Following her locate creature spell, Elspeth casts speak with animals as she approaches the bird carefully, assuming it's early enough that the caravans are not in a hurry to leave. She holds out a handful of nuts and grains from her rations as an offering as she nears. "Greetings, friend. I mean no harm."She murmurs quietly, "Can I ask why there are so few of your kind around here lately?"
The blackbird responds in a panicky, low voice. Danger! Hiding! Here, but hiding, or some flew away. Danger not near, but not gone. Very bad. Wrong shape! Very dangerous. Very hungry! Two legs, many teeth. Run away, friend, please run away!
Your nature check tells you that this is very strange behaviour for small animals and birds; even a major predator would not interrupt their normal feeding and movement for half a day after it had moved on. You suspect something truly awful must have frightened them.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Yes, sorry, I should have clarified!
"I see. Thank you, friend, I'll be careful. Is there anything else you can tell me about what it looks like? Perhaps I can help." (Persuasion if necessary: 14)Elspeth will stay to listen to anything the blackbird has to offer before returning to the caravans. She is troubled as she retreats hastily from the forest, looking for any one of her party members to deliver the news. "Bodoric definitely didn't disappear of natural circumstances."She mutters quietly. "There was - or is - something in the forest. It's scaring all the animals. I'm going to tell Losvius I saw something, but even if he doesn't think we should investigate further I'd suggest being careful.."
Not sure where we are in the timeline, but Boar would pull Achreny aside and say, "I'm happy to spend the morning with a group looking around more for him. What's the worst that could happen? Only thing is I'd need you to convince my employer it's worth the wait, as he's paying me. If you can do that, I'll risk another search for the morning."
Elspeth, the blackbird doesn't respond; it seems to have said all it's willing to say.
Soar, Achreny looks at you, as if doubting your sincerity, but nods and walks away to speak to Losvius, Lasfelro and the other merchants. He returns after a while, shaking his head glumly. They won't stop. They reckon either he's wandered off and got himself killed, or something bad's taken him in which case the sooner we're away from this forest the better. Some of them were talking about moving on tonight, just a few miles up the road. Madness. Poor kid.
He looks upset, shakes his head, and walks back to his wagon.
You can attempt to search overnight in the darkness, or stay behind to search in the morning (the caravan will leave so your employers won't be happy), or give up. What would you like to do?
Boar will check with Leda to see if she is okay taking first watch for the overnight at the wagon.
She'll pull her friends, and the others who searched, and Achreny, aside and say. "I think whatever took that boy isn't done, and it might keep preying on us. Worth another look, or at least a separate guard against the forest. Probably for nothing, but better than getting caught unawares."
Can she take half an hour at dusk and do one more loop through the forest, not trying to be quiet at all? Then, if she sees nothing, loop back around to the edge of the campsite and set a watch into the trees for a couple hours?
Soar, your foot hits something in the undergrowth, in the northern part of the forest. You almost walked past it - it's been buried, but hastily; a metal buckle was left protruding from the ground and your foot caught it.
You pull it up. It's leather armour, with recent-looking gashes and holes ripped into it. There's blood too, not too old.
With that perception check, it doesn't take you long to find Bodoric's body; the face is familiar to you. The torso has mostly been eaten away; you see claw marks and tooth marks.
If she's alone, Soar will drop to her knees and begin to say some words to Kelemvor about life, death, mortality, justice, and inevitability. Also a general sense that sometimes people get taken to Kelemvor's realm too early. Which makes her angry. She does a few rites over Bodoric's remains. Then she lights a torch and examines the wounds closely, smells them, looks for any other evidence of what sort of thing did this to him. Then she does the same to the area around the armor and the remains.
Investigation: 8 Investigation: 6
She is also very quiet and listens for anything moving in the trees. The terror would normally be driving her to shaking, imagining the monster that did this potentially out there, waiting for a moment to strike, but she remembers those months back at the chapterhouse, back when they would lock recruits in the catacombs under the City of the Dead, listening for any of the Joyful At Rest who decide to wake up and give the very young paladins a spook. She even befriended one of those ghouls. This is nothing compared to that.
Perception: 17
Assuming she doesn't find anything shocking, but really either way, she hefts the remains and the armor back to camp to show and tell the others, still not trying to be quiet, happy to draw the monster out if it's game for a tussle.
Soar, you can tell nothing more than that some creature, maybe beast or monster, has clawed and chewed at Bodoric and left not much meat at all. All you hear around you is silence; it's oppressive, but there's no sense of anything nearby or any imminent danger. You pick up the remains and bring them out of the forest without incident.
