Portal to D&D IC - Thundercracker

[Rizban]

You're already on the Discord server, so I added you to the channel for this game, if you'd like to join us.


Player Name: Jerry Ackerton
Character Name: Ferinor Veriax

Jerry was part of the marketing team for the launch of the MMO, director of marketing for North America. A new EVP, Carl Jesson, was brought in above him, and Jerry found himself not really agreeing with many of the decisions made. As the deadline of the launch approached, the work schedule became absolutely insane, and Jerry regularly logged 80-100 hour weeks. Just prior to launch day, which promised to be a rocking success, as celebrations were planned for the following week, he was let go from the company by Carl, who took credit for all Jerry's hard work. Luckily, he received a decent package as he'd spent over twenty years with the firm. With the time he now had, he threw it into playing an advance copy of the game he'd received from a friend in development, Mark Abang, one with some hidden, inactive functionality. The game was one of the only ways he had to stay in contact with his two teenaged children, Robert and Heather, who his wife, Maria, gained full custody over in the divorce. Little did she know they spent much of their lives in the game, and Jerry was able to keep in touch with them through it, unbeknownst to her, as they went on adventures together for hours on end.

His character, Ferinor Veriax, a human, started off as a scout so Jerry could gain early access to skills for getting into places in the game only accessible by picking locks or sneaking about. Later on, he branched into the ranger, and then dervish classes to take advantage of a minor exploit in the game. He ended up joining the Crimson Daggers, a city based guild originally started as a thieves' guild but then expanding to accept all classes. Despite getting on in years, the time he could put into the game, and his previous corporate experience and the state of the art VR equipment he could afford meant Ferinor was near the top of the rankings for his class.

Unfortunately, one day an update was patched into the game automatically and interfered badly with the 'extra' functionality from his 'special' copy of the game. Jerry started fiddling around with the software to try and disable the extra functionality which, apparently, didn't do anything anyway, and somehow ended up starting over at level 0.... he tried to log off to fiddle with the software again, but found he was unable to, no matter what he tried. Even the emergency support line was disabled...

Everything around you begins to move in starts and jerks, as if you're experiencing horrific lag, which shouldn't be possible on your rig. Your dedicated fiber line and overclocked hardware should let you run at least three instances of the game before showing any signs of slowdown.

Suddenly, it all grinds to a halt. The scene in front of you occasionally glitching like a VHS tape sitting on pause for too long.

The entire interface is unresponsive, and the emergency logout function has failed.

An unexpected system message appears in the center of your visual input accompanied by a screeching sound not unlike nails on a chalkboard combined with a record player dragging the needle across the tracks.


Ş̸̧̟͕̙̪̋͌̎̒̽͛̏̏̐͜͝ý̸̩̼̫͚͕̺̱̫̽̓̈́̄͌̒̄͗́s̸̀̄̀̈́̄̎̓̚͝ ̡̡̺̜̜̬̺̟̞ṱ̸̨͑̃e̸͙̹͗̊ͅm̷̻̭̱̲̣̮̾́̊̍̽̂͝ ̶̧̢̩̲̙̣̳̩͓̞̎Ë̷͈̩̥͍̮͔́̈̑̓̒̑̚͘͝ͅr̵̨̖̖͇̤̘͖͉̘͒̌ͅr̶̛̻̀͂ ̘̩ǒ̴̡̩̫͚͚̝͉̭͆̂̚r̸̨͕͙̘̜͊͑̇͐̃͠

It blinks out and returns again, a little more clearly.


Ş̸̧̟͕̙̪̋͌̎̒̽͛̏̏̐͜͝ý̸̩̼̫͚͕̺̱̫̽̓̈́̄͌̒̄͗́s̸̀̄̀̈́̄̎̓̚͝ ̡̡̺̜̜̬̺̟̞ṱ̸̨͑̃e̸͙̹͗̊ͅm̷̻̭̱̲̣̮̾́̊̍̽̂͝ ̶̧̢̩̲̙̣̳̩͓̞̎Ë̷͈̩̥͍̮͔́̈̑̓̒̑̚͘͝ͅr̵̨̖̖͇̤̘͖͉̘͒̌ͅr̶̛̻̀͂ ̘̩ǒ̴̡̩̫͚͚̝͉̭͆̂̚r̸̨͕͙̘̜͊͑̇͐̃͠


That disappears and then once more, a popup fills your vision.



System Error
Your connection to the game server appears to be nonstandard.
This will be reported to the Ë̷͈̩̥͍̮͔́̈̑̓̒̑̚͘͝ͅr̵̨̖̖͇̤̘͖͉̘͒̌ͅr̶̛̻̘̩̀͂ǒ̴̩̫͚͚͆̂̚ ̡̝͉̭r̸̨͕͙̘̜͊͑̇͐̃͠


This message too disappears almost before you can finish reading it, and another popup takes its place.



Welcome, Player!
You have been selected as worthy to remake yourself anew!
Do you accept this offer?
| Yes | Logout |

The popup closes, a second taking its place.



Warning!
This action will delete your current character, forcing you to restart at level 1.
Do you wish to continue?
| Yes | Logout |

The popup closes, as a third popup appears.



Final Warning!
Note that this action cannot be reversed.
Are you ready to leave your life behind and enter a new realm?
| Yes | Logout |

You receive a message that your account has been permanently suspended. You then reawaken in your home slightly disoriented with a mild headache. Attempting to log back in or create a new account reveals that your unique brainwave pattern has been identified and is being used as an identifier to ensure you never access the system again.

Game Over

[Thundercracker]

Frustrated with the constant errors, Jerry hits ‘Yes’, three times without really reading the messages.

“Wait, what?” he thought as his brain caught up with his fingers.

“Did I just erase my character??” he thought.

[Rizban]

Pain courses through your entire body, pain which should be blocked or at least reduced by the game's pain filters. You have them set to minimum, after all.

The taste of rainbows fills your ears as the sensation of being turned inside out and sucked through your toes overwhelms your senses, causing you to black out.

You awake an unknown period of time later and find yourself numb, completely unable to feel your body. Your ears hear nothing, and only a black emptiness meets you as you try to open your eyes.

Just as panic begins to set in, a popup appears. You feel relief at knowing that you're still in the game. You attempt to open a menu to determine your status, but nothing happens. The popup vibrates at you, as if somehow angered that you're ignoring it.



Welcome to your New Life+
Click below to begin character creation.
| Below |

You find yourself unable to do anything but interact with the popup mentally, just as you would with any popup in the game.

After clicking the button, a series of numbers, symbols, and random words fly across your vision faster than you can read. You feel an almost intrusive sensation in your mind, as if someone or something is peering deep within.

Suddenly, a visual representation of dice scatter across your screen. The final result of each becoming large enough to fill your vision for a brief second.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[roll3]
[roll4]

[Rizban]

Congratulations!
You have received one [1] Greater Boon.
You have received one [1] Moderate Boon.
You have received one [1] Least Perk.

Please choose your race.

A representation of the major races appears standing nude in front of you. Or rather, you see yourself in front of you, slightly altered to appear as each of the major races. A hazy line of individuals stretching off into the distance, which you intuit to be subraces that would be available for selection after making your choices.

Your available choices are

Human
__
Halfling
__
Hengeyokai
__
Lizardfolk
__
Spiritfolk


There is a pair of buttons hovering in front of each which reads

Select Race Information

Almost obscured near what you would expect to be the floor, if such a thing existed, are two nearly invisible buttons which read

Apply Greater Boon to Race
Apply Moderate Boon to Race

There is no further information about the two buttons, nor do you notice any button related to the Least Perk.

Before you click anything, you feel a foreboding sensation that any and all choices you make at this time will be permanent.

[Thundercracker]

Jerry hits the information button...

[Rizban]

Each time he hits the information button related to one of the races, a new popup appears.

Human
Humans are the most common race through most of the realm. They are far more adaptable than any other; however, they tend to have poor relations with the non-human races.

Hafling
Haflings are a small and oft overlooked race. They are jovial and friendly travelers, but they are also skilled burglars.

Hengeyokai
These shapechangers are humanoids who have become one with a spirit animal, able to shift between human and animal form almost at will. Each hengeyokai must choose a spirit animal.

Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk are thought to be, in some way, descended from dragons. Although that is many, many generations past, if true at all, they take pride in their heritage. They are an industrious people known for building massive cities in the jungles and plains of their homelands and for having a fiery temper that often leads to war.

Spiritfolk
Descended from humans and a nature spirit, spiritfolk are granted many boons tied to the natural spirit which sired them. Each spiritfolk must choose a spiritual element of nature.

[Thundercracker]

Almost immediately, Jerry selected human.

