This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(OOC: Just in case a roll is needed later for tracking down Rolfe, or at least discern where he might've gone from the previously designated meeting point)
Positioning himself back where CRAP first made landfall on the island, Utar cups his hands around his mouth and attempts to bring some degree of order to the masses making their way towards him.
"We will be looking to get you all out of the swamp as soon as possible! Our first task is to get us all off of this island! Are we all here? More importantly, is anyone hurt?"
(OOC - If we want to progress more quickly, I'm happy to speed things up. I've a fifth level slot primed for control water to recreate the watery trench that brought us here.)
(OOC - If we want to progress more quickly, I'm happy to speed things up. I've a fifth level slot primed for control water to recreate the watery trench that brought us here.)
I took are of that in my last post. Or are you getting ready for a third upcasting of the spell?
Utar takes the lead in verbally wrangling the crowd. The dozens of prisoners are mostly murmuring their responses. No one mentions a missing person or someone who has not been accounted for, giving the half-orc some reassurance. Following the Tormite's lead, Neya takes a moment to check on their health. Some bruises and scrapes were innevitable given the circunstances. A couple of the prisoners, a dirty blond elf and one of the tough-looking halflings, were visibly knocked around a bit more than the others, but they seem capable of keeping pace with the others. The most apparent issue here is, without a doubt, hunger. It's been some time since this group of folks had a proper meal. Denae is passing some hard tack around and repeating her request for people to ration their portions.
In the meantime, Doozey and Biscuit take the lead in pathfinding their way out of the swamp. Firts stop: CRAP's previous campsite. It is not too hard to find, not for the well-trained stoutling. Neither is Rolk. The first prisoner to be released was not at the camp spot proper, but a few paces into the nearby vegetation, hiding (a 10 is enough to find him.) He comes out of his spot and eargerly combs the arrving crowd for his mate, Nik. The two have a smile-filled private reunion for a moment, but soon realize they do not want to be left behind.
(OOC: Let's get a survival check to see how long it takes CRAP to lead the group through and out of the swamp. Also, I want to ask what is CRAP doing regarding food for the prisoners over the next few days.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
For all of his eagerness to be out of the swamp, least the group run afoul of the dragon, rebellious lizardfolk, or some other natural hazard all together, traveling at night for long and with so many bedraggled people was never meant to be. So when the group inevitable stop on that first night to set up camp, it's only that Doozey unhesitatingly gives away all of his food provisions to his fellow halflings, self-assured of being able to find plenty of game come the next day to fill both his and Biscuit's belly to sustain them throughout the day, if nothing else. He'd even take things a step further in trying to distract them with stories of his other adventures that first night, ignoring his own very much alive discomfort with talking and being the center of any attention. Most of these stories would entail his time with CRAP as a whole, but... even he wouldn't be able to resist drifting towards those about his clan and ongoing search for where the redfoots broke ties from other clans.
... Of Utar's offer around then to conjure more food come the next morning, the halfling tries to abstain should it tax too much of his fellows resources to feed everyone. Yet, he's not so stubborn as to ignore the wisdom of others, should they become insistent on the matter, and would instead then resolve himself to risk exhaustion finding moments during break periods to supplement the food stores with Biscuit's assistance.
-Doozey Journey Survival: 25. (If allowed assistance(namely from Biscuit) for the roll: 11.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"39...40... 41."Denae ends her head-counting exercise by pointing at Rolk. "Including ourselves, there are 45 mouths to feed. The mastiff's is the 46th." She then proceeds to break her next rations into three separate servings, handing each to a different person, and telling them in no dubious manner to ration their portions through the night.
(OOC: In other words, we are saying that 1 ration can be split into food for three people per day. They will be hungry and cannot survive long on so little food, but it should be enough for their body to function. Anyone surviving on a third of a ration per day needs to roll a CON saving throw {DC 10} against exhaustion at dawn, that is, after completing a long rest. Denae has 6 rations left, which should be enough to feed up to 18 people until next dawn, but she would be out of rations at that point.)
