The Old Forest

Apr 6, 2023 10:00 am

After climbing out of the low ground, the trail sets to a meandering path, gradually upward and winding to bypass the more challenging terrain when possible.

The width of the trail varies. In areas of thicker growth, the path is thin. In places of low underbrush, it widens again.

A variety of hardwoods and evergreens stand full and tall all around. In certain stretches of the trail, the overhead canopy of branches and foliage is so thick that it darkens the light of the sun.

Intermittently, cut trees lay on the ground along the side of the trail, at varying stages of decay, sign of the work done over these recent years to revive the old route.

The trail shows some signs of passage, by foot and hoof prints, but it is clear that it is not heavily trafficked.

This forest is a borderland at best, a last edge where civilization has attempted a precarious hold.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 6, 2023 8:05 pm

The Old Forest

Scouting at the head of their column, Syrena occasionally stops and crouches to examine tracks along the trail. She gestures silently to any suspicious would-be lurking spots among the underbrush and the low hanging branches, to alert the others to possible unseen dangers. She is determined not to let the rain or dangerous fauna of Skausen Spen keep them from reaching Tower Two before nightfall.

Last edited April 6, 2023 8:06 pm

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 6, 2023 9:06 pm

The Old Forest

Gennadius is brimming with excitement despite the hours of humping his heavy, meticulously packed bag and terror of the unknown. Turns out, giant arachnids are not just a storytime trope. Best to deal with that whenever the time comes. Focus on other things. Keep busy.

He watches Syrena intently, trailing behind her at a good distance. What does she see there? he asks himself as she gestures and indicates some patch of dirt or slightly... uh, yellow leaves I guess?. He touches and gestures like she does, hoping to glean some understanding, or at the very least convey whatever the message is to the rest behind him. they probably also think I know this stuff too he thinks, self satisfied.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 6, 2023 10:00 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon had spent to many weeks drinking beer and tossing dice for this hike to be enjoyable, but he was getting his marching legs back. Normally he prided himself on his physical condition, and this was a reminder of the slowing pace of work on this region.

"It was concerning to see the Legion so hard up for silver. It's not like this is some far flung campaign on the other side of the world. The day the Aurans can't pay the bills is the day they fall to pieces. Of course, that might present enterprising individuals with new opportunities."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 6, 2023 11:06 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

I'm going to roll some dice, run an exercise of doing things by the book. Then I may audible and adjust results because of factors I will explain.
All out in the open.

OOC:

Update after rolls: The rolls would normally yield...
Encounter distance 13 yards (39 feet)
PC Party is NOT Surprised (noteworthy: only because of Syrena's Explorer positive modifier against being Surprised).
Monsters ARE Surprised.

OOC:

Update: Will write entry next based roughly on this, but with a modification to the advantage of the PC party this time. Reason: I do not fully understand how to apply this Class skill for Explorer: "In any terrain except clear and grassland terrain, the explorer’s party receives a +5
bonus to proficiency throws to evade wilderness encounters." Will require more research or discussion, but this time I make a ruling that the skill worked and will be applied in description, forthcoming.

Rolls

Encounter Distance - (5d4)

(33412) = 13

Party Surprised (includes Syrenas +1 to Surprise) - (1d6+1)

(1) + 1 = 2

Monsters Surprised - (1d6)

(1) = 1

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 6, 2023 11:46 pm

The Old Forest

The smell is what Syrena notices first. Faint at a distance, but it is something.

She calls a halt with a hand signal and moves forward a bit further, slowly. And making an effort to stay close to concealment if necessary.

A few more steps and the odor is confirmed. Pungent and rancid. What is it?
It is horrible, as well as unfamiliar. It is the smell of decay, but also something else even worse. It can't be far up ahead.

Getting down low, she creeps just around the bend in the road and crests a very small incline. Taking cover in some ferns on the right side of the trail, she gets eyes on an upcoming obstacle - and apparently the source of this horrid smell.

Ahead from her position, about 40 feet further up the trail, she sees the wreckage of a downed tree - an old rotten fir with broad branches now broken and strewn everywhere. The trail is completely blocked.

Underneath the tree: a huge rotting mass of ... what?

The remaining skin of the massive carcass is covered with long shaggy brown hair, matted and filthy in the gore. It seems too large to be a grizzly, and the hair is not right for that. It is difficult to make out the detail, as many of the large boughs of the tree engulf the dead mass. Whatever it is met its ending crushed beneath the heavy weight of the downfall.

And munching on the disgusting decay, scuttering around this way and that, perhaps a dozen giant... beetles!

They move in and out of the wreckage of the fallen tree, clipping, chewing, and slowly devouring the mucky remains of the huge corpse - an unsettling and repulsive scene.

Syrena looks back to gauge the position. The others are only about 20 yards back on the trail, but out of sight because of the bend and the close foliage.

She makes note of the entire area, including options for a bypass if that is the decision.

Required Action, PC Party: Upon learning of the obstacle and potential threat ahead, what does the Party do? Advance and Attack the beetles? Bypass around the scene, going off-trail into the forest? Something else?

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 6, 2023 11:53 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Going off trail might put us in worse danger, and speaking as a player, it might be good to get experience with the combat system before we get into a higher stakes fight. I vote attack.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 7, 2023 12:40 am

The Old Forest

Len says:

OOC:

Going off trail might put us in worse danger, and speaking as a player, it might be good to get experience with the combat system before we get into a higher stakes fight. I vote attack.

OOC:

Daman is down! : )
May be best to cast sleep on them while they are grouped and away from our party, then I can fall back and let you do your thing.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 1:02 am

The Old Forest

Upon hearing of the threat ahead, Culchas can hardly contain himself.

In a hissing whisper, nearly too loud, "At LAST! My spear will taste BLOOD!". He spits as he talks, "We must ATTACK the insects!"

The wild Krysean has the hint of madness in his eyes.

OOC:

With Combat an option, please read the Retro Initiative House Rule.
If Combat is the choice, someone needs to grab hold of a d10 and fkn throw it.

[ +- ] Roll Initiative?!

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 7, 2023 2:59 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon looks forward to seeing how this new crew holds up in battle.

OOC:

Haha, auspicious start.

Last edited April 7, 2023 3:00 am

Rolls

Init - (1d10-2)

(10) - 2 = 8

RageRed

Apr 7, 2023 7:26 am

The Old Forest

DMJ says:

OOC:

...Monsters ARE Surprised.

OOC:

Does this mean that the group gets a surprise round before initiative goes into effect?

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 8:45 am

The Old Forest

RageRed says:

OOC:

Does this mean that the group gets a surprise round before initiative goes into effect?

[ +- ] Answer

[ +- ] Expanded OOC Commentary

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 9:07 am

The Old Forest

Surprise Round

Culchas disregards any further talk and charges in, though with surprising stealth. He closes the distance to the fallen tree with the speed and grace of a panther.

With reckless abandon, the Krysean mountain-man throws himself at the giant beetles, unleashing a rage-fueled ferocity with his deadly spear.

Apply Ambushing (Proficiency). On Surprise, +4 bonus to Attack throws and deal Double Damage on hits.

Activate Berzerkergang (Proficiency). +2 bonus to Attack throws. Immune to Fear. -2 AC and cannot retreat from Combat. Cannot end Rage until Combat ends.

[ +- ] notes on Numbers/Modifiers

[ +- ] GP functionality question

[ +- ] Needed correction

Rolls

Spear Attack - (1d20+5)

(3) + 5 = 8

Damage (double result) - (1d8+2)

(3) + 2 = 5

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 9:15 am

The Old Forest

Surprise Round
Culchas

Culchas arrives to his clash a bit off balance from the wildness of his final thrust forward. He becomes partially hindered by the array of tree branches in the area where the beetles congregate.

His spear hits his target at an odd angle, deflecting off of a beetle’s tough exoskeleton, with little effect beyond shifting the huge insect in a rough twist.

Result: Miss

Most of the beetles are about 3' long and stand around 2' tall at the top of their backs. There are 10 of them in the vicinity, all caught unawares for the fleeting moment yet.

But Culchas has initiated the hostility and continues to thrash violently in his rage.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 10:01 am

The Old Forest

Required Action, PCs: declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Actions complete: Culchas
Actions remaining: Damanandros, Gennadius, Gundus, Syrena, Xenophon

OOC:

I'm not going to burn a lot of time this iteration with maps and strict distance position management.
Assume all PCs can cover distance and Attack by Melee within the Surprise Round if desired, or stage up wherever / what distance they prefer to use Missile, cast Spells, or other Ranged Effects.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 7, 2023 11:47 am

The Old Forest

Gundus raises his hammer to the heavens and murmurs a prayer before joining the fray. He marches boldly to stand by Culchas' side and aims a mighty blow at the nearest beast.

Rolls

Warhammer - to hit - (1d20+1)

(20) + 1 = 21

Damage - (1d6+1)

(5) + 1 = 6

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 12:52 pm

The Old Forest

Surprise Round
Gundus

Gundus swings strong in a low arc. His hammer crashes into a beetle, knocking it away in a loud blast that shatters its hard natural shell-like armor.

Result: Hit. Possible Critical to Beetle 1 (B1)
Save successful.

B1 defeated. Allows option for Gundus to access Cleaving Attack (pg. 105, ACKS Rulebook).

Rolls

B1 Save vs. Death (v. Critical, need 14+) - (1d20)

(15) = 15

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 12:55 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, PCs: declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Actions complete: Culchas
Actions remaining: Damanandros, Gennadius, Syrena, Xenophon
Partial Action Remaining: Gundus

Optional Action, Gundus: Cleaving Attack if desired.

Beetles' Armor Class (AC) is exposed. AC: 3.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 7, 2023 2:44 pm

The Old Forest

Gundus recovers smartly, turning in a practiced pivot and swinging his hammer in a sharp hook at the beetle to his left.

Rolls

Warhammer - to hit - (1d20+1)

(14) + 1 = 15

Damage - (1d6+1)

(3) + 1 = 4

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 3:04 pm

The Old Forest

Surprise Round
Gundus

After blasting through one insect, Gundus's continued follow through knocks his heavy hammer against the head of another.

The second beetle leaps back instinctively from the pain and then regathers itself, though worse for wear with the injury.

Cleaving Attack: Hit. B2 injured.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 3:05 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, PCs: declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Actions complete: Culchas, Gundus
Actions remaining: Damanandros, Gennadius, Syrena, Xenophon

Opponent notes: 9 Beetles remaining. B2 is injured. Beetle AC: 3.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 7, 2023 5:03 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena takes aim from a position within visible range of the bugs and looses an arrow on one of them, before everyone else closes into melee.

OOC:

Yet again, the GP dice roller ruins another potential great moment.

Last edited April 7, 2023 5:04 pm

Rolls

Longbow - (1d20+4)

(3) + 4 = 7

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 6:25 pm

The Old Forest

Surprise Round
Syrena

Syrena's arrow hits the top of a beetle's shell at a bad angle. It deflects and sails over the fallen tree and into the woods beyond.

Miss

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 6:26 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, PCs: declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Actions complete: Culchas, Gundus, Syrena
Actions remaining: Damanandros, Gennadius, Xenophon

Opponent notes: 9 Beetles remaining. B2 is injured. Beetle AC: 3.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 7, 2023 7:17 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros winces as his companions charge into battle. He hasn't put the sleep spell through its paces in combat yet and is a little uncertain about what it may do to others in the area. He pulls back to a safer distance while beginning to recite the intonations that are tuned to the current astrological movements. When he feels that he has the majority of the creatures in sight, he applies torque to the beetles' circadian rhythm and their sense of the season.

Holding his hands in the direction of the beetles, he calls out to them, "ξεχάστε την εποχή και την εγρήγορσή σας, είναι η ώρα σας να κοιμηθείτε"

OOC:

Nicean Translation: Forget the season and your wakefulness. It is your time to slumber!

Signaling the closing flux of mystical energies he summons with a tightened fist, he attempts to seal the spell, causing affected creatures to forget their place and begin to hibernate where they stand.

[ +- ] Sleep Spell

There is no save mentioned.

Last edited April 7, 2023 7:18 pm

Rolls

HD of Beetles affected by Sleep Spell - (2d8)

(73) = 10

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 10:29 pm

The Old Forest

Surprise Round
Damanandros

Damanandros's spell is extremely potent. Half of the giant insects slow, sink to their bellies, and then drop down motionless - fallen to a deep slumber. One, that was scampering through the fallen tree, slides off the back side of the trunk and disappears behind the debris in a crash.

Sleep spell effective. 5 Beetles (B3 - B7) are put to sleep.

Only four of the insects are still moving, now clattering and turning about wildly in their confusion over being attacked.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 7, 2023 10:30 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, PCs: declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Actions complete: Culchas, Gundus, Syrena, Damanadros
Actions remaining: Gennadius, Xenophon

Opponent notes: 4 Beetles remain active. B2 is injured. Beetle AC: 3.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 8, 2023 1:31 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon advances with shield and spear. Impressed with Damanandros's sorcery, he lashes out the wounded beetle, trying to finish it.

OOC:

+1 strength is all I have to boost. Need a 13+ to hit, 10 base plus an additional 3 for AC.

Last edited April 8, 2023 1:33 am

Rolls

Attacking awake beetle - (1d20+1)

(14) + 1 = 15

Damage (+1 str) - (1d6+1)

(2) + 1 = 3

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 8, 2023 4:02 am

The Old Forest

Gennadius shifts his feet in a half second of indecision as he drops his heavy pack to the ground while Culchas races forward. Charge in or throw? He tips his spear point down towards the giant vermin while his off-hand begins to feel for his javelins in his quiver. Gripping the spear tighter, he prophesizes ahhhh Ianna's tits, this is going to be a mistake!, and then he instead draws his dagger and charges in to the fray.

OOC:

Str +0, Spear Charge +2 atk, Dual Wielding +1 atk=+3; Atk throw 10+3=13+

OOC:

Note on Culchas' attack - He should also add a +2 bonus for charging:

ACKS pg.101 says:

The attack made after the charge is made with a +2 bonus on the attack throw. The charging combatant takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class until the next time his initiative number comes up. Certain weapons, including spears, lances, and pole arms, are especially suitable for use while charging, as are the natural attacks of certain monsters, especially including those with horns. These attacks deal double damage on a successful charge.

I think he would still miss tho.

OOC:

Other note: Y'all fighters smashing the bugs probably can also Cleave (ACKS pg.105)

Last edited April 8, 2023 4:30 am

Rolls

Attack a moving beetle - (1d20+3)

(12) + 3 = 15

Damage (x2 from charge) - (1d6)

(1) = 1

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 8, 2023 10:31 am

The Old Forest

Surprise Round

Xenophon

Xenophon thrust his spear at the beetle that was hit by Gundus's disruptive hammer swing. The spear gouges in a joint near the insect's back leg, and the force of the strike shifts the beetle's stance.

Hit. B2 injured (more).

Gennadius

Charging in, Gennadius stabs his spear into another beetle's side, driving the big bug back into the fallen tree branches near the massive degrading carcass.

Hit. B8 injured.

[ +- ] side convo on Culchas Charge

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 8, 2023 10:37 am

The Old Forest

The beetles make efforts to recover from the surprising attack.

Roll for Initiative!

Result: 9. PC Party wins Initiative (8)

Rolls

Monster Initiative - (1d10)

(9) = 9

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 8, 2023 10:57 am

The Old Forest

The troubled insects are slow to recover, and the team has opening to continue their assault.

But the four who moved in for close battle against the bugs are nearly overwhelmed now by the foul stench in the area of the fur-covered carcass. This filth is beyond the spoiled smell of decomposition. It is oppressively sickening.

Those in the vicinity begin to gag and are on the brink of retching in the midst of their combat.

Required Action 1, Culchas, Gennadius, Gundus, Xenophon: Saving Throw vs. Poison. Failure: suffer -2 to Attack rolls / -1 Damage.

Required Action 2, PCs: declare and take Action in Top of Round 1 (TR1)

Note: Can avoid Required Action 1 by immediately withdrawing 15+' from initial Combat area. Announce choice before roll.

Notes on Opponents: 4 beetles (AC: 3) remain active. B2 injured. B8 injured.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 8, 2023 11:06 am

The Old Forest

Culchas shouts a battle cry and attacks with unbridled savagery.

Saving Throw v. Poison
Attack, spear, 2-handed.

[ +- ] modifiers (before Save results)

Fail Save. -2 adjustment imposed on Attack. Result: Miss

Sickened by the rancid filth in the air, Culchas doubles over and vomits. His efforts to fight are rendered completely ineffective.

Rolls

Attack B9 - (1d20+3)

(7) + 3 = 10

damage - (1d8+2)

(4) + 2 = 6

Saving Throw v. Poison (need 14+) - (1d20)

(5) = 5

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 8, 2023 12:17 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros signals those in the fray and calls to them.
"The magic I used will only cause them to sleep for a time, but they can be awakened if you disturb them!"
He puts a hand to his head and keeps a wary eye out for anything else that may be drawn to the activity.

Rolls

Sleep Spell Duration - (4d4)

(3432) = 12

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 8, 2023 12:33 pm

The Old Forest

Maddened by the putrid stench, Gundus vents his fury upon the injured beetle in front of him.

Rolls

Save vs Poison (10+) (divine blessing: +2) - (1d20+2)

(9) + 2 = 11

Warhammer - to hit B2 - (1d20+1)

(5) + 1 = 6

Damage - (1d6+1)

(5) + 1 = 6

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 8, 2023 6:08 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon's breath catches as he inhales the disgusting scent of the beetles, but it is no worse than other smells of battlefield carnage. Unaffected, he continues his methodical slaughter, which stand in stark contrast with Culchas's enthusiastic but chaotic attacks. Xenophon's patience is rewarded, and he skewers the bastard when it reveals its less-armoured underbelly.

OOC:

Nailed the saving throw (barely), and continuing to attack B2, should be a hit (barely) for 6 damage.

To Damanandros, he spares a breath for congratulations. "Well played, Damanandros! Your powers have only grown since our campaign in the islands."

Last edited April 8, 2023 6:18 pm

Rolls

Save vs. Poison (14+) - (1d20)

(14) = 14

Attack on B2 (str +1, 13+ to hit) - (1d20+1)

(12) + 1 = 13

Damage (str +1) - (1d6+1)

(5) + 1 = 6

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 8, 2023 11:10 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

If I am reading correctly, there is 1 active beetle not currently engaged with one of the other PCs. Syrena will target that one. I am going to roll as if she's not shooting into melee. If the DM determines it is into melee the throw is at -4. she does have Precise Shooting.

Syrena adjusts her position and stance as the four rush forth to attack the beetles in melee. She takes aim once more on the lone active and unengaged insect and fires off a second arrow.

Last edited April 9, 2023 8:27 pm

Rolls

Longbow - (1d20+4)

(9) + 4 = 13

Damage - (1d6+1)

(1) + 1 = 2

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 3:35 am

The Old Forest

Gennadius' bile lurches to the back of his throat as he inhales to shout at the beast. He immediately pulls back, withdrawing to the periphery of the carcass' miasma. Conscious of the arrows flying past him, he retreats to the rear and side to keep the aisle clear.

As he withdraws, he shifts the spear into his offhand, dropping the dagger and readying a javelin. He launches it at the injured beetle, but it sails past and lodges firmly into the fallen tree.

Last edited April 9, 2023 3:36 am

Rolls

Javelin atk B8, 20ft close range, +1 dex - (1d20+1)

(7) + 1 = 8

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 9:24 pm

The Old Forest

Top of Round 1 (TR1)

Damanandros

Damanandros monitors the effect of his magic and scans the area.

Previously a note to "Leo9sign"]
Here's some ecology that I want to pass along, thinking that 18 INT Nerd Damanandros would know...

Judging by the mass of the carcass, the characteristic shaggy hair, and the extreme foul stench, Damanandros soon becomes convinced that the rotting carrion is the body of a Giant Sloth, called Golden Mikkish Hemigh in Jutland.

Damanandros read about it in a tome in the Tower of Lycos in Kourithos, the Wandering Encyclopedia of Harmon, the legendary work of the famous Auran explorer who toured through Ivorea and Jutland documenting and illustrating flora, fauna, and culture two centuries ago. The Mikks are huge - time and a half to twice the size of the heaviest grizzly bear.

The giant beast emits an extremely foul stench constantly through the secretion of oils on its leathery skin.

One of the favorite foods of the giant sloth is the White Middle Mites that build bulbous nests high in decaying trees. The Mikks often climb extremely high trees for this delicacy. Most of the time they can take a fall, but the heavy hulks sometimes wind up underneath the trunk of a rotten tree that finally tips when they climb it.

In turn, the Firthon Bombadier Beetle is a carrion scavenger. No wonder they are here.

These beetles are likely adolescents, still dulled instead of glossy in their coloring, as their exoskeletons have not cemented yet and they will still grow for another year or year and a half.

These mid-growth specimens are likely...

...still servants to their mother, following her for a season and helping her prepare a nest for her next lay.

The mother beetle preferably lays eggs in the partial carcass of a mammal.

It seems logical that ...they would be especially drawn to the repulsive dead bodies of fallen Mikks. The repulsive odor of the sloth would repel other scavengers who might eat the eggs during their vulnerable gestation period. The bombadiers have no smell sensory, but nearly every other animal - even rodents and avians - will avoid sloth carcass because of the harmful smell and the sickening effects of the skin oils on the meat after death.

Damanandros follows this line of reasoning, and he is approaching a frightful conclusion...

because the full grown, reproductive female bombadiers are at least 3 times the size of their offspring. And there chemical projection system is fully developed.

OOC:

Digest this info, but Damanandros cannot make an announcement about it until Top of Round 2 (TR2).

[/note]

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 9:26 pm

The Old Forest

TR1
Gundus

Gundus is overwhelmed by the terrible filth in the air. He gags and starts coughing profusely, spitting volumes of drainage that suddenly fills his throat. He cannot get stabilized to land a solid strike with his hammer.

Miss

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 9:30 pm

The Old Forest

TR1
Xenophon

With the big bug punctured at the belly, Xenophon crashes his shield into the insect while violently snatching his spear backwards. This tears his weapon free and sends the broken beetle tumbling over into the brush in its death throws.

Hit.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 9:38 pm

The Old Forest

TR1
Syrena

Syrena's arrow lodges under the top shell at the beetle's side. The beetle turns and squirms, swatting its jointed front legs, but can do nothing to remove the puncturing shaft.

Hit

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 9:40 pm

The Old Forest

TR1
Gennadius

Withdrawing from the poisoned area, Gennadius recovers his breath. His effort to pierce the closest beetle with the javelin is unsuccessful, but he has put a few steps’ distance between himself and the bugs and does not seem to be in immediate danger at the moment.

