Support NeoGAF

[Axelhortsemchi]

((Song:

Spoiler

times four by some house rules, and since plate armor already costs 5,000 gold... yeah, might be better off going for magical splint armor. But yeah, that sounds good. Just got to get the DM in on a sidequest now /

.))

The earlier battle has left Ludwig low on magical reserves, but thanks to some wound treating, he's not to exhausted to help with the labor. Once the group begins taking up tasks, Ludwig goes to cleave some trees while they see about getting a harness set up. With the Invisible Hand in mouth, Ludwig rears back and gets to cutting, swinging at the trees like they're hostile bureaucrats lining up to fall down.

((No idea what to stick there, so just offering up an attack and damage roll for hacking away at trees.))

[url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=139373]Attack on Tree: 1D20 + 5 = [12]+5 = 17
[/url]
[url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=139374]Damage: 3D6 + 3 = [2, 2, 6]+3 = 13
[/url]
[url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=139375]Great Weapon reroll: 2D6 = [1, 4] = 5
[/url]

Once enough trees have been felled and taken back to the fort, Ludwig volunteers to file some into appropriately sized spikes if need be. As it turns out, he's not bad at making large, pointy sticks.

[url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=139376]Craft: Carpentry: 1D20 + 3 = [15]+3 = 18
[/url]

Should a harness situation get worked out, Ludwig makes himself available as an organic crane to hoist stuff on and off of carts. So long as the novelty of a talking crane doesn't slow down the line too much, he is able to move heavy loads at what is hopefully a respectable clip.

[url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=139377]Athletics: 1D20 + 5 = [12]+5 = 17
[/url]

Regardless of whether he has time to help on all three of those fronts or not, Ludwig is tired after a good night of hard work, the kind that most people who find their lives in poor straits are just too lazy to do. He is too tired to put any serious thought into Thosar's suggestion of a detour right now, but briefly says that it might not be a bad idea while lumbering over to a sleeping spot. Once sleeping arrangements are made, he curls up outside the gate and falls to sleep rather quickly. Sleeping on the grass doesn't seem to bother Ludwig much at all. If anything, he appears rather used to it.

 

[Song of Fire]

((Axel:

Spoiler

I’m pretty sure we could get something worked out; even if we went on a quest for no experience, it would be well worth it. Especially since it would be a Ludwig and free market special interaction. Though I’m not entirely sure where you got the 5,000 gold piece price. I thought for sure it was 1,500 for medium.

))

Galen asks for directions to the locations of each of his chosen tasks, and he heads off, starting with the barricades. How hard can they be?

It is possible he hears Keranos speak during this time.

If he has time, he helps move the structures into position and aids in the maintenance of the weapons and armor.

Finally, he joins the watch up on the wall, at whatever time is deemed best by those at the fort.

[URL="http://www.coyotecode.net/roll/lookup.php?rollid=139499"]Perception[/URL]: [6]+5=11

---

When Thosar brings up the dilemma before them –to press on or to stop and attempt to deal with this dark alliance– Galen responds with “It may be prudent to at least look into this matter, if not just for the preservation of the kingdom, than because it seems to be a recurring thing: anywhere we go, it is possible they will seek us out.

“Yet, we cannot devote ourselves entirely to this endeavor without further cause, as we have another pressing issue, and all our world at stake. We may be able to allow a diversion, but we must at the same time remain on track. A quick look should be acceptable as long as we continue toward the mark.

“Further, the rangers themselves have yet to be informed of the demonic influence involved.” He stops a moment. “Do we intend to let them know of this development? They are, after all, looking into the matter of these attacks. Also, if there is some way to keep them apprised of our findings, it may be worth a little effort.”

((While Galen may hear Keranos speak, I feel it is best if I do not make that call.

I also am not entirely certain when the best time for the watch is, or when everyone is gathered together. Apparently this makes Galen’s actions vague?))

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

When Thosar brings up the dilemma before them –to press on or to stop and attempt to deal with this dark alliance– Galen responds with “It may be prudent to at least look into this matter, if not just for the preservation of the kingdom, than because it seems to be a recurring thing: anywhere we go, it is possible they will seek us out.

“Yet, we cannot devote ourselves entirely to this endeavor without further cause, as we have another pressing issue, and all our world at stake. We may be able to allow a diversion, but we must at the same time remain on track. A quick look should be acceptable as long as we continue toward the mark.

“Further, the rangers themselves have yet to be informed of the demonic influence involved.” He stops a moment. “Do we intend to let them know of this development? They are, after all, looking into the matter of these attacks. Also, if there is some way to keep them apprised of our findings, it may be worth a little effort.”)