The crowd seems to respond well to Utar's leadership. His voice carries and they seem to be in need of someone to follow given their circumstances. A man of faith who can part waters seem like a good choice. Doozey volunteers to go hunting with Biscuit, aiming at rationing the rations even more and make them last as long as possible. The ranger's and beast's expertise saves the day. They return several hours later, once the group has already made camp for the night, with plenty of swamp fish, lizards, and edible vegetation and mushrooms in tow.
(@Ori: You have found the equivalent of 22rations.)
In Doozey's absence, it falls to Neya to navigate the swamp. Walking upstream alongside the river makes the task a bit easier, but its winding nature does not necessary spell out the fastest route. Given the group's moving speed, and CRAP's previous experience traversing the swamp and its outskirts, Neya estimates it will take two days to return the prisoners back to The Crossing Inn.
Once at camp, Doozey passes around some of the food and the liberated prisoners take care of cooking the meal. They enjoy the tales that the halfling is willing to share to help keep their minds off their grumbling stomachs. One halfling in particular, a comely red-haired middle-aged stoutling, eventually finds an opportunity to approach Doozey for a bit of a private conversation. she timidly speaks: "I thought you might want to know that this is not the first time I hear about the Redfoots. I heard about them in my youth. They passed through this area. Maybe you did too, escaping a glen or something like that, if memory serves me right. I think some of them still live nearby. They must have survived that which you tell in your tales."
Separately, Utar receives a response from his sending spell. It is clear that Romsan doesn't understand the details of the spell. He assumes a longer conversation has just started:
"Fantastic news! I shall prepare to receive the group. Food, beds, herbs for healing. Anything we can all spare. When will you arrive? I shall..."
(OOC: You have camped and the long rest has now started. You may take watches if you so wish but Bogclaw's tip has been holding true until now: no swamp beast seems interested in risking dealing with a group this large. I'll ask you to do some food accounting now that you have a few more details about rationing rations, number of mouths to feed, results from hunting/gathering, and an estimated time of arrival.)
"Thank you Danae. We'll feed everyone as far as can for now and we'll see what we can be provided with in future. Between you, Neya and Doozey, I think we'll be ok making our way through the swamp. Only question is how we run watches, presmably we might need a few of the wider group to take part, otherwise we maybe switch from watches to patrolling the edge of the group?"
(OOC - Happy to take a watch/patrol as we decide. Utar had 9 rations (27 if splitting) for the hand out section, but am assuming that those are done for now.)
Doozey, and by extension Biscuit, provided the fey-touched Tundra mastiff hadn't become occupied entertaining the young'uns in camp, went still and a wide-eyed at the news. Of course he hadn't fully forgotten the possibility of a certain Archfey knowing more, hearing a fellow halfling confirm it left him utterly speechless! In time, the stoutling recovered enough to shakily nod in the affirmative and say, "M-might've been too much fo a wee one to remember such, assuming, eh... assuming the fey weren't involved or I was even born. But... thank you. If nothing else, you've further confirm what I've learned so far in a fashion. Now it's just a matter of surviving long enough to follow through." With that and an almost playful smirk, he bows his head in thanks before making any final preparations for the night; including one last group huddle.
On that note, Doozey agrees with taking a watch, if but to provide further comfort for the former prisoners. But as far as actually adding some of their numbers to the watch, that he leaves to Utar to sort, after having seen so many gravitate to the half-orc's directives.
(OOC: With how much Doozey was able to gather, and it being better to go through it first, he'd insist on using the 22 rations gathered from his forging/hunting for the first night and at half rations instead of a 3rd so people are bit more fortified for one evening. Then come the next day, we can use a combination of Utar's create food and water + the groups natural rations to get through the 2nd day without issues. But if a Con Save is still needed on half rations, then here's Doozey's at the bottom)
-Doozey Con Save(DC 10): 18. -Biscuit Con Save(DC 10): 26.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC: At half-rations, I'll say a CON save is not necessary on the first day. A second day of only half-rations will trigger a CON save. Doozey's foraging success will provide enough food for 44 mouths, and it sounds like Utar is willing to part ways with the last one needed to bring to final number to the exact 46 needed. The first of two long rests is sorted out, as far as feeding goes.)
