Heec slowly opens his eyes to see Tae, sitting upright with head tilted and mouth open, drooling a bit. Heec, also sitting, stands to stretch out.
Tae, wake up. We must go.
...? Tae opens his eyes, wipes this drool from his mouth and stands. I think that's the best rest I've ever gotten. I feel like I've been asleep for a month! I had some pretty fantastic dreams...
I'm not going to ask but I'm sure I know what you're talking about, Lover-boy. Come now. Let's head to Neverwinter.
Tae and Heec walk out of the west side of town. The stone and gravel road gives way to dirt. They pass the Apothecary, the last building in Cragglefrock before it gives way to a grassy plain. They arrive at the edge of Neverwinter Wood soon afterwards. The trees are spaced out for the first 100 feet of the wood but quickly grow dense. There is no visible road or pathway leading through the wood, but it doesn't look impossible to traverse. Birds chirp merrily in the trees.
Tae and Heec move deeper into the wood. The trees grow closer together and cast long shadows. The air is dense and smells very strongly of earth and overgrown plants. Tae senses a faint presence of magical energies that permeate the wood.
About 100 feet into the wood a small clearing opens up. Tall, imposing trees skirt the perimeter. A large, black bird sits on a branch about eight feet off the ground. It doesn't move as the elves enter the clearing.
You look deep into the raven's inky black eye and scrutinize if it's intentions are threatening. You get so lost in this gaze that you forget to look around the woods for any other threats. After awhile your mind starts to wander and you try to remember if you ate anything this morning.
Tae Perception Check
You keenly spot another large raven another 20 feet beyond the first. It is also watching you from a low branch and looks like it is preparing to take flight.
Not now, Heec! There is another bird attempting to take flight!
It's probably a sentry. It's okay. We want the moon elves to know of our presence here. What better way than to let the bird do its job? Hello, blackbird!
How are you so sure this is a sentry for the moon elves?!
Hmmm... That's a good point. We've gotten no word that the woods have been overrun so it's safe to assume that these woods are friendly, no?
Do moon elves use ravens as sentries?
Heec is silent, then shrugs. Maybe? Let's keep moving. It does us no good to wait here for something to happen.
As Tae and Heec are discussing their next course of action the second raven launches itself into the air, wheels over the two elves and then quickly flies to the northwest before climbing above the canopy and out of sight.
The second raven remains on a branch and slowly turns it's head to watch the elves pass.
As Tae and Heec move past the first raven and further into the woods it lets out a series of calls that sound like a sinister cackle. It takes off as well flying below the treeline straight ahead of the elves. It weaves in and out of the trees until it is out of sight. A few minutes later the same laugh echoes back through the wood.
After it grows quite. A baby's cry can be heard ahead.
The elves come into another small clearing about 20 feet in diameter. Leaves and branches are thickly scattered on the floor, although the ground is still visible in all areas. There is a mound of leaves on the far side of the clearing. The leaves rustle slightly. The sound of the baby's cry is coming from the mound.
*In a stern whisper* HEEC! NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM THIS! THAT IS NOT A BABY! WHATEVER CREATURE IS IN THERE IS NOT IN DANGER! IGNORE IT AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD!
And run the risk of letting a child here to suffer in the woods? Alone? I think not, Tae.
Heec heads to the pile and does a quick ocular pat-down. Heec does an investigation check of the pile. He rolls a 9.
The pile of leaves and branches is too large to determine what might be under there. There is some obvious rustling, though, so it must be something that's moving.
A regularly sized raven flies out of the pile. It alights on a branch up above and mimics the same laugh as the larger one. Dozens of ravens pour into clearing and begin swirling around in a tightly bunched swarm.
Marta spits more blood out and smiles.
M: Sure thing! That concludes everything for today. Good luck to the both of you!
She goes back to cleaning her equipment.
Tae and Heec will level up after the next short or long rest.
Heec and Tae decide it would be best to take a short rest before their long journey.
Heec slowly opens his eyes to see Tae, sitting upright with head tilted and mouth open, drooling a bit. Heec, also sitting, stands to stretch out.
Tae, wake up. We must go.
...? Tae opens his eyes, wipes this drool from his mouth and stands. I think that's the best rest I've ever gotten. I feel like I've been asleep for a month! I had some pretty fantastic dreams...
I'm not going to ask but I'm sure I know what you're talking about, Lover-boy. Come now. Let's head to Neverwinter.
Tae and Heec walk out of the west side of town. The stone and gravel road gives way to dirt. They pass the Apothecary, the last building in Cragglefrock before it gives way to a grassy plain. They arrive at the edge of Neverwinter Wood soon afterwards. The trees are spaced out for the first 100 feet of the wood but quickly grow dense. There is no visible road or pathway leading through the wood, but it doesn't look impossible to traverse. Birds chirp merrily in the trees.
