Barrowmoor: Exploration and Ecdysis.

[Marullus]

How does the Reaction Table (DMG, 63) work here? As a Druid, minimum CHA includes a +25% bonus, which is enough to raise the reaction table so that no creature can possibly roll "violent, attacks" or "hostile, immediate action" as an initial disposition. Do we get to roll? Do you? Or is there other modifiers?

If the Ape doesn't launch immediately to attack, Raust will 'speak with animal' and see what it knows about Snakemen and their direction, and then also that we're too dangerous to be food.

[Spearmint]

Well, you have to figure if this is 'an intelligent creature you can converse with'.

You can cast the Speak with Animals, script your communication and I will roll any appropriate reactions.

[Marullus]

OOC:

Okay. It is already charging to attack, and we're rolling for combat, though. Do I have the option of speaking to it pre-emptively or not?

"Intelligent creature I can converse with" shouldn't be the bar, though, right?

Explanation/Description: By employing this spell, the cleric is empowered to
comprehend and communicate with any warm or cold-blooded animal which is
not mindless (such as an amoeba). The cleric is able to ask questions, receive
answers, and generally be on amicable terms with the animal. This ability lasts
for 2 melee rounds for each level of experience of the cleric employing the
spell. Even if the bent of the animal is opposite to that of the cleric (evil/good,
good/evil), it and any others of the same kind with it will not attack while the
spell lasts. If the animal is neutral or of the same general bent as the cleric (evil/
evil, good/good), there is a possibility that the animal, and its like associates,
will do some favor or service for the cleric. This possibility will be determined
by the referee by consulting a special reaction chart, using the charisma of the
cleric and his actions as the major determinants. Note that this spell differs from
speak with monsters (q.v.), for it allows conversation only with basically normal,
non-fantastic creatures such as apes, bears, cats, dogs, elephants, and so on.

Having moved up with the wolves to the front of the group, Raust smells the fragrant ape before it emerges from the mists. The druid stands erect themselves, though not even to the ape's shoulder, and hoots back at it as it comes into view.

"Walk on, no harm comes to your family. Tell me of snakemen, or others, who come this way? We hunt them, not you. You can come hunt them, too if you wish blood."

...casting Speak with Animals.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Dale spun back to face front and groaned. He had known that that half-elf wasn't playing with a full deck of marbles but... Well sneezing with a couple of mostly-tame wolves was one thing, but grunting at a charging gorilla was next-level insanity. He drew his sword and started forward, ready to defend the group. Ricardo and Pasquel, to the front with me!

I'm guessing that, being at the back, Raust will have time to smooth everything over with the monkey before Dale can get in her way.

Just in case these are needed:

Hope Raust can smooth things over!

[tarlyn]

Venwynn

Keeping her hands loose and at her side, she looks back at the others. "Don't do anything to scare or offend them, please. Maybe we can pass without having to

resort to violence."

Would Venwynn have been advised that a spell was being cast?

Trying to appear confident and in no way threatening, Venwynn steps forward.

Smiling, she speaks in a melodic and happy voice to the approching Ape.

"Please, we mean you no harm. We wish merely to pass."

[sastaz]

Gerdal stays strangely silent and remains in place, motionless, her eyes travelling back and forth between the apes and her friends, waiting to see how this evolves.

[redwarrior]

Isvand continues to try to look casual, while keeping his boomerang ready.

[Spearmint]

Barrow Moor, South-west of Helix, Duchy of Aerik.

May 28th 1066.

Dale charges, expressing his own toxic masculinity as does the huge ape that beats his chest and swats away the swordsman's blade.

A volley of arrows precede before the soothing words of druid Raust. The ape catches an arrow through his palm. He bites the shaft in half and pulls the barb out as one might dig a splinter.

Ricardo & Pasquel [1d20]=18[1d6]=1 [1d20]=11[1d6]=2

Towering above the group, it snarls and barks. Behind him come the tribe of other apes. Wolves and primates hoot and bark, fangs bared. Despite the violent posturing, only the single shaft finds a mark. -1hp

"Horned One wanders, wears the skins of those she eats." the carnivorous Ape comments in a respectful way to the druid, dressed as she is in bearskin and antlered helm.

He barks behind him, halting the primate troop from direct confrontation though the apes line up facing the group, squat muscled figures resting on knuckles and digging ankles into the turf; defensive linesmen waiting for the play to open up.

"Go your way. We graze here, take horned meat like you. Take meat from bones that walk. They who slither taste of poison."

The ape speaks of hunted deer ambushed in the thickets, of skeletons gesturing behind him to the east and spitting on the ground when he talks of the snake-men.

