Expedition: Golgarth/Bogling Ruins - October 12th 2021

[Spearmint]

Dawg Dann

Can Griswold determine the type of danger we are in? It seems the narration is written for us to hide but we don't know what the threat is yet? Is it more of the apes or something underwater? The muddy islands linked together like stepping stones seem to lead in another direction away from the pool clearing. I think we have a choice, investigate the pool and ruin or anchor the barge on a mud bank and explore on foot.

If nothing is clear and obvious danger wise, Dawg follows Golgarth's direction to punt the barge closer to the edge of the clearing, trying to sneak by a large trunk growing out of the creek. If the island of yew trees is half a football pitch away, it should only take a couple of rounds to row silently across. Though silent is not unseen, the barge is quite conspicuous , especially with six people on it. At least observe what is going on if anything and then he is happy to follow the majority decision.

[Stirling]

Barging in the Water Margins.

Time: 9.00am.

Despite his heckles rising, Griswold is not able to discern any visible threats. You can punt by the nearest reed islands and discover they do indeed lead off away from the clearing. Several tall clumps of thick reeds and small trees whose twisted trunks grow elongated roots, grappling for purchase, grow on each one. You think a few hardy jumps may carry you between islands, but you are not sure how far they go into the creek recesses.

Punting silently to the treeline of the clearing, the party watch and wait. The island of yew trees looks deserted and quiet. The lichen covered ruin on the island looks to have some kind of carved stone entrance, typical of an arched chapel door. The island is a short distance away but as you approach the edge, Dawg Dann finds that the depth changes noticeably and his punting bargepole only just touches the silty creek bed. So you will have to row across and that would take a couple of rounds.

As you observe you notice on the far left, a couple of armed bullywugs. They exit the pool and stand holding some small objects between their webbed fingers, examining them in the sunlight. They pass them to a third bullywug who seems to nod approvingly before pouching them. After a short break the pair swan-dive back into the pool extremes. If you moved the barge further right, you could approach the island, using it as a screen to hide you from the frogman who remains on the far side.

Give me a specific action please. Yew tree island, muddy reed islands, further punting, hauling the bullywugs, anything else?

[Spearmint]

Dawg Dann

"I suspect the pool area to be deeper water. Maybe the Wugs are hunting or gathering stuff. Coral, sponges? I can drop the guys off at the reed island back there and shelter 'Crocodawg' among the trees leaving a rope to haul it back over. Go exploring the lay of the land if you like. Come back here to explore the island when the Wugs' are finished whatever they do." The logger offers a suggestion to explore out of sight of the armed frogmen.

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

"Okay, let us go with that. we can leave the frogmen to fish in peace and explore the island in the pool later." Not wanting another confrontation just yet, he signals the barge to drop folk off and determines to be the first to put foot on the island chain of reeds.

My only concern would be for the boggy ground to become very muddy ground and like quicksand, sink into the depths. So bring along the rope and grapnel too just in case someone steps through a weak spot.

[rossik]

Agreeing, Griswold try to find some stiks to use as a staff, checking profundity

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit listens to the conversation and merely shrugs and comments "Whate'er way we go I hope it be drier."

[Jernau35]

Tollander recovers his staff from the bottom of the boat and prepares to go ashore. "I'll scout ahead", he volunteers. He indicates his satchel and general lack of armor and gear. "With Gwanwen's blessing, and perhaps a little luck, I won't sink anywhere".

[Stirling]

Exploring the muddy reed islands.

Time: 9.30 am.

Not wishing to alert the bullywug divers to your presence on the opposite side of the pool clearing and determining a punt to the island in the centre not worth the risk, the party pitch up close to the last of the raised islands which meander as a loose chain of reed beds into the creek reaches.

The 'Crocodawg' is anchored in the lee of the tall bald cypress trunks and a rope stretched across under the water and tied off, ready to haul in should you wish to board. A few branches of heavy foliage add to the tarp to camouflage the barge as best you can.

Tollander leads the way, a few yards ahead of Golgarth with the others in file behind, Dawg Dann bringing up the rear with his pet otter at his heels.

The first island is overgrown with thick reeds and the monk is soon lost from sight though only yards ahead. The coarse stalks are stringy and inflexible with thorny blossoms and thistle heads. The boggy ground ducks your feet to ankle depth and movement is slow and methodical. The raised ground extends in a thin island about 50 yards before a short jump across some open water lands everyone on the second. And so forth, repeated island hopping until half an hour and several islands later the reed beds erupt in a clatter of squawk and aggressive alerts. With heads above man height and large axe head shaped beaks, almost a dozen rustic plumed ostrich like wading birds rise scrawny necks above the tall grasses to peck and fluster aggressively at the intruders to their nesting areas.

next actions please everyone and initiative.

[rossik]

Using his stick to probe the ground, Griswold stops and say "lets get around those creatures. It would be a useless fight!"

[Jernau35]

Tollander tries to slowly back off without making eye contact with the giant birds.

[Spearmint]

Dawg Dann

Brings up his spiked peavey and tries to ward away any of the aggressive over sized roosters. Dawg Dann peavey (polearm) [1d20] = 2 [1d10] = 10

"We need to silence their cacophony too otherwise they will alert others of our presence."