((So... ranger got an interesting update/errata recently. Might look into it, song of fire. It's some good stuff.))

"I realize we are pressed for time, we don't even know how much we have. However, this recent episode of united monstrosities is timed quite perfectly to take advantage of the disruption caused by the King's abduction. I doubt this was a coincidence. If these are connected, it would be a great deal more important to eliminate the immediate threat or at least assist in doing so. We may be able to get some material assistance from our good commandant if the more silver tongued of us speaks with him. In fact... I forsee great success in the attempt."

((If someone tries a persuasion check on Hauer before the end of the day, it should work out well. MikeM:

Spoiler

Because they'll get the portent roll of 20.

 

[ThLunarian]

Keranos spends a number of hours treating superficial wounds and preaching to an obstinate audience. When one of the men makes his comment about Talos, it's all Keranos can do not to lose his temper. To make matters worse, he notices that Galen seems to have had a front row seat to the exchange; he spots the ranger in his periphery, hauling lumber to some ungodly place or another.

Regardless, he manages to quell his rage just enough to avoid an incident. When the laborers begin packing up, he returns to the wagon, arriving there soon after Galen does.

He considers their discussion. "I wouldn't be opposed to making a detour and tackling these mongrels head-on, but how would we even begin to do it? Thus far we've been unable to discern any information that could lead us to a centralized location from which they're mobilizing. All we really have at all are these vials and the residue within."

He produces the mostly-empty glass bottle that he saved from the kobold attack some weeks ago.

 

[Mike M]

Fhiess busies himself thinking of all the brave things he would do if some kobold were to have the nerve to show its face here, where Fhiess is surrounded by people with swords and other armaments. Hacking furiously at meat and potatoes, he does a serviceable job of putting together a filling, if not particularly sumptuous, stew that the other hands in the kitchen more or less take out into the yard immediately to begin disbursing it to the huddled masses.

That task complete, he wanders over to a small handful of people who are sitting outside the armory inspecting and conditioning the weapons and armor as needed, including Thosar putting his mending magic to work as needed. He sits with a sword across his lap and runs a whetstone over the edge, something he has seen many times but has probably not actually done. It doesn't seem like it should be that hard, but he's pretty sure the surface of the metal isn't supposed to score that badly, and entirely positive that it should be putting an edge on the blade rather than dulling it.

Oiling the heaps of stiff leather armor looks to be a lot easier. Or at least the consequences of doing it improperly are less difficult to recover from.

Good thing Thosar is there.

#

The trees of this region fall before Ludwig's sword as well as any other he has encountered; perhaps more easily, even, as these are not the hearty trees of the savannah built to endure long stretches of withering heat. Once the people get over their stupefied gaping at the J'raffa, the work seems to go fairly quickly. Strapping a harness to Ludwig is not too terribly different from putting one on an ox, though in this case it requires the use of a ladder.

Hauling a sledge strapped full of cabers back to the fortress isn't exactly a walk in the park, but for one of Ludwig's physicality, it's far from an impossible task. After depositing the felled trees in the area where Galen and Keranos are lending their aid, Ludwig wanders back to the courtyard and helps out with the loading and unloading of wagons. it is decidedly less strenuous work and acts as a serviceable cool down for him.

#

At some point, the party finds the time to reconvene and debate their next course of action. Do they press on to Bellows, then Hammerfall and whatever lies beyond the Forgerun Mountains? Or do they take the time to see if they can't somehow turn the tables on what appears to be a burgeoning conspiracy of Telmur's foes rising just when the Kingdom is embroiled in a great crisis with no signs of abating?

 

[Song of Fire]

((Thanks for pointing that out, Noisy Ninj4. I had seen that they were likely going to release that soon, but haven’t been able to keep up to date on it. It looks good at a glance, and I will try to see what all actually changed soon. What I noticed seems good.

To make matters worse, he notices that Galen seems to have had a front row seat to the exchange

Oh no! What a horrible, terrible thing! Now Galen has a lot of thoughts on this matter. Or he might. Keranos wouldn’t really know, as Galen has no reason to say anything about it anyway. Maybe.

Though it seems likely Thosar has seen a portent of things to come. Clearly this means Keranos should demand a troupe of dancers and musicians to accompany the party; what else would be fitting of a forgotten god?

I have to ask though, is Thosar speaking of the next day, or the one on which the party arrived?

I’ll wait a bit longer to give the rest of the group a chance to speak up before Galen says anything more than he has. He does have some business to discuss with Ludwig after this current topic, which I shall leave here in case he can’t get to it. As Ludwig seems intent on sleeping, this will probably end up waiting anyway.