Miss

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 9:46 pm

The Old Forest

Bottom of Round 1 (BR1)
Beetles (3)

[ +- ] Morale notes

[ +- ] Fighting Withdrawal

Frightened by the assault, the remaining three beetles do their best to skulk away, backing into the cover of the downed tree or following the trunk away from the carcass mass. They are still guarded against their attackers, though clearly making efforts to withdraw.

Begin Fighting Withdrawal

Rolls

Morale, Beetles - (2d6-2)

(33) - 2 = 4

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 9, 2023 9:59 pm

The Old Forest

TR2

Required Action, PCs: Declare and take Action in Combat Round 2.

Opponent Notes: 3 Active Beetles are retreating , in Fighting Withdrawal Defensive Movement. B8 and B9 injured.
5 other beetles remain inert, in effects of Sleep spell.
Disruptive effects (Attack -2, Damage -1) persist for PCs/NPCs who failed Save in R1, while in vicinity of rotting carcass.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 10, 2023 4:15 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

Not sure if it's worth it to pursue a fleeing enemy, especially one with no treasure, but I guess Xenophon is as good as any to pressure them. He's not suffering from the smell, and he has a good AC, so hopefully he can tank the attack.

Xenophon moves to one side to approach the retreating beetles on an angle, so that he only has to worry about one of them. He keeps his shield low and lashes out with the spear, hoping to take off a leg or two.

Rolls

Attack (STR +1, 13+) - (1d20+1, 1d6+1)

1d20+1 : (8) + 1 = 9

1d6+1 : (4) + 1 = 5

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 10, 2023 10:19 am

The Old Forest

TR2
Xenophon

Xenophon thrusts the spear at a beetle that has an arrow lodged in its side, but the bug is alert and actively defending. It knocks at the spear and shifts position, denying a hit.

Miss

When Xenophon comes close, the beetle springs forward with a quick counter-strike to snap at Xenophon with its immense horn-like jaws.

B9 Attack

[ +- ] Fighting Withdrawal

A fluid sprays out from the jaws of the bug when it latches onto Xenophon's thigh. A burning sensation begins immediately, quickly worsening to a searing pain.

The sticky liquid is some sort of chemical toxin!

Toxin Effect: -2 penalty to Attack Throws. Duration: TBD

Rolls

Attack (9+ AC 7) - (1d20)

(18) = 18

Damage - (1d6)

(6) = 6

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 10, 2023 11:06 am

The Old Forest

TR2

Required Action, PCs: Declare and take Action in Round 2.

Action Complete: Xenophon
Action Remaining: Culchas, Damanandros, Gennadius, Gundus, Syrena

Opponent Notes:
3 Active Beetles are retreating, in Fighting Withdrawal Defensive Movement.
B8 and B9 injured.
5 other beetles remain inert, in effects of Sleep spell.
Disruptive effects (Attack -2, Damage -1) persist for PCs/NPCs who failed Save in R1, while in vicinity of rotting carcass.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 10, 2023 4:18 pm

The Old Forest

Seeing the beetle maul Xenophon, Gundus moves quickly to his stricken comrade's side. "Hyah! Get out of here, vermin!" he menaces the retreating beetles with shouts and feints, but does not attack them. His intention is to deter the beetles from attacking and block them from pursuing the wounded Xenophon.

"Fall back, man! I'll cover you," he says.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 10, 2023 7:23 pm

The Old Forest

TR2
Gundus

Gundus lends support to Xenophon in his stress. The beetle with the arrow snaps its jaws and waves its appendages menacingly but continues a retreat with one of its spawn brethren ahead of it.

Success. Xenophon can use partial Movement to reposition to safer position if desired.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 10, 2023 7:37 pm

The Old Forest

TR2
Culchas

Culchas charges recklessly past Xenophon to attack the next beetle beyond. Spittle pours out of the Krysean mountain-man's mouth as he continues to gag and cough. Despite his degraded state, he is overtaken by his savage battlelust.

Charge. Attack B10. (Attack: +1 STR, +2 Berzerk, +2 Charge, -2 sickened. Dmg: +1 STR, +1 Barbarian, -1 sickened, double if hit for charge with spear.)

Rolls

Attack B10 - (1d20+3)

(4) + 3 = 7

Damage (double if hit) - (1d8+1)

(3) + 1 = 4

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 10, 2023 7:52 pm

The Old Forest

TR2
Culchas v. B10

Culchas stumbles along his route and is off angle for a killing strike. His spear is deflected by the beetle's shell.

Miss

Once its attacker is in close range, the scrappy insect lunges in with aggression.

Attack.
Result: Hit

The beetle sprays its toxin onto the wound and into the skin.

Culchas does not respond to the pain as his flesh begins to redden and blister.

Rolls

Attack (9+ AC4, reduced charge -2, reduced berzerk -2)) - (1d20)

(10) = 10

Damage - (1d6)

(3) = 3

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 10, 2023 7:54 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena stands her ground, reloads, aims, and fires off another shot at the wounded beetle, as it moves further away from Xenophon. "Make haste! Our number should be away before the mass gain senses."

Rolls

Longbow - (1d20+4)

(7) + 4 = 11

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 10, 2023 8:26 pm

The Old Forest

TR2

Required Action, PCs: Declare and take Action in Round 2.

Action Complete: Culchas, Gundus, Syrena, Xenophon
Action Remaining: Damanandros, Gennadius
Optional Action, Xenophon: If desired, Xenophon can shift to better position b/c of support by Gundus

Opponent Notes:
3 Active Beetles are retreating, in Fighting Withdrawal Defensive Movement. B9 and B10 counter-attacked on trigger after being attacked.
B8 and B9 injured.
5 other beetles remain inert, in effects of Sleep spell.
Disruptive effects (Attack -2, Damage -1) persist for PCs/NPCs who failed Save in R1, while in vicinity of rotting carcass.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 11, 2023 3:18 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon retreats under cover of Gundus's feints, cursing the burning acid!

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 11, 2023 3:31 am

The Old Forest

"Be on guard!" Damanandros gathers any gear tossed aside by his companions at the start of the fight and make his way to follow Syrena.

"It occurs to me that these may be preparing the carcass for the brood mother."

OOC:

No fight left in me or magic.

Last edited April 11, 2023 3:33 am

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 11, 2023 10:39 am

The Old Forest

BR2

Bursting out of the brush near the ruptured root base at the distant end of the fallen tree, a gigantic beetle not seen before emerges and raises up on its hind legs.

Culchas is caught unaware and the monstrous insect towers over him in height.

A near-deafening sound of air discharged at high-pressure blasts out as a pitched roar. A spray of reddish fluid and a mist vapor of the same color spits forth from the monster’s abdomen. Culchas is covered in the acidic liquid and partially obscured from view by the cloud.

In a thud, the giant beetle crashes back down to the ground and drives into Culchas with an assault of sharp horns, snapping mandibles, and stomping front legs.

Brood Mother Attacks

Rolls

Damage - acid spray - (4d4)

(3243) = 12

Attack - jaws, maul (6+, AC4 w/ -2 Charge, -2 Berzerk) - (1d20)

(8) = 8

Chance of stun 20% (1-20 result = stunned) - (d100)

(51) = 51

Damage - (2d12+2)

(21) + 2 = 5

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 11, 2023 10:58 am

The Old Forest

Culchas is knocked to the ground and battered beneath the crushing assault. He screams out briefly when bathed in acid, but then falls abruptly silent after being mauled on the ground. A crunching sound is heard, the crush of either his skull or rib cage in the insect’s external jaws.

The hulking insect, 5 feet tall at the shoulder and 9 feet long, sets in a deliberate stance over her defeated prey and continues to swat and bite the burned and brutalized body.

With their brood mother covering their retreat, the smaller beetles scurry away into the underbrush.

The beetles put to sleep magically continue to rest comfortably, further down the length of the tree near the trail and the carcass.

The mother seems intent on a confirming a thorough defeat of her immediate victim and pays no mind to the others who are retreating.

Culchas: Killed.

Rolls

Practice Throw - Mortal Wounds - (1d20-5)

(13) - 5 = 8

Practice Throw - Mortal Wounds - (1d6)

(5) = 5

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 11, 2023 11:08 am

The Old Forest

Damanandros is gathering dropped equipment packs near Syrena.

Xenophon is withdrawing with a limp, wounded and blistered.

Gundus is covering the retreat and snapping Gennadius into motion.

The way over the tree and to the continuing trail beyond seems clear enough for the moment, assuming the brood mother remains focused on the body of fallen Culchas and the sleeping beetles aren’t awakened.

The group must decide quickly what to do in this dangerous moment turned fatal.

What happens next?

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 11, 2023 3:21 pm

The Old Forest

Seeing the mighty Krysean fall is a strong signal to Xenophon to withdraw. "There's nothing we can do for him now; we must withdraw!"

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 11, 2023 9:07 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros grits his teeth as he hoists the dead weight of the gear over his shoulder, feeling its heft strain his muscles. He falls in line behind Syrena, his heart racing as he scans the area for signs of danger.

"Quick, Syrena! We need to get out of here. Is there a way around the carcass to safety?" he calls out urgently, his voice tinged with fear. Time is of the essence, and he knows that they need to move fast if they hope to survive this perilous situation.

Last edited April 11, 2023 9:08 pm

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 11, 2023 9:11 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena gestures to follow her away from the massive brood mother. "There is nothing we can do for him. Time to save ourselves from the same fate." She moves off at a brisk pace, to put distance between herself and the threat.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 11, 2023 9:32 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena leads the way on an arching loop through the woods on the opposite side of the trail, giving adequate berth away from the giant beetle, but carefully seeking a route to minimize time and distance away from the trail.

As expected, travel off the trail is loud, slow, difficult, energy-sapping, and presents risk on navigation - but the short bypass is successful and avoids the known danger of the nesting monster. The group emerges back onto the trail and recaptures their pace onward.

One person fewer, they march on, trying to shake off the horrific event and make the remaining hours of daylight count.

By Syrena's best estimation, and assuming current pace, the Party is likely 3 hours from Tower 2, and there are approximately 5 hours of daylight remaining.

OOC:

Will leave it there purposefully open for the rest of the evening, inviting any other entries on issues like recovery - poor Xenophon feeling some discomfort with reduced HP and lingering effects of acid burn.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 12, 2023 12:41 am

The Old Forest

"Here... Here... We must pause a moment... Here..." Gennadius says, gasping between words. He bends over, one hand on knee to catch his breath while waving a wobbly hand towards Xenophon.

Recovered slightly, he continues "That wound of... his needs to be treated before... it gets worse or infection takes."

Quote:

wip... Healing Xeno. Currently taxing on an airplane, will finish when I land

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 12, 2023 3:48 am

The Old Forest

"Stay a moment, Gennadius, before you begin the binding," Gundus says, seeing the bard clean Xenophon's wound.

"The power is given to me to aid those who fight in the cause of justice, and to undo wrongful harms," he says. "It is not something I do lightly - I am vouching for you in the eyes of my god. You must understand this, but I'll spare you the sermon," he adds with a wry smile. "You've suffered enough today."

He lays his hands on Xenophon's wound. Closing his eyes and breathing deeply, he calls upon Türas to heal the wounded man.

OOC:

Laying on Hands: The character can heal himself or another by laying on hands once per day. The character can restore 2 hit points per experience level.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 12, 2023 3:14 pm

The Old Forest

"Many thanks, Gundus," Xenophon says as Türas's healing energy soothes his blistered leg. "You'll find no more penitent a man than a soldier on a battlefield."

OOC:

Up to 6/10 hp!

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 12, 2023 4:40 pm

The Old Forest

Gennadius clicks his tongue as he prods at the edges of the still blistered wound. Feeling Xenophon tense his muscle he comes to a conclusion, despite the valiant effort by Xenophon to minimize the impact of the wound. "It still burns, I know not if so, but possible poison. Hold still a minute more."

Gennadius sets down his pack and rummages through it for a moment, pulling out a wineskin and pouch. The pouch is filled with various herbs wrapped in parchment. He sifts through the bundles of herbs, walking his fingers over them until he finds what he is looking for and sets it aside. Then, unceremoniously, he uncorks the wineskin, sniffs it and takes a swig, then pours it over a small cloth bandage held in his hand over the wound. The wine saturates the cloth and spills out onto the wound. Laying the cloth on the wound for a moment, he then takes some of the herb and twists it and mashes it with his hands. Finally he places the herb on the wound and secures it in place with the bandage.

"That will guard against poison, should any take hold. Now, I need your spit." He holds a cupped hand in front of Xenophon. After receiving the gift, he tears a thin strip of parchment and rolls it in the saliva, mashes it into a ball, leans over and throws the small wad between his legs as hard as he can, and then places his still-damp palm over the poultice for a moment. "I've pulled away the energy of the wound, you should feel better soon."

OOC:

Birthwort says:

Birthwort, also known as snakeroot, is a healing herb used as a remedy for snake bites and other poisons. Birthwort can be applied as a poultice to a poisoned wound by an adventurer with the Healing proficiency. Used in this manner, it provides a +2 bonus on the Healing proficiency throw to neutralize poison.

Healer says:

Being treated by a healer requires clean, sanitary conditions and bed rest. A patient under treatment of any healer regains an extra 1d3 hit points per day

Last edited April 12, 2023 4:41 pm

Rolls

cure light wounds, Healing proficiency throw, 18+ - (1d20)

(12) = 12

neutralize poison, Healing proficiency throw, 18+ - (1d20)

(1) = 1

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 12, 2023 8:21 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon presses on, with some relief from the prayer and treatment.

Gennadius did not strike the win on the dice, but I enjoy the effort and generally want these proficiencies of all the characters to see some success in use. Especially when PC retains multiple proficiency slot investments into a specialty, as Gennadius does.
Ruling: Negative effects of irritant poison reduced from -2 to Attack rolls to -1 to Attack rolls.
Ruling, Optional Follow-On: if Gennadius continues intermittent treatment, and if Xenophon completes 8 hours of rest during the night, Xenophon gains 1d2 HP after the rest.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 12, 2023 8:31 pm

The Old Forest

The party marches onward along the trail, through the afternoon hours.

The rain had subsided some during midday, then returned for a spell, and now has died down again. The entire environment is still saturated through and through.

Though not exactly sure of the distance, Syrena knows they should be close now. She passes the word along for everyone to look for signs or signals of the coming fortification, or perhaps a side trail that leads off to it.

Saromen Gen, Tower 2, must be near.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 12, 2023 8:34 pm

The Old Forest

Ahead on the trail, perhaps 20 yards distance, a soldier jumps out in front of the path.

He brandishes his sword and shield, and shouts a battle cry.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 12, 2023 8:48 pm

The Old Forest

Her hand goes reflexively to her bow, but Syrena calls out the legionnaire, "Hail and hold! We seek out Saromen Gen and a respite from the elements for a night. Ours is come from Amanuctum by edict."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 12, 2023 9:20 pm

The Old Forest

Now behind the party, a small set of soldiers emerge from a concealed position.

It is a dramatic flanking entrance. One patrician is on a horse. A herald in traditional covering holds a standard with a severed head on a pike!

"BANDITS WILL BE KILLED." announces the herald in a commanding voice. "DEATH TO THE ENEMIES OF THE TARKAUN."

The men move forward with resolve, in a cold and emotionless march - an inevitable force rather than a passion-filled threat.

It is fully convincing that they could make good on their declaration...

...as yet more troops enter the scene, maintaining the advantageous high ground to the west side of the trail.

The party finds themselves quickly out-positioned and outnumbered.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 12, 2023 9:26 pm

The Old Forest

A seasoned legionnaire with the plum of a field optio speaks out with authority.

"This route is under the full control of The Tarkaun and His 3rd Legion.

Deadly force is the order for trespass. State your business and passage !"

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 12, 2023 9:34 pm

The Old Forest

"Greetings." Syrena says as she takes scroll in hand. "By commission of Curule Aidele, these are a public works team charged to coordinate with Imperial Legion forces for special duties, supporting commanding cadre on the Lusetem Trail, to plan for statues, temples, roads, and forts north of this position. It is shelter sought against rain and coming night. Not banditry."

The Optio

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 1:42 am

The Old Forest

The coarse voiced optio reads the paper and assesses the group. He then hands it off to the Centurion, mounted on the horse, before turning back to press further.

"Sculptors? Templars? I doubt it."

He paces around the group, scanning them up and down. "Heavily armed for religious, Commander!", he shouts out so that all of the men can hear.

He zeroes in first on Gundus, a lengthy and deliberate assessment, but in silence.

He gives the same treatment next to Xenophon, noting the wound on his leg but moving on without comment.

He shifts next to Damanadros. After a quick look, sizing him up, "What about you, fricco? You say you're an architect, sent from the Civitus? Why would the Prefect send foreigners out here to Lusetem?"

He gets close to Damanadros face-to-face, speaking quietly now. "Maybe you wrote that paper. Maybe you are committin forgery along with your trespass.

Do you know the penalty for all crimes here is far worse than back in The Harvest?

Maybe those soft hands of yours have already written their last letter."

OOC:

"fricco" is a derogatory slur against Niceans, loosely linked to a reference of them as fish mongers.
"The Harvest" is a reference to the city of Amanuctum.
"The Prefect" is the ruler of Amanuctum. That is a very high rank among the aristocracy, akin to a Prince. The Prefect's name is Dacien Severus Marius.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 1:46 am

The Old Forest

The mood is tense.

All of the legionnaires stand ready, swords and spears in hand.

Syrena, Gundus, and Xenophon all remember Eramus's warning not to speak of their communications and business with him to the Legion, for reasons not yet revealed. Does this put them in something of a predicament here and now?

The commanding Centurion watches from atop his stallion.

What happens next?
(open to anyone)

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 13, 2023 4:33 am

The Old Forest

Gundus is weary in body from the rigours of the journey, and in spirit after the death of Culchas - and highly insulted by the accusation of banditry. He knows it is beyond dangerous to provoke these men on their own turf, but he can't entirely keep the irritation out of his voice.

"I am Tavius Gundus, a servant of Türas and recently with the 7th," he declares sternly, stepping forward. "We are armed due to the dangers of travel in this region, which I am sure you know well! As to the Prefect's reasons - it is not for us to wonder why, any more than you! You know how it goes, soldier, when the brass say jump, you don't ask questions! You jump! And when they say go out and survey the bloody wilderness, we bloody well step to it!"

Last edited April 13, 2023 4:35 am

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 13, 2023 10:48 am

The Old Forest

Damanandros offers a staying gesture to his companion as he takes a deep breath and composes himself, facing the centurion who is treating him with suspicion and prejudice. With a shake of his head, he responds calmly.

"Indeed, I see that your tongue is as sharp as the gladius you carry," he says, sniffing and maintaining his stoic demeanor. "Thank you for your service, centurion. It is good to see that the roads are well-protected."

Damanandros expresses his concern over the situation and the questionable documents that are causing suspicion. "It concerns me that documents permitting our travel here would be so suspect. Is forged travel documents something that has been a problem of late?"

He tries to lighten the mood with a jest, hoping it would divert the centurion's attention. "Surely a trader in fish has little need to travel so far from the coast without his ware," he says with a wry smile.

OOC:

Diplomacy (G):
The character is smooth tongued and familiar
with protocol. He receives a +2 bonus on all reaction rolls when
he attempts to parley.

Last edited April 13, 2023 10:53 am

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 13, 2023 2:38 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon keeps his nose down and tries to bring little attention to himself. He's supposed to be a labourer of sorts, and he feels rather well armed for the role. Fortunately, the pain from the beetle's acid has taken some of the fight out of him, and he finds it easier to play the role of meek labourer. He works out a story in his mind, just in case they question him.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 3:21 pm

The Old Forest

The Centurion who was keeping to the rear of the formation rides forward on the horse.

When he does, the Optio takes a few steps back, making way for the transition of communication.

The commanding officer speaks from the saddle. "I am Centurion Helvetius Gala, Commanding Officer of Saromen Gen, and Ruling Authority of this region of the Lusetem Trail and the Spen.

Gundus Tavius, we face a plague of brigands and bushwhackers, as well as subterfuge and foreign proselytizing. I do not have the luxury for hospitality, nor for easy trust."

This man has a steady, even voice - as if he is measured, yet no stranger to ruthlessness.

He speaks directly to Gundus first, but then turns the horse around once to address the entire crowd next.

"Your allowance document says that you are sent from the Curule Aidele.

Did the Civitus tell you that my men have been without pay for over three months, and are due back pay even from last year?

Did the Prefect or his Treasurers send with you any silver, packed in the Eagle-crested satchels - due salary for us Legionnaires here loyal at Post?"

Reaction Roll: adjusted +2 for Damanadros' Diplomacy, and +1 for the presence of a kyrazenus (war-priest) in this circumstance.

He scans the group one by one, waiting for an answer, or perhaps a reaction.

Rolls

Reaction - (2d6+3)

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 13, 2023 6:51 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros looks to Gundus expectantly. His words would seem to carry more weight with these disgruntled centurions than anything I could offer.

Helvetius Gala

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 7:09 pm

The Old Forest

Keeping the horse agitated and stomping, Centurion Gala continues when the lack of direct response puts the issue out in the open. Possibly his intent in bringing it up.

"So we should interpret that the Curule would fund the construction of temples and icons on the Lusetem even while the Legion is disrespected and taken for granted?"

There are a few jeers from the men.

"Gundus Tavius, you say you are come from the 7th in Aura. If so, perhaps you are Castellan Eramus's man. Perhaps you are part of his loyal forces that, rumor has, he is calling from the Capital.

Or perhaps you are a free-booter, trying your luck at falsifying documents, with hopes of following a lead to some fabled dwarven vault.

This passage" he holds forth the rolled paper scroll that Syrena has been carrying, "is well written and the markings are sound. Good enough to pass inspection. Which suggests that you at least have a sponsor.

Yet whether it is authentic or not cannot be known without corroboration with the Civitus Magistrate, an impossibility here - which of course could have been anticipated."

He pauses, but projects his control of the monologue.

"You are no gang of highway robbers though. Had I thought otherwise, you would be dead already.

You seek passage forward, and this I will allow. I do not know your true intention, but I suspect that it will be revealed over time.

However, your request for shelter and lodging is denied. Saromen Gen is a martial post on a high security stance. No outsiders are permitted in or around the vicinity. You are required to continue on your journey or turn back. No camp will be made within 2 miles of the Tower, and no camp will be permitted longer than a single overnight.

Your destination should be Saromen Fro. Curule representatives should coordinate with Castellan Callus Eramus Andra, Dominate Authority in both Military and Civitan affairs throughout Skausen Spen.

I would send a message to the Castellan, that you could relay to him if you choose to and are able.

It is this:

Saromen Gen grows weary of the lack of communications and the coy nature of those few responses recently received.

Saromen Gen does not support the integration of foreign influences within the Legion ranks and leadership.

