Heec punches and jabs, knocking several birds away in an explosion of feathers while Tae strategically aims another frosty ray to pierce several ravens at once. They drop like stones, stiff and covered in frost. The same harrowing laughter echoes behind Tae and the large raven appears, flying swiftly towards him. Initiative Roll: 18 (16+2) The raven swarm is down to a half dozen birds but they strike at Heec again. Attack Roll: 11 The large raven braces it's talons, which are as big and razor sharp as an eagle's, in front of it and strikes at Tae before swooping back to hover a few feet away.
The large raven takes a punch in the head from Heec and its neck breaks with an audible snap.
Tae unleashes another lance of frost, slashing it diagonally to destroy the remaining birds of the swarm.
The last raven of the swarm has its wing severed and falls to the ground mimicing a baby's cry before going silent. A few moments pass and the songs of starlings begin to chirp merrily around the woods. It appears the avian foes have all been vanquished.
After the ravens quoth no more deceitful cries and Tae and Heec discuss the aftermath, they consult the map scribbled out by Shae. There are four locations marked with some rough distances and notes. The departing location is the edge of the woods, due east of the road out of Cragglefrock where the elves entered the Wood.
Site #1 is the closest, and the notes say a person could reach it by eveningfall of the first day of traveling. It is is east and a little north of the departing location. There are two great oaks split by lightning which signify that the location is near.
Site #2 is beyond the first site nestled closer to the mountains. It is two days of traveling or one day from the first site. It is an elevated rocky formation that looks like a small fortification that should be easy to spot.
Site #3 is south of the tributary to Neverwinter River coming from the mountains. It is on the east side of the main river as well. It is estimated to be four or more days of travel from the start and up to two from the second site. The location is difficult to spot but it is near the Neverwinter River and surrounded by a thick copse of trees with brambles all around.
Site #4 is the furthest site south. It is on the west side of the main river but south of the tributary. It is three days from the beginning and one from the third site. A massive oak tree is in the center of the site.
We can either go to the 4th site first or the 1st site first. It doesn't make much sense to do anything else.
I concur. Shall we let fate decide?
You read my mind. Tae reaches into his pocket, grabs the green feather and the copper coin. Clean, we start at the 1st site. Dirty, we start at the 4th site.
Tae flips the coin in the air, catches it and opens his hand.
To the 1st site we go!
We should be able to make it there before sundown.
The two elves follow the map provided by Shae and set off through the forest. The forest doesn't prove to be too dense and the elves manage to find short game trails in several places. The sun still has a few hours before setting when they reach their destination. Despite the hours of sunlight left, the woods create long shadows and it looks later than it actually is.
The location has several trees that have been removed with numerous stumps around so that there is a large clearing about 50 feet in diameter. There doesn't appear to be anyone there.
The woods are full of the sound of cicadas and evening birds. The stumps are low enough that there couldn't be any creature larger than a cat hiding behind them. The trees beyond the clearing are thick enough that it is impossible to tell if someone is there.
Tae Perception Check
You can't detect any signs of like other than the birds and insects calling. You do notice one particular stump in the middle of the clearing is rotted and doesn't have any visible roots still connecting it to the ground.
While the elves gather the items from the cache and sort their inventory the fog thickens so that they can only see five feet away. A series of hissing noises sounds to the north and begins to fan out around them. A Russet colored serpent swoops between the two elves hovering on four wings that look like a cross between a dragonfly's and a dragons. It rears back to strike.
Roll Initiative: Critical fail! Elves gain advantage on first attack roll.
Tae points at the Russet snake and unleashes a ray of frost. The narrow beam passes between the coils of the snake barely missing it.
Heec follows up with a two punch combination that connects. The snake is knocked several feet away through the fog and Heec can hear the soft thud of it hitting the ground.
The hissing resumes from every direction. A bright Emerald snake darts from the fog to the West and bites at Heec as it flies by.
Attack Roll: 23
Damage Roll: 1 piercing + 1 poison
The Emerald snake retreats into the fog to the east, too quickly for Heec to mount an opportunity attack.
