"If no one objects I'll help, but I'm curious how will we get there, on mount or foot? Who here knows we would have the child and who at the camp? Is there a road. At a minimum we need food and water provisions..." Feytok will look to the others for input. Axe swinging he can handle but this is an undertaking.
"We told Galacea that we would help the child, plus if it pisses off the fiends that's an added bonus. I'm down for helping. Like Feytok asked will we be needed to provide our own provisions, also how long of a journey is it expected to be? We will be a bit slower taking a child with us." Keyrie adds.
"It would be a hard day's journey for a young child," Barbadan says. "Even on the Long Road. Yes, it was just recently completed up to the town. This is the Long Road, ending here at Marctenus and traveling more than 2000 miles to the capital." There is a little bitterness edging his voice.
"I won't need the food stores from my house any more. It should be enough for 2 days for all of us," says Nev.
Barbadan nods. "And I will ask Drencol about his old wagon and mule. It should make the trip more comfortable for you and the child."
Tock speaks up, "Do you know how they keep finding you? Is it a magical or supernatural ability or some mundane means of recognizing faces and voices?"
"I am asking because maybe we could make a bit of a switch where I would learn a few of your lines.. ", says Tock and exactly repeats the last sentence said by Nev, followed by a much quieter version of the child's scream from the previous night.
"So that when we get in danger I will be able to draw most of the attention and I am much better at staying alive than you two."
Barbadan's eyes go wide as he listens to Tock's myriad of voices. It is the most he has heard the Kenku speak. Upon hearing his proposal and his perfect mimicry of Nev and her daughter's cry, he says, "Gentoa is a well-known point of pride to our fair town. The fiends likely needed nothing magical to determine her whereabouts. Not that they could not also have such magic. Regardless, it would be a good idea to have your ability in case the fiends do happen upon you along the way."
Dog really likes Tock's idea, and also wanted to suggest that they disguise themselves as a common merchant wagon and not seem like they're in a hurry.
"Of course we will escort you," he says. "This seems... supremely important. Barbadan, will you accompany us, or do you need to stay to protect the town? Or are there others you'd recommend we bring along? Wouldn't want too many people but some who can handle some weapons or magic wouldn't be a terrible idea."
"They will protect you, I promise," says the dwarf. "I saw them handle those fiends. They have heart."
He turns to Dog, looking up at the towering goliath. "No, I'm sorry. We cannot spare any more people. That is why your arrival was especially fortuitous. We lost 17 good men and women last night." His eyes cast downward as he frowns.
"Seventeen? You said a dozen!"
"Horam and Kraat died last night outside your house. And we lost three to injuries this morning."
Nev takes a deep breath, processing these losses. "Well, the whole point of our leaving is to protect the town. We cannot leave them any less defensible. It will just be the 7 of us." She nods and stands up, hefting the girl as she does so. "I am going to go and pack what I can. I hope we can leave by noon, if that is agreeable."
"Be at ease, and mourn your dead, Barbadan. These two will be safe with us. We will be equal to the task. I will be there at noon."
To his friends, Dog says, "perhaps instead of pooling our money for that broom, we'd find use for the dust of disappearance? I know not whether fiends can see past invisibility but if not, it could come in handy."
Keyrie pats her pouch and sling, "I have a ranged weapon now, and with all these fighting of fiends I have learned a lot. I have 80 extra gold to spend on whatever you think is best/we can afford. The powder might be good to use on the child should we be attacked. I will be ready to leave whenever."
(I believe Dog has one more purchase to make. I didn't see it on his character sheet yet. I'm advancing the story but feel free to incorporate any such last minute purchases into your next post. Also, I have added Neventi Drahm as character to the campaign. She is strictly an NPC, but I fleshed out all of her stats and spells.)
Neventi sees Dog standing outside the Road's End Curios shop counting his coin as she returns from her demolished house. She hands him a two packs of dried food. "Join us soon. I am eager to leave."
At the edge of town, she finds the rest of the circus troop, shouldering their backpacks and resting quietly in the bright fall sunshine. An old mule hitched to a sturdy looking two-wheeled cart is here as well. She loads her own pack and her sleeping daughter into it. "Shall I drive or would any of you care for a turn at it?" she says, clearly all business.
It is expected to be easy going, since the road is newly built and relatively flat for most of the distance they are to travel. As soon as Dog arrives, the group sets out. They pass a couple of local farmers bringing crops and animals into the town before night falls. No other travelers are heading to or from Marctenus, however.
