"I can see what I can find. Aryte, do you know your edible plants?"

Survival: 17 (if she's willing and able to help, 14 )

((He has spices, but I don't think he'd have a reason to have brought them. They are likely back on the ship so they stay dry. But he'll do what he can over a cook fire.))

Korrik nods at Ben's suggestion. He makes sure Aryte is paying attention before plancing his hands over Ess's eyes, letting the shadows pool around his hands, before pulling them away.

"You're up, it'll make it so you can at least see enough not to trip over our own feet on the way back."

If she consents, he'll shadow-eye her too.

Aryte indeed helps. You find some vegetation that doesn't taste the greatest, but it isn't poison so that's a plus. It's some type of leafy green that you found closer to the more watery sections of the marsh that grew in bunches about the size of a human head. Aryte says "Yes. We can eat this. Marsh lettuce. Taste ok. A little bit swampy. But ok." She doesn't mind that Korrik doesn't have spices on him, but Ess makes a comment. "Bro! You forgot them? Damn bro, I think you could've made a killer croc dish with em! Ah well. Better than rations I suppose, right my homies? Here, let me help ya if ya need it, man." and Ess will help Korrik with dinner even if it's just handing him things as he cooks the meats. 

Ess puts his hands behind his back when Kay performs the darkvision magic. "YES BRO. Thank you, man. Much appreciated."

Aryte, after seeing Korrik perform the magic on Ess, allows him to do the same to her. "Magic always interesting. Thank you." 

So, the magic lasts 8 hours which is the perfect duration as the trip will take that long. Let's see what the encounter rolls bring. So, everyone can now see in the dark, correct?

Ash, totally happy to retro anything as well before the party leaves. 

Marshswamp & Lizardfolk alliance formed + 2, 8:00PM, returning back to the lizardfolk cave

Here are the encounter rolls for the trip. 8 hr total trip time. Arrive at lizardfolk cave approximately 4:00am next day. 

13   /   5   /   19

If needed: 4 OR 30   /   4 OR 4   /   2 OR 78

(Same as the trip to the pool. I'm using Marshswamp sourcebook along with a mystery source since Marshswamp module only uses a d8!)

* ok, something will happen towards the end of the trip. I think everyone would now actually have 1 point of exhaustion since we are close to destination and the encounter happened near the end of the trip. I will post the encounter ASAP!

Ash is happy with the plans. She only scouted for a campsite in case they had to stay here overnight. Her preference is to get back too.

She LOVES the fishy dinner of croc and snake. Can’t get enough of it! Perfect end to a perfect hunt for her!

Aryte would notice how much Ash likes the croc and snake meat and also join her in the enjoyment. "Taste good, yes?!" as she licks her chops and smiles at the tabaxi. "Seconds, yes? Not like we ever going to run out! ha ha ha hisssssss ha ha ha ha!" and she lets out a boisterous laugh with some lizard hisses in the middle as she can't contain herself. 

Marshswamp & Lizardfolk alliance formed + 3, 3:00AM, returning back to the lizardfolk cave

The night is long. 

And wet.

It rains numerous times throughout the night. Ess would complain about it more than a few times until someone told him to stop. Aryte would've told him to stop eventually. "ENOUGH. It's not that bad, human." but secretly even she is annoyed at this point with the soggy conditions. She is somewhat civilized and while she is totally comfortable in the marshy conditions, she has gotten somewhat used to queen Othokent and her lizardfolk clans way of life. 

Ash, what do you think of the rainy conditions basically all night as you trudge through the marsh? :D

You all take one point of exhaustion. You haven't slept and you've now travelled most of the night in the swampy marsh in the rain. 

The rain eventually stops. Aryte says "We close now." 

After a few minutes of her saying that, Ash spots it first, then the others. (even with the -5 to passive perception, there's no way you're going to miss a lit campfire as you walk towards it)

You see 2 large creatures about 100 ft away. They are sitting beside a lit campfire. Cooking, maybe? You don't know. The campfire is less than 5ft diameter, just a small one but provides some brighter light than the darkvision provides to you all. 