With enough food being passed around, and a bit more food than many of the prisoners had expected at that, this large overnight camp becomes a bit more lively. Fires are lit, the smell of cooking fills the air, and Biscuit is quick to assume a playful role among the younger kidnap victims, while a sense of calm conversation seems to be the preferred pastime among the adults. "We had enough music for a lifetime," one of them explains, referencing the reptilian drums.
Now fully assuming his "dad" role, Utar begins to organize a patrol schedule for the night. Despite assurances, Neya is uncomfortable with the idea of leaving the group's safety to chance alone, and volunteers for the first patrol.
(@Drache: A few liberated prisoners will join you in your patrol. You may roll one more check to account for advantage.)
(@Ori: Those CON saves weren't needed in the end, so I am happy to use your natural 16 and 20 as the base rolls for your perception check with advantage for your watch, if you'd like.)
(@MB: If you'd like to take a watch/patrol, you are welcome to do so with advantage as some of the freed prisoners will also join you. You get advantage anyway from your shield, but they wouldn't know that.)
Denae will take the last patrol, also accompanied.
As "promised" by Bogclaw, no creature risks getting close to the large, warm, and well lit camp, at least not during the first couple of hours of rest. Neya has little to do besides walking around the perimeter of camp making sure folks are indeed getting the rest they so desperately need. This does not mean she is neglecting her watch duty. Her attention is kept on the outskirts of camp as well. Nonetheless, her watch proves to be quite uneventful.
Doozey and Biscuit are up next, and it just so happens that not even Bogclaw can speak on behalf of the entire swamp. A large crocodile noisily approaches the camp, slowly walking here after presumably sensing the smells of fresh killed meat from earlier in the evening. This does seem to be quite the roguish creature, clearly acting alone in hopes of scoring an easy meal, even if it means risking moving away from a pool of water.
(@Ori: How would you like to proceed?)
(@MB: Regarding the eventual casting of create food and water in the morning, is the plan to cast it enough times to have enough food for each person for the day, or cast it less than three times and have everyone ration their portions by thirds or halves?)
(OOC - I'll go with cast it three times to create enough for 45 people (does that count include Biscuit?) for the day. Let's not go to half or third rations unless we absolutely need to.)
Once Doozey noticed the would be intruder, both he and Biscuit moved on an intercept course at a swift, but not so hurried as to provoke the gator to charge. "Oi, scaled one. I'd reconsider things if I were you, 'less your plan is to be tomorrow's meal." He warned upon completing weaving the his spell along the way. "You can try your fangs with little 'o me of course if you don't believe me. But it'll be the last thing you'll ever do." He says with a grin as a looming biscuit shifted his form a little to make himself look bigger.
-Intimidation: 6.(If biscuit can be consider helping: 19)
(OOC: Burning a spellslot to recast speak with animals.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
As the crowd trudges through the swamp, Neya takes a quick look around the small army of people to get a measure of the general state of health.
Medicine: 11
Extended Signature
(OOC: Just in case a roll is needed later for tracking down Rolfe, or at least discern where he might've gone from the previously designated meeting point)
-Survival: 10.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Positioning himself back where CRAP first made landfall on the island, Utar cups his hands around his mouth and attempts to bring some degree of order to the masses making their way towards him.
"We will be looking to get you all out of the swamp as soon as possible! Our first task is to get us all off of this island! Are we all here? More importantly, is anyone hurt?"
(OOC - If we want to progress more quickly, I'm happy to speed things up. I've a fifth level slot primed for control water to recreate the watery trench that brought us here.)
