Episode 1

Flight from the Borgh Riac: South Route through Black Asandra to Maudder Trails.

REQUIRED ACTION:

1) Each PC roll 1d6 twice. This will determine DCs applied.

2) Each PC send 2 skill checks.
Any 2 skills that you think could help you get the fuck out of the swamp on the run from fish men and a giant space slug!
I have already proposed Nature and Survival as examples, but other skills can work too. Mention a quick reason why if you think there is doubt. (don't pick anything that is just too out in left field, like Persuasion or Performance or something that is just not applicable).

First 2 people on the board gets ADVANTAGE on their first (1 of 2) skill check!

Going to roll bones for Stealth and Perception.

Skills Challenge: Flight from the Borgh Riac - South Route
Successful Movement and Evasion: 7 successful Skills Checks before 3 failures. Avoid encounter.
Unsuccessful Movement and Evasion: 3 failed Skills Checks. Face a detrimental encounter.

Summary Score Current:
Successes: 5
Failures: 1


Performance Tracker Details (Ongoing):

Check 1: Success. Bryn on DC 12 Survival.

Check 2: Success. Kray on DC 11 Perception.

Check 3: Failure. Thorn on DC 13 Nature.

Check 4: TBD (from Ivor or Maeriks. Perception no longer available.)

Check 5: TBD (from Ivor or Maeriks. Perception no longer available.)

Check 6: Success. Bryn on DC 11 Perception.

Check 7: Success. Kray on DC 12 Stealth.

Check 8: Success. Thorn on DC 11 Athletics.

Skills Challenge: Flight from the Borgh Riac - South Route
Successful Movement and Evasion: 7 successful Skills Checks before 3 failures. Avoid encounter.
Unsuccessful Movement and Evasion: 3 failed Skills Checks. Face a detrimental encounter.

Summary Score Current:
Successes: 5
Failures: 2


Performance Tracker Details (Ongoing):

Check 1: Success. Bryn on DC 12 Survival.

Check 2: Success. Kray on DC 11 Perception.

Check 3: Failure. Thorn on DC 13 Nature.

Check 4: Failure. Ivor on DC 13 Survival.

Check 5: Success. Bryn on DC 11 Perception.

Check 6: Success. Kray on DC 12 Stealth.

Check 7: Success. Thorn on DC 11 Athletics.

Check 8: TBD (from Maeriks. Animal Handling.)
---------------------------------------------------

Note: Check below not yet in tally, applicable only if Check 8 by Maeriks is a success.

Check 9: Success. Ivor on DC 12 Athletics.

Required Action for Maeriks only:

1) Roll 1d6 to determine DC

2) One (1) Skill Check, not Survival or Perception.



Result will determine outcome.

Success from Maeriks will set up for Ivor's Check 9, which will deliver the 7 successes needed for group escape. YISSS!!!

Failure from Maeriks will reach 3 collective failures, ushering in the detrimental encounter. Not good.

On 3 boats, the party launches away, paddling south. They separate from Hinka, Imbo, and Misix on the north bank of An Tulecheo. The Tcho-Tchos had led the long stretch through the confusing waterways that wove through The Goatswood. It was a good thing too. The small canals had been very confusing and difficult to find way for passage. Many of the streams emptied into shallow pools that eventually became marshy dead ends that would ground the boats and leave the group forced to back track to find another route.

But under Hinka's guidance, they had made the way and now were set to make the crossing of the great lake An Tulecheo. Hinka said that this could be the most dangerous part of the movement. The Ulathi were swimming back and forth underneath the surface, searching in small groups. There was only one chance to get across without incident. Fighting the Deep Ones on the lake would certainly be a disaster.

Bryn had listened to Hinka's proposed route and felt like he could recognize the landmarks. As he rows out directing the group in the front boat, Bryn focuses all attention on hitting the right waypoints to stay on course.

Bryn guides everyone first to Tern Rocks, a small cropping of muck covered stone islands that barely break the surface of the black water in the northwest sector of the lake. It is a long row, probably close to a mile. Bryn advises everyone to be prepared for anything. They stop briefly and inspect the rocks. Bryn sees signs that the Ulathi recently passed by and stopped here. By Hinka's advice, that would mean the Ulathi would head east next. Perfect. Bryn knew that that meant that the party should head straight west, to Giul Inlet on the west bank.

Everyone sets oars again and makes the next stretch. Bryn directs the boats in the small waterway that angles south, soon they are traveling swiftly under the cover of the small canal of Giul Branch. The route carries them a long ways, still no sign of Glaaki or the Deep Ones. When the canal opens back up to An Tulecheo again, Bryn knows that they have nearly made it the entire length of the large swamp lake. One more paddle across the Mingle Cove and they will break through to Black Asandra.

Bryn Survival Success

Kray had listened carefully as Hinka had explained the telltale signs. Kray is shocked then when he first notices the eel grouping swirling near the surface out in the open stretch of the cove. It was difficult to see from this distance, so Kray silently sends a signal for a halt. Bryn and Ivor, leads on the other two boats, follow suit and quietly move to the right bank of the canal before pushing out into the open stretch of the lake.