Ludwig:

Spoiler

How easily could we prepare light, portable barriers for our ranged combatants to use as cover? Preferably some that could hang securely on the side of the wagon. (Also for Sagishi to sneak between before attacks.

)

Also, Mike M,

Spoiler

as far as the Unearthed ranger goes, would you say humanoid now counts as a single favored enemy type, or would it still be broken down into different groups?

))

 

[KittenMaster]

<I assumed Fhiess was in a separate room but he was able to hear the conversation going on?>

 

[Mike M]

Song:

Spoiler

((My reading of the revised Ranger is that Favored Enemy would apply to everything of a given type.))

 

[Axelhortsemchi]

((Song:

Spoiler

Huh, the source I looked to must have been off, page 145 of the player's handbook does indeed say 1,500 gold.

As for the barriers, I'd have to check with Mike to see what the DC and cost for building those would be. Though if Ludwig's presented with the idea, he'll be all for it!

))

As debate comes up, Ludwig is already fast asleep and curled up on the grass. Unless explicitly asked something, he doesn't have much to add to the current conversation beyond some snoring.

Despite the near-fatal battle earlier in the day, Ludwig's dreams are pleasant. The J'raffa is roaming the Savannah of inner Baglahm, eating leaves from a tree just tall enough to require no neck bending.

As he clears the leaves away, he gets a good look at his options for potential venture capitalist investments. A company that specializes in allowing spell ingredients to be substituted with pudding? That gets a hundred pounds of adamantine in funding! Someone with an exciting new technique for hardening armor? Seventy pounds of mythril! A shoe-shining business in central Baglahm? Pass. But this promising new PMC can get a total of one hundred fifty pounds in precious metals.

Ludwig gallops over to a nearby pond, passing a number of non predatory Savannah dwellers along the way. As he arrives, he bends down to drink. Displayed in the pond is the results of his investments. Great returns overall! The armor method tanked completely, resulting in a loss of all seventy pounds of mythril. But oh well, that's how the free market goes, and the success of the other investments more than offsets that. He sees an unrelated news crawl saying something about worsening conflict in some other continent, but that's not his concern when life is good.

The J'raffa's head moves a little in his sleep, and he seems to be smiling about something going on in his dreams.

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

((Fheiss should be present for the conversation since this is after convening.

Thosars prediction is in reference to doing the talking before we long rest. Song of fire:

Spoiler

I have a portent ability that gives me a couple pre-rolled dice every day. One of mine was a 20 today. The person attempting the persuasion roll therefore gets a natural 20 as their d20 attempt.))

 

[ThLunarian]

Keranos frowns. "Perhaps we should proceed with our original plan, before the sky fell. Excuse me."

With the glass vial in hand, he leaves the wagon in search of Hauer.

If he is able to find the half-orc without too much trouble, he says: "Commandant. Sorry to bother you, as I am sure you're busy, but do you know if there is an alchemist currently stationed here? I have a task well suited to the profession, which may help lead us to the root of the hobgoblin and gnoll problem."

 

[Mike M]

Hauer shakes his head. "Kingsfort forces are almost entirely martial," he says. "The closest we'd have to an alchemist would be some field clerics and our sappers, all of whom are at the front. The royal administration probably had some on the payroll, but I wouldn't expect they'd be high priority personnel during what little evacuation they managed."

 

[Song of Fire]

((Mike M:

Spoiler

Okay. I just figured I would ask because the original 5e Ranger’s favored enemy specified you could pick two types of humanoids, which ran counter to what the revised favored enemy seemed to say. While fey as a favored enemy has some allure, it is largely based on real-world folk-lore, as opposed to being grounded in the game’s world, and is therefore probably not the best choice. With the Unearthed Arcana Ranger, Galen’s most likely choices for favored enemy seem to be humanoids and monstrosities, one because of being so common, and the other because it seems the sort of thing his old group would have dealt with. Do you have any input you would like to give on this?

Axel:

Spoiler

Yeah, and for some simple barriers it should hopefully not be too high, though the only way to know is to ask. I included that part in case I don’t get to include Galen asking around the start of the day, so we can hopefully get to that.

Noisy Ninj4:

Spoiler

I had kind of suspected that was what was going on with the placement of some of your messages for Mike M, which is why I asked what day it was for. A 20, though, is rather exciting. Keranos actually might stand a chance at getting his entourage…
In regard to the party’s current discussion, would Thosar possibly be capable of identifying the contents of the vial?

