[sorry about the delay, all! i have just been busy with end of year stuff, moving, and a bunch of other not-fun stuff. should be okay from here on out. but going forward, i will let you know if there will be another delay like that. apologies!]
With the pace set by Herka, you make pretty decent time on the New Road towards Oakhurst. The crossbowmen flank out to the sides of the cart, which travels slower than optimal speed but the horse doesn't seem too distressed - probably thanks to the water it received earlier. Herka leads the way, keeping a steady pace. Every so often the crossbowmen on the horses ride up beside the wagon horse to give it some water or food, or a gentle pat. At one point, Herka tracks back to you to tell you that Oakhurst is about 2 hours ride from your current position.
You all make small-talk with each other during the journey but mostly you rest, watching the forest for anything suspicious. Lorell and Krom follow along to the side or behind the cart, also keeping an eye out for trouble. Garnet, you are busy driving the wagon and controlling the horse, so you are occupied with that. In any case, you're in your own world and fully concentrating on the task of driving. Lorell, while the wolf follows you for a while it eventually lopes off into a vast stretch of forest; you get the sense it is uneasy around so many people. Ithelion, you are immersed with your map-making, trusting Elosa to keep an eye out and inform you if anything is amiss.
As you come to a slight bend in the road, Daemyar, your hackles raise and you can feel something isn't right. Krom and Elosa notice it right away: up ahead, you make out two tree-like forms hunching over what looks like a wolf (it doesn't appear to be "Lorell's wolf"). You also notice another commotion to the left of the trees, where some small bird-like creatures flit around another wolf on the ground - also dead. There seem to be more of these things in the trees as well. Krom calls out when he sees it but it's too late - Herka is nearly on top of them before she notices them. If they did not move, you are not sure you would have noticed them either.
The tree creatures must be the Twig Blights that Herka was talking about. A fact confirmed a second later when you hear her call out, "Oi! Twig blights ahead everyone! And Stirges to the left! Fire at will!" You see the resemblance between these and the smaller ones you saw earlier. These ones are also slow moving but have more foliage and vines than the ones you all saw before. They stand about 6 - 7 feet tall and their arms end on sharp claw-like branches. The small, bird-like creatures look like a cross between a vulture and a mosquito: quite ugly and almost featherless, with a long, needle sharp proboscis. You see at least 4 of them.
Everyone, please roll initiative! (Order in spoiler).
Herka - 14
Crossbowmen - 8
Stirge 1 - 13 (from left to right on the map)
Stirge 2 - 18
Stirge 3 - 13
Stirge 4 - 19
Twig Blight 1 - 17
Twig Blight 2 - 18
Here is the map. Each square is 5 feet. I will update and repost it after each round, if necessary.
Conscious that the last situation resolved itself peacefully, but suspecting otherwise in this instance, Ithelion shakes her head readies her bow. She is surprised to find the unalloyed fear that she experienced in her earlier encounters is -- this time at least -- replaced by a kind of resigned calculation. Three times in but a single day, that would do it.
She will not take the first shot, but will watch the situation unfold, readying herself to fire at the first of the enemies that moves to attack one of her companions or her new 'friends'.
"Fall back, and use the rocks as cover" she shouts.
Garnet is going to move with horse behind the rocks there on the left to keep the horse behind cover and hide an opportunity to draw her shield and weapon. She still doesn't wield any long range weapons and is unfamiliar with the opponents.
(Garnet is taking cover and drawing her weapons, if I can do both in an action if not just ignore one.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The Twig Blights advance towards Herka, shambling awkwardly, moaning and hissing. They are draped in vines and moss, living monuments to nature, though their twisted and pained features hint at some wrongness you don't quite understand. Lorell, you in particular, seem very uncomfortable around these foul beings.
Twig Blights
Only one of the twig blights can make it close enough to Herka to attack, which it does. Twig Blight 2 attacks with its sharp, shrubby claws: To hit: 7 for 4 piercing damage. Twig Blight 1 follows suit moving in a straight line towards the merchant guard captain, but can't make it all the way. It stops and lets loose a wail of frustration? Anger? Both?