And this last, make note of it:

If there is no visitation by the Castellan himself or Centurion Drus Omander by 14th Pendaelon, then I, as Centurion and Commanding Officer under Oath of Fidelity, will suspect sedition in the ranks and assume Indomitable Authority under the Legionnaire Officer Code."

Now there are more shouts from the men, sounds of affirmation.

Walking the horse slowly forward, Centurion Gala speaks closely and quietly to Gundus. "No need to remember everything to the letter, kyrazenus.

Just tell Omander that I will not tolerate ANY threats or subversion within my domain."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 7:10 pm

The Old Forest

Without further ceremony, Centurion Gala tosses the scroll case back to Syrena and turns his horse to depart.

The legionnaires make way for the party's movement forward and stand ready to watch them leave.

The Optio

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 7:49 pm

The Old Forest

The previously gruff Optio steps deliberately up to Syrena. He speaks directly, without hesitation.

"Ahead about 3 miles is an old logging shelter - decent place to get out of the rain, lass. You still have some daylight left, eh?"

He doesn't give a smile, but looks Syrena in the eye to confirm she understands.

"The worksite for Tower 3: about 4 miles after that. The draw there is a thick mess - it'll be flooded.

And Saromen Fro: 9 miles on beyond."

With a final nod he steps over to Xenophon. "Burn Beetles, aye boyo?" he asks, looking quickly down at Xenophon's injured leg and then back up again. "The sting will pass soon enough, by the morrow."

He steps back a few steps, on his way in withdrawal, but turns back to continue. "Eyes and ears peeled, lad. The forest has come alive this cycle. Somethin different since last Moon."

He points up to the dark clouds, "The storm...'tis a shroud. Hidin somethin."

The old veteran gives a coarse and brief snarl, that might be a grin?. "...so they say," he finishes and moves away.

"MOVE OUT, YOU KILLERS." he shouts out commands to his Legionnaires, managing the tactical movement. "You heard the Commander: this lot CLEAR TO PASS!
Assault Team, WITHDRAW. Overwatch, HOLD AND FOLLOW. On THE LINE!"

Xenophon can tell now, by the way he talks, that the subordinate commander is a Krysean.

It is a noticeable trend perhaps, that many of the Legionniares here in the Junction Region are of Krysean descent.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 8:23 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

That last series was heavy monologue, but written in that summary manner mostly because of the difficulties of running a back-and-forth conversation over PBP format (that doesn't take 2 weeks IRL time).

Feel free to drop in any details that PCs would have said, done, asked, tried, etc. through the exchange if needed. Depending on what it is, we can retcon if necessary.

If not, then...

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 13, 2023 8:28 pm

The Old Forest

The group continues on the trail, leaving the junction spur to Tower 2 behind.

It is later in the afternoon - perhaps three hours remaining before nightfall.

The trail is narrow here.

The rain is coming and going, but is a lighter pour now than earlier in the day.

Lazy thunder rumbles through in the cloudy sky above.

Required Action, PC Party: Define goals for finding overnight camp site.
How much further does the Party intend to travel before stopping?
Provide any detail desired about site selection, security plans, preparation actions, guard schedule, etc.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 13, 2023 8:43 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena nods and gives thanks to the Optio for the information about the shelter.

Once back on the trail and beyond the legionnaires she points down the trail. "An unfortunate delay. Our rest will come three miles ahead. There is a logging shelter there."

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 14, 2023 5:05 am

The Old Forest

"I think we should take the optio's warning seriously," Gundus says. "We've already taken a mauling from this forest. I propose four watches, two hours each. The wounded man can take a full night's rest - I dare say you'll be returning the favour soon enough, Xenophon.

"If we have enough light left, we should secure the camp as well as possible, but let's leave that until we see the site."

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 14, 2023 6:32 am

The Old Forest

"Absolutely. Xenophon, you need to rest for the healing to really take hold. The sooner we can get to that logging site, the better. Wake me for mid watch."

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 14, 2023 8:31 am

The Old Forest

As they make their way through the slimy path, the squelching of their boots echoes in a nauseating rhythm. Damanandros remains silent, lost in thought, still stewing over their previous encounter. Finally, he speaks, the bitterness evident in his voice.

"You know what gets me more than almost being caught? The way we were treated," he spits on the ground in disgust.
"But mark my words, the day will come when I won't have to put up with brutish bullies," Damanandros declares, his tone now laced with a newfound confidence, fueled by the ever-growing power at his disposal.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 14, 2023 10:03 am

The Old Forest

The party makes the last three miles in relatively short time, tired from the day of strain but motivated to find an end of the effort before nightfall.

The trail descends gradually for a stretch and planes out in an area of thick growth.

Within the thicket however is a rather large area that is moderately clear. It is the remains of an old clearing site. The party has seen a few of these now intermittently along the roadway.

During the reconstruction of the trail, the work team would space out temporary camp and labor stations. Often they are near areas that had to be extensively logged or cut to gain passage through.

The group investigates the area to find the telltale signs of old campsites, a small brook water source nearby, several large fallen trees, and cut logs stacked from years prior.

Most notably, they find an old shelter.

The small hut is overgrown with moss and its roofing seal is imperfect, but it is relatively dry inside.

The sleeping floor-spacing is enough for 3 people with plenty of comfortable space and 5 people in a close stack.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 14, 2023 10:21 am

The Old Forest

In the last hour or so of the day, the group sets up camp and prepares for a night deep in the wilderness.

Gennadius completes another treatment and monitoring on Xenophon's wounds. There is some improvement from previous. Xenophon is directed to rest as soon as possible while the others finish the small tasks of final preparation.

They start a small fire to dry garments, gain some relief from the cold evening air, and lend some light against the arriving darkness.

OOC:

Will move along with input from above and some assumptions.
2 hour watch shifts. 4 shifts. Order: Gundus, Syrena, Gennadius, Damanadros
4 people sleep in shelter. Guard outside of door and on close walk area to monitor surroundings.
Fire maintained by guard. Lanterns/torches placed and available as necessary.
Anyone in metal armor is assumed to remove it while sleeping. As a general rule, armor wearers must get a minimum of 6 hours rest out of armor each night to avoid negative effects of build-up discomfort and exhaustion.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 14, 2023 10:49 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon takes his rest early, a welcome reprieve for him after a difficult day of marching while injured.

Gundus takes first watch, overseeing the transition to darkness.

Despite the rugged accommodations and general caution of the environment, the others find no difficulty in sleeping. The sandy ground inside the hut is soft, and a bed of fresh needles placed over as floor makes for a dry sanctuary.

The rain drizzles during Gundus's shift and he uses his travel cloak to cover from the wet chill.

Syrena's shift passes by uneventful, and even with a better turn of weather. She watches the night sky and is treated to a temporary but full clearing of the clouds overhead. She knows already that the moon is near its full, but to see the light emerge through the trees is quite impressive. For the better part of an hour she sees with generous illumination. The camp area is bathed in a pale blue-gray glow and the moonlight glimmers on the glaze of moisture that blankets the ground and foliage.

Gennadius feels refreshed after some rest and enjoys half of his shift with no rain, but the area is darkened again as the clouds return. Soon the rain follows and it is a tougher time from there. He keeps the fire going, but his cloak is soon saturated. He huddles close to the small awning in the front of the shelter for a time until his finish.

Gennadius wakes Damanandros. The young mage sees the dark and rainy setting, but feels fully rested. He prepares his pack and cover and steps out into the dark night as Gennadius retires again.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 14, 2023 10:51 am

The Old Forest

Damanandros is relieved to see the rain slow a bit, back to the steady drizzle that has been so persistent.

After a time passes, he hears a beautiful song off in the distance. It is so wonderful.

Required Action, Damanadros: Save vs. Spell

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 14, 2023 1:17 pm

The Old Forest

Gennadius wakes up with a start, clutching his chest. The spirits are clawing at his heart.

No wonder, he thinks. It is the Witching Hour after all. Here in this old forest it happens as no real surprise.

Gennadius slows his fast breathing and wipes the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. He settles the rifts as he usually can, and soon he feels calm again.

The other three are sleeping soundly. In the hut, he cannot tell the lighting very well, but he knows there is still time before sunrise.

Gennadius doubts he will rest again for a while though.

DMJ sent a note to Constablebrew

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 14, 2023 6:42 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Gulp

Rolls

Save vs. Spell - (1d20)

(3) = 3

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 14, 2023 10:12 pm

The Old Forest

Her voice is divine. The melody is fascinating, in both its symmetry and its enigma.

Damanandros cannot get Her out of his mind. He has not even seen Her yet, but his heart races as he imagines how beautiful She must be.

He must find Her.

Now he slides down into a wet ditch, the brambles scratching him along the way.

He curses himself for not bringing a lantern. He cannot see a thing in this thick brush and mud.

But in the end, he does not need to see. He can hear. Can hear Her Voice and Her flawless Song. That will guide him.

He knows he is close now. He is stuck in this mud for the moment it seems, but once he pulls out of this mess he will descend down the hill further and reach Her.

Lightning flashes across the sky. For a brief moment Damanandros sees the entire environment around him clearly, though in drab muted colors. A brief glimpse - he is in a pit, surrounded by great birds. Vultures. Perched in silence in the trees all around him.

But darkness falls again just as quickly. Total blackness.

And then the thunder booms overhead, as if the night sky was breaking apart.

DMJ sent a note to Leo9sign

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 15, 2023 4:30 am

The Old Forest

As Damanandros's eyes adjust to the darkness, he frantically searches for a way out of the pit. His fingers frantically grope at the slick walls, seeking out any crevice or protrusion that might give him a foothold.

"Who are you?" he calls out into the abyss, his voice echoing off the walls. "Why have you lured me here?"

The sound of his own voice is jarring, a harsh contrast to the haunting melody that had entranced him moments before. He can feel the mud and muck caking his skin, and he spits mud from his mouth, his frustration mounting.

"A fine catch, indeed," he mutters, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Perhaps you have a taste for more than mud-caked, half-drowned travelers?"

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 10:39 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon awakens peacefully in the shelter. The even rain pattering on the roof drones a steady sound quite comforting, but he hears someone stir nearby. It turns out to be Gennadius beside him, sifting through his healer's bag. Syrena and Gundus are sleeping.

Xenophon stretches his limbs, a bit cautiously. His leg wound and the surrounding burns still give pain, but less so. It is clear that he is healing faster than normal.

He feels well rested though. The early evening retirement did him a world of good.

Xenophon completes sufficient rest. Gain 1d2 HP to collect on Gennadius' series of treatment prior.
-1 to Attack Throws continues.

OOC:

Len or CB, whoever is first to post, can roll HP gainz.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 11:07 am

The Old Forest

He hears Her Song again, and it moves him to tears. It is beautiful, but sad.

In the midst of his emotion he sees Her for the first time, only in silhouette. There is a light behind Her. Or around Her? Maybe the morning sun is rising. Or maybe She is glowing.

"Settle, you." She speaks to him from across the low ground, there at the rise of the bank.

Her words are simple, but they disarm him fully. His temporary stress dissolves away in an instant.

"I say what you do. You do it." It is her command, and he understands. "Submit?", she asks.

"Yes!", he hears himself shout in passionate response.

"I come to you," she says now. Damanadros is overcome with joy and anticipation. "Do not touch me."

Still bogged down in this accursed quagmire, it is difficult to move or get any leverage. But Damanadros shifts and readies himself as best as he can, nervously wiping his hands and checking himself, wishing that he might look more handsome.

The darkness is everywhere except around Her. The rain falls steadily, but Damanandros no longer notices it.

As she floats over to him now, Damanandros knows that this is the moment he has been waiting for his whole life, to meet the Woman who he Loves.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 11:18 am

The Old Forest

DMJ sent a note to Leo9sign

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 12:11 pm

The Old Forest

A mere arm's length away She reveals Herself to him fully.

"I am Goddess."

It is true, Damanandros thinks, but he cannot compose himself to speak just yet.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 12:28 pm

The Old Forest

In a surprise on the scene, Damanandros hears another voice - off to his right in the darkness.

It is in a language that he knows, but he has never before heard it spoken outside of the classroom in Kourithos.

[ +- ] Private. For fluent Zaharan speakers only.

The vocabulary is very obscure, and the syntax initially confusing, but Damanandros was the top-performing apprentice under Highmaster Nomion. He knows Zaharan fluently. His ears capture the words, even if not the mysterious meaning of the cryptic statement.

It is a whispering voice, like an old man - and quite unsettling.

The Goddess

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 12:38 pm

The Old Forest

[ +- ] Zaharan only

Damandros is elated. She speaks Zaharan too, and he understands it! She said he is special.

"I speak at you," she has shifted now back to Auran. "You answer. Submit?"

Everything she says is lovely, but he can tell that she struggles with the low language. Even this is endearing.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 12:41 pm

The Old Forest

[ +- ] Zaharan only

The Goddess

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 12:48 pm

The Old Forest

[ +- ] Zaharan only

Never taking her eyes off of Damanandros, she speaks to him again in Auran, "Speak at me. Answer questions of mine. Show your lust for me."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 12:50 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros understands: The Goddess does not know yet that he can speak Zaharan.

He is excited to reveal to Her that he does indeed know the ancient language. He can fully express his love to Her.

Diplomacy Auto-Activated. Reaction Roll forthcoming, dependent on input.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 3:20 pm

The Old Forest

Gennadius stirs and shifts for some minutes, trying to let the sleep settle back in, but it's of no use. Torn between laziness and action at the awful hour, he intensely listens to the rain for a moment in a concerted effort to force the laziness.

Nope. His back demands another adjustment to his laying position, so instead of tossing and turning again, he sits up and grabs at his pack. A moment later he has his pouch of salt in hand and begins sprinkling it in a half-hazard circle around his bedroll. Upon completing the circle, he casts about, knowing he's not going to find any twig of spruce. Everyone knows to keep spruce handy for these moments, but somehow he managed to not think to bring one along for the journey. In a moment of inspiration, he grabs his boot, with wooden dagger sheath tied to it. Probably not spruce, but the feykin love tricks! he thinks. Standing on his bedding, he sing-songy mummers the old verse that all children know well:

"A worm came crawling
Back it stayed
For the salt and stick
Kept it away"

He then ceremoniously tosses the sheath, boot and all over his shoulder. Satisfied, he lays back down.

Several minutes later, Gennadius can't help but look to his left and right at the others sleeping. Sighing, he gets back up and, quietly, begins to sprinkle salt around the perimeter of the hut. Salt circle completed, he then stands with his back to the door, repeats the song three times for good measure, and carefully drops his booted sheath over his shoulder so it lands in the small space near the door that he excluded from the circle. (It wouldn't do to have to toss his boot out into the rain.)

Satisfied fully now, he lays back down to catch more sleep.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 4:25 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon makes an effort to doze back to sleep, but he is distracted by Gennadius's extended effort at the folkish spells.

By the time the salt ward ritual is complete, Syrena has been rustled awake as Gennadius lies back down to his mat.

OOC:

LOL. I was outside working but read this on my phone and kept laughing multiple times. So good.

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 15, 2023 5:07 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Forgot to roll for HP recovery. Rolling 1d2 as a DM fiat boon healing for just a night's rest instead of the required full day.

Healing Proficiency says:

A patient under treatment of Healing naturally heals an extra 1d3 hit points each day.

Healing says:

HEALING
All beings recover hit points through rest. For each full day of complete rest in reasonably sanitary conditions, a character or monster will recover 1d3 hp. If the rest is interrupted, the character or monster will not heal that day. Healing also occurs through magic, such as potions or spells. This kind of healing is instantaneous. Magical healing and natural healing can be combined. Characters with the Healing proficiency can improve a creature’s natural healing, as described in Chapter 4.

Rolls

Xenophon Healing - (1d2)

(2) = 2

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 15, 2023 10:04 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena rises onto on elbow and peers across the small shelter.

"Does something trouble, Gennadius?"

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 15, 2023 10:46 pm

The Old Forest

On the trail, Xenonphon expressed gratitude to his allies for their aid, and allowing him the opportunity to rest. Though this group was cobbled together seemingly at random, he was surprised at the morale and cohesiveness the group showed already. He committed to repaying this debt as soon as possible.

Once at camp, he has a light meal, strips off his chainmail, and falls asleep almost immediately, using his pack for a pillow.

OOC:

Thanks maxing out that 1D2 roll, CB! Now at 8/10 hp

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 16, 2023 6:32 am

The Old Forest

"Ah, it's nothing, Syrena... Well... I think an ælfkin might have been about. I cast the salt circle ward tho so I'm sure it's nothing now at least."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 16, 2023 11:01 am

The Old Forest

Gundus is pulled out of his rest with a worry when he hears the voices of his comrades - perhaps because of the months of field training with the Legion, oft responding to sudden night alert exercises.

Or perhaps some stress that is left over from his deep sleep. He cannot remember them now awake, but the last vestiges of unpleasant dreams slip away.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 16, 2023 12:53 pm

The Old Forest

Gundus snaps into full alertness. He instinctively follows the ingrained legion training: secure the premises, assess the situation, head count. He rises quickly, snatching up weapon and shield. "What is it?" He asks, quickly scanning the shelter. "Where is Damanandros?"

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 16, 2023 2:00 pm

The Old Forest

When Gundus crosses the ward line and throws aside the tarp door, a flash of lightning lights up the rainy scene outside the shelter.

Gundus grabs the lantern nearby. He scans the entire area when darkness quickly takes back the night.

The boom of thunder accents the shock of it.

Damanandros is gone.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 16, 2023 2:03 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, metal armor enjoyers: In coming entries, incorporate whether or not each PC takes time to don armor.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 16, 2023 3:28 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros has always been fascinated by the languages of the different races of the world, and his encounter with the Goddess has only intensified his desire to be a cunning linguist.
In an attempt to impress her even further, he uses his magic to make the very walls of his prison speak in the ancient Zaharan tongue.
He speaks the words even as he tugs at the edges of the universe to weave a spell.

OOC:

Casting Magic Mouth

The words

[ +- ] Zaharan

echo through the area, a bold declaration of his devotion to the Goddess.

[ +- ] Magic Mouth Spell

The Goddess

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 16, 2023 8:48 pm

The Old Forest

The Goddess is indeed impressed by Damanandros's display of magic. It launches her on a series of questions for Damanandros, all of which he is glad to answer.

The conversation weaves this way and that. Some of the things she wishes to learn:

Why is he here? Where is he going? What is he looking for? What does he plan to do?

Who are his allies? What are their powers? Are there any warriors? Are any of them archers? Who is the leader?

How powerful is Damanadros? What spells does he know? Is he a shapeshifter? Has he made any hybrids? Does he seek to make hybrids?

Does Damanadros plan to cast any ritual magic spells soon? Who is his master? Who is the most powerful wizard in the region?

Who is a soldier called Eramus? Does Damanandros know of the Dreams of Sekki? Does Damanandros know Nur-Hunzu Isiratuu?

Some of the questions are quite confusing, but the Goddess does not elaborate if Damanandros asks for clarification. Soon she tells him to cease asking any questions at all, so he complies. He tries his best to be charming throughout, using his innate and learned skills at rhetoric and persuasion.

Throughout the conversation, The Goddess asks Damanandros to translate words and sentences from Zaharan to Auran. She mimics his words and listens to instruction, then increasingly makes use of Auran during the conversation. He confirms or corrects her in a give and take. Damanadros is impressed that she is an incredibly fast learner. He has never seen anything like it, though it comes as no surprise.

Damanandros does not know how long he is with The Goddess for this fascinating exchange. He loses track of time, completely immersed in the moment.

Now the Goddess is smiling and says, "Give me your spellbook."

He pulls the expensive tome out from his satchel. It is his prize possession. He gladly gives it over to her.

She begins to thumb through and read it.

Reaction Roll

Rolls

Reaction Roll - (2d6+2)

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 17, 2023 6:11 am

The Old Forest

It's a hard decision but Gundus makes it quickly. Speed might be critical in saving the missing man but recklessness would endanger them all, and who would come to their rescue?

He begins hastily donning his armour.

"If you think it best, don't wait for me," he says. "But tell me what you can learn from the signs on the ground, and leave a trail I might follow."

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 17, 2023 4:35 pm

The Old Forest

Gennadius' stomach twists as a dread feeling takes hold. He had sensed whatever took Damanandros but mistook it as nothing more than witching hour ælfkin play about. You have got to make this right! Children's fancies??? When this team is in the actual deep dark fucking woods with giant vermin and real monsters. Make it right, Gennadius!

After lighting his oil lamp with haste, he quickly dons his belt, javelin quiver, and grabs his spear. As he pulls on his boots he has an flash of a moment, sorely missing the dagger he had dropped while fighting the vermin.

"I'm going out!"

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 17, 2023 5:15 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Xenophon is just going to sleep through if no one wakes him up, but he's happy to accompany the search party if anyone rouses him.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 17, 2023 5:24 pm

The Old Forest

Len says:

OOC:

Xenophon is just going to sleep through if no one wakes him up, but he's happy to accompany the search party if anyone rouses him.

OOC:

Xenophon is awake. I tried to paint the picture of his awakeness here, but now I see it should have been more explicit.
And with Gundus jumping up to action, talking out in the open, and gathering armor - that's enough commotion to make it a certainty that the whole group is up, alert, and now must decide how to respond.

The Goddess

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 17, 2023 5:46 pm

The Old Forest

The Goddess puts the book aside and brings up a strap of leather with buckles.

"Put this on," she says, sliding the configuration over his hands and clasping the lashings around his wrists.

She rubs the side of her face up and down his hands affectionately. "My servants will pull you up now, out of this trapping ditch."

Then without warning she puts one of his fingers in her mouth and bites the end of it off.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 17, 2023 6:00 pm

The Old Forest

White hot pain shoots through Damanadros's hand. His whole body slings back reflexively as he screams out loud.

But his hands are bound together and they are being raised upward, the wrist lashing connected to a rope and hook.

He is being hoisted up by the rope on a pulley system.

There is a glow in the area and the false imagery that was displayed to him falls away. He sees reality in all of its horror.

End mind control. End illusion.

Two small brutish humanoids are pulling the rope that is raising him. Two more of these same creatures scamper below him, looping him with additional ropes as his legs are pulled from the thick mud. They howl and chatter.

She is there - directly ahead of him, perched on an overhanging broken bough.
No longer the Goddess, but now in true form - a sinister harpy.

She spits his blood and the piece of his finger out in the rain and into the muddy ditch below.

Now she bares her sharp, blood-covered teeth and screams out in hateful rage.

A dozen vultures flap their wings ominously, hissing and grunting in the branches all around.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 17, 2023 10:16 pm

The Old Forest

Gennadius treads out across the logging yard with the lantern.

The thunder and lightning are fierce, but the rain is light rather than a downpour.