))


“Indeed,” Galen adds in, “we should look into this matter. All I am saying is that, even as we deal with this, we need to keep in mind our current objective, rather than allowing ourselves to forget it completely. Even if we can find nothing at this time, we may come across something later.

“These are both pressing issues, and we cannot just leave this one be, but we need also mind the other.”

Galen stops a moment before asking a very pressing question: “That vial Keranos has, what is in it?”

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

((Song of fire/MikeM ((

Spoiler

possibly, if he can use a knowledge roll or detect magic/identify on the residue in the bottle.

"Indeed, Galen. Especially true if they are in league with those who took the king. It may actually aid our primary goal, investigating this." When Keranos moves to meet with Hauer, Thosar follows. He notes the lack of alchemical experts under the commandant's command, then follows up with his own question. "How about a scout or tracker? I am aware you are hard pressed for manpower, but we could provide an escort to one in lieu of a squad. We did manage to kill several gnolls, including a few demon infested specimens."

 

[KittenMaster]

Fhiess up to this point had minded his tasks more than the conversation at hand, but eventually his ears begin to pick up the conversation and block all else in his mind. Setting down a poorly mended blade behind a chair, Fhiess speaks up to Thosar and Galen, "We didn't think of it at the time, but someone, or something, had prevented us from following a hobgoblin to their home. I don't know what it means, but I can't help but think that it matters somehow."

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

"The plot thickens... That's.a strategem not employed by more bestial races. Some third party is behind this." Thosar strokes his chin thoughtfully. "The gnolls must have left some sort of trail to follow through the woods, perhaps we could start there since the trail is fresh."

 

[Mike M]

((Song:

Spoiler

It's not giving away too much to tell you that most encounters with fey creatures would probably be due to the vagaries of random encounter generation. Picking that as a favored enemy won't get you much.

Noisy:

Spoiler

You guys are free to run any analysis on the residue that you can muster, honestly kind of surprised no one's bothered yet.

))

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

When Thosar gets a chance, he takes a good look at the bottle and does a sniff of what remains inside, then uses a small bit of wire to scrape out some of the material. He proceeds to divine for any magic within it and identify what is there.

((For the examination, I'm not sure what knowledge skill is applicable. Coyote code is down atm also.
Investigation: 1d4 [4]+1d20 [12]+5=21
Knowledge Arcana or History: 17+7 = 24

Then using detect magic ritual on the material and identify if any magic is there.))

 

[Mike M]

Thosar borrows the vial from Keranos and performs what analysis he can on it. The logo of the smiling root vegetable rings no bells, though the residue inside has a distinct earthy scent underlying its pungency.

The actual substance itself, however, appears to be magically inert. Whatever effects and properties it has, it must accomplish them through mundane chemical means.

((In the interest of moving things along, can we get a vote count for moving forward to Bellows or backtracking to investigate the gnoll attack?))

 

[KittenMaster]

<Let's see.. from an OOC perspective we don't even know if there are scholars that can be counted on for information (but wasn't there another reason we were heading to Bellows?), nor do we know if we're even pressed for time, while the gnoll situation has a more tangible problem to solve and we're much more likely to uncover information, and we can just go to Bellows at a later time.

ICly, Fhiess is conflicted and would vote based on what everyone else does, but I'm gonna ignore that to speed things up and vote gnolls>

 

[Mike M]

((Bellows is just the next stop en route to Hammerfall in search of a way over the mountains.))

 

[Axelhortsemchi]

((I'm always down for sidequests, and Ludwig wouldn't mind some more Gnoll-cleaving to even things up from the attack earlier. I'll vote gnolls too.

Also, Mike M:

Spoiler

If Ludwig wanted to build some light, portable barriers that could hang on the side of the wagon, what would the DC/time and gold cost for that be?

))

 

[Mike M]

((I'm always down for sidequests, and Ludwig wouldn't mind some more Gnoll-cleaving to even things up from the attack earlier. I'll vote gnolls too.

Also, Mike M:

Spoiler

If Ludwig wanted to build some light, portable barriers that could hang on the side of the wagon, what would the DC/time and gold cost for that be?

))

((

Spoiler

Wouldn't have a DC associated with it, it'd just be time and cost. How complicated are you thinking? Something like a hinged sandwich board?

))

 

[Nezumi]

((I think Sagishi would also probably vote for the gnolls. His view of the situation is basically that he has become a hero in his favorite shonen manga and so a few filler episodes are to be expected ))

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

((gnolls for Thosar, also. Nothing has popped up to change his mind.))

