Nodding at Lumen's point and feeling a little dismayed, she began, "If Duskbringer was this powerful at not even full strength while being injured..."The drow gave a wary look at her comrades, her sentence not saying what they were all thinking. It didn't seem feasible that they would be able to beat her. But Chrys' words penetrated in her mind, Nym nodded, rubbing her face with her hands before taking a long breath. "There's no way we'd be able to live with ourselves if we just turned around and left now. If we do, those children's chances of survival are slim to none. Chrys is right, we should push on."It was then that a sprinkle hit the bridge of her nose, causing her to blink and peer up at the sky. She hadn't even noticed that it had stopped until it started again. Could it have been the dragon? Or just coincidence?
Pulling up her hood again, Nym winced as the motion pulled the irritated skin of her left side. She briefly considered using another spell to completely heal herself but rationalized that it wasn't that bad and they would be resting soon regardless. Sidling up shoulder to shoulder with Lumen she spoke to him quietly, "Thank you. Again. I'm not very good at hiding. At least not outside of caves. If you hadn't helped me to get out of the way I think I'd just be a puddle on the dirt. I'm sorry you got hurt though. Maybe if you can make someone that's already very good at keeping unseen or unheard invisible they could scout ahead a little when we get closer. So we can make a properly informed plan."
((Are we trying to move extra stealthy then? Nym's survival check for navigating: 20 + 3 = 23))
The light rain continues as you push on through the sparse forest, traveling over the soft undulating ground. After an hour or so, the forest becomes tighter again, similar to what you've seen during the past couple of days. Although you can hear the light drops hitting the leaves above your heads, very few of them make it through the increasingly dense canopy, and so you no longer feel the cool wetness on your skin and clothing.
You feel that you're making good time, and Nym is confident that with Vesper's earlier navigational advice, your slight compensation in direction now has you moving in the right direction, with little time lost, if any.
Right around when your feet are telling you that you've put in a full day of walking, you come to an abrupt 50-foot cliff that drops off in front of you. Looking down, you can see that a number of small trees still grow out from the side of the rocky crag. From the edge, you can spot a break in the trees way off in the distance. It's hard to discern any detail or judge the distance, but it definitely lies in your direction, and given the sightline, it seems like you might be alto reach the clearing by this time tomorrow.
"Great view, but I ain't feelin' like we should be tryin' ta scale that when it's late an' we're tired. Let's set up camp here, somewhere outta sight,"Chrys grunts to the others. She does linger for a moment, enjoying the view -- it's comforting, in a way, to be reminded of home even in a place as wild and dangerous as this dragon-and-spirit-infested forest. Once she's had her fill of the sight, she turns her back on it and grimaces, marching back towards the forest. "I can try ta heal the rest o' ya a lil' 'fore we take a sleep, but I'm thinkin' there ain't gonna be no fires tonight, an' we better take shelter somewhere good an' hidden. An' we'll definitely need ta keep a watch up. Doublin' up if we can help it,"she adds. As she walks by, she places a hand on Kess's shoulder and gives it a tap, "Gods be with ya," she mumbles, healing her for 3. She does the same to Lumen, slapping him on the back and healing him for 3 as well.
She looks around the forest to carry out her plan into action... and realizes she knows very little about finding safe places to camp in the forest. "Uh... if the rest o' ya are thinkin' that too, I s'pose,"she adds sheepishly.
(Chrys will try to help anyone looking for a good place to camp. She'll take a watch, if no one has a preference, the first. Also I think with her charisma score, she should stop packing cure wounds... those rolls though.... XD Actually right before her rest, she'll go around and lay on hands for 5 to two people whostill need it or any permutation of 10 between as many people who need healing still.)
After realizing that the tree canopy was catching most of the rain, Nym shucked down her hood, favoring a better view of her surroundings as she consulted with Vesper about their direction. The half elf seemed to have a knack for navigation which she was grateful for. At least until they lead the party right up to the edge of a cliff. Inhaling deeply and letting out the breath, the woman surveyed the depths and trees before glancing up at Chrys and seemed visibly relieved. "Best news I've heard all day."Though it was rather high, it didn't give her the same vertigo feeling as it did when looking up at a very tall mountain from the base, or reversed. It wasn't that they were high up, the ground was just further down. Which was normal for her to be honest, a kinship she felt she shared with Chrys.