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit will do his best to try and help distract the creatures so they can navigate away from them. Swinging his axe at one if it gets close enough to them.

Dwarven battleaxe +1 [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17 to hit, [1d8+2] = 4+2 = 6 dmg

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

Golgarth longsword [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11 [1d8+2] = 6+2 = 8 wafts his longsword menacingly at the neck of any of the large ostrich critters. "They might sure taste good on the spit or their eggs in an omelette. Bet they think the same for us."

He will shield the head of the group and cover Tollanders' retreat. Is there an easy way around them to progress or do we have to go through them?

[Stirling]

The Axe-beak reed beds.

The island erupts in a clatter of squawks and screeches as the prehistoric ostrich types are alerted to intruders upon their nesting grounds. Some stand up to their full height, twice that of Galmit raising necks and outstretched wings in displays of aggression. The dwarf attempts to cut one down to size with a mighty hack but it only infuriates the bird who retaliates with a powerful cut of her own.

Axe beak attack [1d20] = 12 [2d4] = 2 failing to connect to the ursute morsel that threatens it. Despite Tollanders' best efforts to avoid conflict, the creatures rise and with a voracious look in their eyes, seem to fulfil the proverb, 'the early bird catches the worm' . You all look appetising to the ever hungry creatures who perhaps have famished chicks to feed.

Half of the flock move forward from the tall reeds to harass the party who fall back to a defensive group. The long legged wading birds will have no trouble with the boggy ground or the gap between islands, so you feel that fight rather than flight is inevitable. Cerainly these creatures are geared towards that outcome.

Next actions and initiative please.

Time. 9.40am.
Weather. Chill breeze, light rain.
Effects: none.
Health: everyone at full health.


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[rossik]

Very upset for the group decision, Griswold tries his best to hit the creature with his spear, throwing it

[1d20-1] = 4-1 = 3[1d6-1] = 1-1 = 0

Desperate and surprised by their speed, he misses the target! He will try to have his axe ready for the next attempt

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit takes the hit and tries to shake it off and return a strike of his own.

Dwarven battleaxe +1 [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14 to hit, [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3 dmg

honestly i hadn't had to roll Init in the last expedition so remind me is that a 1d10?

[Jernau35]

As Tollander continues to back away, he summons Gwanwen's magic to enhance his next strike. "Keeper of Life and Death! I have used your power to heal. Now help me to bring death", he intones, as he lays the power to Cause Light Wounds on the Blessed Knuckles of Holy Fury.

[Spearmint]

Dawg Dann

Tries his best to ward away one of the hungry over sized chickens. Dawg Dann peavey (polearm) [1d20] = 7 [1d10] = 5

"Okay chick. Just back off, I promise to go vegan if you leave us alone, honest."

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

Raises his shield and a war cry, he tries to head the group, at the centre of the defensive line. Golgarth longsword [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16 [1d8+2] = 7+2 = 9 He delivers a mighty blow to one of the prehistoric axe-beak ostriches.

[Stirling]

The Axe-beak reeds beds.

The party win initiative and go on the offensive, trying to ward away the first wave of the predatory ratite omnivores. Griswold launches his spear at the voracious flock but the shaft is parried and lands amid the reeds stalks some distance away. Dawg Dann has no luck either, the hooked spear heavy in his arms, he jabs away but the pointed spike and hook are dodged aside. Galmit cuts one down to size, the axe slicing through a long legged limb which cripples it, Golgarth follows up with a precise stab, skewering the creature.

The devouts combine together. Tollander swings some hefty punches to concuss a creatures senses. He intones some divine blessing onto his pugilistic dusters for the 'up close and personal' deadly sparing. Sten raises his holy symbol and in a flash of blinding light, one of the aggressive birds begins to run around like an almost headless chicken, its' visual senses temporarily obliterated by the dazzling glare of a face full of Light spell. The flock of feathered fanatics though are ever hungry and press through the defensive line as it begins to falter on the mud bank. The dwarf shows adeptness for dodging a cranium hacking peck. The boxer's back to the ropes instinct lets him roll with the punches and avoid the long necks which jab at him. Others though are not so lucky. The unarmed warrior Griswold is slow to defend himself and the axe-beak adversary lands a heavy hack which crunches through chainmail and bone. -5 hp. It is however the quiet cleric who suffers the worst. As the creature blinded runs away in panic, another steps into the gap and launches a critical attack which hacks into the clerics neck and severs an artery. He falls limply where he stands, his eyes suddenly dilating and he too, like the axe-beak he attacked, suddenly begins to 'see the light'. His spirit soars at the end of a tunnel into his own celestial heavens whilst his physical body lays prone and motionless, bleeding out in the swamp. fatal -13 hp

Axe beak attacks vs DD or Gris, [1d2] = 2 [1d20] = 11 [2d4] = 5 vs Sten [1d20] = 20 [2d4] = 5
Axe beak attack vs Toll[1d20] = 6 [2d4] = 5
hit points [2d6] = 5 A link to Sten's initial HP roll.

Initiative and next actions please everyone. Sten is dead, killed by a critical attack. One axe-beak is blinded and another fatally wounded. Four stand, squabbling and squawking and attacking still.