Journey's Start

The Long Road stretches from Mara in the east to Grayhaven and, perhaps, beyond. As the early spring rains finally stop long enough for the sun to break through the clouds, the caravan master, a frazzled dwarf named Dugal Stonepick, rushes to take advantage of this narrow window to get underway before the torrent begins again. The dwarf yells orders at the different drivers, browbeating them to get the seven wagons lined up and the draft horses in their traces ready to leave through the gate opening onto the Long Road. Centuries ago, in the time of the War of Succession when the cowardly Gray Generals fled the Empire, this gate was mockingly dubbed "The Heroes' Gate," and the name has stuck ever since.

Dugal takes a break from yelling at people to come over and clasp hands with each of you: an old merchant custom for agreement. "It's my preference to hire a team of guards like you. I was on a caravan once when my beard was barely grown a foot where they had hired a bunch of mercenaries. They were all fearsome, but they didn't know each other and were so suspicious of each other that they couldn't do their jobs. Ever since, it's been much better to hire a bunch that know each other and work well together." He smiles approvingly at your party. "My usual group just finished two trips there and back again, and they won't go again so soon. My usual fee is one gold sun a day for twenty days, but this group" he gestures to the assorted wagons, where two teams have gotten tangled and some halflings and dwarves are good-naturedly yelling at each other to get the mess straightened out, "really wants to get on the road right away. I don't like the weather, but the rush they're in is why I'm offering you each 25 gold suns for the journey instead, on top of meals, to make sure we all get to Grayhaven with our cargoes intact. I'm going to sort this out. We should be ready to go in ten sands." You see a lean half-orc helping to get the horses back in alignment; he's probably the groom. Soon there are two draft horses in the traces for each wagon. A rotund dragonborn is loading sacks onto the lead wagon; it nods in your direction, recognizing that you are the new guards.

In the second position, a very put-upon-looking dwarf driver and a friendly-looking short woman (she's maybe a half-elf or just a short human) sit on the buckboard of a sturdy old wagon.

The third wagon, sturdily-made of dark-stained wood and bronze fittings, has a halfling driver nodding patiently in response to the agitated gestures of a very slim dwarf.

The fourth wagon is very garishly colored with thick coats of paint. The smiling halfling driver is making various observations to the person seated next to her, a handsome human man with a long, lush beard and a rich laugh.

A dwarf and a prosperous-looking gnome merchant trade tall tales at the reins of the fifth wagon, a caravan with crimson-laquered wood and brass trim.

The sixth wagon is as ostentatious as the fourth is garish: a beautiful vehicle with large wheels, advanced suspension, and a very sour human woman seated on a velvet cushion driving it.

The last position is occupied by a morose halfling driver sitting alone on the buckboard of a solid wagon with iron fittings drawn by the two largest horses in the caravan.

You don't have time for more than these observations as Dugal gives a yell, the drivers snap their reins, and the caravan lurches into motion, traveling through the Heroes Gate and onto the muddy track that is the Long Road, heading west by southwest toward Grayhaven and the distant sea.It was raining up until recently, and the caravan left in early-to-mid-afternoon. For this first stretch, you can talk about and decide how you want to arrange yourselves in/around the caravan to protect it while it's underway, and describe how you arrange yourselves in a few hours, when the caravan stops for the night.

Elowin hopped onto the lead wagon, squeezing between Jalon the dragonborn cook and Dugal the dwarven caravan master. "Exciting, huh? I could do with a trip with a bit less excitement and more sunshine, myself. They say there's been more than the usual amount of trouble on the Long Road lately. One caravan went missing entirely. That's excitement nobody needs."

---

Gunter climbs onto the third wagon with the dwarf and the halfling. The halfling nods out of professional courtesy, and the two dwarves size each other up for a moment. "I feel a bit better about this trip with dwarven guards," he says. "I'm Javon Macehammer." The halfling driver starts to say something, but subsides with a warning look from Javon.

---

"What a marvelous tune AND a voice as clear as a bell!" calls the handsome man in the fourth wagon. "Come and join us! It hardly seems fair that you should walk while all your companions ride!" The halfling looks a little unhappy about the man's attention being drawn to the bard, but she makes room for Princess all the same. "There! Isn't that better? And from here we can hear you so much better! Do you know any elven songs? I understand that we're going to travel through elven woods on this road. This is my first time on this road, how about you? Ferona here" - he indicates the driver - "was telling me all about her experiences with the caravan and previous trips to Grayhaven! Oh, but where are my manners? I'm Vanidron, Turighe Vanidron. Please call me Turighe!"

---

The gnome suggests that Bram can put his pack on top of the fifth wagon, as it is of solid wood construction, unlike some of the other wagons that have canvas tops oiled to keep out the moisture. "Bram, this is Flint," the gnome introduces the driver, who nods, "And I'm Findal. Findal Dinfizzle Findazzle. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Us two old-timers were exchanging stories, trying to see which ones we have in common. It's good to hear from some new blood, however. Has a young lad like you got any interesting stories to share?"

---

The dour woman on the fancy wagon is elegantly dressed with a fur collar to keep her warm in the damp spring air. She looks tired, and eyes Adran for a bit in silence. Then she says: "Mind? Why should I mind having one of the guards join me? You're here to protect us after all. I love having company to pass the time. I'm sure we'll have great conversation." and proceeds to not speak for the next few hours.

---

Morik hops up next to "Smoke's the name!" the halfling says, brightening considerably. "I was afraid it was going to be another lonely trip." The two of them quickly get to chatting, not saying much, but enjoying each other's company.

---

Since the caravan started in mid-afternoon, it is only a few hours later than Dugal calls a halt, driving his team off the road into a damp field with plenty of room for everyone. The drivers follow and soon all the wagons are drawn up in a circle. Gavath, the half-orc groom, sets to watering, currying, and staking the horses to graze nearby. The drivers gather some wood from a nearby copse and stack it in the center of the ring. Jalon breathes on it, starting the fire, and begins to cook a savory stew for the company.

How do you want to proceed this first night? Will you set watches? Will you pursue conversation or ask particular questions?

During the afternoon, in response to her question, Dugal talked with Elowin about what to expect:
"The first week or so will be spent traveling through these high steppes, gradually descending through hills and valleys: the southern edge of the Nubetanya (which is the arc of mountains that form much of the northern border of the old Empire). But on the 7th or 8th day, we'll be taking the bridge crossing the Sowkalt River, which most people agree is the eastern border of the region they call the Greenwold. After that crossing, it's only another day in the hills and then we'll be in green midlands, descending real slow for 6 or 7 days with the Tanglebrier to the north and the Trollfell and Hornwood to the south. When we reach the point where the road from Thile joins the Long Road, we'll have 3 days more to Crosswell, and then three days more to Grayhaven."

Turighe is VERY impressed with Princess! "You're so experienced!" He explained that this is his first trip to Grayhaven and he doesn't know what to expect. But he has high hopes that he will find a good market for his wares: silks from the south, linens from the east, and thick woven wool from the north.

As the caravan is making camp, Elowin shares with the group what she gleaned from the caravan master: that there has been an increase in violence along the Long Road, that one caravan went completely missing, and the route that was described to her.

