Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hairy Minotaur" data-source="post: 1256495" data-attributes="member: 11574">It is midday by the time Tharhack and Rebrey make it to the clearing where Alriand was to meet the witch two nights ago. “Well, looks like there’s about five more hours of light. I’ll give you two of them, and then I’m heading back to Thumble.” Rillkep tells Tharhack“OK, well we just came from the south, and there’s nothing in that direction. What’s north of here?” Tharhack asks“The river winds back around, I assume it’s got to be pretty close to us.” Rillkep answers“What about east or west?” Tharhack asks“The river would be to west as well. I don’t know about the east though.” Rillkep responds“East it is then.” Tharhack says walking off to the east“What makes you say that?” Rillkep asks“I don’t feel like wading through icy water.” Tharhack answers“What kind of game is this? You’re just guessing now. There could be bears, wolves, or more kobolds out here.” Rillkep laments“Scared little one? There is nothing out here that you couldn’t kill yourself. With the exception of the witch, and maybe an ogre, might be a dragon or two out here as well.” Tharhack tells Rillkep“Hey, hey, hey now I definitely know there’s none of those out here.” Rillkep states“Must we go through this again?” Tharhack asks“I still says those kobolds had to of been using invisibility.” Rillkep answersTharhack laughs out loud as the two of them make their way out of the clearing and into forest again. They walk for about an hour before Tharhack smells smoke.“Someone’s near.” Tharhack whispers“That would be me.” Rillkep answers smiling“I said near, not rear. I smell smoke, there’s a fire burning near here.” Tharhack answers“Hmm. smells like sandalwood, and maybe some pine mixed in as well. Pretty sophisticated for a witch. Maybe a trapper or maybe someone collecting maple. Whoever it is, I think we should go check it out, they’ve got good taste in wood.” Rillkep replies“Are you inhaling the smoke? Could be bandits, a forest fire, a fire elemental looking for perfume, or the witch.” Tharhack asks Rillkep“You have to inhale, how in the heck are you going to smell it?” Rillkep asks“Let’s just find out where the smoke is coming from, you can go nuts on the firewood after that.” Tharhack tells RillkepTharhack walks in a slow circle, trying to determine what direction the smoke is coming from. “East. I need you to circle around from the south, while I’ll do the same from the north. If you find the source of the smoke, don’t act; wait for me to arrive. OK?” Tharhack asks“Gotcha.” Rillkep answersThe two men separate and head off in opposite directions. Heading north for about fifty yards and then turning east, Tharhack loses the smoke scent. Figuring the source must be closer to Rillkep’s location, Tharhack takes off in a jog in a straight line south. Rillkep goes about seventy-five yards south before turning left and heading east. He finally picks up the scent and as he walks east, feels that the scent is getting stronger. Rillkep slows his pace down to a slow walk, and keeps his eyes focused in front of him. Walking about one hundred yards, Rillkep finally sees a small wisp of smoke rising in the sky. Coming to a stop he waits for Tharhack to arrive. Leaning against a tree, and taking out some wrapped cheese he had taken from his house before they left Thumble, Rillkep bites off a chunk and wishes he had remembered his wine. Rillkep gets about halfway through his cheese when he sees Tharhack jogging off to the west, Rillkep stands up and waves at Tharhack, motioning for him to stop and come to him.“See that little finger of smoke, right there.” Rillkep points out the smoke“Looks like it’s coming straight up from the ground. Lets go.” Tharhack says heading off towards the source of the smoke.“Uh, maybe we should plan or something? I mean what if we’re attacking a hot spring?” Rillkep asks“Come on.” Tharhack says grabbing Rillkep’s arm and leading him towards the smoke as wellThe two walk up to what appears to be just a small rise in the ground, until they realize the smoke is rising from a small circle of piled rocks on top of the small incline. Tharhack tells Rillkep to stay put as he circles around the rise. Tharhack makes his way around to the opposite side of the rise and sees that the rise is more like a man made hill than a natural rise. His suspicions are confirmed when he sees a small wooden door built into the mound. Thinking this looks familiar and wondering if kobolds where going to jump out, Tharhack notices a set of small footprints one leads away from the door, the other leads to it. Hoping that means someone’s home, Tharhack heads back the way he came and meets back up with Rillkep. “She’s home. Here’s what I need you to do. Go up and knock on the door.” Tharhack starts“Wait, wait, wait. Go up and Knock?!? ME?!! Um, bad plan, you’re going to have to think up another one.” Rillkep states.“All I want you to do is knock. I’ll handle the rest.” Tharhack tells him“The rest? The rest of what? You’ll be dealing with the rest of me after that witch melts my face off.” Rillkep responds“I promise she won’t melt your face off, I also promise that she won’t have time to do anything to you. The reason I need you to knock, is that I want her by the door or near it when I act.” Tharhack replies“Couldn’t I maybe yell at the door? Or call for her to come out?” Rillkep suggestsTharhack thinks for a moment. “I suppose that would work just as well, ok here’s what I want you to do.” Rillkep sighs deeply, facing the witch’s door he wills his feet to move. Slowly be begins his trek towards his goal. “Help! Help! Is anybody home? Wolves have attacked my brother. We need help!” Rillkep shouts while waving his arms at the earthen structure.Tharhack meanwhile casts bull’s strength and then calls forth Kord’s blessing. His muscles grow and then begin to glow a soft blue color, even in the waning light of a winter’s day; the light is very visible. Walking towards his predetermined tree, Tharhack waits for Rillkep to give the signal.Rillkep watches the door closely; he’s almost closed the distance between him and the door to twenty-five yards. Not wanting to get any closer, Rillkep hopes either the witch opens the door, or that there’s no one home. Taking two more steps Rillkep sees the door crack.“Go away, I have nothing to offer you.” The voice comes out from behind the door. “Please ma’am, he’ll die without some help.” Rillkep pleads“And what makes you so sure he’ll live with my help?” The voice returns, as the door opens wide to reveal an elderly woman with a warty complexion.Rillkep lowers his arms and turns to run“And stay away!” Raziel shouts at Rillkep. She stares at the quickly retreating halfling oblivious to the sound of heavy lumber heading for her roof.WHAM! The tree lands onto of Raziel’s roof, bits of earth and thatch fall inside her abode. Raziel, stunned momentarily from the earthshaking blow. Steps out from her door and looks up to see a tree swinging in a wide circle, and then crashing down on her house again. “Aaaaahhhh! Stop! Wait” Raziel’s words fall on deaf ears, as the tree winds up for another blow“Knock, knock witch. I’m sorry but you owe back taxes on this property, I’m here to repo it.” Tharhack yells at the witch</blockquote>

Verification