As he searches for signs of Damanandros or anything that might have captured him, Gennadius grows more certain that there is a Witch at work somewhere nearby.

He is not sure if the ælfkin are involved or not, but he has a good feeling about the Land Spirits after his recent intervention. If he can tune in here, or find the right words, maybe he'll get a real lead since he's already been alerted to the rift.

The Veil Between Worlds is thin in this place, right now at least.

Advantageous Adjustment, All PCs departing from shelter: As beneficiaries of Folkish Luck gained,
...receive +1 to Attack Rolls, Damage Rolls, Attempts to Surprise, Avoiding Being Surprised, and Saving Throws during the remaining time of The Witching Hour.
...can elect to reroll one Saving Throw, Attack Throw, or Opponent Attack Throw of choice during the remaining time of The Witching Hour.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 12:51 am

The Old Forest

Recognizing the reality, and the vast unknown dangers of the situation, Gennadius slows down his frantic search and begins to keep looking back towards the shelter, waiting for the others to emerge.

Patrolling a moderately close perimeter now, with the shelter faintly visible at the edge of his lantern light, he searches the darkness. A song begins to form in his chest. Initially it is little more than the knot of his stomach twisting out a shakey hum. But then it begins to grow as he remembers childhood rhymes and marching cadences of legionnaires passing through the city.

By the time the others have emerged from the shelter, the song has grown to the full power of that of an operatic singer, bringing confidence and hope to all within earshot.

OOC:

inspire courage

Inspiring courage requires a few moments of oration before a battle (one round), and grants the bard’s allies within a 50' radius a +1 bonus to attack throws, damage rolls, morale rolls (for monsters or NPCs allied with the bard), and saving throws against magical fear. The bonus lasts for 10 minutes (1 turn). A bard can inspire courage in any given character once per day per class level. (Even the most inspiring epic gets old if you hear it twice in the same day.) A bard cannot inspire courage on characters who are already engaged in combat.

Last edited April 18, 2023 1:27 am

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 18, 2023 3:55 am

The Old Forest

Damanandros reels in shock, overcome with pain, horror, and the unforgivable loss of control. Despair grips him as desire fades, replaced by heartbreak and shame.
He retches, blood from his finger trailing down mixing with mud and bile. All hope seems lost, and he braces for the end.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 18, 2023 4:13 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

Got it!

The commotion rouses Xenophon from his fitful slumber, and he gets straight to work, wincing slightly. He decides to take the time to don his chainmail hauberk; as much as he'd like to charge after his countryman, he reasons it is better to arrive prepared than swiftly. If the Magi's spells did not avail him, a half

After donning the hauberk, he grabs his spear and shield and forms up with Gundus, ready to move out.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 18, 2023 11:02 am

The Old Forest

Syrena quickly fastens the straps and buckles of her leathers, grabs up her weapons, and heads out of the shelter. She peers across the muddy terrain from the front of the small structure to see if she can spot the missing Damanandros' tracks.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 12:09 pm

The Old Forest

The clanking sound of grim thunder rumbles through, as if a huge anvil were being dragged across the vault of heaven against its will. Branched lightning splits the Tirenean sky, buzzing and hissing, angry as it breaks free from its shackles in the storm clouds.

Syrena soon finds Damanandros’s tracks, revealing that he walked in a straight line across the muddy woodyard and continued into the thick line of brush and trees beyond. Broken branches and heavy treaded prints prove to be sufficient marks for the trained tracker to recreate the missing man’s path.

Syrena is soon to discover other footprints that join up with Damanandros’s trail. From the sides originally, then they fell in behind him – sometimes stepping within his same impression in the mud.

These are slightly smaller tracks, but as those of men. Or perhaps like what would be those of heavy children. Wearing open-toe sandals, leather moccasins, or some even barefoot. The prominent marks of their long claw-like nails make it clear enough to guess.

Beastmen. Likely goblins.

Damanandros is in grave danger.

With urgency, Syrena picks up the pace, trusting her experience and instinct to track the path while on the move.

Gennadius’s song has filled the companions with a strength of resolve. Trusting Syrena’s proven skill, they join her quickened step in the pursuit. The men scan the forest for enemies, gripping their weapons in anticipation and determined to find their friend.

The relentless storm, raging all around, tested the companions throughout the day. Now, in this darkest moment of night, they begin to draw power from it.

OOC:

Queue score: "The Gael"

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 12:28 pm

The Old Forest

The tracks soon lead them downward into a formidable draw. Bramble and thick brush are like fortified walls of overgrowth.

Quickly Syrena discovers passages through the near impassable barriers. Several of the paths cut through the unwelcoming zone like narrow splits and sometimes even low tunnels, with the foliage from both sides connecting overhead.

Downward they move, following the tracks. Water drains with them along the way, inevitably on path towards low ground.

It is dark in this thicket, but the companions begin to see a faint glow, ever so slight, through the heavy brush. The tracks lead towards the dull light.

Then they hear a scream - filled with pain and terror. Damanandros?!

Moving with urgency down the current path, they make a sudden turn and come face-to-face with a band of beastmen!

The four brutes are small but armed with deadly weapons. Their viciousness is apparent…

Surprise Throw Party.
Surprise Throw Monsters.
Monster Initiative.

Required Action: ROLL INITIATIVE!

***Music***.

Rolls

Are Monsters Surprised? (-1 Folk Luck) - (2d6-1)

(12) - 1 = 2

Party Surprised (Syrena's +1, Folk Luck +1) - (2d6+2)

(21) + 2 = 5

Monster Initiative - (1d10)

(2) = 2

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 12:37 pm

The Old Forest

...the four goblins see the party turn the corner, but are taken by surprise - momentarily unprepared for an immediate clash.

Gennadius’s lantern bathes the small clearing in light, and shadows dance wildly along the surrounding overgrowth.

Party has Surprise. (noteworthy: Folkish Luck makes the difference)

Encounter Distance: 10'

Ruling: in this circumstance, because of the unusual terrain and Syrena's position as exclusive point, Party Initiative Roll can be made with Syrena's full stat advantages for Initiative.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 12:45 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, Active PCs: Declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Opponents: 4 goblins, AC +2

OOC:

Along with Surprise, remember adjustments for Folkish Luck and Bard Song, detailed in previous entries.

The Harpy

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 4:03 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros screams aloud again when the harpy inserts the next needle.

The first she slid into his left axillary, in the soft exposed flesh.

This next pin she pierces into the joint under his right leg at the groin. He swoons and nearly blacks out from the pain.

Clutching onto him and flapping her wings as she balances, she pulls her face up close to his. "All the power that you sought, and you will have none of it," she taunts in her unchecked cruelty.

She whispers in his ear, "In the end you were MY thrall, even before you were my victim."

Shoving off from him, she springs back to her fallen tree perch to view him again in his pain.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 4:10 pm

The Old Forest

The eerie servant sits on a higher branch now, looking on at the sadistic spectacle.

This foul creature spoke in the voice that was hidden in the darkness previously, but now it is visible since the fall of the illusion.

Its hollow eyes are the presence of death.

[ +- ] Zaharan only

he says to her in the Ancient Tongue.

The Harpy merely snarls and steals a menacing look back at the monstrosity briefly before resetting full attention to her hanging prey.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 18, 2023 4:16 pm

The Old Forest

Before the creatures have a moment to react, Gennadius closes the distance with a silent charge, drops of water shaking off of the spear with each pounding step.

OOC:

Attempting to charge with spear. Not sure if Gennadius himself is also at 10' from the beastmen. Adding the +2 to the atk throw, please discount if Gennadius is too close. (He would still approach and attack tho.)

Quote:

CHARGE
The attack made after the charge is made with a +2 bonus on the attack throw. The charging combatant takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class until the next time his initiative number comes up. Certain weapons, including spears, lances, and pole arms, are especially suitable for use while charging, as are the natural attacks of certain monsters, especially including those with horns. These attacks deal double damage on a successful charge.

OOC:

Thanks for the folk spell bonus, @DMJ! Please don't feel like every superstitious thing Gennadius does needs to have any effects. I totally intended that scene to be just fluff, but I'm loving the world building it creates.

Letting Red roll initiative.

Last edited April 18, 2023 5:36 pm

Rolls

Atk, Spear, +2 surprise, +1 folk, +1 courage, +2 charge - (1d20+6)

(14) + 6 = 20

Spear damage (x2 if charge applicable) +1 folk, +1 courage - (1d6+2)

(1) + 2 = 3

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 18, 2023 9:17 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena quietly shares that the new tracks are those of goblins.

She quickly loads her bow and fires at one of the enemies she can see, as they come into view in the small clearing.

OOC:

Can Syrena see the harpy or the other thing in the trees with Damanandros? If so, she will target the harpy. If not, she will attack one of the golbins.

Last edited April 18, 2023 9:22 pm

Rolls

Initiative - (1d10-4)

(5) - 4 = 1

Longbow attack - (1d20+5)

(16) + 5 = 21

Damage - (1d6+2)

(4) + 2 = 6

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 1:43 am

The Old Forest

Required Action, Active PCs: Declare and take Action in Surprise Round

Full Action Remaining: Xenophon, Gundus

Partial Action Remaining:
Gennadius (G1 defeated, attempt Cleaving Attack)
Syrena (G2 defeated, attempt Cleaving Attack)

Opponents: 2 goblins remaining, AC +2

Adjustments: Along with Surprise, remember adjustments for Folkish Luck and Bard Song, detailed in previous entries.

Area Details: This is a small clearing within the draw. Only the 4 goblins are immediately visible. There is an "exit" on the other side of the cleared area, where the thin cut footpath continues on through the tight trees and underbrush of this dense thicket. This thin footpath is gradually heading downward on a slope. Further on, low light glows through the trees. The screams of pain are coming from that same direction, downhill and towards the glow. Exact distance there is not yet known - 100 meters or thereabout is an estimate. None of the PCs in this set know anything thus far about harpies, Damanandros's fate, the enemies at that site, etc.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 19, 2023 2:56 am

The Old Forest

Cold, wet, anxious for his missing comrade and really, really pissed off at being woken up, Gundus closes implacably on the nearest beastman. "Where is the human?" he demands, punctuating the question with a vicious hammer blow to the monster's face.

OOC:

I missed that the folk & courage bonuses are also to damage, so that is 4 total damage.

Last edited April 19, 2023 6:22 am

Rolls

Hammer, to-hit - (1d20+3)

(12) + 3 = 15

Damage - (1d6+1)

(1) + 1 = 2

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 19, 2023 5:16 am

The Old Forest

Gennadius's song truly does impress Xenophon. His operatic performance cuts through Xenophon's fatigue and pain, and rouses his pride and ambition. He does not run head-long into battle as he does though; instead, he advances in the Nycean fashion alongside Gundus: shoulder-to-shoulder, shield raised and spear low. He engages the same Beastman as Gundus, attempting to skewer it.

[ +- ] Xenophon quick stats

Rolls

Attack beastman w/ Gundus (-1 poison, +1 Str, +1 F.Luck, +1 B.Song) - (1d20+2)

(14) + 2 = 16

Damage (+1 Fighter Damage bonus, +1 F.Luck, +1 B.Song) - (1d6+3)

(1) + 3 = 4

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 19, 2023 8:06 am

The Old Forest

With a rapid precision, Syrena whips a second arrow into place and fires it at the next goblin, even as the first falls dead ahead of her.

OOC:

Feeling like Syrena is channeling some Legolas over here.

Last edited April 19, 2023 8:07 am

Rolls

Longbow attack - (1d20+6)

(20) + 6 = 26

Damage - (1d6+3)

(6) + 3 = 9

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 9:21 am

The Old Forest

Surprise Round

In the flash of an eye, Syrena shoots one goblin in the neck at point blank range then sidesteps to the right to allow passage for those behind her.

Gennadius charges forward without missing a step. His spear pierces through another goblins chest, driving him crashing back into a side wall of thorns and branches.

Pouring in full speed, Gundus and Xenophon continue the onslaught. Gundus's hammer blow to the jaw of the next hapless goblin sends it stumbling sideways and dazed. Xenophon finishes it off with a methodical kill thrust, Nicean steel breaking into the beastman's rib cage.

Syrena's second shot sails out and thuds into the chest of the last standing goblin. The wicked fiend's eyes go wide in shock as he clutches his chest and falls in his gasping final breath.

5 hits. 4 kills. Area cleared.

The search party marches across the space in the violent assault, filing through the continued path on the other side without delay.

Having torn through these initial foes, they renew their urgent pace - feeling that they must be close to a final confrontation for the life of their lost companion.

***Music***

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 9:33 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

For flow and ease of timing, even though this is a transition to another space, I'm rolling with the previous Initiative win by the Party to call this...

Top of Round 1 (TR1)

Barreling along the downward path towards the glow and the disturbing screams, the group confronts with another two goblins coming upwards towards them.

Ruling: Ad-hoc Morale check (outnumbered, heard vicious sounds of clash, Party charging in)
Result: Advance, Attack

With steely resolve, the two goblins growl and charge forward to battle.

These brutes are savage. One of them is well armored.

PC Party has Initiative

Rolls

Goblin pair Morale - (2d6-1)

(66) - 1 = 11

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 9:41 am

The Old Forest

Required Action, Active PCs: Declare and take Action in TR1. Include positions taken in single file (see Area Details below)

Opponents: 2 goblins (G5 with spear=AC +5, G6 with axe=AC +2)

Known Adjustments: Folkish Luck and Bard Song

Area Details: Narrow path through thicket. Allows only one lead PC in confrontation position and a second behind them who could attack with a pole weapon or missile fire. Additional PCs beyond the 2 in Action could loop around by weaving through obstructive terrain on the sides - estimate it would take 2 or more combat Rounds.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 3:14 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Thinking over more info, optional…

Area Details: seems reasonable to me that Syrena, as an Explorer with terrain management skills, could likely manage an off-trail loop or possibly full alternate route through draw brush quite a bit faster than the other blokes if she goes it alone. If that option elected, also seems reasonable that she could fire a parting arrow shot before sidestepping or rerouting, and before being committed to a close-quarters clash with the two rushing goblins upcoming on the trail.

Not trying to direct anything, only trying to max descriptions and provide options (and surely not PRECLUDE any options by my writing above), especially in this circumstance when time is of the essence and actions’ timing may make the survivability factor for our poor fellow Damanadros.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 19, 2023 5:15 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

I think there's a lot of ways we could play this.

1) Stick together, with Xeno and Syrena as active, other PCs ready to rotate into front line when needed.
2) Xeno and Gennadius as active, Gundus ready to sub into front, Syrena flanks.
3) Two PCs stay, two flank (slower but less risky than a solo flanker).

are just a few.

Option 2 probably takes care of the two goblins quickest, but does risk Syrena getting isolated.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 8:17 pm

The Old Forest

"Xenophon take point, I'm right behind you! Gundus, Syrena, get to their flank!

OOC:

Option 2 with Gundus and Syrena going together. Having the reserves on the line would be good, but we don't know what's in the woods.

Last edited April 19, 2023 8:18 pm

The Harpy

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 8:31 pm

The Old Forest

After another thick stiletto pin is driven into his left knee, Damanandros hangs exhausted.

None of the wounds he has suffered will kill quickly, but the pain has been overwhelming and he has lost considerable blood. He is spent and his mind is reeling from the stress.

Now the harpy is perched ahead of him again, a few feet away on the broken tree that protrudes up from the ditch.

Below and to the sides, a half dozen goblins are laughing and jeering, singing silly songs in witness of his suffering.

The birdish monstrosity of a horror woman, with her wild auburn red hair to match the color of her eagle feathers, has orange tinted eyes that almost glow, an unsettling and inhuman feature.

She tilts her head to the side as she considers Damanandros. The quick movement and emotionless stare alludes to her avian nature, reminiscent of the mannerisms of birds of prey rather than true humanity. Yet no animal of any sort is this sadistic for sport.

She speaks to him again, reverting back to Zaharan. Her tone is calm, quiet. Taunting, but strange...

Content revealed, previously exclusive to @Leo9sign

"You are nothing like Isiratuu. You would never be able to open the Sanctum.

Your powers are novice, and you are too weak."

She lets the words hang there with Damanandros as she watches him. The rain pitter patters, continuing to soak them both.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 8:39 pm

The Old Forest

The large skull-headed bird hisses a response in anger...

Content revealed, previously exclusive to @Leo9sign

"Enough! Cease your wild tongue, child - you must kill it now!" it hisses in the Ancient Words.

"Your mother would not stand for this."

... now it spreads its wings wide, a menacing shroud form on the higher branch.

The vultures all around begin to flap their wings, hiss and bark.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 19, 2023 9:04 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena fires off a shot at the goblins and veers into the brush, to pick a path to flank the enemies yet to come between them and their missing companion.

Rolls

Longbow attack - (1d20+6)

(1) + 6 = 7

Damage - (1d6+3)

(5) + 3 = 8

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 19, 2023 10:08 pm

The Old Forest

Even as Syria disappears into the brush, Gennadius steps in behind Xenophon, nudging him to the side just a bit, and hurls a bola at the lead goblin.

OOC:

Thrown knockdown attempt against G6. My goal is to knock the easier opponent down to force the two to either pause their advance while our team mates work the flank, or the one can continue the charge and loses the benefit of their teammate with them for a round or two.

I forgot to add the -4 penalty to the roll. Final atk roll result is 13 against a target 12.

I'm assuming G6, the axe wielder, is in the lead with G5, the spearman, running second rank?

BOLA says:

A character can use a bola to make a knock down or wrestling maneuver (as described in special maneuvers in Chapter 6) with a thrown attack.

KNOCKDOWN says:

A combatant may try to trip, sweep, or otherwise knock his opponent down in lieu of making a melee attack. To knock down an opponent, the combatant must succeed on a melee attack throw with a -4 penalty. The opponent must then make a successful saving throw versus Paralysis to stay on his feet. If the opponent fails, he immediately falls prone. Attack throws against prone combatants gain a +2 bonus, and thieves may backstab prone opponents. A prone combatant may get up on his round instead of moving, or crawl at a speed of 5' per round. If he attacks while prone, he suffers a -4 penalty on his attack throw.

Last edited April 19, 2023 10:18 pm

Rolls

Atk, Bola, +1 dex, +1 luck, +1 courage - (1d20+3)

(14) + 3 = 17

Bola damage +1 luck, +1 courage - (1d2+2)

(1) + 2 = 3

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 20, 2023 3:06 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon forms up in the first rank, shield at the ready. He seizes the opportunity Gennadius's bolas provides, thrusting his spear at the prone, axe-wielding goblin's neck.

OOC:

Attack at 10+, with the following modifers:

AC: 2 = -2
Poison = -1
F. Luck = +1
B. Song = +1
Prone = +2
Str = +1
Total: +2

.... and it's a miss!

Last edited April 20, 2023 3:07 am

Rolls

Attack vs G6 (mods listed above, including opponent AC) - (1d20+2)

(6) + 2 = 8

Damage (+1 Fighter Damage bonus, +1 F.Luck, +1 B.Song) - (1d6+3)

(4) + 3 = 7

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 20, 2023 4:02 am

The Old Forest

Gundus scrambles after Syrena, struggling to keep up with her in the brush.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 3:39 pm

The Old Forest

TR1
Gundus, Syrena

Syrena fires a shot before she diverts off the trail, but the arrow flies past the rushing goblins.

Miss

The thick growth of brush outside of the trail is a field of obstacles, but Syrena is sure-footed and experienced at crossing draws. She soon finds passage to slide through at reasonable speed and looks for routes to loop back into the trail further down the slope, for flank and a closer approach to the goal site ahead.

Gundus follows Syrena, but has a tougher go of it. He gets wrapped up a bit in some thick branches, but is able to break through with some effort and delay, following Syrena's lead.

Movement through obstructed terrain

Syrena keeps an eye on the glowing area ahead. Judging by the lighting, it seems there is a drop-off ahead, likely the last point before a large ditch or a ledge overlooking a depression.

In a quick assessment, Syrena sees a reasonably passable route that follows a water drainage line to the ledge downhill. She also identifies a rough but best available route to reconnect with the trail for the previously planned flank maneuver.

Syrena considers options for a decision.

Decision Action, Syrena: Movement possibilities:
1) Prioritize sub-group unity and the flank maneuver: remain with Gundus and loop back to the trail, behind the 2 charging goblins but remaining further uphill overall
2) Prioritize rapid search for Damanandros: separate from Gundus after directing him the flank route, use superior capability to pass through difficult terrain moving downhill off the trail, reach the top ledge of depression where glow originates and from where Damandros's screams are heard.

OOC:

Exact timing in rounds wasis purposefully inexact, will not be quantified in advance either way - but both options will be fairly quick moves. Distance is also less than precise, but distance estimates are:
Option 1) emerge back on trail about 30 yards further downhill/downtrail than departure point (note: will be closer than that to trail goblins, as Xeno/Gennadius will have moved further downhill to the confrontation as well),
Option 2) ledge is less than 80 yards downhill.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 3:56 pm

The Old Forest

TR1
Gennadius, Xenophon

Gennadius's whirling bolas slams into the charging shirtless goblin.

Hit. Required Save vs. Paralysis
Result: Fail, knocked prone

The muscular beastman tumbles to the ground and loses hold of his axe. The sudden obstruction on the trail makes the charging armored goblin slow and almost stumble.

Xenophon closes the ground quickly and takes a stab at the disabled opponent on the ground, but the armored goblin steps forward and crowds in. Xenophons spear narrowly misses as the athletic beastman on the ground rolls to the side to pick up his axe.

Miss

[ +- ] in your head

Rolls

G6, save vs. Paralysis (as 0 level human, 16+) - (1d20)

(8) = 8

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 4:13 pm

The Old Forest

Bottom of Round 1 (BR1)
Goblins on Trail

The armored goblin stabs ferociously with his spear. This brute seems stronger than its fellows previous, and no stranger to close combat.

Attack v. Xenophon

The other goblin growls in frustration as he loosens the leather straps of the bolas. Quickly standing, he casts the snare aside and shouts out in his savagery.

Remove bolas. Stand.

Rolls

G5 (Armored, spear, 2 handed) - Attack Throw 10+ - (1d20+1)

(19) + 1 = 20

damage - (1d8)

(5) = 5

The Harpy

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 4:30 pm

The Old Forest

The harpy stares across at Damanandros, studying him still.

After a lengthy pause, she speaks again. This time it is not clear to Damanadros if the words are intended for him, for the skull vulture creature, or simply for The Harpy herself.

In her cruel voice, but softly....

Content revealed, previously exclusive to @Leo9sign

(in Zaharan)
"I was put to slumber for far too long. Against my will!

I do not intend to be forced back to sleep again."