Dugal is the caravan master; he collects fees from the merchants in the caravan and uses that money to pay for drivers, guards, the cook, and the groom. The first wagon is his. The draft horses either belong to the merchants or were rented by them. Jalon cooks for the employees; the customers can pay extra for food or bring their own.

Turnip, the halfling driver of Javon's wagon, seeks out Gunter after the fire is started so that he can share what he wanted to say earlier: that Javon is actually kar'Javon Macehammer. The "kar" before his name means that he is a dwarven peer of the Maran throne. Turnip, who is clearly a bit of a gossip, explains that kar'Javon has been hired for a matter requiring his expertise in Grayhaven. He doesn't know what that expertise or the matter is, but he's pretty excited about driving for him.

Bram shares what he learned: that Findal Dinfizzle Findazzle is a sage and scholar who is traveling to Grayhaven for research. The gnome is also clearly a storyteller and has a huge amount of lore committed to memory, judging by how many stories he shared just in a few hours (he tends to go off on tangents).

Smoke mentioned to Morik that the food merchant/passenger in the wagon he's driving (last in the caravan) is called Tesko. Smoke thinks he isn't very sociable, judging by how he's stayed hidden in his wagon most of the time.

Most of the merchants eat in their own wagons, but Turighe and the woman from the second wagon, a dry goods trader named Swelvie Raba, join the employees in sampling Jalon's stew. "I've got plenty of food meself," Swelvie chortles, uncorking a bottle of wine and offering some to everyone, "but I wanted to see what dragonborn cooking is like!"
"It's great if you like meat!" Smoke laughs, "Just don't ask what it came from!"
"Meat is meat," Jalon huffs, and the drivers all laugh. Even Dugal smiles. But the pudgy dragonborn is clearly more concerned about Adran and Elowin: "Can you eat zis? 'Cause I cooked for some ozzer elves on ze road once, and zey said zey wanted meals wizzout flesh in 'em. Is zat normal for elves? When I was a hatchling I heard stories about people who didn't eat food, but I never believed zem. Zat's weird, right? Aberrant?"
Gavath the half-orc groom says "Jalon makes the best salads." He takes a dramatic pause. "Little bit of greens, a lotta meat." The company chuckles good-naturedly, while Jalon looks a little confused.

"So, how'd you like your ride with Belany Stick-in-the-butt?" Swelvie raises her cup to Adran. "Best conversation you had in a while, I bet!" Swelvie snorts and takes a long drink. "Or does she think she's better than you, too?" The human woman is quick to laugh - a loud, throaty laugh - and smile, and she eyes Adran appreciatively. "Tomorrow, you're welcome to sit and talk with me. I've got enough to say for Salt" (she indicates her dwarven driver) "and anyone else."
"It's true," Salt says, deadpan, "But it's more of a monologue than a conversation." Swelvie laughs and throws the cork at him.

After the meal, the merchants retire to their wagons and the drivers to their tents. Gavath rolls out a mat and sleeps under the stars; it's a cold but mercifully clear night.

Princess and Elowin take first watch together, then when Princess retires to her tent, she rouses her brother Adran. They are joined by Bram and Morik. After several hours, Elowin goes to rest and Bram and Morik are relieved by Gunter, who watches with Adran until daybreak.

Then, in the morning, Gavath and the drivers gather the horses, feed and water them, and begin hitching them to the wagons again while Jalon makes a sort of flatbread meat pasty for the employees to enjoy. They're succulent and seasoned with many herbs. "Plants are good for flavor," he tells each of you solemnly.

So, for the next stretch of the journey, I'd like each of you to name one interaction you have with somebody in the caravan. This can be with any of the merchants or any of the employees, including other party members. What is that interaction about, and what is your goal with that interaction? Are you just being friendly, are you developing your character/backstory, or are you trying to get or impart some information?

By describing those interactions, we will fast-forward time on the journey until something unusual happens.

As the caravan is getting ready to leave, Elowin runs ahead to get some foraging in before the caravan gets ready to leave. Then, periodically during the day, she drops lightly off of one wagon or another to grab some other likely herbs. It's easy to do, as Dugal is setting a steady pace for the heavily-laden wagons that covers ground but isn't faster than a person can run. He doesn't want to risk breaking a wheel. @runekyndig, make a WIS (Nature) check to see what Elowin finds (note that this is using Wisdom, not Intelligence, so you should have a higher bonus to the roll).

Morik hops up onto the buckboard of the reinforced wagon next to Smoke, who grins and says "Smells good, doesn't it?" The most delicious aroma wafts from the wagon, and Morik's mouth waters. "I haven't been able to talk him into giving me a taste yet." If you wish, Morik can attempt a CHR (Persuasion) check to draw Tesko out enough to open the shutters to talk and, possibly, share some of what he's cooking.

DAY TWO

Last night, Princess and Elowin spent some time together on watch, Princess effortlessly weaving more stories into their conversation. Then, in the morning, Elowin rose early, setting out on foot, impatient to put as much distance between her and Mara as possible. As the caravan rolled toward the mountains, the elf ranged ahead several times, foraging for useful herbs. She found a number of plants that are good for various stomach conditions, rapid pulse, night sweats, and so on. What she really needs, she thought, is some glimmerberries, which make a good shortcut for a healing salve. She didn't find any by midday, though.
When the caravan caught up, she hopped aboard Dugal's lead wagon and talks a bit more to the cook, Jalon. He's very interested in the herbs that she's found, and compared notes with her about their different flavors. "Bitter is very important," he said, "It gets ze juices flowing in ze mouse." He was clearly relieved to hear that Elowin eats meat, though he is confused about why she avoids red meat. [b]"I hope it is not indelicate to ask: are some meats...poison to you?"

Gunter rode with kar'Javon again in the third wagon, and the dwarven peer was a little more forthcoming. He has many tales of travel of his own. "Over the many years of my life, I have developed skills that some people value very highly. I am mostly retired, but do still like to keep my hands in it from time to time."

Princess rode with Turighe in the fourth wagon for much of the day, singing songs, reciting tales, and fielding requests from the man to teach him how to play an instrument or at least learn some harmonies. He's enthusiastic about everything. "Do you know about these mountains? They're called the Nubetanya, yes? I've never been this close to them! How clear the air smells!"

Bramlin helped with the horses in the morning, and Gavath nodded his appreciation. They walked together for a while, and Gavath confided: "I was worried when we had to leave without our usual guards. But we've done two trips to the east and they needed a break. To be honest, we all wanted a break. But the kar has traveled with Dugal before, and when he got that urgent to go to Grayhaven, Dugal agreed to try and form a caravan right away. The money is too good to pass up. The rest of these were all looking for a caravan to join, but only the sage and the food-man were as eager to leave as the dwarves. Everyone else had to be talked into going. People are pretty worried about the road after what happened to that royal caravan." Later, Bram fell back to hail Findal on his wagon. The gnome had spread out a number of books and papers to study, but he cheerfully cleared a space for the fighter to join him.

