Artifex glances idly at the troll skull "oh yay, more bones!" Their focus shifts to the path. "Well at least we know they aren't too worried about being secretive... Does anyone know how intelligent these frog creatures are? They may not be the talkative sort even if they're capable of speaking, but it's best to consider all the possibilities."

Gwrgi looks at the path, then back at Tarton, considering the plan he suggested.  Finally she nods,  "You and The Black Rose are probably the best choices for scouts, you for your stealth and he for the sharpness of his hearing.  But please don't get more than 30' ahead of us, or we might not be able to catch up in time in case of trouble.  Before you set out, I can pray for you to have divine guidance in the first part of your search, or bless you with a spell.  I'll have to concentrate on whichever one you choose though, so I can't do both." 

She hesitates a moment, then turns to the monk.  "Would you like us to continue calling you The Black Rose, or to use your true name now that its come out in Mr. Leewamba's letter?"

Quote from mxx9jkxtm4 >>

Are you still allowing new members? If so I would like to play with somethings you might want to know. I can post weekly but at possibly random or at least infrequent times. Also is it possible to build a character using physical book content such as PHB 2014, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, and Sword Coast Explorer’s Guide? Oh and Dungeon Masters Guide 2014?

  You can certainly join, but I'd ask that you use the character you applied with before (Arti, hill dwarf cleric).  2 reasons: party balance -- we now have 2 PC arcane magic users in the group, and only one NPC user of divine magic; and in IC terms, Arti's backstory gives her a much better reason to leave her own world and come to Sauvogia, whereas Sakura would have plenty of opportunities to learn about her magical abilities in Faerun

Zladark paused thoughtfully. "I'm not sure whether a blessing or divine guidance is best, but I would suggest choosing one that can affect both of us." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The name 'The Black Rose' was given to me by my father, due to my divided focus between the teachings of my monk order and the lectures of the river gnomes. He told me to go by the alias until I had chosen one path or mastered both."

He paused again, reflecting. "I am not near that point yet, so I will keep calling myself The Black Rose until I have fulfilled those requirements." A small smile crept across his face. "I will respond to both names, so which one you choose is up to you."

Uz will wait on the boat, not being much of a scout himself. 

After The Black Rose has responded, Tarton replies to Gwergi, "I walk slower than the rest of you, so I'll let you determine how close you want to follow. I've had almost no exposure to magic so whatever The Black Rose decides is fine with me."

When everyone is ready he heads down the path with The Black Rose.

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Tarton moves at full speed, 25 feet.

I don't know if you want Investigation or Perception for looking for traps, nor if I should roll with advantage for The Black Rose helping my search.

Zladark, followed closely behind Tarton as they ventured further down the path. His senses were on high alert. He moved as quietly as he could, his steps deliberately light, attempting to mirror Tarton's stealth despite knowing his own limitations. Zladark kept his focus, ready for anything that might lie ahead.

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Also, should we roll a Stealth check?

Gwrgi replies, "The blessing it is then.  It will help protect Tarton and you, and whoever follows them closest."  She plucks a sprig of cypress and uses it to sprinkle the two scouts with holy water, murmuring a chant in Draconic as she does.   Finished, she turns to Uz and nods.  "Just as well to leave a guard with the boats.  Kalkass'ssa'th and I should follow the scouts as rearguard, I think.  And I think at least one of our arcanists should come with us, either Artifex or Zenzor.  The other can use their best judgement whether to stay on guard here with you, or come with us."

Once these details have been settled, you set forth upon your mission of exploration, and ...

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(they do seem to have tweaked how the abilities work in the newest edition, haven't they?  But I personally think that Investigation ought to apply in more situations than just a library; in my interpretation, that would allow you to spot clues that are TOTALLY hidden and need to be searched for; while Perception allows you to spot clues that are obscured or hard to miss, but have some sensory evidence of their existence that can be picked up without a search. 

