The sense of relief is palpable when the caravan gets moving again. The sun remains hidden behind a sky full of clouds, and a chill lingers in the air, but the lack of rain and your emergence from the Fields of the Dead brings a newfound warmth to the caravan's spirits, even though much of the road remains a mess of puddles.
In the evening, travelers scramble to gather firewood, excited for the warmth and camaraderie that the campfires they have been unable to set for a few days bring. Hunters sharpen their knives and string their bows as a herd of deer are spotted grazing on a nearby hill, preparing to hunt fresh meat for the night.
Merric grabs his bow and joins the hunters as they head toward the hill to bring down some fresh game for dinner. As he returns, he joins the others with a glance toward the cult’s wagons. “Will you scout tonight? Will the owl be able to see inside the wagons? If we want to sneak past the guards tonight and try to look inside, I can help. I can cause a distraction, or I have ways to help some of us stay hidden.”
Rogram doesn't like Karib's suggestion. He scowls. He had been planning to ask Akira to send her owl as soon as they stopped, but Leda grabbed him as soon as they pulled over and gave him some tasks to complete. He didn't complete them until the hunt was ending. (In other words, I wrote a post yesterday and never sent it.) "But I've already waited this long." His eyes stray toward the cult's wagons. He tries to remember if he's seen any activity around the wagons that might indicate food being passed inside.
A cry comes from the travelers as Merric is grabbing his bow. Fingers point to the nearby hillside, where a magnificent stag has joined the other deer. The creature shimmers in the light as if its coat is spun from gold and its antlers plated with platinum. Any of those who could handle a bow but were not planning to join the hunt before rush to grab their weapons now, and the misery of the Fields of the Dead is suddenly forgotten as the golden stag takes center stage.
"I've never seen anything like it!"
"That thing's pelt will be worth a fortune!"
"Surely the light is playing tricks on us."
A few of the more cautious types warn the would-be hunters. "The creature is clearly a blessed being! Killing it will only bring bad luck to the caravan!" However, no more than two or three people are persuaded, and in minutes, the hunt will be on. A few of the deer on the hill have already perked up, their ears twitching at the noises coming from the caravan.
Leda turns her back, just having finished giving Rogram his orders to get ready for camp. Usually, The Pole is a big part of this, but the human is occupied somewhere else this evening it seems. Rogram grumbles to himself. He looks over and sees Akira. The dragonborn had suggested the brilliant idea of sending her owl to look for his Pa. He wanted to talk to her more about it, and the fact that he was stuck at the wagon performing duties that are clearly not guard duties had him feeling steamed.
The first yells at the sight of the stag pulled the half-dwarf out of his pout. He looks up on the hill and raises his eyebrows. The creature was interesting for sure, but a blacksmith could use nothing from a stag save its horns, not even a magical one ... if it in fact is magical. He looks around as more and more workers begin getting ready for the hunt. Rogram stops and looks at the cult's wagons to see if their guards were similarly succumbing to the siren's call.
Akira looks out at the stag, using her knowledge of history and arcana to see if she recognizes anything about the type of magic and will try to assess the level of threat.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A) Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter -Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5) Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Karib stares at the stag in delight then, as the whole camp seems to want to kill the creature, his eyes widen, disgust and shock playing across his face
"Killing such a creature would be an offense against nature and the gods," he says. "I'll have no part of it." If his time amongst the druids had taught him anything it was that such a creature was likely an omen or a spirit in disguise. "No good will come to any who harm it."
Seeing the camp still hungry for violence, he tries another tack. "We have but a single job: protect the caravan. Murderous greed has no place here."
The guards at the assumed wagons of the cult, as diligent as ever, are remaining with their teamsters at the wagons while the caravan hustles to join the hunt.
For Akira:
There is definitely something otherworldly about this stag. Beyond its dazzling pelt, its mannerisms suggest that it is much more than a simple deer. Discerning more than that, however, is nigh impossible from this distance.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Merric pauses as he sees the golden stag on the hillside and studies it intently with sharp elven eyesight “That is no ordinary deer. A fey spirit or guardian of nature.” He looks over at Karib “Whatever it is, I agree friend, no good will come from killing it. Although I doubt this group will have any chance of coming close to it.” Still he calls out to the hunters, trying to get them to see the creature as a sign of good luck and to leave it in peace, even if they hunt the other deer.
