Part 1 - The Witchwood

[BowenSilverclaw]

OOC:

Okay, time to get this show on the road again

From what I remember you guys were planning to head into the Witchwood and look up the hunter Jorr before investigating the abandoned Vraath Keep, so I'm running with that assumption for now.

Please finish your item shopping as soon as you have the time (preferably before the next encounter).

-DAY 2-

After having finished shopping for supplies and having received directions to Jorr's cabin in the Witchwood, all of you, minus Saru, who has decided to stay behind to aid the city guard as a scout alerting them to possible raiders, once again head out on the road, this time into the Witchwood. The townsfolk believe the goblinoids may be hiding in these woods and have suggested you seek out help from the hunter known as Jorr, a veteran of the Great War and someone who knows these woods like the back of his hand.

Please give me some basic information about how you guys are travelling (normally (full overland travel speed), cautious (lower chance of being noticed, higher chance of getting the drop on any ambushers; half overland travel speed), or hiding at any opportunity (lowest chance of being noticed, highest chance of getting the drop on any ambushers; one-quarter overland travel speed). Marching order, above- or below-ground, buffs/detection spells and anything else you think might be important.

As for the route to follow, you basically have two options:
1)   You can follow the Dawn Way, a trade road cutting through the woods, before heading into a forested area for the last couple of miles to Jorr’s Cabin. This road is generally broad, level, and clear. Every few miles, rudimentary log shelters built by teamsters using the road stand in clearings nearby. A handful of old woodcutters’ and trappers’ cabins or long abandoned homesteads lie scattered along the length of the road, about once every 2 or 3 miles.
The Dawn Way crosses several creeks and boggy spots on sturdy dwarf-made stone bridges that have stood for centuries.
2)   You can follow the Witch Trail, a footpath that leads from the field north of Drellin’s Ferry to the Old Forest Road and that also sprouts a footpath leading to Jorr’s cabin.
The Witch Trail doesn’t have any bridges for crossing streams and rivers. Instead, a log planed flat on the top side (Balance DC 5) is the best a traveler is likely to find on these trails.

Notes: Although the Dawn Way is a quicker route to take, the chance of being ambushed and the chance of being spotted by/alerting the enemy are probably higher when taking this route.
Seeing as the Witch Trail is a footpath, you’ll have to travel on foot, and, due to the lack of bridges, you can't bring along a mount, increasing your travel time (and reducing the amount of gear you can take with you).

[PhaedrusXY]

Meant to post this in the OOC thread...

[BowenSilverclaw]

You leave in the early morning and make your way past the open fields and into the Witchwood.
Whether it is due to your extremely cautious travel methods or because there simply aren't any goblinoids in these parts of the woods you don't know, but your journey is peaceful and uneventful.

After about five and a half hours you finally arrive at what you suspect to be Jorr Natherson's cabin, located in a deep forest glade. The ramshackled front porch is littered with fishing baskets and skinning frames. The cabin overlooks a dark bayou or lake, with old gray cedar-trees draped in moss rising out of the water. An old skiff is tied up on the shore nearby, and a little smoke curls from the fieldstone chimney.


OOC:

As you are about to enter the relatively open area of the glade, you are about 60ft. away from the front porch.

Hide checks for those aboveground (and not invisible) please, as well as Move Silently, Listen and Spot.

[Nanshork]

Move Silent: 12
Listen: 2
Spot: 3

I cast extended mage armor before we left so I am using my buffed stats.

Oh, and I've made everyone above ground invisible.   

[VennDygrem]

MS: 1d20(18)+18=36
Listen: 1d20(14)+15=29
Spot: 1d20(7)+10=17

[PhaedrusXY]

I assume that the Colonel and I have been popping up out of the ground every so often to make sure we're still more or less with the rest of the party, and so we can get a breath of air since we still need to breathe...

I'm not sure how they're going to tell those of us that are underground that we've arrived... I guess the next time we pop out of the ground, they can let us know.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. You guys can be 'popped up' and aboveground if you want to be, with full benefits from Goldflower's Invisibility.

[PhaedrusXY]

Ok, great. Kalal will cast Omen of Peril, then. Depending on the results, he might follow it up with a Shield Other on Goldflower.

[BowenSilverclaw]

What does Omen of Peril do again/where is it located?

[PhaedrusXY]

What does Omen of Peril do again/where is it located?

Spell Compendium, pg. 149. It tells you if you're going to be in danger, and the relative amount of danger you'll face, within the next hour.

For me, I have a 75% chance of a successful divination (70%+CL, max 90%). The three possible results are: Safety (no significant challenges), Peril (typical/challenging, but not overwhelming odds), Great Peril (Your very life is at risk. I'd say that means BBEG or worse. ). If the 75% roll fails, you give me one of the two false answers.

And... since it isn't that reliable, I'll just go ahead and cast Shield Other on Goldilocks.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Thanks

Your divining powers tell you that you will likely not face any significant challenges in the next hour.

[PhaedrusXY]

Kalal quietly casts a prayer to the great dragon for guidance, and then casts a protective spell on Goldflower as she turns him invisible.

I figure I can target by feel, right? So when she's touching him, he is also touching her and can deliver the Shield Other spell. That OK?

He whispers "I think we're safe, but there's no sense in not being prepared."

[BowenSilverclaw]

Yeah, as long as you guys aren't in an actual combat encounter that'll work.

[PhaedrusXY]

Spot and Listen: 1d20+2=4, 1d20+2=9

Move Silently... is a joke, lol. He will just stand still while some of the quieter members check out the house. If he still needs to roll...
1d20-13=-4
Yes, that's right. I got a negative number. He's about as silent as a locomotive... covered in frying pans.

[Agita]

Listen, Spot, Hide, Move Silently (1d20=14, 1d20=15, 1d20+1=12, 1d20+1=16)

Er, nevermind the Hide check. I forgot we were all invisible.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Venn & Agita:

Yamanu and the Colonel both notice a trio of large hounds lying under the porch, relaxing and seemingly oblivious to your presence.

EDIT: By the way, these appear to be normal dogs, not hellhounds

So, what do you guys do next?

[VennDygrem]

Whispering to the others, Yamanu says, "There seem to be several dogs guarding this man's home. We do not want to risk spooking them, or their owner. We should attempt to proceed cautiously, though walking in invisibly may be overkill."

[PhaedrusXY]

"Bah! Sneaking up on him is the best way to spook him. If we want to avoid scaring him, we should just declare ourselves as soon as possible."

Not waiting for confirmation from his companions, Kalal steps into plain view and begins walking towards the house, saying in a strong voice (but not shouting) "We wish to speak to the man named Jorr. We come in peace, and seek his counsel."

[Nanshork]

I dismiss all active invisibility spells.

[VennDygrem]

Yamanu emits a low growl at Kalal's misinterpretation of his words. He mutters, "Insufferable dwarf," under his breath, then drops invisibility. Of course, Yamanu has never been one to reign in his temper.