I took are of that in my last post. Or are you getting ready for a third upcasting of the spell?
Utar takes the lead in verbally wrangling the crowd. The dozens of prisoners are mostly murmuring their responses. No one mentions a missing person or someone who has not been accounted for, giving the half-orc some reassurance. Following the Tormite's lead, Neya takes a moment to check on their health. Some bruises and scrapes were innevitable given the circunstances. A couple of the prisoners, a dirty blond elf and one of the tough-looking halflings, were visibly knocked around a bit more than the others, but they seem capable of keeping pace with the others. The most apparent issue here is, without a doubt, hunger. It's been some time since this group of folks had a proper meal. Denae is passing some hard tack around and repeating her request for people to ration their portions.
In the meantime, Doozey and Biscuit take the lead in pathfinding their way out of the swamp. Firts stop: CRAP's previous campsite. It is not too hard to find, not for the well-trained stoutling. Neither is Rolk. The first prisoner to be released was not at the camp spot proper, but a few paces into the nearby vegetation, hiding (a 10 is enough to find him.) He comes out of his spot and eargerly combs the arrving crowd for his mate, Nik. The two have a smile-filled private reunion for a moment, but soon realize they do not want to be left behind.
(OOC: Let's get a survival check to see how long it takes CRAP to lead the group through and out of the swamp. Also, I want to ask what is CRAP doing regarding food for the prisoners over the next few days.)
For all of his eagerness to be out of the swamp, least the group run afoul of the dragon, rebellious lizardfolk, or some other natural hazard all together, traveling at night for long and with so many bedraggled people was never meant to be. So when the group inevitable stop on that first night to set up camp, it's only that Doozey unhesitatingly gives away all of his food provisions to his fellow halflings, self-assured of being able to find plenty of game come the next day to fill both his and Biscuit's belly to sustain them throughout the day, if nothing else. He'd even take things a step further in trying to distract them with stories of his other adventures that first night, ignoring his own very much alive discomfort with talking and being the center of any attention. Most of these stories would entail his time with CRAP as a whole, but... even he wouldn't be able to resist drifting towards those about his clan and ongoing search for where the redfoots broke ties from other clans.
... Of Utar's offer around then to conjure more food come the next morning, the halfling tries to abstain should it tax too much of his fellows resources to feed everyone. Yet, he's not so stubborn as to ignore the wisdom of others, should they become insistent on the matter, and would instead then resolve himself to risk exhaustion finding moments during break periods to supplement the food stores with Biscuit's assistance.
-Doozey Journey Survival: 25. (If allowed assistance(namely from Biscuit) for the roll: 11.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Survival: 16
Neya also offers to share some rations should the need arise. Though the head count makes her wonder if CRAP has enough resources.
Extended Signature
Utar continues to bark orders now the group is safely across the waters.
"ARE WE ALL HERE?! SOMEONE GET ME A HEAD COUNT."
He too hands out his rations to those seeking food.
"Don't eat too quickly and be sure to share them out. Don't get to comfortable we might need to move on yet."
Taking a quiet moment for himself, Utar contacts Romsan Kel using his last casting of sending.
Romsan. We're bringing them all home. We've tried, hungry and injured with us. Be ready. Tell Taroo. Good news at last. Utar.
"39...40... 41." Denae ends her head-counting exercise by pointing at Rolk. "Including ourselves, there are 45 mouths to feed. The mastiff's is the 46th." She then proceeds to break her next rations into three separate servings, handing each to a different person, and telling them in no dubious manner to ration their portions through the night.
(OOC: In other words, we are saying that 1 ration can be split into food for three people per day. They will be hungry and cannot survive long on so little food, but it should be enough for their body to function. Anyone surviving on a third of a ration per day needs to roll a CON saving throw {DC 10} against exhaustion at dawn, that is, after completing a long rest. Denae has 6 rations left, which should be enough to feed up to 18 people until next dawn, but she would be out of rations at that point.)