Karib and Merric's calls to the hunters fall on deaf ears, as the prospect of a felling a rare beast and claiming its pelt, combined with the thought that a fellow traveler may beat them to it if they delay, proves to be a stronger persuasion. Already travelers are rushing toward the woods and the hills with their bows in hand.
For Merrick:
There is definitely something otherworldly about this stag. Beyond its dazzling pelt, its mannerisms suggest that it is much more than a simple deer. Discerning more than that, however, is nigh impossible from this distance.
Rogram looks at Karib and Merric as they both plead with the potential hunters to spare the golden stag. The half-dwarf briefly considers trying to help in some way, then decides there's nothing he can do. He gets to work to finish as quickly as possible so that he can talk with Akira about using her owl to spy on the cult's wagons.
Karib sighs, watching the hunters chase the stag. Even if it is just a stag, killing it is worse than smashing the most intricate machine. He notes who they are as best he can, then turns back to the guards who remain.
"Be wary!" he calls out. "Those fools may have just been led away as a diversion."
He then inspects the circle of the carts, making sure all horses are well tethered inside the circle and that there is only one or two gaps and there is ample cover for the defenders.
He speaks quietly to Akira as he passes, "Perhaps that owl may keep an eye on our surrounds? I know you may have other plans, but..." he trails off once again staring at the hunters backs.
The sense of relief is palpable when the caravan gets moving again. The sun remains hidden behind a sky full of clouds, and a chill lingers in the air, but the lack of rain and your emergence from the Fields of the Dead brings a newfound warmth to the caravan's spirits, even though much of the road remains a mess of puddles.
In the evening, travelers scramble to gather firewood, excited for the warmth and camaraderie that the campfires they have been unable to set for a few days bring. Hunters sharpen their knives and string their bows as a herd of deer are spotted grazing on a nearby hill, preparing to hunt fresh meat for the night.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: I'll give some more time for any more RP or exploration that is desired while the caravan is resting. If there is none then I'll move us on.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Merric grabs his bow and joins the hunters as they head toward the hill to bring down some fresh game for dinner. As he returns, he joins the others with a glance toward the cult’s wagons. “Will you scout tonight? Will the owl be able to see inside the wagons? If we want to sneak past the guards tonight and try to look inside, I can help. I can cause a distraction, or I have ways to help some of us stay hidden.”
Thoughts of Rogram's father weight heavily upon Karib and he spends the day quietly in the wagon, watchful but keeping largely to himself.
He again suggests circling the wagons to the other drivers, "Why stop, eh? That's when we'll curse our laziness.", before joining Merric and Rogram.
"Maybe we should learn their patterns before trying anything, we have a few more days yet."
He looks weary and preoccupied. Perhaps that's the source of his caution, or perhaps there is some other factor at play.
Rogram doesn't like Karib's suggestion. He scowls. He had been planning to ask Akira to send her owl as soon as they stopped, but Leda grabbed him as soon as they pulled over and gave him some tasks to complete. He didn't complete them until the hunt was ending. (In other words, I wrote a post yesterday and never sent it.) "But I've already waited this long." His eyes stray toward the cult's wagons. He tries to remember if he's seen any activity around the wagons that might indicate food being passed inside.
Akira looks optimistically at her team members. “I will send her out once dark comes so an owl would be less conspicuous.”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
A cry comes from the travelers as Merric is grabbing his bow. Fingers point to the nearby hillside, where a magnificent stag has joined the other deer. The creature shimmers in the light as if its coat is spun from gold and its antlers plated with platinum. Any of those who could handle a bow but were not planning to join the hunt before rush to grab their weapons now, and the misery of the Fields of the Dead is suddenly forgotten as the golden stag takes center stage.
"I've never seen anything like it!"
"That thing's pelt will be worth a fortune!"
"Surely the light is playing tricks on us."