[Rizban]

As soon as he touches the button for human, all of the other race representations disappear. You find yourself able to customize the appearance of the human to you liking, including changing the sex. All of your choices, however, fall within human norms.

When you're finished, your point of view shifts instantly, and you find yourself in the character you just shaped. You once again have feeling, the numbness gone. However, you still feel weightless in the black nothingness around you.

An extremely sparse character sheet appears in your vision. (Link sent to you via discord)

You find yourself able to fill in a few minor blanks. You also have 2 points to spend on your ability scores, increasing any chosen score by 1. However, you can't assign more than 1 point to the same ability.

[Thundercracker]

Jerry added a point to int and dex. While he filled out the bits of his character, he looked around for the boon options, hoping he didn’t lose them forever..

Height: [roll0] 20 = tall.
Weight: [roll1] 20 = heavy
Eye color: brn black blue green grey [roll2]. Oops, but since this is a redhead we’ll go with green.
Hair: blonde brown red black white [roll3]
Gender: [roll4] 1=m; female.

Edit: height = 6’
Weight : 140
Hair: red
Eyes: green
Gender: female

[Rizban]

As you finalize your point distribution, you receive a notification that you will receive 2 points to spend on any ability score at each future level, though you must spend them on different abilities at each level.

Your vision blurs again as you are given a choice of classes, basic gear sets appearing before you, representing each class option.


Bard
__
Ninja
__
Psion
__
Rogue
__
Spellthief


Select Class Information

You note that the two almost invisible buttons for your boons have become more clear.

Apply Greater Boon to Class
Apply Moderate Boon to Class

[Thundercracker]

Jerry decides to use his greater boon for his class.

[Rizban]

You feel a deep sense of loss as your Greater Boon is consumed, forever gone.

Your class choices go blurry for a moment before reappearing seemingly unchanged, at least at first glance.


Bard/?
__
Ninja/?
__
Psion/?
__
Rogue/?
__
Spellthief/?


Select Class Information

The buttons for both of your boons have disappeared.

[Thundercracker]

You feel a deep sense of loss as your Greater Boon is consumed, forever gone.

Your class choices go blurry for a moment before reappearing seemingly unchanged, at least at first glance.


Bard/?
__
Ninja/?
__
Psion/?
__
Rogue/?
__
Spellthief/?


Select Class Information

The buttons for both of your boons have disappeared.

Puzzled, Jerry hits the information button

[Rizban]

Bard
A musical performer who uses their talents to benefit their allies or harm their foes. An arcane spellcaster whose very music is magical.

After selecting this class, you will be able to choose a secondary class.

Ninja
A master of stealth and the mystic arts, a ninja is able to strike his enemies down from the shadows.

After selecting this class, you will be able to choose a secondary class.

Psion
Harnessing the power of his mind, a psion uses the power of thought to reshape reality to his whims.

After selecting this class, you will be able to choose a secondary class.

Rogue
Thief, trickster, assassin. All of these stem from the rogue class. Their deft use of skill complements their stealth abilities nicely.

After selecting this class, you will be able to choose a secondary class.

Spellthief
The spellthief uses subtlty and stealth to steal magic from others for their own benefit. This arcane spellcaster is more rogue than scholar.

After selecting this class, you will be able to choose a secondary class.

[Thundercracker]

Jerry picked rogue, and then assuming there is a new ‘information’ button, hits that.

[Rizban]

After selecting Rogue, you gain a prompt to select a "secondary class," but are given no further information on what exactly that means. You are able to choose from any base class from the Player's Handbook (except Rogue, of course), the Expanded Psionics Handbook, or Complete Adventurer.

You are also given the option to apply your Moderate Boon to this choice, though the button seems to have faded away almost completely.

[Thundercracker]

After selecting Rogue, you gain a prompt to select a "secondary class," but are given no further information on what exactly that means. You are able to choose from any base class from the Player's Handbook (except Rogue, of course), the Expanded Psionics Handbook, or Complete Adventurer.

You are also given the option to apply your Moderate Boon to this choice, though the button seems to have faded away almost completely.

Jerry hits the moderate boon button.

“Class overload all the way,” he thought.

[Rizban]

Each of your secondary class options receives a very small + at the end, but no additional information is given.

Scrolling to the bottom, you note that you have added options which include the base classes from Complete Psionic, each of which also includes the tiny plus sign.

[Thundercracker]

Jerry felt like he was missing something. He tried tapping in the blank areas all around to see if there were any hidden Easter egg buttons that would unlock something secret. If that doesn’t reveal anything, he laments not knowing much about Psionics and picks wizard.

[Rizban]

Random poking! [roll0]

You indeed find a hidden easter egg!



You have received one [1] Moderate Perk.

[Thundercracker]

Random poking! [roll0]

You indeed find a hidden easter egg!

“Sweet,” Jerry thought, pocketing the perk. He still picked wizard.

[Rizban]

When you select Wizard as your secondary class, you sense it merge with your previously chosen Rogue class. Your rogue class gains spellcasting as a wizard, but it progresses at the same rate as the Adept (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/npcClasses/adept.htm). You cast from the wizard spell list and need to study your spellbook to prepare your spells each day. In addition, your base Will save is increased by 2.

Your character sheet appears again, and begins to fill itself out.

You have the option to select two feats from your first level. You also gain one bonus feat from your race. Your choices are anything you qualify for from the Player's Handbook or Complete Adventurer.

[Rizban]

After selecting and finalizing your feats, you are able to add spells to your spellbook. You are able to add three 0-level spells and one 1st-level spell. These must be selected from the Player's Handbook.

[Thundercracker]

Jerry pokes around again looking for more perks as he thinks about his feat choices.

[Rizban]

He has no luck this time.

[Thundercracker]

On a whim, Jerry tried selecting two weapon fighting despite not having the prerequisite dexterity.

[Rizban]

He is met with an error message. He must still meet any prerequisites for the feats he chooses.

[Thundercracker]

Jerry takes some time to make up his mind, and selects point blank shot, precise shot, and improved initiative for his feats.

For his spells, he picks read magic, detect magic, prestidigitation, and color spray.

[Rizban]

Your selected feats and spells populate to your sheet, changing other values that they affect automatically.

When that completes, a selection of skills appears, and you are informed that you have 36 Skill Points to assign. Clicking through a few of the skills, you discover that the Warlock has the same class skills as usual for a rogue, plus Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft. Cross class skills still costs two points. So, nothing has changed with this process as far as you can tell.

[Thundercracker]

Your selected feats and spells populate to your sheet, changing other values that they affect automatically.

When that completes, a selection of skills appears, and you are informed that you have 32 Skill Points to assign. Clicking through a few of the skills, you discover that the Warlock has the same class skills as usual for a rogue, plus Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft. Cross class skills still costs two points. So, nothing has changed with this process as far as you can tell.

“That’s odd,” Jerry wondered aloud, “I thought I would get 36 points at level one, because I get four extra for being human...”

He tapped around again looking for hidden bonuses, including tapping on himself.

[Rizban]

When you look again, the number is 36. It's always been 36. You don't know why you ever thought differently. You then promptly forget about this line of thought entirely...

[Thundercracker]

Jerry spread some points around, figuring he wanted to sneak into some places and be able to add new spells to his book:

Appraise 1
Disable device 4
Gather information 2
Hide 4
Knowledge local 3
Knowledge arcana 1
Move silently 4
Open lock 4
Search 4
Spellcraft 4
Spot 4
Tumble 1

fyi I tried to add these to the sheet but I’m starting to get some errors (On adding spell craft as a skill, probably bc it is not a rogue class skill) and I don’t know where to add the ranks bc there’s a formula there now

[Rizban]

The System notes that you have not selected a name and asks you to either fill it in or confirm ending character creation without inputting one.

[Thundercracker]

The System notes that you have not selected a name and asks you to either fill it in or confirm ending character creation without inputting one.

Jerry types in ‘Arelyn Starweaver’ (sheet updated).

[Rizban]

As you finalize your character sheet, you hear the clatter of dice in the background.

[roll0]

As your sheet begins to fade away from your vision, you notice two additional abilities appearing on your sheet.



Your vision goes completely black.

You feel something cold and hard on your back and something else warm on your face.

The sounds of buzzing insects can be heard in the distance accompanied by the occasional chirp of a songbird.

You realize that you are lying on the ground, your eyes closed.

[Rizban]

With a rollv this time...

[roll0]

[Thundercracker]

I check my character sheet to see the special abilities added, and my inventory, and see if I can pull the warm thing off my face. If it turns out to be the sun, I open my eyes and look around to see what I can see (without getting up).

Spot take 10 for 14
Edit : aw, that’s a lot less than 344. Poo.

[Rizban]

Your new abilities are plainly visible on your sheet, including descriptions of what they are. The descriptions are about as informative as the race and class descriptions during character creation.

