Adventures in Alivast [IC]

[Xihirli]

Nija is able to become invisible again, but only for a few seconds before it's shunted back off.

The footsteps and shadow continue to follow as the sun travels along the sky. It isn't until the sun has fully set that once again you set foot on precious dirt, hearing the sounds of insects, feeling the crunch of dead twigs underfoot.
At the other end of the zone of death, you have come to the farms under the protection of the Dragon's Take Fort, though you can't see anyone out at the moment.
The shadow remains at the edge, long and fading into the horizon in the sunset until there is no more light to cast a shadow.

Spoiler

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How shall you spend the night? Request the hospitality of a farmer, or simply make camp yet again?

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Neither Truth nor Nija are comfortable in the dead zone. They both rely on magic too much, so they are both happy to get back onto real ground.

"Let's try not to go through there again."

Truth would much rather ask a farmer for a place to sleep, but she trusts Agil to make the right call, so she stays silent. Nija doesn't care either way. She can just dismiss herself if she gets uncomfortable. So she poses the question to the others.

"Should we try a farmhouse, or is camping and hiding better?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| "I see no reason not to at least ask the farmer if they have a place for us. Worst thing they may say is no, and we're forced to camp anyway." Agil says. He'd rather not camp, if they could help it, though needs must.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Nija disappears,

"See ya. Farmers probably don't want to see me."

Truth approaches the nearest farmhouse, keeping an eye out for danger. If she sees anyone, she inquires about any possible hospitality.

"Hello. Could we rent a few beds and some hot food?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Xihirli]

The nearest farmhouse's door is slightly ajar, and the act of knocking on it opens it a bit. Nobody comes up to the door, and Agil notes that the animals are restless. The cattle, free ranged but tending to stay around the farmhouse, are mooing in pain that Agil recognizes as characteristic of a cow that has not been milked, and a pig is oinking angrily at an empty bowl of feed. There is stabling for a horse, but no horse in sight.

After some time waiting, a look inside the house reveals it to be empty of living people. There's no fire burning, no remnants of dinner, or anyone in the bed.
There is, however, a woman's body in the middle of the floor with a symbol carved into her body.

Spoiler: This shape

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Nija immediately recognizes it as a devilish symbol, but not one belonging to any current princes of the hells. Any but a prince encouraging a cult following is all but unheard of.

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| The frontiers certainly were a dangerous place. Now they had some sort of foul murder to contend with. The roof over their head wasn't worth an innocent's death - assuming she was an innocent, of course. He kneels down, looking for any marks of a fight the woman took part in, any sign of bindings on wrists, ankles, or neck, any injuries besides the obvious carving, seeing if she's still warm. He works methodically. This was his job, after all. He should interrogate the animals afterwards. "Do you recognise the symbol?" he asks, trying not to sound accusatory as he does so.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception/Investigation: (1d20)[17] +8 for Perception, +4 for Investigation.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Nija looks through the window and sees the mark on the woman. This is bad. Whoever made this will surely draw the wrath of something very powerful. And they must know that, so they likely aren't something to be taken lightly.

"I don't recognize it. It's not one of the current Princes'. Whoever did this is brave or foolish. Either way, we may be in over our heads now."

Truth listens to the two for a minute and then gets bored watching Agil investigate. She's glad he's doing it, but she'd rather leave it to him. Instead, she looks over at the pig.

"These animals were surely going to die anyway, with their owner now dead. We might as well have some bacon from this. What do you say, Walsh?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Xihirli]

The body is cold, but Agil can't really tell anything about the time of death other than that and the lack of any noticeable decay. He does locate marks from rope burn on the woman's wrists and ankles, but isn't able to make out any other defensive wounds. She's dressed simply and practically, common for women on farms, and bears no jewelry or writing hinting at her name.
Aina's nose is also confidently able to ascertain that they are all alone in the house. Whoever did this is gone now.

Walsh, whose face has gone pale ever since he noticed the body, looks confused for a moment. "The pig?" As if he's stopped registering the farm. He looks about and sees it.
"Ah. Well, I do believe we can salt some pork for the road."

Sadly, there are no spiders in the pig pen to stop you.

"Their owner dead? This size farm, I don't think one woman could have run it alone. The rest of the family could be in hiding, could be... well."

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Nija offers to look.

"I'll see if I can find anyone."

She turns invisible and scouts around the area to see if she can find any other family members, staying within 100' of Truth. Meanwhile Truth tries to help with the body.

"We should say some prayers and try to cleanse the body. Then we should bury according to custom."

She calls on her radiant light to try to erase the mark.