The Harpy

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 4:51 pm

The Old Forest

Content revealed, previously exclusive to @Leo9sign

She grits her teeth and sways her head back and forth in small motion, the look of fury rising - visible on her face and manifesting in the subtle movements of her body and feathers.

She stares across at Damanadros, piercing him with her amber eyes.

She offers the end of her tongue out between her sharp teeth and bites down. The blood wells up and runs over her plump lips.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 4:57 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, mobile PCs: Declare and take Action for TR2

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 7:01 pm

The Old Forest

Gennadius shouts "Dirgion take you!" as he draws a javelin and throws it at the smaller goblin.

OOC:

Attack on G6.

Rolls

atk G6, javelin, +1 dex, +1 luck, +1 courage - (1d20+3)

(19) + 3 = 22

damage +luck, +1 courage - (1d6+2)

(3) + 2 = 5

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 20, 2023 9:52 pm

The Old Forest

TR2
Gennadius

The thrown javelin pierces into the wild goblin's shoulder near the clavicle. The beastman grimaces from the pain, but quickly pulls the shaft out and moves forward with grim determination, brandishing his crude axe.

Hit

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 21, 2023 3:14 am

The Old Forest

Gundus emerges from the brush behind the two goblins, sling in hand. He whirls the weapon about his head several times, building momentum, and launches a stone at the smaller goblin.

Rolls

Sling attack G6 - (1d20+2)

(9) + 2 = 11

Damage - (1d4+2)

(1) + 2 = 3

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 21, 2023 8:11 am

The Old Forest

Syrena pops out of the brush along with Gundus and targets the other goblin (G5) with an arrow from her longbow.

Rolls

Longbow attack - (1d20+6)

(12) + 6 = 18

Damage - (1d6+3)

(6) + 3 = 9

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 9:07 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

RageRed says:

Syrena pops out of the brush along with Gundus and targets the other goblin (G5) with an arrow from her longbow.

I'm not sure if G5 is a valid missile target since he is engaged in melee with X

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 10:13 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

Sorry, Players' Club. I was posting on the fly yesterday during a hectic schedule - can see now that I have some errors and didn't explain options well. I've got to manage a few corrections.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 10:17 am

The Old Forest

DMJ says:

TR2
Gennadius

The thrown javelin pierces into the wild goblin's shoulder near the clavicle. The beastman grimaces from the pain, but quickly pulls the shaft out and moves forward with grim determination, brandishing his crude axe.

Hit

After a few steps though, the brawny goblin's eyes glaze over. Blood is pouring out of the high chest wound now.

His axe droops down and falls to the ground first.
Then he follows, tipping forward for a rough, face-first splatter into the mud.

G6 Defeated

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 10:25 am

The Old Forest

TR2
Syrena, Gundus

Syrena decides against going downhill towards the light and continues the loop back to the trail through the restrictive brush growth.

The quick scout adeptly selects advantageous steps and weaves through at a faster pace.

It is difficult for Gundus to mimic the fleet-footed woman’s technique, but her lead helps him keep sight on the best path to crunch through, even if a bit slower.

Difficult Terrain Movement

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 10:41 am

The Old Forest

TR2
Syrena

Knowing that time is of the essence, Syrena attempts a desperate burst of exertion to make the final break through the thicket. Tucking her bow in close and using her other arm as a shield, she tilts her head down and charges against a wall of tight brush.

Driving her legs and leaning into it, Syrena explodes back onto the trail. She knows her stability is sacrificed, so she controls her inevitable fall, hitting the ground on her shoulder and back but ensuring her bow is extended and her other arm is free for draw. From there lying on the ground she draws and fires.

The arrow flies true, hitting the armored goblin in the back, below the smaller rear-facing shoulder plates.

Hit

Not knowing what hit him, the veteran goblin stumbles forward and crashes into Xenophon's shield then bounces to the ground, armor clattering in a heavy heap.

G5 Defeated. Trail goblin pair cleared.

OOC:

This Round 2 Attack by Syrena is one Round earlier than I was planning on originally. The difficult terrain was meant to be more of a cost than being able to make the maneuver and still Attack in consecutive Rounds anyway.

But we're rolling with it like this because I didn't make it fully clear in the writing and want to keep the flow of the input.

To CB's warning on Range Fire into Melee, I'm making a quick assumption that Syrena's accuracy as an Explorer plus the Precise Shooting proficiency overcomes the normal difficulties of firing into the crowd.

The Harpy

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 12:07 pm

The Old Forest

Content revealed, previously exclusive to @Leo9sign

In an explosion of violence, the harpy leaps at the giant skull vulture, snatching her former ally off the branch and casting it to the ground below. Before the bird hits the ground, she pounces to it and drives it roughly into the pit of mud and logs with a crash.

She buries her claws into the base of the monstrosity's skull. Screeching in the strain of it, she tears the skull completely off the lanky neck. The bone head flies high and spinning before falling to a rattle into the cluttered ditch debris. The decapitated body flaps and stumbles wildly in a shocking display of dramatic death.

In another burst, the harpy leaps up. With one strong flap of her wings she reaches Damandros and embraces him.

With her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around the back of his neck, she hangs there with him on the swaying rope. Her full breasts are pressed against his chest, and he can feel the soft human skin of her arms and legs.

Face-to-face with her, he sees the blood on her lips. Feels her breath. Her auburn eagle wings are brushing against his arms and body.

She bites his lower lip with her sharp teeth, bringing blood, and then licks the new wound with her own bleeding tongue.

"I am Ish'tauxi," she tells him, in her sultry voice, her bright eyes peering into his for a moment.

Then she kisses him deeply, full in her passion.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 12:37 pm

The Old Forest

Content revealed, previously exclusive to @Leo9sign

The loud sound of the Magic Mouth resumes as a booming shout.

The "I AM YOURS!" programmed statement repeats on loop again and again, distorted and irregular but extremely loud.

The goblins managing the pit scream out in fear.

One holding the rope runs away. The other two struggle to hold the weight alone, now that Ish'tauxi hangs with Damanandros. They slowly loose control and then give up entirely.

Damanandros feels himself being lowered during the embrace, then the tension on his arms fall slack. For a moment they are falling, but Ish'tauxi flaps her wings twice and turns them in the air. In a soft landing she guides Damanadros onto a pile of broken logs emergent from the water in the ditch.

Finishing the long kiss, Ish'tauxi rises up and kneels over Damanandros. In quick movements, she pulls all three of her brutal stabbing needles from his wounds. As he winces from the surprising pain of it, she unbuckles the leather straps at his wrists and casts the shackling harness aside into the mud.

Damanandros's arms ache as he takes them back to position, stiff from the long strain of hanging.

Damanadros notices for the first time that the glowing light in the area is completely gone now. The darkness has overtaken everything again, but a flash of lightening gives a quick image of his view there in the ditch with Ish'tauxi leaning over him.

He feels her hand on the side of his face.

"Come and find me if you seek your revenge...," she says in the Ancient Words. Touching him softly, she adds, "... or my love."

With a leap up and a single flap of her wings, she is gone in silence, lost to the darkness.

Damanandros can hear the vultures flapping and barking wildly above in their flight.

The goblins are chattering and shouting out to one another in their confusion, fearfully speaking their degenerated version of Zaharan.

The Magic Mouth blares in the repeating sequence "I AM YOURS! I AM YOURS! I AM YOURS!", garbled and broken but near deafening, echoing through the low ground depression.

Damanandros sits up on the pile of logs, sore and injured, but alive there in the flooding ditch, the rain coming down.

Current HP: 1
Maximum Movement Rate: 5' per round

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 12:49 pm

The Old Forest

Gundus reunites with the others on the trail, and Syrena stands to recover from her rough landing.

Without delay the group steps over the defeated goblins and resumes the quick march, downhill and toward the glowing light. They no longer hear the screams, but they approach the direction from which they heard them previously.

They can see that they are approaching an edge, arriving at the top crest ahead that falls away to low ground beyond.

They see the silhouette of another goblin.

This one is a bit smaller but holds a knife and a sizeable horn.

He scans the trail, sees the group charging in, and raises his horn to sound the signal.

Encounter distance: 40'
[color="blue"]
Required Action: Roll Initiative! Individually!

Situational Criteria: Any PC who 1) beats this sentry goblin's Initiative, and 2) uses Ranged Attack can get off a shot before the warning signal is sent.
If he wins Initiative, or if Ranged Fire attempts miss or don't kill him, the goblin will do his guard duty assignment and blow the horn.
Sentry Goblin AC: +2

OOC:

First come, first served. Roll and proceed if you have the lower Initiative and want to participate.

Rolls

Goblin Sentry Retro Initiative! - (1d10)

(6) = 6

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 21, 2023 1:24 pm

The Old Forest

Initiative!

Rolls

Initiative - (1d10)

(1) = 1

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 21, 2023 1:28 pm

The Old Forest

The sight of the horn spurs Gundus into action. The goblin cannot be allowed to summon reinforcements. "Kill it now!" he whirls his sling and lets fly at the creature, but is far too excited to aim steadily.

Last edited April 21, 2023 1:29 pm

Rolls

Sling to-hit - (1d20+2)

(3) + 2 = 5

Damage - (1d4+2)

(1) + 2 = 3

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 3:07 pm

The Old Forest

Initiative

Rolls

Initiative - (1d10-1)

(4) - 1 = 3

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 21, 2023 3:48 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena nocks another arrow and fires upon the sentry.

Last edited April 21, 2023 3:50 pm

Rolls

Initiative - (1d10-4)

(3) - 4 = -1

Longbow attack - (1d20+6)

(6) + 6 = 12

Damage - (1d6+3)

(5) + 3 = 8

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 3:57 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena's arrow hits the goblin guard in the throat.

Hit.

He stiffens in the jolt of it then tilts backwards, falling into the ditch behind as he drops his signal horn and knife.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 4:01 pm

The Old Forest

Suddenly the glowing light ahead goes out. Darkness takes over in the area forward, at the end of the trail.

Gennadius's lantern again becomes the only constant light source in a sea of blackness and drizzling rain.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 4:10 pm

The Old Forest

A flurry of sound ahead!

The sudden flight of birds flapping their wings, and unnerving barking and grunting sounds.

Then a savage screech of some sort - perhaps a woman's furious yell?

All coming from the recently darkened area in the low ground ahead.

The party has to slow slightly but continues the move forward. New sounds emerge, and the next is shockingly unusual.

A loud voice booms out from the dark depression ahead. The voice is distorted and muffled, something like a man with a strangely broken voice shouting from within a tunnel. It sounds remotely human, but something is disturbing about it, and the volume is unnatural.

It continues in a repeating cadence, again and again the same three syllables. It is difficult to decipher for certain, but it seems to be saying "I AM YOURS! I AM YOURS!" over and over.

Squeals and shouts of goblins ring out after the loud pulsing voice begins. Their beastish words are unknown, but the tone and inflection suggests fear and confusion among the little brutes - whatever they are doing.

The companions reach the ledge to peer over and downward, Gennadius's lantern crests over the edge and bathes the pit-like ditch in dull light.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 4:25 pm

The Old Forest

They see Damanadros!

The mage looks haggard and wounded, soaked and exhausted. But he is alive!

He is low in the large ditch, struggling to sit up on a rough pile of broken logs and branches. This pile of wood and debris rises higher behind Damandros, with a large broken leaning tree serving as its highest pinnacle.

There is a rope and pulley apparatus of some sort swinging back and forth slowly overhead, attached on a large tree branch that hangs over the ditch from an oak on the other side.

Nearby Damanadros in the low ground, half submerged in the flooding water, is what appears to be the felled body of a giant black vulture.

More vultures, though normal in size, fly around the scene, anxiously springing from one branch to the next. They flap and hold their wings wide and out. Many of them are hissing and barking. There are perhaps a dozen or two of them all around, and it is an ominous sight and sound.

Within and on the far bank of the ditch, the companions spot several goblins - lurking and running about in the confusion. It is impossible to say how many, but a half-dozen at least are seen in motion. They are soon on a scramble when the light waves through from the high ridge.

Damanadros distance from party at high ledge: 40' 70 feet

OOC:

yikes - edit: I meant this to be 40 yards, not 40 feet. I have to make an adjustment, but since I wrote it and may have caused influence, I'm adjusting it further out from the mistake, but changing it to less (closer) than the original plan. Sorry folks.

The bank of the ditch is a precarious drop-off. Descending down into the ditch would be easy enough, but terrain is treacherous below. Speed would be degraded once down in the low ground flood, mud, and debris zone.

The distorted and bellowing "I AM YOURS!" repeat is pulsing as a frightening echo in the low depression.

The rain drizzles. Thunder and lighting scatter through intermittently.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 4:33 pm

The Old Forest

A goblin is creeping quickly along the high crop of the wood pile, up and over behind Damanadros below.

This beastman wears a frightful horned-skull helmet and brandishes a wicked curved knife even as he balances up to the precarious height of the unstable debris pile.

Damanadros cannot yet see the skulking knifer from the low angle vantage point below.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 4:39 pm

The Old Forest

What happens next??!?!

[ +- ] ***music***

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 21, 2023 6:09 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros looks up to see a light shine out in the darkness.

High on the crest of the ditch wall - the light casts wild shadows, but he sees them.

Gennadius holds the lantern. Syrena, Xenophon, and Gundus there alongside.

Damanadros’s companions are arrived.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 21, 2023 7:00 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros grits his teeth as he pulls himself up from the tangle of confusion and wood, every movement sending waves of pain through his body.

His mind races, and his only thought is to reach his companions and find safety. With each pull, he forces himself to keep climbing, his will to live growing stronger. "I AM YOURS, I AM YOURS," he mutters to himself, the words a repeating reminder of his shame, a puzzle of pain and desire. But he cannot dwell on that now.

Survival is the only thing that matters.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 21, 2023 10:59 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena's normally pleasant appearing lips curl into a snarl of anger, as she quietly raises her bow, aims, and targets the skulking helmed goblin. She lets loose her arrow, sending her ire upon a flight to do her binding and fell the treacherous beastman before he can do his dirty deed.

Rolls

Longbow attack - (1d20+6)

(10) + 6 = 16

Damage - (1d6+3)

(3) + 3 = 6

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 1:29 am

The Old Forest

Syrena's arrow traverses over the pit and embeds into the side of the horned goblin standing on the pinnacle of the wood pile tower. He is hit just as he was bending down to pick something up.

Hit

At the edges of the light, the goblin tumbles off of the high perch and crashes down into the log clutter pit below - surprisingly close to Damanandros.

Damanandros is trying to move, but it becomes clear to the recently arrived companions that he is barely ambulatory. He struggles with every step.

Someone is going to have to go down there and get Damanandros to help him cross the cluttered ditch flood zone and climb the steep ridge wall to safety.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 1:39 am

The Old Forest

Damanandros tries to move, but the pain is crippling. Every step is a strain on his two low joint injuries, one on either leg.

He is startled by the thud of a goblin falling from the high perch above - notably the perch upon which she sat when she was tormenting him. The goblin is thankfully dead with an arrow lodged in its side, thanks to Syrena's expert aim.

Just as the goblin falls, so too a familiar item tumbles down nearby: Damanadros's spellbook!

The rugged tome splats on top of a muddy log, some 15' away from Damanandros - painfully though, in the opposite direction, away from the ridge line wall to a safe escape.

To make matters worse, Damanandros sees a goblin step out from the shadows, on the opposite side of the spellbook.

The goblin is wearing a ragged mask and is staring intently at the rare treasure item it sees in the mud. It draws a knife and starts stalking forward towards the book.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 1:45 am

The Old Forest

A bulky and ugly goblin steps out from the shadows in the low ground of the ditch field and takes a shot at Gennadius with a crossbow!

Ranged Attack!

This rugged brute with a deformed face seems to be a leader. It shouts out savage commands to the other goblins in the vicinity. A few of them come out tentatively, seeing which way the tide of battle will turn.

Rolls

Attack, crossbow v. Gennadius - (1d20-1)

(16) - 1 = 15

damage - (1d6)

(4) = 4

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 2:02 am

The Old Forest

Open Action Free-for-All

Opponent Details:
2 Active goblins presenting threat, both down in the low ground of the ditch flood and clutter zone:

1 goblin is the masked creeper, moving in to steal Damanandros's spellbook at least, maybe to shank Damanandros.
40' from Damanandros / 30' from the spellbook / 100' from the search party
AC +2 with knife

1 is the deformed meathead with an old clunky crossbow, shouting out commands and savage threats.
off to the side (to the right, from vantage point of search party on high ridge). 60' from Damanandros / 60' from the search party
AC +0 with crossbow

A few other goblins glimpsed off in the periphery, but haven't yet presented as threats.

Noteworthy circumstance:
*Damanandros is down in the danger zone with extremely reduced movement capability, both from injury and because of difficult surrounding terrain. Seems likely he will need help getting out to safety.
*Gennadius's lantern provides the only light source in the entire dangerous scene.

Required Action, all PCs: declare and take Action/Movement at will.
No need for Initiative

Potential Adjustments, Ad-hoc: Missile fire made from the high ridge firing into the low ground gets +1 to Attack Throws for being on higher ground

OOC:

... experimenting with the "Higher Ground" bonus, back from 2e.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 22, 2023 3:34 am

The Old Forest

"There's no way Damanandros can get out of there on his own," Gundus says. "I'm going down."

He slides quickly down the ditch, trusting his armour to protect him during the rough descent. He hopes to catch the goblins' notice and draw some of their fire with his rapid approach, so that his companions have a free hand to cover him - Syrena especially was proving a marvel with a bow.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 10:45 am

The Old Forest

With his polished armor and helm gleaming in the reflected light of the lantern, Gundus is like a ray of hope and life descending into the darkened pit.

The war-priest uses the momentum of his downward slide to carry him through several steps along the difficult terrain in the low ground. He makes it out to the partially flooded central area of the wide depression.

Splashing through water up to his shins, with soggy mud beneath his feet, Gundus sets his icon emblazoned shield up at guard and slogs towards Damanandros with steady resolve.

He keeps his main attention on the highest known threat: the hefty goblin working to reload its crossbow.

Distance, Gundus to Damanandros: 30'
Distance, Gundus to crossbow goblin: 50'

DMJ sent a note to Leo9sign

With Gundus's inspiring rush to rescue, Damanandros finds his difficult decision amplified.

In one direction, he sees Gundus approaching to help and protect him, and the route to escape beyond.

In the opposite direction, he sees his spellbook, and an armed and malicious goblin approaching.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 22, 2023 11:51 am

The Old Forest

To Damanandros, the contents of the book represent everything he has come to know about magic. His notes, the few spells that he knows. This spellbook, his lifeline to magic, is not something he'll give up easily.

It is HIS spellbook.

Even if it were waterlogged and full of ink-degrading mud, it was still rightfully his and it wasn't going to be stolen without some resistance. Not if he could help it.

Damanadros sneers at the goblin as it weighs its options. Just as he weighs his own.

"That is mine!" He puts as much hate and resolve behind his voice as he can summon. He had to remind the goblin that he was no longer just a helpless victim. He had to remind himself.

His grasp of the ancient tongue is considerable, but the books did not teach him the menace that the natural speakers use. He had her to thank for that.

He wants the goblin to understand that he will have to deal with a wizard before the prize can be his, with help on the way. "Is it worth your life?"

Standing as tall and threatening as he can, he pulls his hands together in a crooked and exaggerated pose, he begins to move them as if his fingers were spinnerets and he is weaving a web of death between them.

"Μέσα από την ψυχή σου, σε δένω στο κενό." His tone is spiteful and the words are filled with venom as he spits them in the direction of the goblin.

Just need to buy a little more time…

Last edited April 22, 2023 12:11 pm

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 1:06 pm

The Old Forest

The masked goblin is almost to reach the prize when Damanadros slogs forth, returning to make his claim over the book.

Whether it is the determination to reclaim his most precious possession or something else, Damanandros feels a surge of strength, even if a slight one. A motivation ekes through the pervasive feeling of pain that hangs on him like heavy chains. His steps grow steadier as he commits to his direction, and he plays his act with as much boldness as he can muster.

The booming "I AM YOURS! I AM YOURS! I AM YOURS!" continues as the constant backdrop of unsettling sound here in the low ground.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 1:06 pm

The Old Forest

The goblin sees the bloody man slogging towards him through the water. He hears and understands the magician's demands, in his own language!

The little creeper halts his approach and his eyes go wide in surprise and fear.

When he hears the cadenced mystery words that follow, he knows that it must be spellcraft. The goblin frantically looks left and right but sees scant hiding places that he could reach quickly.

Judging his situation as best as he can, the goblin drops his blade in surrender and begs for mercy.

In the degenerated Zaharan of the beastmen, he pleads...
previously note to "Leo9sign"]"No, Master! Please don't kill me! Your book. Not mine. This is your book.

Mercy, Dread Yorz! No magic death. Please.

Please, Dread Master Yorz. I am useful! I speak the human language."[/note]

Desperately, he confirms his claim, removing his tattered mask and repeating in Low Auran, "I speak human. Helpful!"

Crudely he tries more, seeking to escape death from the coming spell, "Mercy. Dun kill me. Dun kill me."

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 22, 2023 8:06 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena considers the shot to the creeper, but quickly notices the small goblin apparently giving up through the intimidation of Damanandros. Instead, she levels out her bow and takes aim at the meaty war boss. She fires off a shot from the high ground to cover Gundus' descent and to keep the brute's crossbow from being readied so quickly for a repeat attack.

Her lethal splinter away, the scout sidesteps into cover momentarily to assess the results of her attack.

Rolls

Longbow attack - (1d20+7)

(15) + 7 = 22

Damage - (1d6+3)

(1) + 3 = 4

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 22, 2023 8:12 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon also descends into the ditch. Damanandros is his countryman after all, and his oldest comrade in the squad. He didn't think Gundus would be able to pull the mage out of there alone, especially with more goblins on the way.

He intercepts them as they move toward the strange, grovelling goblin. He is suspicious of a ruse, and doesn't see how this cowardly creature could help them.

"Fuck off then, if you don't want to die. How could you help us, anyway?" he spits out.

He's more concerned of the other advancing goblins, and sets up his stance and shield to protect the three of them from missile fire.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 9:29 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena's arrow hits the deformed muscular goblin high on the arm near the shoulder. The beefcake shooter flinches from the pain and drops back to find cover.

Having trouble with the reload on its crossbow, and seeing the additional soldiers moving in to the low ground, the brute things better of it. He retires from the field, tromping back into the darkness outside of the lantern light range.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 9:37 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros recovers his spellbook once he has Gundus and Xenophon covering him.

The creeper goblin's eyes dart back and forth as he sees soldiers moving in.

When one of them shouts at him he cringes backwards, regaining his readiness.

Seeing that the wizard seems at least momentarily distracted as his soldiers arrive at his side, the goblin makes his break for it.

