Portal to D&D IC - Silence of the Bold

[Thokk_Smash]

Spoiler: OOC Question

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Would it be at all feasible to Handle Animal to make the spiders back down?

[Rizban]

Spoiler: DM

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If you have a way to apply it to Vermin, I'll allow you to use it like Wild Empathy at a penalty...

[Thokk_Smash]

"Berserker, stop, but be ready to attack if they come at you."

Berserker stops walking, but tenses itself, ready to defend itself.

[Rizban]

The spiders hiss a moment more then resume feeding.

[Thokk_Smash]

"Berserker, keep going. Stay as far away from them as you can while staying on the path."

Berserker resumes its slow walk. Iriander gestures to the others for Shanna and Lilac to follow at the same pace.

[Rizban]

He takes another few steps closer, and two of the spiders hiss and leap at him. They do provoke AoOs.

(1d20+5)[22] - [1]+posion Fort DC10 Str - (1d2)[2]
(1d20+5)[13] - [1]+posion Fort DC10 Str - (1d2)[1]

[Thokk_Smash]

Spoiler: AoO

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(1d20+5)[9], (1d4+4)[5] Miss

Spoiler: Fort saves

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(1d20+3)[17], (1d20+3)[5] Saves 1st, fails 2nd, -1 Strength

Berserker roars in anger and pain, and retaliates in turn before taking a 5ft step back

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20+5)[6], (1d4+4)[6] Miss regardless
(1d20+5)[16], (1d4+4)[8] -1 attack/damage, still barely hits

Will update depending on results of Fort rolls.

End turn by moving 5ft back to force the spider to move toward him again.

[Rizban]

Berserker shreds one of the two spiders attacking it, which enrages the two still feeding.

Shanna and Lilac have a chance to act before the spiders go again.

[JNAProductions]

Lilac will cast Mage Hand, and move the rabbit corpse a bit further away from the path they're on.

Spoiler: OOC

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We still got 5 rounds of Inspire Courage. (Well, maybe 4.) Make 'em count.

[Lentrax]

Shanna stays with the group, and prepares herself to swing at the first spider to come near enough to her.

[Rizban]

When Lilac begins to move the rabbit, the agitated spiders attack the nearest enemy, Berserker.

(1d20+5)[6] [1]+posion Fort DC10 Str - (1d2)[1]
(1d20+5)[14] [1]+posion Fort DC10 Str - (1d2)[1]
(1d20+5)[17] [1]+posion Fort DC10 Str - (1d2)[2]

They each provoke as they swarm into its space.

[Thokk_Smash]

Spoiler: Start of turn

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Berserker is at 15 Strength, 4/11 HP

Spoiler: AoO

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(1d20+4)[7], (1d4+4)[7]

Spoiler: Fort Saves

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(1d20+3)[12], (1d20+3)[19] Both pass

Iriander winces as Berserker is set upon once more. "You can do it, Berserker," he says, galvanizing the eidolon to attack with all its might. It then takes a 5ft step back.

Spoiler: Attacks

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(1d20+4)[17], (1d4+4)[7]
(1d20+4)[16], (1d4+4)[7]

Spoiler: End of turn

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15 Strength, 4/11 HP

[JNAProductions]

Lilac whispers Sorry!, hopefully loud enough to be heard by Iriander, but not loud enough to draw any arachnid attention to her.

[Thokk_Smash]

Spoiler: OOC

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Preemptive AoO on spider: (1d20+4)[19], (1d4+4)[6]

[Rizban]

Berserker squishes the final spider as it moves to attack.

[Thokk_Smash]

At the ending of the last spider, Iriander breathes a sigh of relief. "I should've thought to use Mage Hand sooner," he says, waving off Lilac's apology. "Stupid of me, really. God, I hope there's no more random encounters today.

"C'mon, Berserker, let's see if we can salvage any of the rabbit." Moving cautiously, Iriander and Berserker move to the rabbit. Iriander bends down to inspect it, while Berserker keeps a watchful eye on the surroundings.

Spoiler

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Potential Survival check to see how damaged the rabbit corpse is: (1d20)[17]
Berserker Spot check: (1d20)[5]

[JNAProductions]

Lilac jogs up, looking about.

Spoiler: Spot

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(1d20)[16]

She says If we have to leave the meat behind, I'm okay with that. We should get moving-away from this arachnids' den.

[Lentrax]

Shanna holds onto her club, the unfamiliar weight pulling the head of it down until she rests it on her shoulder.

I agree. We should get moving and quickly, while the getting is good.

[Thokk_Smash]

"I wasn't planning on having a lie-down," Iriander replies. "Just a sec.

"Berserker, wipe the spider blood off of your claws, it'll start to smell after awhile. Then pick this back up."

Berserker looks at its claws as if seeing them for the first time, then wipes off the spider's blood onto the grass. It then hoists the dead rabbit back onto its shoulder. "It'll come in handy if we need to distract another predator, probably."

Then he mentally directs Berserker to continue down the path, moving cautiously.

[Rizban]

Combat Notice
Enemies Defeated: 9 Enemies Avoided: 0 Experience gained: 225

The spiders have injected venom into the rabbit repeatedly, causing the flesh to start to break down and liquefy for their consumption. Getting anything usable, let alone edible, from the carcass is going to be difficult. It's likely no longer useful as anything but bait.

