[DnD 4E] A Point of Light - Act IV: The New World

dresdenphile

Sound good!

Steelhawk

Onwards!

susan

Alright! Moving forward; lemmie know if you want to reverse or anything.

Leaving your impromptu shelter after a night of uneasy but necessary rest, you head out into the woods in search of a city that existed 500 years ago and that might be your best hope at finding your way around this big bad continent. The directions in the old notes are cryptic at best, misleading at worst, but between the descriptions, the old landmarks, and some common sense, you just may get there in one piece if it's there at all anymore...

Skill Challenge Time!

Navigating the Woods to your destination! Write a brief descriptor, roll a skill, and I'll make notes about your journey through the woods. Use relevant skills and explain how you are doing so, and I'll let you know when you've got enough successes to arrive as well as the consequences of the failures you collect.

El Skid

Aurora, being at home in the forests as she is, puts herself in charge of finding food and searching for tracks- both of possible game that could be their dinner on the way, but also could be tracks of either the patrols out to find them or the goblins they are seeking.

Nature: 1d20+10 25

susan

Aurora is able to find some paths of newer growth where she believes old thoroughfares used to be and which would make sense to lead from a Port to a major City.

1 Success, 0 Failures.

dresdenphile

Kardak does his best to keep his senses sharp, both for signs of the city and any potential pursuers.

Spoiler:

Perception: 1d20+12 16

daniant

Una scours her memory for knowledge of goblin cities and what signs might indicate the outskirts of the same.

Spoiler:

History: 1d20+13 21

susan

Kardak attempts to keep his eyes and ears sharp during the journey, but the accumulated aches of the past few days and the mental weight of the journey dulls his senses and makes him miss important details.

1 Success, 1 Failure.

Unamorra searches her hundred memories and remembers some of the tree signs that old Goblinoid tribes would make to signal their hunting parties of game trails and safe havens. She shares the information with the rest of the party who turn their attention to the surrounding woods armed with knowledge.

2 Successes, 1 Failure.

Farangu

A heads up: I've started a new job and been in a car accident over the last few days, so I won't be on much of this week. If Messat starts to hold up the party, feel free to have him be witty/antagonistic as appropriate.

Steelhawk

Hope you're OK, Farangu.

Sir Vashtak is not going to be much help in this skill challenge. I can roll endurance, but am greatly hampered by the plate armor. Can Sir Vashtak hump through the jungle without the armor on, but have it ready before we get into any fights? Pretty Please?

I'll roll it both ways and see what Susan decides...


Sir Vashtak, not being very knowledgeable in the wilds nevertheless moves fowards with the party, plodding onwards with determination

Endurance (With Armor/Without Armor) = 2 or 20

susan

Yes, you can do that Steel. And I hope you're doing alright Farangu!

The noble Dragonborn assists his companions by lightening their loads during the trek, allowing them to better concentrate on their surroundings and think about where to proceed.

3 Successes, 1 Failure.

El Skid

So only Farangu to go, or do we need to make a second check each?

susan

Sounds like Farangu's gonna be busy for a few days, so go ahead with your next round of posts.

dresdenphile

Kardak tries to clear his head and help his companions find a safe route through the forest, this time with much better success.

Perception: 1d20+12 26

Much better.

El Skid

Throughout the journey, Aurora takes the lead, clearing the way through dense underbrush, climbing steep slopes first so that others can climb up easier, and even climbed a tree so that the group could get their bearings when they were lost.

Athletics check to clear the way through the forest, climb steep slopes to drop a rope for the others etc: 1d20+13 25

daniant

Una analyzes the lichen pattern on the trees to make sure they are still headed in the right direction.

Spoiler:

Nature: 1d20+7 15

Steelhawk

Lets try something different...

Sir Vashtak uses his knowledge of herbs and poultices to keep the party hale and hearty. Taking care of rashes, and scratches and infections suffered along the way from new and unusual plant and insect life.

Heal = 25

susan

After about a day of marching through the forests, Kardak quickly raises a hand to alert your group of a Dragonborn patrol cutting through brush in the near distance. The group goes to ground, aided by Aurora's quick work bringing down cover from the nearby trees and forming a hasty shelter that the Dragonborn just walk on by. There's dangers in these woods...

