!!Lost Mine of Phandelver Campaign Thread!!

(Since it looks like I rolled higher than they did, so I will go ahead and post my first turn action in case I’m not able to tomorrow to keep things moving.)

Baeshra will circle his sphere around behind the swarm and slam it again before charging in and attacking the front.

BA, move flaming sphere 8 Fire damage dc 14 dex save for half

Dino attacks.
Attack: 10 Damage: 6 piercing bite
Attack: 17 Damage: 7 slashing claw
Attack: 10 Damage: 6 slashing claw

Initiative:8

Recognising the creatures from her forays into the caverns of her home, " Stirge! Don't let them get a hold of you! I've seen them suck a dwarf dry in a half-minute."

She again summoned the linked rings of her goddess ( Spiritual Weapon) and sent them swooping towards the swarm of blood-suckers.

Then cast Light on her shield, " They don't tend to like the light...well, the ones back home didn't...these surface ones I don't know about."

Lyngheid correctly identifies the vile little creatures as Stirges.  They are spread out in a line 20 feet wide.  Let's see what Baeshra's and Umbriel's spells do:

Baeshra mumbles and waves his hands and a globe of fire appears right in front of most of the Stirges (4 squares of Stirges, looks like the spell will get 3 squares of them): Stirge Dexterity saving throw:

1: 13
2: 18
3: 19
4: 10
5: 19
6: 15
7: 12
8: 23
9: 16
10: 4
11: 13
12: 6

 The Stirge's line begins to collapse as more than half of the flying monsters vanish in a puff of flame.

Just then Umbriel's Shatter spell rings out, centered on the line of Stirges.  Con Saves:

3: 18, 4: 13, 0: 1, 10: 10, 12: 2, 13: 3, 14: 8, 15: 6, 16: 1.

Oh wait.  They get half damage on a pass, which is enough to drop them all...alas!

The swarm of 16 Stirges doesn't even get close to the group.  Thanks to the perceptiveness of Whistler, the urgent call to arms of Lyngheid and Baeshra and Umbriel's quick spells, the group's dinner is hardly interrupted!

Carry on.

" You two are pretty handy to have around.", she quipped at the two spellcasters.

Whistler watches the spellcasters work and memorizes the noise of the swarm.

"That's one thing I've always hated about overland travel - the bugs. At any rate, no matter, and well done, Baeshra. Well spotted, Whistler." Umbriel resumes his position cross-legged on the ground. "Lyngheid, you said you've seen those things in caves before - do you suppose there's an entrance nearby? If so, we'll need to be extra vigilant tonight."

The group continues discussing, decides on a watch schedule and heads to bed.

After a damp, but otherwise uneventful night, the rain lets up in the early hours of the morning and you see the first sunrise visible in several days.

After a quick breakfast of leftover wild carrots and squirrel stew, the group sets out for the second day of their journey north.  

The clouds continue to disperse throughout the day and by lunch time the sky is pretty much clear and the humidity is high as the sun burns off the moisture on the ground.   Insects buzz, birds chirp, it is a fine day.

After lunch the party is walking for about an hour and crests a small hill.  Off to the east, towards the forest, you can make out the remains of what looks to be an ancient watchtower with an odd twinkle of light reflecting off what is left of the roof.

OOC:

What do you want to do?  And put a Perception check into your next post.  This will be for the day's journey.

Also, the party is traveling at normal pace unless someone says differently.

Umbriel Perception: 15

Umbriel will ask Droop about the tower. "Does your clan patrol this area? Are you familiar with that tower?"  To the rest of the group, he says "That may be the remnants of a perimeter fortification, in which case it may be worth checking out in case it contains any clues as to Cragmaw Castle's location... Or it could be unrelated and home to something particularly nasty, in which case we should avoid it. I'm admittedly curious, but as the old fable goes, curiosity killed the displacer cat."

Droop has been chattering to himself and playing with his seven copper pieces, passing them back and forth in his hands.  At your question, he stops and looks into the distance for about 30 seconds then turns to you: "Not familiar.  But it might have more squirrels.  Or chickens!  We go find chicken for soup!"

He looks longingly at Pale, the horse: "Or maybe we eat horse?" then looks hopefully at Umbriel.  

Ireniana Perception - 6

Quote from KestrellKestrell >>

Droop has been chattering to himself and playing with his seven copper pieces, passing them back and forth in his hands.  At your question, he stops and looks into the distance for about 30 seconds then turns to you: "Not familiar.  But it might have more squirrels.  Or chickens!  We go find chicken for soup!"