Your inventory is empty, and the only equipped item you possess is marked as a Starter "Gown".

You sit up, wiping a thin layer of dew from your face and note that, indeed, you are wearing only what appears to be a hospital gown, though it thankfully closes securely in the back.

You look around to find yourself in a small forest glade about 20 feet across. A shallow natural pool filled with crystal clear water can be found in the middle, though you see no obvious source for the water.

The trees surrounding you are all ancient hardwoods and grow so closely together that they almost form a solid wall, leaving only one obvious path out.

Several yellow flowers grow near to the pool.

[Thundercracker]

Jerry tried to access any kind of communication channel, to let someone know about his situation.

Assuming that doesn’t work, the first thing he does is try out the inspect ability, starting with the flowers, pool, and hardwoods.

[Rizban]

You investigate your user interface and discover that it has been drastically changed from your previous game experience; however, it remains just familiar enough to be intuitive and easily navigated.

You have only three menu options: Character Sheet, Inventory, and Quest Log.

Your Quest Log is currently empty.

Character and Inventory are the same page on your spreadsheet for simplicity.
Quest Log has been added as its own tab.

Your menu also has several tabs which are completely grayed out, the text on them obscured and unreadable.

[Thundercracker]

Inspect the flowers, pool, and hardwoods.

[Rizban]

You Inspect several objects within the glade.

Inspect
Sundrop Flower

Inspect
Sacred Pool

Inspect
System Wall

Sadly, the information given appears to be limited only to the target's System-recognized name.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn picked a few flowers and stuck them behind her ear, then stepped into the sacred pool to see if anything happened.

“Can’t cast any spells until I get a Spellbook to copy these into,” Jerry thought.

[Rizban]

You displace some of the faintly glowing water, which is quickly absorbed into the ground and lost.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn cups her hands and drinks some of the water.

[Rizban]

The water is cool and has a slight fizz to it that tickles on the way down. It is incredibly pleasant.

After drinking enough to quench your thirst, a glowing gold buff icon appears in the top left of your vision.

[Thundercracker]

The water is cool and has a slight fizz to it that tickles on the way down. It is incredibly pleasant.

After drinking enough to quench your thirst, a glowing gold buff icon appears in the top left of your vision.

Inspect the gold buff icon. If that yields no information, Arelyn will activate it to find out what it does.

[Rizban]

Sacred Water

You gain 25% increased Experience.
(23:59:47)

[Thundercracker]

Sacred Water

You gain 25% increased Experience.
(23:59:47)

“Sweet,” Arelyn thought, “better put that to good use.” She carefully stepped out of the pool, trying not to spill any more, and peered into the next area to see what she can see.

If there is nothing dangerous looking, she’ll start walking.

[Rizban]

You peer through the one visible exit and find a short tunnel formed by low branches and vines. At the end, you push through the vines to find yourself looking at an almost sheer wall of rock.

To your left, the rock wall pull away into the wide mouth of a valley. A stream exits the valley and flows behind where you stand.

To your right, the rock wall continues for some distance, weaving forward and back with the terrain but remaining completely unbroken for as far as you can see through the trees.

Before you, imposing mountains tower above you.

[Thundercracker]

Look for a fallen branch suitable to use as a makeshift club. If one is available, pick it up.

Check the rock wall for hidden doors or compartments in front: search: [roll0]

Assuming there is nothing, Arelyn turns towards the valley and keeps walking.

[Rizban]

You find no hidden doors, but you do spot what appears to be a mining node. Unfortunately, you lack the proper tools and skills to make use of it at this time. You also note multiple rocks that have fallen from the cliff face that range in size from gravel to rocks the size of your head.

You don't readily find any fallen branches large enough to be easily used as clubs but small enough to comfortably wield. Plenty enough for firewood though.

[Thundercracker]

You find no hidden doors, but you do spot what appears to be a mining node. Unfortunately, you lack the proper tools and skills to make use of it at this time. You also note multiple rocks that have fallen from the cliff face that range in size from gravel to rocks the size of your head.

You don't readily find any fallen branches large enough to be easily used as clubs but small enough to comfortably wield. Plenty enough for firewood though.

Arelyn picks up a few rocks she could use as makeshift weapons and continued on into the valley.

she’ll be wanting to pick up several to use as thrown weapons to take advantage of point blank shot, the more the better, maybe she can hold up the front of her gown to carry more.

[Rizban]

Achievement: Equipped a Weapon

You have equipped your first weapon. Gain 10 experience.
You are the first player to gain this achievement. Gain 10 experience.

You find balancing extra rocks in your gown to be quite cumbersome. Lifting your gown also exposes your nethers and obscures your view of your feet, making it much more difficult to place your steps where the ground cover doesn't injure your bare feet.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn peers down her gown to ensure she’s anatomically correct, then gathers a few to hold in her hands; it wasn’t worth injury to carry a few more rocks.


sheet updated with xp, need to know how many rocks to carry and what their stats are.

She continues on towards the valley and the stream.

Edit: “Wait, first player? What’s going on?” she thought.

[Rizban]

You are indeed anatomically correct, a feature which most definitely did not exist in the game before you rolled a new character. Previously, the least clothed you could be was a pair of shorts and tank top, at least unless you purchased bikini armor or leather Conan-style briefs in a microtransaction.

You can comfortably equip a rock in each hand. Carrying any number of rocks in your gown while holding it up is going to cause problems. It barely comes down to mid thigh as it is.

Your starter robe looks like this, including the color. It's a very light fabric that's a bit more durable than a typical paper hospital gown, but not by a whole lot.
https://mornproductions.com//gitp/portal/starterrobe.jpg

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn took a pair of rocks and continued towards the valley and the stream.

[Rizban]

You round the bend and find a tranquil valley filled with shin high grass and a few scattered bushes. Dragonflies buzz around the water.

You see a pair of rabbits grazing on clover nearby. They notice you and stop to watch you for any sign of danger.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn hefted one of the rocks and chucked it as hard as she could at one of the rabbits.


Initiative: [roll0]
Attack: [roll1]
Damage (improvised weapon? Going to go with a d4): [roll2]

[Rizban]

Your rock misses completely.

The two rabbits dart off into the grass and quickly disappear from sight.

The rocks deal 1d4 damage.

[Thundercracker]

Your rock misses completely.

The two rabbits dart off into the grass and quickly disappear from sight.

The rocks deal 1d4 damage.

Arelyn retrieved her rock and started trying to move more stealthily to try and get the drop on another rabbit she might come across.
hide / move silently take 10 for 14

[Rizban]

You sneak around, but rabbits have exceptionally good hearing.

You do eventually stumble across a hole in the ground, which you suspect the rabbits disappeared into.

[Thundercracker]

You sneak around, but rabbits have exceptionally good hearing.

You do eventually stumble across a hole in the ground, which you suspect the rabbits disappeared into.

Arelyn looked around for anything she could use to block the hole, so no other rabbits could get in. If there’s nothing immediately at hand or if there’s no easy way to collapse it, she’ll continue walking to the stream.

[Rizban]

If she wants to block the hole, there are rocks around large enough for the job; however, it will probably also prevent any rabbits that are inside from getting back outside.

[Thundercracker]

Figuring the rabbits would just be able to burrow around the rocks, Arelyn let them be and continued on towards the stream.

[Rizban]

The stream continues uphill through the valley. Apart from the buzzing dragonflies, you see no signs of animal life within the valley at all. No rabbits, no birds. Just the occasional dragonfly.

The valley is fairly straight, and about a mile in the distance, you can see it narrow and become rocky as it heads into the mountains.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn turns downstream, following along the bank, keeping an eye out for other animals or signs of civilization.

spot take 10 for 14

[Rizban]

Just to be clear, downstream is out of the valley and into the woods. Is this the direction you want to go?

[Thundercracker]

Just to be clear, downstream is out of the valley and into the woods. Is this the direction you want to go?

Arelyn thinks back to whether she saw any signs of civilization, fishing nets or a dock or paths. She also scoured her memory for whether she recognized this area of the game and if there were any settlements nearby.

If not, she will follow the stream downriver, looking for a town or village or even a cabin where she could possibly equip herself.

Knowledge local take 10 for 14.
Heading away from the mountains because those are typically harder areas of games and would also have to deal with elements. Villages and towns are usually along streams and rivers so the idea is to follow downstream as the river gets larger and hopefully find one. Let me know if my line of thinking is mistaken.

[Rizban]

You have seen no signs of civilization, nor does the valley look like any location you remember from the game.

The forest, however, seems very similar to the Venomous Grove, a wilderness starter zone just outside of the noob villages. You recall there being at least one starter village on the south end of the Venomous Grove, if that is indeed where you are.

