least, that I chose not to attack the hidden lurker's platform in the trees. We will see if they hold their peace.
Perception: 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
I hope it is okay that I pulled Elmira with the rest of the group now
Ashton is on his way back to the group as Carina signals him to proceed further clock-wise around the clearing but behind the trees. (Hope this is okay Ashton) The rest of the group slowly sneaks along the same path and it is Pandora who spots another trap on a nearby tree and warns the others before they can walk into it. (Trap on C23).
As the group has almost reached the northern side of the clearing, Carina stops them and points at a certain point in front of them. At first it looks like another small snow hill to the rest of the group but then they see the frozen arm and parts of the boots of what must be a corpse, that is hidden under the snow. (F5)
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
"We're not far from where the arrow came from" Ashton points out where it was. "Why are they not attacking us?"
"Looks like they have a suprise for us." Pandora nods in the direction of the corpse. "I really like to check this." so the elf runs to the next tree and hides (D4).
Perception: 7
Carina whispers, half to herself, half in response to Ashton: "I too do not understand the hidden ones' motivations. But thus far, they seem to just have only had it in for the bandit. I don't even know what they are - I only saw one's foot. Let us hope they continue to ignore us."
She continues cautiously around the tree-line to the tree next to the corpse, squinting at it as Pandora is. Is it another bandit, slain like our captive?
Perception: 18
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
Pandora asks Carina "Should we dare? Maybe you can cast Minor Illusion?"
"I like the idea, Pandora, though it is merely a still image and may only briefly fool them, if at all. But let me try."
Carina casts a Minor Illusion of Pandora standing in the snow beside the corpse, hunched over to examine it. On the tree side of the corpse, so she (the illusion) might plausibly have emerged from just behind the tree to the north.
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
"Okay let's do it quick and dirt." Pandora nods to Carina. The elf sprints to the body, drops to her knees and starts examining it. She tries to kneel down so that she is covered by the body (Mask of the wild).
Perception: (19 + 2 Proficiency) 21
The illusion seems to work, as no arrow comes flying in Pandora's direction while she examines the body a bit closer.
As she brushes away some snow from the corpse she realizes, that this must have been a dwarf, when he was alive. The parts of cloth she can see, do not match with any of the cloth from the bandits. They are way too colorful. Sadly, the corpse seems to be frozen here to the ground for a while, so Pandora is not able to roll it over, but she can clearly see a huge open wound, ranging from the neck over the shoulder of this poor dwarf. Together with some nasty wounds in most of the soft tissue of the face, it looks quite like wounds inflicted by some wild animals. However, Pandora is not sure if these wounds were the cause of death or if they were inflicted after the dwarf was already lying dead in the snow.
She is just about to turn around to Carina as suddenly multiple piles of snow raise from the ground nearby with some deep and roaring screams. The whole group watches as a pack of bandits pushes away the snow from their coats and jackets, holding weapons ready in their hands.
"NOTHING about a well timed ambush!" - Shouts the biggest of them that is close to the wagon.
The group finds itself surrounded by the strange people that have just emerged from the snow and as if to confirm, that they also belong to them, two arrows suddenly hit the snow right before Asthon's and Xerim's feet, coming from the trees with a now visible sentry to the north. From the south, you see the sentry, that carina already spotted in the beginning, now jumping down the tree and running into position to aim at you.
"Well! Well! - Before we take everything from you!" - The big one shouts again and points at the dead bandit - "What have you folks todo with this traitor? You aren't the ones that were sent with him! Speak up! It might be the last things you say, so choose your words wisely."
Pandora and Carina perceive, that the bandit standing closest to Pandora is holding its weapon into the direction of the illusion instead of Pandora, while Pandora herself is half covered in the snow that just fell off of the bandits coat, so that she - with some luck - is currently hidden from the sight of the bandits.
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
"Please! There's no need for that. The Glassblades caught your former companion and we just convinced them to let him lead us here because, um... we have found the cure to the disease that Hulil Lutan has been looking for. But you... you... killed him! Please don't uh... hurt us!"
Carina tries to behave frightened, helpless and pleading as she strides up to the bandit leader, but even she doesn't believe her own act. First, I am holding my warhammer in a clearly ready position. Second, why would we, already having the cure, risk ourselves just to bring it to Hulil Lutan?
Deception: 7
"... or something," Carina finishes lamely, a chagrined look on her face at her own ineptitude, as she moves to attack the bandit leader.
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