 

[Axelhortsemchi]

((Mike M:

Spoiler

More or less. I'm going for something the ranged fighters can use as cover, preferably that can easily be set up on the wagon.

))

 

[Mike M]

((And that's a majority for Gnollquest '16))

((Mike M:

Spoiler

More or less. I'm going for something the ranged fighters can use as cover, preferably that can easily be set up on the wagon.

))

((

Spoiler

The wagon being 10 ft long, you could have two 5x5 sandwich board portable cover hanging off each side that could either be put into the field, or pulled up to protect the wagon. I'd have to work out the HP for them, but a solid hit from a melee weapon would wreck them. Material would be 200 sq ft of lumber total (5x5x2 since it's a sandwich board) and hardware, which would run you 25 silver pieces and two hours each to construct.

))

 

[Mike M]

Try as they might, most of the group cannot seem to shake the feeling that the ambush by the gnolls was somehow more than it seemed; something larger is at play here, but the picture is one so vast that they cannot perceive it. One thing is clear, whatever alliance that may have been forged between the gnolls and the hobgoblins is one that could potentially pose an existential threat to the Kingdom in its current fragile state if left unattended.

Not wanting the trail to go any colder than it already has by their trip to Kingsword, they mount the wagon at the first light of dawn to retrace their route back to the site of the battle. It's not exactly difficult to find, as there is still plenty of evidence of the battle lying about on the ground, though at this point its evident that ravens and small scavenger beasts of the woods have been absconding with their own share of the spoils. Already unpleasant smelling in life, in death the gnoll corpses possess a ghastly smell that forces Barrow to hold his hand to his nose and do all his speaking through the sleeve of his coat. The placid horses show no reaction one way or the other, much as they do about most everything.

"Let's be quick about this, then," the curmudgeonly dwarf grumbles. "I'm in no hurry t'visit that damnable viper's nest of Hammerfall, but sure as all the Oneiroi are in the heavens, I don't want t'spend one minute more in this mess than we must."

The Endowed have scarcely disembarked the wagon when the pounding of hooves heralds the arrival of a quartet of rangers coming from the opposite direction, presumably the squad that Commandant requested this "Helga" to dispatch. Three of them--two human women and a man--trot forward while the fourth holds position in the shadows of the trees near the bend in the road. This ebony-skinned fourth member sits astride his horse with his hood pulled forward, but it does little to disguise his silver eyes or the contours of his horns, as though his tail were not evidence enough of his tiefling heritage. Every one of these rangers have the experience of years etched upon the features of their faces; they are obviously old hands at ranging.

"Ho!" calls one of the women, wearing the heavy gauntlet of a squad captain on the hand she holds aloft in greeting. "You must be the ones who reported the encounter with the gnolls. They had mentioned that one of you was very..." she gesticulates at Ludwig in an attempt to find the proper words. "They said you were very tall."

 

[KittenMaster]

The elf makes his way to the driver's compartment of the wagon. He takes a moment to observe the rangers for a moment, before announcing from the wagon, "Yes, we have reported as such." Not wanting to have to explain why they are taking on an investigation of their own when the Rangers are around, he tries to word his following question vaguely enough that it could sound like they may want to avoid danger, rather than seek it, "Have you heard news of their activity in the recent vicinity?"

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

((MikeM:

Spoiler

Portent rolls are 13 and 1.

))

After a long night delving into the ruins of Val Atere, a young elf climbs his way out of its last remaining entrance, a warped and crumbling well. Coming up after him is a wiry, middle-aged human and a small, cloaked figure. After recovering from the climb, they set camp in the ruin of a nearby sepulcher. The remains of fanged gargoyles and shapely feminine statues litter the grounds around their makeshift shelter. Once they have a fire going, they set out the spoils of their expedition.

"A decent haul, I've got to say." Says the human. His yellow eyes cast upon jewels and a well-crafted sword, still sharp despite centuries of neglect. "Perhaps they won't notice if a few trinkets don't quite make it back to the university in transit..."
The gnome, her hood falling behind her head from the force, bolts upright. "How dare you! These are priceless artifacts, not some booty to be sold to the highest bidder. We are not looters, Charet."
"Easy now, Methesa, of course I'm joking. They'd probably notice anyway, at least when Val Atere pieces start showing up on the black market." Charet eases himself back onto a nearby pillar, using his bedroll as a cushion. "How about you, Thosar? Now that you've finished your first archaeological expedition, do you want more? You've certainly got the talent."
The elf gazes into the fire for a short time before answering. "Perhaps, but I rather detest having to play errand boy for lazy professors. If I'm going to be expending the sweat of my brow, then I'd damn well better get some credit for the trouble. Or at least something resembling a real wage." He stokes the fire a bit more.
"Fair enough, though most professions treat their lowest employees almost as well as horse dung under a boot. Except maybe the nobles."
The talk goes on well into the night and Thosar takes mid watch. During his observations, he notices strange patterns in the sky. The paths of the oneiroi are peculiar, almost unnatural, compared to the other bodies. He takes out some parchment and considers the equations needed to account for their movement along the firmament.

