Ethanstops eating and starts rummaging inside his gauntlet as Elrajoins the group for breakfast.
At Elra's question, Ethanlooks up.
"Oh, are we supposed to do that? Tell someone when we are going to do something?"
Ethanstops to think for a moment.
"Actually, I don't think I've gone to do something, since we got together, without someone else knowing about it...hmm..."
"I don't know why he went walking on his own, but back at the university, I would sometimes do that, to help me think through a problem."
"Maybe Arvelhad something he needed to solve, so he went on a walk to think?"
Ethanturns back to his gauntlet and continues to rummage before finally finding what he wants and pulling it out.
"Elra, this is for you."
Ethanhold a hooded lantern with the shutter completely down. A closer look reveals that there is a cone from a bullseye lantern grafted into the design.
"The other day, when we were in the forest and the spiders attacked us...well...this is for you, so you can have light whenever you want it."
Ethanplaces the lantern down on the table.
"It has four modes. First you have the fully open mode."
Ethanpulls the hood up allowing light from the magical flame to spill out in every direction.
"Then you have the reading mode."
Ethanpushes the hood back down, but not all the way, causing the light to dim and only illuminate the area around the lantern.
"Then you have the off mode."
Ethancloses the hood the last little bit, causing the light to be completely shut off.
"And lastly, you have the spot mode."
Ethanturns the lantern around and opens a flap on the bullseye cone, allowing light to spill out in a cone shape.
Closing the flap and fully opening the hood, Ethanundoes some more of the lantern and pulls out the disc from within, the magical flame harmlessly flickering around his fingers.
"This is the light source, its a new magic I am now able to do. This should continue burning forever."
Ethanpops the flaming disc back into the lantern and closes it all back up.
Well, there was this one time I tracked a deer. I didn't eat it, though, I just wanted to meet it and see where it went. It looked lost.
Hunting is natural, it's the way of the forest. Nothing wrong with enjoying a delicous meaty meal. I wouldn't want to eat it raw like a wolf would, though. Not even in wolf form.
Zeke was up early, out and checking the perimeter again before the first rays of light pierce through the morning gloom. He had failed. Again. He was their Guardian, their protector, and Arvel was in danger because he had failed.
But he could still fix this, he could still right this wrong. Striding into the tavern, the barbarian found his comrades sitting down to a morning meal. A deep breath, the controlling moment, burying the anger, harnessing the rage.
'Good morning my friends, sharpen your senses and prepare your blades. It is time to bring our comrade home.'
Visibly anxious, the tiefling would stand near the door, refusing to sit even as the kindly innkeeper pushed a pint of breakfast ale into his hand and placed a large stack of sandwiches of bacon and runny eggs where he could reach it. The barbarian was ready to go, but he wasn't stupid and knew his body would need fuel. He stood there absentmindedly feeding his furnace, demolishing the entire pile of food in mere moments.
When Ethan would nod her way, Fae would have pulled out the chair and have taken a seat. With her hands held in her lap, she'd listen to Ethan and his morning chatter with Tarja and Elra. Occasional changes in her expression would show as the conversations went along. Soft giggles when he'd ask Tarja about her eating habits. Eyes softening when she'd hear Elra. A gentle smile when the artificer would gift her something custom for her. And when Zeke would enter, she'd lift a hand in a small wave.
The wizard had fallen into enjoying the talk of others that she hadn't even ordered a meal. With Zeke visibly anxious, and Elra's mind a little foggy, it was due time for them to go. Fae would stand from her seat, grabbing her spell book from the table to place in her bag before pushing her chair back in. As everyone finished their meals, she'd go around collecting the plates one by one to bring them back to the counter.
Fae would return with quick steps, hugging her spellbook to her chest. "Shall we?" She'd tug a corner of her lip into a dimpled smile.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
We can stop by, but not for very long! We should get moving before the trail runs cold.
I'm ready to head out. Plan is to wolf form and try to follow the trail as best I can, see where it leads.
My forms last 2 hours, and I've got two per short rest, so I could pretty reasonably do 4 hours tracking, short rest, 4 hours tracking. Could pretty reasonably spend most of an adventuring day in tracking form, since 2 short rests per long rest (day) is pretty reasonable and we won't be traveling for more than 12 hours a day.
In case they're needed, here's a few D20s for tracking over the course of the day - 19, 10, 18, 2, DM can apply the bonuses that are relevant depending on what I need... wolf gets advantage on perception for smell and hearing, I have +7 to perception or +4 to survival, so we'll see how this goes!