Aryte hisses and then quietly says "Trolls. Violent. Vicious. A fine test, yes?" 

She is offering that the party tests themselves against the unsuspecting trolls. Maybe she's a bit delirious from lack of sleep and the travel. That and it is known that she's a bit crazy and war hungry. 

The party can turn around and then go wide around them without having to make any stealth checks at this point, but there may or may not be other ones around, and you aren't sure when these two will decide to leave and which direction they will go. I will make a roll for it should the party decide to try and skip by these creatures unnoticed. 

I've added the new 'Troll' map to our google sheet and added the troll to the bestiary tab. 

Let me know what you all might want to do and we will go from there. The trolls are currently not aware of your presence, bit the longer you hang around the higher chance they're going to smell you and/or get up and leave etc. 

Aryte knows about trolls, but hasn't explained anything to you about them yet other than what she's said. If she speaks more, it will take more time. If you think your character knows about trolls, that's cool! If not, roll for it, but that will also take time for your character to think about it. Ess has no idea. He's squinting trying to get a better look at them. 

"Have they been a problem for your folk in the swamp?", Kay asks quietly.

Ben smiles tight lipped at the soup. He's had worse.

---

A small grin spreads on Ben's lips and he whispers,

"Wouldn't it be better if they just decided to kill each other first? I have a spell that would see to that. We can step in to finish whatever is left."

He considers something,

"Are troll skins exotic, do you think?"

What does Ben know about trolls?(nature?) 4

Ash would hate the constant rain… until they come across the trolls. Then she’s pleased for it!

She grins and crouches low, dips her paw in the marsh and wipes the marsh-mud down her rain-streaked face (Predator style, to conceal her scent).

Then she draws her crossbow, aims… and waits… just in case… ready…

((crossed posts!))

Ash replies in a whisper that sounds like a purr, “Worth a try!…”, she says, onboard with the idea.

Ben glances to Kay before starting things off.

"It would be advantageous if I was able to sneak closer..."

Aryre quietly responds to Kay. "Only once in awhile. They not attack directly but sometimes fight over swamplands. Swamp their home. We in their home."

Ben, you aren't sure if troll skins are considered exotic, but you know some things about these creatures. They usually serve as mercenaries to other larger sized creatures including ogres, giants and the like. They are difficult to control hence maybe why you only know of larger creatures that use them as mercs. You don't know exactly how they fight, but by knowing what they look like you'd assume they have a few different natural attacks. Lastly, you know they have some type of regenerative ability or trait, you just don't know exactly what it is. 

Ess stows his shield away in his belt behind him and takes his longbow from his back. He says in a quiet voice "We doing this then? Cool bros. Yeah Ben that magic sounds perfect. I'll hide over there behind the bush to get a good shot as they fight." Ess wants to go over to the bush west of him and attempt to hide and then shoot as they fight each other, but is waiting to hear what everyone else says. 

Aryte says "I try to also sneak up on them, yes? Hide behind those trees, yes? Watch them fight each other and then strike when time is right." Aryte wants to move north and then hide around those trees and watch them fight and then attack when the time is right. 

Ben, what will you command to Bimz?

Continue to plan amongst yourselves, as more time passes in this moment. Then let me know what each of you want to do and make any rolls as needed (disadvantage due to the exhaustion point if it's a skill check) and then we will go from there, determine what happens, if combat is started, surprise, etc. etc. etc. 

If you continue to discuss and plan without someone taking action, I will make a roll to see if the trolls are getting stiff and need to stand up. 

((Ben is fishing for pass without trace from Kay before deciding to move in!))

Before everyone leaves he says,

"Make sure they don't see you or it will confuse the spell. I'll give you the signal when it's time to strike."

Kay take's Ben's hint, and rubs his Lucky coin as he wills the shadows of the swamp to gather around the party. He'll break off and flank Aryte.