As the query of making camp and watches was brought up, Nym of course immediately said, "I'll take first watch. Not entirely sure how best to camp given the circumstances though. Maybe take advantage of the trees and just try to huddle up with our backs lying against the trunk?"Her first instinct was to find a burrow or cave, but out here even if they did find one, it likely would have an owner that would be none to pleased to be ousted. But it was worth a look.
Wandering over closer to the dwarf after she healed the others, she brought up somewhat hesitantly, "Um, Chrys? I could use just a little help with this burn. Couldn't manage to heal all of it without another spell." Lifting her slightly burned through shirt to show the Paladin her side where her dark skin was a healed but still partially burned angry red.
"We should also probably try to think during our watches on how best to safely and quietly get down the cliff. None of the magics I know would be useful in such a feat unfortunately. Unless one of us falls and in that case I'll do my best to keep us from dying." Nym cracked a smile.
((Hey, a heal is a heal! I could use 4 to bring Nym up to full please. Survival roll with advantage with Chrys' help to try and look for a good place to camp without fire: 10 ))
With a little bit of scouting, you're able to find a small open spot of relatively flat, dry ground that's set within the trees about 40 feet back from the edge of the cliff. It actually makes for a pretty comfortable campsite, so you plop down, set up for the night and eat dinner while resting your weary feet and bodies as you watch the light and sky slowly transition to night. Once again, this tight, primal forest takes on a much more ominous and sinister feel during the dark hours. The air around you is still and quiet, although you hear the far away howls of wolves off in the distance. Fortunately, those howls don't seen to get any closer during the first part of the evening.
When dinner is finished, the rest of you bed down, while Nym sits up and takes the first watch. All is calm for the first couple of hours, but as it nears the midnight hour, Nym's exceptional darkvision allows her to see a bit of movement in the forest (further back from the cliff, about 45 degrees to the right.) Scanning more carefully, she sees a pair of large humanoids plodding deftly through the forest about 60 feet away from your camp. At one point, she catches a clear sight of one of them between the trees, and sees that it's a monstrously large creatures, about 9-feet tall, with mottled hide and long muscular limbs that are tipped with terrifyingly long claws. As of right now, you cannot be sure that they do not see you.
(I'm assuming you went with no fire tonight, correct?)
After they ate some of their provisions and settled down for the night, Nym checked on the state of her chain mail and longsword to make sure neither had gotten damaged from the attack. She didn't want to disgrace Eilistraee by not having a proper blade! One by one the others fell asleep, but her eyes were focused outward, slowly looking over trees and horizon for any possible movement. There's not much more to see or hear than the far off wolves, crying to the moons and stars hidden behind the clouds. At least until she saw the pair of toweringly tall bipedal creatures 60 feet away. Goosebumps broke out from the base of her spine traveling upwards at the sight and Nym became stock still except for her racing heartbeat.
Calmly and quietly creeping over to the nearest person to her, Kessdarra, and putting her left hand over the other elf's mouth while putting her index finger over her own lips in the universal sign of 'quiet'. Not breaking eyesight of the pair even as she granted the warrior Eyes of Night and prayed that the Dark Maiden would help her remain undetected. As soon as she would feel the dark haired woman wake, she would meet her eyes and gently nod in the monsters direction before taking her hands away from both of their mouths, focusing back on which way the two were headed or if they had seen the camp or not.
((Kess has darkvision up to 300ft for the next hour. Stealth Roll:11 + 3 = 14 )) {{Are the creatures moving towards the camp, away or in a different direction?}}
Chrys goes through the camp, checking everything before settling down for the evening. As she walks, she passes Lumen and gives him another bump on the shoulder, healing him for 3. She does the same to Kess, knitting her wounds just a bit (3) more. And lastly, she approaches Nym, who seems to be getting ready to keep watch. "Stay sharp," she says to the woman, clapping a hand on her shoulder as well and healing her with the last bits of her divine power for 4.
