Alistair, lost in the throes of composing a dark melody for his muse, Fierna, doesn't notice the party come to a halt. He only realizes something is wrong when he slams into Krog's back. Cursing under his breath, he mumbles an apology and follows their gaze upwards. A magnificent sight fills his vision – a large winged horse, its coat shimmering with an otherworldly sheen, lands gracefully atop a sheer cliff face. Alistair, his annoyance momentarily forgotten, feels a spark of primal curiosity ignite within him. Is this a creature of myth, a figment from some ancient tale, or something far more dangerous? Does my bardic knowledge hold any clues to its origins? He steals a glance at his companions, gauging their reactions. Are they frozen in fear, or do they share my fascination with this magnificent beast? The winged horse tilts its head, its large, intelligent eyes seeming to regard them with an unnerving curiosity. In that moment, the air crackles with a strange tension, and Alistair can't help but wonder – Are we the observers, or are we being observed?
Krog examines the creature's behavior but, with no basis of comparison, he can't determine the creature's intentions.
Billy quickly slips unnoticed under the cover of the overhang. Try as he might to identify the creature, the closest description he can recall is of a pegasus. If it is, then he certainly feels like someone should have thought mentioned the break and claws...
(Vetallica, you mentioned Alistair using his Bardic knowledge to identify the creature. I'll let you choose between a standard Nature check like Billy or an Intelligence check with your Performance proficiency modifier at disadvantage.)
Zeke decides a beast this magnificent deserves a closer look before battering it about , so he slowly moves towards it, hammer down but shield at the ready
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Alistair's mind races. His fingers drum a frantic rhythm against his lute case, a subconscious plea for inspiration. He mentally sifts through his vast song catalog, searching for any scrap of lore, any forgotten verse that might shed light on the magnificent creature before them. Is it a benevolent hippogriff, a creature of legend known for its loyalty and courage? Or something far more dangerous, a spectral nightmare like the night mares sung about in taverns by weary travelers? Frustration gnaws at him. His knowledge, usually so vast and reliable, feels frustratingly incomplete. A flicker of fear dances in his eyes, momentarily eclipsing the bard's usual bravado. He steals a glance at his companions, hoping to find some reassurance in their equally apprehensive expressions. Meanwhile, the winged horse remains perched atop the cliff, its gaze fixed on them. A long, low whinny echoes through the valley, a sound that resonates with both power and a strange, haunting beauty. The creature shifts its weight, sending a cascade of pebbles tumbling down the sheer rock face. Is that a warning, or merely a display of its raw power? Alistair holds his breath, the answer hanging heavy in the air.
Zeke moves closer to the creature, trying to understand it's intentions better, but there's no sign of intelligence behind it's black eyes.
Meanwhile, Alistair searches his mind for any stories or tales that might shed some light on their current situation. The creature doesn't quite fit the tales of benevolent hippogriffs of legend...but it does fit other stories. Stories of Hippogriffs as predatory creatures that lurk in mountain passes, stalking their prey from above, terrorizing explorers and slaughtering their pack animals.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Alistair's jaw drops, the color draining from his face as recognition slams into him. Terror contorts his features. "Hippogriff," he rasps, the word barely a whisper. Memories, long dormant, flood back – stories of winged predators that lurk in mountain passes, their keen eyes scanning for unsuspecting prey. They hunt in pairs, these creatures, swooping down from the skies to snatch unsuspecting travelers or tear apart pack animals with their razor-sharp beaks and talons. Panic claws at his throat, but Alistair forces it down. This is no time for fear. With a desperate hand gesture, he urges the party to take cover. "Down!" he hisses, his voice tight with urgency. "Find anything that can shield you! Stealth12We need to find the other one. They hunt in pairs!" Perception4His heart hammers against his ribs as he scans the surrounding landscape. Sparse trees offer little protection, and the sheer cliff face behind them provides no escape route. Alistair's mind races, searching for a plan, a weakness he can exploit. But all he can remember are the chilling tales of these magnificent yet deadly creatures. He steals another glance at the hippogriff, its otherworldly beauty now a terrifying mask. It remains perched on the cliff, its head swiveling ever so slightly, its gaze lingering on the party below. The silence stretches, broken only by the ragged gasps of his companions. Alistair realizes, with a chilling certainty, that their journey has taken a turn for the worse.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Krog stands in awe at the sight of this splendorous creature. That is until he hears Alistair’s concerns and begins to realize that this mighty winged beast would be formidable if it became hostile. Krog knocks an arrow and looks for cover. Survival 8
(We seem to have lost Brocke. GB have you heard from him?)
