(( OOC: Here's our campaign thread. I've already rolled for all the setup (link below for transparency.) We'll be going through 4-6 encounters, and it'll be similar to my last admin, but a bit different (re-reading the rules was enlightening.) PM me or message in the group PM if you have any questions or concerns. Let's have some fun! ))

Roll Link: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/2985-rolling-dice?comment=4148

Locke took the lead as the party headed into the forest. He was somewhat nervous; he'd never been in this wild, magical forest, and though he'd heard what he should expect, he didn't like not being familiar with it. But it was training, and if all went well, he'd prove himself to his patron as worthy.

"Well, forward ho!" he chuckled to the others.

Drex

Drex cracks his knuckles, "Great.  Some more training."  

Drex moves 5 ft behind Locke and just offset a bit to his left.  He scans the area as they move out.

"Let's see......Monk, Warlock, Rune Fighter and myself Fighter/Thief/Draconic Sorcerer.  I'm guessing we can see how we do on our first encounter and adjust to our styles to minimize our risks as best we can.  I'm ok up front or in the back.  I may disappear from time to time using stealth occasionally.  We can work the nerves out a bit too. "

As they leave the city, and the walls and the smells of city life fade, Faith finds himself in wonder at the grand trees and gnarled roots that snake out to make the path more difficult. Everywhere is the smell of forest, mulch, water, and stranger scents come each time the wind passes. 

Ahead, Drex and Locke lead the way deeper into the forest, Drex advising on strategies and tactics for the new group. Clearly, a seasoned adventurer. This is what he had come here to learn. 

“Understood,” says Faith. “In the main part, I withdraw the favour of above from those I fight so that they may be weaker in some larger ability. From my ring, I fire bolts of flame. Even when I miss, the magical flame does not often cause damage to things that it should not damage. Do not fret if we find ourselves engaged in deep forest, surrounded by dry branches and leaves.”

He pauses to step over a root. 

“Yes. It’s almost always fine.” 

Drex listens to the city activity noise lower as they get outside the walls a bit. 

"Who knows what we'll encounter out here.  I'm just glad we have some seasoned adventurers.  I can't abide untested adventurers.  I know, I know we all started out green.  Don't make me want to nurse them along any though.  Hey, where is that big guy Gordon at?  Maybe at the privy or a last gulp of brew I bet."

"People are kind of well, wary of my looks and aren't sure what I am.  Truth be told I'm kind of ok with that. I can kind of size some folks up a little that way.  Like you four didn't pay know mind to me and right there and then I knew you had seen a thing or two.  I like that. Let's me know you got some sense about you.  Let's hold up for the big fella a bit so we don't lose him.  We can use some big muscle on this run I bet."

Drex takes a small pull from his wineskin.  Man, that's good stuff. "I won't hit it the wine too hard mind you.  Just taking the edge off see."

Gordon walks up and takes a spot near the front, opposite Drex. 

(( Encounter 1 ))

As the party continues deeper into the forest, you come upon the edge of a clearing. Numerous trees surround the clearing, some towering at least 50 feet into the air. The clearing itself is bare dirt with small patches of grass dotted here and there, and looks to be about 40 feet wide and 100 feet long. Near the far side, about 80 feet away, you see the smoldering remains of a bonfire. It appears that someone's been here before, and not too long ago.

(( Gordon & Locke:

 Will anyone take any immediate action? If not, you can make a perception roll to examine the campsite instead. ))

Drex signals the others by hand to stay alert.  Drex moves towards the campfire to check things out as he surveys the tree line too whispering to the group, "Looks like someone's been in the area."

Game log Roll: 11

Whispering still, "I'm not getting much here as it looks messy."

(( Drex's roll is enough to notice that while there are other signs of camping, such as footprints and food scraps, they all point to the campers having left (footprints lead away, no good hiding spots nearby, etc.)  ))

Drex scratches his chin, "There definitely was a group here that moved off in that direction.  Look, I don't like being in the open like this.  I suggest we run perpendicular to the tracks to the tree line then follow the heading of the tracks. Follow me."

Drex starts moving to the tree line perpendicular to the tracks closest route to the trees.

Faith snaps his fingers and from the thin air a smaller eagle appears and swoops down to land on Faith’s outstretched forearm. He nods to Drek. “I will follow your suggestion. My friend here will be our eyes above.” 

He moves to follow Drek, after whispering his command to the eagle in a strange tongue  

Gordon looks toward the sky, and saying, "This isn't good," draws a scimitar. If whatever he hears does anything aggressive, he throws it, potentially activating his fire giant rune of binding. 