Afterwards, she settles down uneasily for the night, trying to get some rest before her watch.
At this point, you’re not sure if these creatures have seen you, but they’re definitely lumbering in your general direction. When Kess catches sight of the monstrous pair, she instantly recognizes them, unmistakably as trolls, having battled with another pair of them in Calling Horns a little more than a tenday ago.
Nym keeps an eye on the creatures while Kess, not so quietly wakes everyone else from their sleep and alerts you that there are two trolls walking around in the woods just outside your camp.
As Kess began waking the others, Nym readied her blade while keeping a steady eye on the pair of what were apparently trolls. She'd heard stories but they did not compare to the real thing. Now was it trolls or giants that were very resilient and had regenerative capabilities? Or maybe that was something else... As Lumen stirs awake, the drow briefly places a steadying hand on his arm, giving him a Vigilant Blessing to prepare. Which seemed to be the right call as there was a misplaced foot and an ill placed branch that had likely drawn the troll's attention. And if that didn't, the warrior's shout did. Jaw clenching in preparation for a fight, the white haired cleric stood out of her crouch and readied herself.
Initiative: 7
((Vigilant Blessing gives Lumen advantage on his next Initiative roll rkmobius.))
(Travel for the full normal 8 hours and then take a rest?)
(Sure!)
Nodding at Lumen's point and feeling a little dismayed, she began, "If Duskbringer was this powerful at not even full strength while being injured..." The drow gave a wary look at her comrades, her sentence not saying what they were all thinking. It didn't seem feasible that they would be able to beat her. But Chrys' words penetrated in her mind, Nym nodded, rubbing her face with her hands before taking a long breath. "There's no way we'd be able to live with ourselves if we just turned around and left now. If we do, those children's chances of survival are slim to none. Chrys is right, we should push on." It was then that a sprinkle hit the bridge of her nose, causing her to blink and peer up at the sky. She hadn't even noticed that it had stopped until it started again. Could it have been the dragon? Or just coincidence?
Pulling up her hood again, Nym winced as the motion pulled the irritated skin of her left side. She briefly considered using another spell to completely heal herself but rationalized that it wasn't that bad and they would be resting soon regardless. Sidling up shoulder to shoulder with Lumen she spoke to him quietly, "Thank you. Again. I'm not very good at hiding. At least not outside of caves. If you hadn't helped me to get out of the way I think I'd just be a puddle on the dirt. I'm sorry you got hurt though. Maybe if you can make someone that's already very good at keeping unseen or unheard invisible they could scout ahead a little when we get closer. So we can make a properly informed plan."
((Are we trying to move extra stealthy then? Nym's survival check for navigating: 20 + 3 = 23 ))
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
The light rain continues as you push on through the sparse forest, traveling over the soft undulating ground. After an hour or so, the forest becomes tighter again, similar to what you've seen during the past couple of days. Although you can hear the light drops hitting the leaves above your heads, very few of them make it through the increasingly dense canopy, and so you no longer feel the cool wetness on your skin and clothing.
You feel that you're making good time, and Nym is confident that with Vesper's earlier navigational advice, your slight compensation in direction now has you moving in the right direction, with little time lost, if any.
Right around when your feet are telling you that you've put in a full day of walking, you come to an abrupt 50-foot cliff that drops off in front of you. Looking down, you can see that a number of small trees still grow out from the side of the rocky crag. From the edge, you can spot a break in the trees way off in the distance. It's hard to discern any detail or judge the distance, but it definitely lies in your direction, and given the sightline, it seems like you might be alto reach the clearing by this time tomorrow.