(Dieheart said they'd be traveling for next couple weeks on June 1st & we could feel free to use Brockes in the meantime...it's been about 2 weeks so they could reasonably still be away)
“Tack and smack, you ole dummy,” curses Zeke upon hearing Alistair’s identification of the beast. “You trying to get yourself ate?!?” He cast Shield on himself and moves closer to the known beast.
There's a screech-whinny for the area where Krog heard the first call, and a second hippogriff leaps over a boulder and into view.
(Give me a starting location for each of your characters on or within one 5' square of the path running from E1 through DC11 and roll initiative, please)
(i have tried sending a pm to groverbloom but keep getting server errors so I will post it here then delete it)
hello hope all is well I send this to say you might have forgotten about the existence of my being although you have been active as I didn't get a response is 10+ days
Alistair's blood runs cold as a colossal shadow sweeps over them. He doesn't need to look up to confirm his worst fears. A second hippogriff, its form as magnificent and terrifying as its mate, crested over a boulder, its massive wings beating the air with a thunderous roar. There was no mistaking it now – they are in the hunting grounds of a mated pair. Panic threatens to consume him, but Alistair, fueled by a primal urge to survive, bolts towards the nearest tree (H5). His boots pound the hard earth, sending plumes of dust into the air. He ignores the burning sensation in his lungs, lost in the roar of his own pounding heart. The lute, his most prized possession, feels like a dead weight against his back, but he couldn't bear the thought of abandoning it. He reaches the tree, his chest heaving, a gnarled oak with a sparse canopy that offers little real protection. The two hippogriffs remain perched overhead, their cries echo through the valley like a haunting death knell. Initiative4
Alistair, lost in the throes of composing a dark melody for his muse, Fierna, doesn't notice the party come to a halt. He only realizes something is wrong when he slams into Krog's back. Cursing under his breath, he mumbles an apology and follows their gaze upwards. A magnificent sight fills his vision – a large winged horse, its coat shimmering with an otherworldly sheen, lands gracefully atop a sheer cliff face. Alistair, his annoyance momentarily forgotten, feels a spark of primal curiosity ignite within him. Is this a creature of myth, a figment from some ancient tale, or something far more dangerous? Does my bardic knowledge hold any clues to its origins? He steals a glance at his companions, gauging their reactions. Are they frozen in fear, or do they share my fascination with this magnificent beast? The winged horse tilts its head, its large, intelligent eyes seeming to regard them with an unnerving curiosity. In that moment, the air crackles with a strange tension, and Alistair can't help but wonder – Are we the observers, or are we being observed?
Billy will take cove just in case.
Stealth 16
He to ponders what this creature is?
Nature 6
Krog examines the creature's behavior but, with no basis of comparison, he can't determine the creature's intentions.
Billy quickly slips unnoticed under the cover of the overhang. Try as he might to identify the creature, the closest description he can recall is of a pegasus. If it is, then he certainly feels like someone should have thought mentioned the break and claws...
(Vetallica, you mentioned Alistair using his Bardic knowledge to identify the creature. I'll let you choose between a standard Nature check like Billy or an Intelligence check with your Performance proficiency modifier at disadvantage.)
Zeke decides a beast this magnificent deserves a closer look before battering it about , so he slowly moves towards it, hammer down but shield at the ready
insight 11+4 = 15 or 7+4=11
Alistair's mind races. His fingers drum a frantic rhythm against his lute case, a subconscious plea for inspiration. He mentally sifts through his vast song catalog, searching for any scrap of lore, any forgotten verse that might shed light on the magnificent creature before them. Is it a benevolent hippogriff, a creature of legend known for its loyalty and courage? Or something far more dangerous, a spectral nightmare like the night mares sung about in taverns by weary travelers? Frustration gnaws at him. His knowledge, usually so vast and reliable, feels frustratingly incomplete. A flicker of fear dances in his eyes, momentarily eclipsing the bard's usual bravado. He steals a glance at his companions, hoping to find some reassurance in their equally apprehensive expressions. Meanwhile, the winged horse remains perched atop the cliff, its gaze fixed on them. A long, low whinny echoes through the valley, a sound that resonates with both power and a strange, haunting beauty. The creature shifts its weight, sending a cascade of pebbles tumbling down the sheer rock face. Is that a warning, or merely a display of its raw power? Alistair holds his breath, the answer hanging heavy in the air.