It is in the early part of this leg of the journey that Nev explains the fiends have been harassing the town for several nights. Nobody could figure out why until the second night, when an imp accosted a local farmer's wife and demanded to know where the child was. The attacks increased from then on. It was on the third night that the celestial forces arrived, escalating the battle to areas far beyond the town. One notable thing is that the fiends did not attack during the day, at least en mass. The rutterkin seemed to attack freely during the day to bolster their ranks, but only in isolated pockets away from the town. It was at night when they pressed in against Marctenus and forced the people to take up arms.
By evening, the group has traveled roughly 40% of the distance to their destination. Rather than press on into the night, they stop and set up camp near to the road alongside a thick shelter of trees. Around the fire, the troop has a chance to reminisce about the circus and to help shepherd the young toddler away from the fire. They laugh each time she moos at Tyrol and cheeps at Tock. They get her to laugh when Tock moos and cheeps back at her in her own voice. Little Gentoa eventually finds herself curled in Keyrie's lap as silence falls around the campfire.
"Thank you for letting us forget the danger for a little while," says Nev. "I'm going to prepare our beds. I'll leave the rest of the evening for you to figure out."
Nev and Gentoa are tucked into their tent before long and the circus troop is left holding back the oppressive night.
Tock, upon seeing how the wagon is set up and what supplies have been brought runs back to the store and buys a small tent and a couple of extra bedrolls.
(in the evening now..)
Tockscoops out the extra tent and bedrolls and lays out the plan, "We'll place this a bit separately from the wagon and other tents, stuff the bedrolls with hay and stuff to make it look like the baby and mama."
"We can place the dandelion wreaths at the ends of it, making it stand out even more."
Feytok will take a walk around the edge of the fire light just checking. Perception 23
After returning to the group, "I see well enough at night, I can take first watch. Just let me know who to wake up in a few hours" Feytok will go to stand watch wherever seemed most appropriate during his previous scouting. 1st watch Perception 22
Feeling a bit off his game in the last two battles, Dog purchased the clockwork amulet for those times when he really does need to hit something. If a party member was particularly observant, they would have seen the reason for his lateness in joining them at noon -- he was browsing through whatever books the different stores offered.
When Neventi brings him the two days worth of rations, he accepts them graciously. "Thank you for the food. And your trust."
He offers to drive the wagon when Nev wants a break. He's constantly looking at the horizon (Perception 15) for any sign of distress, tracks, or other signs of fiends.
At the camp, he presents himself as strong, quiet, and impassive, unhitching the wagon, digging a hole for the campfire to keep it hidden, setting up tents, and scouting around the area and becoming very familiar with the stand of trees along with FeyTok (Perception 15/Investigation 11). But around the fire, when he's trying not to smile at Tock's mimicry, he's quietly engaging in an legendary game of peek-a-boo with Gentoa.
He volunteers for second watch after a few perimeter circuits of the camp, asking FeyTok to wake him up a bit early so they can overlap a bit.
While Dog sits, tending the fire, everyone sleeps soundly. The first watch, according to Feytok, was uneventful. About an hour into his watch, heavy footsteps and a dark shadow approach the campsite. Dog draws his sword quietly, moving to the bedside of one Feytok, ready to rouse him. Before that becomes necessary, the figure becomes apparent. A wandering cow, escaped from some pasture, walks unconcerned down the road. It lows surprisingly loudly, but not enough to wake anyone else, and then moves on. Dog hears the cow lowing in the distance for the rest of his watch, but nothing ever comes of it.
The rest of the night passes uneventfully and, after a good breakfast, the group sets out again down the Long Road. They travel through mid-day, eventually arriving at a section of road with a well-trampled path heading east off of the road. This was the expected sign that they had arrived at the army camp. The group heads follows the trampled path for about three miles, arriving eventually at a sparse crop of trees. This is clearly where the army camped, as evidenced by remaining fire pits, some abandoned gear, freshly cut wood piles, and a large area of trampled ground. There is, however, no army camp.
Instead, the group finds a group of bandits scavenging the abandoned camp for anything of value that the army may have left behind. "Well, look-y what we 'ave here?" says the one that is clearly their leader. "Maybe we got lucky after all."
One of the tougher looking bandits says, "Drop all your gear and walk away. Leave the mule and cart. We gonna eat it tonight."
"Broog, you made it sound like we is gonna eat a cart tonight," says another of the bandits.
