Jorzu and Fergus, at the edge of the beanfield, continue to discuss how to proceed. Jorzu searches the immediate area but can find no animals in the warm noontime sun to speak with – not even an insect, outside of a few non-communicative thrips hovering above the warm field. The goblins came this way, they were told, but they find little evidence to follow.
Jurgen joins the group at the open door of the silent Alderleaf farmhouse, as Boona scoops up whoever needs scooping.
Frustration causes Jorzu's forehead to crinkle. "Well that's unusual, must be too hot out here in the field. Mmmh, too hot" he justifies to himself. He looks to Fergus and says, "We either return and seek a tall-one or I could call Laiti back. I just hope she's found something of interest." He grabs a raw bean from the nearest vine and chews while he contemplates the next move. "Alright, I'll summon her back" he announces without any input from his friend. He waves his hands around in an esoteric ritual, pauses a moment then repeats the gestures in reverse. Moments later the tiny sprite Fergus had met earlier appears in the next bean row over. "Well that's a quick way back!" she exclaims, it's unclear the amount of sarcasm intended by the small fey creature. Jorzu then questions his friendly familiar, "Laiti, welcome back. Tell me, did you find anything in the tunnels?"
The party rushes back to find Jorzu and Fergus where you last left them, standing at the edge of the beanfield, looking a bit lost. But now they have been joined by a tiny winged figure, perhaps a foot tall, resembling a tiny elf but with exaggerated, whimsical features and gossamer wings, hovering over the field, chatting animatedly with Jorzu.
"Tunnel and more tunnel. Mud. Spiders. Rocks. A few footprints in the mud, yes, but no feet. No sounds, no light, no air, nobody," she exclaims. (Jorzu: It's been a couple of hours since Laiti parted ways with you.)
The sun dims as a thin weather front begins to roll in, the air remains a bit humid. It is just past noon.
(The newcomers may attempt to roll their own Wisdom (Survival) check find any goblin tracks, Jorzu and Fergus having failed to find any. Or you may continue through the field in the loose direction Halia indicated.)
Regathered on the beanfield on the south end of town, Boona finally finds something – a clawed, humanoid footprint in the tilled soil. Nothing definitive, but enough to confirm that something walked this way in recent days or hours.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Boona stopped, " Wait...maybe I know friend, find path......"
Boona slumped to her knees and thrust her hands into the earth humming a strongly discordant note that seemed to vibrate the earth and plants around them she continued like this for a short time then stood.
" He coming."
Moments later the ground swelled up into a low hill stumbling the others back as a massive horned head broke through the loam and pulled itself free of the earth with a shake of its shaggy mane and a loud snort. The wooly rhino scraped its sweeping horn across the ground and the others noted its thick fur was partially formed of twisted roots and grasses and in places its armoured skin resembled wood or stone rather than flesh. It's glowing amber eyes swept the assembled humanoids....
Boona clapped, " This Karst, is friend. Karst? Can find goblin? Went that way.....maybe."
Karst regarded Boona for a moment then pressed its wide nostrils into the earth scenting........
As they rejoin Fergus and Jorzu, Bryony eyes the fairy-like creature with surprise and wonder. It distracts her from her worry for her family but only for a moment. The halfling is just as surprised by Boona summoning a strange creature from the ground. She's only seen rhinoceroses in books, and she knows they aren't native to this area and are probably not made of wood and stone either so she figures this rhino must be some sort of magical creature. Bryony didn't realize Boona could do magic!
"Wow, Boona. Karst is amazing! Do you think he would let me ride him? If you get tired of carrying me, of course."
Boona's massive wooly rhino picks up the scent of a trail along the edge of the field, heading south. Poles snap and beanstalks fall as the lumbering beast crushes several rows of beans as it pushes heedlessly through the corner of the field.
The trail continues south into the scrub outside of town. The party continues a quarter mile out of town, then half a mile. Karst follows the scent unhesitatingly.
It's just Boona (and Karst), Bryony, Fergus, Jorzu (and Laiti), Jurgen (and Draco), Quinn, and Ruven. (Did I forget anyone?) The dwarven mining brothers, Gundren and Nundro Rockseeker, have long peeled off from you, as have the farmers that Fergus recruited to help right the temple.
