“Regardless, Taya’s right. We need to do what we can to reinforce our position. Then take whatever rest we can. At least two of us always on watch. I only require half the rest than others, so I can watch for a longer time. I can also see well in the dark, I’m not sure who else has the ability, but ideally someone who can should always be on watch.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Kaelan Thornfell - Wildhunt Shifter Beast Barbarian - Horde of the Dragon Queen
Gustuck "Grumpy Gus" Clayshaper - Deep Gnome Astral Self Monk - Malady of Minarrh
Shelmo Sherrinford - Fairy Inquisitive Rogue - Vae Victus
Horros smirks, "At least those serpents got their numbers thinned out, but I'll help with the fortifications and can take first watch. My eyes will do just fine in the dark.." Horros takes out his tools to assist in the camp set up, looking for weak spots that might be attacked to make sure their defenses are well rounded.
"Drax" spends much of the day of travel huffing and puffing about the conditions of their journey. You often heard phrases like, "I'm not built for extended traveling," "All of these briars and branches are going to snag my clothes," and "Hunting these brigands better be worth the effort!"
Despite his complaining, inwardly, Zyzix was enjoying their trudge through the forest. He had very little opportunity to go be in the natural parts of the world. In fact, he was slightly annoyed with how much complaining "Drax" was doing about their trip; the near constant deluge of whining detracted from the beauty of the moment. Why couldn't I have a persona that wasn't whiny?
"Drax" lets out a huge sigh of relief when the decision to make camp is announced. He plops his pack to the forest floor and stretches out his back, wincing at some imaginary pain. As Haj returns and reports on his discovery of the mangled brigand corpse surrounded by gigantic tracks, he shivers. He silently hopes that they don't run into whatever created the tracks, but knowing how fickle fate was, they probably would at some point.
As talk of setting up a watch begins to circulate, "Drax" joins in the conversation and says, "My eyes are not well-adapted to nighttime activities. I should probably take watch in the early evening or morning. Otherwise, I'd be near useless!"
Bell listens intently, as Haj recounts the details of the serpent brigade encampment. He is curious enough, that he cannot help but venture to the site, and inspect the grisly scene for himself. Noting the depth and spacing of the grievously fatal wounds, and carefully inspecting the copious amounts of fur scattered about, he thinks he has made a determination of the culprit responsible: (Nature Check: 24).
”Haj, my reserved friend, I believe I may know what we are dealing with, here…”
In the dimming light of the forest, Bell ventured back to the abandoned campsite. The moon cast a ghostly pall over the clearing, transforming it into a landscape of eerie shadows and silhouettes.
Bell's trained eyes quickly picked up on the distinct tracks that crisscrossed the area. The large, deep footprints unmistakably belonged to hill giants. These colossal beings, known menaces in the hills to the north, would on occasion venture into the southern forests of the Dalelands during times of trouble to harvest disorganized travellers. The tracks and the scene at the campsite suggested that this particular group was drawn to the chaos following the raid on Shadowdale.
The other tracks appeared to be made by one or more direwolves. These creatures, more than mere beasts of the wild, were often reared and trained by the hill giants, forming a symbiotic relationship that benefited both in their hunts.
He also noticed several sets of human-sized tracks, likely belonging to the mercenaries, showing signs of being dragged away, all leading northward. This grim detail suggested that some had been taken alive, either as captives or for some darker purpose.
As night enveloped the forest, the party, following their decision to hunker down, worked diligently to fortify their campsite. Spears were strategically placed around the perimeter, creating a rudimentary but effective barrier. The small fire at the center of the camp offered a semblance of comfort, its flickering light casting a warm glow against the encroaching darkness of the woods.
The atmosphere in the camp was tense, with each member acutely aware of the potential dangers lurking in the shadowed depths of the forest. Watches were set, with pairs taking turns to keep a vigilant eye on the surrounding darkness.
As the night deepened, the forest seemed to come alive with its nocturnal chorus, but beneath the natural sounds, a sense of unease lingered in the air. It was during the late hours, when the moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light through the canopy, that the chilling sounds first reached their ears.
Faint at first, but growing steadily clearer, were the sounds of distant screaming — a human voice, raw with terror and pain, echoing through the trees. The screams were abruptly cut off, replaced by an eerie silence that seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Then, carried on a gentle breeze, came a different, equally unsettling smell — the aroma of cooking meat.