"I meant the mule!" shouts Broog.
The bandit leader, ignoring Broog, says, "Don't make us hurt the pretty lady and the kid." He gives it a moment of thought, then says, "Actually, you can leave them too. The only thing we don't want is you freaks."
"Yeah, they is a freak bunch, ain't they?"
The bandits laugh, but their leader looks at them expectantly, drawing his sword.
Initiative:
Bandits 1-4: 14
Bandits 5-7: 20
Bandits 8-10: 10
Bandit Captain: 17
Dog: 11
Feytok: 10
Keyrie: 14
Tock: 17
Tyrol: 11
Nev: 6
(No coordinates on this map. We'll see how it goes...)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Dog says, "That's not very welcoming, neighbor. One chance to walk away, or this goes badly for you." (Intimidation? 11)
He raises his longbow with an arrow nocked, holding his attack action to fire upon the first bandit to take a step forward, point a ranged weapon, or begin to cast a spell. If he does, he'll fire and then, if anyone approaches, drop the bow and draw his shield and sword to meet them in melee.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Uh...boss?" says Broog. "Are you sure about this? These freaks don't look like no pushovers."
The bandit leader hesitates too, but snarls at the men and women spread about the camp, "Who you think is scarier? Me or a group of misfits with a baby?"
Intimidation: 10
Broog and six other bandits draw their swords or nock their arrows, ready for a fight. Only 3 hold back, looking at each other uncertainly (bandits 3, 5, 2 will not act this round.)
"If no one objects I'll help, but I'm curious how will we get there, on mount or foot? Who here knows we would have the child and who at the camp? Is there a road. At a minimum we need food and water provisions..." Feytok will look to the others for input. Axe swinging he can handle but this is an undertaking.
"We told Galacea that we would help the child, plus if it pisses off the fiends that's an added bonus. I'm down for helping. Like Feytok asked will we be needed to provide our own provisions, also how long of a journey is it expected to be? We will be a bit slower taking a child with us." Keyrie adds.
"It would be a hard day's journey for a young child," Barbadan says. "Even on the Long Road. Yes, it was just recently completed up to the town. This is the Long Road, ending here at Marctenus and traveling more than 2000 miles to the capital." There is a little bitterness edging his voice.
"I won't need the food stores from my house any more. It should be enough for 2 days for all of us," says Nev.
Barbadan nods. "And I will ask Drencol about his old wagon and mule. It should make the trip more comfortable for you and the child."
(everyone receives two days of rations.)
"Travel today, camp tonight, travel and arrive tomorrow? "
Tock speaks up, "Do you know how they keep finding you? Is it a magical or supernatural ability or some mundane means of recognizing faces and voices?"
"I am asking because maybe we could make a bit of a switch where I would learn a few of your lines.. ", says Tock and exactly repeats the last sentence said by Nev, followed by a much quieter version of the child's scream from the previous night.
"So that when we get in danger I will be able to draw most of the attention and I am much better at staying alive than you two."
Barbadan's eyes go wide as he listens to Tock's myriad of voices. It is the most he has heard the Kenku speak. Upon hearing his proposal and his perfect mimicry of Nev and her daughter's cry, he says, "Gentoa is a well-known point of pride to our fair town. The fiends likely needed nothing magical to determine her whereabouts. Not that they could not also have such magic. Regardless, it would be a good idea to have your ability in case the fiends do happen upon you along the way."
Dog really likes Tock's idea, and also wanted to suggest that they disguise themselves as a common merchant wagon and not seem like they're in a hurry.
"Of course we will escort you," he says. "This seems... supremely important. Barbadan, will you accompany us, or do you need to stay to protect the town? Or are there others you'd recommend we bring along? Wouldn't want too many people but some who can handle some weapons or magic wouldn't be a terrible idea."
"Bar," says Neventi, "You said..."
"They will protect you, I promise," says the dwarf. "I saw them handle those fiends. They have heart."
He turns to Dog, looking up at the towering goliath. "No, I'm sorry. We cannot spare any more people. That is why your arrival was especially fortuitous. We lost 17 good men and women last night." His eyes cast downward as he frowns.
"Seventeen? You said a dozen!"
"Horam and Kraat died last night outside your house. And we lost three to injuries this morning."
Nev takes a deep breath, processing these losses. "Well, the whole point of our leaving is to protect the town. We cannot leave them any less defensible. It will just be the 7 of us." She nods and stands up, hefting the girl as she does so. "I am going to go and pack what I can. I hope we can leave by noon, if that is agreeable."