You spot several areas not far away that contain groupings of spiders, but none are close enough to your path to be an immediate threat.

After not too much farther, the trail disappears, but you see that it reappears about 50 feet away. This is fairly common for game trails, which are created by the repeated passing of animals rather than the planning of the sapient races.

Please roll six Survival checks to see how well you follow the path as well as describe anything specific you do and/or direction you take. I'll leave it up to the party to determine who rolls and how you proceed.

[Thokk_Smash]

Seeing the combat notice pop up gives Iriander the largest sense of relief he's had in a long time. "Okay, so I think I remember one of the starter villages being near the southern part of the forest. So, let's see, if we go this way..."

Iriander directs them through the trail, moving in what he hopes is a southerly direction. He ensures Berserker is in the front and is alert to any danger.

Spoiler: Survival checks

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(1d20)[8]
(1d20)[13]
(1d20)[12]
(1d20)[12]
(1d20)[5]
(1d20)[7]

Iriander will be trying to lead them south towards where he thinks a village may be. On the way, he will be trying to spot any signs of sapient creatures or civilization.

[JNAProductions]

Spoiler: Survival

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I'll roll to assist.

(6d20)[11][13][18][9][18][2](71) no modifiers

Lilac, as they walk the path, says Thank you, Iriander. And, um, does Berserker get thanks? Is he... Sentient? Or is he just an automaton?

[Rizban]

It takes time, but you manage to find your way along the trail without too much difficulty, though you do have to backtrack a few times as the path meanders.

The trail leads deeper into the forest, and the undergrowth thins as the tree canopy nearly blots out the sun. You travel for about two hours, and the sun has moved well into the afternoon. You've become fairly thirsty and are beginning to feel the first pangs of hunger.

Ahead, you see the underbrush thicken suddenly, and through the branches you can see hints of open sky. A clearing?

[Thokk_Smash]

"I'm...not sure, to be honest," Iriander says with an apologetic grimace toward Berserker that the eidolon seems not to notice. "I summoned him from the planes, and gave form to him myself, so he doesn't seem to be an existing being. He's probably closer to an automaton, although he could be essentially a newborn in a grown body, and so is learning everything for the first time?"

Iriander seems to realize he's rambling and cuts himself off with a sheepish grin. "In the end, I'll be treating him as a sentient being, so please feel free to do the same."

As the hours pass, Iriander starts to realize his hunger and thirst for the first time. "Yet another new game mechanic that seems to add nothing but trouble for the player," he thinks to himself. If they don't find the village soon, he'll have to talk to the others about trying to forage for food and water.

His hope rises when he spies the apparent clearing. "Berserker, come with me to poke our heads out," he says, motioning to the eidolon. They both move up to the thickened underbrush, and tentatively poke their heads through.

[Lentrax]

Be careful. Not knowing where we are, we could be sticking our heads into the lion's mouth.

[JNAProductions]

Earlier

Well, thank you, Berserker, Lilac says, addressing the Eidolon directly. We appreciate what you do.

Speaking of which, I've got a single charge of Cure Light Wounds. Anyone need it?

Now

Lilac has kept pace, aiding Iriander with keeping track of the game path. She doesn't say much, though (when she feels safe to do so) hums quietly.

She echoes Shanna when the other woman tells Iriander to be on guard, saying Maybe just Berserker should stick his head out? He's the most durable, right?

[Rizban]

In the middle of the clearing is a massive, ancient oak tree. The trunk itself is 40 to 50 feet tall before even considering the huge branches. The crown of branches is more than twice that across, with many branches larger than the surrounding trees. The ground is an almost smooth carpet of fallen leaves with no sign of fallen branches.

The trees in the nearby forest show signs of having been pruned back and maintained to make the clearing into a perfect circle with plenty of space between them and the oak.

On the far side of the clearing, in the sun between the oak and the distant trees, you see an expansive manicured garden filled with herbs and flowers. Though there are no obvious borders or walkways, making it look almost wild, the garden is obviously organized and maintained beyond the simple whims of nature.

[JNAProductions]

What should we do? This feels like a home, but... I don't want to be trespassing.

[Thokk_Smash]

"Man, if there's a turtle under that tree, that'd be cool," Iriander thinks, thinking fondly back to the latest God of War game.

Out loud, he says, "I'm figuring it's even odds whether it's a good or bad witch who lives there. Either way, if someone lives here, they may be willing to give us directions. I'll take point if you want, but if you're a bard then you're probably more silver-tongued than I am."

To Berserker, he says, "Don't follow me, but keep an eye out for anything from the tree."

Very carefully, Iriander steps out of the undergrowth and two small steps into the clearing. Raising his voice a bit, he calls out, "Hullo the tree! Is anyone there? We're just a few travelers lost in the woods, and hoping for some direction!" He makes a point to keep his hands and arms clearly visible, to show he has no weaponry on hand.

Spoiler: OOC

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Berserker Spot: (1d20)[13]
Iriander spot: (1d20)[15]

[Rizban]

A lyrical voice laden with power reverberates through the clearing, but the language is foreign to you.