The crowd seems to respond well to Utar's leadership. His voice carries and they seem to be in need of someone to follow given their circumstances. A man of faith who can part waters seem like a good choice. Doozey volunteers to go hunting with Biscuit, aiming at rationing the rations even more and make them last as long as possible. The ranger's and beast's expertise saves the day. They return several hours later, once the group has already made camp for the night, with plenty of swamp fish, lizards, and edible vegetation and mushrooms in tow.
(@Ori: You have found the equivalent of 22 rations.)
In Doozey's absence, it falls to Neya to navigate the swamp. Walking upstream alongside the river makes the task a bit easier, but its winding nature does not necessary spell out the fastest route. Given the group's moving speed, and CRAP's previous experience traversing the swamp and its outskirts, Neya estimates it will take two days to return the prisoners back to The Crossing Inn.
Once at camp, Doozey passes around some of the food and the liberated prisoners take care of cooking the meal. They enjoy the tales that the halfling is willing to share to help keep their minds off their grumbling stomachs. One halfling in particular, a comely red-haired middle-aged stoutling, eventually finds an opportunity to approach Doozey for a bit of a private conversation. she timidly speaks: "I thought you might want to know that this is not the first time I hear about the Redfoots. I heard about them in my youth. They passed through this area. Maybe you did too, escaping a glen or something like that, if memory serves me right. I think some of them still live nearby. They must have survived that which you tell in your tales."
Separately, Utar receives a response from his sending spell. It is clear that Romsan doesn't understand the details of the spell. He assumes a longer conversation has just started:
"Fantastic news! I shall prepare to receive the group. Food, beds, herbs for healing. Anything we can all spare. When will you arrive? I shall..."
(OOC: You have camped and the long rest has now started. You may take watches if you so wish but Bogclaw's tip has been holding true until now: no swamp beast seems interested in risking dealing with a group this large. I'll ask you to do some food accounting now that you have a few more details about rationing rations, number of mouths to feed, results from hunting/gathering, and an estimated time of arrival.)
"Thank you Danae. We'll feed everyone as far as can for now and we'll see what we can be provided with in future. Between you, Neya and Doozey, I think we'll be ok making our way through the swamp. Only question is how we run watches, presmably we might need a few of the wider group to take part, otherwise we maybe switch from watches to patrolling the edge of the group?"
(OOC - Happy to take a watch/patrol as we decide. Utar had 9 rations (27 if splitting) for the hand out section, but am assuming that those are done for now.)
Doozey, and by extension Biscuit, provided the fey-touched Tundra mastiff hadn't become occupied entertaining the young'uns in camp, went still and a wide-eyed at the news. Of course he hadn't fully forgotten the possibility of a certain Archfey knowing more, hearing a fellow halfling confirm it left him utterly speechless! In time, the stoutling recovered enough to shakily nod in the affirmative and say, "M-might've been too much fo a wee one to remember such, assuming, eh... assuming the fey weren't involved or I was even born. But... thank you. If nothing else, you've further confirm what I've learned so far in a fashion. Now it's just a matter of surviving long enough to follow through." With that and an almost playful smirk, he bows his head in thanks before making any final preparations for the night; including one last group huddle.
On that note, Doozey agrees with taking a watch, if but to provide further comfort for the former prisoners. But as far as actually adding some of their numbers to the watch, that he leaves to Utar to sort, after having seen so many gravitate to the half-orc's directives.
(OOC: With how much Doozey was able to gather, and it being better to go through it first, he'd insist on using the 22 rations gathered from his forging/hunting for the first night and at half rations instead of a 3rd so people are bit more fortified for one evening. Then come the next day, we can use a combination of Utar's create food and water + the groups natural rations to get through the 2nd day without issues. But if a Con Save is still needed on half rations, then here's Doozey's at the bottom)
-Doozey Con Save(DC 10): 18.