Feytok will stand and start securing his gear. "I can be ready by noon"
"Be at ease, and mourn your dead, Barbadan. These two will be safe with us. We will be equal to the task. I will be there at noon."
To his friends, Dog says, "perhaps instead of pooling our money for that broom, we'd find use for the dust of disappearance? I know not whether fiends can see past invisibility but if not, it could come in handy."
He pulls Tock aside: "Tock, did you get enough money for that amazing crossbow? If not, I'll lend you the remainder."
"Tyrol and Keyrie, did you get what you needed for ranged weapons?"
Keyrie pats her pouch and sling, "I have a ranged weapon now, and with all these fighting of fiends I have learned a lot. I have 80 extra gold to spend on whatever you think is best/we can afford. The powder might be good to use on the child should we be attacked. I will be ready to leave whenever."
(I believe Dog has one more purchase to make. I didn't see it on his character sheet yet. I'm advancing the story but feel free to incorporate any such last minute purchases into your next post. Also, I have added Neventi Drahm as character to the campaign. She is strictly an NPC, but I fleshed out all of her stats and spells.)
Neventi sees Dog standing outside the Road's End Curios shop counting his coin as she returns from her demolished house. She hands him a two packs of dried food. "Join us soon. I am eager to leave."
At the edge of town, she finds the rest of the circus troop, shouldering their backpacks and resting quietly in the bright fall sunshine. An old mule hitched to a sturdy looking two-wheeled cart is here as well. She loads her own pack and her sleeping daughter into it. "Shall I drive or would any of you care for a turn at it?" she says, clearly all business.
It is expected to be easy going, since the road is newly built and relatively flat for most of the distance they are to travel. As soon as Dog arrives, the group sets out. They pass a couple of local farmers bringing crops and animals into the town before night falls. No other travelers are heading to or from Marctenus, however.
It is in the early part of this leg of the journey that Nev explains the fiends have been harassing the town for several nights. Nobody could figure out why until the second night, when an imp accosted a local farmer's wife and demanded to know where the child was. The attacks increased from then on. It was on the third night that the celestial forces arrived, escalating the battle to areas far beyond the town. One notable thing is that the fiends did not attack during the day, at least en mass. The rutterkin seemed to attack freely during the day to bolster their ranks, but only in isolated pockets away from the town. It was at night when they pressed in against Marctenus and forced the people to take up arms.
By evening, the group has traveled roughly 40% of the distance to their destination. Rather than press on into the night, they stop and set up camp near to the road alongside a thick shelter of trees. Around the fire, the troop has a chance to reminisce about the circus and to help shepherd the young toddler away from the fire. They laugh each time she moos at Tyrol and cheeps at Tock. They get her to laugh when Tock moos and cheeps back at her in her own voice. Little Gentoa eventually finds herself curled in Keyrie's lap as silence falls around the campfire.
"Thank you for letting us forget the danger for a little while," says Nev. "I'm going to prepare our beds. I'll leave the rest of the evening for you to figure out."
Nev and Gentoa are tucked into their tent before long and the circus troop is left holding back the oppressive night.
(a last minute purchase then..)
Tock, upon seeing how the wagon is set up and what supplies have been brought runs back to the store and buys a small tent and a couple of extra bedrolls.
(in the evening now..)
Tock scoops out the extra tent and bedrolls and lays out the plan, "We'll place this a bit separately from the wagon and other tents, stuff the bedrolls with hay and stuff to make it look like the baby and mama."
"We can place the dandelion wreaths at the ends of it, making it stand out even more."
Feytok will take a walk around the edge of the fire light just checking. Perception 23
After returning to the group, "I see well enough at night, I can take first watch. Just let me know who to wake up in a few hours" Feytok will go to stand watch wherever seemed most appropriate during his previous scouting. 1st watch Perception 22
Feeling a bit off his game in the last two battles, Dog purchased the clockwork amulet for those times when he really does need to hit something. If a party member was particularly observant, they would have seen the reason for his lateness in joining them at noon -- he was browsing through whatever books the different stores offered.
When Neventi brings him the two days worth of rations, he accepts them graciously. "Thank you for the food. And your trust."
He offers to drive the wagon when Nev wants a break. He's constantly looking at the horizon (Perception 15) for any sign of distress, tracks, or other signs of fiends.