The campfire suddenly seemed too bright, too revealing. The party members huddled closer to it, yet each was acutely aware that the fire also made them visible in the darkness. Every crackle of a branch, every rustle of leaves set their nerves on edge, as their imaginations conjured images of what lurked beyond the light.
Haj covers his mouth and then uses hand signs to show that he couldn't tell how many, but more than one. He is once again sitting with his back to the fire and watching the shadows, mostly to keep his night vision intact.
Horros quietly says his prayers preparing for a long night ahead of them, he too sits with his back to the fire as he holds his shield in front of him. He whispers,. “We’ll be wise to avoid any major conflicts…. Sounds like the giants might be satisfied for tonight gluttony drives them though so let’s be vigilant.”
"Drax" shudders at the sounds of terrified screaming that rend the night air. While not the most sympathetic person out there, Zyzix couldn't resist feeling sorry for the man that met his untimely demise. A better person than he would have gone and ended the giants, but Zyzix does nothing but stay near the fire and worry.
He grimaces in disgust as the scent of cooking flesh drifts through the air, a stark reminder of the brutality and uncaringness of the giants. His stomach turns, and he almost gags, but he manages to control his bodily reactions. "I agree," he says after Horros, his usually cheery demeanor somber and refrained. He could only hope the giants didn't decide they wanted a midnight snack.
Taya, as nervous as the next guy, walks around the campfire on edge. She tries to hide it but clearly isn’t able to shut eyes. Best to keep occupied m, she thinks, and makes rounds through the guards. She stay a little while with each guard and comments something that she noticed during the day or during their time on the caravan that they like to make them a little bit more comfortable. Then she uses the opportunity to point out how important is the job each one is doing and commends them for the effort that they put in to protect their group during this hardship. She hopes that a little bit of extra motivation will keep them vigilant, or better yet safe through the night.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
As night enveloped the forest, the campfire's glow became a small island of light amidst a sea of darkness. The dense canopy overhead and the thick underbrush around seemed to close in, creating an almost oppressive atmosphere around the party's encampment.
Throughout the long hours of darkness, the forest was alive with unsettling sounds. Distant, harrowing shrieks pierced the night at irregular intervals, each one sending a shiver down the spine. These cries, filled with terror and pain, were a grim reminder of the hill giants' macabre feast.
The air was heavy with the scent of roasting flesh, drifting through the trees and permeating the camp. It lingered like a malevolent specter, the mercenaries fates haunting the nightmares of those were could find sleep.
In the darkness beyond the fire's reach, the shadows seemed to move and shift, as if concealing unseen watchers. The sensation of being observed was palpable. Every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig was magnified, hinting either at paranoia or the presence of something lurking just out of sight. Either way, the makeshift spears around the campsite brought some small sense of security.
The darkness itself felt alive, as if it were a living, breathing entity, watching and waiting. The line between the natural world and something more sinister seemed to blur.
As dawn finally broke, its light brought a measure of relief, but the comfort was superficial. The early morning rays did little to dispel the lingering sense of dread. The forest, now visible in the growing light, still held a foreboding presence. The knowledge that the giants and their monstrous companions were still close by weighed heavily in the air.
The new day brought with it a stark realization: the party was not alone in these woods, and the dangers they faced were not confined to the darkness of night. They were in the territory of predators driven by cunning and base instinct. Creatures to whom the party were nothing but another source of food.
((Unless anyone wants to intervene in the previous night, the sun has risen, take a long rest and tell me what you’re going to do on day 2))
“We need to move. We have to put as much distance between us and those giants as possible. If they were active during the night it’s possible they rest in the daylight. We got lucky last night that they had already found victims, but now we are next on the menu if we can’t get far enough away.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Kaelan Thornfell - Wildhunt Shifter Beast Barbarian - Horde of the Dragon Queen
Gustuck "Grumpy Gus" Clayshaper - Deep Gnome Astral Self Monk - Malady of Minarrh
Shelmo Sherrinford - Fairy Inquisitive Rogue - Vae Victus
With the morning sun rising, Taya recovers some of her resolve and as the camp is packed up, she goes to find Haj and Bell. “You two have been investigating the scene yesterday, you know that campsite of the mercs. Do you think that they really took all of them? I thought those who fled were in larger numbers than us and I fear the ones that got caught here might have been some who deserted the main force. How many do you think of them were caught yesterday? And any insight into who or what exactly attacked them?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
"Maybe we can find tracks from the campsite, see if there's any clues that can lead us to the main group.. We could try to break one of the mercs out of the giant camp if any are still alive hehe." The last suggestion was made in obvious jest, though he is open to weighing all of the options. "Either way, hangin around here will do us no good."