Unamorra attempts to use her knowledge to get a better understanding of the woods, but inadvertently touches a venomous root and breaks out in a rash. Vashtak is able to help her out, thankfully, with some hastily applied salves from plants collected by Aurora.

You're getting close; you're not sure how you know, but you do...

6 Successes, 2 Failures.

El Skid

Aurora's sharp eyes were as sharp as ever, searching for signs of the city, and for dangers the forest might hold.

Perception check to find the city and/or get us out of trouble: 1d20+12 25

susan

Aurora is walking through the forest when her keen senses pick up on a sound coming from a few miles away through the woods. She isn't quite sure what she heard, but it was certainly not natural and warrants further investigation...

7 Successes, 2 Failures.

dresdenphile

Kardak tries to make the group as quiet as possible, but the kobold does nothing but stir up the local fauna with his tramping.

Stealth: 1d20+13 16

susan

The noise Kardak makes echoes through the woods, before and behind you. If there's someone out there, odds are they heard that, so you'll need to act fast to salvage your situation...

7 Successes, 3 Failures, and this is totally an '8 Successes before 4 Failures' challenge :twisted: .

PS - PAX is this weekend, and I'll be there Thursday-Sunday. Expect extremely slow posting during that window, at least from me.

Steelhawk

Crap. Vashtak's big skills are Intimidate (+12) and Diplomacy (+10). I suppose Vashtak could let out a feral howl and try to scare off the beasties in the woods....but maybe Una could try something more appropriate?

daniant

Una, nervous and worried, takes a knee and prays.

"Pelor, let your light shine on us in our hardship. Guide us safely to the city and help us in our interactions with the natives."

Religion: 1d20+13 26

susan

Alright, PAX has ended, so sorry for the extended delay. Needless to say, Una got your last check in there and nailed it, so you'll be going into this next bit well informed and equipped. Not sure if I'll get the update in tonight, but if I don't I'll try for tomorrow evening.

susan

Alright, onward!

Your party scans the treeline and Unamorra drops to her knees and prays. You can all definitely hear something now, the sound of rustling in the woods like something or somethings are moving towards the noise that Kardak made. With your unfamiliarity of the surrounding woods and your heavily-laden warriors carrying their armor over their backs, there's no realistic way for you to avoid what's coming. You simply must be ready, whatever it is.

You all jump with a start when a voice comes out behind you in a hushed squeak. "Pelor? You are of the Church of Light?" You turn to see a single solitary Goblin standing almost invisibly in a bush behind you. He looks less green than he ought to, and is stick-thin and malnourished wearing the same rags you recognize from the Prison Camp. His yellow eyes are practically bulging out of his overlarge skull and his face looks hopeful. As he locks gazes with Unamorra, he scrambles at his sleeve, rolling it up over his bony shoulder to show you all the faded image of a Pelor icon tattooed into his flesh. He gestures quickly to you with jerky movements, "Come, follow quick, the hunters will find you if you do not!"

El Skid

Aurora looked quickly at the Goblin, and unable to read his face she shrugged and motioned to the others. "We don't have much choice- let's go" she whispered to the rest of the group.

Spoiler:

Insight check to see the Goblin's motives: 1d20+5 6 woooo natural one!

Steelhawk

"Praise be..." Sir Vashtak whispers, clutching his holy symbol. "Pelor answers our prayers, friends! Come!"

Sir Vashtak takes the appearance of the goblin as a sign from his God. He will trust the goblin based on faith.

dresdenphile

Kardak, embarrassed by his ineffective attempts at being stealthy, says a silent prayer to Ioun and follows the others.

daniant

"Dearest goblin," whispers Una, "you are the surest sign that The Sun still smiles in these dark times."

She looks back hopefully to her friends and follows the little goblin forward.

susan

You follow the Goblin as he skirts from shrub to shrub, following him into the thick of the woods and down a nearby slope. Halfway down he stops and gestures towards a dead stump, which you suddenly realize is half covering an opening that you can squeeze into. With little prompting, you do so, and find yourselves in a tight but hidden cave with a pair of other escaped prisoners, another Goblin and a Halfling who stare at you with wide eyes and shell-shocked expressions.

