You say goodbye to the halflings, who happily accept Strix's gift of nuts and berries; the children are still wearing their flowers from the night before.
You set off on the third day of the trip; from the map, it appears likely that you will reach Phandalin this evening. You head eastward, and the sun is bright as it rises in the sky ahead of you, making it difficult at times to see the road ahead. Fortunately, the Triboar Trail seems even less busy than the High Road, and you encounter not a soul as you go. The clouds that had begun to obscure the stars overnight are drifting in the sky but it's still a fine, warm day. The countryside you are passing through begins to change; these are still plains and grasslands for the most part, but there are small wooded areas off to the side of the road, and trees dot the countryside in all directions; you know that you are getting nearer to the Neverwinter Wood, though the trail passes some way to its south.
At times, the trail cuts into these pockets of not quite forest, and you are moving in the surprisingly cool shade of large trees that hide the sun, if only for short periods. You’ve been on the Triboar Trail for about half a day. As you come around a bend, Dario, you spot two dead horses sprawled about forty feet ahead of you, blocking the path. Each has several black-feathered arrows sticking out of it. The trees are thick to the north side on your left, somewhat less so on your right.
Dario is in the lead, walking with his bow at the ready and an arrow already notched. The wagon is following about ten feet behind, driven by Asher, with the others either riding it or following behind, Vaz riding on Soodi's back.
Can someone do Investigation to see what killed the horses and how long they've been dead? And then perception to see if there are any creatures around that might be trying to hide or be hospitable? I have Investigation +0 and Perception +3. I can do either check, or help someone to give them advantage. I think others might have higher modifiers though, which is why I'm seeing if someone else wants to take the lead on this.
Varinth, realizing something is very wrong, grabs his staff from the straps on Soodi and then scrambles up onto her hump, looking back down the path from where they have come. Kneeling on top for a better view he scans the tree lines on either side, heart thumping in his chest. He tries to quell the panic that's rising and the sudden need to vomit. Feeling his crackling core, he lets the heat spread.
Perception: 8
Should Vaz see anyone or anything that looks a threat he will let loose Burning Hands in it's direction.
Burning Hands: 11 Damage: 11 Half damge on Dex save
Strix, you move a little way into the undergrowth to the left of the trail; you don't see or hear anything. It's late afternoon, and the path is well lit; off the path however, the thin tree trunks and light covering of leaves overhead creates pockets of bright light and shade; the contrast is making it a little difficult for your eyes to spot anything.
Vaz, you can't see anything but trees, bushes and tall grass along the sides of the path, but the trees are definitely thicker, and offer more places to hide, along the left side of the trail.
(If it looks like going deeper into the trees would improve visibility, Strix does that, moving diagonally to the road, head tilted to one side to aid his sense of aural positioning.
Yes, I did read a lot about owls in the last week or so, can you tell? :)
should i be doing my own stealth rolls, btw? Just occurred to me that I should never know how good or bad the roll is till I'm caught! Might be thinking of the older crueller rulesets though)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vaz:
Varinth looks over his shoulder to see how Soodi is behaving and beyond at the horses (who I shall call Bob and Kate, the unbidden and inappropriate thought comes to mind). Are they looking panicked? The dead horses would probably not be having a calming effect you idiot. Dear Gods my head is thumping.
Vaz looks back to the path at our rear, certain that an ambush is imminent.
Ash? We okay?Varinth tries to project and whisper at the same time.
Asher hops down from the driver's seat, and moves forward past Dario, his attention focused on the horses ahead. He walks forward another 30 feet until he reaches the horses, where he crouches down to inspect them. It's clear that the horses have been dead for a day, maybe more than a day, you're not entirely sure. They were definitely killed by the arrows.
Strix, you take another couple of steps deeper into the forest, when you hear a crashing sound to your left as a small, ugly goblin springs out from behind a large bush, scimitar at the ready. You glimpse another shape moving behind it, and you're certain this creature is not alone.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Asher smiles. "My time to shine!" as he unclips his glaive and twirls it around all cliche and cool like.
