D&D 5E [IC] The New World (Volo Monsters)

[tglassy]

"I would rather we push on to the end of the mountains, or at least as long as the weather holds out," Karok said, grimacing against the pain of his wound, "But either we rest so I can tend my wounds, or the Kobold needs to heal me like he did that damned goat."

 

[Shayuri]

"Agreed," Saashala says, keeping a straight face in the face of Ripnek's pratfall. "If we're going to be caught in bad weather, the lower the altitude the better. Moon-Moon, heal Karok if you can. We'll need everyone at full strength."

"Furthermore, and this is for all of us...we need a better way of settling disputes than exploding into violence. I realize our peoples have had differences in the past, but we must overcome those obstacles now. The strength of the invaders is unity. We must match it, or we will lose."

She paused, surveying the motley assemblage of monsters with reptile eyes in a human face, then nodded.

"Perhaps one of us can serve as a mediator of sorts. Something to think on as we continue."

 

[KahlessNestor]

Drutha Keldret, Hobgoblin Fighter
Forest
Night
Round 0

Drutha shook her head as she watched the drama. “Idiots,” she muttered. Using the haft of her glaive for extra support against the current and slippery rocks, Drutha took her time crossing the cold mountain stream. She sneered at Karok. “Beaten by a kobold,” she snickered. “You deserve to wallow in your own blood.” She wouldn’t force Moon-Moon to heal the orc.

Saashala was trying to make peace again. “I am pretty sure a firm hand and a beating is all that is going to keep this crew in line,” Drutha said. “Should have brought my whip.” Alas, nothing she had was really hers. That had been left back in her home with the tribe when they had sent her on this suicide mission.

“Let’s get down the mountain and camp before that storm comes.”

[sblock=Stats]
AC: 17 (chainmail, defensive fighting style)
HP: 13/13 HD: 1/1d10
Saving Face (1/R)
Second Wind (1/R)
[/sblock]

 

[ammulder]

OOC: Everybody's now across the wading portion of the river. I will assume you recover any ropes used. If Moon Moon is willing to heal Karok, just say so and I'll apply it. Other than that, it sounds like the consensus is to make for the edge of the mountains and camp there.

With mostly only wet feet (mostly), you clamber up the boulders. Once up, you're in a sprawling field of nothing but smooth boulders. The overall surface is uneven, depending on how big a given rock is, how far it's sticking up, and how many are piled under it. The little ones are perhaps half the size of an Orc or Bugbear, and the biggest perhaps double. You can take a route that's quite walkable by just avoiding the bigger protrusions, or if you like, you can climb a big one and leap from tip to tip and cross the whole field quickly with flair.

The goat follows Moon Moon closely, and seems to be able to keep its balance on rocks laying at any angle at all. Occasionally, it kicks one of the rocks, causing an almost musical ringing sound to anyone close enough to hear over the rushing water below. If you care to, you can also strike the rocks with a weapon or hammer or the like; some of the rocks ring and others don't, depending on their size and position.

In any case, you reach the far side of the field soon enough, and Karok can guide you out of the mountains.

[sblock="Karok"]Assuming you're willing to lead onward, you can find a path to I-5, H-5, or G-4, any of which will take about 4 hours (assuming a normal travel pace). I-5 would be sticking close to the river, and the others drifting farther away from it. Let me know which you prefer.

When you start thinking about leaving the mountains, it occurs to you that the reason most Orcs avoid the edge of the mountains is that it's Ogre territory. When you've personally come and gone before, you've been able to get through without attracting attention -- but it's not clear that a larger group like this will be able to.[/sblock]

 

[tglassy]

"We should follow the river," Karok said, indicating his desire to head towards square I-5. "it will keep us away from the dwarves, and make sure they do not stumble across us. However, ogres live at the edge of the mountains. We may be able to get by without attracting much attention, but we should be wary."

 

[KahlessNestor]

Drutha Keldret, Hobgoblin Fighter
Forest
Night
Round 0

“Ogres?” Drutha asked with a scowl. “You led us into ogre country?” She shook her head. The beasts were dumb, sure, but they were strong. It would take legionnaire coordination to handle one -- something this group lacked.

[sblock=Stats]
AC: 17 (chainmail, defensive fighting style)
HP: 13/13 HD: 1/1d10
Saving Face (1/R)
Second Wind (1/R)
[/sblock]

 

[JustinCase]

"Ripnek can see if ogres are nearby," the bugbear offers. "We pass by quietly."

Ripnek is confident he can sneak past the big brutes without them noticing, but he is not daft enough to try and fight any ogres.

 

[Shayuri]

Saashala nods at that. "Scout our path then, Ripnek. If you see ogres come back to us at once and tell us which way to go to avoid them."

 

[ammulder]

OOC: If Ripnek is to scout ahead, Ripnek and Karok will need to agree to work together. Karok will need to describe the route in the vicinity, then Ripnek can check it out and wait for the group to catch up, and so on. I just need to hear that they're both willing. In any other game you might take it for granted, but... Either of you can PM me if the answer isn't a straightforward "yes" or "no".

 

[tglassy]

OOC: Karok is willing.