A few of the more cautious types warn the would-be hunters. "The creature is clearly a blessed being! Killing it will only bring bad luck to the caravan!" However, no more than two or three people are persuaded, and in minutes, the hunt will be on. A few of the deer on the hill have already perked up, their ears twitching at the noises coming from the caravan.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Flashback music ...
Leda turns her back, just having finished giving Rogram his orders to get ready for camp. Usually, The Pole is a big part of this, but the human is occupied somewhere else this evening it seems. Rogram grumbles to himself. He looks over and sees Akira. The dragonborn had suggested the brilliant idea of sending her owl to look for his Pa. He wanted to talk to her more about it, and the fact that he was stuck at the wagon performing duties that are clearly not guard duties had him feeling steamed.
The first yells at the sight of the stag pulled the half-dwarf out of his pout. He looks up on the hill and raises his eyebrows. The creature was interesting for sure, but a blacksmith could use nothing from a stag save its horns, not even a magical one ... if it in fact is magical. He looks around as more and more workers begin getting ready for the hunt. Rogram stops and looks at the cult's wagons to see if their guards were similarly succumbing to the siren's call.
Akira looks out at the stag, using her knowledge of history and arcana to see if she recognizes anything about the type of magic and will try to assess the level of threat.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Karib stares at the stag in delight then, as the whole camp seems to want to kill the creature, his eyes widen, disgust and shock playing across his face
"Killing such a creature would be an offense against nature and the gods," he says. "I'll have no part of it." If his time amongst the druids had taught him anything it was that such a creature was likely an omen or a spirit in disguise. "No good will come to any who harm it."
Seeing the camp still hungry for violence, he tries another tack. "We have but a single job: protect the caravan. Murderous greed has no place here."
For Rogram:
The guards at the assumed wagons of the cult, as diligent as ever, are remaining with their teamsters at the wagons while the caravan hustles to join the hunt.
For Akira:
There is definitely something otherworldly about this stag. Beyond its dazzling pelt, its mannerisms suggest that it is much more than a simple deer. Discerning more than that, however, is nigh impossible from this distance.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Akira shifts her focus to the people around the Cult tents, gauging if this might be a good distraction enough to send in the owl.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
@Charlesrhoden: I'll save you the wait. The guards are just as diligent in their guarding as ever. :(
Merric pauses as he sees the golden stag on the hillside and studies it intently with sharp elven eyesight “That is no ordinary deer. A fey spirit or guardian of nature.” He looks over at Karib “Whatever it is, I agree friend, no good will come from killing it. Although I doubt this group will have any chance of coming close to it.” Still he calls out to the hunters, trying to get them to see the creature as a sign of good luck and to leave it in peace, even if they hunt the other deer.
Persuasion: 17.
Nature (to learn anything of the golden stag): 3.
.
Karib and Merric's calls to the hunters fall on deaf ears, as the prospect of a felling a rare beast and claiming its pelt, combined with the thought that a fellow traveler may beat them to it if they delay, proves to be a stronger persuasion. Already travelers are rushing toward the woods and the hills with their bows in hand.
For Merrick:
There is definitely something otherworldly about this stag. Beyond its dazzling pelt, its mannerisms suggest that it is much more than a simple deer. Discerning more than that, however, is nigh impossible from this distance.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
How far away is it, DM?
OOC: The herd on the hillside is about 1500 feet away at this point.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram looks at Karib and Merric as they both plead with the potential hunters to spare the golden stag. The half-dwarf briefly considers trying to help in some way, then decides there's nothing he can do. He gets to work to finish as quickly as possible so that he can talk with Akira about using her owl to spy on the cult's wagons.
Karib sighs, watching the hunters chase the stag. Even if it is just a stag, killing it is worse than smashing the most intricate machine. He notes who they are as best he can, then turns back to the guards who remain.
"Be wary!" he calls out. "Those fools may have just been led away as a diversion."
He then inspects the circle of the carts, making sure all horses are well tethered inside the circle and that there is only one or two gaps and there is ample cover for the defenders.
He speaks quietly to Akira as he passes, "Perhaps that owl may keep an eye on our surrounds? I know you may have other plans, but..." he trails off once again staring at the hunters backs.
Akira smiles warmly at the suggestion and telepathically sends a message to her familiar to scan the area around the canavan for threats.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)