The party finds sister Garaele at her small home eating fresh bread with jam along with some tea for breakfast. She is happy to watch both the brazier and Gundren and wishes the party the luck of Tymora on their search for Arvel.
The party is quickly off down the road past the Sleeping Giant and down the narrow path to the gap in the stone wall that leads out into the fields of the first farm north of town. The weather is cool but luckily it is a dry day and Tarja is confident she'll be able to track the scent. Soon the wolf's nose quickly picks up the familiar scent of both Arvel and the imposter (1 skill check passed here) and Tarja leads the party north and then due east along the edge of a number of crop filled fields.
The trail next leads into the evergreen filled forests just north of the hills that draw so many hopeful miners to Phandalin, the Triboar Trail also going east away from Phandalin and the coast a number of miles north of here. A few miles later Tarja follows the scent into a small stream but is able to pick it up on the far side where Arvel's trail turns due south into the hills (2nd skill check passed here).
The mid day sun shines down on the party as they cross over the top of a rocky hilltop, small in comparison to the high peaks of the Sword Mountains that now loom closely to the South and East, but rough terrain all the same. The groups knows they have been out all morning and could consider a rest here, mostly for Tarja's sake.
(Lunch time short rest atop the hill for Tarja to reset her wild shapes? Anything else anyone wants to be doing, discussing, etc.?)
Ethansmiles at Tarja, as they eat their lunch and rest for the next leg of the journey.
"It seems to be going great Tarja. Interesting that they went north but then turned back and are heading more south again."
"Do you think they might be trying to throw us off?"
Quinnfloats around the perimeter looking out in every direction, watching for anything, but occasionally flicking a look at Zeke, trying to mimic his stoic and diligent, vigilance.
By this time, Fae’s stomach was protesting loud enough to let listening ears know she had not properly fueled. The wizard would sheepishly sip from her water to try to calm it as she’d find a tree to sit back against to rest. She needed to take a seat if she wanted to preserve her energy.
Picking at her lunch, Fae would think on Ethan’s musings before looking up. “That’s definitely possible...” She’d then glance to resting Tarja, “Did you happen to pick up any other scents?” The wizard would shift a little uncomfortably. Did they run into the dragon?
Fae’s violet eyes would gaze up at the sky, scanning the peaks.
Tarja takes a break mid-day to survey how far they've gotten, and to recover. While tracking, she hadn't been paying too much attention to the overall path, focusing just on the next direction. Now, on top of the hill, she has a moment to take a look around.
Well, they didn't head into the forest, and now they're turning south. Maybe that's where that mine is? Or a cave?
They might have crossed the stream and turned around to throw off pursuit. If that's the case, maybe they won't be as cautious from here onwards.
After lunch and a proper rest the group sets off south again through rough, hilly terrain. In a few of the steeper, rockier sections you even see what are likely mining claims, evident by not only small caves but loose dirt outside them from people moving about, the occasional fire ring, cook pot or, near a stream, a sifting pan. After another two hours your trail leads you downhill again as the hills descend towards a valley between you and the mountains directly south.
Tarja follows the trail down until you hit a wide, shallow river at the bottom of the valley where she loses the scent. Looking upstream to the east where the waters pour down from the higher mountains you see that you are only a hundred yards south of where two smaller rivers meet. The high peaks of the Sword Mountains now loom large and surround you South, East and North.
Anyone please give me a Perception check here, no Advantage for Tarja on this particular check.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Elra picks at her food, but does her best to eat. "Why didnt he tell us he was going on a walk?" She asks outloud.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"Oh hey Elra."
Ethan stops eating and starts rummaging inside his gauntlet as Elra joins the group for breakfast.
At Elra's question, Ethan looks up.
"Oh, are we supposed to do that? Tell someone when we are going to do something?"
Ethan stops to think for a moment.
"Actually, I don't think I've gone to do something, since we got together, without someone else knowing about it...hmm..."
"I don't know why he went walking on his own, but back at the university, I would sometimes do that, to help me think through a problem."
"Maybe Arvel had something he needed to solve, so he went on a walk to think?"
Ethan turns back to his gauntlet and continues to rummage before finally finding what he wants and pulling it out.
"Elra, this is for you."
Ethan hold a hooded lantern with the shutter completely down. A closer look reveals that there is a cone from a bullseye lantern grafted into the design.
