Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

[Marullus]

Amistad? Directions for Akkara?

[Spearmint]

Blackjack' Amistad

swigs from Toll's Potion of Growth, (growing if the same as the guide book says a full 24'ft in height) and raising his shield and hand axe bellows in common ,"Leave my little friends alone, we seek safe passage and not trouble." he has already used his totem roar power so hopes the sudden growing spurt will be enough to surprise the Cyclops as they face someone of similar height.





if I was a rogue enough I might well have told Akaraa to 'quick drink this potion of healing' and giving her the growth potion. He may have shouted then, "She yours if you can catch her...!"

[Marullus]

Creative!

The cyclops bellows its threat - Olaf turns and flees, Achaedany slips into the woodline, and Akkara holds her bow uncertainly. Earc casts his spell as Blackjack quaffs his thick, yellow potion.

The largest cyclops shakes off Earc's spell, blinking his eye furiously to dispel the momentary feeling of flashing lights. This gives enough time for Blackjack's potion to take effect, however, as the ebony-skinned lumberjack suddenly enlarges to the height of the trees himself. Blackjack bellows, intimidating the Cyclops family - they step back uncertainly, cowed by the sudden evening of the playing field. The large female puts her hands up, pushing the red-tufted boy behind her as she backs away from the clearing, pausing only to grab her stringer of eels. It appears they're willing to withdraw if the party lets them...

Date/Time: 3:30pm, 10 July 2021
Light: Sunlight
Distance travelled: just over 1 mile
Injuries: Achaedany (seriously wounded), Akkara (seriously wounded), Blackjack (moderately injured)

save vs spell [1d20] = 10

Adjudication: I'll allow a -4 bonus on the CHA roll (max in the book) for the creative use of the potion.
CHA [4d6-4] = 10-4 = 6
It works! (IF it didn't, the Cyclops would've demanded single combat against the new-giant-amistad due to the challenge to its territory.)

[Zhym]

Olaf pulls up. "Ach," he says, turning to where he thinks the others are, right behind him. "That be close! Are ye—Ach!"

Two realizations dawn at once. One: the rest of the party did not flee. Two: and much more distressing: he is surrounded by trees.

Olaf rushes back to the rest of the group in a fast-walk that's not nearly as casual as he hopes it is.

[Alethan]

Earc, concerned about the cyclops shrugging off the effects of his Magical easily, calls up to Blackjack to let the one-eyed giants escape for the time being, sure they will likely have to deal with them at a later date.

When the cyclops are gone, Earc suggests they take full advantage of Blackjack's temporary strength and size and have him carry the heavy loot so they can increase their movement speed and get back to Gaul that much sooner.

[Spearmint]

with a rant and rave after the retreating Cyclops, Amistad scoops up the hoard and walks off quickly while the potion is in effect. (Being careful not to step on Olaf as he appears in the undergrowth).

[Marullus]

Amistad is able to scoop up the pushcarts in his now gigantic arms, allowing the group to follow far more rapidly through the heavy forest. It is a good 90 minutes before the potion begins to wear off and they must again begin their burdened trudge. During that brief time, they covered about as much distance as they did in the six hours that followed. The ever-present rains return, beginning around 6:00pm with heavy drops plopping through the canopy until everything is soaked, worsening into a heavy downpour by the time twilight arrives. The pleasant low-60s temperature of the afternoon begins to drop as both rain and night fall.

At about 10:00pm, the sun begins towards its nightly abode; the eternal twilight continues for a few more days, but here under the forest canopy it is not sufficient to continue to see by as it might be out on the plains. The group finds a convenient clearing amidst the tall oak trees and makes a hasty campsite with some erected coverings and a fire to dry you out as much as you can amidst the continuing downpour. The trees around you creak and groan with the rain and wind, but the rainy woodland offers no other concerns to trouble you as you set your watches and get some rest.

It is Olaf's watch and he sits by the campfire, watching the trees suspiciously in the dim flicker of the firelight. His first watch is near an end - the others might laugh at him, but those trees can't be trusted. As he sees the branches swaying, he realizes that there is very little wind and that the rain is coming down in almost straight sheets... those branches are moving, not blowing. Then he notices the trees are LOOKING at him, and his campfire. They have the campsite surrounded, at least a half-dozen trees with faces in their bark, discernable in the darkness.