After you all pile into the hole, the Goblin gestures for you to remain silent and disappears back into the woods. You hear the sound of the approaching hunters a few minutes later; it sounds like they've stopped near where you did and are talking amongst themselves. They stay there for a few more moments, then move on away from you. The Goblin appears soon after with a wide grin, and softly says, "They go the wrong way. I make that happen. Hunters are stupid."

Your Goblin savior slides into the cave and moves up next to the other two escaped prisoners. They all huddle together for warmth, exchanging wary glances towards your group before the one who has spoken before asks you, "What are you doing here? This is Hunting Ground; you will be cut down and gifted to Dragons if you stay here."

El Skid

"My thanks for saving us, friend. I am Aurora, and my companions and I are new to this place- we didn't know of this Hunting Ground until we heard the pursuit." The Shifter smiled at the goblin, genuinely happy to make his acquaintance.

susan

Sorry, messy week, will update tomorrow.

susan

The Goblin shook his head, "Hunting ground never safe. Hunting Ground where the warrior Kin find their prey. Strangers should not go out there. I only safe because from here, and I not very safe either."

The Goblin scoots forward and extends a calloused hand, "I am Dixon Skellfaun, of the Skellfaun clan. We live in these woods for a hundred generations, back to when the land was ours and the Dragons slept. And you are the warriors who burned the walls of the Prison. You helped us escape. How can we help you?"

Steelhawk

"Well met Dixon Skellfaun, I am Sir Vashtak. Holy Paladin in service to our lord Pelor. We are in your lands from across the seas. Strangers lost in a strange land. We seek shelter and supplies and information to help on our quest. Can you help us find a city or town?"

susan

The Goblin's eyes go wide at Vashtak's words, "Oh, a Paladin! I never believed I would see a Paladin!" He seems to shake himself and come back to his senses. "City or town? No, no city or town. Not for many leagues from here. The Hunters travel in camps, like my kin. We have no more than few dozen families together at one camp. I want to find my family, find our caravan again. Hunters took me from it many months past."

Dixon scratches at the back of his neck and thinks before saying more. "You want City? Why you want City? My Caravan will help. We keep the Lord of Light in our hearts. Help me find my Caravan, we help you find your way, deal?"

El Skid

Aurora looks around at the others and shrugs. "We need your help to accomplish our mission, and I think together we should be able to find your caravan. I'm not sure if we'll want to travel with the entire caravan once we've found it, but if you're willing to offer us whatever aid we need once we find it then I think we have a deal. Unless anyone objects..."

Steelhawk

"Nay," Sir Vashtak responds to Aurora, "I would very much like to meet this nomadic tribe of Pelor worshipping goblins. The Lord of Light has brought us together, my friends. They will be able to help us, I am sure."

Sir Vashtak seems to have placed a fair bit of importance on the chance meeting of a random goblin in the woods. But hey, Paladins and religious zeal. Whaddya gonna do?

daniant

"That would be wonderful, friend. I am sure Pelor brought us together. Your help is a blessing." And Una kneels next to the goblin, imparting a sacrament upon the little creature.

"May the lord of light guide you to your family. May your life be fruitful all the days of your life. Your righteousness will be a beacon in dark times.". Una takes a flask of water out of her bag and sprinkles a little over the goblin's head and draws a semicircle over his head.

"Now let's go!" she says.

susan

The talkative Goblin smiles wide at your enthusiasm... and then his smile falters, and he quirks his head to the side. He's trying to pick out a sound coming from outside, a sound that you think you can hear too, coming from a couple hills away...

Perception 20:

Spoiler:

You think you hear the sound of shouting, and some sounds of thumping or some kind of metal on metal. Not a fight per se, but possibly 'fight-esque'. It's a couple minutes away through the thick underbrush...
Perception 25:

Spoiler:

You can definitely make out a couple different sets of voices, all yelling at eachother. The pounding and metal sounds like just that; people banging poles or spears or shields together, possibly trying to psyche out the other party and posture. You don't think it's a rumble, but it certainly sounds like a rumble may occur if cooler heads don't prevail. The accents, as far as you can make out, sound half Goblinoid, half Dragonborn...