You all see Nub's head pop out of nowhere in the air, apparently disembodied. As he finishes, a chill blast of wind hits you, and you begin to feel how different the climate is where you now find yourselves.
(Feel free to look at the spoilers above for a description of where you are. You have a number of choices to investigate: the forest around you, the portal stones you arrived at just near to you, other portal stones a little further away, and the large mansion house. The mansion house faces you, though the trees obscure a clear view of the area where you now stand, someone keeping a close watch through any of the windows might see you.)
"Nub, are you okay? We were worried, and couldn't get to you. I wonder if we can return in an hour. That rope trick is neat! Where are we? Tell me everything you've seen and noticed. Anyone in that house? Let's step behind that tree out of sight."Soar tries to move the group so that the trees obscure them from view better. She also looks around for any sign of tracks -- is there snow or mud?
Nub looks very happy to see the rest of the party, but sheepishly admits"I decided to stay put, rather than explore the area by myself. The thought of running into a black dragon or even the three escaped foes by myself did not seem inviting. I have been keeping watch on that building over there and there has been no movement so far. This is as close as I've got to it though, so I still suggest we approach the house with caution. In relation to returning, if the word to get back isthe same, then yes we should be able to go back in another hour. We might want to try it out if we are in this area at nightfall and then sleep in the castle rather than in a cabin in the woods house in these unfamiliar dark pine woods."
"Makes sense to me. And yes, very smart to not explore on your own. So ordinarily I would offer to go scout on my own, but I'm a bit loud and clumsy. Nate, we always look to you in times like this, so feel free to say no, but you're rather good at scouting. Maybe we can watch the house for a bit, get a sense of who's there, and then Nate goes and gets a closer look, with us as backup?" Soar says, her eyes flashing with divine sense to see if there is anything odd around them.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Nub! I am glad you are ok. I was... worried. I thought you might be alone with that black dragon."
Nate takes stock of his surroundings after they arrive, and also makes sure Jalt and Soar are all good after the 'ride'. He listens to Soar and Nub discuss things, and also ducks behind a larger tree and then joins the discussions about the mansion.
"THE LODGE! So it really is an actual lodge." Nate smiles at Soar in a sarcastic manner.
"Yeah, we have to keep out of sight for sure. Ok, let me take a cat-form and see if I can get close enough to the mansion to see what or who might be waiting for us. Keep an eye on me... I'll try and give a signal if its safe."
With that, Nate snaps his fingers and then you see his shape change into a blur and then into a shiny black panther.
Panther-Nate will slink up through the trees, weaving through them like a graceful cat would. He then would try and circle the mansion, getting an idea of who might be inside and anything else of interest he might see.
Stealth: 25
Perception (although the beast has a passive perception of 17): 23
PantherNate slinks off through the trees. Nate, you appreciate that you now have fur, but still feel that this is not a happy climate for your new form.
It's still early in the morning; the trees are not so thick as to create darkness, and you have very good vision, so you have not gone more than a hundred feet when you encounter the patrol. A troll and three drakes, apparently doing a very slow circle of the Lodge (since Nub has not seen them previously). They are headed in the general direction of the portal stones where Nub, Jalt and Soar are waiting; it's not clear if they will be spotted or not.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Actually if you'll accept Keen Smell, then the cat would have advantage on that perception roll, sniffing out anyone or anything of interest. Here's the other try: 18
Panther-Nate will lay low and hide and let the patrol go by, and then slot in behind the patrol, and slink down low on the ground, following them as they proceed towards the portal stones and the others.
He is going to continue to follow them as they get closer and closer to the party. He's going to try and time his next action depending on how the troll/drakes and the party reacts.
Panther-Nate is betting that the party will see this patrol before they see them. A troll is pretty big along with the drakes, I'd think at least one of them would see them coming first. However, if for any moment Panther-Nate hears or senses that the patrol sees the party before the party notices the patrol, the cat will get up on its hind legs and let out a "RRROOOAAAAARRRRR" in an attempt to distract them and also get the attention of the others so they can surprise the patrol while they are distracted.
In an ideal situation though, Panther-Nate follows the patrol, the others see the patrol before they see them, and hide, and the patrol walks right by them and goes on their merry way.
Although hell is likely about to break loose, so let's see!
Nate, you see a change in behaviour of the troll; it seems to crouch and be attempting to move stealthily, and it is now definitely moving towards the others. It is still about a hundred feet from them. You have a chance to act if you wish.
Nub, Soar and Jalt, so far you have not noticed anything.
Panther-Nate will continue to follow the patrol, sticking with his plan from above.
Hoping that the party notices the patrol first.
If he gets a sense that the patrol is going to notice the party first, he will then do the ROAR thing. If not, he will continue to follow them, hoping the party hides.
You all see Nub's head pop out of nowhere in the air, apparently disembodied. As he finishes, a chill blast of wind hits you, and you begin to feel how different the climate is where you now find yourselves.
(Feel free to look at the spoilers above for a description of where you are. You have a number of choices to investigate: the forest around you, the portal stones you arrived at just near to you, other portal stones a little further away, and the large mansion house. The mansion house faces you, though the trees obscure a clear view of the area where you now stand, someone keeping a close watch through any of the windows might see you.)
