001 The Road to the Ruins

[terrymixon]

"That tea has a distinct smell that I remember from my days in court near the Alsimt's working area, there were always strange smells. Where did you learn this craft?"

"Well, lets see...." Hellebore responds, thumbing through her tiny vials of her herb kit. "This one has sage, ginko beloba, and... peppermint. They boost energy and alertness, which I figure we will definitely need when we are inevitably attacked and threatened with death."

She passes out cups of tea and offers to warm and enhance each person's meals. (Curious to see who else rejects magic besides Carsta.)

Linder

Linder takes the tea gratefully. "Thank you."

[terrymixon]

Medicinal Teas [1d20+4]=14+4=18
Temp HP [1d8]=2

So... anyone who drinks the mugs of tea gains 2 temp HP, right?

Better than that! It costs Hellebore 1 sp for each mug of tea she prepares and because she did a very good job of preparing it, each PC that drinks a mug of it (this time) rolls 1d8 to see how many temporary HP they gain. So the effects could range from 1 HP to 8 HP depending upon each of the players' rolls.

So, how many mugs of tea did Hellebore prepare and who among the PCs is drinking her tea? Besides Aaram.

[Rex]

Zennys

"Oh, your tea smells very good Hellebore." She drinks her tea.

"It is actually very good."

Temp hp [1d8]=4

[Marullus]

That looks like 5 + Hellebore + Zennys (who she wouldn't skip), so 7? That's the whole party, right?
...the original roll of 2hp will just be herself, then.

[shaidar]

Arram

Tea: [1d8]=6

[ybn1197]

Daerrin looks at his cup of tea as Hellebore's tea is passed around, politely refusing so others who do not have will get a cup of their own. "Seems service is the same no matter where or whom," Daerrin says to de Francisco and Arram. Standing roughly, he taps his leg. "I was in the service to my clan's liege when small skirmish with a orc warband hamstringed me. Not able to move like the others young 'uns, I left the army to study the word of Moradin and bring his words to those who are willing to hear them."

[Eris]

OOC: Everyone remember to add your Temp HP to your Sheets (or at least remember them) in case you need them shortly.

A half hour of eating, drinking and chatting is all it takes for everyone to feel rested and ready to continue. Frank, who refused the tea, says as he stands and stretches, "Same formation as before or do you want to vary it up a bit?"

[Marullus]

"I am quite pleased with how we've gone. With continued luck, perhaps we can reach the library ruin without any trouble at all!" says Hellebore as she gestures her staff, all the dishes and napkins cleaning and stacking themselves before she tucks them away.

[ybn1197]

Daerrin nods in agreement with Hellebore. "It has worked thus-far. I suggest we continue with it."

[shaidar]

Arram

"Agreed, if it works no need to change it."

[ateno]

In a slightly louder voice so all can hear.

"All right, pack up and line up as before."

de Francesco checks to see if anyone is napping and generally sergeant's around.

de Francisco

[joertexas]

In a slightly louder voice so all can hear.

"All right, pack up and line up as before."

de Francesco checks to see if anyone is napping and generally sergeant's around.

de Francisco

Carsta gathers her belongings and levers herself upright with her staff. "Be careful, everyone. The orcs and goblins are probably still here."

[Rex]

Zennys

Zennys takes her spot at point and leads the way.

[Marullus]

Hellebore gingerly takes her walking stick back up, careful not to wake the owl, and begins walking with the others as before.

"I can't do it while walking, but if you wish to pause at some particular point and have my owl and I look ahead, just let me know."

[Eris]

The party moves forward as before with a scout ahead and behind and impatient Linder moving back and forth keeping his eyes open. After another couple of hours walk, Zennys rounds a curve in the path and spies something ahead on the trail. She stops trying to make it out just as Linder comes up to her. He sees what she sees... Forest Path 1.jpg (64.45 KiB) Viewed 120 times

...ahead the path opens into a small clearing where the road looks like it might fork. Linder remembers this fork. It leads to a ruined farmstead a few hundred feet off to the west. It was an empty, dilapidated house and outbuilding, before as the party passed through here and they were running away coming back so didn't go to it then. After a short look, you see, at least, one body sprawled in the middle of the path. No! There is another a bit further up the path as well! From here you can't tell which of your former comrades these are, if they are the bodies of your former comrades at all. Linder doesn't remember any of his comrades dying here, though, the last of them was taken down more than a mile further north....he thinks. It is very quiet here, very little in the way of bird song or the movements of small creatures out in the brush along either side the path. Behind Zennys and Linder the group of Adventurers sees that they have paused and so pause themselves. Everyone notices that the forest seems more quiet here than it was further back along the trail. What do you do now? OOC: I'll pause to give everyone a chance to reply...

[terrymixon]

The party moves forward as before with a scout ahead and behind and impatient Linder moving back and forth keeping his eyes open. After another couple of hours walk, Zennys rounds a curve in the path and spies something ahead on the trail. She stops trying to make it out just as Linder comes up to her. He sees what she sees... Forest Path 1.jpg

...ahead the path opens into a small clearing where the road looks like it might fork. Linder remembers this fork. It leads to a ruined farmstead a few hundred feet off to the west. It was an empty, dilapidated house and outbuilding, before as the party passed through here and they were running away coming back so didn't go to it then. After a short look, you see, at least, one body sprawled in the middle of the path. No! There is another a bit further up the path as well! From here you can't tell which of your former comrades these are, if they are the bodies of your former comrades at all. Linder doesn't remember any of his comrades dying here, though, the last of them was taken down more than a mile further north....he thinks. It is very quiet here, very little in the way of bird song or the movements of small creatures out in the brush along either side the path. Behind Zennys and Linder the group of Adventurers sees that they have paused and so pause themselves. Everyone notices that the forest seems more quiet here than it was further back along the trail. What do you do now? OOC: I'll pause to give everyone a chance to reply...

Linder

"None of our party died here, but those might be their bodies. I'll check it out."

Linder will pull his weapon and advance slowly, eyes open for an ambush. He's not rushing in, but not stopping either.

[ateno]

de Francisco holds up his hands to have everyone Galt and pull his light crossbow and readies it

de Francisco

[Marullus]

Hellebore nudges the tiny owl to wake it. The owl takes wing, flying a circle high in the sky, while Hellebore's eyes go glassy.

Perception (Owl), +3, advantage [1d20+3]=13+3=16[1d20+3]=6+3=9
It has a range of 100', then whatever sight from there.

[Darithe]

Vesper

Vesper gladly sips of the proffered tea. Tea being one of her favorite things, a balm to nearly all ills. Fully refreshed she sets out with a spring in her step.

A spring that dissipates at the sight before them. She stands still aware of the unnatural silence slipping her bow from her shoulder.

[shaidar]

Arram

The priest readies his crossbow and keep his eyes peeled at the rear of the group.