Another snake flies in from the North, this one is Azure with dark blue diamonds down its back. It strikes at Tae before retreating to the South
Attack Roll: Critical fail
The snake is way off course, though and doesn't come close to biting the drow.
A third snake flies from the South and attempts to bite Heec. This one is dark Onyx with yellow bands around its tail.
Attack Roll: 15
It flies to the North. The three snakes are obscured by the heavy fog, though the elves can hear some hissing from those directions.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Tae rolls a 1. The swarm is now slowed by 10 feet until their next turn.
The lance skewers one of the ravens and it falls to the ground.
A sudden snap of cold air coats the other birds in frost and slows down the frenzied swirl.
They strike at Heec again.
Attack Roll: 9
Heec dashes from left to right, dodging all of the birds' attacks.
He counters with a 19 (13+6) and 12 (6+6).
If the first attack does damage, he would do 5 (1+5). If the second attack does damage, he would do 6 (2+5).
Tae winds up for another attack with his Ray of Frost. He rolls another 23 (19+4). He deals 7 damage.
Heec punches and jabs, knocking several birds away in an explosion of feathers while Tae strategically aims another frosty ray to pierce several ravens at once. They drop like stones, stiff and covered in frost.
The same harrowing laughter echoes behind Tae and the large raven appears, flying swiftly towards him.
Initiative Roll: 18 (16+2)
The raven swarm is down to a half dozen birds but they strike at Heec again.
Attack Roll: 11
The large raven braces it's talons, which are as big and razor sharp as an eagle's, in front of it and strikes at Tae before swooping back to hover a few feet away.
Attack Roll: 16, Damage Roll: 1
The bird lands a sizable scratch on Tae's arm, barely breaking the skin.
Hmmm... I really should have just left you here with your "babies" you needed to save.
I've got this!
Heec takes a five foot step to the side so he's facing both the large raven and the swarm. He attacks the large raven with his Martial Arts.
Heec rolls a 16 (10+6) and a 16 (10+6). He deals 8 (3+5) and 6 (1+5) damage.
Tae target's the swarm with another blast from his Ray of Frost. He rolls a 17 (13+4). His damage roll is a 7.
The large raven takes a punch in the head from Heec and its neck breaks with an audible snap.
Tae unleashes another lance of frost, slashing it diagonally to destroy the remaining birds of the swarm.
The last raven of the swarm has its wing severed and falls to the ground mimicing a baby's cry before going silent. A few moments pass and the songs of starlings begin to chirp merrily around the woods. It appears the avian foes have all been vanquished.
See? We've helped these woods from harm. Maybe a child didn't need our help, but the woods certainly did.
Maybe next time you'll listen to me when I say "Don't fall for the trap"?
I don't really mind if it is a trap! That would mean someone or something is trying to be deceitful and needs to be dealt with!
You're not the protector of the realm!
Maybe I'm not, but more people need to stand up and do what's right. That includes you.
Just because I mind my own business doesn't mean I don't do what's right.
Inaction can be as dangerous as wrongful action.
Stop preaching. Let's keep moving.
The two elves move deeper into the woods.
After the ravens quoth no more deceitful cries and Tae and Heec discuss the aftermath, they consult the map scribbled out by Shae. There are four locations marked with some rough distances and notes. The departing location is the edge of the woods, due east of the road out of Cragglefrock where the elves entered the Wood.
Site #1 is the closest, and the notes say a person could reach it by eveningfall of the first day of traveling. It is is east and a little north of the departing location. There are two great oaks split by lightning which signify that the location is near.
Site #2 is beyond the first site nestled closer to the mountains. It is two days of traveling or one day from the first site. It is an elevated rocky formation that looks like a small fortification that should be easy to spot.
Site #3 is south of the tributary to Neverwinter River coming from the mountains. It is on the east side of the main river as well. It is estimated to be four or more days of travel from the start and up to two from the second site. The location is difficult to spot but it is near the Neverwinter River and surrounded by a thick copse of trees with brambles all around.
Site #4 is the furthest site south. It is on the west side of the main river but south of the tributary. It is three days from the beginning and one from the third site. A massive oak tree is in the center of the site.
Where should we start?