"The other day, when we were in the forest and the spiders attacked us...well...this is for you, so you can have light whenever you want it."
Ethan places the lantern down on the table.
"It has four modes. First you have the fully open mode."
Ethan pulls the hood up allowing light from the magical flame to spill out in every direction.
"Then you have the reading mode."
Ethan pushes the hood back down, but not all the way, causing the light to dim and only illuminate the area around the lantern.
"Then you have the off mode."
Ethan closes the hood the last little bit, causing the light to be completely shut off.
"And lastly, you have the spot mode."
Ethan turns the lantern around and opens a flap on the bullseye cone, allowing light to spill out in a cone shape.
Closing the flap and fully opening the hood, Ethan undoes some more of the lantern and pulls out the disc from within, the magical flame harmlessly flickering around his fingers.
"This is the light source, its a new magic I am now able to do. This should continue burning forever."
Ethan pops the flaming disc back into the lantern and closes it all back up.
Ethan hands the lantern across the table to Elra.
"So anyway, yeah, I hope you like it."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Well, there was this one time I tracked a deer. I didn't eat it, though, I just wanted to meet it and see where it went. It looked lost.
Hunting is natural, it's the way of the forest. Nothing wrong with enjoying a delicous meaty meal. I wouldn't want to eat it raw like a wolf would, though. Not even in wolf form.
Zeke was up early, out and checking the perimeter again before the first rays of light pierce through the morning gloom. He had failed. Again. He was their Guardian, their protector, and Arvel was in danger because he had failed.
But he could still fix this, he could still right this wrong. Striding into the tavern, the barbarian found his comrades sitting down to a morning meal. A deep breath, the controlling moment, burying the anger, harnessing the rage.
'Good morning my friends, sharpen your senses and prepare your blades. It is time to bring our comrade home.'
Visibly anxious, the tiefling would stand near the door, refusing to sit even as the kindly innkeeper pushed a pint of breakfast ale into his hand and placed a large stack of sandwiches of bacon and runny eggs where he could reach it. The barbarian was ready to go, but he wasn't stupid and knew his body would need fuel. He stood there absentmindedly feeding his furnace, demolishing the entire pile of food in mere moments.
"Thanks," Elra smiles at Ethan, though she's not at 100% at this moment.
"But how are we sure that we'll be able to track him all the way?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Ethan wave good morning to Zeke as he enters the inn, giving him a nod of agreement and getting stuck in to his breakfast.
At Elra's question, Ethan looks from Elra to Tarja,
"Wouldn't there be a trail left all along the way that Arvel travels?"
"Tarja would just follow the trail, right?"
Ethan thinks for a moment.
"Hmm...if they used teleportation magic though, that could be an issue..."
Ethan continues to think as he tries to finish his breakfast with a little more haste now that Zeke stands waiting to go.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
When Ethan would nod her way, Fae would have pulled out the chair and have taken a seat. With her hands held in her lap, she'd listen to Ethan and his morning chatter with Tarja and Elra. Occasional changes in her expression would show as the conversations went along. Soft giggles when he'd ask Tarja about her eating habits. Eyes softening when she'd hear Elra. A gentle smile when the artificer would gift her something custom for her. And when Zeke would enter, she'd lift a hand in a small wave.
The wizard had fallen into enjoying the talk of others that she hadn't even ordered a meal. With Zeke visibly anxious, and Elra's mind a little foggy, it was due time for them to go. Fae would stand from her seat, grabbing her spell book from the table to place in her bag before pushing her chair back in. As everyone finished their meals, she'd go around collecting the plates one by one to bring them back to the counter.
Fae would return with quick steps, hugging her spellbook to her chest. "Shall we?" She'd tug a corner of her lip into a dimpled smile.
just an unstable unicorn.
Ethan finishes checking his equipment as Fae returns to the table.
"Mmhhmm, yup, lets get moving."
Ethan heads over to where Zeke is waiting.
"We're ready to get moving, I think."
Ethan turns back to make sure the others are also finished and ready to go.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Elra nods, getting up and gathering her stuff. "Um..." she thinks about the brazier. "Do you think the Sister will keep an eye on the brazier too?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Ethan looks from Elra to the others,
"Do you think we have time to go and see her before we leave? Then we can make sure someone will take care of it, at least until we get back."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
We can stop by, but not for very long! We should get moving before the trail runs cold.
I'm ready to head out. Plan is to wolf form and try to follow the trail as best I can, see where it leads.
