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Post by Kai Wren on Sept 7, 2019 14:35:48 GMT
As far as forests went, Ardeep was practically on Waterdeep’s doorstep. A relatively modest forest not far from the city’s environs, it was a pleasant enough place and there were the usual array of strange stories about the place; mysterious towers which appear and vanish at random, strange beasts, reclusive elves, and of course the Green Glade. Sometimes, it can be easy to forget how close the strangeness of the world can be. Waterdeep is such a civilised place, where the threats and unexplained exist within the strict boundaries of the city’s logic. Yet, less than a day’s ride from its walls, there was all this! The Masked Lord sponsoring this expedition has, of course, remained anonymous – but it has been made known that it is a Masked Lord, one of the true rulers of Waterdeep, who wishes answers as to what is going on in that forest. It doesn’t pay to allow such things to go unexplained. The three adventurers have been promised a generous purse for their troubles, though there was precious little that the steward offering them payment could tell them about what to expect beyond that which was common knowledge. The Green Glade had been a pocket of Spring and burgeoning life within the heart of the forest for as long as anyone could remember. Now it was turning to Fall, with the leaves darkening and retracting without ever going into the full bloom of Summer. That seemed ominous, and perhaps that was all it was; an omen of some sort. But equally, perhaps not. Now the adventurers find themselves approaching the forest proper. Trees rise before them, tall and ancient and tightly-clustered, presenting a unified wall against the civilised folk come to pry secrets from the forest’s heart. It is a fine enough day at least; the summer weather is fair, and it will be many hours before nightfall. Why, if they are lucky, they can get the answers they need and be back in time for tea and biscuits! That all rather depends on how deep the mystery here really runs… ( Skell Jarovbees moralhazard - if you have any preparation/questions you'd like answered in advance let me know via discord.)
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Post by moralhazard on Sept 7, 2019 16:04:35 GMT
A generous purse, Miri thought to herself, grinning brightly. A very, very generous purse. It was like a delicious dollop of whipped cream atop an enormous slice of fruit pie, that little extra bit that transformed the day into something delightful.
To start, it was, in fact, a beautiful summer day – not too hot, but also no signs of distant storms brewing on the horizon. For once, Miri wasn’t even hungover, although that was largely by accident; she had fully intended to get drunk the night before, but she had been thoroughly side-tracked, and she couldn’t even quite bring herself to regret it. She had, at least, still gotten to the meeting place on time, albeit barely.
Miri had also been thoroughly pleased to meet her companions on this fine adventure; the handsome half-drow and the alluring firbolg both seemed like excellent travel companions, and Miri had wasted no time at all in acquainting herself with them both, offering her name, a very pleasant smile, and slightly lingering handshakes. She had been happy to pass the time in whatever conversation they cared to offer, so long as it didn’t involve talking about herself in any way more than the utterly superficial – but, then, Miri was a long hand at turning such conversations aside, redirecting them with cheerful quips, flirtatious comments, or seemingly natural subject changes.
Miri had passed along to her companions what little she had learned in the city, while being characteristically vague about where said information had come from: namely, that there were no criminal enterprises operating in Ardeep Forest that might explain this mystery. She had gone on to recount – in lengthy, humorous and largely improvised detail – the story of a smuggler who, only two decades earlier, had attempted to hide goods in the forest and been brutally murdered by the local elves, by way of explanation.
And now? Now, finally, they had reached the forest. Miri’s studded leather armor was polished and clean. Snubnose the weasel-shaped familiar sat draped over Miri’s shoulders, his small chin tucked on his paws, nose twitching occasionally in the breeze. The familiar had his own name, naturally, but Miri had never quite been able to pronounce it, and they had settled on Snubnose. Well, that is to say – Miri called the familiar Snubnose, and he had not yet found a way to stop her.
And here they were at the edge of the forest. Miri glanced up at the tall wall of trees, arching her head back. She scooped Snubnose off her shoulders, and rolled them side to side, checking her equipment – rapier, shortbow, arrows, daggers, and dual shortswords, not to mention the handful of assorted useful bits she had brought.
“Well,” Miri said, cheerfully, hands on her hips. Snubnose let out an irritated squeak and scrambled back up Miri's armor, settling on her shoulders once more. “Any idea how one goes about finding the heart of a forest?” She turned to Solstice, grinning, expectant.