Belany sighed when Adran stepped up and sat down on her wagon next to her, but she scooted over to make room for him.
Clouds scudded across the sky, promising more rain again in future. Nothing approached from behind.
"You don't say much, do you?" Belany observed.
Various small birds flitted from trees to meadow flowers as they rolled steadily along.
A cool breeze rose and Belany snuggled down into her furs a bit more.
The road rolled on.

Riding and laughing with Smoke, Morik managed to convince Tesko to open up the metal plate separating him from the driver. Suspicious dark eyes peered out from an elderly face. "You want to try some of my food?" the man said, then answered himself, "Of course you do! Everybody want something from Tesko!" But nothing about the druid seemed greedy or dishonest, and the man was clearly lonely in his paranoia. "You don't act like the people that the Five have sent in the past. I don't know...what could it hurt? Here, try this. Don't expect too much; it's just a little something I whipped up for a snack..." He passed a small trencher through the window to the dwarf, along with a round of sweet, warm dark bread. Then he passed another to Smoke. "I guess you can have some, too." Tesko grumbled, "You're doing a good job and all..." Smoke broke the bread and then exclaimed: "This is fresh! You have an oven in there?" "What kind of a question is that? What kind of an idiot travels without an oven?" So miffed was he at this, Tesko slammed the shutter closed again.

Bramlin excused himself and hopped off of Findal's wagon and nodded to Adran as Belany's wagon went past. Adran raised his eyebrows to the woman, who rolled her eyes and nodded. The elf hopped down and waited with the fighter while the last wagon's team clopped up to them. "You've got to try this!" Morik handed down some of the bread and the trencher which, despite Tesko saying it was "a snack," was heaped high with roasted meats, sauteed vegetables, and a variety of peppers. It was exquisite. Tesko was clearly a culinary master. After a few minutes of involuntary hums of pleasure, the trencher was clear, and the veteran and the outlander returned to their previous positions.

After some hours of riding together again in silence, Belany pulled out a bag with some honeyed fruit and spiced pastries. "They say not talking is either the sign of a keen intelligence...or a lack of personality." She offered Adran some of her food, and pulled out a flask and a pair of silver cups, pouring some brandy. She peered at him over the cup as she offered it, a slight smile on her lips. "It's fine by me, either way."

In the late afternoon, Elowin trots ahead of the caravan again, and this time in a small copse of trees with thick undergrowth, she finds a small thornbush with silvery fruit: glimmerberries! But as she approaches the prize, a piping little voice issues out of the nearby bushes: "Stop! What right do you have to these magical berries? Stay back, or suffer misfortune!" Elowin is ahead of the caravan, by herself. The rest of you are riding on your respective wagons.

What do each of you do?

Ahead of the caravan...

At first Elowin mistakes it for a flower, for its face is goldenrod and its hair is a a ruffle of pink petals. But a tiny humanoid creature with blurring wings flies up from a bush just out of reach: a pixie, judging by the sparkling pollen/dust that sprinkles behind it. "I am Peony, the guardian of this bush." The pixie looks at the elf with alien intensity...perhaps curiosity? "These woods are far from your home. And being an elf priestess is not a virtue in itself. In our realm, an exchange is customary. What do you offer to give, before taking?"

@runkyndig, if you wish, offer something and roll a Persuasion check for Elowin.
Whether you do this or not, roll a Nature check when/if Elowin decides to harvest some glimmerberries.

In the caravan...

I'd like each of the guards present - Adran, Bramlin, Gunter, Morik, and Princess - to give me two rolls: initiative and WIS (Perception) as the caravan rolls up to something slumbering in the roadway that has the horses very nervous...

Ahead of the caravan...

Peony peers at the proffered juniper berries. "Yes....this is a good trade!" Smiling broadly, the pixie takes the juniper berries and then watches closely as Elowin gently and carefully extracts the berries from amidst the thorns. Elowin now has 10 glimmerberries. Each glimmerberry functions like a goodberry (as per the spell), but unlike goodberries, glimmerberries do not expire. Alternatively, Elowin knows that she can use six glimmerberries to reduce the cost of crafting a healing potion to one quarter the usual cost. Eager to show her haul, Elowin begins walking back to the meet the caravan.

---

At that moment, in the caravan...

The grunt of some large beast sounds out from in front of Dugal's wagon, loud enough that even Morik hears it over the sound of the horses and wheels. "Uh...uh...guards? You'd better get up here - we've got a bit of a situation..." Hearing their employer's panicked voice, Adran, Bramlin, Gunter, Morik, and Princess all race forward as all the drivers pull their teams to a stop so as to not run into the lead vehicle. You see that the noise of caravan has awakened a creature that just emerged from a pile of leaves and is now looking somewhat out of sorts at the interruption. It's clearly deciding how to feel about this disturbance.I still need an initiative roll for Gunter. Each player can describe what they're doing as soon as they can post, and I will then resolve those actions in initiative order.

Initiative order:
Bramlin
Morik
Princess
Adran
Gunter
Owlbear

That is up to you and how you want to organize your PC. Typically javelins are carried in the hand, then plunked into the ground within easy reach for grabbing and throwing before a charging enemy can close to pike or sword range. As a soldier, Bramlin might be used to carrying them in his hands (one ready to throw, the others in his "off" hand), or bearing them as a bundle tied up with a cord, or having them within easy reach on a supply wagon. Or it could be that, as an adventurer, Bramlin has created any number of innovative ways to carry them independently from any supply train but which leaves his hands free: a really, really long quiver; or straps on the side of a pack. You're free to dictate what was the standard way that the military he served in prepared him for transporting his ranged weapons.

Ahead of the caravan...

Elowin steps out to await the arrival of the wagon train. But then she hears the bellow of a large, discombobulated woodland creature east down the trail...in the direction of the caravan! It might be a giant badger, a cave bear, a dire boar...or something even more dangerous!

In the caravan...

ROUND ONE (part 1)

Rushing up to the front of Dugal's wagon, the party sees the two horses rearing in their traces, whinnying in fear. A creature larger than any horse stands a few yards off the side of the road, shaking itself free of leaves that had collected on its slumbering form. It blinks large round eyes blearily, and gives another loud grunt as it tries to figure out what woke it. Morik and Princess exchange looks: they each recognize that this is a young adult owlbear, a deadly forest apex predator that could easily crush a person with a single blow or tear off a limb with a snap of its beak. This one doesn't look fully alert yet...

Bramlin's javelin sinks into the owlbear's flank (dealing the monster 8 piercing damage) and it roars in confused pain, whirling around to face its attacker, but its instinctive swipe only snaps the javelin in two. Morik plants his staff on the ground, and the power of the earth flows up into the weapon, swelling it and causing the whorls in the wood to sprout as knobs of incipient branches. Realizing that the opportunity for peacemaking is past, Princess sings a long, sweet, sustained note, and the area around the monster is filled with faeries flitting around, sprinkling a rosy glow on everything that doesn't dodge...including the owlbear (subsequent aimed attacks on the monster have ADV). Adran jogs up just as the owlbear spins around, still looking for its attacker. Seeing the rearing horses, it gives a roar of challenge and leaps forward at them. The first swipe of its claws snaps the neck of the horse, and the owlbear's beak tears out its throat. Dugal and Jalon leap down from the wagon and run past you; Gavath wails in anguish from nearby.