Spoiler: OOC

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Just using cantrips - sacred flame, thaumaturgy or light. Not sure if they'll do anything, but it's a good visual.

Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| "It is unfortunate we cannot spend more time on this, but we shouldn't forget our goal." He sighs. If they were truly alone, then the killers were long gone. "A proper burial will hopefully ensure she rest in peace." Once they've dealt with the body, Agil makes sure the animals - at least the ones they're not slaughtering - are taken care of.

[Xihirli]

Spoiler

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Sacred flame can burn the mark away. Whether you think that's respectful is up to you.

With Walsh's help, the woman is buried and her marks covered while Agil helps out the cattle.
With access to a large amount of milk and pork being roast for the night, the house seems to be yours, should you choose to stay here.

Spoiler

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Staying here? Taking the bed? Talking to anmals?

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| Once the burial is complete, Agil spends some time entreating with the animals to see if they know anything about what occurred here. Once he's satisfied he's gathered as much as they know - and he's not expecting much - he'll settle in to sleep under the farmhouse's roof. Despite the death, there's no sense in letting comfortable beds go to waste.

Spoiler: OOC

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Speak with animals, sleep in the house.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

After burying the woman, Truth leaves the dinner preparations to Walsh. While he works on that, she looks around the farmhouse for any clues or anything useful.

"I agree. We should sleep here tonight."

Nija doesn't care where she sleeps, if Imps even sleep.

"If whatever did this comes back, it's better for us to deal with it than another farmer."

She continues to scout around the farm, relaying what she sees to Truth.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Xihirli]

Agil speaks to the animals, and finds out more than he thought he might.
The cattle pipe up together, in their limited way, as he milks them and talk about a group of four people they differentiate based on which one of them smells the most like a cow.
The-one-who-smells-least-like-cattle, along with the other three, were all inside for a time when they were hearing screaming, but then only the-one-who-smells-third-most-like-cattle, and the two shorter ones who smell the most like cattle, left. They took the horse and headed "that way," which the cattle debated on the direction of but eventually settled on west.

Truth is able to collect kitchen appliances and the tools one might expect for a family on the frontier, but no nonperishables or any such things.

Truth and Agil have the run of the house, and are able to share a hot meal and enjoy a warm bed.
The next morning, a breakfast of pork and milk awaits them, and then another day on the plains.

The next farmhouse they comes to has another body, this one a child, laid out in the same way.

So too does the next house, this one a man.

In point of fact, every farmhouse on the way to the west and Dragon's Take, the fort in between Briar's Glen and the fields, has exactly one body in it.

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| Giants, hags, and now what looked like a devil cult. Part of him longed for the simplicity of the city's crimes - men knifed over petty insults or a pocketful of coins. Whatever they were doing though, he had no insight, and they were clearly ahead of them by some time. Intercepting and stopping it seemed unlikely. All he sees they can do is keep following their trail towards the original objective and hope that, perhaps, they can stumble upon them in the act and take care of things before they get worse, or else report it to someone who does have the time and manpower to resolve it. That seemed unlikely on the frontier though. It chafed him to leave things so unresolved, but he could accept that he was but one man, he couldn't be everywhere at once.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Truth doesn't take anything from any of the farmhouses, but she explores the next one looking for clues. After that one, all she looks for are signs to make sure we are traveling in the right direction. She doesn't like this at all. Traveling around the woods looking for devils is way out of her experience.

"Let's keep moving. Agil, are these bodies fresher or older than the first one we found?"

Nija tries to determine the age too.

"This is bad."

Spoiler: OOC

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Survival: (1d20+1)[21], Nina's Help: (1d20+1)[3]

Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Xihirli]

Truth ascertains that the people were all killed at nearly exactly the same time, making it a virtual impossibility that only one person was responsible. What strikes her the most is that the bugs haven't started eating yet.
Agil manages to pick up your quarry's trail, one that had gone cold on the dead rock, upon finding another improvised campsite, this one with a fried-up cow carcass.

With once again a one-legged trail to follow, you continue your journey roughly to the west. After a little over another day's travel, you spot Dragon's Take, a fort standing in between civilization and wilderness. Tales of the goblins to the west of this fort have reached the city. Of their dread spider steeds, their weapons of chitin, of their villages in the canopies of the forests suspended by spidersilk. True courage, you have no doubt heard, is waiting for those creatures and their eight-eyed mounts to storm your keep, but remain vigilant.

As it comes into proper view, it seems that Dragon's Take was taken near instantly. Alivast's flag is stained brown with blood, making the symbol of the unknown devil as it flaps in the skies. The bodies of men and women in light armor in the style of Alivast's Military litter the ground by the walls, broken like they were thrown from them.