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Jarovbees
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Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on Sept 7, 2019 18:52:35 GMT
It wasn't that Solstice disliked Waterdeep; far from it, the city was varied and intensely fascinating. Even though she had been a resident for months, the firbolg always seemed to discover something new about the metropolis. The fact that she had found purpose -and family- there meant it was all the more precious to her mind. She hadn't found cause to regret her trek to the city, finding roots in a place her ancestors could never have expected.
That said, there was something about the crunch of leaves under her boots, the ancient trees looming all around them and the scent of pine in the air that spoke to her as nothing else did. Her people -her original people- were forest-dwellers, and though she couldn't remember much about that life, that sense of belonging was stamped into her as well. Every step seemed to encourage a smile from her lips and a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. The natural beauty around her...this was as much worth protecting as the Ward that had become her home, as much as the slivers of Mielikki's grace within the city itself. Her good mood, apparently never dampened for too long, ascended to new heights on atmosphere alone.
There was the job, too, of course. The promised coin was nice, and would go a long way toward funding the life she'd come to share in that Castle Ward home. And yet, it wasn't the sole or even main motivator for the firbolg paladin. Her ties of the Emerald Enclave kept her attuned to possible areas of concern, and given that Ardeep forest was so close in proximity, she couldn't resist answering the call as soon as she'd heard about it.
As they continued, Solstice glanced at Snubnose and grinned, resisting the urge to pet another's familiar. Now was not the time to get distracted by cuteness, tempting as it always was. Instead, she grew thoughtful at Miri's question. Whether Miri knew much about Solstice's kind or not, it was a question she could answer with more than a joke.
"Keep a lookout for any friendly-looking creatures. I'm no druid or ranger, but I've a way of making myself understood to plants and animals, though I can understand the latter only with a spell I've prepared. Even without it, I might be able to do something...." She stepped ahead a bit further and rested a hand on the trees as they passed, along with any annoying undergrowth, simply repeating as often as needed that the trio simply wanted passage and were not there to harm the forest in any way. They only wished to understand, and help.
(Using Speech of Beast and Leaf: You have the ability to communicate in a limited manner with beasts and plants. They can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return. You have advantage on all Charisma checks you make to influence them.)
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Jarovbees
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Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on Sept 8, 2019 14:15:53 GMT
Persuasion check, advantage: 7_zyom3S1d20+5 1d20+51d20+5·1d20+5
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Post by Skell on Sept 8, 2019 15:04:39 GMT
He was inspecting potions in the House of Healing when he heard some alchemists speaking about the Green Glade.
Ilar was no strange to the name. A clearing on Ardeep Forest where spring was everlasting. Still a boy he thought the place was a part of Feywild that bled into the North. After all, the Fair Folk was well known for its connection with nature and their world was a place where the influence of magic was always strong. It wouldn’t be strange if the seasons never changed in their land. Now he knew better. Feywild is called, amongst other things, the Twilight Kingdom, for there the sun rests low in the sky, never rising or setting, a feature the Green Glade wasn’t known to share.
They spoke about how the eternal spring seemed to be ending and the leaves on the clearing becoming brown. More interestingly, they spoke that a call had just been put out for investigators. A Masked Lord wanted to know what was happening and would pay good coin for it. Relatively easy coin for Ilar. He didn’t know that much about magic or nature, but he had a flying scout at his will and considering that the city wasn’t under direct risk, the chances of finding something too dangerous were probably slim.
Leaving the city he met with his new companions. The first one he saw was a woman of red hair and bluish skin - or was it fur? Easily over seven feet she wore dark plate armor and carried a well decorated shield. Adamantine plate, he recognized. A costly material that only the richest or the strongest could afford. Ilar decided the redheaded woman was one of the later. If she was just a rich girl not even her shield would be made from another metal. She knows what she’s doing. He noticed the other woman soon after. She had a beautiful dark skin, a short, curly, thick black hair, and brown eyes. Used leather armor and carried a rapier on her sword belt. This one must be agile.