We can either go to the 4th site first or the 1st site first. It doesn't make much sense to do anything else.
I concur. Shall we let fate decide?
You read my mind. Tae reaches into his pocket, grabs the green feather and the copper coin. Clean, we start at the 1st site. Dirty, we start at the 4th site.
Tae flips the coin in the air, catches it and opens his hand.
To the 1st site we go!
We should be able to make it there before sundown.
The two elves head for the 1st site.
The two elves follow the map provided by Shae and set off through the forest. The forest doesn't prove to be too dense and the elves manage to find short game trails in several places. The sun still has a few hours before setting when they reach their destination. Despite the hours of sunlight left, the woods create long shadows and it looks later than it actually is.
The location has several trees that have been removed with numerous stumps around so that there is a large clearing about 50 feet in diameter. There doesn't appear to be anyone there.
This looks like where we should be...
Then why is no one here?
I'm not sure. Let's take a look around.
Heec makes a perception check of 16 (12+4).
Tae make a perception check of 21 (19+2).
Heec Perception Check
The woods are full of the sound of cicadas and evening birds. The stumps are low enough that there couldn't be any creature larger than a cat hiding behind them. The trees beyond the clearing are thick enough that it is impossible to tell if someone is there.
Tae Perception Check
You can't detect any signs of like other than the birds and insects calling. You do notice one particular stump in the middle of the clearing is rotted and doesn't have any visible roots still connecting it to the ground.
Heec, check this out. It looks like this stump is just a decoy.
The two elves gather around the rotted stump and attempt to pick it up.
The stump is surprisingly light and is easily lifted out as a whole. A dark, gray cloak covers a hole.
We should see what's under this cloak.
Without objection, Heec removes the cloak from the hole.
Under the cloak there is a small bundle of six gold coins, an empty lantern, and a few days rations.
While the elves are focused on gathering the items a swirl of fog quickly descends and blankets the area in thick mist obscuring sight beyond 10 feet.
Should we leave it or take it?
Take it! If it was important, whomever it was would have taken it with them!
Hmmm... We'll take it and ask if anyone knows who was here last.
Heec takes the coins and the rations, but leaves the lantern.
Do you need the lantern for anything?
Nope. What should we do about this fog?
We can either rest for the night or we can try to travel through it.
My vote is for resting.
I'm fine with that. Let's set up camp.
The two elves prepare to rest for four hours.
While the elves gather the items from the cache and sort their inventory the fog thickens so that they can only see five feet away. A series of hissing noises sounds to the north and begins to fan out around them. A Russet colored serpent swoops between the two elves hovering on four wings that look like a cross between a dragonfly's and a dragons. It rears back to strike.
Roll Initiative: Critical fail! Elves gain advantage on first attack roll.
Heec rolls a 12 (8+4). Tae rolls 15 (14+1).
Tae attempts to blast the beast with a Ray of Frost. He rolls a 13 (9+4 (thank God for advantage (rolled a crit fail initially))).
Heec attacks with Martial Arts. He rolls a 19 (13+6) and 25 (19+6). He deals 8 (4+4) and 8 (4+4) damage (those were not advantage rolls).
Tae points at the Russet snake and unleashes a ray of frost. The narrow beam passes between the coils of the snake barely missing it.
Heec follows up with a two punch combination that connects. The snake is knocked several feet away through the fog and Heec can hear the soft thud of it hitting the ground.
The hissing resumes from every direction. A bright Emerald snake darts from the fog to the West and bites at Heec as it flies by.
Attack Roll: 23
Damage Roll: 1 piercing + 1 poison
The Emerald snake retreats into the fog to the east, too quickly for Heec to mount an opportunity attack.
Another snake flies in from the North, this one is Azure with dark blue diamonds down its back. It strikes at Tae before retreating to the South
Attack Roll: Critical fail
The snake is way off course, though and doesn't come close to biting the drow.
A third snake flies from the South and attempts to bite Heec. This one is dark Onyx with yellow bands around its tail.
Attack Roll: 15
It flies to the North. The three snakes are obscured by the heavy fog, though the elves can hear some hissing from those directions.