Gwyn, the cheery dwarven scholar, also remains in town. ("I'll do some research on these goblins and the duergar – let me know what else you learn!")
The ground shifts under Jorzu. He stumbles a little and he instinctively reaches for the oversized cane at his side. He looks around and soon spots a giant mound of earth breaking through the field. "Whoa!" he exclaims as the giant rhino seemingly digs its way to the surface. "Impressive creature. Mighty impressive." He approaches the rock and grass covered beast. He reaches out and pats the foot of the behemoth.
He follows along behind Boona and the others as Karst leads them further from town. Laiti flits to and fro as she stays close to her master.
As you approach a gap in the underbrush, you suddenly hear a shrill voice complain.
(For anyone who speaks Goblin:)
“Hope the others made it back, else Ruxithid’s gonna have our heads!”
But before you can pause to consider avoiding detection, Boona's new steed smashes ahead, right into a makeshift camp, consisting of a few tents and a small fire, situated in the center of a small clearing. Three odd-looking goblins toast a bit of food on a skewer suddenly turn to gawk at you. They wear studded leather armor but carry no weapons.
Jurgen, standing in the door way looking on and seeing them missing, says "Agreed." To the party "Are we ready to move out?"
D&D since 1984
Boona snatches up anyone with short legs and lopes towards Jurgen....
" We find. Not worry Bryony. We find."
Jorzu and Fergus, at the edge of the beanfield, continue to discuss how to proceed. Jorzu searches the immediate area but can find no animals in the warm noontime sun to speak with – not even an insect, outside of a few non-communicative thrips hovering above the warm field. The goblins came this way, they were told, but they find little evidence to follow.
Jurgen joins the group at the open door of the silent Alderleaf farmhouse, as Boona scoops up whoever needs scooping.
Bryony nods quickly. Tears sting her eyes, and she hastily swipes a hand across them. "You're right. Let's go. Run fast, Boona!"
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
"Jurgen, where did Jorzu and Fergus go? Can you lead us to where you last saw them? Let's go."
Quinn runs off in the direction where he last observes the other's heading into the tall grass.
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Jorzu
Frustration causes Jorzu's forehead to crinkle. "Well that's unusual, must be too hot out here in the field. Mmmh, too hot" he justifies to himself. He looks to Fergus and says, "We either return and seek a tall-one or I could call Laiti back. I just hope she's found something of interest." He grabs a raw bean from the nearest vine and chews while he contemplates the next move. "Alright, I'll summon her back" he announces without any input from his friend. He waves his hands around in an esoteric ritual, pauses a moment then repeats the gestures in reverse. Moments later the tiny sprite Fergus had met earlier appears in the next bean row over. "Well that's a quick way back!" she exclaims, it's unclear the amount of sarcasm intended by the small fey creature. Jorzu then questions his friendly familiar, "Laiti, welcome back. Tell me, did you find anything in the tunnels?"
The party rushes back to find Jorzu and Fergus where you last left them, standing at the edge of the beanfield, looking a bit lost. But now they have been joined by a tiny winged figure, perhaps a foot tall, resembling a tiny elf but with exaggerated, whimsical features and gossamer wings, hovering over the field, chatting animatedly with Jorzu.
"Tunnel and more tunnel. Mud. Spiders. Rocks. A few footprints in the mud, yes, but no feet. No sounds, no light, no air, nobody," she exclaims. (Jorzu: It's been a couple of hours since Laiti parted ways with you.)
The sun dims as a thin weather front begins to roll in, the air remains a bit humid. It is just past noon.
(The newcomers may attempt to roll their own Wisdom (Survival) check find any goblin tracks, Jorzu and Fergus having failed to find any. Or you may continue through the field in the loose direction Halia indicated.)
Fergus:
As the others join, Fergus says, “Excellent, we are in need of help to track the goblins. Jorzu, perhaps some aerial reconnaissance would be advised?”