At the camp, he presents himself as strong, quiet, and impassive, unhitching the wagon, digging a hole for the campfire to keep it hidden, setting up tents, and scouting around the area and becoming very familiar with the stand of trees along with FeyTok (Perception 15/Investigation 11). But around the fire, when he's trying not to smile at Tock's mimicry, he's quietly engaging in an legendary game of peek-a-boo with Gentoa.
He volunteers for second watch after a few perimeter circuits of the camp, asking FeyTok to wake him up a bit early so they can overlap a bit.
DM Shield:
1
3
While Dog sits, tending the fire, everyone sleeps soundly. The first watch, according to Feytok, was uneventful. About an hour into his watch, heavy footsteps and a dark shadow approach the campsite. Dog draws his sword quietly, moving to the bedside of one Feytok, ready to rouse him. Before that becomes necessary, the figure becomes apparent. A wandering cow, escaped from some pasture, walks unconcerned down the road. It lows surprisingly loudly, but not enough to wake anyone else, and then moves on. Dog hears the cow lowing in the distance for the rest of his watch, but nothing ever comes of it.
The rest of the night passes uneventfully and, after a good breakfast, the group sets out again down the Long Road. They travel through mid-day, eventually arriving at a section of road with a well-trampled path heading east off of the road. This was the expected sign that they had arrived at the army camp. The group heads follows the trampled path for about three miles, arriving eventually at a sparse crop of trees. This is clearly where the army camped, as evidenced by remaining fire pits, some abandoned gear, freshly cut wood piles, and a large area of trampled ground. There is, however, no army camp.
Instead, the group finds a group of bandits scavenging the abandoned camp for anything of value that the army may have left behind. "Well, look-y what we 'ave here?" says the one that is clearly their leader. "Maybe we got lucky after all."
One of the tougher looking bandits says, "Drop all your gear and walk away. Leave the mule and cart. We gonna eat it tonight."
"Broog, you made it sound like we is gonna eat a cart tonight," says another of the bandits.
"I meant the mule!" shouts Broog.
The bandit leader, ignoring Broog, says, "Don't make us hurt the pretty lady and the kid." He gives it a moment of thought, then says, "Actually, you can leave them too. The only thing we don't want is you freaks."
"Yeah, they is a freak bunch, ain't they?"
The bandits laugh, but their leader looks at them expectantly, drawing his sword.
Initiative:
(No coordinates on this map. We'll see how it goes...)
Initiative order:
Nev picks up Gentoa and backs away slightly.
Dog says, "That's not very welcoming, neighbor. One chance to walk away, or this goes badly for you." (Intimidation? 11)
He raises his longbow with an arrow nocked, holding his attack action to fire upon the first bandit to take a step forward, point a ranged weapon, or begin to cast a spell. If he does, he'll fire and then, if anyone approaches, drop the bow and draw his shield and sword to meet them in melee.
Held longbow attack: 13 damage 7
"Uh...boss?" says Broog. "Are you sure about this? These freaks don't look like no pushovers."
The bandit leader hesitates too, but snarls at the men and women spread about the camp, "Who you think is scarier? Me or a group of misfits with a baby?"
Intimidation: 10
Broog and six other bandits draw their swords or nock their arrows, ready for a fight. Only 3 hold back, looking at each other uncertainly (bandits 3, 5, 2 will not act this round.)
(Tyrol is up next.)
Tyrol steps in between Feytok and Dog and fires his hand crossbow at the closest bandit (#6).
Hand crossbow Attack: 8 Damage: 7
It is a direct hit that severely wounds the thug.
The bandit (#6) charges at Tyrol, vengeance on his mind.
Scimitar Attack against Tyrol at disadvantage from Dog's shield: 6 Damage: 6
Broog (Bandit #7) charges at Dog, angry at the goliath's defiance, and dodging his arrow as he charges in.
Scimitar Attack: 4 Damage: 6
Two more bandits charge forward, one (#1) firing a crossbow at Feytok and the other (#3) firing at Dog.
Light crossbow Attack against Feytok: 17 Damage: 2
Light crossbow Attack against Dog: 4 Damage: 3
Two of the furthest bandits (#2 and #10) rush into the open, firing wildly at Keyrie and Tock.
Light crossbow Attack against Keyrie with disadvantage: 6 Damage: 9
Light crossbow Attack against Tock with disadvantage: 16 Damage: 7
And another bandit (#9) snipes at Tock from cover.
Light crossbow Attack against Tock: 9 Damage: 9
Keyrie, Tock, and Feytok are up next.