Intelligence with performance proficiency at disadvantage 21
Zeke moves closer to the creature, trying to understand it's intentions better, but there's no sign of intelligence behind it's black eyes.
Meanwhile, Alistair searches his mind for any stories or tales that might shed some light on their current situation. The creature doesn't quite fit the tales of benevolent hippogriffs of legend...but it does fit other stories. Stories of Hippogriffs as predatory creatures that lurk in mountain passes, stalking their prey from above, terrorizing explorers and slaughtering their pack animals.
...Creatures that typically hunt in mated pairs.
Alistair's jaw drops, the color draining from his face as recognition slams into him. Terror contorts his features. "Hippogriff," he rasps, the word barely a whisper. Memories, long dormant, flood back – stories of winged predators that lurk in mountain passes, their keen eyes scanning for unsuspecting prey. They hunt in pairs, these creatures, swooping down from the skies to snatch unsuspecting travelers or tear apart pack animals with their razor-sharp beaks and talons. Panic claws at his throat, but Alistair forces it down. This is no time for fear. With a desperate hand gesture, he urges the party to take cover. "Down!" he hisses, his voice tight with urgency. "Find anything that can shield you! Stealth 12 We need to find the other one. They hunt in pairs!" Perception 4 His heart hammers against his ribs as he scans the surrounding landscape. Sparse trees offer little protection, and the sheer cliff face behind them provides no escape route. Alistair's mind races, searching for a plan, a weakness he can exploit. But all he can remember are the chilling tales of these magnificent yet deadly creatures. He steals another glance at the hippogriff, its otherworldly beauty now a terrifying mask. It remains perched on the cliff, its head swiveling ever so slightly, its gaze lingering on the party below. The silence stretches, broken only by the ragged gasps of his companions. Alistair realizes, with a chilling certainty, that their journey has taken a turn for the worse.
Billy already in cove will readies his crossbow to fire if the birdy horse attacks and looks for the mate.
Perception = 15
Krog stands in awe at the sight of this splendorous creature. That is until he hears Alistair’s concerns and begins to realize that this mighty winged beast would be formidable if it became hostile. Krog knocks an arrow and looks for cover. Survival 8
(We seem to have lost Brocke. GB have you heard from him?)
(Dieheart said they'd be traveling for next couple weeks on June 1st & we could feel free to use Brockes in the meantime...it's been about 2 weeks so they could reasonably still be away)
(OOC-Thanks, vetallica for this. I recall that now. I have slept a few times since reading that post.)
“Tack and smack, you ole dummy,” curses Zeke upon hearing Alistair’s identification of the beast. “You trying to get yourself ate?!?” He cast Shield on himself and moves closer to the known beast.
There's a screech-whinny for the area where Krog heard the first call, and a second hippogriff leaps over a boulder and into view.
(Give me a starting location for each of your characters on or within one 5' square of the path running from E1 through DC11 and roll initiative, please)
E4
Init 17
Krog
E3 to support Zeke.
Init. 18
Hiding around F5
INITIATIVE 7
(i have tried sending a pm to groverbloom but keep getting server errors so I will post it here then delete it)
hello hope all is well I send this to say you might have forgotten about the existence of my being although you have been active as I didn't get a response is 10+ days
best of luck to all of you
-ShaDrowS
Brockes would be around E2.
Initiative: Nat 1 for a total of 2. Lol. Maybe I’ll see you all the next round.
Alistair's blood runs cold as a colossal shadow sweeps over them. He doesn't need to look up to confirm his worst fears. A second hippogriff, its form as magnificent and terrifying as its mate, crested over a boulder, its massive wings beating the air with a thunderous roar. There was no mistaking it now – they are in the hunting grounds of a mated pair. Panic threatens to consume him, but Alistair, fueled by a primal urge to survive, bolts towards the nearest tree (H5). His boots pound the hard earth, sending plumes of dust into the air. He ignores the burning sensation in his lungs, lost in the roar of his own pounding heart. The lute, his most prized possession, feels like a dead weight against his back, but he couldn't bear the thought of abandoning it. He reaches the tree, his chest heaving, a gnarled oak with a sparse canopy that offers little real protection. The two hippogriffs remain perched overhead, their cries echo through the valley like a haunting death knell. Initiative 4
Group initiative for the Hippogriffs: 21