None of the party members are in melee range of the monster, but everyone except Elowin is within one move of it so you can close for a melee attack or back away to keep your distance without fear of providing the owlbear an opportunity to attack.

To finish round one, we need the following:
@JoshuaMabry We need another crossbow attack roll for Gunter, representing the ADV that Princess' faerie fire gives him. DONE.
@MaJunior We need a turn for Adran. Because the owlbear is waking up from hibernation, Adran will act before the owlbear with the rest of the party. DONE.
@grifter730 We need Morik's action for the round, now that he realizes about owlbears and that the party is in a fight now. DONE.
@runekyndig It will take five move actions for Elowin to rejoin the caravan; you can decide what combination of moves, dashes, and other actions you wish to take.

Edit: I've struck out the text of what didn't happen, because Morik's Entangle spell prevented the owlbear's attack this first round.

ROUND ONE (part 2)

Bramlin started the battle, hitting the owlbear for 8 piercing damage!
Morik cast shillelagh and then, realizing the gravity of the situation, Entangle. The leaves exploded into the air as thick ivy burst from the ground like an octopus' tentacles, seeking to wrap up the monster and hold it in place. The vines wrap around and around the large monster, restraining it and preventing it from attacking its opponent...the horses drawing Dugal's wagon!
Princess sang out Faerie Fire, which limned the shaggy monster with a pink glow that draws the eye.
Adran powered a dagger into its haunch, dealing the monster 5 piercing damage!
Elowin hears the commotion and considers how she can help.
Gunter aims for the monster, but then, as Princess' vocals evoke the faerie magic, he adjusts his aim to target the pink glow and sinks a crossbow bolt into its belly, dealing the monster 2 more piercing damage!
On its turn, still waking up, the owlbear attempts to break free of the grasping vines...and is unable to escape!

Please, submit your actions for round two; I already have Bramlin's round two attack. We begin the round with the owlbear restrained at a distance of about 40' from the PCs.

---

Bramlin (13/13)
Morik (13/13)
Princess (9/9)
Adran (10/10)
Elowin (10/10)
Gunter (10/10)
Owlbear (?)

It's very clear to Adran and everyone in the party that the owlbear can break out at any moment, and if there was a time to calm it down/befriend it, that time was before it was attacked, not after. It's hooting mad and out for blood, now. It's faster than the draft horses can gallop without a load, so outrunning it is very unlikely. It would take serious injury or serious magic to drive it away/stop it from retaliating now.

Accordingly, @GeneCortess, if you want to revise Princess' round two action before I declare the round two results in a few hours, you may do so.

The owlbear is restrained and outlined with faerie fire, so attacks on it have ADV.
Here's the actions I have so far:
Bramlin attacks it with a javelin.
Morik runs up and attacks it with his staff.
Elowin runs toward the caravan.
Gunter runs closer and attacks it with his crossbow.

Still waiting for an action from Adran (and a possible revision for Princess' action).

ROUND TWO
West, fifty yards away from the place where the road turns and she'll be able to see what's happening, Elowin sprints east, towards the sounds of the owlbear, hoping to arrive before there will be need to use the glimmerberries she's just acquired.

Gavath is trying to settle the horses as their whinnying and rearing in terror threatens to break the tongue and traces of Dugal's wagon.
Dugal, meanwhile, hearing Adran's question, is standing some distance away, trying to see if there's firm, clear ground enough anywhere nearby for wagons to pull around and past the monster, if the horses can be convinced to settle down and move on.

Confronting the angry owlbear that was disturbed by the passing of the caravan, is now restrained by grasping vines and outlined with pink faerie fire, the soldier Bramlin flings another javelin, but this time the tip gets tangled in the thick layer of matted fur and the missile falls to the ground. Morik the druid runs up and cracks the beast across the beak with his imbued staff, dealing the monster 6 bludgeoning damage! Princess harmonizes with the note she started before, attempting to soothe the savage creature, but it gives a grunt of rage and continues snapping at the vines that have wrapped around its body. Adran braces himself, ready to strike the monster the moment it breaks free of its bonds. Gunter jogs forward and releases a crossbow bolt with a loud THWOCK of the string...but the monster turns its head just as he pulls the trigger, and the bolt caroms off of its beak, rocking its head backward but not piercing its flesh. The owlbear, snapping, grunting, and growling, tries to break free of the vines...but for every vine it snaps, two more wrap around it, and it is unable to break free! The owlbear is still restrained and did not attack this round!

Morik is adjacent to the monster, just outside of the zone of difficult terrain.
Bram, Adran, Princess, and Gunter are all within one move of being adjacent, so close enough for ranged attacks.
Elowin has a little ways to go yet before she can affect the encounter.

Submit your actions for round three, please.

---

Bramlin (13/13)
Morik (13/13)
Princess (9/9)
Adran (10/10)
Elowin (10/10)
Gunter (10/10)
Owlbear (?)

Gavath is working on doing exactly this, but Princess could certainly help speed that up, particularly if it seems to her like her fellow guards are going to eliminate the owlbear threat on their own.

ROUND THREE

The round begins with the owlbear still wrapped in coiling vines, preventing it from pouncing on anyone, and glowing pink from Princess' magics.

Bramlin draws and flings his third javelin, hitting the monster for 8 more piercing damage!
Morik continues to bash the large creature with his staff, for a total of 8 more bludgeoning damage!
Princess joins Gavath, and each one manages to grab a bridle and stop the horses from rearing.
Adran waits to defend the caravan should the monster break free of its bonds.
Elowin sprints toward the bend in the road. Coming around the last trees blocking her view, she can see the great shaggy beast roaring and straining against the grasping vines. @runekyndig: Elowin can loose an arrow now.
Gunter drops his crossbow, draws his warhammer, and rings a death knell on the bell of the dead! The monster attempts to resist, but the ringing of the bell commands it to take 6 necrotic damage!
Furious, the owlbear lashes out at the closest thing that is causing it pain: the valiant hero druid, Morik! The brave dwarf dodges its slashing claws and its ferocious beak!As Elowin is doing her round three attack, what are the rest of the characters doing for round four?

ROUND THREE (continued)

Having come back into sight of the caravan, Elowin spies the hulking mass of the monster attacking Morik. Quick as she can, she pulls, nocks, draws, and looses an arrow, which drifts in the air for a few seconds before plunging down into the monster for 8 piercing damage and eliciting a series of angry clicking noises loud enough for her to hear even from there!

ROUND FOUR

Bramlin draws and flings his fourth javelin, which plunges into the beast's side for 9 piercing damage! The owlbear grunts in pain.
Morik continues to beat the monster with his shillelagh, dealing 7 bludgeoning damage! The owlbear grumbles, trying to tear its way loose.
Princess, Adran, and Gavath help lead the horses of the lead wagon in the direction Dugal is motioning, off the side of the road onto turf firm enough to support the wagon's wheels.
Gunter rushes in by Morik's side, smashing the owlbear with his warhammer for 3 bludgeoning damage! The monster emits a piercing shriek that dwindles into a grumbling burble as it subsides into unconsciousness. It slumps over with a thud and crackle of foliage.