[Thundercracker]

You have seen no signs of civilization, nor does the valley look like any location you remember from the game.

The forest, however, seems very similar to the Venomous Grove, a wilderness starter zone just outside of the noob villages. You recall there being at least one starter village on the south end of the Venomous Grove, if that is indeed where you are.

If there is a way to circle around the woods, Arelyn will try to do that, otherwise she’ll head through it, following the stream.

[Rizban]

The forest grows right up to the edge of the mountains, which make a fairly solid wall. You could theoretically circle around to the right or the left by sticking next to the mountains' edge.

The stream turns to the left just as it enters the forest, following the terrain to lower ground.

There appears to be a small game trail following the stream to the left, more or less following the mountains.

A slightly larger game trail can be seen heading off to the right into the woods but heading away from the mountains at an angle.

[Thundercracker]

The forest grows right up to the edge of the mountains, which make a fairly solid wall. You could theoretically circle around to the right or the left by sticking next to the mountains' edge.

The stream turns to the left just as it enters the forest, following the terrain to lower ground.

There appears to be a small game trail following the stream to the left, more or less following the mountains.

A slightly larger game trail can be seen heading off to the right into the woods but heading away from the mountains at an angle.

Arelyn follows the small game trail along the stream, thinking that it will eventually lead to a village, or something. She moved quietly to try and get the drop on any animals before they notice her.

Edit: Arelyn tried to pull up a map.
if there is no map I will start to create one on the back of my character sheet

[Rizban]

You hear rustling in the undergrowth and then the horrific screaming (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GDPt8gry08) of what reveals itself to be an angry rabbit significantly larger than the other's you've encountered. Also unlike the other two rabbits, this one sports a prominent bony knob covering its forehead like a helmet.

It's about 10 feet away.

[roll0]
[roll1]

You have the initiative.

Using Inspect in battle can be done as a Swift, Move, or Standard action on your turn, but you must spend some action to use it.

[Rizban]

You discover that your interface lacks a minimap function or any mapping function whatsoever. Your character sheet isn't a physical object you can draw a map on, nor do you have anything to draw a map with. Good try though.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn inspects it as a swift action, then backs up 30’ and readies an action to throw a rock at it if it comes after her.

check out the back of my character sheet.

[Thundercracker]

Ready action: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Rizban]

The rabbit leaps at you, head lowered for a headbutt.

[roll0] [roll1]

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn took a swipe at the rabbit then takes a step towards where her rock landed.


Swift, inspect it again.
tiny creature, attack of opportunity as it enters my space, [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] edit : no aoo, disregard.
standard attack it again,
[roll2]
Damage: [roll3]
then move action as another inspection on the rabbit.
5’step towards the first rock.

[Rizban]

It's actually Small, not Tiny. This is a very large rabbit. So, no AoO for entering your square.
That may also change your actions for the round. I'll allow an edit due to miscommunication.
Inspect
Basher

[Rizban]

You swing your rock at the basher, just grazing the bone plate on its forehead but not getting a solid enough hit to deal any damage.

It attempts to headbutt you again.

[roll0] [roll1]

But you deftly avoid it.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn takes another swipe at the rabbit.

attack: [roll0]
Damage:[roll1]
Swift and move to inspect the rabbit again.
Not liking my odds in this fight..

[Rizban]

Inspect
Basher

You smash your rock into the rabbit's side as you jump out of the way of its attack.

It shakes off the damage and turns back to face you, lowering its head for another attack.

[roll0] [roll1]

[Rizban]

The rabbit hits your square in the chest, knocking the wind from your lungs as you lose more than half your total hit points.

[roll0]

You are momentarily disoriented but manage to easily shake off the effects.

[Thundercracker]

“Nope,” Arelyn thought.

She withdrew from the fight, moving 60’ and putting a tree between herself and the killer rabbit as far away as she could, so it wouldn’t be able to charge her.

going to generally try to move back towards the valley, but more important is the cover from the tree to get out of immediate danger.

[Rizban]

The basher is way faster than you and easily chases after you.

[roll0] [roll1]

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn is now at zero hps and disabled. She takes her last standard action to try and take the rabbit down with her.

attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Rizban]

The rabbit watches you flail helplessly and fall to the ground, unconscious.

System Notice
Enemies Defeated: 1
Experience gained: 50

You cough and jerk awake as you regain [roll0] hit points.

You see a short woman, no more than about 3 feet in height, wreathed in shadows that seem to form armor (https://www.mornproductions.com/Jeriah/Vera.jpg). An empty potion vial in her hand dissipates into nothingness as she silently turns and begins searching the fallen Basher for loot.

After a second, she says over her shoulder to you,
"You almost ended up back at your Hearthstone."

[Thundercracker]

“Oh hi, thanks, that was lucky,” Arelyn said, sitting up.

“Hearthstone? Hmm. Weird, mine never activated. My game looks like it’s a bit glitchy, would you mind contacting an admin on my behalf, since all my comm channels are disabled?” she asked.

[Rizban]

Skill Gain

You have gained 1 rank in Knowledge (Gerography).

[Rizban]

"There was a hearthstone near where I started. You should probably go back and check it out if you have not activated yours.

What class are you anyway?"
1234567890

[Thundercracker]

1234567890

“Oh alright, whereabouts was it?” Arelyn asked, “was there a pool where you started as well?”

“This a rogue, but my main is a dervish, what about you?” Arelyn said, “so are you able to contact any of the higher ups? Or any other players at all? I need to at least let my kids know what happened.”

[Rizban]

"Near the exit. On the ground. Only about six inches tall. Probably easy to miss.

Yes.

Then why were you fighting this thing head on? Shouldn't you be sneaking about staying out of sight?"

She shrugs.

"I haven't tried to contact anyone, but it looks like there's no Help option.

You should probably go bind before something bad happens. There's no telling when you might die..."

Believe it or not, I don't enjoy just copy pasting posts. :( Let's get back to the action!

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn

Arelyn sighed.

“I swear, multi million dollar investment and I must have told those guys a dozen times we needed more comprehensive QA and client support so we could leverage the positive feedback but it’s like talking to a brick wall,” Arelyn said.

“Yeah, I was trying to stay out of sight and get to town, but that thing saw or heard me, and it’s too fast to get away from,” Arelyn said, walking over to a fist-sized rock and picking it up.

“Which exit was it at?” she asked.

“not that it matters because it’s not like I _have_ anything at the moment,” she added, “maybe if I die and respawn I’ll actually get some starting equipment...”

“I’m heading that way, I think there’s a village, if you care to join up,” she said, pointing down the path, “maybe we can get some answers there.”

[Rizban]

"The exit from your starting space, near the pool."

The short, shadowy woman hesitates a moment as you point down the path.


"Are you really not going to go back and bind?"

[Thundercracker]

The short, shadowy woman hesitates a moment as you point down the path.

“Eh, I guess I probably should,” Arelyn said, “I’m literally at one hit point, care to come with?”

“I made a big loop to get here but it’s just that way,” she said, pointing across the stream.

[Rizban]

"You go ahead and do that. I can wait."

She stands there and watches you leave for a moment before she starts to scan the trees, likely looking for potential threats.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn moved as quietly an unobtrusively as she could across the stream and back to the grove where her pool is.

[Rizban]

You quickly and safely reach the entrance to your glade.

You feel as though you are being watched, but you neither see nor hear anything. Looking back to the woman who never gave you her name, you notice that she is gone.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn tried eating one of the flowers to see if it would restore any of her hit points. Then she looks around for the hearthstone that is supposed to be nearby.

[Rizban]

Eating the flower makes you feel slightly nauseated for about a minute, though not enough to cause a debuff effect to pop up.

As you reenter the glade, you see a small wooden obelisk about six inches tall just inside the glade near the right side of the tunnel. It looks more like a root than what you expected from a hearthstone. Now that you've noticed it though, you know that's exactly what you're looking at, because, well...

Inspect
Hearthstone

You feel drawn to touch it.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn touches the hearthstone, hoping for an hp recharge.

[Rizban]

You regain 1 hp before touching the hearthstone.

Hearthstone Discovered

Do you wish to bind your soul to this hearthstone
to be revived here upon death?
| Yes | No |

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn picks yes. Then tries touching the hearthstone again.

[Rizban]

You feel a sense of peace in your glade, a feeling of coming home at the end of a long day.

Hearthstone Activated

Do you wish to cancel your soul bind with this hearthstone?
| Yes | No |

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn declined, then returned to the path on the far side of the stream.

[Rizban]

As you are about to leave your glade, you heal 1 hit point, bringing you up to 3.

You return to the path and find the rabbit where it fell. The other woman is gone.