 

[Axelhortsemchi]

Faced with government soldiers who ultimately share a similar goal with their group, Ludwig forces a smile and offers a bemused shrug. "Well, if the lokash'thu [draconic:

Spoiler

hoof cover

] fits."

"That was indeed us. There were some nasty buggers out here earlier." The J'raffa keeps a smile plastered on with Fheiss's question, knowing that as dogs of the government they are by definition incapable of finding any new developments in a timely manner.

((Song:

Spoiler

Can I assume Galen talked to Ludwig about building those covers, or were you planning to do a scene for that?

))

 

[Song of Fire]

((Axel:

Spoiler

It would be fine to assume that. If we were to play it out, I had been thinking Galen would be likely to bring it up at the start of the day. We also have some trees here that might be useable, at least if we take time right now to get stuff ready (which I kind of doubt), and Galen would be willing to help cover any costs. It also comes to mind that, as long as the party is here, we could see if Mike M would allow us to take the “worthless” gnoll armor to better fortify the covers, if they had any. As it is, they would likely be kind of flammable.

Galen is going to need to Insight these guys:

Spoiler

[14]+5=19

He will also be on the lookout for any, well, anything at the site of their past deadly battle:

Spoiler

[12]+3=15

On another note, can anyone prestidigitate the gnolls’ remains to smell like a field of flowers?))

As they arrive at the site, Galen sits in the wagon, seeming as if in thought. He will look at the rangers as they approach, and as they converse, and he watches their surroundings, but his gaze does not linger for long on the remains of their fallen foes.

The smell assaults his senses, and he tries to shut it out.

 

[Mike M]

The squad captain shakes her head at Fheiss's question. "The gnoll population has been pacified for years, this is the first I've heard of them daring a direct assault since I joined the corps. The hobgoblins organizing themselves was enough of a headache on its own, now we've this to contend with..."

To Galen's eye, there is little to suggest that these four are attempting to beguile anyone on any level. They probably have a background of hunting--both animal and humanoid--that distinguished them as the best individuals among the forces amassed at the black tower to conduct an investigation of the gnoll incident.

A glance over the battle site in the light of day reveals an interesting detail; the ground trod upon by what Barrow identified as the Fangs of Yeenoghu appears to be blighted, as though their aura of corruption proved anathema to all life in the soil they stood upon. These patches of dead and decaying grass weren't present when the party had left the morning immediately after the fight, so it seems logical to conclude that the effect took some time to become visually apparent.

How considerate of them to leave such a clearly marked trail to trace.

 

[Song of Fire]

Galen hops out of the wagon and addresses the squad captain. “It is indeed a troubling matter, and we fear one that cannot be taken lightly. Just the hobgoblins is one thing, disconcerting in itself, but both them and the gnolls, and with the timing of it all, that may make it another matter entirely.”

Galen walks over to the nearest of the trails of defiled land and flora, kneeling to look at it. “And all the worse, so my companions more learned in the divine indicate: they were not all ordinary gnolls. Even the very ground on which they tread recoils at their passing.”

((And Nyx touched those things…

On another note, I’ve been struggling a bit on what to choose for Galen’s revised favored enemy: humanoid is now an acceptable option, and I can see Galen having either that or monstrosities. Sadly, he cannot have both. I am actually leaning toward humanoid on account of how commonly he would see them, but I thought I would see if anyone else had any thoughts on this.))

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

((Humanoid is a solid path for sure, you likely will always have some use for it. Monstrosities are a rarer, and some even capture or carry humanoids for later eating. ))

Thosar quietly takes in the scene, looking between the gnolls and the rangers. When Galen mentions the Fangs, he adds "Indeed, 3 of them were Fangs of Yeenoghu. One of those is trouble enough, considering how many gnolls they can spawn."

 

[KittenMaster]

Fhiess nods. This is twice now the rangers seemed oblivious to danger, but he acts thankful none of the less, "Very well, it does put me at ease that our encounter may help you make the roads safer for travelers like ourselves, especially in these dark times."

Though he's not entirely sincere, since the rangers had failed their safety twice already, he continues trying to maintain optimism inwardly in hopes that their continued reports do eventually make a difference in the difficulty of their travels.