"Great view, but I ain't feelin' like we should be tryin' ta scale that when it's late an' we're tired. Let's set up camp here, somewhere outta sight," Chrys grunts to the others. She does linger for a moment, enjoying the view -- it's comforting, in a way, to be reminded of home even in a place as wild and dangerous as this dragon-and-spirit-infested forest. Once she's had her fill of the sight, she turns her back on it and grimaces, marching back towards the forest. "I can try ta heal the rest o' ya a lil' 'fore we take a sleep, but I'm thinkin' there ain't gonna be no fires tonight, an' we better take shelter somewhere good an' hidden. An' we'll definitely need ta keep a watch up. Doublin' up if we can help it," she adds. As she walks by, she places a hand on Kess's shoulder and gives it a tap, "Gods be with ya," she mumbles, healing her for 3. She does the same to Lumen, slapping him on the back and healing him for 3 as well.
She looks around the forest to carry out her plan into action... and realizes she knows very little about finding safe places to camp in the forest. "Uh... if the rest o' ya are thinkin' that too, I s'pose," she adds sheepishly.
(Chrys will try to help anyone looking for a good place to camp. She'll take a watch, if no one has a preference, the first. Also I think with her charisma score, she should stop packing cure wounds... those rolls though.... XD Actually right before her rest, she'll go around and lay on hands for 5 to two people whostill need it or any permutation of 10 between as many people who need healing still.)
After realizing that the tree canopy was catching most of the rain, Nym shucked down her hood, favoring a better view of her surroundings as she consulted with Vesper about their direction. The half elf seemed to have a knack for navigation which she was grateful for. At least until they lead the party right up to the edge of a cliff. Inhaling deeply and letting out the breath, the woman surveyed the depths and trees before glancing up at Chrys and seemed visibly relieved. "Best news I've heard all day." Though it was rather high, it didn't give her the same vertigo feeling as it did when looking up at a very tall mountain from the base, or reversed. It wasn't that they were high up, the ground was just further down. Which was normal for her to be honest, a kinship she felt she shared with Chrys.
As the query of making camp and watches was brought up, Nym of course immediately said, "I'll take first watch. Not entirely sure how best to camp given the circumstances though. Maybe take advantage of the trees and just try to huddle up with our backs lying against the trunk?" Her first instinct was to find a burrow or cave, but out here even if they did find one, it likely would have an owner that would be none to pleased to be ousted. But it was worth a look.
Wandering over closer to the dwarf after she healed the others, she brought up somewhat hesitantly, "Um, Chrys? I could use just a little help with this burn. Couldn't manage to heal all of it without another spell." Lifting her slightly burned through shirt to show the Paladin her side where her dark skin was a healed but still partially burned angry red.
"We should also probably try to think during our watches on how best to safely and quietly get down the cliff. None of the magics I know would be useful in such a feat unfortunately. Unless one of us falls and in that case I'll do my best to keep us from dying." Nym cracked a smile.
((Hey, a heal is a heal! I could use 4 to bring Nym up to full please. Survival roll with advantage with Chrys' help to try and look for a good place to camp without fire: 10 ))
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
With a little bit of scouting, you're able to find a small open spot of relatively flat, dry ground that's set within the trees about 40 feet back from the edge of the cliff. It actually makes for a pretty comfortable campsite, so you plop down, set up for the night and eat dinner while resting your weary feet and bodies as you watch the light and sky slowly transition to night. Once again, this tight, primal forest takes on a much more ominous and sinister feel during the dark hours. The air around you is still and quiet, although you hear the far away howls of wolves off in the distance. Fortunately, those howls don't seen to get any closer during the first part of the evening.
When dinner is finished, the rest of you bed down, while Nym sits up and takes the first watch. All is calm for the first couple of hours, but as it nears the midnight hour, Nym's exceptional darkvision allows her to see a bit of movement in the forest (further back from the cliff, about 45 degrees to the right.) Scanning more carefully, she sees a pair of large humanoids plodding deftly through the forest about 60 feet away from your camp. At one point, she catches a clear sight of one of them between the trees, and sees that it's a monstrously large creatures, about 9-feet tall, with mottled hide and long muscular limbs that are tipped with terrifyingly long claws. As of right now, you cannot be sure that they do not see you.
(I'm assuming you went with no fire tonight, correct?)