The giant sets of footprint make a wide berth around the fort, headed into Briar's Glen.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Truth doesn't know what we can do about this devil that has killed an entire keep, but maybe we can still rescue the girl.

"Let's keep moving. If the giant avoided this fort, I think we should too."

Nija looks at the flag flying with the symbol of blood.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest - all killed by devil
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| Misfortune continued to plague the frontier. Agil started to wonder why people even lived - and died - out here. He nods to Truth though. "There may still be goblins or others lingering. I would rather not fight a warband." If they'd taken the town, what hope did their small group have? The giant remained their only true objective.

[Xihirli]

And so the group continues after the giant's tracks, looking ahead to Briar's Glen – until Agil makes a discovery.
A fresher set of tracks doubling back, headed directly toward Dragon's Take.

His mind races as he questions the purpose of this. He thinks back to the death of Rey, how no one had mentioned a child with the giant, but from the recent campsites he knows she still lives. Agil becomes almost certain that the R creature they are following has left the girl behind and doubled back – but for what purpose?

Truth, meanwhile, feels ozone in the air and looks back over her shoulder at the fort of Dragon's Take. She takes a breath, and then before she lets it out the fort is surrounded by a column of black clouds with roaring thunder blowing out her eardrums even from this distance.

You have caught up with the giant.

Two opportune, yet mutually exclusive options are before you: the ability to face the giant head-on, if you go directly into the fort, and the chance to get to the child while she is away from the giant by following the less fresh trail.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Truth feels the hair on her neck stand up. She turns around just in time to see the dark clouds suddenly appear over Fort Dragon's Take.

"The Giant is there!"

Nija looks at the tracks after Agil points them out. She thinks rescuing the girl is more important than confronting a giant who is claiming an abandoned fort. There is no one left to save in the fort right now.

"The girl is alone. If we confront the giant and die, she dies too. If we go rescue her first, we can track the giant and see if we can figure out its motives and abilities. We should go to the girl."

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: Notes

Show

Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest - all killed by devil
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| Agil nods in agreement with the fiend - though he's not overly pleased about doing so. "The safety of the innocent comes first." He eyes the looming clouds. "And tracking a giant later is much easier than tracking one scared, lost girl."

[Xihirli]

The race was on to get to the girl before the giant completed its business and returned to her.

Spoiler

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To get to the girl before the giant does, we're going to be going through a skill challenge! I'll have choices between two proficiencies with each obstacle, but feel free to suggest your own if you think they apply.

Leaving the sounds of thunder and the rush of winds behind you, you advance on your original mission.

The trail begins to go into the forest, and it is a very obvious trail of tossed-aside-trees, but intersects with the new path the giant used to circle back.

Spoiler: Obstacle 1

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To determine which of the two paths is quickest, Survival or Nature.

Whichever path is chosen, it is strewn with fallen trees and slashed branches, some of which dangle precariously from other foliage. With a loud snap, a tree starts to fall.

Spoiler: Obstacle 2

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Athletics to push the tree so that it does not endanger your fellows, or acrobatics to get out of the way yourself.

The storming and thundering of the monster seems to have attracted the attention of a giant mantis, picking through the rubble and scavenging on an unfortunate mealworm that got pinned under a tree in the giant's rampage. With a territorial chitter, it moves in between you and its kill.

Spoiler: Obstacle 3

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Animal Handling to get past the mantis by convincing it you mean no harm, or intimidation to spook it off.

After the encounter with the mantis, the pair spots smoke over the trees. They are within dashing distance of the camp! However, rushing through the beginnings of Briar's Glen is beginning to take its toll...

Spoiler: Obstacle 4

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Constitution (Athletics) or Survival to basically simulate keeping a good pace throughout all of these objectives.

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| Without any moments to spare, Agil and Aina press on, working to finally enact the rescue they had promised.

Spoiler: OOC

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Not sure if you want us to be rolling for each one ourselves or if we're gonna go with highest roll for the team, but I'll put Agil's down for each:-

OB1: Survival: (1d20+6)[21]
OB2: Acro: (1d20+4)[6]
OB3: Animal Handling: (1d20+4)[9]
OB4: Survival (Again?): (1d20+6)[23]

Aina strictly has proficiency on all skills, so for anything not Int or Cha based she rolls with a +4, if she's also meant to be contributing; otherwise she could be offering Advantage(?).

Just trying to cover all the bases!

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Truth and Nija do their best to keep up with Agil.