[Thundercracker]

Well, she should at least be grateful the other player took the time to feed her the potion. Arelyn picked up the rabbit corpse, slinging it over her shoulders, and continued on down the game trail with a rock in each hand, following the stream. She tried to move as quietly as possible, sticking to the shadows as much as she could and keeping her eyes open for potential threats.

trying to be stealthy, taking 10's for 14 hide, move silent, and spot.

"What I wouldn't give for an old school set snares non weapon proficiency right about now..." she thought.

[Rizban]

The 35 lb rabbit puts you at medium encumbrance, reducing your speed and giving a penalty to certain skills, including Hide and Move Silently.

You follow the stream for about 3/4 of a mile before you notice that the stream has grown wider and slower and eventually is lost into a bog. The swampland in front of you looks treacherous.

[roll0]
[roll1]

You notice something large moving just below the surface of the water, creating small ripples on the surface.

[Thundercracker]

“Probably a crocodile,” Arelyn thought. With her chances of finding a town spoiled by the stream turning into a big and the trail vanished, she backed up away from whatever was beneath the water and backtracked to the fork in the path and took the larger game trail.

[Rizban]

Like most game trails, the path seemingly vanishes and reappears at random. Please roll six Survival checks to determine how well you follow this path.

[Thundercracker]

Like most game trails, the path seemingly vanishes and reappears at random. Please roll six Survival checks to determine how well you follow this path.

If Arelyn cannot follow the trail, she will continue in a southerly direction as best she can.



Survival: [roll0]
Survival: [roll1]
Survival: [roll2]
Survival: [roll3]
Survival: [roll4]
Survival: [roll5]
Edit: don’t have tanks in survival so just subtract 4 from everything.

[Rizban]

You manage to easily follow the trail. Unfortunately, you don't manage to notice the snares setup along the way until you've stepped in one.

The snare, thankfully, is too small to really do more than entangle you a bit, but a clanging noise indicating the trap has been sprung sends your adrenaline racing.

[Thundercracker]

Good, signs of life.

She inspected the snare, is it something she could take with her? As she continues on the trail (which direction is it headed?) she keeps an eye out for more snares.

[Rizban]

The snare has you entangled and has your movement limited until you make a successful check to remove it before you can resume your journey.

Check could be escape artist, survival, maybe grapple, knowledge-nature to know more about animal snares, or just cut it off if you have a cutting tool. Figure out how you want to approach it and make the roll you think best fits the situation.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn has no knowledge of snares, so she just starts trying to disentangle herself from it.

escape artist untrained: [roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]

[Rizban]

As you are struggling to remove the snare, a person emerges from the woods with bow nocked, drawn, and aimed directly at you. The person is heavily garbed in greens and browns.

They speak a few words in a lyrical tongue you don't recognize.

They seem to waiting for a response.

[Thundercracker]

As you are struggling to remove the snare, a person emerges from the woods with bow nocked, drawn, and aimed directly at you. The person is heavily garbed in greens and browns.

They speak a few words in a lyrical tongue you don't recognize.

They seem to waiting for a response.

Arelyn slowly stands up and puts her hands in the air.

“Hi,” she said, “sorry about the trap.”

[Rizban]

The person speaks again, and you again understand nothing but the final word: human.

They loose their arrow, catching you flat-footed and entangled.

[roll0] - [roll1]

[Rizban]

YOU HAVE DIED



You awaken with a gasp an unspecified time later to find yourself back in your forest glade. The sun overheard has changed position drastically, and the last light of day is quickly fading.

A dark red icon slowly pulses ominously in the top left corner of your vision, right next to the icon for your Sacred Water buff.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn checked how much time was left on the xp icon and inspected the red icon, then checked her inventory.

[Rizban]

Sacred Water

You gain 25% increased Experience.
(15:39:17)

Death Penalty

Experience Debt: 250

-1 to all Ability Scores.
(11:59:53)


You check your inventory and find that it is empty. You are completely naked of any items.

[Thundercracker]

Wonderful.

Arelyn checked the hearthstone and attempted to bind to it again, then exited and picked up a pair of rocks on her way out.

[Rizban]

You find that you are still bound to the hearthstone, but the glow indicating your connection seems to be completely absent. You have an almost instinctual understanding that it is currently inactive, and it will take a bit of time to recharge before it will function again.

[Thundercracker]

You find that you are still bound to the hearthstone, but the glow indicating your connection seems to be completely absent. You have an almost instinctual understanding that it is currently inactive, and it will take a bit of time to recharge before it will function again.

Arelyn decides to wait to see how long it takes for the glow to return to the hearthstone. She jumps up and down a few times to check the game’s jiggle physics in the mean time.

[Rizban]

The physics, as in real life, hurt.


The sun sets, and you soon find yourself growing tired. Do you sleep through the night or remain awake?

[Thundercracker]

The physics, as in real life, hurt.


The sun sets, and you soon find yourself growing tired. Do you sleep through the night or remain awake?
More or less ‘indifferent’ to the pain, Arelyn does it a few more times, then decides to sleep out the timer and see if the penalties vanish.

[Rizban]

The sun rises early the next morning, and you awaken 2 hours remaining on your death penalty timer and about 5 and a half hours on your sacred water timer.

You are also quite hungry.

[Thundercracker]

The sun rises early the next morning, and you awaken 2 hours remaining on your death penalty timer and about 5 and a half hours on your sacred water timer.

You are also quite hungry.

Arelyn heads out to try and find a rabbit, staying as quiet and low as possible as she heads towards the hole.

rolls in the dice thread. 19 and 11 hide and move silent.

[Rizban]

Assuming you still grab the two rocks as stated, you now have two rocks equipped.

You soon find a pair of rabbits grazing on clover. They do not notice you.

[Thundercracker]

Assuming you still grab the two rocks as stated, you now have two rocks equipped.

You soon find a pair of rabbits grazing on clover. They do not notice you.

Arelyn chucks a rock at one of the rabbits.

attack:[roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Sneak attack: [roll2]
Initiative: [roll3]
If I win initiative, charge the nearest rabbit: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]
Sneak attack: [roll6]

[Rizban]

You easily kill the first rabbit and charge the second, but it hops away in complete panic and is quickly lost in the grass.

Encounter Notice
Enemies Defeated: 1
Enemies Dispersed: 1
Experience Gained: 45

I don't remember if I've mentioned this, but XP awards in system messages will not ever include bonus experience multipliers, such as from Sacred Water.

[Thundercracker]

“Odd, would have expected an achievement for killing a monster for the first time, or landing a sneak attack...” Arelyn thought.

She scooped up the deceased rabbit and returned to the grove, where she previously saw firewood. She attempts to build a small campfire with the wood, then proceeds to cook the rabbit as best she can before devouring it.

survival: [roll0]

[Rizban]

Achievement: Killed a Monster

You have killed your first Monster. Gain 10 experience.

It turns out that starting a fire without a fire starter is really hard. You do eventually get a fire started.

You crudely skin the rabbit by cutting into it with a sharp point on a rock and then just sort of ripping the skin off.

Concerned about under cooking the meat, you end up burning it. It's still edible, but it's tough and tastes mostly of char.

[Thundercracker]

After eating, Arelyn banks the embers so she can start a fire again later, then brings the skin with her to the stream and washes it off, then tries to fashion a loincloth out of it, dropping whatever remains to the bank of the stream if she fails.

craft: [roll0]

Afterwards, she picks up her rocks again and goes in search of more rabbits, moving towards their hole.
hide, move silently:
[roll1]

[Rizban]

DM rolls...
[roll0]
[roll1]It takes you about an hour before you are able to craft a crude loincloth, but you manage to not ruin the already almost ruined skin by working carefully. Unfortunately, the skin isn't tanned or treated and will soon start to rot and stink.

Skill Gain

You have gained 1 rank in Craft (Leatherworking).

[Rizban]

You begin to approach a lone rabbit, but it sees you and bolts before you can get close enough to attack.

Assuming you continue, you eventually find a group of three rabbits and manage to sneak up on them.

[Thundercracker]

You begin to approach a lone rabbit, but it sees you and bolts before you can get close enough to attack.

Assuming you continue, you eventually find a group of three rabbits and manage to sneak up on them.

Arelyn tries the same tactic. Throwing a rock at the farther one then charging the nearest before they can react.

attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Sneak attack; [roll2]
Initiative : [roll3]
Charge: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]
Sneak attack: [roll6]
Move (if necessary ) to threaten one.

[Rizban]

You manage to catch the first off guard, killing it, but start running while the rock is still in the air. You crush the second before it can react, but the third darts off into the woods.

Encounter Notice
Enemies Defeated: 2
Enemies Dispersed: 1
Experience Gained: 75

[Thundercracker]

"Okay, this seems to be working..." Arelyn thought.

