Krackle would smile. "Silver was the only other dragonborn I ever saw.. and the only one I ever talked to..." The kobold would say as he looked down towards his small friendship bracelet he had purchased to match Silvers.. "I wonder what he is doing right now... probably fighting a whole bunch of mean bandits or something I bet." He would say with a smile. 

"There were a lot of different people in the troupe that I was a part of: humans, elves, half-elves, gnomes, Dwarves, but no Kobolds or Dragonborn."

Continuing your pleasant walk in the woods, you travel for a total of about five hours without incident. A that point, the trail is interrupted by a narrow, but deep rocky gorge, about 60 feet deep, with a chattering creek running along the bottom of the chasm. A stout oak tree has fallen across the 25 foot wide gap, which has created a natural bridge over the gorge.

On the far side of the bridge, you see a tall, muscular humanoid covered with matted, light brown hair, has powerful looking arms, and piecemeal bits of leather armor that cover parts of its body. It's size and large goblinoid features clearly indicate that the creature is a bugbear. Right now, he's sitting with his back against a tree, its body rising and falling in a slow rhythm. It's apparently sleeping. Next to him, you see a large, brutal looking, spiked morningstar leaning up against the tree.

Ellywick motions for you to stop when you're about 20 feet before the bridge. She puts her finger to her mouth, motioning you to keep quiet, and in a quite voice that is almost lost under the noise of the creek, she says,

"That's Wuzig. He's a rather deep sleeper. If we move quietly, we can cross the bridge and begone without him noticing. I've crept past him many times before during my walks out here."

"He is big.... and hug-able... are you sure we cannot say hello?" Krackle would whisper back to the gnome before slowly tiptoeing towards the bridge.. trying to be as quiet as possible as he makes his way across. 

13 = stealth

"Or," Chrys whispers back, her eyes narrowing, "someone can try to steal or knock his weapon away while the others pepper him full o' arrows so he won't terrorize anybody else travelin' through these woods with that thing.  Unless he's a friendly bugbear," she adds, looking back at Ellywick.  "Though somehow I'm doubtin' it."

Seeing Krackle making his way across the bridge, Chrys slowly pulls out a javelin and takes aim.  If the bugbear so much as looks crossly at Krackle, she's ready to let that javelin fly.

Vesper whispers to the group. "I can take his weapon away with my Mage Hand. We're just close enough for me to do so."

Responding to Chrys, Ellywick says, "I have not spoken to Wuzig, but in my experience, bugbears are not very friendly. They can be quite temperamental and very strong. My preference would be to cross without him knowing that we're here."

"However, seeing as how we're quite a few hours away from Melton, I don't know how many people he terrorizes out here. Maybe some deer and the occasional black bear or wild boar. I've never seen him close to the village, and except for the occasional hunter, townsfolk have no reason to travel this game trail. It's up to you, though. Personally, I would much rather avoid a fight with Mr. Wuzig."

(OOC: If you do intend to cross, I will need stealth checks. If you want to try and take his weapon when you pass, then whoever does it will need to roll a slight of hand check as well.)

OOC: Wuzig is 25 feet away, Mage Hand has a range of 30 feet. Would Vesper be able to stand back and use that to steal the weapon?

As Krackle moves across the bridge, if he manages not to wake the bugbear.... he would take Chrys' advice and try to take the large spiked weapon. Struggling with all his might to quietly drag away the weapon and hide it behind a nearby bush.

Slight of hand 15

(OOC: I think mage hand can only hold 10 pounds and a think a big 2 handed spiked mace thing weighs more than that but I could be wrong)

(OOC: Mage hand could possibly help giving Krackle advantage on the roll?)

 OOC: The bugbear is armed with a Morningstar, which is listed as weighing 4 pounds in the PHB, so unless the DM rules that this is some unusually large Morningstar, Mage Hand should be able to pick it up.

Moving with fine agility, Krackle steps forward and creeps across the fallen log, while trying to keep his eyes on the sleeping bugbear. Halfway across, he takes a moment to look down and sees the creek rushing below. Falling from here would certainly prove fatal, but fortunately, the little kobold is able to move swiftly and silently across without losing his balance. 