Date/Time: 11:41pm, 10 July 2021
Light: Campfire
Weather: 53 degrees, winds 6-11mph WSW
Distance travelled: about 4 miles today
Injuries: Achaedany (seriously wounded), Akkara (seriously wounded), Blackjack (moderately injured)

[Zhym]

If Olaf's eyes were as big as dinner plates when he saw the one-eyed giants, they're like serving platters now. And not the little ones you'd use for fruits and such, but the big ones you'd put whole roast boars on.

"I knew it! I knew it!" he says. Well, now that the others see the trees waving their branches and looking at them, all scary-like, they'll have to believe him! Why, right now they're probably—

—sleeping. Everyone else is sleeping. And he doesn't even have an axe!

With a gulp, he backs away from the trees and nudges the others awake with his foot (starting with Earc).

[Alethan]

Earc awakens quickly at the nudge of Olaf's boot and he quickly assesses the situation while Olaf wakes the others.

"Er... greetings, powerful trees of the forest,"he manages in a steady voice, recalling stories of the sentient forests of Fanghorn from when he was little.

"How may we serve you?", he adds with a bow.

[Marullus]

The wood creaks and grown as the trees shift their branches of their own volition. The remain uncertain, watching from the edge of the firelight, not responding to Earc's words in common.

As Olaf wakes the lumberjack, Amistad is able to get a better read on the situation.
(Neutral, Amistad only)

"Fire. You bring fire to our Grove. Put out your fire, or we will."

The cold rain continues to pour on your heads, the night getting increasingly cold, except where your campsite holds it at bay.

Date/Time: 11:50pm, 10 July 2021
Light: Campfire
Weather: 53 degrees, winds 6-11mph WSW
Distance travelled: about 4 miles today
Injuries: Achaedany (seriously wounded), Akkara (seriously wounded), Blackjack (moderately injured)

[Spearmint]

Amistad

responds by telling everyone that the treemen don't like the fire. As a sign of goodwill, he will cover the flames with dust.
"We are in their grove. Not sure if that be of a sacred sort.", he says then speaks to the tree men. "We sort answers to these wild hybrids that come from the old mine tunnels. Our faerie friends and the charming fey maiden have been harassed and concerned by these deep dwelling Morlocks."

[Zhym]

"They don' think we know how to make a fire that don't burn down the forest?" huffs Olaf, keeping wary eyes on the trees.

[Marullus]

Amistad scuttles the campfire; the campsite plunges into darkness, the wet, dark, cold night descending quickly upon you, permeating everything.

The trees rustle in the deep end darkness, indifferent now that the fire is gone. You believe they recede, though it is difficult to tell.

(Without the fire, it isn't good rest. Earc will still get spells if you rest but everyone will rise with a -1 penalty to hit and saves tomorrow.)

Date/Time: Midnight, 10 July 2021
Light: None (-4 to hit)
Weather: 53 degrees, winds 6-11mph WSW
Distance travelled: about 4 miles today
Injuries: Achaedany (seriously wounded), Akkara (seriously wounded), Blackjack (moderately injured)

[Spearmint]

'Blackjack' Amistad

Thinks it is a good job he wasn't wandering about chopping axe in hand. mark this grove at least on the forest survey map. Moving on with a penalty better than not moving at all. How far away from the Frogmortons Ford are we?

[Marullus]

How far away from the Frogmortons Ford are we?

That's why I post the info at the bottom of each post for distance and time while travelling. To help this time, though, you believe you travelled 12 miles across the plains, then 20 miles through the forest to get here and you're now attempting to reverse that course. You made it 4 miles so far. In the future I won't answer these questions because I do rolls to see when you're lost. Right now you are following the river, which keeps you less lost.

[Zhym]

Olaf looks warily into the darkness. "Don't ye see? The trees want it dark so'n they can sneak up on ye!"

[Alethan]

Earc of Toll's Tower

Earc sighs and shakes his head, removing his Continual Light torch from his pack. He places it in the center of what was once the fire pit and partially shields it with the deadwood they'd gathered for firewood, to make sure it doesn't become a beacon for wandering monsters.

He covers the top of it and then intermittently on the sides - enough to allow light for the party to see by during the night, to make sure trees don't sneak up on them.

[Marullus]

okay, intent is to stay until morning? Any additional actions?

[Zhym]

I assume we don't do any better penalty-wise if we march off to find somewhere else to sleep?

[Alethan]

Might behoove us to stay where we are. Maybe the party can benefit from these creatures who are guarding the forest, possibly even just because local evil creatures might know about them and avoid the area.