[it's a hit]
Stirge 4
targets the crossbowman on the left side of the map, buzzing madly towards him before attacking: To hit: 12 for 5 piercing damage. Those of you watching see the tiny beast set down on the crossbowman's back and try to plunge its needle-sharp proboscis into his back - which it does. It seems fixed on the crossbowman's back and he tries to turn around to see it but to no avail. "Wha? Where is it? Where did it go? Ahhh, that stings!" he cries out while trying to swat at it with his hands (unsuccessfully)
[also a hit]
Stirge 2
flies towards Herka and dives down to attack her on her side. To hit: 22 for 6 piercing damage. Similar to the stirge on the crossbowman earlier, this one also attempts to plunge its stinger into Herka and, just like the other one, this one also attaches itself to her person. Herka grimaces in pain.
[another hit]
Herka
growls in anger, and uses an action to remove the tiny beast from her body. She takes her dagger and tries to stab the little pest as she is holding it. To hit: 22 doing 6 piercing damage. She then turns to face Twig Blight 2 that had attacked her and uses her sword to take a swipe at it. To hit: 13, dealing 4 slashing damage. The Twig Blight splinters and breaks under the force of her attack, and crumbles to the ground, spilling out a variety of insects - millipedes, wood lice, and beetles. "You need to pluck them off you so they don't suck you dry! Let's end this quickly!"she calls out to the rest of you.
[Herka is able to remove the stirge but is unable to hit it with her dagger and it squirms away and flies upwards. She hits and kills Twig Blight 2].
Stirge 1
flies over to attack Elosa, who has been sitting in a tree to the left of the crossbowman who was attacked. The stirge, sensing easy drops of blood, moves to attack: To hit: 22 for 4 piercing damage. It, too, tries to plunge into the owl's body.
[a miss]
Stirge 3
flies over to attack the beleaguered crossbowman on the left. To hit: 21 for 4 piercing damage but will not try to affix itself to his body, as another stirge has already done so.
[a hit, the crossbowman falls from his horse unconscious, with the stirge still attached to his back]
@Ithelion - The Twig Blight is hard to pick up against a backdrop of trees - your attack sails wide, the Twig Blight following it as it sails past. Herka gets revenge seconds later, however, as she makes kindling out of the creature.
Krom, Daemyar, Elosa, and Lorell are up (in any order) as well as the still conscious crossbowman.
(((Twig Blight 2 is down, one of the crossbowman is also down)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Krom charges over to the fallen crossbowman and takes a swing at the Stirge that is attached to them; yelling as he swings, "I'm gettin' real tired of these Mordain Forges interruptions on this Mordain Forges road!"
Movement: To the fallen crossbowman Action: Attacking the Stirge that is attached to them with his warhammer, Attack: 17Damage: 6 Bludgeoning
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Elosa has been keeping a low profile (avoiding our new 'friends'), so she will stay away from Ithelion and the fight. Lurk in the forest, keeping a wary eye.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Ithelion: 11 (pp 14)
Elosa: 20 (pp 13)
Krom's Perception: 17 (pp: 15)
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
PP [14]
Perception roll 8
Perception: 2
Passive: 11
(Well damn Garnet could get hit in the face an not notice lol)
[sorry about the delay, all! i have just been busy with end of year stuff, moving, and a bunch of other not-fun stuff. should be okay from here on out. but going forward, i will let you know if there will be another delay like that. apologies!]
With the pace set by Herka, you make pretty decent time on the New Road towards Oakhurst. The crossbowmen flank out to the sides of the cart, which travels slower than optimal speed but the horse doesn't seem too distressed - probably thanks to the water it received earlier. Herka leads the way, keeping a steady pace. Every so often the crossbowmen on the horses ride up beside the wagon horse to give it some water or food, or a gentle pat. At one point, Herka tracks back to you to tell you that Oakhurst is about 2 hours ride from your current position.