On the way to the glade Ilar suggested they exchanged names and spoke of their practical abilities. The taller woman was Solstice and as her weaponry suggested preferred the frontlines. She also suggested the rest of the group stayed within thirty feet of her during the travel. Something about her sword warning of ambushes. A magic item, he deduced. The dark-haired woman was Miri and on her own words could handle both close and ranged combat. She showed a weasel, her familiar, while saying she could do a handful of spells and was pretty good with her hands. At that point, she ran a coin over her fingers while winking. Ilar only noticed the coin was his when she gave it back.
”My name is Ilar and I fight at distance, but can get up close and personal if anyone gives me a weapon that is not two-handed.” He spoke adjusting the shield in his arm. “That and I can put a scout on the air.”
Saying that he listened Mirri tell the strangely comic history of the murder of a smuggler and started to think if she was one of the Harpers. That would explain how she came upon that information but by the time they reached the edge of the forest he had convinced himself that such coincidence would be too good to be true. She then asked about their real destination and while Solstice took the lead he called upon Hyde. The Imp manifested under guise of a raven, as he was commanded to do since the day before.
“Should I use this guy to keep eye from above?” He asked pointing to the familiar in his shoulder while Solstice took the lead, telling repeatedly to the forest that they meant no harm. “I’ll need a guiding arm while I do that, though.”
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Post by Kai Wren on Sept 8, 2019 18:01:06 GMT
It feels as though the forest understands Solstice’s intent. It is hard to tell for certain, but the sense of the space as the trio enter is welcoming. The forest is an untamed one; a space which has not seen the intrusion of civilisation. There is no clear cut path, no easy trail made by fellow travellers. But for all that, Solstice does seem to smooth the passage somewhat. Just by dint of her presence, calming and soothing as it is, the trio do not feel like they are trespassers. They are understood to be showing the proper respect to the residents of this place.
It is strange to believe that such a wild place can exist so close to Waterdeep and yet remain untouched by it. Here, the trees crowd together and animals have the run of the place. There are plenty of observers to the passage of the three outsiders. Squirrels, birds, and all manner of other small and scurrying creatures watch or flee ahead of them.
At first, at least, it seemed as though the most challenging part of the day would be finding where they needed to go. The forest wasn’t the largest in Faerun, not by a long shot, but that is scant comfort when pressing into unfamiliar territory. It is very easy indeed to get turned around…
(I’ll take survival checks from everyone – with advantage because of Solstice’s pleasant chat with the trees)
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Post by moralhazard on Sept 8, 2019 18:03:16 GMT
Miri's survival check (advantage): l65CSj681d20 or 1d201d20·1d20
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Jarovbees
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Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on Sept 8, 2019 18:33:47 GMT
Survival check (advantage): Y_EMFAZs1d20 1d201d20·1d20
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Post by Skell on Sept 8, 2019 20:00:54 GMT
Survival check (with advantage): fEyi6wRJ1d20+1 or 1d20+11d20+1·1d20+1
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Post by Nascha on Sept 8, 2019 20:49:10 GMT
As the trio pushed deeper into the forest, though, things changed.
It was difficult to pinpoint the exact moment, but there was something in the air – an uncertainty which niggled at the back of one’s mind and refused to let go. It was similar, in some ways, to the sense one gets just before a storm breaks, but the sky above – through the canopy of trees – seemed perfectly clear. There was no sign of a change in the weather…
They all saw the tracks though; whilst there was no clear path through the forest, there was a trail which had been left by… something. Something large. It started relatively subtly; a few trampled plants here or there, which was not unusual in a place as wild and vibrant as this.
Then they saw the broken tree; a sizeable tree perhaps as wide around as the average man, splintered in half as though by a massive impact. And another a dozen or so feet away from it.
If they were heading towards the centre of the forest, this would take them a little more towards the east if they followed that trail – but then, whatever was smashing down trees would probably be… quite the threat, wouldn’t it? Was trailing it even wise?
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Post by moralhazard on Sept 9, 2019 2:09:22 GMT
Miri let out a slow, soft whistle, raising her eyebrows sharply at the tracks in front of them. “Those are,” she said, slowly, “quite the tracks.”
She turned back to Solstice and Ilar, grinning brightly. Snubnose chittered a warning, curling himself more firmly around Miri’s shoulders. “What do you think?” Miri grinned. “Shall we follow it? Something that big – maybe at least it knows what’s going on in here.
Miri raised her eyebrows at Solstice. “Think you’ll be able to talk to it?”