It's really up to you which you want to use; Investigation is slower ... Q&D ruling is it would cost -5' of speed ... but more thorough, and occupies your attention more so that you might not pick up things other than what you're searching for [like the sound of approaching foes]; while Perception misses things that are totally hidden but leaves some of your senses free to notice other things.  As for Stealth ... again, I'd say its something you'd have to move more slowly than your max ,,, I'd say - 5'  ...and focus on.  So you could probably do it while moving at 25', but Tarton would need to slow down to 20'' in order to use Stealth, or -15' if he chooses to use Investigation skill rather than Perception.)

Sure thing 

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I must have the most free time so I feel like I'm posting most often, which makes me feel like I am hogging all the attention. To help myself not feel this way (or if I really am, please tell me and give me pointers on how to be a better party member), this time I'm going to wait until the rest of the party has responded, or until DM says to continue.

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When we continue, I suggest that both Tarton and Zladark stealth. Also, maybe Zladark can assist Tarton, giving him advantage on Investigation or Perception? We could also each do a check, or even do a different check each? 

I have decided to join your group but I would like to request the link to join also should I start at any particular level or have any specific equipment?

"I don't know if I'd call myself an arcanist. I'm more just... So cosmicly clumsy, stuff just kinda... Happens? I never seem to stay in one place very long." Artifex says, half to themselves, already distracted by a passing insect. 

Quote from Zladark >>

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When we continue, I suggest that both Tarton and Zladark stealth. Also, maybe Zladark can assist Tarton, giving him advantage on Investigation or Perception? We could also each do a check, or even do a different check each? 

 (Sounds good to me.  You can certainly do any one of those three things (assist, both do the same check, or do one check each) each time you roll.

Have Tarton and Zladark do their first Stealth check, and their first Investigation and/or Perception in whichever way you think best.  That will take them 30' ahead; then Gwrgi will set out on their heels with anyone else who's coming along, and after that I'll have everyone do Stealth checks unless you want the rear group to deliberately be noisy to draw attention away from the scouts.

As far as posting too often, I'm hardly one to criticize, being kind of a frequent poster in some of my own threads.   You do seem to wait at least a day or two between to give others a chance to post, so I'd think you're OK.  But if anyone feels shut out, please do tell me so I can work it out between everyone.)

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Then I am up for letting Tarton choose how we should roll and what we should roll besides Stealth.

Stealth: 12 + 3 (Bless) = 15 

"OK, if we're all ready, here I go." Tarton says quietly as he starts creeping forward trying to be as quiet as he can while looking for traps.

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Stealth: 15
Perception: 10

Just realized that Bless is for Attack and Saves only, so removed the 4 I rolled on the d4 from my stealth roll.

All of a sudden, Tarton hears footsteps from the path. Then you all see a hill dwarf with long red hair and amber brown eyes in chain mail walking towards you. She hails you saying, “Oy! Yeh know how I can get to the haunted lands?” She sees Zladark and her eyes light up. She introduces herself as Arti Stonebeard, Servant to The Great Father, Moradin. “I have been in this area for three weeks now and have not seen anyone who can help. I would also suggest that I accompany you as there have been many undead sightings lately.”

Creeping stealthily forward, the scouts get about 20' before Arti makes her appearance.  At this point, there is a side path among the reeds that the dwarf made her appearance from; this has no visible footprints on it but hers, and Zladark can hear nothing but the rustling of cattails from that direction.  Heading north in the direction the croaking is coming from, the path curves forward about 9' more, and then is blocked by a fallen tree.  There has been no change in the croaking or any other sign that you have been detected.  Looking at the obstruction, Tarton spots a place where the trunk is broken and has dropped down low enough that it would be possible to climb over and continue.  Inspecting it from a distance he thinks, but is not certain, that the bark is slightly m9re worn there than on the rest of the trunk.  It also seems slightly wet in patches, though he can't tell from this distance whether that is from dew or from something else.

Should Arti roll investigation or insight?

(Investigation ... Insight is for figuring out the motivations of beings you're interacting with.  Anyone who's there (currently Tarton, Arti and Zladark) can roll either Investigation or Nature, in fact, if they want to check out this tree.  I will need to know how close you're getting and what you're doing if anything besides just looking at it.  After that group is done, Gwrgi and  Kalkass'ssa'th will follow with Artifex and/or Zenzor and all those will get a chance to do something; then we'll check in with Uz and see if anything's happened by the boats)