She retrieved her stone and kept moving towards the hole, figuring that's where the rabbits would be going. She tried to stay stealthy as she moved to continue to get the drop on any more rabbits she came across.

hide / move silent: [roll0]

[Rizban]

You easily sneak up on another rabbits. They do not notice your approach.

[roll]1d100[ [51]

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn continued her assault on the rabbit population of the valley.

throw the first rock: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]
sneak attack: [roll2]
initiative: [roll3]
charge: [roll4]
damage: [roll5]
sneak attack: [roll6]

[Rizban]

Arelyn continued her assault on the rabbit population of the valley.

throw the first rock: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]
sneak attack: [roll2]
initiative: [roll3]
charge: [roll4]
damage: [roll5]
sneak attack: [roll6]


You miss with your throw this time, but you manage to brain the rabbit you charged, killing it. It's convenient that normal rabbits have only 1 hit point and that you keep winning initiative.

The two rabbits attempt to escape, the third provoking an AoO as it does.

[Thundercracker]

attack of opportunity: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]


Regardless of whether she hits it or not, Arelyn picks up her thrown rock and continues on towards the rabbit's hole, still trying to move stealthily and keeping her eyes open for more dangerous creatures.

move / hide /spot: [roll2]
move / hide /spot: [roll3]

[Rizban]

No longer flat-footed, the rabbit easily evades your attack as it flees.

[roll0]

Within seconds of their disappearing, you hear the horrible rabbit screaming that you know is the sure sign of an angry Basher...

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn, not wanting to tangle with another basher, decides to flee (run) back to the grove. She will pick up one of the killed rabbits on the way, to cook.
xp for killing the one rabbit and dispersing the other two? Or nothing because running from the basher?

[Rizban]

It takes the basher a moment to locate you and begin to chase after you.

Fortunately, you have just enough of a lead to duck back into the entrance to your starting glade. You turn to face the basher and see it sniffing around, seeking a target for its aggression. For some reason, it seems completely unable to sense you despite being only a few feet away.

Encounter Notice

Enemies Defeated:
Enemies Dispersed:
Enemies Avoided:
Experience Gained:
1
2
1
110

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn narrowed her eyes. Was this a safe zone?

She checked the hearthstone to see if it had recharged and was active again.

[Rizban]

You notice that your Death Penalty debuff has vanished and that your XP debt has been eliminated.

Your Sacred Water buff is about to expire.

Your hearthstone has also recharged.

[Thundercracker]

You notice that your Death Penalty debuff has vanished and that your XP debt has been eliminated.

Your Sacred Water buff is about to expire.

Your hearthstone has also recharged.

Arelyn observed the basher for a moment or two, then laid out several of the flowers or small branches of the trees of the grove just inside where she thought the border of the grove was, based on where it stops.

She waits until it starts to lose interest and move away, taking another drink of the xp pool if it runs out. The second it starts to move away, once it’s back is turn, Arelyn steps several feet out of the borders of the grove as quietly as she can and launches a rock at its back.


Move silently: [roll0]
Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Sneak attack: [roll3]
Initiative: [roll4]

[Rizban]

You refresh your Sacred Water buff, resetting its timer to 24 hours.

You step out of the glade and toss your rock, impacting the rabbit right in the base of the skull and breaking its neck, an incredibly lucky throw.

Encounter Notice

Enemies Defeated:
Experience Gained:
1
100

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn does a little fist pump as her throw flies true, she retrieved her rock and dragged the corpse over to the campfire, adding some more wood to bring it back up. She did her best to cook the basher, and inspected the bony helmet portion to determine whether she could use it for anything.

[Rizban]

You need to make:
Survival and/or Profession (Cook) checks to butcher and cook the meat.
Some sort of Craft check to make something from the basher skull.


After this, you are also out of wood in your starting glade and will need to find firewood elsewhere in the future.

[Thundercracker]

survival: [roll0]

Arelyn did as best she could with the carcass, then she moved down to the stream to wash the skull, and brought it back to the glade. She’d try to do something with it later. If the meat is cooked well enough she’ll eat what she can, and then return to the valley to press on towards the rabbit hole.

[Rizban]

You carefully portion the meat, spit it on sticks, and place them around the fire, remembering to occasionally turn them so that they cook evenly. Without even so much as a pinch of salt, the meat is bland but gamey, though it is cooked well enough.

You are Satiated.

You gain 5% increased Experience.
(3:59:58)

After eating your fill, you find that you've eaten only about one quarter of the meat you harvested from the rabbit.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn

"Hmm, wonder if I'll gain weight from being satiated all the time," Arelyn thought.

She takes the rest of the meat and moves it into the grove. If she can stack some rocks on the ground and covering the meat to prevent little critters from getting to it, she will.

Food supply secured for the time being, she returns to the stream and drinks her fill and washes up, then cleans the skull in the stream and returns to the grove to place it next to the meat. Once that's done, she retrieves her throwing rocks and again moves quietly towards the rabbit hole to try and take advantage of that additional boost.

hide / move silent: [roll0]

[Rizban]

You do so, and neither see any hostile creatures nor seem to have been seen by such.

As you approach the rabbit hole, the number of rabbits seems greatly reduced from earlier.

You do eventually spot a single rabbit sniffing about.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn readies a stone and throws it at the rabbit, then charges after it.

attack: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]
sneak attack: [roll2]
initiative: [roll3]
if initiative is won:
attack: [roll4]
damage: [roll5]


Once the rabbit is either down or has fled, Arelyn reaches around the inside of the hole to see if she can find anything hidden inside. If there is nothing, she will start following the stream to higher ground, towards the mountains, staying near the water and trying to sneak up on any creatures she might spot.


search: [roll6]
hide / move silent: [roll7]
[roll8]
spot : [roll9]
listen: [roll10]

[Rizban]

You miss completely, and the rabbit escapes. You do not receive any experience notifications.

You reach the hole and begin to feel around inside. Suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your fingers as you take [1] damage.

[Thundercracker]

You miss completely, and the rabbit escapes. You do not receive any experience notifications.

You reach the hole and begin to feel around inside. Suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your fingers as you take [1] damage.

“Ow,” Arelyn said, withdrawing her hand. Figuring it was probably a good idea to let the rabbits be and catch them outside their hole instead, she proceeded up the stream.

[Rizban]

Up the stream into the valley or downstream back into the woods towards the swamp?

[Thundercracker]

Up the stream into the valley or downstream back into the woods towards the swamp?

Upstream into the valley.

[Rizban]

Upstream into the valley.

The stream continues uphill through the valley. Apart from the buzzing dragonflies, you see no signs of animal life within the valley at all. No rabbits, no birds. Just the occasional dragonfly.

The valley is fairly straight, and about a mile in the distance, you can see it narrow and become rocky as it heads into the mountains.

[Thundercracker]

Having reached the end of the valley with no settlements in sight, and not really willing to brave the mountains without clothing or shoes, Arelyn returns south, past the mining node, and hugs the mountains to the north, seeing if she can get past the forest that way.

hide / move silently, 4 ranks each.
[roll0]

[Rizban]

You follow along the rock wall and note that though it diverges from the stream a bit, you never get far enough away that you can't hear and occasionally see the water. You eventually run into the edge of the swamp you encountered earlier.

There is a very narrow strip of dry land along the edge of the mountain cliffs, but you can't tell how far this will last before it too disappears. You also can't tell how deep the water is nearby and whether or not you're in danger from the larger aquatic threats.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn considers her options, then decides to take her chances on the path around the bog. She moved at a light jog to try and get past any threats before they realize she’s there.

going to hustle for an hour, that will take me 6 miles before needing to make any checks if I’m not mistaken.

[Rizban]

You make it about half a mile before the land becomes dangerously narrow, requiring you to make balance checks to continue. If you don't slow down, it will incur significant penalties to the check.

[Thundercracker]

You make it about half a mile before the land becomes dangerously narrow, requiring you to make balance checks to continue. If you don't slow down, it will incur significant penalties to the check.

Arelyn slows down to avoid falling down into the bog. So long as the path stays 6” wide or wider, she makes her way slowly along the edge of the cliff.

follow along the path taking 10 on balance to walk, dc is 10 for 6-12” wide. If it narrows, will turn back.

[Rizban]

The ledge grows narrower and narrower, until your back is pressed against the wall to keep from falling off. You start to see movement in the water, but you can't tell what it is.

The wall curves back as you slide to your left. You almost stumble into the water as the ledge abruptly ends but manage to catch yourself before you do.

Looking over your shoulder, you see that the cliff face opens up into a wide cave. The mouth of the cave is nearly 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide. The bottom ledge of the cave mouth is a few feet above the water line, about chest high on you, but it should be easy enough to scramble into.

