Q'Barra: Into the Emerald Forest - Part II

[Guest 11456]

Eff Flat ignores Sanae's impatience. He instead turns his attention to Dargin's query. "The lek'sshareth? I do not know. I doubt it could be done without some form of magic to aid in the deed." He pauses while internally weighing the options. "I will remain here to observe them."

 

[Urko]

More splitting up...

OK, so now you've split into three groups?!? Have I done something to offend the patron dieties of DMs?

The only person I'm uncertain about is Erin. Is she going with Matilda and Sanae? I'm going with that assumption unless Dayspire tells me otherwise. She was the one who first suggested retreating, but I assumed she meant just out of sight of the village.

Updates for each subgroup to follow.

 

[Urko]

At the Three Feathers village (Dargin, Eff Flat)

The three human ladies depart back into the jungle, leaving Dargin and Eff Flat to observe the village in silence. The poison dusk lizardfolk work efficiently, albeit not particularly quickly. If they are coereced in their labors, there is no physical sign of it. The insect overseer exhibits none of the typical signs of a slave driver - no whips, no barked orders, no brutality. It meerly stands and watches. The group's size wavers as members depart with bundles of timber on their backs, moving out of sight beyond the large dome, or returning a few moments later relieved of their burdens.

Three quarters of an hour or so have passed when the shaman and bard hear the sound that they have been dreading: the beating of oversized wings. With so many of the trees gone in the immediate vicinity of the village, it is not difficult to spot them; two of the winged insects like the ones encountered before, making their way from the direction of the ridge. They circle over the overseer once, then move off to the south, keeping just above the canopy. They pass less than fifty feet from the brush where Dargin and Eff Flat are hidden, but do no appear to notice them. (I went ahead and made Hide checks for both of you, with a bonus due to the heavy cover and distance of the insects)

Luck does not stay with them, however. Not long afterwards, one of the poison dusks loses it’s grip on a broad leaf, nearly as tall as it is, that was part of the roof of the hut it is dismantling. An errant wind sends the leaf tumbling in your direction. The poison dusk retrieves it while still some distance away, but its glance happens to fall on the two of you. It stands upright in shock and emits a shrill, piercing whistle. The heads of the other workers and their overseer snap in your direction.

You both may act. Map to follow – for now, assume that you have cover and concealment relative to the lizardfolk and insect. The worker that spotted you is about 60 feet away, the others are about 130 feet away and have not pinpointed your location yet.

 

[Urko]

Heading back to the Sky Touchers (Erin, Matilda, and Sanae)

Dargin and Eff Flat are soon lost in the trees behind as the three humans march back towards the Sky Toucher warriors’ camp. Yesterday’s rains seem a thing of the past; the noonday sun stabs like a fiery knife through gaps in the canopy and even the shady areas are stiflingly hot. The going is slower without Dargin to part the branches, but the trio makes reasonable time. One unfortunate incident involving a nest of bees accidentally disturbed and a waterskin dropped while being passed from one hand to another leads to a brief, furious debate over culpability, but is eventually forgotten with no greater harm done than the loss of a small amount of water, wet boots, and a few painful stings.

About an hour into the trip, Erin spots something the group missed when they passed this way earlier this morning. Almost buried in the floor vegetation is a low line of stone, no more than six inches high, but stretching several dozen feet. It appears to be the remains of a wall. Other bits of rubble can barely be discerned here and there. The area is a bit different from most of the jungle. The undergrowth is not nearly as dense and the trees are widely spaced. It somewhat reminds Sanae of some of the grand cathedrals back in Thrane.

Before Matilda and Sanae can drag Erin away from this interesting diversion, a sound sends pangs of dread down all three of the ladies’ spines. A low hum swells into the heavy wing beat of the enormous flying insects encountered before. Matilda spots it – one of the hideous creatures is a couple hundred feet to the east, moving steadily in your direction. It is unclear if it has spotted the trio yet.

Any of you may act. I will also be coming up with a map for you - right now assume flat terrain and minimal cover for a couple hundred yards in every direction, with trees spaced 10-20 feet apart.

 

[Urko]

Ambushed! ('he has no name')

The previous post and this one are taking place on the day after you left, at about the same time that the rest of the party has reached the Three Feathers village.

[sblock]'He has no name' notices an incongruous patch of red and black behind a nearby tree. He has just resolved it into the shape of a human, apparently trying to hide, when a weighted net enfolds him and the now furiously barking dog from above. Figures in the all too familiar garb of the Riedran military burst from behind several trees, arrows knocked and bows drawn. Another being drops from the trees above. This one appears to be dressed in the forest itself – his hooded cloak seems to be constantly shifting to blend into the foliage about him. His face is lost in shadow at the moment. He carries a scimitar, but makes no move to draw it. Yet.

You may act. Bear in mind, though, that you are currently entangled[/sblock]

 

[doghead]

he has no name, warforged warrior

Urko: [sblock]The warforged's mind races as he assesses the situation. He can not see a way to extract himself before the soldiers fall upon him. And his powers offer him no offensive capability. Fighting so many while entanged would mean sure failure.

The warforged relaxes his stance. But he remains wary.

"This is not very friendly."

ooc: Damn. One more manifester level and he could have dimension slid out of this. Or would that power have taken the net too? Ready an action: attack if anyone should engage him. Given they have bows, I'm assuming thhat they are keeping their distance at this point. How far at they from hhnn? [/sblock]

 

[Yeoman]

Great, I've got a coward, two who think they are on a university trip, and now this. I swear, I should have stayed in bed today. At least I've got the warriors with me.

Noticing the flying insect, Matilda sighs deeply. "We've got trouble, and it's moving quickly. Try and get some cover, and stay out of sight as best you can. I'd rather avoid a fight, seeing how we're short handed, but if it does see us, let's surround it, and bring it down quickly."

Taking her own advice, Matilda scurries out of sight as best she can, attempting to use a tree to shield her from view.

Base Hide Check - 9

Well I tried to hide at least.

 

[Pebele]

Sanae hears Matilda's orders and attempts to locate cover for herself. Sanae silently curses the shine on her heavy plate armor, and hopes the bug doesn't notice her.

Base Hide Check - 6

 

[Dayspire]

Idiots! Don't they realize the significance of what I've found! Erin thinks to herself. This could mean - oh. Bugs.

Erin watches as her two allies scurry off for a good hiding spot, and tries to follow, her own armor making a muted clanking sound. She crouches beneath a large palm leaf, but it does little to hide her.

ooc: Erin tries to hide. But, err, fails (1d20+-3=3). Wow, we're a bunch of bumbling goofs.

 

[SelcSilverhand]

Dargin winces and utters a curse in his plains dialect. He hisses to Eff Flat. "We must fall back before the others spot us!" Moving as quickly as he can, Dargin wiggles backwards on his hands and knees trying to disappear into the undergrowth.

OOC - Dargin Move Silently - 10. Malk Move Silently - 2 When out of sight of the lizardfolk I'll remount Malk and continue moving silently unless pursued. If they come after us I'll lay down Entangle spells until we're clear. I'm out of town till friday so that'll be my game plan