"I couldn't say" Haj replied, "between the chaos and the poor light it was difficult to track anything other than the giant's prints for definite."
"Now that the sun is risen we could take another look, but I doubt it would benefit us much. I'd suggest that we move on and try to get out of this forest. At least that will give us some better visibility".
"Yeah, you're right." Taya concedes to Horros and Haj. "We should get the hell out of here. We don't know if we can actually get out of these woods today and our prime priority should be to bring distance between us and these savages. I just thought, it would be good to know whether or not there are still mercenaries. But in truth it doesn't matter... Not as much as leaving this blasted forest with our lives at any rate."
Taya helps as much as possible to repack the horses and guide them out of the glade into the forest proper. She follows their scouts with all her hopes set to leave this forest as soon as possible.
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
Cal thinks over the conversations had around camp. Why would anyone have even a passing sympathy for those mercenaries? Isn't this a fitting end to their brutality, their own brutal death? He packs up his bags, going through the morning routine, trims his hair, dusts out his boots, rolls his bedding, all while ruminating on why. Why should he care.
The answer eludes him though. The obvious answer just out of his reach.
He readies himself for the possibility of danger, wrapping thin sheets of telekinetic force around his body. (Mage Armor)
"Ready to hit the road." He says with a smile, bag sinched to his back, as the group readies itself. "Lets catch these jerks."
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
“Regardless, Taya’s right. We need to do what we can to reinforce our position. Then take whatever rest we can. At least two of us always on watch. I only require half the rest than others, so I can watch for a longer time. I can also see well in the dark, I’m not sure who else has the ability, but ideally someone who can should always be on watch.”
Kaelan Thornfell - Wildhunt Shifter Beast Barbarian - Horde of the Dragon Queen
Gustuck "Grumpy Gus" Clayshaper - Deep Gnome Astral Self Monk - Malady of Minarrh
Shelmo Sherrinford - Fairy Inquisitive Rogue - Vae Victus
Solstice Nightchill - Winter Eladrin Hunter Ranger - The Yawning Portal
Captain Duskstar - Human Hex "Gun" Warlock - Airships and Whiskey
Horros smirks, "At least those serpents got their numbers thinned out, but I'll help with the fortifications and can take first watch. My eyes will do just fine in the dark.." Horros takes out his tools to assist in the camp set up, looking for weak spots that might be attacked to make sure their defenses are well rounded.
"Drax" spends much of the day of travel huffing and puffing about the conditions of their journey. You often heard phrases like, "I'm not built for extended traveling," "All of these briars and branches are going to snag my clothes," and "Hunting these brigands better be worth the effort!"
Despite his complaining, inwardly, Zyzix was enjoying their trudge through the forest. He had very little opportunity to go be in the natural parts of the world. In fact, he was slightly annoyed with how much complaining "Drax" was doing about their trip; the near constant deluge of whining detracted from the beauty of the moment. Why couldn't I have a persona that wasn't whiny?
"Drax" lets out a huge sigh of relief when the decision to make camp is announced. He plops his pack to the forest floor and stretches out his back, wincing at some imaginary pain. As Haj returns and reports on his discovery of the mangled brigand corpse surrounded by gigantic tracks, he shivers. He silently hopes that they don't run into whatever created the tracks, but knowing how fickle fate was, they probably would at some point.
As talk of setting up a watch begins to circulate, "Drax" joins in the conversation and says, "My eyes are not well-adapted to nighttime activities. I should probably take watch in the early evening or morning. Otherwise, I'd be near useless!"
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Bell listens intently, as Haj recounts the details of the serpent brigade encampment. He is curious enough, that he cannot help but venture to the site, and inspect the grisly scene for himself. Noting the depth and spacing of the grievously fatal wounds, and carefully inspecting the copious amounts of fur scattered about, he thinks he has made a determination of the culprit responsible: (Nature Check: 24).
”Haj, my reserved friend, I believe I may know what we are dealing with, here…”
In the dimming light of the forest, Bell ventured back to the abandoned campsite. The moon cast a ghostly pall over the clearing, transforming it into a landscape of eerie shadows and silhouettes.
Bell's trained eyes quickly picked up on the distinct tracks that crisscrossed the area. The large, deep footprints unmistakably belonged to hill giants. These colossal beings, known menaces in the hills to the north, would on occasion venture into the southern forests of the Dalelands during times of trouble to harvest disorganized travellers. The tracks and the scene at the campsite suggested that this particular group was drawn to the chaos following the raid on Shadowdale.