Elspeth, Nate and Jalt, you see Boar returning from the forest, carrying the partially-devoured remains of Bodoric the guard. Others nearby also see it; some gather to take a closer look, others go running to fetch others. Achreny, Losvius and Lasfelro are not here - yet.
"Ohhhhh snap... might not want to show whats left of his body to Achreny. What the heck you reckon did that to him?"Nate says (in character) to the party and whoever else is around.
Before she rejoins the others, she'll cast detect poison and disease and also use her divine sense at the scene of the crime, and once again on her walk back. When she gets back to the others, she gently sets him down outside the camp.
"I just found him a little ways in. Something vicious, I reckon. Maybe it's whatever's making the forest so quiet and empty. I didn't exactly try to leave quietly, and didn't see any sign of it, so maybe it's not hungry now." She looks down at the body with a sigh. "He didn't deserve this."
She'll keep an extra long watch that night, and check in with Lasfelro if he's awake.
Soar, you get no sense of poison or a poisonous creature, nor any undead, fiends or celestials within range when you use your ability in the forest or on the way back.
As the merchants of the caravan gather, Achreny comes up, looks at the body, and sighs. Poor kid. What got him, do you know? Immediately, there's a burst of conversation among the onlookers, various people claiming with certainty that it was a wolf, or a peryton, or a ghoul - everyone certain they are right and the others are wrong. You need to step back once or twice to keep people from manhandling the body, and Achreny intervenes in his own style, loudly and rudely. Back off, you filthy trash. Wolves and ghouls is you, you stinking garbage. Get away from this lad's body and cease your blathering. He starts smacking some people round the head and they run off, grumbling loudly and promising revenge.
With the crowd somewhat diminished, Achreny asks: Can we bury him? I... one of you's a holy fellow, that what I heard? He looks at each of you, seemingly not sure of this. Can you... say something?
Jalt looks to the others and then to the remains It's best if we do this quickly because it is certain that it is not very safe around here. Start with a grave and I will say a few words in hopes the gods listen to them and bless him in the afterlife.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Chauntea preserve us." Elspeth murmurs when she sees the corpse, hand over her mouth. "That's an awful way to go."
She glances around quickly, suddenly aware of the heightened danger. "We need to up our security, now. Ensure guards stand shifts in pairs, keep an eye on the animals too. I'd volunteer with digging a grave but I'm not the best good with words."
Nate would offer to help Elspeth with digging the grave "Let me help you with that, Ma'am!" Nate tips his hat and starts to dig. "I'd also be happy... er... well. not happy, but I'd be willing to take the other watch tonight if need be. I don't see in the dark very well though hyuk hyuk!" and then Nate remembers Achreny just lost a friend so stops laughing.
Nate also wonders about his employer but doesn't go back to her to check in just yet.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Boar pulls Achreny aside for a brief moment, saying "I just found him, and not the hunter. Probably still out there. Probably scary and probably still a threat. Tried to draw it out. Shouldn't be surprised the plan failed, but, well, I'm sorry."
She then goes back and checks in with her wagon and her boss, updating Leda on what happened. As she walks to her wagon, she pauses briefly in front of the cultists' wagons, fidgeting with an armor buckle. Does she see anything interesting? Percetion: 6
Together you lay the poor young guard to rest; you didn't know much about him, but those of you who had fought the perytons at his side feel a particular loss - and anger perhaps? Jalt, you speak a few words, and so does Achreny before heading back to his wagon. He nods his thanks to all of you, but doesn't speak to you directly except to respond to Soar: Thank you. And your friend is right. We need to keep our eyes open for this... thing.
Soar, the cultists are keeping themselves to themselves, just as they have always done. You don't notice anything special about their behaviour. Lasfelro takes the news in his stride, scowling and shrugging. You get a more sympathetic response from Leda, who had spent a bit more time with Bodoric than you. Nice kid. Parents are in Baldur's Gate, I think. I'll look for them when we get back there. She shakes her head sadly. This isn't too uncommon on the road. People die. But... a bit strange how it happened. What got him, I mean.
In the early morning, the caravan sets off once again. There' s a sort of subdued buzz, everyone keeping their voices low, worried by the man's death, but also a mill of rumours about the cause and circumstances of his death continues. But the day passes, and then another, and another, and everyone seems to move on, lowering their guard again - the exception being you and those guards working with you, who you keep on alert.
You're five days after the last rest, thirty-five days out of Baldur's Gate. You've passed next to a few more small forest areas, a bit bigger or a bit smaller than the last, and everyone tenses a little, watching the shadows and the darkness for any sign of a predator. Each time, you see nothing.
Except this one time.
Can you all please make a Perception check, Elspeth with advantage of course.