You all make small-talk with each other during the journey but mostly you rest, watching the forest for anything suspicious. Lorell and Krom follow along to the side or behind the cart, also keeping an eye out for trouble. Garnet, you are busy driving the wagon and controlling the horse, so you are occupied with that. In any case, you're in your own world and fully concentrating on the task of driving. Lorell, while the wolf follows you for a while it eventually lopes off into a vast stretch of forest; you get the sense it is uneasy around so many people. Ithelion, you are immersed with your map-making, trusting Elosa to keep an eye out and inform you if anything is amiss.
As you come to a slight bend in the road, Daemyar, your hackles raise and you can feel something isn't right. Krom and Elosa notice it right away: up ahead, you make out two tree-like forms hunching over what looks like a wolf (it doesn't appear to be "Lorell's wolf"). You also notice another commotion to the left of the trees, where some small bird-like creatures flit around another wolf on the ground - also dead. There seem to be more of these things in the trees as well. Krom calls out when he sees it but it's too late - Herka is nearly on top of them before she notices them. If they did not move, you are not sure you would have noticed them either.
The tree creatures must be the Twig Blights that Herka was talking about. A fact confirmed a second later when you hear her call out, "Oi! Twig blights ahead everyone! And Stirges to the left! Fire at will!" You see the resemblance between these and the smaller ones you saw earlier. These ones are also slow moving but have more foliage and vines than the ones you all saw before. They stand about 6 - 7 feet tall and their arms end on sharp claw-like branches. The small, bird-like creatures look like a cross between a vulture and a mosquito: quite ugly and almost featherless, with a long, needle sharp proboscis. You see at least 4 of them.
Everyone, please roll initiative! (Order in spoiler).
Herka - 14
Crossbowmen - 8
Stirge 1 - 13 (from left to right on the map)
Stirge 2 - 18
Stirge 3 - 13
Stirge 4 - 19
Twig Blight 1 - 17
Twig Blight 2 - 18
Here is the map. Each square is 5 feet. I will update and repost it after each round, if necessary.
**wow, pretty good rolls for the monsters!**
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
(( No worries re delays: there are odd times, and you are doing all the hard work! ))
Ithelion Initiative: 21
Elosa Initiative: 2
Initiative: 21
Daemyar initiative 8
Paladin - warforged - orange
Krom's initiative: 9
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Conscious that the last situation resolved itself peacefully, but suspecting otherwise in this instance, Ithelion shakes her head readies her bow. She is surprised to find the unalloyed fear that she experienced in her earlier encounters is -- this time at least -- replaced by a kind of resigned calculation. Three times in but a single day, that would do it.
She will not take the first shot, but will watch the situation unfold, readying herself to fire at the first of the enemies that moves to attack one of her companions or her new 'friends'.
"Fall back, and use the rocks as cover" she shouts.
Initiative: 2
(OOC: Lorell with the consistent slowest reactions ever.)
Alright! Ithelion shouts to you all as she moves behind the rocks, holding her crossbow at the ready for the first sign of aggression.
Garnet, you're up!
Ithelion - 21
Garnet - 21
Stirge 4 - 19
Stirge 2 - 18
Twig Blight 2 - 18
Twig Blight 1 - 17
Herka - 14
Stirge 1 - 13
Stirge 3 - 13
Krom - 9
Daemyar - 8
Crossbowmen - 8
Lorell - 2
Elosa - 2
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Garnet is going to move with horse behind the rocks there on the left to keep the horse behind cover and hide an opportunity to draw her shield and weapon. She still doesn't wield any long range weapons and is unfamiliar with the opponents.
(Garnet is taking cover and drawing her weapons, if I can do both in an action if not just ignore one.)