The other tracks appeared to be made by one or more direwolves. These creatures, more than mere beasts of the wild, were often reared and trained by the hill giants, forming a symbiotic relationship that benefited both in their hunts.
He also noticed several sets of human-sized tracks, likely belonging to the mercenaries, showing signs of being dragged away, all leading northward. This grim detail suggested that some had been taken alive, either as captives or for some darker purpose.
As night enveloped the forest, the party, following their decision to hunker down, worked diligently to fortify their campsite. Spears were strategically placed around the perimeter, creating a rudimentary but effective barrier. The small fire at the center of the camp offered a semblance of comfort, its flickering light casting a warm glow against the encroaching darkness of the woods.
The atmosphere in the camp was tense, with each member acutely aware of the potential dangers lurking in the shadowed depths of the forest. Watches were set, with pairs taking turns to keep a vigilant eye on the surrounding darkness.
As the night deepened, the forest seemed to come alive with its nocturnal chorus, but beneath the natural sounds, a sense of unease lingered in the air. It was during the late hours, when the moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light through the canopy, that the chilling sounds first reached their ears.
Faint at first, but growing steadily clearer, were the sounds of distant screaming — a human voice, raw with terror and pain, echoing through the trees. The screams were abruptly cut off, replaced by an eerie silence that seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Then, carried on a gentle breeze, came a different, equally unsettling smell — the aroma of cooking meat.
The campfire suddenly seemed too bright, too revealing. The party members huddled closer to it, yet each was acutely aware that the fire also made them visible in the darkness. Every crackle of a branch, every rustle of leaves set their nerves on edge, as their imaginations conjured images of what lurked beyond the light.
As quietly as possible, Galdric asks Haj and Bell
“Could you tell from the tracks if it was only one giant and wolf? Could there possibly be more?”
Kaelan Thornfell - Wildhunt Shifter Beast Barbarian - Horde of the Dragon Queen
Gustuck "Grumpy Gus" Clayshaper - Deep Gnome Astral Self Monk - Malady of Minarrh
Shelmo Sherrinford - Fairy Inquisitive Rogue - Vae Victus
Solstice Nightchill - Winter Eladrin Hunter Ranger - The Yawning Portal
Captain Duskstar - Human Hex "Gun" Warlock - Airships and Whiskey
((More than one of each, hard to tell how many but seemingly a small hunting party.))
Haj covers his mouth and then uses hand signs to show that he couldn't tell how many, but more than one. He is once again sitting with his back to the fire and watching the shadows, mostly to keep his night vision intact.
Nyli Bemblade - Gnome Arcane Trickster
Portia Thornleaf - Halfling Rogue
Horros quietly says his prayers preparing for a long night ahead of them, he too sits with his back to the fire as he holds his shield in front of him. He whispers,. “We’ll be wise to avoid any major conflicts…. Sounds like the giants might be satisfied for tonight gluttony drives them though so let’s be vigilant.”
"Drax" shudders at the sounds of terrified screaming that rend the night air. While not the most sympathetic person out there, Zyzix couldn't resist feeling sorry for the man that met his untimely demise. A better person than he would have gone and ended the giants, but Zyzix does nothing but stay near the fire and worry.
He grimaces in disgust as the scent of cooking flesh drifts through the air, a stark reminder of the brutality and uncaringness of the giants. His stomach turns, and he almost gags, but he manages to control his bodily reactions. "I agree," he says after Horros, his usually cheery demeanor somber and refrained. He could only hope the giants didn't decide they wanted a midnight snack.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Taya, as nervous as the next guy, walks around the campfire on edge. She tries to hide it but clearly isn’t able to shut eyes. Best to keep occupied m, she thinks, and makes rounds through the guards. She stay a little while with each guard and comments something that she noticed during the day or during their time on the caravan that they like to make them a little bit more comfortable. Then she uses the opportunity to point out how important is the job each one is doing and commends them for the effort that they put in to protect their group during this hardship. She hopes that a little bit of extra motivation will keep them vigilant, or better yet safe through the night.
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
As night enveloped the forest, the campfire's glow became a small island of light amidst a sea of darkness. The dense canopy overhead and the thick underbrush around seemed to close in, creating an almost oppressive atmosphere around the party's encampment.