He looks longingly at Pale, the horse: "Or maybe we eat horse?" then looks hopefully at Umbriel.  

Lyngheid caught Droops eye, " Well, I do know an old family recipe passed down from the ancient days....not the sort of thing we usually do these days but for a special occasion...."

" First you make a roux by whisking flour and speck drippings together in a large, heavy pot over medium-low heat to form a smooth mixture. Cook the roux, whisking constantly, until it turns a rich mahogany brown color. 

Remove from heat; continue whisking until mixture stops cooking.

Finely chop vegetables ( celery, onion, green bell pepper, and garlic).

Stir the vegetables into the roux, and mix in the cubed goblin meat . Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, and cook until vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Then  remove it from the heat, and set aside.

Bring the water and rothe dung powder to a boil in a large cauldron. Add the roux mixture into the boiling water.

Reduce heat to a simmer, and mix in the honey, salt, hot chillis, chilli powder, bay leaves, thyme, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce.

Simmer  over low heat for 1 hour; mix in sassafras powder after a fair while.

Meanwhile, melt speck drippings in a skillet, and cook  okra with vinegar over medium heat for 15 minutes; remove okra with slotted spoon, and stir into the simmering mixture.

Mix in cave fisher meat, stirge meat, and Warhog sauce, and simmer until flavors have blended, 45 more minutes.

Just before serving, stir in 2 more teaspoons of sassafras powder."

" Interested Droop?"

" As for the ruin....we've dealt with two hazards so far rather handily...its probably about time our butts got handed to us. Better here than at our destination.", she grinned.

Perception: 20

Baeshra started heading for the tower before Umbriel started talking, calling back over his shoulder, "It is different, and therefore neat, I will check it out. If you want to wait, I will yell if it I need help." 

Perception: 16

With that, Umbriel turns Pale in the direction of the tower, and says to Droop "Let's go find us some chickens."

Droop rests his chin in his hands and listens intently to Lyngheid, salivating as he listens.

"Yes, Droop sounds good.  Roux stew!"

The party walks toward the ruins for about an hour.  The tower slowly grows until you are right underneath it.  It is a round watch tower, very ancient by the looks of it.  The northern part is about 30 feet tall, but the southern part has crumbled to only 20 feet tall.  Vines cover the whole tower, and no glass is left in the windows.  A sign for those who can read elvish, has the faint etchings of some letters remaining:

There is a door and a crumbling section of wall at the ground level that lets you see in, it looks like the ground floor is intact, although light streams in from holes in the second level floor above.

If anyone decides to go in, make an Investigation check to look stairs or hidden doors or anything of value.

Baeshra will go in and help look around.

Lyngheid merely shook her head with a grim smile at Droop.

Lyngheid looked over the stonework carefully for clues as to its building and secrets.

History ( Stone Cunning): 22

 Lyngheid, you recognize the cut and type of stone, as well as some dwarven markings that you find in corners of the stone blocks.  This tower was built at least a thousand years ago, maybe more.  From your schooling as a wee lass, you recognize the symbols of the ancient empire of Netheril.  This was a magical empire that ruled the area long ago, and was full of wizards and sorcerers. 

Quote from KestrellKestrell >>

 Lyngheid, you recognize the cut and type of stone, as well as some dwarven markings that you find in corners of the stone blocks.  This tower was built at least a thousand years ago, maybe more.  From your schooling as a wee lass, you recognize the symbols of the ancient empire of Netheril.  This was a magical empire that ruled the area long ago, and was full of wizards and sorcerers. 

 " Careful, boys and girls. If Im not wrong we could find some nasty ancient sorceries here...."

At Lyngheid's warning, something deep and powerful stirs in Umbriel... a need to seek out the secrets of ages past, as a means to - 

Umbriel stops himself just before finishing the thought, shakes his head as if to clear his mind, and proceeds into the ruins with a focus he hasn't displayed openly before. 

Investigation (with Baeshra's help): 16

Quote from Gorthmorg >>

At Lyngheid's warning, something deep and powerful stirs in Umbriel... a need to seek out the secrets of ages past, as a means to - 

Umbriel stops himself just before finishing the thought, shakes his head as if to clear his mind, and proceeds into the ruins with a focus he hasn't displayed openly before. 

Investigation (with Baeshra's help): 10

 (At least you had advantage...)

Baeshra will eagerly begin examining everything and poking around, hoping to see these ancient magics for himself.