Feeling like they may be likely to encounter trouble, Markas reluctantly stops and takes off his pack, unpacks his swords and re-positions them so they are within easy reach when he's walking. Then he continues on searching, but keeping his bow at the ready.
The divided party continues to move mainly east and slightly north for about 1000 yards. Despite moving in the forest the pace of the entire party has remained the same as if they were all on the road. This is thanks to Markus's ranger abilities and the fact that forests are his favored terrain.
In the forest, the tracks continue and are easily followed. South of the road, the Goblinwater bends sharply to the southeast and the base of the hill you spotted earlier is now about 300 yards away.
The edge of the forest that has paralleled the road will now turn abruptly to the north. The tracks you have been following continue inside the forest and parallel the edge. There is now a wide gap of dry grassland between the road and the forest.
If Markus and Brumdal continue to follow the tracks in the forest, and the rest of the party were to stay on the road, visual contact might become more difficult as the distance between you will begin to significantly increase.
To Brumdal: "I think we should continue inside the forest, I'm seeing lots of activity and its the most likely place Lhodis was taken. We should probably see what the rest think and make a decision on a path forward for the entire group."
(If no objections) Markas will head towards the road to speak with the rest of the group.
Amar is thrilled to see the party regroup. He's happy to follow the tracks in the forest. But notes our progress is likely to be slower. But right now stray tracks are our only clue, might as well follow. Any other thoughts?
Following the tracks takes you north (and a little east) uphill. Your elevation gain is about 50 feet before you turn east once again and continue to follow the forest's edge. From this point whenever you peek out from the trees looking south you can see the road running parallel to you several hundred yards away.
Continuing to follow the tracks, you head east, slope back downhill, and approach the side of a forested hill. You can see your path beginning to intersect with the road once again, but instead of crossing it, you find yourself walking next to it, but above it. The path of the road and the forest start to bend more north at this point.
As you continue your trek within the shelter of the forest's edge you note that at first there is a gentle slope down to the road, but, as you continue, the slope becomes more severe and eventually becomes a steep cliff directly above the road. To get down to the road at this point, you would have to either backtrack, or climb down. Your height is 25 feet above the road.
The tracks you are following continue into a narrower (less than 100 yards wide) stretch of clear ground that goes on for another 100 or 200 yards. As mentioned, the road is below you to the east. To the west is a very steep incline covered in more of the deciduous trees that shelters you from wind and weather. This perch is a perfect place to ambush travelers on the road from above.
Whoa! Amar and Pagan both crit (rolled natural 20s) on their survival checks. The party as a group rolled super high.
You discern this area is used often--like the other one--as a guard post, staging site for ambushes, etc.
The tracks you have been following continue through the clearing and into the forest once again, but this time something is amiss...
As you stand at the edge of the forest where the tracks lead, you find that the forest has suddenly become very dense and tangled. There are thick, twisting tree trunks before you with unnaturally misshapen limbs, and writhing roots. A caw of a raven draws your attention upward. You see the trees above you also look this way and have abruptly changed right at this point: as your eyes trace back above you in the direction you came you see normal forest and then suddenly a twisted, gnarled one.
Arcana or Nature checks (whichever is better) to gain insights about the sudden change in the forest:
Zerys (with her natural 20) is convinced that this is not a natural phenomenon. Some type of magic is definitely at work. This could be caused by the presence of an extraplanar creature, a dragon's lair, some kind of elemental magic, or some other dark magic.
The tracks disappear into the tangled forest before you. Tangled forest is above you to the left. The path is directly below you (25 feet down) to the right. Behind you is the way you came.
Markas will approach the tangle of wood and try to determine whether its actually there or a "trick of the light". Depending on the results, he'll try to determine whether there's a path through.
Markus will approach the tangle of wood and try to determine whether its actually there or a "trick of the light". Depending on the results, he'll try to determine whether there's a path through.
The gnarled forest before you is definitely passable, but due to the magical nature of the change, Markus will lose the movement benefit of his favored terrain Ranger feature.
So long as Markus is aiding the party, there is no movement penalty in a forest because that is his favored terrain. (Normally a forest would be considered difficult terrain which means your speed is halved.) The magical effect is cancelling out that movement benefit now.
Pagan follows Zerys and Amar on the road continuing to be alert and watching for any trouble behind the party.
Zerys examines the terrain on the south side of the road for clues.
Feeling like they may be likely to encounter trouble, Markas reluctantly stops and takes off his pack, unpacks his swords and re-positions them so they are within easy reach when he's walking. Then he continues on searching, but keeping his bow at the ready.
If Markus and Brumdal continue to follow the tracks in the forest, and the rest of the party were to stay on the road, visual contact might become more difficult as the distance between you will begin to significantly increase.
Perception checks to just notice something out of the ordinary or threatening:
Amar: 15
Brumdal: 16
Markus: 16
Pagan: 21
Zerys: 13
Survival checks for tracking:
Amar: 10
Brumdal: 6
Markus: 18
Pagan: 18
Zerys: 3
Those are good rolls, yet you gain no new information.
To Brumdal: "I think we should continue inside the forest, I'm seeing lots of activity and its the most likely place Lhodis was taken. We should probably see what the rest think and make a decision on a path forward for the entire group."
(If no objections) Markas will head towards the road to speak with the rest of the group.
Perception:
Brumdal: 3
Markus: 9
They notice nothing peculiar.
Amar is thrilled to see the party regroup. He's happy to follow the tracks in the forest. But notes our progress is likely to be slower. But right now stray tracks are our only clue, might as well follow. Any other thoughts?
Zerys agrees. We should follow the tracks in the forest.
Agreed - let's follow the tracks in the forest.
Amar takes in the view for a moment. He begins to examine the immediate area to look for signs of conflict or if others have camped here.
Perception checks to just notice something out of the ordinary or threatening:
Amar: 4
Brumdal: 19
Markus: 14
Pagan: 16
Zerys: 10
Survival checks for tracking:
Amar: 19
Brumdal: 4
Markus: 20
Pagan: 22
Zerys: 20
Whoa! Amar and Pagan both crit (rolled natural 20s) on their survival checks. The party as a group rolled super high.
Arcana or Nature checks (whichever is better) to gain insights about the sudden change in the forest:
Amar: 7 (Arcana)
Brumdal: 10
Markus: 7
Pagan: 13
Zerys 22 (Nature)
Zerys (with her natural 20) is convinced that this is not a natural phenomenon. Some type of magic is definitely at work. This could be caused by the presence of an extraplanar creature, a dragon's lair, some kind of elemental magic, or some other dark magic.
What do you want to do?
Amar fills in the group if what he knows of Zelligar. I don't think the barkeep shared those points.
Markas will approach the tangle of wood and try to determine whether its actually there or a "trick of the light". Depending on the results, he'll try to determine whether there's a path through.
Perception: 20
It seems quite real to you just based on your senses.
The forest seems to be "warped"--for lack of a better word--by a magical effect.
The gnarled forest before you is definitely passable, but due to the magical nature of the change, Markus will lose the movement benefit of his favored terrain Ranger feature.
So long as Markus is aiding the party, there is no movement penalty in a forest because that is his favored terrain. (Normally a forest would be considered difficult terrain which means your speed is halved.) The magical effect is cancelling out that movement benefit now.