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Nature: 11
Following her locate creature spell, Elspeth casts speak with animals as she approaches the bird carefully, assuming it's early enough that the caravans are not in a hurry to leave. She holds out a handful of nuts and grains from her rations as an offering as she nears. "Greetings, friend. I mean no harm." She murmurs quietly, "Can I ask why there are so few of your kind around here lately?"
Elspeth, I assume you're also casting Speak With Animals?
The blackbird responds in a panicky, low voice. Danger! Hiding! Here, but hiding, or some flew away. Danger not near, but not gone. Very bad. Wrong shape! Very dangerous. Very hungry! Two legs, many teeth. Run away, friend, please run away!
Your nature check tells you that this is very strange behaviour for small animals and birds; even a major predator would not interrupt their normal feeding and movement for half a day after it had moved on. You suspect something truly awful must have frightened them.
(Yes, sorry, I should have clarified!
"I see. Thank you, friend, I'll be careful. Is there anything else you can tell me about what it looks like? Perhaps I can help." (Persuasion if necessary: 14)Elspeth will stay to listen to anything the blackbird has to offer before returning to the caravans. She is troubled as she retreats hastily from the forest, looking for any one of her party members to deliver the news. "Bodoric definitely didn't disappear of natural circumstances." She mutters quietly. "There was - or is - something in the forest. It's scaring all the animals. I'm going to tell Losvius I saw something, but even if he doesn't think we should investigate further I'd suggest being careful.."
Not sure where we are in the timeline, but Boar would pull Achreny aside and say, "I'm happy to spend the morning with a group looking around more for him. What's the worst that could happen? Only thing is I'd need you to convince my employer it's worth the wait, as he's paying me. If you can do that, I'll risk another search for the morning."
Elspeth, the blackbird doesn't respond; it seems to have said all it's willing to say.
Soar, Achreny looks at you, as if doubting your sincerity, but nods and walks away to speak to Losvius, Lasfelro and the other merchants. He returns after a while, shaking his head glumly. They won't stop. They reckon either he's wandered off and got himself killed, or something bad's taken him in which case the sooner we're away from this forest the better. Some of them were talking about moving on tonight, just a few miles up the road. Madness. Poor kid.
He looks upset, shakes his head, and walks back to his wagon.
You can attempt to search overnight in the darkness, or stay behind to search in the morning (the caravan will leave so your employers won't be happy), or give up. What would you like to do?
Boar will check with Leda to see if she is okay taking first watch for the overnight at the wagon.
She'll pull her friends, and the others who searched, and Achreny, aside and say. "I think whatever took that boy isn't done, and it might keep preying on us. Worth another look, or at least a separate guard against the forest. Probably for nothing, but better than getting caught unawares."
Can she take half an hour at dusk and do one more loop through the forest, not trying to be quiet at all? Then, if she sees nothing, loop back around to the edge of the campsite and set a watch into the trees for a couple hours?
Sure, make a Perception check.
Perception: 19
4
Soar, your foot hits something in the undergrowth, in the northern part of the forest. You almost walked past it - it's been buried, but hastily; a metal buckle was left protruding from the ground and your foot caught it.
You pull it up. It's leather armour, with recent-looking gashes and holes ripped into it. There's blood too, not too old.
With that perception check, it doesn't take you long to find Bodoric's body; the face is familiar to you. The torso has mostly been eaten away; you see claw marks and tooth marks.
If she's alone, Soar will drop to her knees and begin to say some words to Kelemvor about life, death, mortality, justice, and inevitability. Also a general sense that sometimes people get taken to Kelemvor's realm too early. Which makes her angry. She does a few rites over Bodoric's remains. Then she lights a torch and examines the wounds closely, smells them, looks for any other evidence of what sort of thing did this to him. Then she does the same to the area around the armor and the remains.
Investigation: 8
Investigation: 6
She is also very quiet and listens for anything moving in the trees. The terror would normally be driving her to shaking, imagining the monster that did this potentially out there, waiting for a moment to strike, but she remembers those months back at the chapterhouse, back when they would lock recruits in the catacombs under the City of the Dead, listening for any of the Joyful At Rest who decide to wake up and give the very young paladins a spook. She even befriended one of those ghouls. This is nothing compared to that.
Perception: 17
Assuming she doesn't find anything shocking, but really either way, she hefts the remains and the armor back to camp to show and tell the others, still not trying to be quiet, happy to draw the monster out if it's game for a tussle.
Soar, you can tell nothing more than that some creature, maybe beast or monster, has clawed and chewed at Bodoric and left not much meat at all. All you hear around you is silence; it's oppressive, but there's no sense of anything nearby or any imminent danger. You pick up the remains and bring them out of the forest without incident.