Ahhhhh... What a lovely forest. It's beautiful!
I agree, it's quite pleasant.
You've been awfully agreeable since we left the apothecary. You seem lighter, even, dare I say, happy?
I think you're on to something, Heec. The world is a bright and beautiful place these days.
Put a dash of romance in his life and all of a sudden, everything is "bright" and "beautiful"!
Not romance, more like... hope? Serenity?
That's love, my good man!
I won't argue with you over this. Let's do what we came to do and get back home.
The two elves head deeper into the woods.
Tae and Heec move deeper into the wood. The trees grow closer together and cast long shadows. The air is dense and smells very strongly of earth and overgrown plants. Tae senses a faint presence of magical energies that permeate the wood.
About 100 feet into the wood a small clearing opens up. Tall, imposing trees skirt the perimeter. A large, black bird sits on a branch about eight feet off the ground. It doesn't move as the elves enter the clearing.
I feel like we're being watched.
I'm getting that same feeling. I think that bird is a sentry.
Keep your eyes peeled.
Heec and Tae make perception checks. Heec rolls a 1 (yikes). Tae rolls a 17 (15+2).
Heec Perception Check
You look deep into the raven's inky black eye and scrutinize if it's intentions are threatening. You get so lost in this gaze that you forget to look around the woods for any other threats. After awhile your mind starts to wander and you try to remember if you ate anything this morning.
Tae Perception Check
You keenly spot another large raven another 20 feet beyond the first. It is also watching you from a low branch and looks like it is preparing to take flight.
Are you hungry?
Not now, Heec! There is another bird attempting to take flight!
It's probably a sentry. It's okay. We want the moon elves to know of our presence here. What better way than to let the bird do its job? Hello, blackbird!
How are you so sure this is a sentry for the moon elves?!
Hmmm... That's a good point. We've gotten no word that the woods have been overrun so it's safe to assume that these woods are friendly, no?
Do moon elves use ravens as sentries?
Heec is silent, then shrugs. Maybe? Let's keep moving. It does us no good to wait here for something to happen.
The two elves move deeper into the forest.
As Tae and Heec are discussing their next course of action the second raven launches itself into the air, wheels over the two elves and then quickly flies to the northwest before climbing above the canopy and out of sight.
The second raven remains on a branch and slowly turns it's head to watch the elves pass.
As Tae and Heec move past the first raven and further into the woods it lets out a series of calls that sound like a sinister cackle. It takes off as well flying below the treeline straight ahead of the elves. It weaves in and out of the trees until it is out of sight. A few minutes later the same laugh echoes back through the wood.
After it grows quite. A baby's cry can be heard ahead.
I don't like ANYTHING that's going on here. That's way too creepy for me.
A child needs our help!
This is a trap, Heec! Don't let your blind heroism get us into more trouble!
I'm going! Stay if you're too frightened.
There is no possible scenario where I'm going to be alone in these woods.
The two elves head towards the sounds of the baby.
The elves come into another small clearing about 20 feet in diameter. Leaves and branches are thickly scattered on the floor, although the ground is still visible in all areas. There is a mound of leaves on the far side of the clearing. The leaves rustle slightly. The sound of the baby's cry is coming from the mound.
*In a stern whisper* HEEC! NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM THIS! THAT IS NOT A BABY! WHATEVER CREATURE IS IN THERE IS NOT IN DANGER! IGNORE IT AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD!
And run the risk of letting a child here to suffer in the woods? Alone? I think not, Tae.
Heec heads to the pile and does a quick ocular pat-down. Heec does an investigation check of the pile. He rolls a 9.
Her Investigation Check
The pile of leaves and branches is too large to determine what might be under there. There is some obvious rustling, though, so it must be something that's moving.
While remaining standing, Heec begins to brush away the piles of leaves.
Tae remains about 10 behind Heec. If that thing doesn't kill you, I will!
A regularly sized raven flies out of the pile. It alights on a branch up above and mimics the same laugh as the larger one. Dozens of ravens pour into clearing and begin swirling around in a tightly bunched swarm.
Roll initiative. Raven swarm rolls 20 (18+2).
I'm inclined to let them kill you.
Tae! Help me out!
Heec rolls 17 (13+4).
Tae rolls 8 (7+1).
The raven swarm streams in single file over to Heecrid to surround him in a cyclonic swirl. The birds stab at him with sharp beaks.
Attack roll: 13
The raven swarm is occupying the same space as Heecrid.
Heec is able to skillfully dodge the attack.
Heec attempts to use his Martial Arts on the birds. He rolls a 1. His series of good rolls have caught up to him.
Tae attempts to use Ray of Frost. He rolls a 23 (19+4).
Heec swings wildly but doesn't connect with any of the swarming birds.
Tae unleashes a lance of frost and successfully strikes some of the swarm.