[Thundercracker]

Not liking the look of what’s in the water, Arelyn pulls herself up into the cave, then checks for signs of current inhabitants.

[Rizban]

The cave is well lit by the sun shining through the large opening. The first fifty feet or so of the cavern seems to have little more than occasional bits of rubble fallen from the ceiling and a few stalagmites.

Deeper within, where the sunlight doesn't reach, you spot several large piles of guano, obviously created by the colony of bats roosting on the cave ceiling above.

The cave grows increasingly dark the further back you look, but it appears that there is at least one opening that goes deeper into the mountains.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn explores farther back into the cave, until she can't see anymore. If she doesn't find anything of interest, she'll return to the front of the cave and 'inspect' the bats, and the guano, and the piles of rubble, then she'll return to the front and 'inspect' the bog as well.

[Rizban]

She finds two tunnels that lead deeper, but both are so quickly lost to darkness that she doesn't venture into them.

You get Inspect results of "Fruit Bat," "Bat Guano," and "Rock." Attempting to Inspect the bog fails, as it's not a specific item. You do get results of "Grass" and "Swamp Water" and "Reeds" as you look around nearby.

[Thundercracker]

Not wanting to disturb the bats, Arelyn returns to about 20’ from the mouth of the cave and watches the water for a good 20 minutes, just to see what she can see.


Move silently take 10 for 14
Hide near the entrance as best she can for 14
Spot take 20 for 20

[Rizban]

https://aldhaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/swamp-snaps-2016-001.jpg

You see that the water is mostly no more than two or three feet deep nearby. The trees are rather thick with large clumps of moss hanging from them, obscuring sight more than a few dozen feet away.

Vegetation floats on the surface in clumps creating numerous hiding spaces, making it hard to discern anything in the water.

You eventually spot a large shape floating near the surface about 15 feet away. A pair of eyes above the water appears to be watching you.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn 'inspects' whatever it is that's watching her.

Is the debris in the cave large enough to use as improvised weapons?

[Rizban]

Arelyn 'inspects' whatever it is that's watching her.

Is the debris in the cave large enough to use as improvised weapons?

You, unfortunately, only get a result of "Swamp Water" or "Swamp Weeds" when trying to inspect the creature watching you. You don't seem able to pinpoint it enough through the obstructions to get a clear Inspect on it.

You are able to find plenty of rocks in the cave rubble suitable for use in bashing or throwing.

[Thundercracker]

Figuring whatever it was meant to eat her when she approached the water again, Arelyn backs up about 10’ and threw a stone at it to try and drive it away.


Attack; [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Rizban]

You manage to hit it, but you can't tell whether or not it does any damage. Still, the creature submerges and disappears from sight.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn watches for a good 20 minutes to see if it re-emerges, then decides it’s probably still waiting for her to come out, and she’d better distract it with something. She turns to the bats near the ceiling and tries to find one within reach.

if Arelyn can reach a helpless bat, coup de grace, otherwise she’ll throw a stone.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Rizban]

You kill the bat.

Unfortunately, you accidentally disturb the entire colony. They begin to take flight, rapidly forming a swarm.

[Thundercracker]

You kill the bat.

Unfortunately, you accidentally disturb the entire colony. They begin to take flight, rapidly forming a swarm.

Moving quickly now, Arelyn grabs the dead bat and tosses it into the water where (she supposes) the crocodile was, then moved onto the ledge outside the cave, trying to stick as close to the wall as possible, and sliding back towards the forest.

[Rizban]

You are engulfed by the swarm after tossing the bat but before you can escape the cave.

You take [roll0] swarm damage.

Thankfully, the swarm is just trying to exit the cave, and the injuries you take are more accidental than intentional.

When you make it beyond the mouth of the cave, the bats ignore you and are quickly out of sight.

Encounter Notice

Enemies Defeated:
Enemies Avoided:
Experience Gained:
1
1
180

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn slides along the rock face, attempting to get back to the wider portion where she can jog again, and hoping whatever is in the water is drawn to the bloody bat corpse she just tossed in.

[Rizban]

You have no difficulty making your way along the ledge.

[Thundercracker]

A bit battered, Arelyn jogs back along the path to the forest, then tries to stay unnoticed as she makes her way back to the grove.


Hide / move silent: [roll0] + 4 each.

[Rizban]

You have difficulty hiding, and your footsteps echo in your ears. You make it back to your glade without encountering more than a lone rabbit that mostly ignores you as you run past it.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn eats some more of the meat (until she is full) and then rests until she is back at full hit points.

[Rizban]

You are Satiated.

You gain 5% increased Experience.
(3:59:58)

By the time you finish eating, you are already healed. It seems that you regain 1 hit point roughly every 5 minutes while inside your glade.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn replaces the rocks around and over the remainder of the meat, and then heads out to explore the western edge of the valley.

[Rizban]

The valley is unchanged since you last visited it. There is little more than grass, the occasional bush, the stream, and dragonflies buzzing around the water.

Near the steep walls of the valley, you encounter an occasional area of scree where you can easily find more rocks.

Other than the dragonflies, you see no signs of animal life within the valley.

[Thundercracker]

The valley is unchanged since you last visited it. There is little more than grass, the occasional bush, the stream, and dragonflies buzzing around the water.

Near the steep walls of the valley, you encounter an occasional area of scree where you can easily find more rocks.

Other than the dragonflies, you see no signs of animal life within the valley.

On a whim, Arelyn starts chucking rocks at dragonflies until she hits one to see if there’s an xp reward.

[Rizban]

It takes several attempts, but you eventually nail one, knocking it from the air.

You receive no notifications or experience rewards.

[Thundercracker]

It takes several attempts, but you eventually nail one, knocking it from the air.

You receive no notifications or experience rewards.

She attempts to follow the border of the mountains to the west, heading south, once again trying to move quietly.
take 10’s for 14 on move silent and hide .

[Rizban]

I'm not sure I understand where you're trying to go. Can you mark it on the map?

[Rizban]

You head back towards the trees and see a group of [roll0] rabbits nibbling on clover.

You're back to the "crossroads" at the valley entrance.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn charges the group, trying to position herself to threaten two of them.

charge; [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Sneak attack: [roll2]
Initiative: [roll3]
If initiative is won, attack a second rabbit (charge if the first one is dead): [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]
Sneak attack: [roll6]
Then move to threaten the third.

[Rizban]

You run in, swing and miss, win initiative, swing and miss, and then the rabbits flee, provoking an AoO.

The rabbits have a +3 modifier to Init. Even with a nat 20, your higher modifier means you go first.

[Thundercracker]

Attack of opportunity: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Rizban]

The three rabbits escape unharmed, leaving you standing there looking a bit silly.

Okay, maybe more than just "a bit."

Encounter Notice

Enemies Dispersed:
Experience Gained:
3
45

[Thundercracker]

The three rabbits escape unharmed, leaving you standing there looking a bit silly.

Okay, maybe more than just "a bit."

Arelyn retrieves her rocks and walks slowly towards the stream, just in case one of those killer rabbits show. If nothing happens, she will continue south and hug the system wall border of the mountains.

[Rizban]

You enter the forest and begin moving roughly parallel to the game trail heading to the right.

There's no clear path near the cliffs, with trees occasionally growing almost up against the rock face.

How do you proceed?

[Thundercracker]

You enter the forest and begin moving roughly parallel to the game trail heading to the right.

There's no clear path near the cliffs, with trees occasionally growing almost up against the rock face.

How do you proceed?

Arelyn stays as close to the cliff face as she can, moving around trees if she has to, and keeping an eye out for dangers like snares or dangerous forest animals.

spot: [roll0]

[Rizban]

You encounter no such things... until you see a vine start to move.

Wait! That's no vine!

A green snake of some sort drops down out of a tree almost on top of you, but you spotted it and deftly avoided its ambush.

It hisses at you as it coils to strike.

You have Initiative.

Edit: It is adjacent to you.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn takes a step back then throws one of her rocks at the snake.

[roll0]
damage: [roll1]

[Rizban]

You easily strike the snake. It seems to be dazed and unable to act.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn steps right up to the snake, throws her rock down at it, then picks the rock up again.

5' step to get up to the snake.
attack: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]
move: pick up the rock.

[Rizban]

You easily kill the snake. Huh. That wasn't hard at all...

Encounter Notice
Enemies Defeated:
Experience Gained:
1
100

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn hits the snake again to make sure it's dead, picks up her other thrown rock, and continues on, hugging the mountains as best she can.

spot, hide, move silent take 10's for 14.

[Rizban]

You continue to make your way along the cliff wall and soon find yourself on the edge of a familiar clearing. A very familiar clearing.