The guards have succeeded in their defense of the caravan!

---

As Gavath leads the horses back onto the road, Dugal convinces Jalon that it's safe to get back in the wagon. The dragonborn looks at the defeated creature sadly. "It's a shame to waste all zat good food..."
"We don't have time to butcher that great thing!" Dugal snaps.
"I knew you were going to say zat..." Jalon replies, shaking his long snout. "You zink I am only concerned for ze flesh, but I'm looking out for you, too. Consider how much you could get for just ze fur alone...!"
"No, no, no!" Dugal cuts him off, taking the dragonborn by the elbow and tugging him toward the wagon. "You're not going to talk me into this, greedy guts! You and I both know it would take more than a day to butcher that creature, and we - and our customers who are already paying for the journey - can't spare the time!"
"But couldn't I just..." Jalon's voice is drowned out by Dugal's yell of "Yah! Yah!"" to get the horses moving forward again.

---

Both Swelbie and Findal, who had each surreptitiously climbed down from their wagons to observe the party when the caravan stopped and the roaring started, applaud the party for their heroics.
"Couldn't imagine doing it better!" Swelbie calls. "Imagine fighting an owlbear and coming out unscathed! Amazing!"
The gnome sage agrees. "Impressive! Stupendous! I've only read about such deeds!"
With respectful bows, they each honor the heroes, and then climb aboard their wagons as they roll past.

Tesko, having emerged from his seclusion at last, sits on the buckboard of the last wagon next to Smoke.
"Well done!" He, too, congratulates the party...you think at first. "That's how they're best prepared: well done. They've got a very strong gamey flavor, though the marbling is very good at this time of year. But you need a good smoker and dry weather to do it properly, and we have neither. It's a waste to hunt big game on a caravan like this, with a timetable and full wagons. Maybe if we run into another one toward the end of our journey, when there's more room for food in the wagons, we'll do it up right."

One arrow and one javelin were lost (broken) in the fight, but miraculously, no one and nothing else was harmed. Bramlin retrieves the three recoverable javelins and cleans them, and Dugal expresses his appreciation for his facility with wagons. "I hope we won't be needing your expertise," the caravan master tells him, "But it's good knowing that there's someone else who can help out if there are any problems."


The day proceeds with the caravan continuing toward the Nubetanya range for the rest of the second day, and again on the third day. Then on the 4th day the view of the mountains is hidden by the closer foothills and the road begins to gradually slope downward. That continues for the whole of the 5th day. Each PC regains all of their lost spell slots and/or expended abilities.

In your next post, you may describe what your character does during those three relatively uneventful days. What do you do? Who do you talk to? What are you trying to accomplish or learn?

Bramlin meditates on the possible significance of the silver raven. Findal notices his looking at the pin and says "That's beautiful. Do you know what it means? I feel like I may have seen it somewhere before..."[/b] Bramlin also looks to gamble, and finds the Swelvie is up for games of chance.Princess tells stories, samples foods, and plays music, including some attempts to accompany Elowin's worship.
Elowin worships Lunea, dancing in the moonlight, and Turighe breathes in admiration: "The world is truly a wondrous place, to contain so much beauty...!"
During rests during the day, at night, and in the mornings before the wagons start up again, Adran helps with repairs and woodworking, demonstrating a more practical usefulness that is appreciated by all.
Morik talks with everyone, but particularly Smoke and Tesko. He candies plums with honey and shares them.

"They don't have the same money as us, you know." Perhaps surprisingly, it is kar'Javon who first divulges some information about their destination as he is sampling some of Morik's plums and Adran is working on mending something for Turnip. "The people in Grayhaven, I mean. The rest of the Greenwold, too, I suppose. They've got their own coins, not the Imperials that we use. He pulls some coins out of a small purse he wears around his neck. [b]"Let me see...ah, yes, here they are. You should take a look: get familiar with them. They're probably what Dugal will be paying you on our arrival."

Swelvie challenges anyone willing to a game of Heroes Dice. She is Host, and declares the buy-in as 2 silver. She rolls the Hero die.

"Heroes are SEVENS!" Swelvie cackles, takes a swig from a bottle, tosses in two silver coins, and reaches for her set of dice.

Just to reiterate:

I'd like each player to name one coin of the Greenwold. There's a copper piece, a silver piece, an electrum piece, a gold piece, a platinum piece, and a coin with a small gem set in it that kar'Javon only tells you about, which is worth 10 platinum coins.
You choose the one you want to name from the ones that haven't been named yet. Then include a name of the coin with your next post. I'll update the world book once you each have created a named coin for the currency of this new land.

For example, the silver coin could be an "argent" or a "swan," a gold coin could be a "noble" or a "lion," a copper piece could be a "green" or a "dog." Choose one and name it however you like. We will be using those names for the rest of the campaign (when we're talking about Greenwold money).

Edit to show what we have so far:
Copper (base coin): Bit
Silver: Argent (plural argenti)
Electrum:
Gold: Krugerrand
Platinum: Plate
Gem: Crown

@WhiteDwarf and @grifter730: Edit your previous posts for the Heroes Dice gambling. 7s are Heroes, as determined by Swelvie's roll (you don't need to repeat that roll). You decide how many of the dice to roll in your first throw, anything from one to all five of them. You have 1d4, 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, and 1d12. You're trying to get sets (of a kind) or runs (straights) to score. Highest score after three throws wins the pot. If you roll a Hero (in this game, that means a 7, which it is only possible to get on three of the five dice), you can use it as a 7 and reroll any one non-Hero (not a 7) die OR use it as Wild (instead of a 7, it becomes some other number). The specific details are described at the link I provided earlier: rules for Heroes Dice; it's a game that I wrote specifically because Bramlin asked to gamble, and I wanted a gambling game that could be played in a single post on GP but still give you some interesting choices.

You're playing with Swelvie, Turighe, Smoke, and Turnip, each of whom paid in 2 argenti. The winner will get 12 argenti (a gain of 10). I'll do their rolls in the next post.

Everyone, thank you for naming the coins. I'll do the next general post this evening, in a few hours.

Swelvie's Heroes Dice game. "7s are heroes!"

Swelvie decides to roll the 1d4 and 1d6 in her first throw. "You all are too serious! Have a drink! We're not betting crowns here!"

Turighe decides to roll the 1d4 and 1d8 in his first throw. "Isn't this exciting??" he gushes.

Turnip decides to roll the 1d4, 1d6, and 1d8 in his first throw, puffing meditatively on a pipe.

Smoke decides to roll the 1d4, 1d6, and 1d12 in his first throw. Despite his name, he doesn't smoke anything.

Swelvie and Turighe each get a 2 and a 6: no Heroes. "Look at that!" Turighe exclaims. "We both got the same numbers! I wonder if the dice are telling us something?" He looks at her with smouldering eyes. She cackles at him and takes another swig. "I don't need dice to tell me what you're after! Shut up and throw your dice!"
Turnip puffs on his pipe, barely hiding his grin at getting a run on his first throw. Smoke stares at the rest of you, expressionless despite getting a pair (and potential three-of-a-kind with his Hero).