Miri turned to Ilar next, and grinned. “Think it’ll want to talk to us?”
Miri wasn’t much of a tracker, in truth, but she did her best to see if she could learn anything further from the tracks, studying them, hoping to find out anything beyond just ‘something big went this way.’
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Jarovbees
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Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on Sept 9, 2019 4:00:34 GMT
Solstice grew more attentive and less talkative the deeper they went; it wasn't that she found her companions poor company, but the shift in atmosphere was notable, and something that deserved her full attention. There was a tension in the air that couldn't be ignored, even as the large trail made her wonder just what they were dealing with. Her eyebrows rose as she noted that broken tree; whatever splintered it had to be formidable, indeed.
Shifting her gaze to Miri upon being addressed, Solstice nods. "I'll certainly try, of course. Whether or not it's willing to have a chat is another issue, but it won't be for lack of understanding. At the very least, it would seem to be something we should know more about, for the sake of understanding this area better."
Then she glanced over to Ilar and that scouting companion he had mentioned, thoughtful. If his familiar could gain them some valuable information, why not? She flashed an encouraging smile. "Care to follow it, see where the path leads? An aerial view is one we're sorely lacking. As for guidance, you're welcome to place a hand on my arm if you'd like. If there's trouble around us, we'll let you know."
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Post by Skell on Sept 9, 2019 23:40:00 GMT
The deeper they went in the forest the harder the terrain became and Ilar could not avoid thinking the nightmare that would be to walk in there during the winter. Ice and snow would create a mantle, hiding every root and hole on the ground, making traps of them. A single moment of distraction would suffice to fall, sprain an ankle or worse. The idea was enough to make him grateful for the summer, even though he normally preferred the colder seasons.
Didn’t take much time for them to find the first tracks. Trampled vegetation did not surprise him. He was, after all, used to making his way from the Glimmerwood to Silverymoon and such marks were common occurrence in any deep forest. The same could not be said of a snapped tree. It was as a wide as a man and yet it laid down, broken as if was no more than a simple branch. Not even twenty feet from it they could see another tree in the same conditions.
Miri was the first to ask about whatever creature left that trail. A really capable warrior must know when to fight, his master Vinden used to say when telling histories of his days as a mercenary. He must keep his energies for when is truly necessary. Ilar never doubt the truth of these words. The old age of his mentor was enough proof of their worth, but how could he know when was the right moment to fight? He still remembered his first battles, when halfway the confrontations he had already spent all of his spells. A situation he wanted to avoid as much as possible.
They were a balanced team, with a front liner, a melee attacker and himself being able to fight from distance but more than that Ilar wanted to know how much his companions could make of those marks. He wanted to further investigate the tracks. If they went further away from their destination, then was possible to avoid the creature. But was that really the best idea? What if the animal was somehow related to what was happening with the Green Glade? If it were some sort of familiar or trained beast them it probably would appear soon after they entered the clearing, maybe adding to a number of enemies. Then would be better to kill it alone, assuming it is alone at all.
He was ready to pose his doubts to the group when Solstice answered his question from before, asking for the bird eyes that that made he think that maybe the investigation could be a simple matter. As I imagined, she’s experienced, Ilar thought to himself, recognizing her idea as the best course of action. They needed more information to make a proper decision. She offered her arm with a promise to warn him should anything happen . If what she told about her sword is true, then that’s a relief, he thought looking at the armored warrior.
“Thank you. I must say, I can see and hear through him no matter the distance so we don’t need to advance right now but if you prefer...” Ilar started, taking her forearm with his right hand. “Free yourself from my hand and I’ll consider we are in danger. If any of you tap me, I’ll consider you want information about what I’m seeing.” He said looking first to Solstice and then to Miri.
While his mind slipped away from his body the color starter to bled from his already pale eyes until only white remained. The raven on his shoulder took flight and he now was seeing the world from the air, following the tracks he had noticed before, expecting to notice some sort of giant creature in the forest.
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Post by Kai Wren on Sept 13, 2019 15:45:39 GMT
(Sorry for the delay guys - I'll take another survival check from you Skell please)
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Post by Skell on Sept 14, 2019 10:33:46 GMT
Survival check: s6Sdo|4x1d20+11d20+1
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