Kray looks carefully at the spot on the surface and brings attention to the others. Now it is unmistakable. The surface of the water begins to shake and quiver out on the lake. The eels glide back and forth making quick movement near the surface. Now across at another spot to the east, a shimmer of disturbance on the surface turns to a wide expanse of full chop and splash as a school of fish, just under the surface flutter in a frenzy to move northward as a group.

It is clear to Kray now, the natural creatures of the lake are making way for the passage of something utterly unnatural. Beneath the surface of the lake, perhaps 250 meters in front of them, - it must be...none other than Glaaki!

A great dread begins to fall upon the entire party. As they look at one another, the warning they had heard becomes very real. From Hinka's explanation, Kray had done his best to translate the message to the others: "Glaaki is an ancient power beyond this world, a Thing that Should Not Be. When you are close to it, you will have a feeling of dread and impending doom. It will feel like your mind is going to crack."

On the bank, everyone freezes and stays completely still. Watching the water. The dread is oppressive. Now they can remember: they have felt it before, in the Throne Room! It was said that Glaaki was nearby then, it is clear that he is nearby now. All that everyone can do is avoid discovery. If the monster finds them here, exposed on the bank with no cover and nowhere to run. They are certainly finished.

After seconds that seem like hours, the feeling of despair begins to subside. After minutes, everyone gets their breathing and heart rate back to normal.

Cautiously, with much trepidation, they set oars out again. With a sprint of a row, they cross the long stretch across Mingle Cove, making it to the south bank.

Unable to control themselves, everyone is constantly looking over their shoulder, looking for any sign of the horror, the abomination that they had only narrowly bypassed undetected.

For the hardened veterans who are used to scoffing at fear, a deep frustration sets in. This fear is unbeatable. It is heavy and weighs on the group. The battle-tested warriors feel it, despite efforts to dismiss it. It is like strong ropes looping around them, pulling them down. Their minds are adrift, their thoughts are misdirected. It is something unnatural.

Only with great effort is everyone able to gather themselves and turn away. They have to press on.

But they know Glaaki is still lurking. Searching. It is faster than them. Hiding and moving. Where is It?

Everyone digs in and rows in silence.

Kray Perception success.

After a couple hours of rowing along Black Asandra, Bryn spots the landmark where they were directed by Hinka to move aground and begin a southward march on foot.

The landing site is a peninsula covered in strange tall black-barked evergreen trees. Quite an oddity. Kray had learned that the site is called Mol Teeth by the Tcho-Tcho. Even Bryn has never seen it, but the site matches the description exactly.

Everyone stashes the boats and leaves them behind, moving out on the high ground of the peninsula towards the main land mass to the south. Soon they are walking through thick flooded forests, with ground that is a mix of packed ground, black mud, and complete impassable marsh. The trees in the area are a mix between the strange tall black trunk evergreens and a more gnarled hardwood with bulging above-surface roots.

Trying to find a route through dry ground becomes more and more difficult. At times the group is bogged down with no choice but to slog through flooded ground and thick nasty mud. It slows movement.

Thorn believes that he sees a pattern, noticing that the areas with the black-barked thin trees often have the firmer ground beneath them. With that in mind, he directs the group towards a thick patch of the evergreens. For a time, it seems that he is right. The ground is packed and generally solid. But soon the route becomes worse and worse.

After an hour of driving deeper and deeper into the black woods, the party has no choice but to dredge through a terrible stretch of flooded ground. At times the water is waste high, high enough where Sorcha Rhone has to be carried.

It is unknown whether another route on dry ground was even available or not, but the route taken is a tough one. The group begins to fall behind. Fatigue is setting in now. Everyone is exhausted from the difficult march through the gauntlet of tough terrain.

Thorn Nature fail.

As the flooded forest gets thicker, the high canopy of the overhead branches increasingly hides the sun. It is the heat of the afternoon, but because of the thick foliage, the environment is surprisingly dark.

Soon it becomes clear that the no one knows for sure whether or not they are still moving on course south.

Ivor calls the concern. Bryn agrees. Everyone soon looks to them to attempt a recovery of direction.

Ivor looks for a way to get to a clearing. He decides to follow some animal prints. He can see that deer and some sort of bovine has passed through the area. After a time, the idea works for getting the group to higher ground. They emerge from the flood zone, and there is some encouragement from being on solid ground and being able to pick up the pace.

Eventually the tracks lead a large thicket of impassable underbrush. The group has to try to move around the obstacle terrain. The thick vegetation still makes navigation difficult.

After an hour or so of movement through heavy scrappy brush, the group emerges into an open area marsh. Off to the right, Bryn can see a series of canals moving through high flooded grass. He knows now that they have been off course, heading more west than south because they have reached his western handrail, the Fonchaor Branch.

They have wasted some time. They need to be further south this late in the day. Though frustrated, everyone does at least now have an idea of where they are and can reset the direction of travel with confidence.

Bryn knows where they have to be before nightfall. It is still a long way.

This is going to be close.

Ivor Survival fail.