Elspeth, Nate and Jalt, you see Boar returning from the forest, carrying the partially-devoured remains of Bodoric the guard. Others nearby also see it; some gather to take a closer look, others go running to fetch others. Achreny, Losvius and Lasfelro are not here - yet.
"Ohhhhh snap... might not want to show whats left of his body to Achreny. What the heck you reckon did that to him?" Nate says (in character) to the party and whoever else is around.
Before she rejoins the others, she'll cast detect poison and disease and also use her divine sense at the scene of the crime, and once again on her walk back. When she gets back to the others, she gently sets him down outside the camp.
"I just found him a little ways in. Something vicious, I reckon. Maybe it's whatever's making the forest so quiet and empty. I didn't exactly try to leave quietly, and didn't see any sign of it, so maybe it's not hungry now." She looks down at the body with a sigh. "He didn't deserve this."
She'll keep an extra long watch that night, and check in with Lasfelro if he's awake.
Soar, you get no sense of poison or a poisonous creature, nor any undead, fiends or celestials within range when you use your ability in the forest or on the way back.
As the merchants of the caravan gather, Achreny comes up, looks at the body, and sighs. Poor kid. What got him, do you know? Immediately, there's a burst of conversation among the onlookers, various people claiming with certainty that it was a wolf, or a peryton, or a ghoul - everyone certain they are right and the others are wrong. You need to step back once or twice to keep people from manhandling the body, and Achreny intervenes in his own style, loudly and rudely. Back off, you filthy trash. Wolves and ghouls is you, you stinking garbage. Get away from this lad's body and cease your blathering. He starts smacking some people round the head and they run off, grumbling loudly and promising revenge.
With the crowd somewhat diminished, Achreny asks: Can we bury him? I... one of you's a holy fellow, that what I heard? He looks at each of you, seemingly not sure of this. Can you... say something?
Jalt looks to the others and then to the remains It's best if we do this quickly because it is certain that it is not very safe around here. Start with a grave and I will say a few words in hopes the gods listen to them and bless him in the afterlife.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
"Chauntea preserve us." Elspeth murmurs when she sees the corpse, hand over her mouth. "That's an awful way to go."
She glances around quickly, suddenly aware of the heightened danger. "We need to up our security, now. Ensure guards stand shifts in pairs, keep an eye on the animals too. I'd volunteer with digging a grave but I'm not the best good with words."
Nate would offer to help Elspeth with digging the grave "Let me help you with that, Ma'am!" Nate tips his hat and starts to dig. "I'd also be happy... er... well. not happy, but I'd be willing to take the other watch tonight if need be. I don't see in the dark very well though hyuk hyuk!" and then Nate remembers Achreny just lost a friend so stops laughing.
Nate also wonders about his employer but doesn't go back to her to check in just yet.
Boar pulls Achreny aside for a brief moment, saying "I just found him, and not the hunter. Probably still out there. Probably scary and probably still a threat. Tried to draw it out. Shouldn't be surprised the plan failed, but, well, I'm sorry."
She then goes back and checks in with her wagon and her boss, updating Leda on what happened. As she walks to her wagon, she pauses briefly in front of the cultists' wagons, fidgeting with an armor buckle. Does she see anything interesting? Percetion: 6
Together you lay the poor young guard to rest; you didn't know much about him, but those of you who had fought the perytons at his side feel a particular loss - and anger perhaps? Jalt, you speak a few words, and so does Achreny before heading back to his wagon. He nods his thanks to all of you, but doesn't speak to you directly except to respond to Soar: Thank you. And your friend is right. We need to keep our eyes open for this... thing.
Soar, the cultists are keeping themselves to themselves, just as they have always done. You don't notice anything special about their behaviour. Lasfelro takes the news in his stride, scowling and shrugging. You get a more sympathetic response from Leda, who had spent a bit more time with Bodoric than you. Nice kid. Parents are in Baldur's Gate, I think. I'll look for them when we get back there. She shakes her head sadly. This isn't too uncommon on the road. People die. But... a bit strange how it happened. What got him, I mean.
In the early morning, the caravan sets off once again. There' s a sort of subdued buzz, everyone keeping their voices low, worried by the man's death, but also a mill of rumours about the cause and circumstances of his death continues. But the day passes, and then another, and another, and everyone seems to move on, lowering their guard again - the exception being you and those guards working with you, who you keep on alert.
You're five days after the last rest, thirty-five days out of Baldur's Gate. You've passed next to a few more small forest areas, a bit bigger or a bit smaller than the last, and everyone tenses a little, watching the shadows and the darkness for any sign of a predator. Each time, you see nothing.
Except this one time.
Can you all please make a Perception check, Elspeth with advantage of course.