 

[ThLunarian]

"A trail," says Keranos, with an air of triumph in his voice. "Then we are halfway toward victory. Barrow, guard the wagon. Ludwig,, if you are not opposed to carrying my physical body, I can scout 100 feet ahead of us as we follow the trail by traveling outside of my body. Should anyone or anything lie in wait for us, we will know about it ahead of time."

If Ludwig accepts this arrangement, Keranos will depart his body and move along the trail for 100 feet, moving further as Ludwig and the others progress forward.

 

[Axelhortsemchi]

((I will second picking humanoid. Monstrous is good at our current level but usually gets outgrown faster than humanoid.

Song:

Spoiler

Good idea, let me go ahead and check that.

Mike:

Spoiler

Any way we could salvage the remaining unsellable gnoll armor to fortify the barriers Ludwig's going to build?

))

Ludwig looks to the blight, then to the nearby, ordinary grass. Then back to the blight. Back to the grass. To the blight. Grass. Blight. "Hey, something's up with these patches of grass!"

In response to Keranos's request, Ludwig says "Sounds good, we could use some eyes ahead on the trail." He lowers down to allow the godling to climb on his back.

 

[Song of Fire]

((With two backing up humanoid, I suppose that’s settled. Interestingly enough, gnolls, apparently, are considered to be as such. I would have expected them to be monstrosities, but that’s just my imagination at work, I suppose.

And with that…))

Galen, still kneeling, places his hand above the blighted ground. It hovers there a few moments before he swings it toward the trees. He then places his palm on the healthy earth a few inches away, whispering.

((Mike M, how exactly would you say the second part of the UA Primeval Awareness functions? Would it be that the character using it needs to spend a minute doing nothing that actively requires concentration, and it then remains active until such an ability is used or the character fails a related constitution save?))

 

[Mike M]

((Axel:

Spoiler

Gnolls wear hide armor, which probably wouldn't do much to enhance the shielding you're thinking about. I'll let you scavenge it if you want, but it's not like it would fit together well to cover the wood completely. Plus it would stink of dirty gnolls, but that may actually have some advantage if you guys are going to be sneaking through gnoll country on sidequests. Up to you guys.

Song: Upon rereading it more closely, I'd rule the minute of concentration yields a snapshot of the information listed, and any subsequent update requires another uninterrupted minute.))

 

[Song of Fire]

((That sounds like it may be the most reasonable interpretation of the ability, actually. It’s much better, balance wise, than being in use indefinitely.

Galen’s last stated action begins the minute required for Primeval Awareness.))

 

[Mike M]

Galen takes a moment to focus on his immediate surroundings and beyond. Keyed into the natural ebb and flow of the woodlands, he applies his senses and intuition in pursuit of detecting anything that might indicate the presence of his prey within the area.

After a full minute of concentration, however, nothing reveals itself. If there are any gnolls or hobgoblins still in the woods, they are not in the immediate area. But the woods are deep indeed...

((Alright, we've got Keranos doing his out of body experience thing while Ludwig carries him. Everyone else is proceeding into the woods, I assume?))

 

[Song of Fire]

((There is no way Galen is letting his companions go into those spooky woods without him, especially searching for things that already almost killed their giraffe! Did I just say the woods are spooky? Sorry, that&#8217;s just how I imagined them when the party set up camp that fateful night&#8230;

Do the rangers have anything to say now? It feels like they&#8217;ve faded into the background.))


Galen lifts his head as his eyes open.

&#8220;There is nothing too near, it seems. Nonetheless, we should move with caution and keep our eyes and ears open.&#8221;

When the party ventures into the darkness of the woods, Galen sets to work trying to insure they find what they seek.

((

[URL="http://www.coyotecode.net/roll/lookup.php?rollid=140084"]Survival to track[/URL]: [SPOILER][18]+5=23[/SPOILER]

Almost wasted [URL="http://www.coyotecode.net/roll/lookup.php?rollid=140085"]advantage tracking humanoids[/URL]: [SPOILER][19]+5=24[/SPOILER]

And Perception to see [URL="http://www.coyotecode.net/roll/lookup.php?rollid=140088"]what may lurk around[/URL]: [SPOILER][8]+3=11[/SPOILER]

Mike M:

Spoiler

It was a bit late, but I realized backgrounds are kind of integral to characters in 5e, so I gave Galen Outlander, as Sage seemed a bit off for him and fits Thosar much better. If I am mistaken about this, Galen's survival roles should be lowered by three.

