Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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( I think a short stop to discuss future travel plans etc. counts as a short rest so feel free to make it an official one.)
"Had too many unpleasant experiences with leeches to go bathing in the river,though just taking a minute has me good to go ready to go when everyone else is."
(Good with short rest)
Zeltheris's eyes gleam at the mention of the tower, "A ruined tower hidden with an evil forest! This would be a great addition to the tale of your glories! But, if you feel we can't spare the time just now and need to skirt it, I suppose we can just return later. Actually, that would be great for the tale too, too horrid to enter when first encountered, but they return when stronger to eliminate its evil..."
( A Short Rest is had by all, spend HD if you want to. So whats the travel plan?)
Enwynn nods sadly and replies "Garet is correct about the Catfish River being dangerous to bathe in." to Banzo's suggestion of a swim, and adds after a further moment of thought "Need more than a pinch of salt to deal with that sort of leech too."
"Given a little time, I can renew my healing powers and then travel further on to Stonebridge. It will take longer to prepare for a trip into Darkwood, if that is the route we are planning on taking there. I would prefer to take the side road for the trip there, but I will abide by the choice of the group." the elf explains, then sits in meditation after eating a second meal for the day earlier than anticipated.
((Seems everybody agrees on avoiding the forest))
After resting for a time the companions set off again to the north drawing closer and closer to the foreboding border of Darkwood Forest, to the northwest they could see the white finger of Yaztromos tower jutting skyward as the vague caravan trail across the plains joined a more established path skirting the southern and eastern edge of Darkwood.
Having rested in the late afternoon they continued walking through the evening and with a clear sky and gibbous moon they could easily keep to the path.
The eastern eaves of Darkwood Forest abut the lonely Moonstone Hills, and the lower hills and crags continue into the forest for some miles. The Moonstone Hills here are dotted with granite boulders, the rocky crags and pinnacles jutting from the forest mulch are igneous in nature.
From the road you can see a trail lead into the forest towards what must be Xortan Throgs* ruined tower. The tower itself is built of granite and a narrow roadway cut into the side of the rock spirals up around the crag to eventually arrive at a rocky pinnacle opposite the main doors, which sit between two squat, round stone towers.
It is another 17 miles to the crossing of the Catfish River but it would mean travelling through the night for another five or so hours if you wish to camp by the river, alternatively you could pitch camp here or walk through the night towards Stonebridge.
*Refresher:
You all learned this back in Chalice but its been a while:-
Many years ago, a political marriage was being arranged between Princess Sarissa of Salamonis and Prince Barinjhar of Chalice, the latter of whom was unfortunately a bit too keen to see his town keep its independence, believing that this marriage would result in Chalice's total subservience to Salamonis. Throg first promised the Prince that Salamonis would fall, thereby acquiring his service, and then personally led a force of Goblins in an ambush to capture the Princess.
Unaware of the treachery of his son, King Pindar of Chalice hired a group of adventurers to retrieve the Princess and, if necessary, slay the wizard. They were successful at the first but not the second and Throg escaped elsewhere....
Herman lacks darkvision but, if everyone agrees to march (at least him and his horse) with a lit torch, being refreshed by the short rest, he is willing to arrive to the river
Zeltheris is good to rest here rather than keep traveling in the dark next to the creepy woods.
( 1 vote each so far)
(Nevermind, Zeltheris convinced Herman, let's rest here)
Camp was set by the roadside and watches taken in pairs.
Herman, well rested, sat watch with Shalana for the first few hours and although there were the cries and howls of animals from within Darkwood Forest nothing untoward occured.
Ennwyn and Zeltheris sat second watch and if anything it was even more uneventful than the former, with the most interesting thing being a small herd of deer which ventured down from the Moonstones to feed at the forests edge.
The final watch belonged to Garet and Banzo and they were undisturbed until just before dawn when an immense burgundy-red scaled form winged its way high overhead banking across the edge of the Moonstones before flapping lazily northwards, a trail of cinders and smoke in its wake...
The sun rose and they were able to get back on the road...
On second watch, Enwynn watches the deer with a pleased but puzzled expression on her face. She turns sideways a moment as she whispers to Zeltheris "Perhaps the Razor-Wings made day too dangerous a time for them to approach the woods?"
Despite the calm of the surroundings, she watches carefully for any signs of trouble, and thanks Erillia for the quiet of the forest evening.
Garet happy that the watch was uneventful but even the sight of a wyrm albeit from a vast distance was a bit disconcerting.
Garet had a meagre breakfast of Razor wing meat offering any to any colleagues that wanted it before packing up ready for the road.
"I say we investigate Throgs tower today, we could not reasonably call ourselves Heroes of Chalice without checking to see if we could bring one of its greatest villains to justice. Besides who knows what spoils that black hearted mage secreted away."
When Enwynn is told over breakfast by Banzo and Garet that a great red-scaled and flame-breathed wyrm was sighted flying North in the early morning, her expression is one of confusion as she says "Red? You're both quite sure of the colour?"
The elf reconsiders her earlier assumption as she explains in a worried tone "That's definitely not the one I've seen before in the northern woods then. For all she spits fire, her underbelly is the green of riverbank moss in daylight. This one must be new to the area. Might be a younger drake seeking a territory of their own."
Corwyn drops the scrap of Razor-Wing meat he's been pecking at and puts a wing over his head. The black-feathered bird makes an odd sound, one that were he a chicken, not a crow, might have been 'Cluck'.
Enwynn solemnly nods in agreement with her Darkwood guide, finishes her breakfast, and helps break camp, her eyes drawn to the tower as she wonders if it is as abandoned as she previously thought.
Garet's suggestion is met with a pensive "If Throg left anything behind that he might have a use for on his return, then it is certainly possible he might return to his old lair..." then a shrug and a pragmatic agreement of "Better to find out now, not later."
"But...what about the dwarves? What about the tatoos? Men, you guys fell in love with everything: we start with one thing...damn! You make me sound like my father, may his totem guide him..."
"Your father sounds wise, Herman, however the King and the tattoos are going nowhere. Once we check out the tower we can be on our way, hopefully having ridded the citizens of Chalice of a major threat.
Looking towards the forest a faint trail can be seen leading inwards....otherwise the roadway north lies open.
Zeltheris shrugs, "I couldn't say, animal behavior isn't really my specialty. But at least it likely means less predators at night, so a safer rest for us?"
In the morning, Zeltheris eagerly grins at the idea of searching the tower, his attention easily diverted by any new opportunity for the group's glory, but keeps quiet for now.
As the companions are discussing their next move an arrow thuds into the dirt between Zeltheris and Enwynn, followed by the sound of running feet and breaking foliage heading into the forest.