Arista lifts her shield hand to cover her nose, eyes narrowing at the fetid draft from the arch. She plants her staff, studies the stones a heartbeat, then scratches a quick symbol on a nearby trunk and sketches the layout into her field notes. “That stench screams ghasts,” she says, voice low. “Too deep, too many unknowns. We mark it, back out, and report to the lord—no glory in feeding a nest today.” She checks her straps, takes two steps back from the tunnel mouth, and motions a quiet withdrawal, hoping that the others will agree.
Kaelen takes out his book and also notes down the location carefully before moving to join Arista. "I am at home in the dark, but it may be a hindrance to the rest of you, not to mention the cramped conditions."He looks to those who haven't given their opinions yet. "What do you think?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep| Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep| Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia| Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren| Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron| Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault| Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
"We know how many were in that group. We do not know if that is the full quantity of ghouls present here. Worst case scenario, this whole village's dead could be ghouls, and explains why there is no living anymore. We have two options. Camp near here and cut down the small group when they return or other groups when they leave, but risk being overwhelmed. Or marking and leaving like Arista says. I vote for leaving."
Kaelen turns toward the cave in slight surprise, trying to discern whether the whimper sounds like a living person. If it does, he will instinctively head inside, hoping to save them if possible.
Perception?: 18
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep| Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep| Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia| Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren| Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron| Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault| Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
Kaelen sighs, turning away from the lair. "A baby owlbear's death cry. How the undead managed to bring it here is a mystery...but we should be on our way in case the mother comes for revenge."
"I don't believe a mother will be on her way. The fact we came across two adult corpses with some children already makes me think this is where they got the baby. The real question is, why bring the baby back when they killed the rest in one go?"
Mathias's face pales. "Do you think it possible that ghoul fever possess an owlbear? If so, that is not the sort of thing I would want to face without significant preparation."
Arista presses her lips thin, then angles her shield toward the tunnel and speaks in a low, practical murmur: "Perhaps, the ghouls hauled the hatchling back for a 'right-sized' meal; either way, it’s too late to save it," and she thinks they should pull out without explicitly saying it again.
She turns to Mathias, eyebrows knit, and asks, "Do you mean we ought to prevent any spread?" After a beat’s thought, she proposes, "Let's burn them and bury the remains—owlbear and otherwise—before leaving, just to be sure."
It works for me and prompts this message center screen: Your DM is not currently hosting a game session.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||
[[ Okay so that doesn't work, sticking with foundry. ]]
A cold breeze kicks up, flowing out from the tunnel, bearing strong hints of the ghast stench floating up from the dark.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Arista lifts her shield hand to cover her nose, eyes narrowing at the fetid draft from the arch. She plants her staff, studies the stones a heartbeat, then scratches a quick symbol on a nearby trunk and sketches the layout into her field notes. “That stench screams ghasts,” she says, voice low. “Too deep, too many unknowns. We mark it, back out, and report to the lord—no glory in feeding a nest today.” She checks her straps, takes two steps back from the tunnel mouth, and motions a quiet withdrawal, hoping that the others will agree.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||
Kaelen takes out his book and also notes down the location carefully before moving to join Arista. "I am at home in the dark, but it may be a hindrance to the rest of you, not to mention the cramped conditions." He looks to those who haven't given their opinions yet. "What do you think?"
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
"We know how many were in that group. We do not know if that is the full quantity of ghouls present here. Worst case scenario, this whole village's dead could be ghouls, and explains why there is no living anymore. We have two options. Camp near here and cut down the small group when they return or other groups when they leave, but risk being overwhelmed. Or marking and leaving like Arista says. I vote for leaving."
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
You hear a loud screechy whimper from the tunnel, then silence.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Kaelen turns toward the cave in slight surprise, trying to discern whether the whimper sounds like a living person. If it does, he will instinctively head inside, hoping to save them if possible.
Perception?: 18
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
Should Kaelen head inside, Arista will follow her with an audible sigh.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||
It sounds like an animal, almost birdlike, with some mammalian features, and very clearly cut off, as if whatever made it has now been killed.
[[A nature check DC 15 will tell exactly what it was if curious.]]
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Kaelen nature: 14 -.-
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
[[Close enough... Spoiler for harm befalling something that could be considered cute.]]
It was a baby owlbear they brought back to their lair before killing.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Kaelen sighs, turning away from the lair. "A baby owlbear's death cry. How the undead managed to bring it here is a mystery...but we should be on our way in case the mother comes for revenge."
| Joy - Hexblood Open Sea Paladin - Netherdeep | Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
"I don't believe a mother will be on her way. The fact we came across two adult corpses with some children already makes me think this is where they got the baby. The real question is, why bring the baby back when they killed the rest in one go?"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Mathias's face pales. "Do you think it possible that ghoul fever possess an owlbear? If so, that is not the sort of thing I would want to face without significant preparation."
Arista presses her lips thin, then angles her shield toward the tunnel and speaks in a low, practical murmur: "Perhaps, the ghouls hauled the hatchling back for a 'right-sized' meal; either way, it’s too late to save it," and she thinks they should pull out without explicitly saying it again.
She turns to Mathias, eyebrows knit, and asks, "Do you mean we ought to prevent any spread?" After a beat’s thought, she proposes, "Let's burn them and bury the remains—owlbear and otherwise—before leaving, just to be sure."
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Yawning Portal || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan Shi - Liquid Swords || Syed - Drakkenheim || Kaelthor - Dragonlance ||