Initiative: 3
Just a reminder, I have the Polearm Master feat. I can make a bonus action attack with the back end of my glaive. Also, I can get an opportunity attack when a creature comes within my attack range, which is 10ft with the glaive.
Just waiting for a couple of people's initiative rolls, then we can get going. As this is the first time we've been in combat, we'll play according to rules as described in the source books, following normal initiative order. If that ends up taking a long time waiting for people to take their turns, there are a couple of ways of simplifying matters for Play-By-Post so that things speed up, so we can try those next time. Feel free to be descriptive as your character is moving, attacking, dodging and taking blows.
DnDBeyond can be very sensitive about die rolls, so yeah, please don't try to edit them, even if they get retconned out of the story. You can sometimes get rid of the red 'manipulated dice rolls' banner by adding the rolls, exactly as they were, back in - but it doesn't always work.
Vaz:
Varinth awakens with a start. He mumbles his apologies to the Halfling family.
Mornin Fellows. Soodi and I shall take the rear again. This time I shall endeavor to give the crushed grapes some respite. I shall try at any rate.
Perception: 9
Did I do this right?
It looks like you rolled with disadvantage with a negative 1 modifier. (I know the modifier is correct) but why did you have disadvantage?
Published Subclasses
Disadvantage due to hangover essentially ;)
Lol well then it looks like you did exactly what you wanted to.
Published Subclasses
You say goodbye to the halflings, who happily accept Strix's gift of nuts and berries; the children are still wearing their flowers from the night before.
You set off on the third day of the trip; from the map, it appears likely that you will reach Phandalin this evening. You head eastward, and the sun is bright as it rises in the sky ahead of you, making it difficult at times to see the road ahead. Fortunately, the Triboar Trail seems even less busy than the High Road, and you encounter not a soul as you go. The clouds that had begun to obscure the stars overnight are drifting in the sky but it's still a fine, warm day. The countryside you are passing through begins to change; these are still plains and grasslands for the most part, but there are small wooded areas off to the side of the road, and trees dot the countryside in all directions; you know that you are getting nearer to the Neverwinter Wood, though the trail passes some way to its south.
At times, the trail cuts into these pockets of not quite forest, and you are moving in the surprisingly cool shade of large trees that hide the sun, if only for short periods. You’ve been on the Triboar Trail for about half a day. As you come around a bend, Dario, you spot two dead horses sprawled about forty feet ahead of you, blocking the path. Each has several black-feathered arrows sticking out of it. The trees are thick to the north side on your left, somewhat less so on your right.
Dario is in the lead, walking with his bow at the ready and an arrow already notched. The wagon is following about ten feet behind, driven by Asher, with the others either riding it or following behind, Vaz riding on Soodi's back.
Can someone do Investigation to see what killed the horses and how long they've been dead? And then perception to see if there are any creatures around that might be trying to hide or be hospitable? I have Investigation +0 and Perception +3. I can do either check, or help someone to give them advantage. I think others might have higher modifiers though, which is why I'm seeing if someone else wants to take the lead on this.
Published Subclasses
(low int, not built for investigation. But perception I can (usually) do)
"Maybe more kids?" Strix asks hopefully, but those arrows do not look like the fun kind. Because there is no fun kind.
"Vaz watches rear now" he whispers, using the bulk of the cart to hide him moving into the undergrowth on the left.
14 stealth
13 perception
(If he can't move till Dario tells us what he's seen, let me know.)
Strix, Shifter Shadow Monk in Lost Mines of Phandelver ¦ Sihegiall Human Soulknife Rogue in In Search of Molly McGuffin
Vaz:
Varinth, realizing something is very wrong, grabs his staff from the straps on Soodi and then scrambles up onto her hump, looking back down the path from where they have come. Kneeling on top for a better view he scans the tree lines on either side, heart thumping in his chest. He tries to quell the panic that's rising and the sudden need to vomit. Feeling his crackling core, he lets the heat spread.