In a flash he darts to the tall wood pile and leaps behind a log.

He gives a quick look back to smirk at the soldiers from the shadows and then disappears into the clutter of the flooded debris field.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 22, 2023 9:53 pm

The Old Forest

With the low field at least momentarily cleared, Gundus and Xenophon lend help to get Damanandros across the flooded wreckage and eventually back up the steep climb back to the high ridge.

End Bard Song and Luck Adjustments

It is a tough movement. Damanandros is hurt bad. His leg injuries give him great pain in walking, and much more in the rigors of the harsh climb. The injury in his armpit makes it nearly impossible for him to raise his arm up and forward, and he cannot pull any weight with it.

After finally reaching the ridge edge at the narrow thicket trail, the group takes a short moment to catch their breath, for the first time reunited.

They know it cannot be for long though. The risk of goblins in the area seems apparent, and this restrictive terrain gives few options for quick movement.

The good news is, it is close to dawn. When it arrives, it will be a most welcome one.

Required Action, PCs: Provide any description or input for immediate party intent, planning, action, movement, etc.

OOC:

Leaving this purposefully open-ended. Seems like a place to pause for any commentary, narrative, or reset efforts.

Nice work, Players' Club. Great scene. Great performances. All PCs are alive - that's always a win.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 22, 2023 10:02 pm

The Old Forest

Backtracking through the narrow trail, Syrena attempts to find and recover any usable of the four arrows she shot along the way. She also checks the bodies of the goblins up there for weapons and other items they may have been carrying.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 23, 2023 3:53 am

The Old Forest

"Thank Türas you're alive, mage. I was expecting to find a corpse in that ditch!" Gundus says, as he and Xenophon lower the battered Damanandros for a momentary rest on the ditch bank. From the look of the man, they just about had found one. "What the hell happened?"

Gundus gives everyone a quick inspection for injuries. "It's not much, but this will help. We must get out of here before those creatures return with friends," he says, channelling the power of his god to lighten the worst hurt.

He turns to Syrena. "Nice shooting! And a handy bit of work, that flanking manoeuvre. Where to now? Is any path safe in this accursed forest?" he asks.

OOC:

Gundus will Lay Hands on the PC with the lowest hp, for 2 hp of healing. From the description this will probably be Damanandros.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 23, 2023 6:42 am

The Old Forest

Coming into the clearing over the pit, Gennadius freezes once he sees the condition and circumstance Damanandros is in. Conflict immediately wracks him - rush down and save him? Make it right! he says over and over, chiding himself for having sprinkled salt about the shelter while this man was being dragged off by beastmen. But the desire to rush down is arrested and his feet won't take him further as his eyes catch one moving shadow after another - a trap inviting him down into the treacherous terrain to rescue the bait.

Gennadius' indecision is punished with the deep penetration of an arrow. (down to 2 hp!) Gennadius didn't even see where it came from, but it confirmed his expectation that this was all a trap. He ducked behind a tree for safety, but at least had the presence of mind to continue to hold the lantern for the true heros that ran head-long into the pit and saved the mage.

Gennadius will recover his bola and one of the knives or axe carried by the slain goblins to replace his lost dagger. Other than that, he will push for the team to return to the shelter where he can administer aid.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 23, 2023 6:47 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

It's a busy weekend for me, so I don't have much time for a more elaborate post, tho I'd like to. Gennadius has a lot he wants to say for having screwed up. He blames himself for having concerned himself with the folk magic ritual instead of recognizing that D. Man was getting kidnapped.

He can also treat everyone that is injured (including himself?), as he does so each treatment would also grant a cure-light-wounds, once per person per day. So X won't be able to gain any additional healing.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 23, 2023 2:05 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros seems relieved but weary, his body nearly giving way, until the warm embrace of Gundus' magic steadies him. He breathes a heavy sigh of relief, the weight of his recent ordeal still too fresh to fully comprehend.
"I can't...I can't put it all together just yet." He shakes his head, his shame palpable. "It was...the most beautiful creature, and I was...enamored by its magic."
Damanandros winces, his memories still too raw. "I told it too much...about our plans here." He hangs his head, his voice barely a whisper. "And then it began...the torture." He trails off, unable to bring himself to say more at the moment.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 23, 2023 2:35 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros' eyes widen with a sudden realization, and he sits up straight. "The skull," he exclaims, "we must find the skull!" He pauses, staring intently into the darkness as if trying to recall its exact location. "If it was even real," he mutters, "it may prove to be important. We should find it."

His companions exchange wary glances, unsure of what to make of Damanandros' sudden urgency. But his tone and demeanor leave little room for doubt that he is serious.

Damanandros nods vehemently. "Yes, yes, I'm sure. It could be the key, and I won't rest until we find it." His eyes gleam with a newfound vigor and determination, and it's clear that he won't be dissuaded.

Last edited April 23, 2023 2:36 pm

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 23, 2023 7:46 pm

The Old Forest

DMJ sent a note to Leo9sign

The companions make it back to the lumber yard shelter in reasonable time without event.

Soon, the glow of morning emergent.

The soft light glimmers on the water coating that blankets the entire forest. The rain has stopped, clouds overhead seem to be clearing.

The sun is reclaiming its domain...

..."Hail the Eternal Dawn"

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 23, 2023 7:59 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Here's some quick OOC entries on a few items...

OOC:

Syrena recovers 2 of 4 arrows. One was lost and another snapped when the armored goblin fell on it.

Gennadius gains dagger, knife, or hatchet by field recovery. Description open-ended, CB writes if desired.

Gennadius recovers bolas.

Will assume Gundus does Lay On Hands back at shelter, a scene of safety and pause recovery. Damanadros may get the healing, but I'd ask for more clarity on it since the last entry was left open-ended. Damanandros, strangely as it may sound, is not the lowest on HPs. I think Gennadius and Xeno are both at 2 or 3 HP (Len, post up on that if you can - I read 2 HP for Gennadius from CB's last post). Robago's call in the end of course (and maybe y'all will judge it's already occurred), I just didn't want to unfairly skew the decision by the severity of descriptive writing about Our Man Damanandros, which of course has been explicit.

On Healing by Medic Gennadius:
As mentioned, Xenophon is already under care. He can get another daily boost later, but not at this time in the morning.
As I understand it, Gennadius can treat 1) himself, and 2) Damanandros, and each patient would get the possibility of a Cure Light Wounds effect if Gennadius gets a good roll. CB, have at it on the Proficiency check(s) if that is intent and the correct interpretation of it. And/or whatever else is correct instead.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 23, 2023 8:02 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Request Leo to comment on whether or not Damanandros takes time to restudy spell(s), and help my understanding on what that calls for in time requirements.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 23, 2023 8:20 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Looking forward to responses to Damanandros's zinger suggestion.

[ +- ] WOOOOOOO!!!!!

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 24, 2023 5:25 am

The Old Forest

"Damanandros, are you mad? Less than a day ago we numbered six. Now one of our most skilled warriors rests in the belly of vermin. Then just this hour a whole tribe of beastmen dragged you off and tortured you! The four of us drove them off, but just barely, and I'm not even sure we actually drove them off, to be honest. TWO OF US NEARLY DIED! AND YOU'RE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! Half of what you say doesn't even make sense. Some goblin shaman ensorcelled you and now you want to just go back for the skull of some dead thing?! NO. We need to get back to the shelter, what little safety it provides, take care of these wounds, and then get the hell out of here and go do the job we were supposed to do!"

OOC:

The rest of the team never saw the harpy, right?

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 24, 2023 6:02 am

The Old Forest

"Skull?" Syrena looks askant at Damanandros, raising one brow in obvious curiosity. "What skull might this be? A couple felled beastmen wore skulls. A body of unknown feathered origin was not far from where first we lay eyes on you in the ditch. Might it have borne this skull you seek?"

Last edited April 24, 2023 6:03 am

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 24, 2023 6:57 am

The Old Forest

Gundus listens to Damanandros' mania with growing unease. What the hell was going on out here, he wondered - not for the first time - and just what had Eramus got them all into?

"We're not going anywhere in a hurry. Three of us are badly hurt. I think we might need to lick our wounds for a day or two, before we chance any more trouble. Though I do wonder if we might be safer somewhere else, given what just happened," he says.

Once again he draws on the divine power of Türas to mend Xenophon's injuries.

OOC:

I forgot that Xenophon copped a big hit as well. Since he has the most hp to recover and is a front-liner, I think it makes sense to heal him.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 24, 2023 9:28 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon feels some relief of Gundus's ritual and prayer to Turas. He still struggles from his wounds, at his left leg from the beetle and his right side abdomen from the armored goblin's spear thrust. He is convinced that he is healing faster than normal however.

In the increasing light of dawn, the team discusses their next moves there at the shelter near the abandoned lumberyard.

OOC:

Interesting entries. Decisions to make.

Here's one entry I want to put out...

CB is right above. No PCs saw any creatures or people other than goblins and some normal vultures flying around in the air overhead. And yeah, there was a corpse of a big vulture laying in the mud and water. But The Goddess, the Harpy, the Skull Vulture - none of that was seen by anyone other than Damanandros. I debated on writing it out in the open at all - considered doing the whole thing by "Note" to Leo - but decided to publish at least part of it, but for the fun of the game in OOC and I know it is sort of lame for everyone seeing too many "Note" boxes to someone else.

I did purposefully hide some of the later developments of the scene and the Zaharan dialogue completely, for concern that it might influence decision making too much during the goblin trail battle or now afterwards. So keep all that in mind as PCs respond. It seems like the most obvious place the pit setting looked like was a goblin torture/murder area - complete with little goblin tunnels through the thicket, a pulley and rope system for victims, and vultures around used to eating any leftovers or abandoned victims. Damanandros's own account and his conveyance of it to the others may be a strange and confusing story to hear for the others. And we'll all have to leave room for what he tells, what he doesn't say, and maybe even what he gets wrong about it.

I know you all know this. Veteran players are used to hearing stuff that characters don't, and even sometimes making their characters not make things as clear in an effort of simulating realism. I'm just mentioning as a collection of thoughts, and because the rescue scene lasted for a week or so posting, there was a LOT going on - I know with so many entries it's sometimes best to pull everything back together at a moment to sort out and clarify.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 24, 2023 10:05 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

Based on some of the recent posts, a list of ideas below, not meant to steer but simply to frame out discussion at least, maybe decision...

Some options for next movement/effort seem to be:

1) Go back through the thick draw to the goblin ditch torture pit, to attempt a recovery of the skull that Damanandros mentions (that is also not well understood so far)

2) Relocate to a different location that might be safer, and take some time to recover.

3) Press on at the planned pace to Saromen Fro (Tower 4), the next operational Legion tower and supposedly the location of Callus Eramus.

4) Anything else is open too, of course.

Option 1 notes are generally known. The ditch pit is about 15-20 minutes of fast paced march from the lumber yard shelter, through constrictive terrain as you know. The last part of the approach requires the use of the little "tunnel trails" to pass through the thick brush. Goblins were seen in the vicinity, obviously.

Option 2: Going back to Tower 2 does not seem like an option. The unwelcoming Centurion there said travelers not allowed to camp within 2 miles of the fortification. Relocating forward on the trail would seem to put some space between the party and a known location of goblin activity nearby. Not much is known about other locations on the trail ahead, with one exception. Supposedly ahead about 4 miles should be the ruins of Tower 3. It is a worksite for another tower that was under construction, but the project was halted and abandoned. It is unknown exactly what the facilities are, but apparently there was at least some rock work completed before the effort ceased. The location is expected to be near a draw area of low ground that may have some flooding.

Option 3: In normal situation, the Party would have gotten an early start at dawn to begin a 13 mile march to Saromen Fro (Tower 4). Again, assuming normal pace, that would take about 6.5 hours. Starting at 6 am, that would put the arrival at the vicinity of Saromen Fro around midday. ***Noteworthy: if you refer back to Gundus's letter received, Eramus did not actually say to meet at Saromen Fro directly. Instead, he said he wanted to meet the group at the junction spur intersection - where the route to Tower 4 breaks off from the Lusetem Trail. Interesting?

He said he would be there to meet the group, starting a routine of being there at the intersection every day at midday, starting on "Half-wax in Pendaelon". That's moon time-keeping references (very common practice btw, though culturally an older way) which means at the increasing half-moon. Turns out pretty easy to mark: the full moon will present tonight, so Eramus would have started the midday meet-up attempt program an entire week ago.

All that said, on all options, keep in mind one additional factor: Damanandros's reduced movement rate. This guy has leg injuries on each side. They aren't life-threatening, but they are debilitating. He just cannot move as fast as normal walking speed. TBD on exact effects and how long it persists, but he will not be able to keep a normal pace. In a few tests, he seems like half-normal pace is his new max for the moment.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 24, 2023 5:50 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

In the interests of keeping things moving, I'm putting down healing rolls here. I don't think we've yet confirmed on the decision to return back to heal - waiting for Damanandros' closing arguments.

Gennadius will treat himself and Damanadros with both woundwart and comfrey. Comfrey provides an immediate 1d3 hp while woundward add +2 to the proficiency roll to attempt a further healing with cure light wounds. Gennadius will also carefully examine all three wounded persons to ensure nothing new has developed in Xenophon as well as no other poisons or diseases taking root from the filthy goblin weapons.

In addition to the herbs, Gennadius will use a good portion of his wine and spare bandages to clean and bandage the wounds.

After all this, @DMJ, each buy of the healing herbs comes with one pound. How many uses does each pound of healing herb grant? I'm inclined to say something like the Dungeon World system of rolling a die for ammo like a d6. If you roll a 1, then you drop down to the next die (d4) if you roll a 1 on that then you're out.

OOC:

IF WE RETURN TO THE SHELTER TO HEAL
Damanandros will receive 4 hp
Gennadius will receive 1 hp
Would recognize if there is any magical affliction (but not understand exactly what it is) and will recognize any mundane disease or poison. (If sufficient time has elapsed for symptoms to start showing.)

Last edited April 24, 2023 5:54 pm

Rolls

Healing proficiency throw, 18+, Damanandros, +2 woundwart - (1d20+2)

(20) + 2 = 22

Healing proficiency throw, 18+, Gennadius, +2 woundwart - (1d20+2)

(4) + 2 = 6

Healing comfrey poultice, Damanandros - (1d3)

(2) = 2

Healing comfrey poultice, Gennadius - (1d3)

(1) = 1

Identify poison/disease Xenophon, 7+ - (1d20)

(18) = 18

Identify poison/disease Damanandros, 7+ - (1d20)

(19) = 19

Identify poison/disease Gennadius, 7+ - (1d20)

(15) = 15

Cure light wounds, Damanandros - (1d6+1)

(1) + 1 = 2

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 24, 2023 6:25 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Ahh - ok. Looks like I'm getting a bit confused on what/where/when. I thought when there were entries of moving back along the trail, recovering weaponry, pressing to return, etc., that was implication of withdrawal and return to shelter and cached gear.

Reading it back over now, I can see where it might have been that Damanandros made the appeal to go back down into the ditch to recover the skull while the group was still there at the high ridge, end of the trail, still overlooking the torture ditch flooded debris field below.

Sorry for confusion. Thinking that Damanandros said something earlier than I pictured seems reasonable, so maybe the group isn't back at the shelter yet.

Will see if Leo can give us an entry to clarify 1) when does Damanandros make the appeal to return back into the low ground area, and 2) what does he mean and why should the party invest the time to do it.

From there (or in parallel, whatever timing happens in this PBP topic discussion pickle) I'd like to hear input from others on whether to invest the time/effort in that, which should assume taking on the incidental risks (also unknown, but maybe anticipated).

I've got to digest this healing by medic Gennadius in a different issue. All looks great, but I'm going to say that's on hold momentarily until we figure out where/when everyone is and what are the immediate actions prioritized.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 24, 2023 8:22 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros shakes his head trying to clear it. "The vulture with the humanoid skull instead of a head. It spoke with her."

"Eramus, Dreams of Sekki, Nur-Hunzu Isiratuu..Ish'tauxi... Ish'tauxi. Before the plenilune." He trembles and looks unwell. "I do not understand her questions, but the skull may have answers."

Damanandros grits his teeth and screws his eyes shut to try and see it in his mind. "Was it real?"

OOC:

It was just after they pulled him to the top of the ditch from what I was thinking. He also sounds like he is talking out of his head, it was a tough day.
The skull was the only thing he could think of with any significance to what he just went through. Was it magical, would it help him understand what the creature was? He just knows it was SOMETHING that he could grasp onto to try and make sense of it all.

Last edited April 24, 2023 8:28 pm

Len

Apr 24, 2023 8:27 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

I don't think I was in that bad shape. I had posted I was back up to 8/10 hp after Gundus and Gennadius aided me, plus rest. Here's my receipts:

I went to 4/10 when I got hit with beetle acid.
Gundus laid his hands upon me, bringing me up to 6/10.
Gennadius neutralized the poison with birthwort, reducing the attack penalty to -1.
CB rolled something called "Xenophon healing" for 2. I don't remember the details, but I took it without question like a thief in the night. Brought me up to 8/10

Hopefully the herbs help with the ongoing poison that's dragging down my attack by -1.

Last edited April 24, 2023 8:27 pm

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 24, 2023 8:32 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon has known Damanandros too long to discount his experience. Strange things happened to those who practiced the mystic arts. "Damanandros, I believe you. Is the skull retrievable? We were lucky to get out in one piece, so I am loathe to tempt the fates so soon. Unless you think the risk is absolutely worth it, I would caution you to gain your strength back first."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 24, 2023 8:33 pm

The Old Forest

Len says:

OOC:

I don't think I was in that bad shape. I had posted I was back up to 8/10 hp after Gundus and Gennadius aided me, plus rest. Here's my receipts:

I went to 4/10 when I got hit with beetle acid.
Gundus laid his hands upon me, bringing me up to 6/10.
Gennadius neutralized the poison with birthwort, reducing the attack penalty to -1.
CB rolled something called "Xenophon healing" for 2. I don't remember the details, but I took it without question like a thief in the night. Brought me up to 8/10

Hopefully the herbs help with the ongoing poison that's dragging down my attack by -1.

OOC:

Len, I thought this was a hit. That's why I thought Xenophon went back down to low HPs during the goblin trail fight, and I later wrote about 2 injuries (one from beetles, one from armored goblin).
Is that wrong?

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 24, 2023 8:42 pm

The Old Forest

DMJ says:

OOC:

Request Leo to comment on whether or not Damanandros takes time to restudy spell(s), and help my understanding on what that calls for in time requirements.

OOC:

Unlike other fantasy games, in Adventurer Conqueror King,
spellcasters do not have to "memorize" or "prepare" their spells
in advance; they can choose which spells to cast at the time of
casting from among any and all the spells in their repertoire
(see below). Once spellcasters have cast all of their available
spells for the day, they must have 8 hours of uninterrupted rest
and one hour of concentrated study or prayer before they can
cast again.
He only has one spell per day, and must rest again before he can study to be ready for the next day.

Len

Apr 24, 2023 9:47 pm

The Old Forest

DMJ says:

Len, I thought this was a hit. That's why I thought Xenophon went back down to low HPs during the goblin trail fight, and I later wrote about 2 injuries (one from beetles, one from armored goblin). Is that wrong?

OOC:

Yep, that would bring him down to 3/10 hp. My mistake! Bastard armored goblin...

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 25, 2023 9:36 am

The Old Forest

"Gennadius and Xenophon speak sense, Damanandros," Gundus says. "We were lucky to all make it out of that place alive once! I don't doubt your intution about this skull - it's plain from seeing that enchantment you laid upon the beetles that you're an adept magician - but let's wait until we are stronger.

"If we stay here, we risk reprisals from those beasts. If we push on, well, who knows what dangers the forest might hold. But we may find a safe haven at the watchtower site. I think we ought to chance it."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 11:17 am

The Old Forest

The stop at the lumber yard shelter is brief. Gennadius performs his healer's treatments, everyone gathers gear, and the team sets to march back on the Lusetem Trail.

The pace is slow. Damanandros is struggling but presses on.

The weather is better though. The clouds are coming and going, but no rain. The rays of the morning sun cut through intermittently, at moments standing like great blades from the ground to the overhead canopy of the towering trees.

After a couple of short breaks and several hours march, the group makes it to an area of low ground where the trail is flooded. In truth, with the recent volume of water moving through, it appears that what once was the trail has effectively become a creek bed.

Looking around, the group finds that a newer trail bypass has been constructed - rougher and narrow, but it avoids the worst parts of the flood zone.

This is area is expected to be close to the construction site of Tower 3, so the group spreads slightly a bit to explore the area at some leisure without sacrificing safety.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 12:15 pm

The Old Forest

A short while after crossing the water, the group finds the construction area. A clearing. Several piles of collected rocks, gathered from the nearby creek bed.

There is a partial structure, the base of a tower, standing atop an elevated flat area. It is a four wall square that rises up about 10' tall on the sides, with no doors.

[ +- ] visual aid

The ground in the area is rocky, but there is a line of water running down the hill from higher ground, making the ground wet and soggy only a short distance from the tower. Parts of the clearing hill are muddy with evidence of runoff and erosion.

The terrain around this platformed area is hilly and intermittently rocky, a steep climb all around with very limited open space.

Syrena does a quick climb however and finds the ruins of the old fortifications on a higher and overgrown overlook.

These worn and partially fallen structures are a sight to see. They are surely dated from centuries past, in the early days of the Empire when the victorious alliance of Tirenean clans had triumphed in their revolt against their Zaharan overlords, waged the Beastman Wars, and then turned their eyes towards expansion, fighting against the neighboring Kryseans.

What is more, even higher yet on the next rise up, Syrena discovers another site. These remnant stones, stairs, and constructed platform do not seem like fortifications necessarily. The actual purpose of the site is unknown to the scout, but it is a lot of extensive rock work. The high platform serves as a decent overwatch position for the old ruins below, although the lower new tower is not visible from here.

After fully assessing the surrounding area, Syrena judges it as safe - for the moment at least. It is known now that no guarantees can be granted for safety in Skausen Spen.

She returns to tell the others details about the higher ruin sites up the steep hill.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 12:38 pm

The Old Forest

It is late morning, a while before the high rise of the midday sun.

The group has taken a short rest at the lowest of the 3 platforms, beside the partially constructed new tower, overlooking the creek nearby.

Now they must make a decision of what to do next.

OOC:

Here's my understanding of PC status:

Syrena: all systems up

Gundus: Max HP, 0 of 1 Laying on Hands

Gennadius: HP 3 of 6. No poison/disease detected. Under continued self care, and with rest (light activity, no weighted marching), can benefit from next 1d3 HP gain tomorrow morning (or 1 HP with continued care plus weighted marching only, tomorrow morning - DM rulling).

Damanandros: Max HP, Movement Rate: halved (by specific injuries). No poison/disease detected.