He soon reaches the other side and steps off the log, and finds himself mere feet away from the snoring Wuzig. He can smell the strong body odor and hear the wheezing of his slow, measured breathing.

Up close, the creature appears even more powerful than he did from a distance. Well defined and thickly corded muscles bulge in his arms and across his barrel chest, and numerous scars are visible across his forearms, mid section and thighs. His hands look like they could squeeze all the life out of the kobold with little effort.The hair on his face, especially on his pointed ears is showing many flecks of gray. He appears to be a somewhat older bugbear, but nonetheless, he still looks quite strong and fit. 

Stepping even closer... close enough to now be within reach of the bugbear if he should wake up, Krackle, reaches for the morningstar. Fortunately, Wuzig's hand is not resting on the weapon. Using both hands, Krackle slowly grabs the worn wooden handle and begins to drag it away, taking care not to make too much noise as the spiked head draws across the ground. 

He is successful, and is able to move away from Wuzig without being noticed and stash the weapon in a bush about twenty feet away from the bugbear. 

Ellywick watches from the other side and smiles. "Well, it looks like Mr. Krackle is proving that he is indeed quite the helper. Ok, who's next?"

"This is where I come in," Chrys whispers, rising to her feet.  "I'm gettin' on over to the other side... my strength's in my hammer swings, not my javelin throws, an' I can't leave Krackle there all by himself."  She looks back at the others.  "I ain't too great at bein' sneaky, so y'all best have your arrows 'n bolts ready case I wake 'im up, though."

Chrys waits until the others are appropriately ready with their weapons, should they choose to be, before getting up.  Javelin in one hand, shield in the other, she does her best approximation of copying Krackle as she tries to sidle her way over the log.  Being a girl from the mountains used to chasing after her pet goat, the height doesn't phase her at all.  The creaking and clanking of her heavy armor does, however, and she winces every time she makes an unnatural clank as she crosses the log.

Stealth, with disadvantage XD:  4

Stealth: 16

"I'll go."

Quick as a flash, Kess had quietly drawn both of her scimitars and had dropped her center of gravity low, seeking to reduce the noise of her footfalls. Even as she looks to sneak past the large, slumbering brute, Kessdarra silently cringes at Chrys' unfortunate lack of grace.

Ah yes, dwarves and their lead feet... well, at least this Wuzig is not armed.

Vesper follows behind Chrys and Kess, ready for the Bugbear to wake up now after Chrys' booming steps.

Stealth: 3

With her superior agility, Kess leaps around the dwarf, stepping on the log bridge ahead of Chrys and quickly crosses over the gorge to the other side. Even if her footsteps did make a light sound, they would have been drowned out by the steady rushing of the creek below.

She's about to step off the log when Chrys steps on the log and starts her crossing, and almost instantly, the dwarf loses her balance and begins a full body sway as wet tries to catch herself. As her body wobbles back and forth, her armor indeed clatters and makes a noise that's considerably louder and less natural than the calming sound of the creek. You all see Wuzig's eyes open as the bugbear wakes up and looks over to the bridge, and to the elf right in front of him. The surprised expression on his face indicates that he's none too pleased at this rude awakening. Still seated, he's about 5 feet in front of Kess, while Krackle is about 20 feet off to the side.

At this point, Chrys is about halfway across, and Vesper has just stepped onto the log. Between the sound of Chrys's armor clinking around and seeing Wuzig snap out of his slumber, She stumbles as well, and lets out a brief, but very audible scream as she tries to regain her balance.

Ellywick, who is still on the other side with Lumen, also lets out a small cry of surprise.

"Oh dear..."

Everyone roll initiative. 

Vesper:  9

OOC: sorry for being away from the site for most of today, I missed a lot!

He'd definitely have tried to get across, but it's fine if he's stayed as rearguard. Is the gorge 25 feet across everywhere? 

Initiative: 4

Egad, what a roll. His only distance options are vicious mockery and burning his remaining spell slot (though actually I think he's back up to two now? Need to update character sheet...).

 Krackle would quickly crouch down behind the same bush where he hid the weapon and quickly pull out his sling as the bugbear wakes up...

initiative 9

Initiative: 14

Giving up all pretense of stealth, Chrys just thunders her way across the log.