"Nub, are you okay? We were worried, and couldn't get to you. I wonder if we can return in an hour. That rope trick is neat! Where are we? Tell me everything you've seen and noticed. Anyone in that house? Let's step behind that tree out of sight." Soar tries to move the group so that the trees obscure them from view better. She also looks around for any sign of tracks -- is there snow or mud?
Nub looks very happy to see the rest of the party, but sheepishly admits"I decided to stay put, rather than explore the area by myself. The thought of running into a black dragon or even the three escaped foes by myself did not seem inviting. I have been keeping watch on that building over there and there has been no movement so far. This is as close as I've got to it though, so I still suggest we approach the house with caution. In relation to returning, if the word to get back is the same, then yes we should be able to go back in another hour. We might want to try it out if we are in this area at nightfall and then sleep in the castle rather than in a
cabin in the woodshouse in these unfamiliar dark pine woods.""Makes sense to me. And yes, very smart to not explore on your own. So ordinarily I would offer to go scout on my own, but I'm a bit loud and clumsy. Nate, we always look to you in times like this, so feel free to say no, but you're rather good at scouting. Maybe we can watch the house for a bit, get a sense of who's there, and then Nate goes and gets a closer look, with us as backup?" Soar says, her eyes flashing with divine sense to see if there is anything odd around them.
Soar, your divine sense does not reveal the presence of undead, fiends or celestials nearby.
"Nub! I am glad you are ok. I was... worried. I thought you might be alone with that black dragon."
Nate takes stock of his surroundings after they arrive, and also makes sure Jalt and Soar are all good after the 'ride'. He listens to Soar and Nub discuss things, and also ducks behind a larger tree and then joins the discussions about the mansion.
"THE LODGE! So it really is an actual lodge." Nate smiles at Soar in a sarcastic manner.
"Yeah, we have to keep out of sight for sure. Ok, let me take a cat-form and see if I can get close enough to the mansion to see what or who might be waiting for us. Keep an eye on me... I'll try and give a signal if its safe."
With that, Nate snaps his fingers and then you see his shape change into a blur and then into a shiny black panther.
Panther-Nate will slink up through the trees, weaving through them like a graceful cat would. He then would try and circle the mansion, getting an idea of who might be inside and anything else of interest he might see.
Stealth: 25
Perception (although the beast has a passive perception of 17): 23
PantherNate slinks off through the trees. Nate, you appreciate that you now have fur, but still feel that this is not a happy climate for your new form.
It's still early in the morning; the trees are not so thick as to create darkness, and you have very good vision, so you have not gone more than a hundred feet when you encounter the patrol. A troll and three drakes, apparently doing a very slow circle of the Lodge (since Nub has not seen them previously). They are headed in the general direction of the portal stones where Nub, Jalt and Soar are waiting; it's not clear if they will be spotted or not.
Actually if you'll accept Keen Smell, then the cat would have advantage on that perception roll, sniffing out anyone or anything of interest. Here's the other try: 18
No change to the outcome, but yes, keen smell would apply here.
Panther-Nate will lay low and hide and let the patrol go by, and then slot in behind the patrol, and slink down low on the ground, following them as they proceed towards the portal stones and the others.
He is going to continue to follow them as they get closer and closer to the party. He's going to try and time his next action depending on how the troll/drakes and the party reacts.
Panther-Nate is betting that the party will see this patrol before they see them. A troll is pretty big along with the drakes, I'd think at least one of them would see them coming first. However, if for any moment Panther-Nate hears or senses that the patrol sees the party before the party notices the patrol, the cat will get up on its hind legs and let out a "RRROOOAAAAARRRRR" in an attempt to distract them and also get the attention of the others so they can surprise the patrol while they are distracted.
In an ideal situation though, Panther-Nate follows the patrol, the others see the patrol before they see them, and hide, and the patrol walks right by them and goes on their merry way.
Although hell is likely about to break loose, so let's see!
PantherNate follows the patrol as they get closer to the party.
19
19
Nate, you see a change in behaviour of the troll; it seems to crouch and be attempting to move stealthily, and it is now definitely moving towards the others. It is still about a hundred feet from them. You have a chance to act if you wish.
Nub, Soar and Jalt, so far you have not noticed anything.
Panther-Nate will continue to follow the patrol, sticking with his plan from above.
Hoping that the party notices the patrol first.
If he gets a sense that the patrol is going to notice the party first, he will then do the ROAR thing. If not, he will continue to follow them, hoping the party hides.
Nate, you do now get the sense that the patrol has noticed the party and is approaching for an attack.
PantherNate roars.
The troll stops, looking around. The three drakes start to screech and hiss loudly.
Everyone roll initiative please.
PantherNate Initiative: 12
Soar initiative: 1
Initiative: 14
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Nub initiative: 7
8 17
Round One
PantherNate
Drakes 1, 2 and 3
Nub and Jalt
Troll
Soar
PantherNate is up. Nate, thirty feet ahead of you are the trolls and drakes, and another hundred feet beyond them are Soar, Nub and Jalt.