Xenophon: HP 5 of 10. Poison effects of -1 Attacks endures for the moment, but will relent with a few more hours of rest and cleaning of affected area. Under continued care of the Medic, and with rest (light activity, no weighted marching), Xenophon can benefit from next 1d3 HP gain tomorrow morning (or 1 HP with continued care plus weighted marching only, tomorrow morning - DM ruling).

I'll leave that there to see if anyone has anything different.

Required Action, PC Party: Choose an Action and Movement Plan

Option 1: Continue on route towards Saromen Fro (Tower 4), 9 miles, with expectation to arrive late in the day near sunset (accounting for Damanadros's reduced pace cap).

Option 2: Make camp at ruins/construction site for Rest and Recovery.

Option 3: Something else. Describe.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 1:09 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

If Option 2 selected, include any decisions or descriptions about how and where to make camp in the vicinity described above.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 6:11 pm

The Old Forest

After hearing Syrena's report, Gennadius jumps in with his opinion. "We should push on. We can't really rest here, and what we need is rest. Only two of our party are in full form. We don't know what watches these ruins. Push on and meet up with our employer where it will surely be safer."

Gennadius hopes that he sounds intelligent and commanding. But he knows they all see his flicking eyes, scanning the forest for the next beast that will bring blood and death to the party.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 6:24 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

This issue is a big decision.
I would guess considerable impacts.

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 8:41 pm

The Old Forest

DMJ says:

OOC:

This issue is a big decision.
I would guess considerable impacts.

OOC:

Translation: We're all going to die.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 25, 2023 10:20 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena quickly gauges the height of the sun and their time to reach the trail head to Saromen Fro, where they supposed to meet their contact at midday.

"With Gennadius, I must agree. Another night here is only opening our number to yet another attack from the beastmen..or worse."

Last edited April 25, 2023 10:21 pm

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 25, 2023 11:56 pm

The Old Forest

"Yes!" Gennadius says a little too eagerly "We're off then."

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 26, 2023 4:14 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon is in full agreeance.

"Yeah, does us no good holing up here. I'm ready."

He stands and grabs his pack, proving his ability to move in case there is doubt. Xenophon is no stranger to marching wounded.

Blood and honor...

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 26, 2023 4:53 am

The Old Forest

"Alright, then," says Gundus. "We'll probably miss Eramus today, but we'll be in position to make contact tomorrow."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 26, 2023 8:51 am

The Old Forest

Everyone gathers their packs and resets to the march, again northward along the Lusetem.

The movement goes well enough. The drying ground is an improvement over recent conditions.

The group sees quite a bit of wildlife while on the move. Once an impressive wolf explores off in the distance. It is either alone or its pack remains unseen deeper in the woods.

The trail itself becomes more strenuous to pass in some stretches. During the entire trip, the travel has been a net rise in elevation, but now some of the climbs are steep. The route is moving further into the edges of the Mearleigh Mountains.

After an early afternoon trek upward, the trail opens up to a clearer area on a high ground. The view is quite a sight.

Damanandros actually seems to be improving. Perhaps it is a surprise to see, but even in the strain he is gaining his stride. It isn't a shocking increase, but it allows for the group pace to improve. Syrena, monitoring the time and distance as possible, sees that they are traveling faster than she had expected.

Damanadros, Movement Rate Increase: from half maximum to 2/3 maximum

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 26, 2023 9:01 am

The Old Forest

Eventually the afternoon is waning. The sun is a while from setting, but it is the time in the spring days when the transition of the evening is slow and quite pleasant.

There is a light fog in this area. The group is at a higher elevation for certain, and the mountains are known to gather the edge of clouds in mysterious ways.

The moment seems unusual though, especially to Syrena, whose senses are attuned to the Natural Order. The air here is crisp and clean, something more like morning than the brink of evening.

Then it is suddenly there when they look up. A magnificent stag stands high on the rise above.

The animal is also giant! Never before has anyone seen such a specimen.

Perhaps it is the sun breaking through the overhead canopy and glowing in the mist of the fog, but there is a sense of awe during the event.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 26, 2023 9:33 am

The Old Forest

Just as suddenly as it manifested, the stag lopes down the rise, towards the group!

It moves with majesty and grace, as well as strength and speed.

The mighty beast drives closest to Gundus. There before him, the stag crashes its hooves in heavy and then raises its front legs up again in a pivot. It is a close call, but a sharp change in direction and the towering animal barrels past.

Revealed: previously a Note exclusive to Robago...

This encounter with the Great Stag is much more to Gundus.

Time slows and Gundus sees into the Stag's eyes. This animal, if not a manifestation of Turas, is surely one of his mightiest Champions.

The Stag is an Icon of Justice, Order, and Tradition. This forest is its Home and Soil. The trees are its Brethren. The lakes and streams are its Life and Blood. The mountains are its Bones. It is the Ancestor of the Spirits of both Tiren and Krys

The Full Moon rises, God of the Night. A time of Mystery and Risk that calls for a Will to Power. But whose Will?

Order and Tradition must be maintained, through Strength and Honor.

Optional Temporary Power Gain, Gundus: During the Full Moon, the Reign of the Night God, can hold the Icon of Tuweigh, who is Turas, to cast Bless, Cure Light Wounds, and Light - once each before morning. To gain this power, Gundus must use the Icon of Tuweigh in a blessing and proclamation over himself and his companions, and rebuke chaos and degeneracy, before the Sun sets today.

In a burst of great power and speed, the stag charges away - downhill along the trail that the companions recently passed - before turning and disappearing into the forest.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 26, 2023 9:50 am

The Old Forest

Everyone is reflecting on the unusual event as they press on.

In a short while they come to a fork in the trail. One route continues on roughly north. The other smaller trail curves to the right, bending northeast towards the higher mountains.

This must be the spur to Saromen Fro. At this moment, the party has reached their destination.

It is late in the day. The sun is setting soon.

No one is there at the spur to meet them.

There is a sign of some activity by men though. Over to the side, strapped in a tree, an old canvass canopy. It is the type carried by Legionnaires, issued for use as a field shelter.

It is evident that the tarp was previously tied between four trees, as if once used as a cover against the elements.

But this shelter has since lost its usefulness. It has fallen, tie straps broken on two of its four corners. Part of it has torn, likely from being blown in heavy wind. It is dirty from exposure and still wet from retained water not yet dried.

Neglected, abandoned, or forgotten - now it is only a mysterious sign that invites questions.

Saromen Fro Spur Trail reached.
Required Action, PC Party: Decide what to do.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 26, 2023 2:57 pm

The Old Forest

After arriving at the site, Gennadius feels a sense of relief. We made it, at last! He wants to make camp, to rest, to believe that the group is finally safe here, where other men have frequented. But that shelter wants to tell another story. He walks over to it, examining it for the unwritten words that convey its past. How did it come to this state?

OOC:

Investigate the ruined tent. Does it look like some combat took place? Curious about how the posts would break.

Last edited April 26, 2023 6:25 pm

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 26, 2023 4:05 pm

The Old Forest

Gundus moves like a man in a trance as the company press onward. His mind is elsewhere, pondering intently the sign that had been bestowed upon them. The great crowned beast, wreathed in dawn's pale light, noble, wise, graceful - it must be a divine messenger.

"Even in the wilderness, life is governed by the laws of the Seven," he says, abruptly breaking his long silence. "Night follows day, animals move with the seasons and the wolves themselves obey the order of the pack.

"Once I thought otherwise - that places like this were the sole domain of chaos and evil, far from the light of civilisation. Now, I see that the Eternal Struggle is waged as fiercely here as in the greatest city.

"I feel that some moment of destiny is close at hand. The path we tread brings us close to the gods but it is full of challenge and hardship, and only the righteous can hope to see it through - that is the message of the great stag."

He holds the Icon of Tuweigh above his head, bathed in the fire of the setting sun.

"We must rise to the task appointed to us," his voice ignites with fervour. "Evil is afoot. Already we have been at blows with it. Cast aside doubt and temptation. Strength and Honour must be our watchwords. Let us have the courage to use the first, and the wisdom to keep to the second!

"With this idol, laden with the life-offering of the faithful, I call upon the Marshal of Justice. Steadfast Türas bless us, guide and succour us, that we might accomplish your purpose." He falls to his knees, still holding the Icon high, and willing with all his might that his prayer be heard.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 26, 2023 8:17 pm

The Old Forest

While Gundus holds his latest sermon to the gods, Syrena scans the area and walks up into the spur off the path to Saromen Fro. She is looking for a spot off the visible way of legionnaires who may pass by on scouting routines from the tower. Another annoying exchange with over-worked and disgruntled soldiers set upon taking out their displeasure on them was something she wanted to avoid if possible.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 26, 2023 9:14 pm

The Old Forest

Damanandros joins Gennadius by investigating the area beneath the tarp while taking advantage of the rest. He pokes at the leaves and debris while intermittently rubbing his joints. He remains quiet still, going over the events of the past day.
He has been prone to staring off into the distance during rests, or just watching the trail at his feat while marching.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 27, 2023 2:35 am

The Old Forest

Xenophon listens to Gundus's sermon. It is powerful and moving, and Xenophon thinks upon the strength in the man's faith to this singular God. Xenophon always preferred the strategy of paying homage to all the gods. You cover all your bases that way.

He decides to accompany Syrena up the spur. Moving in teams was always the safest bet, and although he thought of himself as protecting her, the casual observer might think it was the other way around, given his condition.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 1:22 pm

The Old Forest

Gundus's sincere prayer marks an end to the original travel goal. The letter he received, both inspiring and cryptic, from his respected comrade and former Commander assembled this team and brought them here. Now Eramus is yet to be found, and it is difficult to predict what happens next. Even though not everyone shares Gundus's exact religious devotion, his words encapsulate some of the uncertainty and gravity of the current circumstance.

Gennadius and Damanadros investigate through the site near the hanging canvass tarp. It is difficult to tell how long the tarp has been there exactly, but they guess not extremely long. The tarp is not fully tarnished with mold and lichen that would be expected had it been set aside for months or more. Instead it is wet from recent rain. The loose ends are result of one torn eyelet and one snapped twine thread used for tying that corner to anchor. There are no signs of blood in the area. There is no trash or equipment left in the vicinity. No signs nor messages.

These clues suggest more recent degradation, perhaps damage from high winds and neglect rather than active struggle. But then again, it is difficult to tell for certain.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 1:46 pm

The Old Forest

DMJ sent a note to Robago

Syrena and Xenophon walk a short way along the less prominent spur trail. They can see that the trail will likely be a steep incline ahead, up or perhaps around a rising mountain that stretches north and east. The first stretch of path is fairly open, visible for probably 150 to 200 meters, before disappearing into a curve and foliage.

And it is there at the far edge of visibility that Syrena and Xenophon see some movement. It is difficult to make it out exactly, but something or someone moved into cover from the trail. It could have been a deer or other animal, but both of them have the instinct that it was a man - or at least ... they are reluctant to say, but both know now that not everything that moves similar to a man in this forest is necessarily human.

The last edges of light are now. Darkness is settling in at every moment. It is that time some call "The Magic Hour", the transition from day to night, when one's eyes can sometimes play tricks on the mind.

And on this night, Syrena knows, the Full Moon is set to reign over the fickle sky.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 27, 2023 1:50 pm

The Old Forest

Gundus joins Gennadius and Damanandros. After a brief discussion of their findings he says, "We should try not to trample the ground too much - we might spot some tracks, fresh or old. Given the hour, though, finding a decent camp site is probably more important just now." With a hand held up to shield his eyes from the setting sun, he surveys the surrounds for a secluded, securable place to make camp.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 3:42 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena and Xenophon do not catch another glimpse of what they thought the saw previously, and they are reluctant to travel further on the upward spur trail too far from the others. They return and share what they know.

The transition to night follows on, and this time with a feeling among everyone that they are being watched. The full moon is not yet seen above the tree line, but its light casts a bright glow - though intermittently as the clouds overhead continue to come and go on the way of the high sky winds.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 3:59 pm

The Old Forest

Still vigilant, the company remains alert for a while longer, for the moment reluctant to commit to a full camp. They watch the trail both ways as well as the uphill spur.

Then there is a slight sound. Faint at first, then increasing. Footsteps. Moving down the spur trail toward the intersection.

Soon a soldier lights a beacon lantern and holds it up. He takes position facing towards the party, standing in the center of the spur trail about 35 meters away. The light casts out forward, leaving the area behind the soldier mostly veiled in contrasting darkness.

"These trails are controlled by the 3rd Legion of our Mighty Tarkaun, Honorable Visage of the Eternal Dawn," he announces loudly. His voice is that of a younger man. "Those who travel through must provide written grant of passage."

"Step forth into the light, show your pass documents. State who you are and your purpose."

He shifts a bit, but sets his grip on the sword in his hand. "Unsheathed weapons will be considered a threat. Bandits or beastmen...will be killed." He finishes with commitment.

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 4:16 pm

The Old Forest

Once the party is settled in for the night, Gennadius cleans bandages and checks how the wounds are progressing. The extra marching did no one any good. He wipes specks of comfrey from an angered, swollen joint of Damanandros and pictures the man being drug down the trail next to the camp by goblins.

Those ruins we passed would be a lot better, more defensible camp then here. This open camp beside the trail is the worst place to be. And the group wouldn't be here if I didn't press so hard to keep moving. Stupid. Scared. They all see it too. I wasn't even thinking.

Gennadius clenches his teeth as a flare of anger passes. "Let's get out of here... The others will keep us safe!" he sing-songy mocks himself in his own mind.

Gods be! I am such the fool. Why I didn't even pause to see how good that tower was as a camp. Or those other ruins Syrena mentioned... Did those sound familiar, like something he had heard about before?

"Hey, Syrena, can you describe those ruins on the hill again," he asks while continuing to work.

OOC:

@DMJ Gennadius is searching his memory for details about what ruins lie in these forests. Throwing down a roll just in case.

Last edited April 27, 2023 4:21 pm

Rolls

Loremastery - 18+ identify runes, remember ancient history - (1d20)

(20) = 20

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 4:26 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

ooh... Nat20 always pays off for this sort of thing. I'll write more on that tonight - will consider the internal conversation happening before the arrival of the soldier with the lantern.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 8:38 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Taking some liberty here to press this scene on to the greater part of it, and to decision points it drives for PCs.

Upon the announcement that the group is a temple and icon public works crew from Curule Aidele, the soldier with the lantern holds position and has a questioning look for a moment.

He scans the group over. "So you are a priest?", he asks Gundus.

But before even Gundus can answer, another man emerges out from the darkness behind the light and walks forward.

"Yes, Galopan," he says. "He is a priest. But not just any priest - a kyrazenus. A war-priest!"

This big fellow walks slowly with hefty feet and a swagger. His voice matches; he speaks low and heavy, with a controlled cadence in an older aristocratic manner. For Syrena it is reminiscent of the mannerism of old family Tirenean patriarchs from the villas in Old City.

He carries a small shield and is armed with a blade, though it is sheathed. He wears minimal armor, a small but decorative chest disc plate and grieves. His rich red garments are the casual light garb of an officer at battalion settings.

"These sort of priest do not hide in the temples," he continues. "... shuffling about barefooted wearing gowns and veils - they deploy with the Legion, to the field and even standing at the phalanx. A true kyrazenus can bring the power of Turas or Ammonar to the battlefield!

Yes..."

He trails off as he walks forward to survey the entire group. He seems to have no care of danger, and is indulgent in what must be an unusual moment meeting the company.

He takes the papers from Syrena and reads them beneath the light from the lantern bearer who has since walked forward.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 8:45 pm

The Old Forest

Another armed man walks boldly into the light, this one with blade in hand held low and casually. He has somewhat of a strange gait and look. He is thin yet muscular and sinewy. He wears a big mustache in the way of older Krysean tradition.

"Whether they brought our back pay or not is what I seek to know," he says in a coarse accent like the rural Kryseans, speaking out in the open, perhaps a blatant suggestion to the big man who seems to be in charge.

He too inspects the crowd, ignoring eye contact and instead studying everyone's equipment and stance.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 8:50 pm

The Old Forest

Off in the edge of the light, still behind the other three men who have approached close, another troop steps forward to reveal himself.

He keeps his distance and stays on slightly higher ground. He stands close to a tree, but is clearly not hiding. Likely the opposite in fact - making his presence known.

He holds a bow at a low ready, certainly providing overwatch from the advantageous position. His face is serious and observant.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 9:11 pm

The Old Forest

"Haha! Incredible!", the big man says as he finishes reading the written edict.

"The Curule sends sculptors and builders, yet the Legion denies our requests for more troops and the Civitus delivers no silver," he hands the paper back to Syrena, nonchalantly and left unrolled.

"I am assuming that you do NOT carry silver eagles to be issued as our just wages earned - am I correct?" He turns the statement into a rhetorical question.

He moves back in his slow and seemingly deliberate visual review of the group, sizing them up in plain sight and leaving his purpose intentionally unclear for uncomfortable moments of silence. Even ignoring any comments from the party and the cynical snipes of the mustached Krysean shieldman.

Eventually he breaks the silence, "I am Centurion Drus Omander, Commander of Saromen Fro and the surrounding area of this Skausen Spen, a realm that belongs to Our Honorable Prefect, Dacien Severus Marius.

I stood Commissioned by Oppius Bucculeius Congrio, currently serving Honorable Callus Eramus Andra, Castellan. This is my Domain.

I welcome you, friends of Our Blessed Tarkaun and The Golden Harvest!" he says with an even smile and slow nod as he opens his hands wide apart.

"Come and join us at the Fortification. You must be fatigued from a long march - take refuge. It is a short walk merely, though uphill."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 27, 2023 9:14 pm

The Old Forest

Required Action, PCs: give reaction/response and intent to the immediate offer to join the escort party to relocate to Tower 4.

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 28, 2023 6:18 am

The Old Forest

"Centurion," Gundus says respectfully and with the proper salute, "We have had a long day's march, and some of our company are wounded. If you'll permit it, I must take a moment to examine their injuries before we think of pushing on, even though the distance is short."

The thought of shelter was appealing but Eramus had been clear about not reporting their business to the legion. And once in the camp, they might find it difficult to leave, or themselves under close scrutiny. On the other hand, a refusal would surely arouse suspicions. And what were these men doing here in the first place? How much did they know? Surely not for the last time, he wondered just what his friend had got them all into.

OOC:

If granted, Gundus will assess the wounded for possible treatment, but also take the chance for a whispered conference about what to do.

Robago sent a note to DMJ

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 28, 2023 7:51 am

The Old Forest

Syrena rolls up the scroll and puts it back in her backpack. This is exactly what she didn't want happening after a long day's travel, more men strutting around and announcing how they owned the damned forest.

Last edited April 28, 2023 7:53 am

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 10:43 am

The Old Forest

"Of course, kyrazenus," Centurion Omander responds in his robust yet leisurely manner. "Take time with your company. Gather your things. I am happy to say as well that we have a healer at the Tower. Any of you who are injured, or simply sore and worn, can be rejuvenated fully. Yes..."

He nods his head to Gundus and then the others.

"You must be glad you are at destination at this late hour. Tomorrow you can begin your survey, and we can speak of construction and religious projects - but tonight you can rest, heal, and take a meal with me and my cadre.

Organize as a team, and we will go."

He raises and lowers his hand in a casual wave as steps away to speak with his own men. The travelers withdraw to their packed equipment nearby for a moment to talk among themselves.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 11:33 am

The Old Forest

OOC:

I'll frame it up there for the moment today... then follow with this TEXT WALL!!! (ugh - sorry, wish we could just talk this over in a short convo at the game table)...

As mentioned some in the past, PBP makes it tough to do precise, give-and-take conversations quickly, especially with multiple people involved. I'm not trying to belabor this scene, mainly just trying to get a general idea of what the party intends to do and/or say. Whether that means going to the Tower, attacking these mofos, withdrawing off into the woods, asking more questions, or anything in between. If it requires more extensive PC/NPC conversation, I'm up for receiving points or inquiries y'all want to make in more of a list or topical form - might be able to work a response quicker than doing long-hand narrative ping-pong between us for another week IRL.

I'll make've made a new space on the Forums for private Players' Club talk. I'd say it's pretty well impossible for me to not have access to it after creating it, but you can trust me that I'll just put it in place and not refer to it again if you prefer some privacy on strategy.

A few topics I can't resist writing, for consideration as y'all decide...

I think it best to keep in mind that if the team is claiming this general story as cover: "we are religious clergy, builders, architects, sculptors (plus a guard or 2) - sent by a section of the Amanuctum government, to coordinate with the military and governmental officials out here on trail to survey and plan for the building of temples and religious icons in the near and longterm future." If that is the case, they are indeed at the end of the line, at destination, meeting face-to-face at the last possible site of the cadre to whom they are supposed to report and with whom they are supposed to work jointly. I'll be up front to say that if the party now claims "we are going to camp out here for the night, we have some other business - gotta go" - it would be an unusual response at least, if not incoherent and suspicious.

Eramus did indeed say something like "don't tell the Legion of this business that I am talking about in this letter/message," - but that was the business of getting out here to him in this remote location, bringing a non-Legion force of arms and expertise, and giving him direct support on a yet-to-be-revealed project. The cover story, provided in paperwork by Gulleyloft coordinating with Eramus, was a means to do just that. It is inherent within the plan that you would encounter Legion forces along the way, likely including a prediction of the same at Saromen Fro. No preclusion of engaging with Legionnaire forces, instead an instruction to avoid telling your **real business** out here.

I think Gundus, Syrena, and Xenophon - who each got correspondence - interpreted Eramus to say "get out here to me, don't tell anyone that we are working a secret plan together for a conspiracy here, and we'll put it all in action when we are united on site". In all this, it was clear that he had concerns of subversion, interception, or some other competing faction(s) that was against him or a risk to him. And he had a sense of urgency, mentioning that his situation could change. Remember too that others, both Gulleyloft and the other legionnaires from Tower 1 and Tower 2, mentioned lack of correspondence from Tower 4 that was apparently different in the past.

Two other things that I think wove prominently into the messaging from Eramus was...

1) (to Gundus) the need for loyalty and traditional Auran spirituality and ritual, a "stress of spiritual darkness," foreign gods roving the land and corrupting and weakening Auran's people, a need for the restoration of order.

2) (more to Xenophon but also to Gundus) He has something planned to score some wealth for everyone involved. There is a potential fortune to be made and shared in this. This was reinforced later, as Gulleyloft thought so as well.

I look forward to everyone weighing in to steer this the way you choose here at this junction point. The party has reached the PLACE that they were supposed to be, but not necessarily at the right TIME, and not finding the CIRCUMSTANCE (or PERSON) they had hoped for.

Not exactly working out as expected, but now time to improvise and adapt.