Stealth: 25

Initiative: 8

((For the record, I picked that up from the look, and then cross posted with the explicit request!))

Oh and to Bimz, mentally,

"Stay with me."

((I figured. You get Ben, like on a deep level.))

Ben will sneak forward, crawling in the mud, a bit angrily.

Stealth: 25

Once he is about 60' out he'll pick the bigger of the two trolls, whisper to himself,

"Even looks stupid."

Giving it a sudden flash of self doubt and a minus: 5 from it's saving throw as Ben whispers and wiggles his fingers.

"That one doesn't like you, no they are trying to kill you. Get them..."

He casts enemies abound. DC15 intelligence save.

(This all goes to crap if he gets spotted but there it is!)

Stealth: 29 

Initiative: 16 

Ash, holds still, and blends into the undergrowth. She waits to see how Ben’s plan plays out…

Whoops, initiative: 19

These trolls are preoccupied with something. You think they are eating. Regardless, it would take a very low stealth roll on the approach in order for these guys to hear/see/smell you given the circumstances. 

Ess moves west and makes it to the bush, remaining unseen. Aryte heads north to the trees, also benefiting from Kay's magics and is unseen. 

Ash, even though you might've slipped a bit in the wet marshlands when blending into the undergrowth, you remain unseen.

Korrik, you position yourself behind a bush where the party members are all still in range of the magical shadows of the swamp which have gathered together and are helping the party.

Ben crawls forward in the mud, approaching the trolls. They do not notice the approach. Bimz flies beside him and perches himself in the tree. He's also unseen. bimz stay with ben

Ben, your magic takes hold. You can see the trolls better now that you're closer, and you confirm that they are eating what looks like crab. Well, they were eating. You see and hear the larger troll (the north one) stand up and it starts to yell something you can't understand (unless anyone speaks giant). The other troll then stands up and it is at this moment that initiative kicks in.

Round 1: Ben, Ash, Korrik, Trolls, Bimz, Ess, Aryte

Ben, Ash and Korrik all hold positions, still unseen and now waiting for this to unfold...

The troll affected by Ben's magic attacks the other troll. It bites and claws, all of the attacks hitting. (-26)

The other troll tries to calm the other troll down while also taking a defensive stance.

Bimz, Ess and Aryte hold position, all unseen.

Round 2: Ben, Ash, Korrik, Trolls, Bimz, Ess, Aryte

Ben, Ash and Korrik all hold positions, unseen. 

The troll affected by Ben's magic attacks again (the other troll is now dodging). The claws still connect. The troll is bleeding quite badly now. (-23)

This time, the other troll starts to retaliate and attacks the first troll back. The claws dig in. (-15). The trolls are now yelling at each other in a complete fight. The troll rolls the INT save and hits the 15.

**Would Ben have rolled the d8 again for subtraction? If not, the troll succeeds on the save. Let me know!

Ben will re-up the minus on saves when his turn comes up (lasts 10 minutes or when it's used, since it will be a used on the next round I won't roll it since it will be enough even with a 1 for it to fail.)

As soon as the other troll retaliates Ben will again re-up the minus on the same troll as before for: 8

He'll then cast dissonant whispers level 2 (DC 15 wisdom save) on the unaffected troll for: 10 damage

If the troll fails and runs, opening itself for an AoO, he'll wave for the others to attack it otherwise he'll not give the signal!

((Actually, is it too late to change that dissonant whispers to a vicious mockery and to hold off on waving for attack? If so, same DC 15 wisdom save but only 4 damage and on fail disadvantage on it's next attack roll.

Edit: forgot the damage level up on the cantrip: 4

3 total damage))

Quote from Rodgeir >>

((Actually, is it too late to change that dissonant whispers to a vicious mockery and to hold off on waving for attack? If so, same DC 15 wisdom save but only 2 damage and on fail disadvantage on it's next attack roll.

Edit: forgot the damage level up on the cantrip: 1

3 total damage))

Totally fine!