Spoiler: OOC

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Truth
1 Survival: (1d20+1)[7]
2 Acrobatics (1d20+2)[10]
3 Intimidation (1d20+3)[8]
4 CON athletics (1d20+2)[5]

Nija
1 help Agil (1d20+6)[16]
2 help Truth (1d20+2)[8]
3 help Agil (1d20+3)[20]
4 CON athletics (1d20+1)[10]

Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest - all killed by devil
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Xihirli]

Spoiler

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Cool. Mostly successes. That gets you there first. How much, though?

Agil immediately points out the more recent path, noting that the circled back using this trail, if this path were not more direct then it would not have made this path.

As the tree snaps down in your path, you stop short and are delayed finding a way over or around it.

Truth hisses briefly at the mantis and it comes nearer threateningly, but Agil and Nija mimick its mantis-like hisses and seem to be able to warn it off to watch them pass, its claws twitching ready to fight if you come near.

Even as you feel your lungs and legs burn, for you have already traveled much today, the promise of fulfilling your promise and perhaps even saving a life hastens your steps.
Wheezing, you come to a stop, Walsh lagging behind as he is leading the horse, by the campfire. A little girl, not yet seven, is sitting by the fire. A bit out of this cleared area is half of a cow, and cooking on a stick are parts of the cow. She is holding a stick and writing out runes underneath a set clearly not drawn by her. They are likely giant, but anyone who reads Dwarvish could sound the runes she's copying out as "Raunfalt."

She looks up at the sounds of you all approaching and looks alarmed. Also, quite dirty. She stands and takes a few steps away from you, wary.
"Who are you?"

[Amnestic]

Agil Aasimar Beastmaster Ranger | Aina AC: 18 HP: 28/28 | AC: 15 HP: 20/20 PP: 18 PIv: 14 PIs: 16 | PP: 14 PIv: 11 PIs: 14 Conditions: -- | -- Concentrating: --| Agil holds up his hands in a gesture of peace, motioning for Aina to hold position. "I am Agil. This is Aina, and that's Truth." He wouldn't normally introduce his pet, but when it came to children, it seemed a fair choice to make. "Your parents sent us to rescue you - that is, if you are Caroline Black." It seemed likely she was, but it never hurt to hedge.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Truth feels a sense of relief that we have found the girl. There is more work to be done about this giant, but at least she can stop running through the forest for a few seconds.

"Yes. We are here to rescue you."

Nija disappears and stays quiet so she doesn't spook the girl. Her introduction will need to wait.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spoiler: Notes

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Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest - all killed by devil
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey

[Xihirli]

The girl calms down when she hears her own name.
"Ronnie's really friendly," she explains, pointing to the name on the ground. "He says... he wants to show me his home. Can you tell mama?"
She certainly doesn't seem of the opinion she's in danger, though she looks at Agil with the look of a girl who both loves animals and has met her fair share of overly aggressive hunting dogs.
"Can I pet your dog?" She asks politely.

[Bobthewizard]

Truth Tiefling Warlock AC: 17 HP: 24/24 Spell Slots, 2nd: 2 / 2 SR Healing Light: 4 / 4 LR Hellish Rebuke: 1 /1 LR PP: 13 PIv: 10 PIs: 11 Conditions: none Concentration: none

Nija Imp Familiar AC: 13 HP: 10/10 Sting +5 1d4+3 +3d6 DC11 Invulnerable: Fire, poison Resist: Cold, Nonmagical Invisibility, Devil's Sight Magic Resistance Rat, Raven, Spider Conditions: invisible

Ronnie? Friendly? This doesn't sound right. But Truth decides to get a little more information before picking up the girl and taking her home.

"Your parents are very worried about you. Why did you leave with Ronnie? Where is he now?"

She knows where the giant went, but she wants to know what he told Caroline. Nija stays quiet and invisible

Spoiler: OOC

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Persuasion: (1d20+5)[6]

Spoiler: Notes

Show

Alivast
Abacus, gnome who hired us
Saw contract with 'Kannazt' in the 'Kipraa,' for mining rights in the north
Wolf's Den, nearest and most recent frontier town
Payton Black, friend of Abacus, sent letter that says "danger...Black" (not written by a man)
Everbright, at base of mountain (report on monster of Everbright)
Dragon's Take, protects Alivast from goblins of Briar's Glen forest - all killed by devil
Collette, Black's wife
Caroline, Black's daughter
Captain Byrne, Everbright
Rey, decapitated at Everbright
Naughton (left) and Walsh, soldiers with us
Polly, hag that liked Rey