Adventures in Esyldien - Campaign Thread

Moira

Moira and Rusty will take the last watch.

Moira perception : 9

Rusty perception (smell and sound) : 23

Sora volunteers for the middle watch, needing only a little sleep compared to everyone else. Sometime during her watch, when she's sure no one is looking, she crosses her arms, bows her head down and pulls forth from a shadow of a power long ago lost. Feeling that energy healing her wounds a little bit more.

After that she focuses on keeping watch. Hoping whatever is out there remains too afraid to approach them during the night.

Healing Hands for 3 hp

Perception: 17

Hearing the others talk of plans of taking a watch, Nemeia keeps waiting to speak up but finds all of the shifts are covered. She looks to her wounds and lets out a giant yawn. Today had been rough and it was most likely only going to be getting more difficult from here with this group of people. Her mind began to wonder how the monstrosity was being controlled as well as what magic could have allowed that. Her mind drifts as she attempts to fall asleep with Cali curled up next to her. 

Together the group makes a makeshift fort of food supplies that they can guard with some semblance of security. Camping in the middle of a swamp proves disconcerting for some, there's no shortage of  odd sounds and smells that can get in the way of enjoying a good night's sleep, and that's before considering the proximity of the stone slab where an intense battle took place just hours beforehand. The corpses of the fallen enemies still laying there grotesquely. 

It definitely has a distracting effect on Witt, who takes first watch. His concern for the harvest that he, his friends, and his family worked so hard to bring to this kingdom remained at the forefront of his mind. Eventually time passes and fortunately nothing of note happens during his watch. 

Sora wakes next and takes the hafling's place on guard duty, keeping a keen eye on the eerie surroundings. She manages to remain a bit less distracted by comparison, enough that she catches sight of something coming closer to the campsight. After a moment of careful watching, Sora will be able to distinguish the form of a very large swamp crocodile out for a bit of night time hunting. Possibly attracted by the scent of food and brave enough to investigate this once deadly area of the swamp.

Sora had to grumble quietly to herself as she saw the big ass croc stroll its way towards them. She imagined that, all things considered, there were probably worse things out here that could have found their camp. Hopefully all this guy wanted was some food, and hopefully he wasn't looking for top shelf food. She looked about for some of the spoiling food that they were not going to bother bringing back. Preferably something meaty since she was pretty sure that's all these things ate. She couldn't imagine a swamp creature like that being particularly picky about a bit of rot on their food. Grabbing what she could, and moving as quietly as she could to avoid waking the others, she tossed the food over at the crocodile.

"Go on, have your fill, then leave. Get any closer and I'll have to kill you. Trust me I'm sure Moira would love to use your skin on a new pair of boots." Sora spoke in a whisper to avoid waking the others, but she stood firm a she tried to shoo the creature away. Hopefully it would take the peace offering, and realize anything else beyond that was not worth the risk.

Animal Handling: 8

Stealth: 11

Short Rest Hit Die: 13

The large reptile devours the offered food quickly, but afterwards it doesn't leave. It simply stays there watching Sora for a moment. Perhaps the it took the offer as confirmation that this was a place to find food and continue its hunt, or perhaps it was simply greedy. Regardless it wasn't going away, on the contrary, it was moving in a ponderous but deliberate gait towards the party, and the food stores they were protecting.

Sora glared back at the croc, somewhat offended it didn't take her warning seriously. "Alright, I did warn ya, you big dumb lizard." Quietly she pulled out her swords and stepped forward hoping to avoid waking anyone. The second she felt she had a clear shot she jumped forward, thrusting her blades into the crocodile flesh, over and over again. She wanted this thing dead fast before things got anymore complicated.

Initiative: 11

Main Attack: 9 Damage: 7

Bonus Attack: 9 Damage: 7

Action Surge Attack: 21 Damage: 9

Moira perception : 16

Rusty perception : 23

The speed and fury of Sora's assault took the normally dominant predator by complete surprise. Before it could react properly Sora had already rammed her swords through the soft flesh behind the crocodile's ear and into the creature's throat. Its hard skin only managed to deflect one of Sora's attacks, by the time it tried to snap back at her with its huge maw, it was already dead. The creature just slumped down where it stood, a minimal movement given how close it was to the ground normally. It merely stayed there, unmoving, and no longer a threat.

With the danger passed, Sora could resume her guard duty. Though by then she had the company of Moira who had woken up as a result of the quick but intense skirmish.

 Sora would just leave the corpse there with nothing but a disappointed grunt in its direction before walking back. Upon seeing Moira awake back at the camp she would move closer and try to whisper in the hopes of not bothering anyone else, "Hey, sorry, did I wake you? It's nothing to worry about, just some fresh leather for you to work with if you're interested." She points back at the crocodile corpse with her thumb before sitting down and beginning the process of cleaning her swords of the fresh coat of blood on them once again.

Moira

”Nice work. You ok?” 

Looking over Sora to see if she is injured. “I’ve got enough of that snake skin for now. Might be a good idea to drag that thing off a bit. Then anything that smells it doesn’t need to get to close.”

"Nah, I'm fine, got him before he could sink any teeth in." Sora assured Moira, "I'll make sure to put the body a good distance away just in case. You planning to go back to sleep, or keep me company till I go to bed?"

Moira

”Don’t think I could get back to sleep now. Let me help you drag that thing and I’ll be happy to keep you company.” Moira has Rusty sit watch while she and Sora drag the gator corpse off aways. Then sits out with Sora. “So where did you learn to fight? The way you handled that...thing before was something else.”

Sora looks over at Moira thoughtfully for a moment before responding, "Angel's Cove where I grew up. Big town, and even bigger trouble if you went looking for it. And being the kind of kid I was - or still am if I'm being honest - well I always did end up looking for trouble one way or another. Fortunately I had friends who were passing adventurers, they decided if I was gonna get in trouble all the time I should at least learn to defend myself better. They taught me a bunch of stuff, and everything else I kinda picked up along the way." She smirks as she adds, "Now it's your turn. Any fun childhood stories you got to share?"

Moira

”Nothing all that exciting. My family did leather work and expected I would do the same. Destiny had other plans though. I met a man that started my magical training.”

"Oh ho? Do I sense a romantic tryst in a budding mage's career leading her off into adventure?" Sora asked suggestively as she prodded for some fun juicy gossip.

Moira

”Uggh. I don’t think so. I have so much to learn and to do. I don’t even want to think about any of that stuff.”

And so the night progresses as Moira remains watching the supplies. Though Moira herself is somewhat distracted throughout the night, her pet Rusty keeps a very careful watch all around them at all times. A couple of other creatures wander nearby as the night moves on, but nothing dangerous or significant enough to worry about. Eventually morning breaks across the bleak swamp and the rest of the party begins waking once more with the trek back to Greymeadow waiting ahead of them.

9 walks with caution, but much more relaxed now, as her wounds seem to be rejuvenating faster and better. “So, what do you think of doing once we come back. Hopefully this town is safe now.”

9 will help deliver back the food and supplies, checking in with Mary on her way about doing these, once they are in Greymeadow.

Did everyone have a good night's... what's that? asks Witt, bemused at seeing the drag marks that are the only remaining sign of the failed crocodile attack.  Oh, well, nothing important I guess.  So, everyone up for a brisk march back to town?  Who knows any walking songs?  When we get back, I suppose Moira and I will be headed on to the Castle.  Um, you could all join us, I suppose.  I mean, I don't think the caravan would hire you, but we might find something interesting to do together up in the capital...