Thank you. I know that was long - whew.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 11:51 am

The Old Forest

RageRed says:

Syrena rolls up the scroll and puts it back in her backpack. This is exactly what she didn't want happening after a long day's travel, more men strutting around and announcing how they owned the damned forest.

OOC:

haha. ....hilarious quip btw... can see the eye roll..

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 28, 2023 1:37 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

Damanandros is not the same since the encounter with the harpy.

He is usually engaging if not a little wordy when it comes to noticing small details about his surroundings and going on at length about them, but now he is distant and sullen. Rarely does he make eye contact with his companions, and he seems lost in thought most of the time. His wounds have mostly healed, but clearly, he is more than just physically wounded.

A sense of sadness and despair seems to cling to him like a shroud. His movements are slow and deliberate, and he seems to take no pleasure in anything around him. The other characters can sense his distress and have given him a wide berth, unsure of how to help him. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that it will have to be dealt with at some point if he is of service to the party.

I am not sure how well dialog works PBP, the back and forth could be cumbersome at the current pace. Even as I bring this up, I know I do not have time today for a lengthy back and forth within a single day as I have to prepare for my session tonight.
Mostly I am just interested in seeing how the other characters deal with it. Could be a chance to develop any rapport the party has managed to build up on the journey so far.

It is clear that he isn't just bouncing back from the encounter in true murder-hobo fashion like a good PC. Makes sense to me to leverage the horrible ordeal he went through to do some character development and team building, but I do not have experience in this format.

Any thoughts on this?

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 4:43 pm

The Old Forest

Time travel - at camp before the soldiers arrive
Finished tending to all the wounded, Gennadius agitates the old bandages in a small pot of water, cleaning out the grime and scabs. He is waiting for a second small pot to boil, which he will place the bandages in as the final step in cleaning. After which, he'll pack them away carefully in his healers pouch.

It's quiet while he scrubs the cloth strips. But the space around Damanandros feels even quieter, a space that pulls in and drags down the air around him. Gennadius knows that, or at least has been around others like that before. Many of the veterans in the arena had the same aura about them. They were the most dangerous too, often snapping out at those around them for the smallest disturbances. Those men were wounded, but those sorts of wounds were scars on the mind and heart, not the sort that was cured by a poultice or tincture.

Gennadius' own self-chastising fades into the background as he considers Damanandros. A sense of duty as well as sympathy, and even discovery push Gennadius into action. The man has wounds that must be cleaned and stitched so that they may heal, but how does one do so without the normal tools to do so? Hiding a wound under a garment just lets it fester. It is always best to look at it directly. Take the pain of cleaning it, pulling out the dead flesh so that the healthy flesh can mend. After that, the patient must be distracted from the pain, allowed to focus on other things, tasks, jobs that avoid atrophy and keep the mind occupied so that it can remain healthy while the healing takes place.

Gennadius wants Damanandros to fully describe to the group, or at least to Gannadius, what happened back with the goblins. He needs to get the wretched story out. That story, kept inside, only rots Damanandros' mind and stalls healing.

Once that is out, Gennadius doesn't want to dwell on it too much. In-fact he has been meaning to ask the mage about the sleep spell he cast. How did that work exactly? It's an exciting topic that he is earnestly interested in and probably would be a great distraction for the mage to discuss once the horror is out of him.

"Your wounds, Damanandros, they heal fast. It's horrible still, but thankfully it were just needles it seems instead of blades. I know it was terrible, but, what exactly happened?" Gennadius lets Damanandros tell his story...

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 4:45 pm

The Old Forest

OOC:

DMJ says:

RageRed says:

Syrena rolls up the scroll and puts it back in her backpack. This is exactly what she didn't want happening after a long day's travel, more men strutting around and announcing how they owned the damned forest.

[ooc]haha. ....hilarious quip btw... can see the eye roll..

Totally Lolled! Syrena has had her fill of mansplaining [/ooc]

Gennadius Azeni

Constablebrew Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 4:59 pm

The Old Forest

The Mustache says:

"Whether they brought our back pay or not is what I seek to know,"

Gennadius looks at the cleric with anger on his face "Is that what the case is? No silver paid for months? You promised payment at the end of the survey. That better be the case! I'm not going to spend a month surveying just to end up begging in the streets for bread!"

OOC:

Gennadius knows his pay is coming from a different sort of payroll. His goal is to put him on the same footing as the soldiers in their eyes.

Omander says:

"Come and join us at the Fortification. You must be fatigued from a long march - take refuge. It is a short walk merely, though uphill."

"Ha, look, you all can head on out if you wish, but Naurivus knows I'm tired. My bed has been made, I'm laying in it. I can meet up with you at the fort if need be at dawn."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 5:21 pm

The Old Forest

[ +- ] Optional: HBK's musings on old stories and songs

More time travel, before the arrival of the soldiers, when Gennadius is attending to his healing methods...

Gennadius has been caught up in the stress of the last two days. It has been difficult for him to reflect on the old songs and poems that have informed so much of his life. He lets his mind wander off with it now during this last rest before nightfall.

This forest is Skausen Spen. That is the Forest of the Fox, the Foxwood - a very old name from the days when Classical Auran, the language of the early Tirenean clans, was spoken pervasively in these lands.

There are many folk tales and children’s stories set in the Foxwood. Along with the Drakonir Mountains, Argollé, and the "Dread Lands of Zahar", it is one of the favorite settings for mystery and legend.

Gennadius does know what Syrena has brought up before: that the Spen and the adjacent Mearleigh Mountains were once a region of widespread and brutal conflict. First, several battles of the Beastmen Wars were waged in this area - then later, the clash between the burgeoning Tirenean city-state coalitions centered in Aura and the more remote Krysean clans of the then hinterlands.

The later conflict lasted for nearly a century before peace was finally struck, with Krysean leaders agreeing to join the Auran Empire. The old forts in this area, and the Lusetem Trail itself, were constructed by Tirenean Legions as an early supply and defense line during the long war against their rural adversaries.

But some of the most notorious and scariest tales of the region relate to the early centuries of Zaharan reign, when the powerful Sorceror-Kings ruled the folk - with cruelty, depravity, and terror. These magic-using tyrants created the beastmen, along with other hybrid creatures - monstrosities birthed in dark ceremony, then sent forth to do the bidding of their evil masters or simply released to breed their own chaos.

One set of stories leaps out in Gennadius’s mind: the dark lore of the Tyrant Wizard, Isheir-Rothu.
Or in more folkish versions of the tales: Ishi Rotten the Moon Magician, Lord of the Night Monsters.

Isheir-Rothu was said to be one of the most powerful Zaharan Sorcerors, mastering the highest levels of the Dark Arts. His powers of corruption were dreadful, and he merged life kinds in unnatural ways. Multi-headed beasts, winged gorillas, tigers with lizard spines, underwater fish with claws and tentacles – his terrible creations were the stuff of nightmares. Even worse, he crossed the blood of men and dwarves with beasts, trolls, giants, and even devils. Many of the beastmen brood lines began under the sorcery and degenerative blood experiments of Isheir-Rothu.

It is said that Isheir-Rothu’s Weird Sanctum was hidden near the impact area of a great star that had fallen to the earth, leaving a massive crater. There he stole magic from ancient Lizard Men who came from an Unseen Realm and from the Worms of the Earth that had erupted from Darkest Depths.

Gennadius recalls scary children’s stories about "Ishi-Rotten" turning wayward children into half-beasts in the forest – changing their legs into snakes or switching their heads with those of wild animals. And always his Night Monsters lurking in the forest and mountains – beastmen and trolls, blended lions and deformed apes – waiting to devour those disobedient, lost, or at the end of their good luck.

"Watch you, boy. Listen you, girl. ‘Tis a guinea fowl, or a serpent sliding?
Does the lion mother have a cub for her, or is there a scaley loon in her belly blue?
Ishi Rotten - Paint the Moon! Ishi Rotten – Begone!
Guard your mouth and run from rustle, Ishi-Rotten gets your goad,
Splits your back and puts a BUG INSIDE YOU!"

What an unsettling rhyme.

Something occurs now to Gennadius:
‘Did Damanandros just mention Isheir-Rothu last night during the Witching Hour?’

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 28, 2023 8:23 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena has little offer in way of conversation with the legionnaires in the vicinity. She finds a rock to sit on and sighs quietly.

'Where is Eremus? This scouting venture is getting way more complicated than one could ever imagine. Where's this opportunity for wealth? Where's my pay for dragging these poor souls out here in this legion-infested forest?' She ponders.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 28, 2023 9:41 pm

The Old Forest

Cut scene, flashback to the time at dusk, before the arrival of the soldiers an hour or so later...

After Gundus's prayer and Syrena and Xenophon's report from the short trip along the spur, the group finds a small site for a fire and a temporary stop.

They reflect on the trials of the day and discuss next actions.

MPT/TWA in effect.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

Apr 29, 2023 10:32 am

The Old Forest

Constablebrew says:

Time travel - at camp before the soldiers arrive
Finished tending to all the wounded, Gennadius agitates the old bandages in a small pot of water, cleaning out the grime and scabs. He is waiting for a second small pot to boil, which he will place the bandages in as the final step in cleaning. After which, he'll pack them away carefully in his healers pouch.

It's quiet while he scrubs the cloth strips. But the space around Damanandros feels even quieter, a space that pulls in and drags down the air around him. Gennadius knows that, or at least has been around others like that before. Many of the veterans in the arena had the same aura about them. They were the most dangerous too, often snapping out at those around them for the smallest disturbances. Those men were wounded, but those sorts of wounds were scars on the mind and heart, not the sort that was cured by a poultice or tincture.

Gennadius' own self-chastising fades into the background as he considers Damanandros. A sense of duty as well as sympathy, and even discovery push Gennadius into action. The man has wounds that must be cleaned and stitched so that they may heal, but how does one do so without the normal tools to do so? Hiding a wound under a garment just lets it fester. It is always best to look at it directly. Take the pain of cleaning it, pulling out the dead flesh so that the healthy flesh can mend. After that, the patient must be distracted from the pain, allowed to focus on other things, tasks, jobs that avoid atrophy and keep the mind occupied so that it can remain healthy while the healing takes place.

Gennadius wants Damanandros to fully describe to the group, or at least to Gannadius, what happened back with the goblins. He needs to get the wretched story out. That story, kept inside, only rots Damanandros' mind and stalls healing.

Once that is out, Gennadius doesn't want to dwell on it too much. In-fact he has been meaning to ask the mage about the sleep spell he cast. How did that work exactly? It's an exciting topic that he is earnestly interested in and probably would be a great distraction for the mage to discuss once the horror is out of him.

"Your wounds, Damanandros, they heal fast. It's horrible still, but thankfully it were just needles it seems instead of blades. I know it was terrible, but, what exactly happened?" Gennadius lets Damanandros tell his story...

Damanandros stares deeply into the work being done by the skilled hands of the healer. In this way he can be present with his companion without exposing the conflict going on within.

His words settle in and it becomes apparent that he is probing into the events of that long night. Even as his own memories reach into that chaos, it is painful and he winces outwardly, forcing his eyes shut.

He sighs and opens the valve to allow only a trickle, maybe it would help to share it, maybe he could trust, maybe Gennadius will understand and not think him weak or stained by the defilement.

"It started with the song, while I stood my watch." Damanandros exhales, his breath easing the mounting pressure.

"It was the most beautiful sound I have ever perceived. It called to me, and I was unable to deny its influence." His lips begin to draw tight around the confession of his sin, a loss of control.
His throat tightens and he is forced to clear it before he can speak again.

"I am sorry, it is hard to talk about." He clears the air for a moment. "In my studies, I have learned that control over my mind and body is vital to my success. It has become taboo" Damanandros makes eye contact, to see if he understands. The connection urges him to continue.

"Once I was away from camp, even as I fell into the trap set by the goblins, I longed to find her, the source of the enchanted song." He reaches across to place a hand on Gennadius’. "You understand that I was disarmed of my logic and will, I was unable to see clearly or to think rationally. I only knew a longing for her presence." It is important that Gennadius understands that the post was not abandoned willingly, he was under her control.

"Even as she revealed herself, she appeared as a goddess, a creature of unsurpassed beauty and light." Damanadros’ pulse quickens and his face flushed with the coming emotional surge.

"There is nothing I would not do for her, she asked that I submit myself to her will, and I did, take my right eye if I did not." His voice is raised and he stands as he is swept up in the moment. Still she influences him, still he is hers.

"And so I answered all her questions, and she wrung from me everything." His face contorts as the emotions push through the aperture he had allowed; tears begin to fill his eyes. He sniffs, pulling back away from Gennadius. Shame twists his visage, and he breaks.

"I am sorry." The only words he can muster through the emotional torrent.

Last edited April 29, 2023 10:40 am

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 29, 2023 5:40 pm

The Old Forest

Syrena pokes absently at the fire, watching the dislodged motes float into the air before her eyes. Her gaze shifts, as Gennadius engages Damanandros and entices the mage to speak, finally, of his ordeal of last evening. She hears most of the words, but does not move closer from her perch at the edge of campfire. Best to give the two men room to converse and not to interfere. It was well enough at this point to hear something of it, than to pry and have the mage shut down.

She pokes at the embers once more.

Last edited April 29, 2023 5:42 pm

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

Apr 29, 2023 7:32 pm

The Old Forest

Constablebrew says:

Time travel - at camp before the soldiers arrive
Finished tending to all the wounded, Gennadius agitates the old bandages in a small pot of water, cleaning out the grime and scabs. He is waiting for a second small pot to boil, which he will place the bandages in as the final step in cleaning. After which, he'll pack them away carefully in his healers pouch.

It's quiet while he scrubs the cloth strips. ...

"Your wounds, Damanandros, they heal fast. It's horrible still, but thankfully it were just needles it seems instead of blades.
...

In Gennadius's estimation, Damanandros's wounds seem strange.

The mark of the three main wounds (left axial, right groin, left knee) are quite dramatic. The pins inserted there must have been sizeable, chunky square iron or steel shafts apparently - Gennadius pictures them like large chiseled nails. These terrible tools wrecked poor Damanandros's joints, and the remaining wounds still hinder his mobility and render considerable pain.

At the same time though, the flesh of the wound seems to have healed faster than Gennadius would have expected. Scar tissue has already formed at the outer edges. The tissue at the center of each mark is still tender and present the sapping blood that is more normal, but normal for wounds about a week older. It seems out-of-the-ordinary, but Gennadius is sure of it.

The top two digits of Damanandros's right hand ring finger was torn off completely and gone, but the skin and soft tissue at the end of the amputation is more than half healed already.

Quite strange indeed, but good to see.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides

Len

Apr 29, 2023 9:57 pm

The Old Forest

Xenophon actively listens to Damanandros, his longest comrade. When he finishes, he claps him on the shoulder.

"That's a real mindfuck you went through there, old friend. We're here for you."

Xenophon never appreciated the dangers of being magically gifted. Yes, your mind could reach into the arcane domains, but true darkness lurked there, and it seems that darkness reached back sometimes.

He sits with Damanandros for as long as Nicean mage will allow it, trying to convey that he isn't scared off by his emotions, and that he is not judging him.

Syrena Rachess Drakonis

RageRed

Apr 30, 2023 12:03 am

The Old Forest

Unable to resist any longer, Syrena turns and looks across the campfire to Damanandros. "So, a goddess of extreme beauty did this to you?"

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

Apr 30, 2023 2:18 pm

The Old Forest

"You have nothing to apologise for, Damanandros," Gundus says. "The fault was not yours, and you alone were wronged.

"My order deals with... situations... not unlike what befell you. Possessions, hauntings." Dark memories stir, from early in his novitiate. Before he became steeled to such things. Strain creeps into his voice. "There are forces in the world older and stronger than humankind, that even the most steadfast are powerless to resist. I have seen them."

What was done to you cannot be undone. But we can ensure that the monster faces justice. That it is never allowed to harm another."

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

May 1, 2023 8:40 am

The Old Forest

Damanandros takes a moment to compose himself before he continues speaking. He averts his gaze from his companions, still feeling ashamed about what he had revealed to them. He speaks slowly, his voice low and trembling with emotion. "The visage of the goddess was only an illusion," he says. "Once she had extracted all she cared to know from me, the illusion fell and it was a harpy that remained. She referred to herself as Ish'tauxi, and I am not sure how deeply her influence goes."

Damanandros closes his eyes and shakes his head, trying to clear his mind. "It was only after this that the torture began," he says, his tone shifting slowly away from grief and more towards self-analysis. "Admittedly, it was horrible, but not nearly as demoralizing as the loss and heartbreak I felt. The pain I still feel is from the loss of the connection." He takes a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts, and continues. "There are details I held onto that may help, may give us an idea of what greater plot remains in play."

Damanandros looks up at his companions and nods, trying to convey that he believes there may be some useful information in what he has to say. "She spoke of a 'she' that would want to know the details learned from me before the full moon," he says. "She wanted to know who the soldier Eramus was, although I am not sure if she learned of the name from me. She wanted to know if I knew anything of the Dreams of Sekki or Nur-Hunzu Isiratuu." He shakes his head. "Which I do not."

Damanandros pauses for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "You are nothing like Isiratuu," he says, his voice sounding more feminine attempting to mimic her. "You will never be able to open the Sanctum." He recalls her words, trying to make sense of them. "The skull-headed vulture argued with her, said that her mother would not stand for something. Perhaps the details her questions were informing me of." He looks perplexed but continues. "Lastly, she was concerned about being put back to sleep. I am not sure by what process or by whom."

As he finishes speaking, Damanandros lets out a deep sigh, feeling somewhat relieved after sharing the details with his companions. However, the physical pain from counting off the details and reaching his severed digit causes him to wince. He looks somewhat relieved, yet exhausted from the emotional purge and ordering of the details he needed to expel.

Leo9sign Inactive forever!

May 1, 2023 8:54 am

The Old Forest

"I know not why she left me alive, perhaps as a tool to be used in the future." He absently places his fingers on his wounded lips.
"There was an exchange before she left me, after killing the skull-headed vulture." His tongue caresses the wounds and he closes his eyes almost as if to savor the moment.
"She bit her own tongue and then my lips and kissed me." He looks confused "I fear there is significance to that, and it may be wise to find a way to see if it was more than just symbolic."

Damanandros takes a deep breath, the weight of his experience still heavy on his shoulders. "I do not know what it all means, but I do know that we cannot let her plans come to fruition. There is something larger at play here, and I would like to stop it before it's too late."
Damanandros looks to his companions with determination. "Thank you for being here with me," he says, his voice shaking slightly. "I could not have made it through this alone."

Gundus Tavius

Robago Inactive for 4 months

May 1, 2023 12:12 pm

The Old Forest

Flash foward to present moment

Gundus is conflicted. After the dangers braved on the road, the safety of Saromen Fro beckons eagerly. He longs to embrace it. And he might learn valuable news at the legion camp. But Gennadius and Syrena appear openly reluctant - perhaps even outright suspicious - of the centurion's invitation. After the encounter at the Saromen Gen, he can't blame them. He is unwilling to leave them, especially with the night so charged; he can feel the power of the rising full moon. Inside his pack, the icon of Tuweigh seems to thrum with energy. The stag - the divine messenger - had appeared in the forest, and lead away rather than to the watchtower. Was it an omen? A warning?

He trusts his companions with his life. He would trust their judgment, too, and stand by them.

"Forgive my comrade. I'm sure he means no disrespect," Gundus says, biting the phrase off loudly. "Our welcome at Saromen Gen was less cordial than expected; some of our troop are wary of putting themselves in the power of an unfamiliar armed force. And I am wary of leaving that one," a quick head nod indicates Gennadius, "unsupervised. We've had enough mischief from him already!" He shoots the bard his haughtiest Patrician glare. With a bit of luck, the soldiers would consider them more trouble than they're worth.

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

May 1, 2023 8:05 pm

The Old Forest

Centurion Omander receives Gundus's response. After a pause of silence he tells Gundus that it seems strange to him.

"Your company has been commissioned to coordinate with rightful authorities on the Lusetem. Now that you are at the last stop, you are deciding not to engage to complete your assignment?

Do you understand Gundus Tavius that the Lusetem continues on for a way forward and then reaches its current end? No more than a half mile forward has been cleared by the logging teams."

After an open ended statement, "....you say you will stay here, camping on the roadside, instead of joining us at the tower...", he makes a long pause of silence as he ponders. He slowly scans them all again, developing an uncomfortable tension in the air. The soldiers stand by, waiting at the ready.

"I do not permit armed travelers to make camp and travel freely around the Prefect's Military Installation, kyrazenus", he says slowly, looking Gundus in the eye.

"...in normal circumstance," he adds after an apparently deliberate delay. "But since you are a clergyman and your team has your religious tasks, I will make an exception.

I assume that you need to assess the trail and this wooded area at sunrise. Could this be correct?

Perhaps you are thinking of constructing a sheltered icon here at the spur junction, a spirit assigned to give future travelers luck and safety? It seems possible. It would be a fine feature to have a god near to the Tower, a destination site even here with us - out at the edge."

He puts his hands up and gives a tilted frown, gestures to suggest his idea is worth considering but that the answer is yet unknown.

He turns back to Gundus to finish the interaction. "I fear that Castellan Eramus might be frustrated with my decision to allow you your insistence, Gundus Tavius, but I will leave you be.

Take your camp tonight at my permission, but I require that you meet with me on the morrow at the Tower to provide an update on your religious project. Castellan Eramus would hear it as well, and we should all consult together.

We must know your next intent and would have a word with you before you decide to stay along with us or return to The Harvest.

My Legionnaires and I will depart now, but I expect your visit by midday tomorrow."

DMJ Inactive for 1 months

May 1, 2023 8:22 pm

The Old Forest

The soldiers depart and the traveling company is left to return to their campsite.

Xenophon makes note that none of these men were in the normal Legionnaire field uniform. Omander certainly spoke as a Centurion and a Patrician, but his battalion dress garb seemed unusual here in the wilderness. If those others were Legionnaires, they had the most slack in discipline that Xenophon had ever seen allowed. Except for that lantern bearer with the sword. Now that lad was squared away - his armor and equipment immaculate.

Syrena had kept eyes on the archer all the while. He was an edgy one - and seemed quite angry throughout. He looked over his shoulder frequently, as if his mind was on something more pressing behind him, up the spur trail. She was also doubtful that the man was either Tirenean or Krysean. Something about his clothes, features, and demeanor suggested that he was a foreigner.
And the younger soldier who held the lantern - Omander had called him Galopan - Syrena recognized his armor as the new issue uniform worn by the port guard in Amanuctum. Unusual to see it here.

Gennadius just wondered how all of them wore such light clothing. The mustached Krysean did not even choose a shirt! The air is crisp now after nightfall. Those fellows must have grown accustomed to the chill here in the heights.

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