Swelvie and Turighe each decide to roll their remaining dice (1d8, 1d10, 1d12 for her, 1d6, 1d10, 1d12 for him) in their second throws. Turnip chooses to roll just the 1d12 in his second throw, while Smoke rolls both his remaining dice (1d8, 1d10) for his second throw.

Swelvie gets 2, 9, and 10, giving her a pair in the second throw. With no dice remaining and no Heroes, she ends with a score of 8.
Turighe gets 3, 8, and 10, giving him nothing that scores. With no Heroes, his game ends also, with a score of 0. "You wound me!" he protests. "My intentions are nothing but honorable! I delight in nothing more than your company!"
Turnip gets a 2, which means he can use the 2 as either part of the run (worth 12 points) or as part of a pair (worth 8, same as Swelvie). His grins grows even wider.
Smoke gets a 1 and a 3, which means he has either a set of four 1s (with the Hero, worth 80 points) or a set of three 1s and a set of two 3s (with the Hero, worth 22 points). He chooses to not use the Hero to reroll any of his dice, and so his game ends with 80 points.
Bramlin got a 6, 7, 8 on his first throw, and two 2s on his second throw. Scoring the run would get him 21 (6 + 7+ 8); using the Hero as a 2 for a set of three 2s would get him 20. He could also use the 7 to reroll any one of the other dice.
Morik got 5, 7, 11 on his first throw. Then he got 1 and 3 on his second. If he uses the 7 to be an 11, he would have 22 points, or he could use it to reroll another die.
Turnip's grin falters, but he still has one die to roll for his third throw: 1d10. He rolls a Hero! Because it was already his third throw, he cannot reroll any of the dice, but he chooses to use the Hero as a 4, giving him a run of 1, 2, 3, 4 for a total of 30 points (a set of three 2s would have been worth the same).

By the sixth day after leaving Mara, the road is perceptibly descending between the swells of rolling foothills, with the snowmelt and occasional rains swelling various streams that criss-cross the region. The caravan descends into a broad gully that has been turned into a bit of marsh from the stream overflowing its banks. The road is covered with silt and the ground is soft enough to become difficult terrain. Some of the merchants and some of the drivers are down, using staves to pry the wheels to keep the caravan rolling. Midges, gnats, and mosquitoes rise in a cloud around each person in the caravan. Each PC needs to attempt a CON saving throw.



But then two men rise up out of the bushes on either side of the road. "Hold up, there!" one of them says, "Sorry to interrupt you, but we are here taking up a collection of the Nubetanya road tax." He looks speculatively at the vehicles. "For seven wagons, the tax is one hundred krugerrands." He smiles, revealing that several teeth are missing. "Know that we have men with bows drawn on you, just in case we run into some tax evaders. But don't worry; there's no need for violence if you pay the tax. We'll give you a receipt and be on our way."

What do you do?

Elowin and Adran instinctively scan the foliage on either side of the road. Elowin on the left and Adran on the right, each see two other bandits hidden in the foliage within bowshot of the first three wagons. Princess looks at the others, shaking her head to confirm: there's no such toll, matching the light scoff that escapes Dugal's lips. Bramlin addresses them directly, calling their bluff: "What rank are you people, and who is your commanding officer? Show us your insignia firstly, then we'll talk about paying your fee." Morik calculates how long it would take him to reach either of the visible bandits: in this mud, they're certain to get a shot off before he could reach them. These bandits may be rough, but they've had practice in picking ambush spots.


The bandits look a little uneasy that they've met any kind of resistance. But then one bandit laughs: "Haw haw haw! They wants to know our ranks! What do you say, Bom? I'm Albor, the Strike Force General of the Royal Chimera squadron!" Bom, his companion, guffaws, too, but he's a little confused that the caravan hasn't started proffering the coin. "You never told me..."
"Sure I did, Bom, sure I did! Remember when we were appointed by the Emperor in that big ceremony?"
"Whu...?"
"Remember? He gave us this special duty to patrol the roads and collect his taxes?"
"Oh! Oh, yeah!"
"Beau'iful ceremony it was, too! As for my insignia, that's this right here." He gestures with the loaded crossbow aimed roughly in Bramlin's direction.
"Yeah! Yeah! And I was appointed Grand Admiral of the Blue and Gold fleet!"
Albor rolls his eyes. "Bom, Admirals sail ships on the sea..." He shakes his head. "Anyway, pay us the toll and everyone will be on their way."

What do you do?

---

@JoshuaMabry, at some point, I still need that CON save for Gunter.

As the party unlimbers their weapons, @WhiteDwarf - Please roll a STR (Intimidation) check for Bramlin.

The party, clearly unlimbering their weapons and staring down the bandits has a clearly unnerving effect on the bandits hidden in the bushes. When Bramlin gives them the choice of flight or death, they make their choice. With a rustle, the hidden bandits begin to run for it. You can hear the squish of their footfalls as they flee through the mud. "Uh...General...?" Bom says. Albor looks to the right and left and the cocky grin falls from his face. "LEG IT!" Bom and Albor run in two different directions. Dugal begins to laugh in relief.

What do you do?

Bramlin finds Bom's crossbow lying, discharged, in the mud. Findal is a little taken aback when he answers the door and Bram pushes the filthy weapon in on him. "Oh! I'll...uh...just look after this for you, shall I?"

Smoke laughed along with Morik, and Tesko's voice came through the slatted window: "Well done! You scared them off good! Now if someone could just do that for the five guys that are trying to get my recipes, too!"

Belany smiles thinly at Adran. "Yes, you're earning your wages, no doubt."

kar'Javon nods solemnly at Gunter. "That was probably the best choice they could have made."

The drivers get back to their work of trying to get the wheels unstuck from the mud, and with a couple of hours' more sweaty work, the caravan has crossed the muddy channel and got back up to speed on the dry land on the other side. As Dugal whistles and the caravan continues down the road, the dwarf looks at Princess with some concern. "Are you feeling alright?" Princess, roll another CON saving throw.

Several days more pass uneventfully. What do you each do/talk about over that time?

Elowin performs a ritual incantation over Princess, revealing that the veteran caravaneer has contracted a sleeping sickness from the biting insects in the mire.

The rest of that day is spent trundling downslope away from the Nubetanya mountains. The next day finds the caravan reaching Plackett's Bridge, a wide structure formed from squared-off logs dragged up from the Greenwold a century ago and mounted on stone pilings set every 10 yards or so in the bank of the Sowkalt River. At this time of year, the current is strong and the river is lapping the pilings just under the logs, making it seem almost as if the logs are floating on the water itself. There are a few people lounging around here, watching the water. Seeing the party begin to bristle, Dugal waves a hand to the others, puts a reassuring hand on Princess' arm before she can take any hostile action and says "Don't worry; these fellas hain't a problem. Useful, mebbe. I'll have a little chat." The dwarf hands the reins to Princess and hops down to chat with one of them while Princess reins in the horses and Gavath takes their bridles and maneuvers them to line up with the bridge, which is just wide enough for these wagons to pass. The Drakall in ancient times ordained a standard size for wagons, and it's clear that these standards remain, observed as traditions that wagoners have passed down for dozens of generations.