He turns to the others and says, “I have a spell which can help fortify up to three of you for battle if you wish. Any takers?”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Boona Survival Check- 11
Regathered on the beanfield on the south end of town, Boona finally finds something – a clawed, humanoid footprint in the tilled soil. Nothing definitive, but enough to confirm that something walked this way in recent days or hours.
Boona points out the footprint to the others and indicates no need for Fergus' magics.
Jurgen points Draco (help action) towards the trail, but he does no better than Boona
D&D since 1984
Boona stopped, " Wait...maybe I know friend, find path......"
Boona slumped to her knees and thrust her hands into the earth humming a strongly discordant note that seemed to vibrate the earth and plants around them she continued like this for a short time then stood.
" He coming."
Moments later the ground swelled up into a low hill stumbling the others back as a massive horned head broke through the loam and pulled itself free of the earth with a shake of its shaggy mane and a loud snort. The wooly rhino scraped its sweeping horn across the ground and the others noted its thick fur was partially formed of twisted roots and grasses and in places its armoured skin resembled wood or stone rather than flesh. It's glowing amber eyes swept the assembled humanoids....
Boona clapped, " This Karst, is friend. Karst? Can find goblin? Went that way.....maybe."
Karst regarded Boona for a moment then pressed its wide nostrils into the earth scenting........
Karst Perception- 18
( If help is available) Karst Perception- 7
As they rejoin Fergus and Jorzu, Bryony eyes the fairy-like creature with surprise and wonder. It distracts her from her worry for her family but only for a moment. The halfling is just as surprised by Boona summoning a strange creature from the ground. She's only seen rhinoceroses in books, and she knows they aren't native to this area and are probably not made of wood and stone either so she figures this rhino must be some sort of magical creature. Bryony didn't realize Boona could do magic!
"Wow, Boona. Karst is amazing! Do you think he would let me ride him? If you get tired of carrying me, of course."
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Boona's massive wooly rhino picks up the scent of a trail along the edge of the field, heading south. Poles snap and beanstalks fall as the lumbering beast crushes several rows of beans as it pushes heedlessly through the corner of the field.
The trail continues south into the scrub outside of town. The party continues a quarter mile out of town, then half a mile. Karst follows the scent unhesitatingly.
It's just Boona (and Karst), Bryony, Fergus, Jorzu (and Laiti), Jurgen (and Draco), Quinn, and Ruven. (Did I forget anyone?) The dwarven mining brothers, Gundren and Nundro Rockseeker, have long peeled off from you, as have the farmers that Fergus recruited to help right the temple.
Gwyn, the cheery dwarven scholar, also remains in town. ("I'll do some research on these goblins and the duergar – let me know what else you learn!")
The way ahead becomes a little more forested.
Fergus:
“Looks like we may be headed to more than an after-battle resting place. More likely a lair,” says Fergus as they travel.
He offers again to use his magic to bolster his new allies (up to three people, Jorzu and Fergus already boosted.)
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Boona trundles along happily and nods to Bryony, " I think so......."
Jorzu
The ground shifts under Jorzu. He stumbles a little and he instinctively reaches for the oversized cane at his side. He looks around and soon spots a giant mound of earth breaking through the field. "Whoa!" he exclaims as the giant rhino seemingly digs its way to the surface. "Impressive creature. Mighty impressive." He approaches the rock and grass covered beast. He reaches out and pats the foot of the behemoth.
He follows along behind Boona and the others as Karst leads them further from town. Laiti flits to and fro as she stays close to her master.
It all happens rather abruptly.
As you approach a gap in the underbrush, you suddenly hear a shrill voice complain.
(For anyone who speaks Goblin:)
“Hope the others made it back, else Ruxithid’s gonna have our heads!”
But before you can pause to consider avoiding detection, Boona's new steed smashes ahead, right into a makeshift camp, consisting of a few tents and a small fire, situated in the center of a small clearing. Three odd-looking goblins toast a bit of food on a skewer suddenly turn to gawk at you. They wear studded leather armor but carry no weapons.
Roll initiative!
Fergus:
Having saved his buffing spell, Fergus attempts to react quickly to the presence of the goblins!
Initiative: 11
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"