Perception: 8
Should Vaz see anyone or anything that looks a threat he will let loose Burning Hands in it's direction.
Burning Hands: 11 Damage: 11 Half damge on Dex save
Strix, you move a little way into the undergrowth to the left of the trail; you don't see or hear anything. It's late afternoon, and the path is well lit; off the path however, the thin tree trunks and light covering of leaves overhead creates pockets of bright light and shade; the contrast is making it a little difficult for your eyes to spot anything.
Vaz, you can't see anything but trees, bushes and tall grass along the sides of the path, but the trees are definitely thicker, and offer more places to hide, along the left side of the trail.
Asher investigates the horses to see if he is able to discern the cause of death and time of death, to the best of his knowledge.
Investigation: 12
Published Subclasses
(If it looks like going deeper into the trees would improve visibility, Strix does that, moving diagonally to the road, head tilted to one side to aid his sense of aural positioning.
Yes, I did read a lot about owls in the last week or so, can you tell? :)
should i be doing my own stealth rolls, btw? Just occurred to me that I should never know how good or bad the roll is till I'm caught! Might be thinking of the older crueller rulesets though)
Strix, Shifter Shadow Monk in Lost Mines of Phandelver ¦ Sihegiall Human Soulknife Rogue in In Search of Molly McGuffin
Vaz:
Varinth looks over his shoulder to see how Soodi is behaving and beyond at the horses (who I shall call Bob and Kate, the unbidden and inappropriate thought comes to mind). Are they looking panicked? The dead horses would probably not be having a calming effect you idiot. Dear Gods my head is thumping.
Vaz looks back to the path at our rear, certain that an ambush is imminent.
Ash? We okay? Varinth tries to project and whisper at the same time.
Perception: 3
Asher hops down from the driver's seat, and moves forward past Dario, his attention focused on the horses ahead. He walks forward another 30 feet until he reaches the horses, where he crouches down to inspect them. It's clear that the horses have been dead for a day, maybe more than a day, you're not entirely sure. They were definitely killed by the arrows.
Strix, you take another couple of steps deeper into the forest, when you hear a crashing sound to your left as a small, ugly goblin springs out from behind a large bush, scimitar at the ready. You glimpse another shape moving behind it, and you're certain this creature is not alone.
Everyone roll initiative please.
13
12
14
10
Asher smiles. "My time to shine!" as he unclips his glaive and twirls it around all cliche and cool like.
Initiative: 3
Just a reminder, I have the Polearm Master feat. I can make a bonus action attack with the back end of my glaive. Also, I can get an opportunity attack when a creature comes within my attack range, which is 10ft with the glaive.
Published Subclasses
Init 20
Ooc : *Gulp* might still be kids? Really ugly ones?
Strix, Shifter Shadow Monk in Lost Mines of Phandelver ¦ Sihegiall Human Soulknife Rogue in In Search of Molly McGuffin
Vaz:
Initiative: 15
Vaz:
OOC: Also I just realized Varinth is balancing on his knees on the highest point of a giant animal.
Dexterity: 18
Any extra considerations due to his familiarity being atop Soodi would be kindly welcomed.
Initiative 20
I removed the movement and stealth roll because i have no idea who goes first (evidently removing a die roll is bad) sorry.
Just waiting for a couple of people's initiative rolls, then we can get going. As this is the first time we've been in combat, we'll play according to rules as described in the source books, following normal initiative order. If that ends up taking a long time waiting for people to take their turns, there are a couple of ways of simplifying matters for Play-By-Post so that things speed up, so we can try those next time. Feel free to be descriptive as your character is moving, attacking, dodging and taking blows.
DnDBeyond can be very sensitive about die rolls, so yeah, please don't try to edit them, even if they get retconned out of the story. You can sometimes get rid of the red 'manipulated dice rolls' banner by adding the rolls, exactly as they were, back in - but it doesn't always work.