-Biscuit Con Save(DC 10): 26.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Despite assurances, Neya is willing to take a watch. Chances of attack are low. But that probability being Zero? Ironically, about as likely.
Depending on when her shift is, darkvision may or may not have expired.
Perception: 20
Extended Signature
(OOC: At half-rations, I'll say a CON save is not necessary on the first day. A second day of only half-rations will trigger a CON save. Doozey's foraging success will provide enough food for 44 mouths, and it sounds like Utar is willing to part ways with the last one needed to bring to final number to the exact 46 needed. The first of two long rests is sorted out, as far as feeding goes.)
With enough food being passed around, and a bit more food than many of the prisoners had expected at that, this large overnight camp becomes a bit more lively. Fires are lit, the smell of cooking fills the air, and Biscuit is quick to assume a playful role among the younger kidnap victims, while a sense of calm conversation seems to be the preferred pastime among the adults. "We had enough music for a lifetime," one of them explains, referencing the reptilian drums.
Now fully assuming his "dad" role, Utar begins to organize a patrol schedule for the night. Despite assurances, Neya is uncomfortable with the idea of leaving the group's safety to chance alone, and volunteers for the first patrol.
(@Drache: A few liberated prisoners will join you in your patrol. You may roll one more check to account for advantage.)
(@Ori: Those CON saves weren't needed in the end, so I am happy to use your natural 16 and 20 as the base rolls for your perception check with advantage for your watch, if you'd like.)
(@MB: If you'd like to take a watch/patrol, you are welcome to do so with advantage as some of the freed prisoners will also join you. You get advantage anyway from your shield, but they wouldn't know that.)
Denae will take the last patrol, also accompanied.
-> Perception check: 22
Happy to take any watch/patrol that is needed within the schedule.
Utar's watch: Perception - 28
(OOC - Utar has/will prepare create food and water for the morning. Spell states it is enough for 15 people, so three casts would be needed.)
Adv roll for Perception: 14
Extended Signature
DM's Screen:
17 8 18 19
As "promised" by Bogclaw, no creature risks getting close to the large, warm, and well lit camp, at least not during the first couple of hours of rest. Neya has little to do besides walking around the perimeter of camp making sure folks are indeed getting the rest they so desperately need. This does not mean she is neglecting her watch duty. Her attention is kept on the outskirts of camp as well. Nonetheless, her watch proves to be quite uneventful.
Doozey and Biscuit are up next, and it just so happens that not even Bogclaw can speak on behalf of the entire swamp. A large crocodile noisily approaches the camp, slowly walking here after presumably sensing the smells of fresh killed meat from earlier in the evening. This does seem to be quite the roguish creature, clearly acting alone in hopes of scoring an easy meal, even if it means risking moving away from a pool of water.
(@Ori: How would you like to proceed?)
(@MB: Regarding the eventual casting of create food and water in the morning, is the plan to cast it enough times to have enough food for each person for the day, or cast it less than three times and have everyone ration their portions by thirds or halves?)
(OOC - I'll go with cast it three times to create enough for 45 people (does that count include Biscuit?) for the day. Let's not go to half or third rations unless we absolutely need to.)
Once Doozey noticed the would be intruder, both he and Biscuit moved on an intercept course at a swift, but not so hurried as to provoke the gator to charge. "Oi, scaled one. I'd reconsider things if I were you, 'less your plan is to be tomorrow's meal." He warned upon completing weaving the his spell along the way. "You can try your fangs with little 'o me of course if you don't believe me. But it'll be the last thing you'll ever do." He says with a grin as a looming biscuit shifted his form a little to make himself look bigger.
-Intimidation: 6.(If biscuit can be consider helping: 19)
(OOC: Burning a spellslot to recast speak with animals.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
DM's Screen:
WIS save: 6 (17)
(@Ori: Biscuit can certainly help.)
(@MB: Got it. There is a 46th mouth to be fed but that is nothing a ration can't take care of.)