In fact, you easily spot a very familiar looking snare right in the middle of the game trail as it passes through the clearing.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn stops where she is and takes her time to look at the snare and figure out where the alarm she set off last time is.

[Rizban]

You spot a thin piece of twine and follow it with your eyes into the undergrowth. There you spot a small sapling that has been bent and loosely secured with the line of twine. A copper bell is tied to the sapling. You suspect this to be the source of the alarm.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn finds a tree next to the cliff face, one she can hide behind. She leaves a rock there and tosses a stick to trip the twine and get the bell ringing, then moves behind the tree and picks up her rock. She waits for the sound of someone entering the clearing, or the bell ringing again.

plan is to take a shot at ambushing the elf and securing some real equipment.

[Rizban]

I'm going to need you to make an attack roll to throw the stick and make a Hide check after.

In fact, make several, in case you miss the first throw.

[Thundercracker]

Attacking with sticks: [roll0]

[Rizban]

You manage to hit it on the first try and duck back behind the tree.

The snare is triggered, the sapling snaps upright, yanking on the snare and ringing the bell.

The person from before doesn't immediately appear.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn waits a good ten minutes, then pulls up some undergrowth to conceal herself better, and camps there with the tripped snare in sight.

if the elf doesn’t appear at first, wait a bit, then take 20 on hide and wait for someone or something to show.

[Rizban]

As you start to move to improve your hiding spot, an arrow thunks into the tree next to you.

You spot the person from earlier leaning around a tree on the other side of the clearing, lining up another shot with their bow.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/7a/49/06/7a4906d7764de8bde374bfd5b5070127.jpg

[Thundercracker]

Arelyj returns by leaning out from behind the tree and tossing a rock at the archer.

attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Rizban]

You manage to peg the person as they lean around the tree to shoot. Instead of attacking, the person ducks back into cover.

They now have total cover against you, but you also have total cover against them...

[Thundercracker]

You manage to peg the person as they lean around the tree to shoot. Instead of attacking, the person ducks back into cover.

They now have total cover against you, but you also have total cover against them...

Arelyn goes prone and slowly crawls 10’ along the cliff face towards the valley, then hides behind a bush or tree, then crouches and readies an action to attack the other person as soon as they break cover.


Hide: [roll0]
Move silent if necessary: [roll1]
Attack: [roll2]
Sneak attack: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]

[Rizban]

The person leans out to attack, and you throw your rock. You miss.

They Spot you and turn to shoot.

[roll0] - [roll1]

[Rizban]

You awaken several hours later bound and gagged, a burlap sack tied over your head.

[Thundercracker]

You awaken several hours later bound and gagged, a burlap sack tied over your head.

Arelyn attempts to get out of the bonds

Escape artist; [roll0]

[Rizban]

You manage to free your wrists from the ropes, but your feet are tied separately.

Your struggles, however, don't go unnoticed.

That same voice speaking in the melodic language speaks sternly to you, and you feel the pressure of cold steel at your throat.

You still don't understand what the person is saying.

[Thundercracker]

You manage to free your wrists from the ropes, but your feet are tied separately.

Your struggles, however, don't go unnoticed.

That same voice speaking in the melodic language speaks sternly to you, and you feel the pressure of cold steel at your throat.

You still don't understand what the person is saying.

Great.

Arelyn folds her arms and waits for her captor to do something.

“You attacked me first, what’d you think was gonna happen?” she asked.

[Rizban]

The person continues speaking, getting increasingly agitated, but you still don't understand.

When you move your arms to cross them, the person seems to take it as a threatening action. You feel a heavy impact on your skull and lose consciousness again.


Later, you reawaken to find yourself bound once more.

A different voice speaks.

"So, you have finally decided to rejoin us. Explain yourself, human."

[Thundercracker]

The person continues speaking, getting increasingly agitated, but you still don't understand.

When you move your arms to cross them, the person seems to take it as a threatening action. You feel a heavy impact on your skull and lose consciousness again.


Later, you reawaken to find yourself bound once more.

A different voice speaks.

"So, you have finally decided to rejoin us. Explain yourself, human."

Finally.

“I’m looking for a town or a village or some kind of civilization, as you can see, I don’t even have clothes,” Arelyn replied.

[Rizban]

"That explains nothing. Why are you here?"

[Thundercracker]

"That explains nothing. Why are you here?"

“Y’all killed me yesterday unprovoked then knocked me out again today and dragged me here,” Arelyn replied, “honestly if I’m not wanted here you could untie me and let me go.”

[Rizban]

You hear a whistling sound and feel a sharp pain across your thigh as a thin stick raises a welt on your skin. Your hit points are undamaged.

"That precisely is why you still breathe. Who is your master? Why do they raise you and send you back to harry us?"

[Thundercracker]

“Ow,” Arelyn said in response to the lash, monotone and indifferent.

“I don’t have a ‘master’,” Arelyn replied, “or allegiance, or enemies really, well, except for your elf friend who shot me in the face the other day I guess.”

“The role of ‘boss’, ‘employer’, or ‘master’ is currently vacant, if you’re interested in the job,” Arelyn said, “so if you’ve got a problem that needs solving maybe we can help each other out.”

[Rizban]

"Then how do you still live after dying?"

[Thundercracker]

"Then how do you still live after dying?"

Arelyn shrugged.

What would make sense to these npc’s...

“No idea. Maybe I’m just special,” Arelyn replied absently, half-heartedly tugging at her restraints, “pretty sure I’m not the only one though.”

[Rizban]

"I think I would like to study this phenomenon."

You hear the sound of metal scraping against leather, the sound of a weapon being drawn.

"How long, would you estimate, before you return?"

[Thundercracker]

"I think I would like to study this phenomenon."

You hear the sound of metal scraping against leather, the sound of a weapon being drawn.

"How long, would you estimate, before you return?"

“Oh come on!” Arelyn said, “a year and a day? I have no idea. At least tell me your name!”

She struggled with her bonds, not wanting to go down without at least putting up a fight.

[Rizban]

"I'm afraid not. I can't risk you reporting that to your 'non-existent' master or anyone else for that matter."

[Thundercracker]

"I'm afraid not. I can't risk you reporting that to your 'non-existent' master or anyone else for that matter."

“Ugh, what if I want to tell whoever I meet next time to take me to you instead of shooting me in the face in some field?” Arelyn asked.

[Rizban]

"That won't be necessary."

A sharp pain. Darkness.


YOU HAVE DIED

You awaken back in your glade not long before the sun sets.

You check.

Death Penalty

Experience Debt: 250

-1 to all Ability Scores.
(11:59:53)

Thankfully, that penalty hasn't gotten any worse. The XP debt is subtracted from your current total though.

Your hearthstone is also unpowered when you check it.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn sat up and a cleared the grass from her hair. She growled in annoyance.

“Dammit. That does it, I’m going to make it my life’s quest to kill all those tree hugging pointy eared npc’s,” she said, “at least the ones in that forest.”

She checked her hunger status and then ate some more of the meat until she was full, then rested until her timer ticked down to zero. Once the hearthstone was powered up again, she drank some more xp water, made sure her belly was full, and went rabbit hunting.

[Rizban]

It takes the full 12 hours on the buff for your hearthstone to recharge. You can definitely tell that the two are directly linked.

You drink and eat, gaining the 25% for 24 hours and the 5% for 4 hours XP boosts.

You find [roll0] rabbits easily enough but have no weapons... Fortunately, rocks are common in the valley.

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn picks up a pair of rocks and goes back to her tried and true method of attacking the rabbits, throwing first then charging.

attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Initiative: [roll2]
Charge: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]
Attack of opportunity: [roll5]
Damage: [roll6]

[Rizban]

You win initiative but flail about ineffectively while driving the rabbits away.

Encounter Notice
Enemies Dispersed:
Experience Gained:
3
45

[Thundercracker]

Arelyn retrieved her rocks and moved towards the rabbit hole, looking for more critters to defeat.

[Rizban]

As you approach the rabbit hole, you find that someone has taken the time to dig it out.

You hear the sounds of combat from within and spot two large lizardfolk fighting a horde of rabbits in an underground room.

[Thundercracker]

Nope.

Arelyn avoids the combat and quietly moves north along the valley, looking for more rabbits to scatter.

[Rizban]

You move far enough that you think your own combat won't be heard by the lizardfolk and find [roll0] rabbits.

[Thundercracker]

You move far enough that you think your own combat won't be heard by the lizardfolk and find [roll0] rabbits.

Arelyn rushes at the rabbits to scatter them, then proceeds in a westerly direction to find some more.

[Rizban]

Rabbits hop a few feet away and watch you warily.

[Thundercracker]

Rabbits hop a few feet away and watch you warily.

Charge: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]