Throughout the long hours of darkness, the forest was alive with unsettling sounds. Distant, harrowing shrieks pierced the night at irregular intervals, each one sending a shiver down the spine. These cries, filled with terror and pain, were a grim reminder of the hill giants' macabre feast.
The air was heavy with the scent of roasting flesh, drifting through the trees and permeating the camp. It lingered like a malevolent specter, the mercenaries fates haunting the nightmares of those were could find sleep.
In the darkness beyond the fire's reach, the shadows seemed to move and shift, as if concealing unseen watchers. The sensation of being observed was palpable. Every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig was magnified, hinting either at paranoia or the presence of something lurking just out of sight. Either way, the makeshift spears around the campsite brought some small sense of security.
The darkness itself felt alive, as if it were a living, breathing entity, watching and waiting. The line between the natural world and something more sinister seemed to blur.
As dawn finally broke, its light brought a measure of relief, but the comfort was superficial. The early morning rays did little to dispel the lingering sense of dread. The forest, now visible in the growing light, still held a foreboding presence. The knowledge that the giants and their monstrous companions were still close by weighed heavily in the air.
The new day brought with it a stark realization: the party was not alone in these woods, and the dangers they faced were not confined to the darkness of night. They were in the territory of predators driven by cunning and base instinct. Creatures to whom the party were nothing but another source of food.
((Unless anyone wants to intervene in the previous night, the sun has risen, take a long rest and tell me what you’re going to do on day 2))
“We need to move. We have to put as much distance between us and those giants as possible. If they were active during the night it’s possible they rest in the daylight. We got lucky last night that they had already found victims, but now we are next on the menu if we can’t get far enough away.”
Kaelan Thornfell - Wildhunt Shifter Beast Barbarian - Horde of the Dragon Queen
Gustuck "Grumpy Gus" Clayshaper - Deep Gnome Astral Self Monk - Malady of Minarrh
Shelmo Sherrinford - Fairy Inquisitive Rogue - Vae Victus
Solstice Nightchill - Winter Eladrin Hunter Ranger - The Yawning Portal
Captain Duskstar - Human Hex "Gun" Warlock - Airships and Whiskey
With the morning sun rising, Taya recovers some of her resolve and as the camp is packed up, she goes to find Haj and Bell. “You two have been investigating the scene yesterday, you know that campsite of the mercs. Do you think that they really took all of them? I thought those who fled were in larger numbers than us and I fear the ones that got caught here might have been some who deserted the main force. How many do you think of them were caught yesterday? And any insight into who or what exactly attacked them?”
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
"Maybe we can find tracks from the campsite, see if there's any clues that can lead us to the main group.. We could try to break one of the mercs out of the giant camp if any are still alive hehe." The last suggestion was made in obvious jest, though he is open to weighing all of the options. "Either way, hangin around here will do us no good."
"I couldn't say" Haj replied, "between the chaos and the poor light it was difficult to track anything other than the giant's prints for definite."
"Now that the sun is risen we could take another look, but I doubt it would benefit us much. I'd suggest that we move on and try to get out of this forest. At least that will give us some better visibility".
Nyli Bemblade - Gnome Arcane Trickster
Portia Thornleaf - Halfling Rogue
"Yeah, you're right." Taya concedes to Horros and Haj. "We should get the hell out of here. We don't know if we can actually get out of these woods today and our prime priority should be to bring distance between us and these savages. I just thought, it would be good to know whether or not there are still mercenaries. But in truth it doesn't matter... Not as much as leaving this blasted forest with our lives at any rate."
Taya helps as much as possible to repack the horses and guide them out of the glade into the forest proper. She follows their scouts with all her hopes set to leave this forest as soon as possible.
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
Cal thinks over the conversations had around camp. Why would anyone have even a passing sympathy for those mercenaries? Isn't this a fitting end to their brutality, their own brutal death? He packs up his bags, going through the morning routine, trims his hair, dusts out his boots, rolls his bedding, all while ruminating on why. Why should he care.
The answer eludes him though. The obvious answer just out of his reach.
He readies himself for the possibility of danger, wrapping thin sheets of telekinetic force around his body. (Mage Armor)
"Ready to hit the road." He says with a smile, bag sinched to his back, as the group readies itself. "Lets catch these jerks."
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
“Hill giants and dire wolve, a small hunting party,” Bell confirms.
“Putting these woods behind us, may be the right decision.”
”With those extra serpent brigade uniforms, we might keep the rendezvous, whether or not any of the actual mercenaries survive?”
Hmm.. Perhaps not one of my finest ideas…