My forms last 2 hours, and I've got two per short rest, so I could pretty reasonably do 4 hours tracking, short rest, 4 hours tracking. Could pretty reasonably spend most of an adventuring day in tracking form, since 2 short rests per long rest (day) is pretty reasonable and we won't be traveling for more than 12 hours a day.
In case they're needed, here's a few D20s for tracking over the course of the day - 19, 10, 18, 2, DM can apply the bonuses that are relevant depending on what I need... wolf gets advantage on perception for smell and hearing, I have +7 to perception or +4 to survival, so we'll see how this goes!
The party finds sister Garaele at her small home eating fresh bread with jam along with some tea for breakfast. She is happy to watch both the brazier and Gundren and wishes the party the luck of Tymora on their search for Arvel.
The party is quickly off down the road past the Sleeping Giant and down the narrow path to the gap in the stone wall that leads out into the fields of the first farm north of town. The weather is cool but luckily it is a dry day and Tarja is confident she'll be able to track the scent. Soon the wolf's nose quickly picks up the familiar scent of both Arvel and the imposter (1 skill check passed here) and Tarja leads the party north and then due east along the edge of a number of crop filled fields.
The trail next leads into the evergreen filled forests just north of the hills that draw so many hopeful miners to Phandalin, the Triboar Trail also going east away from Phandalin and the coast a number of miles north of here. A few miles later Tarja follows the scent into a small stream but is able to pick it up on the far side where Arvel's trail turns due south into the hills (2nd skill check passed here).
The mid day sun shines down on the party as they cross over the top of a rocky hilltop, small in comparison to the high peaks of the Sword Mountains that now loom closely to the South and East, but rough terrain all the same. The groups knows they have been out all morning and could consider a rest here, mostly for Tarja's sake.
(Lunch time short rest atop the hill for Tarja to reset her wild shapes? Anything else anyone wants to be doing, discussing, etc.?)
As they rest, Elra takes hold of her amulet and whispers, "Don't worry, we're coming for you." ((Casting Sending at Arvel))
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Ethan smiles at Tarja, as they eat their lunch and rest for the next leg of the journey.
"It seems to be going great Tarja. Interesting that they went north but then turned back and are heading more south again."
"Do you think they might be trying to throw us off?"
Quinn floats around the perimeter looking out in every direction, watching for anything, but occasionally flicking a look at Zeke, trying to mimic his stoic and diligent, vigilance.
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Zeke eats as he's standing, keeping watch as Tarja takes time to recover and gather her strength.
By this time, Fae’s stomach was protesting loud enough to let listening ears know she had not properly fueled. The wizard would sheepishly sip from her water to try to calm it as she’d find a tree to sit back against to rest. She needed to take a seat if she wanted to preserve her energy.
Picking at her lunch, Fae would think on Ethan’s musings before looking up. “That’s definitely possible...” She’d then glance to resting Tarja, “Did you happen to pick up any other scents?” The wizard would shift a little uncomfortably. Did they run into the dragon?
Fae’s violet eyes would gaze up at the sky, scanning the peaks.
just an unstable unicorn.
Tarja takes a break mid-day to survey how far they've gotten, and to recover. While tracking, she hadn't been paying too much attention to the overall path, focusing just on the next direction. Now, on top of the hill, she has a moment to take a look around.
Well, they didn't head into the forest, and now they're turning south. Maybe that's where that mine is? Or a cave?
They might have crossed the stream and turned around to throw off pursuit. If that's the case, maybe they won't be as cautious from here onwards.
"Much appreciated. Another prisoner here, I think. Spider frustrated. Has help, and spiders."
Ethan nods at Tarja's hope about their quarries potential lack of cautiousness going forward,
"Yeah that would be good, could make it easier to follow them."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
After lunch and a proper rest the group sets off south again through rough, hilly terrain. In a few of the steeper, rockier sections you even see what are likely mining claims, evident by not only small caves but loose dirt outside them from people moving about, the occasional fire ring, cook pot or, near a stream, a sifting pan. After another two hours your trail leads you downhill again as the hills descend towards a valley between you and the mountains directly south.
Tarja follows the trail down until you hit a wide, shallow river at the bottom of the valley where she loses the scent. Looking upstream to the east where the waters pour down from the higher mountains you see that you are only a hundred yards south of where two smaller rivers meet. The high peaks of the Sword Mountains now loom large and surround you South, East and North.
Anyone please give me a Perception check here, no Advantage for Tarja on this particular check.