Can Erric have the torch rush laterally to the edge of the clearing, beyond that barrier, before the zombie gnolls get to it? The static minor illusion would disappear but the torch would stay and could be moved by the unseen servant? Erric is still a fool and wouldn't think that leading the zombies out of the dark clearing may be a terrible idea but that's likely what would do...
Erric can have Jack move. Which direction is he moving? The gnolls are moving too quickly for him to do any kind of every-six-seconds-the-minor-illusion-changes kind of thing to make it kind of look like the dwarf is moving, so the illusion would either stay where it is as Jack moves the torch away, or it would disappear.
Yeah I said the illusion disappearing would be fine. Jack would probably take the torch in a perpendicular direction from the line between us and the gnolls?
Let's think of the clearing as a clock. The group is between the five and the six, Jack is about half way, heading toward a spot between the 12 and 1. The creatures are heading from between 10 and 11 toward Jack. Where does he head from there?
Erric will have Jack head toward the 2, holding the torch low, as if a dwarf were running away in a panic. He will also glance over at Ebokk and look at his reaction to all of this.
He'll whisper to the others, "should I make them hear something in that direction? I don't know if we want to tangle with them now..." just as Maldorn's arrow flies and he speaks.
As the creatures begin moving toward Jack, Erric dismisses the image of the dwarf, and sends Jack (still holding the torch) at an angle away from both the creatures and the group. The stolen look Erric makes at Ebokk reveals the dwarf is watching the action intently with interest. Erric whispers, "Should I make them hear something in that direction? I don't know if we want to tangle with them now." Then, there is the twang of Maldorn's bowstring. As the six creatures are gaining on the torch, an arrow lands in the back of the last, causing it to stop and turn toward the group. (Insert two rolls below here.) Just as Jack reaches the edge of the clearing, the first creature's club comes down where Jack is. (14) The torch falls to the ground, and Erric feels the spell end.
-1; 9
The creature looking back is looking too far to the west, doesn't see the group, but begins walking that direction (toward 7).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The creature walks by, still not seeming to realize it is heading in the wrong direction as the group collectively holds their breath. As everyone is mainly watching the too-close-for-comfort creature, the others begin making a circuit of the clearing, leaving the (now burnt out) torch to join the one with an arrow sticking out of its back. (-2) They also pass by the hidden adventurers. Once they pass the harmed one, it seems to give up its search and follows. When the creatures reach the spot where they entered the clearing, they re-enter the trees and disappear.
Erric motions that they should maybe follow them to see where they are going, and if he gets any nods, he will step forward. He gives a sorrowful look and a mock-salute to the torch laying where Jack fell, muttering under his breath, "thank you for your service, fallen friend."
As he steps into the clearing he will look around the fallen structures and see if he finds anything interesting - writing, items, metalwork, clues, anything. Quietly. He doesn't want to get the zom-gnolls' attention.
Maldorn seems a bit bothered: "We should still end those aberrations' lives, or undeath, or whatever powers them in those skeletal forms. That said, I guess I can wait to do that until you are all ready to do the same... In the meantime, I suggest the opposite of what our bard friend here did. I say we should check the area where they came from, not where they are going."
(Erric agrees that they should stop the zombie gnolls, but wants to learn a bit more about them first. Won't write a response to Maldorn because I think he and Erric are actually in agreement.)
Can Erric have the torch rush laterally to the edge of the clearing, beyond that barrier, before the zombie gnolls get to it? The static minor illusion would disappear but the torch would stay and could be moved by the unseen servant? Erric is still a fool and wouldn't think that leading the zombies out of the dark clearing may be a terrible idea but that's likely what would do...
Erric can have Jack move. Which direction is he moving? The gnolls are moving too quickly for him to do any kind of every-six-seconds-the-minor-illusion-changes kind of thing to make it kind of look like the dwarf is moving, so the illusion would either stay where it is as Jack moves the torch away, or it would disappear.