He beats his chest and looks you in the eye.

The others, wary still, ready boomerangs, blades and bows should the conversation end abruptly.

[RiverGreenForest]

Traeliorn

Lowering his blade in a defensive manner, the elf says aloud to Raust "What is it saying? Just from the physical mannerisms, I get the sense that we're encroaching on their territory."

[tarlyn]

Venwynn

Looking inquisitively at Faust , she awaits his reply. Ven is thankful they avoid any blooodshed. The Apemen are going about their daily

Business and though they may wish to fight, their leader appears to be wise.

She bows to him with respect and nods, offering up a thankful smile.

[sastaz]

Gerdal stays silent and alert, since the conversation right now seems to be going in the right direction. She reaches slowly for one of her pouches hanging from her belt, just in case...

[redwarrior]

Isvand relaxes slightly as our new friend seems to be talking to the apes. But he stays alert, just in case, boomrang in hand, but lowered to his side.

[Marullus]

Raust speaks to their companions, not breaking eye contact with the ape in front of them. "They claim this as their territory, where they eat deer and and also pick meat from the bones of walking skeletons to the east. They consider themselves equals as they also hunt and wear the hides of their kills. They have slain snake-men, which taste of poison. I will ask again for directions of the snake-men, and then will agree that we will go around them without harm."

The druid hoots and grunts to the ape once more, ignoring the height disparity with the much larger and brawnier creature. The wolves stay low, ears pinned, hackles raised; ready to leap forward and intercede to save their druidic sister.

"We will go around, offer you no harm," the druid replies. "We hunt the snakes that taste like poison. Point us to them.
Tell more."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Dale uses the momentum of his failed sword stroke to pivot and spin back to a defensive posture. Where he stays once he realizes that Faust is just a bit less crazy than he had thought. He stands by the wolves, ready to strike if the ape changes its mind. A deep layer of thought points ot how weird it is to be ready to fight alongside a pair of wolves instead of hunting them. He whispers, Does he know when the snake- things first showed up around here? Are they a new threat?

[Marullus]

Raust nods at Dale's words, asking that question, too.

[Spearmint]

Barrow Moor, South-west of Helix, Duchy of Aerik.

May 28th 1066.

The stand-off continues as weapon drawn adventurers watch the carnivorous apes that salivate and growl opposite them.

The alpha male continues his neutral stance, conversing with the druid. Perhaps he uses the scene as his physical prowess dominates all, having seemingly brought the group to pacifism, to further substantiate his chief of the tribe claim to those apes behind who watch for his signals.

"The tribe of slitherers come new into the Moor. The lizards who walk and talk make home by the head waters of the far river. These roam from the banks of the near."

Kong, maybe not a name but the sound made to determine his rule over the tribe, points at Venwynn and Raust, noting your elven racial features. "Ears-like-leaves, make home between the two. Catch us, change our skins."

There seems to be some recognisable animosity that he makes towards those of elven features rather than human or halfling among us. It brings the conversation to an end. (spell duration).

He stands to beat his chest and gestures you to move away quickly.

[Marullus]

"We go around," states Raust, already starting to move with the wolves, going around the apes as directed.

Once clear of the apes, the druid relays the other information about who lives where, then sets the direction towards the slitherers.

I don't understand the game map, or where this references. Can you put what Raust would recognize their directions to mean on a copy of the map and post it? Pictures and thousand words and all that.

[Spearmint]

I don't understand the game map, or where this references. Can you put what Raust would recognize their directions to mean on a copy of the map and post it? Pictures and thousand words and all that.Sure. So look at the first post of the Campaign Setting. There is a regional map.

Kong refers to 10: the Blackwater and the area in the Barrow Moor where it is sourced.
11: the elven commune. 12: the River Merisc.

Distances don't mean a lot to the primates. As wandering hunter-gatherers, a day's trek could easily be three hexes of travel.

[Rusty Tincanne]

So we are in the moor, SW of 1 and NW of the Barrow Maze, right?

Did Kong say that the snake prime are at 12 or 10? I was thinking 10 but want to be sure.

Either way, it looks like we could sort anti- clockwise around the moor and get to the snake people. Maybe passing through the elven homestead. Does that sound right?


Dale takes his place as Farris again. When they stop to parlay, he points out that, if the snake people are so close to the elves, it might be good to see how that village is faring.

[RiverGreenForest]

Traeliorn

The Elf Fighter hastily steps aside with the rest of the companions. "Shall we go to the Elf village that Dale suggested?"

Where do I find the maps? Under Barrow Mound and Maze Maps?