As the wagons pull past, Dugal talks with a dwarf and they amble along, walking on foot across the bridge deep in conversation. It's a tight sqeeze, but the two of them are just able to walk shoulder-to-shoulder next to the wagons. Dugal shakes the dwarf's hand, slips him some coin, and climbs back onto the buckboard. Once all the wagons have crossed, he pulls up to a stop, stands on the buckboard, and waves so his arms can be seen above the wagon's cover. "Welcome to the Greenwold!" The place he chose to stop has a wonderful view of gently descending valley to the south (left), and heavily-wooded hills to the north (right).


That night around the campfire, Dugal shares what he learned. "That was Dunc Pickirk, who's traveled these roads for longer than I've been alive. He heard tell from a rider that came through yesterday that there was another caravan that was expected at Grayhaven that never arrived. Weren't as well-defended as we are, though. Too, could be tall tales, certain."

Giving some of Elowin's herbal ministrations seems to have done the trick; after half a day of descending into the Greenwold, Princess has blessedly fully recovered from her brief bout of sickness.

You hardly thought her reserved before, but now that you've spent a week together, Swelvie tells stories, dances, and sings each night. And drinks. Wow, does she drink.

Findal reveals that he is the latest in a long line of Findazzles, and he is surprised to find that no one in the party recognizes his family. "Fin...Findazzle is a known gnome name!" he insists, slightly tipsy with Swelvie's generosity one night. He has a lot of dry tales about ancient history; sadly, he is not nearly the storyteller that either Swelvie or Princess is. But in hanging around the gnome sage, Bram and Morik learn that his particular focus is on ancient magic, particularly the history of spells across the different realms.

The caravan makes its trundling way west with the two forests on either side: the Tanglebrier to the north and the Trollfell sloping down to the south.
As the day progresses, Morik asks what others think of the disappearances. Mostly they grow thoughtful. Gunter jokes that the courier should have had more dwarven guards.
That evening, it takes more than the usual amount of time to find a place to stop, as there are few gaps in the massive trees that rise up on the north side, and the south side slopes down too steeply to safely navigate with wagons. Eventually, after darkness has fallen, Dugal spots what he was expecting to find: a large clearing that has been cut in the forest, with room for a caravan twice the size of theirs. The drivers circle the wagons as usual, Gavath stakes out and rubs down the exhausted horses, and Jalon starts a big cook fire, using the plentiful wood from the large trees all around them.


The night is cool and clear, and after eating a hastily-cooked meal, the various members of the caravan reveal that they've been considering Morik's question for hours.
"I've been thinking about these other disappearances," kar'Javon responds "It's not our concern. The way I hear it, it was a courier with a Royal Dispatch - nothing to do with us. Probably some political machinations. I make a point of always steering clear of politics!"
"I'll drink to that!" Swelvie laughs and pours more wine.
Findal looks thoughtful, and Turighe looks somewhat concerned. "A Royal Courier?" the man exclaims. "Surely no one would dare...!"
"Of course they would dare!" Belany, for once not dining alone in her wagon, snaps. "All kinds of people would risk a lot for treasure!"
Tesko looks very nervous, looking fearfully around him.
"Treasure? I hadn't heard that." kar'Javon sips meditatively. "Yes, I could see how that could change things...if it's true."
"Well, I don't know the particulars..." Belany sniffs, "But there might be someone here who does..."
Seeing the glance, the gnome sage raises his hands: "I don't know what it was, specifically. But, yes, as I understand it, the courier was taking something of great value to the Queen in Grayhaven: a token of good-will and high esteem from the Imperial Council."
The group digests this news for a minute. Then Swelvie uncorks a new bottle with a pop! "We don't have any treasures, but we do have a good set of guards. A toast! A toast to our guards, and to Dugal, wise caravan master to have hired such good help!"

On the 10th day of the journey, Dugal announces that the forest to the south is the Hornwood. None of you saw any transition from the Trollfell, nor is there any obvious landmark in evidence, but he seems very confident in his proclamation. Perhaps they are old regions claimed by different factions over the centuries, or communities of forest-dwellers that find it important to make a distinction. With the Nubetanya mountains no longer visible and the road descended into a tunnel between tall trees on either side, the last few days have blended together much like the terrain has; the only thing sparing the monotony of endless trees are the conversations you have.

Toward late afternoon on the 12th day, the horses begin to act skittish, jerking their heads around and whickering in annoyance. Then you begin to feel light tickling sensations on your faces and arms. Did you get a rash from something the last time you went to relieve yourself in the woods? No, it quickly becomes clear as the tickling becomes more constant and the horses slow down. There is spider silk spun across the road here, and the invisible lines are strung so thick that they're slowing down the caravan. Dugal and Gavath draw their long knives and begin trying to cut a path through, but it is slow going. "Could we get your help with these webs?"

"You heard the elf!" Dugal calls. As some of the people begin to light torches, Adran, Bramlin, and Princess work at clearing the road of the effectively-invisible threads. The Galanodel siblings know this is a hazard of forest travel. Princess recalls her first trip where she encountered webs like this, and how there were some in the caravan that were surprised that they couldn't see the webs. Old Danifar had laughed. "Wouldn't do those spiders much good if their prey could see the webs, would it? Yer thinkin' of cobwebs like you get in a house, when the old webs get fulla dust. Spiders don't use cobwebs!" They'd all had a good laugh at that one...until the spiders had attacked. Morik is confident that Adran has the right of it: spiders do often cast webs over open spaces, instinctively trying to catch things in the open air to feed. He grips his staff with sweaty hands. What size spiders would spin so much silk across the road as this?



The party doesn't have to wait long to discover this...as two of the biggest spiders any of you has ever seen come hurtling through the air, moving at high speed along the silk they've cast. Each one is the size of a horse and they're coming fast! Even though they were expected, their movement is so silent and swift that Morik and Elowin didn't spot them fast enough to act before them! Silk streams out from each spider, aiming for Adran and one of the horses drawing Dugal's wagon. Adran easily sidesteps, but the horse is completely restrained by silk. It tries to rear and falls over instead, snapping the bar connected to the traces. Dugal recoils in shock and dismay, and a bit of the pitch from his torch flings back into the wagon. Jalon gives a shriek as something ignites with an audible WHOOMPH!

One of Dugal's horses is restrained, his wagon is on fire, and there are two giant spiders that are attacking the caravan from the front. Let's call them "Spider Sal" and "Spider Sue." Princess, Adran, and Bram can easily attack with melee weapons this round if they wish. Elowin is prepared with her bow. The rest of you are not that close, but you can describe where you are. What do each of you do?

Gunter rushes the closest spider. "Have at thee beastie!" He swings his warhammer.

Ooh, I just realized that I forgot the other prompt. Everyone, please roll initiative, too.

So far we have initiatives for Gunter, Princess, Spider Sal, Bramlin, and Spider Sue.

We still need initiative rolls from Adran, Elowin, and Morik.
We also need a first round action(s) from Morik.

