The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

The camp is a friendly place, as halfling camps tend to be.  Though the drivers and workers of the caravan are still nervous if Silent or Balassar get too close to their vehicles, around the campfire they are as welcoming and sociable as you could wish, if that is what you wish.

Alton, you spend much of your evening meal chatting with Captain Fray, who has a large family originally from a village near yours, though they moved away more than three generations ago and are now townfolk through and through.  She asks about your family too, and seems to have an endless well of interest in such things, far more than for the tales of adventures that you begin with.

Silent, you've attracted the attention of a young halfling guard named Chipper, or at least that's what everyone calls her.  To be more specific, your sword has attracted her interest; she looks at it admiringly and as you eat, she asks you where it comes from.

Balassar, on the way out of Felderwin you pass by a field full of cows eating.  It's only about an hour later that you realise that the cows were perfectly still as you passed, as though stuck in the motion of eating as though in a painting.  However, they're well behind you as you come to realise this.  You don't see anything during your watch, but you do notice in the evening and the following morning one of the wagon drivers, a young halfling woman, watching you, though she looks away when you catch her eye.

The night passes peacefully.  The following day you set off.

Can you each please give me two Perception checks, one for the day's travel, and one for the night's watch.  Can the first person to read this also please give me two d20 rolls to see if you have any encounters, and if you roll an 18 or above, also give me a d12.

(OOC: Looks like I might be first so I'll make those encounter rolls - may the dice gods be merciful)

Silent grins at Chipper and is happy to unsheathe the Soulkeeper if she wants to take a look at it, though he won't actually hand it over. Bit of a hand me-down from my old swordmaster. Ain't much to look at but it's a good friend, saved my hide more times than I can count. I guess that ain't sayin' much though, haha! 

Day's travel Perception 14 

Night's watch  Perception 11 

Encounter rolls: 14 19 

The d12 roll: 6 

Balassar just looks to his companions aft catching the halfling girl staring at him "Does anyone else get a sense that something ain't right?" he asks.

OOC:

Day: 22

Night (Darkvision out to 120ft): 10

Hrmm... nothin' seems off to me so far. What's got you worried, Balassar? 

Alton tells Captain Fray a bit about his family, but doesn't go into too much detail. Just the basics that you give when meeting someone new. He chuckles and nudges Balassar in the ribs, "Maybe she likes you. I can go talk you up to her."

Day 2:
Travel Perception: 20
Night Watch Perception: 9

The day is pleasant; you pass a handful of people on the road, but this is not a major trail, so mostly you're seeing farmers who are heading to and from the nearest small towns, getting ready for the oncoming winter.

In the evening, you make camp.  

Silent, Chipper sits by you as you eat and tells you a few stories of her short time so far in the guard; you suspect she's slightly exaggerating, and they're nothing compared to your experiences.  She seems eager to hear about the places you've been and enemies you've fought.

Alton, Captain Fray laughs at your attempts to keep secrets: If I've a mind to know anything personal, I can get my ma on to your ma and within a tenday I'll know how big you were when you were born and what age you were when you stopped wetting the bed.  But keep your business if you like, I'd never pry.  She flashes you a grin, but doesn't ask any more tonight.

Balazar, the young halfling continues to observe you from afar, though she's a little better at hiding it, and seems to be distracted by her friends fairly quickly.

3

13 9

(Luckily they rolled even lower for stealth than Balassar's perception...)

Balassar, you're on watch.  You're not really paying full attention, having relaxed into a comfortable stance, but you're still dutifully looking from side to side.  But the sound comes from above; you look up, and at first you think it's a bird like an eagle, but some distance away.  But a second later, you realise that it's much larger, much closer, and diving towards you.   

You see three of the creatures, and at the moment they are still over sixty feet away, but closing fast.

Everyone roll initiative please.

Initiative 13 

Balassar just looks at all of them "Don't like people just staring...staring either means they find ya a freak, or they are scouting ya out."

As the day goes on he keeps mind of whats around them and when the creatures begin to swarm he just sighs.

OOC:

Initiative: 5

Alton's initiative: 16

5 19

One of the creatures darts away, seemingly aiming for the campfire where a cluster of drivers and guards are stirring.  The other two are headed straight for a group of oxen that have been pulling the carts and are resting.  Captain Fray, from the campfire, shouts loudly:  We've got this one.  Keep those damned cows alive if you can.

Round One:
Balassar
Bird B
Alton and Silent
Bird A

(OOC: We'll keep the combat separate so that we're not messing with a dozen NPCs; I will make checks to see how well the other battle is going, and whether they end up taking casualties or needing help, or if they can come help you.)

Balassar is up.  The creatures are still far away but closing rapidly.

Balassar pulls out his crossbow as he looks to his companions "Any smart ideas for dealing with them?" he asks snapping his head back as he releases a bolt at one of the creatures.

OOC:

Action: Firing a bolt at Bird A, Attack: 21 Damage: 9

End turn

Thunk.  SQUAWK!  The bolt hits the bird.

Bird B flies towards the frightened oxen, who nevertheless seem paralysed and do not run.

Alton and Silent are up.

(OOC: How high are the creatures flying off the ground? I'm assuming Silent can't get into melee range of Bird B just by running up to it)

Bird B is about ten feet up now, as it's heading right towards the oxen.  Bird A is still higher, forty feet or so.  I would say that Silent is tall enough to reach Bird B.

Alton moves up behind Balassar and next to the rock, "I think I have way that might bring them to the ground." He plays a jaunty tune on his lute and says to the creature, "You fly into a tavern and the barkeep says, Why the long face?" Casting Tasha’s Hideous Laughter. Alton will then say to Balassar, "I need to work on my jokes. That one was just un-bear-able." 

Movement: Moves 20 feet to get behind Balassar
Action: Casts Tasha’s Hideous Laughter on Bird B, DC 14 Wisdom save or fall prone, becoming incapacitated and unable to stand up for the duration.
Bonus Action: Gives Balassar some bardic inspiration, can add 1d6 once to any one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw for the next 10 minutes.

Bird B WIS save:  21

Somehow the bird creature conveys wordlessly that it understands Alton's taunt and considers it beneath its notice.

Silent is up.

Seeing the creature shake off Alton's spell, Silent rushes into melee and swings his greatsword in a skyward slash. 

Attack 27 Damage: 13 

(My bad, rolled with advantage by mistake - it looks like 10 was the first roll, though, which would be an 18 to hit. Let me know if you want me to reroll this).   

(OOC: It's fine, no worries. :) )  I make that 18 to hit, which hits, and I think it should be 14 damage?

The bird creature squawks in pain as you chop off one of its claws.  

Bird A swoops towards Balassar who just shot it.

The battle between the third bird and the guards is not going too well.  Captain Fray gets a single hit, but the creature swipes at one of her Crownsguard and does some damage; he crawls under a wagon to hide.

Round Two:
Balassar
Bird B
Alton and Silent
Bird A

Balassar is up.