((Definitely no fire!))
After they ate some of their provisions and settled down for the night, Nym checked on the state of her chain mail and longsword to make sure neither had gotten damaged from the attack. She didn't want to disgrace Eilistraee by not having a proper blade! One by one the others fell asleep, but her eyes were focused outward, slowly looking over trees and horizon for any possible movement. There's not much more to see or hear than the far off wolves, crying to the moons and stars hidden behind the clouds. At least until she saw the pair of toweringly tall bipedal creatures 60 feet away. Goosebumps broke out from the base of her spine traveling upwards at the sight and Nym became stock still except for her racing heartbeat.
Calmly and quietly creeping over to the nearest person to her, Kessdarra, and putting her left hand over the other elf's mouth while putting her index finger over her own lips in the universal sign of 'quiet'. Not breaking eyesight of the pair even as she granted the warrior Eyes of Night and prayed that the Dark Maiden would help her remain undetected. As soon as she would feel the dark haired woman wake, she would meet her eyes and gently nod in the monsters direction before taking her hands away from both of their mouths, focusing back on which way the two were headed or if they had seen the camp or not.
((Kess has darkvision up to 300ft for the next hour. Stealth Roll: 11 + 3 = 14 ))
{{Are the creatures moving towards the camp, away or in a different direction?}}
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
(Chrys would have used lay on hands on Nym before she left scouting, so you got that 4... will post tomorrow!)
Chrys goes through the camp, checking everything before settling down for the evening. As she walks, she passes Lumen and gives him another bump on the shoulder, healing him for 3. She does the same to Kess, knitting her wounds just a bit (3) more. And lastly, she approaches Nym, who seems to be getting ready to keep watch. "Stay sharp," she says to the woman, clapping a hand on her shoulder as well and healing her with the last bits of her divine power for 4.
Afterwards, she settles down uneasily for the night, trying to get some rest before her watch.
Kess would remain stock still, not sure if the immense humanoids had seen her or not.
At this point, you’re not sure if these creatures have seen you, but they’re definitely lumbering in your general direction. When Kess catches sight of the monstrous pair, she instantly recognizes them, unmistakably as trolls, having battled with another pair of them in Calling Horns a little more than a tenday ago.
"Oh no..."
As quietly as she could manage, Kess would slide to her feet and draw her swords, moving to begin waking the others.
"Wake up as quiet as you can, we've got trouble...! Trolls." She'd whisper.
Stealth: 7
(Let us know when the rest of us wake up...)
Nym keeps an eye on the creatures while Kess, not so quietly wakes everyone else from their sleep and alerts you that there are two trolls walking around in the woods just outside your camp.
Actions and Initiative.
Vesper groans as she awakens and sees the two trolls.
Initiative:8
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Kess grimaces and fliches as she steps on a twig she didn't notice and hears a pair of suddenly interested and aggressive groans.
"Damn it... well, we've fought these before! You all know the drill!"
Initiative: 8
As Kess began waking the others, Nym readied her blade while keeping a steady eye on the pair of what were apparently trolls. She'd heard stories but they did not compare to the real thing. Now was it trolls or giants that were very resilient and had regenerative capabilities? Or maybe that was something else... As Lumen stirs awake, the drow briefly places a steadying hand on his arm, giving him a Vigilant Blessing to prepare. Which seemed to be the right call as there was a misplaced foot and an ill placed branch that had likely drawn the troll's attention. And if that didn't, the warrior's shout did. Jaw clenching in preparation for a fight, the white haired cleric stood out of her crouch and readied herself.
Initiative: 7
((Vigilant Blessing gives Lumen advantage on his next Initiative roll rkmobius.))
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Lumen groggily thanks Nym as he rolls awake, looking around.
Initiative: 15
Chrys, out of sorts from having her sleep interrupted, again, is slow to reach for her hammer.
Initiative: 9
She comes wide awake when she sees the trolls though, her expression dropping into one of extreme annoyance.
(Do we have a surprise round? If we have a surprise round Chrys is going to bane them)