The Twig Blights advance towards Herka, shambling awkwardly, moaning and hissing. They are draped in vines and moss, living monuments to nature, though their twisted and pained features hint at some wrongness you don't quite understand. Lorell, you in particular, seem very uncomfortable around these foul beings.
Twig Blights
Only one of the twig blights can make it close enough to Herka to attack, which it does. Twig Blight 2 attacks with its sharp, shrubby claws: To hit: 7 for 4 piercing damage. Twig Blight 1 follows suit moving in a straight line towards the merchant guard captain, but can't make it all the way. It stops and lets loose a wail of frustration? Anger? Both?
[it's a hit]
Stirge 4
targets the crossbowman on the left side of the map, buzzing madly towards him before attacking: To hit: 12 for 5 piercing damage. Those of you watching see the tiny beast set down on the crossbowman's back and try to plunge its needle-sharp proboscis into his back - which it does. It seems fixed on the crossbowman's back and he tries to turn around to see it but to no avail. "Wha? Where is it? Where did it go? Ahhh, that stings!" he cries out while trying to swat at it with his hands (unsuccessfully)
[also a hit]
Stirge 2
flies towards Herka and dives down to attack her on her side. To hit: 22 for 6 piercing damage. Similar to the stirge on the crossbowman earlier, this one also attempts to plunge its stinger into Herka and, just like the other one, this one also attaches itself to her person. Herka grimaces in pain.
[another hit]
Herka
growls in anger, and uses an action to remove the tiny beast from her body. She takes her dagger and tries to stab the little pest as she is holding it. To hit: 22 doing 6 piercing damage. She then turns to face Twig Blight 2 that had attacked her and uses her sword to take a swipe at it. To hit: 13, dealing 4 slashing damage. The Twig Blight splinters and breaks under the force of her attack, and crumbles to the ground, spilling out a variety of insects - millipedes, wood lice, and beetles. "You need to pluck them off you so they don't suck you dry! Let's end this quickly!" she calls out to the rest of you.
[Herka is able to remove the stirge but is unable to hit it with her dagger and it squirms away and flies upwards. She hits and kills Twig Blight 2].
Stirge 1
flies over to attack Elosa, who has been sitting in a tree to the left of the crossbowman who was attacked. The stirge, sensing easy drops of blood, moves to attack: To hit: 22 for 4 piercing damage. It, too, tries to plunge into the owl's body.
[a miss]
Stirge 3
flies over to attack the beleaguered crossbowman on the left. To hit: 21 for 4 piercing damage but will not try to affix itself to his body, as another stirge has already done so.
[a hit, the crossbowman falls from his horse unconscious, with the stirge still attached to his back]
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion, seeing things going in the wrong direction as she feared, breaks cover briefly and uses her reaction to attack Twig Blight #2:
Attack: 7 Damage: 7
She returns to cover.
@Ithelion - The Twig Blight is hard to pick up against a backdrop of trees - your attack sails wide, the Twig Blight following it as it sails past. Herka gets revenge seconds later, however, as she makes kindling out of the creature.
Krom, Daemyar, Elosa, and Lorell are up (in any order) as well as the still conscious crossbowman.
(((Twig Blight 2 is down, one of the crossbowman is also down)
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Ithelion instructs Elosa to keep clear: Stay away from fight and lookout for those flying creatures!
Krom charges over to the fallen crossbowman and takes a swing at the Stirge that is attached to them; yelling as he swings, "I'm gettin' real tired of these Mordain Forges interruptions on this Mordain Forges road!"
Movement: To the fallen crossbowman
Action: Attacking the Stirge that is attached to them with his warhammer, Attack: 17 Damage: 6 Bludgeoning
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
@ithelion - where do you want her to go? Stay with you? Or just far enough away to not make a tempting target for the stirges?
@krom - your warhammer attack turns the stirge into pulp. (lol Moradin Forges!)
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Elosa has been keeping a low profile (avoiding our new 'friends'), so she will stay away from Ithelion and the fight. Lurk in the forest, keeping a wary eye.