At the moment, you have the highest initiative, and they're starting the round in the air on silk. As they each attack/are attacked, they will drop down. So you could defer your action until later in the round or do something else this round and cast the spell next round.

---

The initiative order we have so far is:
Morik
Gunter
Princess
Spider Sal
Bramlin
Spider Sue

Both Adran and Elowin need to roll initiative to go along with their actions, as the order of operations is important. Also, for those of you aiming attacks, please declare which spider you are targeting. Sal is coming in from the southwest (left) and Sue is coming in from the northwest (right).

ROUND ONE

Morik prepares to cast Entangle as soon as someone brings a spider to ground. Adran runs up to confront Spider Sal, lunging with his dagger, but the blade caroms off of the brightly-colored chitin to little effect. Gunter runs up next to the elf, bringing his hammer down on its thorax with a crunch, dealing 9 bludgeoning damage! Spider Sal drops to the ground, and Morik casts Entangle as soon as the long legs hit the ground. Vines spring up and grab Spider Sal, keeping it from escaping or moving away! Princess casts faerie fire as Spider Sue gets in range, too. Despite being restrained by the tendrils, Spider Sal avoids the faerie fire, but Spider Sue is caught and highlighted in pink sparkles, making it easier to hit! But getting the distance right is tricky from a distance with the elf and human actively dancing around the spider, attacking it.

Adran and Gunter, make DEX saves with ADV to avoid getting caught in the faerie fire, too.

Elowin looses an arrow, hitting the open target of Spider Sue for 5 piercing damage! Spider Sue drops from the silk to the ground, too. Spider Sal attacks, and the DISADV from the restraining tendrils causes its mandibles to miss Adran completely! A split-second later Bramlin arrives, sprinting up with his greatsword, which he cleaves down on Spider Sal for 13 slashing damage!

Bramlin should roll a second attack roll, for the ADV granted by the restraining tendrils, just in case he gets a critical hit.

Then Spider Sue attacks Bramlin, biting him for 10 damage, and Bramlin must roll a DC11 CON save, too!


The flames roar up, the party can smell all the food supplies burning, and the horses scream in terror, unable to get away. The one horse is rearing and kicking, the other is trussed in silk and rolling on the ground. Gavath cannot get close enough to free them, and Dugal is yelling incoherently as he drags Jalon out of the conflagration.

Attacks on both spiders have ADV: Sal because it is restrained by Morik's spell, Sue because of Princess' faerie fire.

We've got four rolls that need to happen to resolve the remainder of this round: saves from Adran, Bramlin, and Gunter, and an ADV attack roll from Bramlin.

After those, what does everyone do now, for round two?

---

Morik (13/13)
Adran (10/10)
Gunter (10/10)
Princess (9/9)
Elowin (10/10)
Spider Sal
Bramlin (3/13)
Spider Sue
Burning wagon

Yes. If people wish to grab water to try to toss on the fire, or use dirt to smother it, they should describe what they're doing as an action for round two, and make a STR (Athletics) check to show how quickly they can physically move materials to quench the flames.

Note that I'm also expecting that saving throw with ADV from Gunter and Adran, a second attack roll from Bramlin, and the CON saving throw from Bramlin.

FINAL OUTCOMES OF ROUND ONE

Succeeding at the DEX save, Gunter avoids getting caught by Princess' faerie fire.
Adran fails his DEX save and does not avoid it, however, and is caught and outlined with pink sparkles, too.
Bramlin's attack with ADV is not a critical hit; he still does the whopping 13 damage to Spider Sal. But the poison from the Spider's bite wracks his system, and Bramlin takes the 9 poison damage I rolled in the first round one post. Bramlin falls to the ground in a deep, stable unconsciousness at 0 HP.

ROUND TWO

As the flames roar higher and everyone in the caravan runs around trying to figure out how to help, Morik casts shillelagh. His staff greens and new branches bud as if it was a sapling...and he then breaks off some of those knobs beating Spider Sal to death with it (9 more bludgeoning damage)!
Seeing that enemy fall, Adran smoothly redirects his dagger toward Spider Sue, sinking the poniard into chitin and dealing the monster 7 piercing damage!
Having not noticed Bramlin's slow collapse, Gunter yells encouragement at the warrior, then shouts at the milling merchants and drivers, badgering them into a bucket brigade, and in seconds there is a line of people passing buckets and bowls and bottles filled with water toward the wagon and handing the empties back down the line to the nearby pond.
Princess gets in line with the others, and by the end of the round, steam is rising in clouds and the flames are starting to go down from the onslaught. You caught it soon enough, and after another round, the fire will be under control enough that the NPCs can fully extinguish it.
Elowin nocks, draws, and looses again, sinking a shaft into Spider Sue for 8 more piercing damage!
Spider Sal is dead.
Bramlin is stable at 0 HP (does not need to roll death saves).
Spider Sue moves to attack the closest target (Morik or Adran). Adran is closer; the giant spider bites him. Adran takes 5 piercing damage and must succeed on a DC11 CON save to take 4 poison damage (otherwise he takes 8).

What do you do in round three?

ROUND THREE

Morik dances away from the spider sucking on Adran's blood, as Adran stabs Spider Sue again and again, dealing the monstrous beast 6 piercing damage! Gunter continues to organize the fire suppression efforts. Princess hums a little tune then sings some words in her surprisingly clear, pure voice. Adran recovers strength and determination (Adran regains 6 HP). Elowin leaps down from the wagon and rushes forward to Bramlin's side. Relieved the still feel a faint pulse, she imparts the divine energy of the gloaming into the fighter, and his eyes snap open again (Bramlin regains 4 HP). The fighter staggers to his feet and swings his sword in a great arc. The familiar play of muscles gets his heart pumping again, and he gains his second wind (Bramlin regains 5 more HP). Leaping forward to rejoin Adran in battle, Bramlin cleaves Spider Sue, which takes 9 slashing damage, and falls into two gory pieces.

As the combat ends, the last flames sizzle and go out. The party has defeated the giant spiders, no one died, and Dugal's wagon was spared from destruction. Jalon is upset that a lot of the food burned, but Dugal is very pleased with the party's quick actions to save the horses, each other, and his wagon. "We'll just have to forage a bit more, that's all!" he says, "It would've been a hard thing to have lost the wagon or any of the horses; we'd have had to split the remaining supplies and people to the other wagons, which would've slowed our pace." kar'Javon looks alarmed, and Dugal chuckles. "I said it would've slowed our pace. No, don't worry, kar, we'll get you to Grayhaven on schedule." Swelvie checks in with each party member, making sure they're well, offering an encouraging smile and a swig of liqueur from a flask. "Very impressive!" pipes the small voice of the halfling sage, Findal. Even Belany frowns a little less.

Gavath is able to cut the horse free, and spends the next hour or so combing, feeding, and calming her. He has time, because the rest of the caravan is down with swords and knives cutting the way through the rest of the invisible silk lines blocking the roadway.

Finally, though, the way is clear, and the party is able to continue. What do you do over the next few days as the road continues between the two forests?

Yes, and everyone will have a long rest each night, too. So each PC should be at full HP, HD, spell slots, and class abilities by the time another encounter happens, if there is another before you reach Grayhaven.