Anakis' stealth roll: 22

(Scout team high five!)

The toads' trail takes you through the bog and, after following it for a couple hours, brings you into a dense wood of evergreens. The muddy track ahead of you continues through the tall trees, and ends about 40 feet ahead of you at a large pool of cloudy water which at its narrowest point, which is directly in front of you, is about 30 feet across. The pool extends at least 85 feet in either direction, to your left and right. On your left, the same dense wood in which you stand sweeps around the pool, and on your right, the pool is ringed by the shorter type of dense foliage that you saw at the place where you fought the toads this morning. On the opposite side of the pool is a flat field, featureless except for the tracks of the toads continuing up from the water and leading to a collection of hastily dug burrows, about 100 feet from you, surrounded by scattered piles of freshly disturbed earth. The holes are too dark to see into, but you count five of them.

"Great, I think we found em. Ya wanna head back and let the others know? Hopefully, they'll stay there. We kin get em in the morning." 

Dm question : how far away is it from camp?  Also, do I know anything about the toads' sleeping habits? 

(DM question - are there any trees about that Anakis could climb? Also with my patron & me being icy cold to touch - does that mean I don’t feel the cold, or as much? The thought just occurred to me now)

”I could climb one of the trees to keep watch overnight. If I see anything, I can send up a Fire Bolt or use Thaumaturgy to let you all know. That way of they come out, they can’t get to me.”

As I said, it took you and Anakis about two hours walking. This was at a slow pace through difficult terrain, so you figure it’s a little over a league distant from where you started. 

As for what you know about the sleeping habits of giant toads, what do you want to know, and what do you do to determine whether you know it?

I apologize.  I missed that.

I mostly want to know what time in the day they start being active.  I'm wondering whether we will be able to surprise them while they are still sleeping tomorrow or if we should try to catch them tonight..  As far as gaining this knowledge, I would have watched one of the toads before collecting this party.  Thoughts?  Is that too far of a stretch?

Anakis, yes, the trees here are very tall, maybe 200 feet or so, and are of an evergreen coniferous variety. They are densely spaced where you and Torrent are standing, so the crowns of the trees, where there are branches for climbing, are very high off the ground. Close to the edge of the pool, however, the crowns of the trees extend all the way to the ground, and you could easily climb up into them.

It's up to you to determine how you feel about the cold. I don't see anything that would confer a mechanical benefit.

Torrent, no worries. I didn't mean to sound annoyed or anything.

Not a stretch at all. It sounds like what Torrent is doing now, if you'll allow me, is thinking back to his observation of the toads to deduce whether they'll still be asleep when you return with the party in the morning. Does that sound right? If so, make a DC 15 Intelligence (Nature) check. On a success, you can say with confidence, considering the cold weather, that the toads will still be in their burrows until late in the morning. On a failure, your observations will tell you that the toads come out to hunt at night and may have found somewhere else to sleep by tomorrow.

"What do you thing Torrent? Will they come out at night?" Anakis continues to watch where the toads have burrowed. "These trees near the pool look easy enough me to climb. It'll be cold, but I'm used to being outside in the weather. Plus I have my poncho!" She holds up her poncho proudly. "I can make sure they're not going anywhere. Well, above ground anyway," she chuckles.

Depending on Torrent's roll, and if he thinks it worth someone keeping watch on them, Anakis will climb up one of the trees (Athletics check if you want it: 13).

Nature 10

"Hmm... I don't know.  I think they'll come out at night, so it may be good ta keep an eye on em.  Are ya sure yer okay with staying the night out here alone?  I don't want ya to freeze or get in any danger.  It'd be good ta keep an eye on em, but if worst case, we kin come back here and find their trails again."

(DM question - could I use Fire Bolt as a flare? Or would Thaumaturgy produce enough of a boom in my voice to reach camp? Obviously there'd need to be someone at camp to notice either signal, but I want to make sure it'd be a possibility?)

"I think if we can keep an eye on them it'd be easier. We spent some time searching for them the first time." Anakis looks at the surrounding trees to see which looks like the best option to climb. "Though it took us a while to get here. Either way, maybe the camp needs to come closer this way as well? I should be ok, I've lived on the streets my whole life after all." Anakis says this last part with a big smile on her face.

"Tell ya what. I'll go back and get everyone else, bring em closer here. We kin camp out. You'll be alone tonight but I can't argue. Ya got a good idea. We kin watch for yer flare if they get moving and join ya here. You'll be entirely alone for the next few hours, so I don't care if they start movin, you stay outta trouble. That work for ya?"

"That's ok, I'm used to being on my own," she smiles. "Besides, after seeing them almost swallow Tarek, I don't think I'll try and take them on my own." Anakis shudders as she thinks about the giant toad trying to swallow her fellow adventurer.

(DM question - did you want me to roll Athletics again, or are you happy to take my roll of 13 from earlier?)

Anakis will climb up one of the trees to keep watch and attempt to stay hidden (Stealth check: 10).

Anakis, you can try and see what happens, but I don’t think either of those spells are meant for communication over long distances. 

Climbing the tree doesn’t require an ability check, and assuming you and Torrent have been speaking quietly, your earlier Stealth check is still in effect. 

We definitely have been speaking quietly.  He looks around and says "Alright.  Go ahead and climb.  We will be back in the morning.  If you end up needing to leave and follow them, leave some trails in the ground marking which way ya gone.  Right?"

Torrent watches as Anakis climbs the tree, mentally marking the one she climbed.  He then follows the path of broken twigs and piled rocks that he set on the way out here back to camp.  

The sun is low in the west, Torrent, as you make your way back through the bog, and it shines with a cold winter light through the tree tops. As it sets, a full moon rises on the eastern horizon, and the sound of beating drums can be heard in the distance. Anakis, you hear the drums too, as you sit up in your perch, as can those of you who wait back in the camp. The direction from which the sound is coming cannot be discerned and may have multiple sources.

As the dusk deepens, Torrent, you arrive back in the camp to the smell of roasting toad flesh. Anakis, from your perch you see no sign yet that the toads are stirring in their burrows. Tarek, you have now finished a short rest and may spend your hit die. How do you all wish to spend the night?

Anakis huddles up and draws her poncho tight around her as she watches for the toads.

(From her vantage point up the tree, can Anakis see anything else new or that may be of interest? Other camp fires, or points of interest in the surrounding terrain? Perception check: 11)

Aluzira listens to the rhythmic sound of beating drums with interest; she didn't know people lived out in the bog.  She tries to recognize the tune, hoping it's a dance and not war drums. Seeing Torrent return, she asks, "How did it go?  Is Anakis keeping a lookout?"

(I'm not sure if its Perception or Insight for the drums, so I'll roll both. : )

Insight: 9

Perception: 13

Yes Aluzira, your knowledge of music indicates the drums have the cadence of a dance rather than war drums. Perhaps some festivities are being held in honor of the rising moon. 

(OK. Do I roll the hit die in this thread? Here it is if you need it: 12)

Tarek peacefully sits back and listens to the beating of the drums, tapping his feet to the rhythm.