Chapter 2 - Sorrowfield

[pipes84]

Craw follows Leaf around and keeps his eyes on the wolves.

[hedgeknight]

Give me a Persuasion roll

Persuasion: [1d20-1] = 9-1 = 8

[ybn1197]

Main thing was not to botch it.

The alpha wolf approaches the head of the goblin tentatively. When he is close enough, he begins to sniff it. With a sudden explosion of air like a sneeze, the wolf backs from the decapitated head. He then lays down on the ground and eyes you knowingly. You get the feeling that he simply wants to be freed at this point.

[hedgeknight]

Cursing herself inwardly, Leaf summons her will, draws her scimitar and hacks at the enclosure in an attempt to free the wolves. "Go in peace, forest friends."

And please don't eat me...she thinks to herself.

[pipes84]

Craw looks for his crowbar and then helps Leaf hacking away the barricade.

OOC: there were carriages here among th stuff right? Are they serviceable enough?

[ybn1197]

Your torch shines light down the 10' long shaft into a larger cavern. Two wooden carts sit just inside the entrance to this large cave. Inside, there are four wolves growling and running about the entrance, unable to get to you because of the carts. Occasionally one of the wolves will attempt to slip under the carts to get out only to get stuck and forced to back itself out again. On the other side of the cave is what appears to be a large crate. The top and bottom are made of strong wood while the sides are nothing more than bars placed close together. Inside the crates, humans move about slowly and wearily, cramped by the numbers and the dimensions of the bars. Seeing the light, they gather at the one side, pleading for you to rescue them.

[hedgeknight]

"So I guess all we need to do is move the carts," Leaf says to Craw, walking over to the first one. "Help me, will you?"

[tumblingdice]

Erevan watches the transaction between Leaf and the alpha wolf with apprehension. He then lends what little muscle he has to Leaf and Craw in moving the carts.

[ybn1197]

You move the carts apart, wide enough for the wolves to move through. As you stand back, the alpha rises up from the floor and slowly walks towards the opening, keeping eyes on both Leaf and Erevan. The other wolves begin to follow their leader and approach the carts, a little apprehensively at first. As the alpha comes up along Leaf he looks at the druid and then pads away down the tunnel, the others following in his wake. In the back of the cave, the prisoners begin to cheer for you, but in a low tone fearful that their freedom may yet be stolen from them again.

[hedgeknight]

Once the wolves have gone, Leaf runs to the prisoners. "Are you okay? Is anyone hurt? We have water and food. Hold on, we'll get you out."

[tumblingdice]

Erevan nods and lends a hand.

[pipes84]

Craw helps the other in assisting the prisoners. When he is close to his companions, he adds
"I think it would be better for us to stay here a little longer, maybe a night, feeding and tending to the poor souls. If any of them is weak and, or, wounded, they might have troubles on the way back through the swamp."
He looks around as if questioning the very cave: "We have carts, but no animals to drag them I presume..."
"Besides, there might still be some part of the cave we didn't fully explore. What do you say?"


ybn, can you please reupload the map of the cave complex? ..did we enter all of the passages?

[ybn1197]

As requested, here is the map. There are three tunnels that were not completely explored. There is a tunnel between caverns 5 & 7 which you did not explore. A tunnel off the north wall of cavern 8 which you started to explore but backed out of due to the discovery of a stirge feasting on the corpse of a goblin who took flight up that tunnel during your battle in that cavern. There is also a tunnel at the top of a set of stone stairs in the western wall of cavern #8 which you did not investigate.

Sorrowblight_Fields_Image.gif (194.28 KiB) Viewed 1285 times

The farmers shakily exit their impromptu prison, relief clearly written all over their faces. "We can not thank you enough," the eldest says to Leaf. "We truly thought we would never see the light of day again."

Correct. You have two functional carts but no animals to pull them.

[hedgeknight]

"I have no problem with spending the night in the caves. Some rest would do us all good, I think. However, I don't want to leave the newly freed alone while we explore the remaining tunnels. I fear for their safety without us close by."

[tumblingdice]

Erevan frowns, in thought. "I can't imagine the prisoners wanting to stay in this filthy cave a minute longer than they have to. Would you?" he asks. "On the other hand, they might be fearful of the outside world, having had their world shrunk to the confines of this cavern. Curious," he muses.

[ybn1197]

Erevan frowns, in thought. "I can't imagine the prisoners wanting to stay in this filthy cave a minute longer than they have to. Would you?" he asks. "On the other hand, they might be fearful of the outside world, having had their world shrunk to the confines of this cavern. Curious," he muses.

They are the farmers that were captured this morning.

[pipes84]

"Let's take the prisoners to the cave with the roasting pig" proposes Craw "There they can eat something and rest for a time, at least while we make sure the caves are safe. Then, we talk with them and decide whether it is better to stay for the night or not."
If no one disagrees, Craw will lead off the cave with the others to the pig area, keeping the severed head at hand.

[hedgeknight]

Leaf gives Craw a nod of approval and helps the prisoners along.

[ybn1197]

You lead the group of farmers from the cavern filled with the scent of wolves back to the cavern where the pig was cooking (7). The farmers talk among themselves in low tones and occasionally one will thank you for saving them but wonder when they will be leaving; he has a wife and children to get back to. As you enter the cave where the pig was cooking, you get the hint of movement out of the corner of your eye.

Perception checks everyone

[hedgeknight]

DM

My character sheet says Leaf's Passive Perception is 16 > can I go with that or do you want me to roll?