I'm not ignoring your post, Maldorn.
Yeah I said the illusion disappearing would be fine. Jack would probably take the torch in a perpendicular direction from the line between us and the gnolls?
Let's think of the clearing as a clock. The group is between the five and the six, Jack is about half way, heading toward a spot between the 12 and 1. The creatures are heading from between 10 and 11 toward Jack. Where does he head from there?
Word problems!
Erric will have Jack head toward the 2, holding the torch low, as if a dwarf were running away in a panic. He will also glance over at Ebokk and look at his reaction to all of this.
He'll whisper to the others, "should I make them hear something in that direction? I don't know if we want to tangle with them now..." just as Maldorn's arrow flies and he speaks.
As the creatures begin moving toward Jack, Erric dismisses the image of the dwarf, and sends Jack (still holding the torch) at an angle away from both the creatures and the group. The stolen look Erric makes at Ebokk reveals the dwarf is watching the action intently with interest. Erric whispers, "Should I make them hear something in that direction? I don't know if we want to tangle with them now." Then, there is the twang of Maldorn's bowstring. As the six creatures are gaining on the torch, an arrow lands in the back of the last, causing it to stop and turn toward the group. (Insert two rolls below here.) Just as Jack reaches the edge of the clearing, the first creature's club comes down where Jack is. (14) The torch falls to the ground, and Erric feels the spell end.
-1; 9
The creature looking back is looking too far to the west, doesn't see the group, but begins walking that direction (toward 7).
OOC: Everyone roll stealth.
Erric stealth: 21
Maldorn's stealth: 18
Anafrey stealth! 16
OOC > Hate rolling last after lots of successes...
Jambiya’s Stealth check: 10
she/her
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands.
The creature walks by, still not seeming to realize it is heading in the wrong direction as the group collectively holds their breath. As everyone is mainly watching the too-close-for-comfort creature, the others begin making a circuit of the clearing, leaving the (now burnt out) torch to join the one with an arrow sticking out of its back. (-2) They also pass by the hidden adventurers. Once they pass the harmed one, it seems to give up its search and follows. When the creatures reach the spot where they entered the clearing, they re-enter the trees and disappear.
Do we see anything notable about the area from which they entered the clearing?
No.
Erric motions that they should maybe follow them to see where they are going, and if he gets any nods, he will step forward. He gives a sorrowful look and a mock-salute to the torch laying where Jack fell, muttering under his breath, "thank you for your service, fallen friend."
As he steps into the clearing he will look around the fallen structures and see if he finds anything interesting - writing, items, metalwork, clues, anything. Quietly. He doesn't want to get the zom-gnolls' attention.
Maldorn seems a bit bothered: "We should still end those aberrations' lives, or undeath, or whatever powers them in those skeletal forms. That said, I guess I can wait to do that until you are all ready to do the same... In the meantime, I suggest the opposite of what our bard friend here did. I say we should check the area where they came from, not where they are going."
Erric, roll perception.
Maldorn, the creatures returned to the woods from the clearing at the same point where they exited the woods into the clearing.
Perception: 11
(Erric agrees that they should stop the zombie gnolls, but wants to learn a bit more about them first. Won't write a response to Maldorn because I think he and Erric are actually in agreement.)
Erric, you don't really notice anything more than what you say before: lingering signs of a primitive camp, now long abandoned.
Jambiya nods to the suggestion we explore the clearing. She keeps an eye on the path the creatures took, with an Eldritch Blast at the Ready.
she/her
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands.
Maldorn follows the "smalls" into the clearing and helps looking around, though he keeps an eye out for the strange gnolls or other threats:
-> Perception check for exploring the clearing: 18
@DDP: If you need a separate check for the "keeping an eye out" part, please check the spoiler box below:
-> Perception check for "keeping an eye out": 9
@DDP: If being inside the clearing still counts as "forest", then please add another +2 to each of these rolls.