Gildor glances at Gordon, "What's not good?"

Gildor looks about and up trying to quickly discern if anything coming at them.

"Spread out. Put room between each other. 10 ft between each other.  40 ft between first and last person and not in a straight line. Now.

"Something's coming!" said Locke as he took up a defensive stance, stepping away from the others.

ACTION: Locke will take the Dodge action
MOVE: About twenty feet from each companion.

Suddenly the sound of flapping is heard by all; the smaller trees sway as the air whips around you all, stirring up grass, leaves and dirt to only lightly obscure the arrival of a dragon--a wyrmling, really--from above.

The young dragon lands right next to the smoldering campfire, and sits up, it's head reaching over seven feet above the ground. As it folds its wings, it looks around at each party member in turn, its inscrutable gaze piercing almost to your souls. It then notices Faith's familiar flying above, and looks at the creature almost hungrily before turning back to the adventurers and speaking:

"Where is he? Where is Greenvale?"

The voice is deep, terse, and sharp--there's a definite no-nonsense tone to the question as the dragon looks between the party members again.

(( Gordon finds no reason to throw his scimitar yet. What will each of you do--if anything? (Also, add an Arcane or Nature check, your choice, if you want to try to determine what kind of dragon this is.) We're not in combat yet, although since all participants are aware of each other, any attack will immediately trigger an initiative roll. ))

Faith freezes for a moment. Almost he goes to follow his more experienced comrade’s instruction, except… 

It feels like back away or spreading out might antagonise the dragon. It is as large as a man, and its scales are thin, it looks young. But then, would that not make it more unwise, more impulsive? It feels a great danger but also a great opportunity that it has given them. Faith can’t help but notice the way its slitted eyes track his eagle. 

“Greenvale!?” Faith shouts. “I know not that name, but a dragon as great as you must have an urgent and pressing reason to seek him out. Let us not delay you. Or, if we little people may aid you, describe this Greenvale and we will tell all we meet and say he is sought by you, the imperious …?” He leaves the pause to invite the dragon to give its  name. 

(Will roll in game log and edit it:

Nature: 18

Persuasion:  10  ) 

(( Faith can tell that this is clearly a copper dragon, and that by nature they are good entities. He's also able to tell that the dragon isn't harboring any malice toward the party at the moment... but that that may quickly change. ))

The edges of the wyrmling's mouth twitch, almost as if suppressing a smile at Faith's reply. Turning to the warlock, he ignores the request for a name as he again speaks:

"Sylpeiros Greenvale," he slowly begins, each syllable dripping with disgust, "is an enemy of mine, a powerful archmage. I've been tracking him for... quite a while now, and almost caught up to him a year ago, when suddenly all traces of the filth vanished." The dragon's eyes narrow as he leans in towards Faith, the edge in his voice becoming sharper. "Of course, I extracted what I could from his allies, and I was told he and his protectors could be found in this forest." The creature leans in closer. "But I grow tired of this constant deception. No one ever seems to know anything. Any clues I do tear from his allies, all lead nowhere." The dragon takes a step towards the party. "I think... that I am DONE with all of this."

The air goes still for a second as the hairs on the back of everyone's necks stand up. The dragon is almost motionless, but every instinct is screaming at what is mere seconds away.

Everyone roll for initiative!

(( Locke's Initiative: 13 ))

Faith backs up despite himself. 

“Good dragon, we serve the same ends. Do you not recognise one of the Aasi—“ but it’s no use. Faith’s eagle cries out in warning, and Faith dives towards cover as the conflict becomes inevitable. Preparing a spell and a Firey Eldritch Blast for whichever will aid him most, he prays for forgiveness for what he now must do.

Sylperios Greenvale, thinks Faith, perhaps there may enough there for Phantasmal Force, if the dragon is as singleminded as it appears. 

(Initiative: 20 ) 

"We mean you know harm but will defend ourselves.  The last I heard, the archmage traveled to see the High Lady Alustriel Silverhand, a powerful wizard and one of the Seven Sisters—in Silverymoon."

OOC - A deception and lie, but who knows it could be true.  Grin.  I'm ok whether it succeeds or fails as the initiative is upon us. I thought I'd give it a try.

In the game log

Deception : 12

Initiative : 19

Initiative: 18

Gordon tries to reason, even while preparing for battle, "Mighty dragon, we mean you no harm. If we could do anything to help you find this even wizard, we would."