Expedition: Halfpint: Mapping the Forest - 12 Oct 2021

[Faanku]

Laila will take a watch if pressed, but will otherwise settle in somewhere safe for the night.

[Zhym]

maybe how many/often horsemen come? what do they look like?
do they know where the fey nests are?
are there any camps or other man-made sites near here?

Good ideas.

Thedla asks where the arch of water trees is. Also: how often do the horsement come? Are they men on horses, or man-horse combinations? Do they know where the fey nests are? Are there any other places of men near here? How far away are the fey? Do the fey come out at particular times of day?

[Bluetongue]

Fairfax Socrates

The Halfling will climb the tree to scavenge any fungi supplies and then help cut a thick bed of springy ferns to fill out a mattress under the cart which doubles as his shelter. He makes notes in his diary re-telling a story of the strange 'strangle stump' that wanted to devour him and the giant beetles that ambushed them on the trail. "I must make everything song worthy!" he declares.

It would be nice to met the Pixie's. For him and Halfpint, they get a chance to look down at people for a change instead of up. He is surprised with the eclectic group there has not been much dissention. What with a druid Thedla loving the forest and Amishona's brother logging the trees and Lady Halfpint lording the frontier settlement. He doesn't know much about Berta though he speaks dwarven. Laila somehow carries an air of the mercenary. I wonder what the orc tried to say before she silenced him?

"Do we have any traps or snares to set? I am quite a dab hand at subtle arts too." he tries to say convincingly offering to help rig up trip wires and warning snares.

[Spearmint]

Camping beyond the hedgerow.

Thedla converses with the squirrels to fact find in exchange for nuts and preserved fruits. The grey responds, "The arch is built from the from the trees bending that shape. Some animals used it as nesting sites but once they past beyond they were not seen or smelt again. It is at the far end of the long hedge." though the illusionary hedge has disappeared from sight for the druid it seems the animals act as though it were still there.

"Some horse-men wander the forest. They help the tree-men. The invisible fey shelter in the acorn groves, long ways deeper into the forest. They wander all day during sun and nest also at night. Snatchers used to come at night but now their burrows are crawling with ant-men."

The squirrel chimps away until his cheek pouches are full and then scurries away up a tree.

Trekking inward you make Camp behind the fallen Ash trunk. A small fire provides a warm atmosphere against the splattering of rainfall. Watch guards are posted as others huddle to sleep.

During the night however your sleep is interrupted by the encroaching noise of a trio of lupine like creatures. They paw at the tripwire which jangle some sentry saucepan lids, the basic trap being effective against the curious predators. However as they sniff your trail and alerted to your presence, peer towards the hollow that you shelter in, you see their heads are covered snowy grey feathers and they retain large open eyes and savage ripping beaks. They halt their approach about 100 yards away, half covered among the dense forest foliage and night shadows.

next actions please.


Date: 13 October 2021, 4.00am
Light: Headlamp spotlight worn by Halfpint. Small Campfire.
Effects: None
Injuries: Fairfax (minorly injured), 
Weather: Strong breeze and wind chill, shower of rain. 


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[Zhym]

"Now that's downright disturbing," says Thedla of the wolf-owl hybrids. He eyes them warily, ready to entangle them if they approach with hostile intent.

[onlyme]

Halfpint adjusts her circlet, making sure it is secure on her head. She remains focused on the odd creatures, but stays quiet at this time.

[rossik]

Berta is very curious about all those hybrid creatures. She gets her hammer ready, but tries to assume a neutral stance

[Spearmint]

prompt for Laila and Fairfax

[Faanku]

Awoken by the approach of yet more strange creatures, Laila has her blades drawn and looks around the shadows for a tall tree to scale. "Rare beasts?" she asks nobody in particular.

[Bluetongue]

Fairfax Socrates

Tries to look at the creatures to see what the others are concerned about. He inches close to the fallen tree and peers from underneath rather than sticking his head over the top of the trunk. They certainly have a strange and unique beauty.

"I have heard of Owlbears, fantastical hybrids. These too. Creatures bred by the Morlocks? It appears the wind has caught our scent on the trail. We should defend ourselves".

The halfling hurries to grab a javelin shafts to hurl should they approach closer.

[Spearmint]

Camping beyond the hedgerow.

The party take positions behind the fallen log that offers a defensible boundary to ranged attacks. However the hybrid 'Howls' sniff your scent and excitedly prowl the treeline a short distance away. One raises his head to give a throaty hooting howl, the creature slavering from a horn beaked mouth. Their big eyes dilate as they pick out the infravisual radiance of the body heat from the watching party. You sense their posture and gait change from a lopping stride to a haunched hunting pose, predators ready to pounce.

Certainly their intent in shadowy forest looks hostile and the trio of carnivorous lupine-like hybrids look to move to flank your position, two steering left and one to the right.

With a spell prepared and targets within range, the druid Thedla may attempt to foil their hunt with some grasping foliage. Amishona prepares to fire her longbow, taking aim at the forward most 'Howl'.

Initiative and actions please

Date: 13 October 2021, 4.10am
Light: Headlamp spotlight worn by Halfpint. Embers of campfire.
Effects: None
Injuries: None. Fairfax actually back at full hp thanks to healing spells.
Weather: Strong breeze and wind chill, shower of rain. 

[Zhym]

Thedla casts his entangle spell.

[rossik]

Berta will try to position to protect the spellcasters, and attack when attacked. Tightening her grip, she launches a blow against the creature torso

[1d20-1] = 14-1 = 13[1d6-1] = 5-1 = 4

[Spearmint]

with the game wrapping up and being archived I will also draw a line under this with some Forest expedition information.

Treants are beginning to fight a guerilla war against the logging community and frontier settlement, mainly by breeding carnivorous plant-type creatures and rooting them in areas used for logging or along forest trails. Threats include the encountered Wolf-in-Sheep Clothing, Strangle vines and man sized 'Venus fly traps'.

A large nest of Aspis have taken over the subterranean Morlock tunnels.

A centaur clan dwell in the forest, a young pair nurture an injured pegasus.

The Pixie clan dwell in oak grove, warded by illusory protections. They are the keepers of 'The Moonstone Key', a stone cut key carved from a meteor covered in runes which opens the tomb of a dreadlord necromancer.

A lizard man raiding party was set up to be a grand finale to raid Pinewood as the Forest expedition ended there.

Lots of randomised wandering monsters and small caves, ruins, hollows to explore.

Thank you for being a fun group to DM for.

[Zhym]

What?? (Checks announcement thread.) Damn.

Sounds like a lot of fun stuff we'll be missing.

Thanks for running the expedition, Spearmint. You did a good job.

[rossik]

What?? (Checks announcement thread.) Damn.

Sounds like a lot of fun stuff we'll be missing.

Thanks for running the expedition, Spearmint. You did a good job.

where is the announcement?

[Zhym]

viewtopic.php?f=353&t=5669&p=455203#p455203

[rossik]

o bad, but thanks for the game!

just don get if all the north marshes are gone, or just this one

[Spearmint]

Marullus is archiving the whole game so no sub forums will continue.

It is possible a new incarnation of the game will open in a couple of months, pending time commitmens from a new moderator and interest. Perhaps Stirling or Zhym might consider taking the idea forward?

[Zhym]

Reply here: viewtopic.php?f=353&t=9391&p=455826#p455826