))

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

((If they weren't spooky before, they're spooky now with all that demon corruption.))
Thosar summons Kesa to his side, setting her out to scout ahead of the party along the tree tops. He stays near with Ludwig and Keranos' comatose body.


Perception for Kesa w/ advantage:
1D20+3 = [7]+3 = 10
1D20+3 = [14]+3 = 17

 

[Axelhortsemchi]

((With it being October now, it only makes sense that the woods are spooky.

Song:

Spoiler

It looks like the gnolls' hide armor will do very little to boost the defense of the barriers, and will make them smell like dirty gnolls. Since we are going through gnoll territory and it's kind of your idea, I figured I'd run it by you since I'm take it or leave it on smelly barriers.

))

With some of the others looking ahead, Ludwig uses his height to keep a look out for anything trying to sneak up on them as they move forward. Or tries to, anyway. He still hasn't quite got the hang of managing the thicker tree lines that come with forests.

[url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=140133]Perception: 1D20 + 3 = [7]+3 = 10
[/url]

 

[Mike M]

One of the redshirts rangers chuckles at Galen's pronouncement that the area is devoid of gnolls. "We could have told you that," he says as ties the reins of his horse to a sapling on the edge of the treeline. "Won't stay that way for long without the pack lord marking his territory, though. Some other ambitious beast will move in the moment they realize there's a vacancy in the hierarchy."

The other rangers dismount and tie off their horses near the first as Barrow volunteers to stay behind and mind the animals. Drawing their weapons--the captain and the human man favoring a pair of short swords while the tiefling and remaining woman unsling a pair of longbows--the quartet stands on the edge of the forest as Ludwig knees to allow Keranos to mount his broad back.

Once he's securely in place, Keranos goes limp as he extends his consciousness beyond the confines of his mortal flesh. As though on some unspoken signal, the group enters the woods.

The trees here are ancient, towering above even Ludwig and allowing just enough space for him to pass between their trunks. Moss drapes from their boughs like botanical stalactites, and what sunlight manages to penetrate the canopy is soft and bears a green cast. It's notably colder than it was out on the road, though not so much that it would make anyone uncomfortable.

The forest floor is a mixture of ferns, leaf litter, and mushrooms. The trail left by the Fangs is not nearly so obvious among the dead leaves, but is still strong enough that even a novice hunter would be able to track it. The trails left by the remaining four are more difficult to pick out, and progress is slow as the ranger squad pick their way forward as they follow them.

Not far into the woods, the paths diverge sharply, indicating that while the gnolls had all arrived at that spot, they had done so by varying routes. The trails go their separate ways as they meander through the woods, and those following one trail frequently lose sight of the others, if only momentarily. The rangers speculate that while the gnolls may not have been in visual contact with one another the entire time, they probably managed to maintain their relative positions by a combination of their keen sense of smell and pungent odor.

An hour of travel takes everyone deeper into the woods, where the trees are larger, the sunlight lessened, and the trails further and further apart. Only Keranos, with his elevated vantage point and extended senses is able to keep track of more than one group of people following any given trail, and even then he can't see everyone all the time.

Eventually the paths begin to draw closer together, indicating that maybe the party is drawing near to the origin point for where the pack that attacked the Endowed set out from. It grows easier to keep eyes on one another, as the larger trees are further apart from one another by virtue of their ability to choke out any sapling that may hope to take root among them.

Without warning, the taciturn tiefling lets out a yelp of surprise in some coarse language that almost hurts to listen to and drops from sight.

 

[KittenMaster]

Fhiess struggles to load his crossbow while trembling nervously, and is even afraid to step further as if he will suddenly get eaten by the heavy brush of the forest.

His thoughts start to become increasingly panicked.

Perception: 1D20+5 => (1 + 5) = 6

 

[Noisy Ninj4]

Thosar starts at the tiefling's exclamation, pointing his casting hand in that direction before. He casts his gaze about, but the shadows are long, here. He mentally asks Kesa if she can see where the trifling went.

Perception: 1D20+4 = [3]+4 = 7

 

[Axelhortsemchi]

Ludwig slowly shakes his head at the Tiefling ranger getting pulled out of sight.

"Well, that's... expected. I guess the eyes in the sky should see if they can find out what's going on. We don't want to get ambushed ourselves." The J'raffa looks around to try and spot what nabbed the Tiefling, but as he's still really bad at looking through forests, all he sees is government inefficiency in the squad of rangers.

[url=http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=140182]Perception: 1D20 + 3 = [4]+3 = 7
[/url]

 

[ThLunarian]

((Perception to see what's going on with the disappearing tiefling: [17] + 4 = 21))