Ziminar

Thanks for the tip, I will do that from now on.

When Kresh’s sword comes down the wolf it jumps aside just in time. With a great Klang! the sword hits the ground barely missing the wolf. DM Just a quick recap on what happened during combat so far: We completed a first round of combat in which every player described their action, after that every wolf that was still alive executed an action. We are now at round 2. @Kamishiro_Rin, , , had their turn in round 2. That means , , can take their turn. Any remaining wolves after that will take their turn after which round 3 will start. As suggested in the OOC thread, I will add more info during combat about the round we are in and who still had to describe their action for that round.

This time the skeletal ghostly grips the fourth wolf into its flank, where it touches the wolf some black lightning can briefly be seen. The wolf's body jerks in a last attempt to avoid more pain but it's too late. It falls to the ground, lifeless. When Victor's spells hits the huge black hound it almost seems like its suddenly afraid of something only it can see, its eyes flash from side to side and then suddenly its body twitches and collapses to the ground. At the same time Chipluck's attack misses its target. DM At this point only Wolf 3, once hit by Kresh, is still up.

Cool, thanks for the quick reply

Well it tried but failed sadly, it sure was hungry for some sorcerer meat.

Vadania keen senses register the subtle preparation of Gath's move and just as quickly draws his short sword to the intimidation. Intimidate

Wolf 4 attack (adv. pack tactics)Wolf Bite piercing damageAs it watches its packmate first collapse to the ground bleeding and shortly after that catch flame it (Wolf 1) runs towards Viktor (H4 -> J12). Its eyes seem to shoot fire, it pulls back its head just before it lunges forward to attack Victor.Bite Attack Victor had already seen the wolf dashing towards him and was completely ready for its attack, just as the wolf tries to bite Victor he moves of its reach just in time. The badly hurt wolf slashed by Kresh's sword has only one thing on its mind which is revenge. It attacks Kresh aiming at his giant muscular legs. Wolf 3 Bite attack. Wolf 4 sees Kresh attack its packmate and joins in the attack of the giant dragonborn by moving closer to him (S18 -> R17) and attacks. As the wolf makes its attack Kresh turns toward the wolf and lets it bits at its armor, its teeth seem to crack on the dragonborn's armor. Wolf 4 Attack DM Viktor: deflects the attack by Wolf 1 Kresh: suffers 7 piercing damage by Wolf 3 Kresh deflects the attack by Wolf 4 Hold on, the wolves go first. So this is your second turn, right?

As Trisae speaks the magic words, “Vil’zra’quath xta’rl!” and waves her hands in an ominous pattern casting the chill touch spell on wolf 2, illuminated in the dim light of the campfire. She creates a ghostly, skeletal hand in the space of wolf 2, assailing it with the chill of the grave. As the hand touches the wolf it slightly flinches from the sudden pain it suffers in his right flank. The wolf snarles but keeps his focus on Viktor who is standing right next to the fire. Keeping his full attention on the sorcerer it doesn't notice Chipluck readying his sling and aim straight for its head. As the bullet from the sling hits the skull of the wolf a audible crack can be heard, and right after a short whelp the wolf collapses to the ground, blood oozing from it's head seeping into the forest floor. Just like the wolf Viktor also hadn't noticed Chipluck targeting the same wolf he had it's eyes on, the wolf's dead bleeding body catches flame radiating an ever fouler stench of burning rotted flesh. Kresh rushes to the opposite side of the fire towards the other two wolves. Raising his sword in the air and shouting ferociously he bridges the gap between him and the wolf quickly. Bringing his sword down with one swift motion it cuts deep into its left flank, blood flying through the air. The wolf is gravely wounded but still standing. Watching Kresh hacking at the wolf with his mighty sword, Aelysûne focuses on the wolf standing a little behind Kresh's target. A short bright flash can briefly be seen leaving her hands and piercing its target, surrounding it briefly with lightning it seems. The wolf visibly suffers a great deal of pain. OOC Am i correct when I assume that used his turn already?

TDM did you add a 1d4 or a straight 4 to your attack roll? I added a separate 1d4 roll for Bless, so that brings your attack role to 19

I guess not

Normally everybody would roll initiative and each will get his or her turn in order of the rolls. To avoid that everybody is waiting on a specific person to post I opted to use group Initiative. The group which rolls the highest average Initiative goes first as a group. The player rolled an average of 12.4 and the monsters rolled an 8, so the players go first as a group. You don’t have to wait on the others in your group, you can post whenever it suits you.

In the dark of the ancient forest, two pairs of corrupted wolves step forth from the shadowed underbrush. Their once-sleek black fur now matted and twisted, they resemble nightmarish specters more than natural creatures. Their eyes, once vibrant and wild, now burn with a malevolent yellow glow. These orbs seem to pierce the darkness, fixating on the group of startled adventurers huddled around the campfire. The wolves' fangs, grotesque and elongated, jut out from their snarling maws like dagger like shards. As they emerge, they move with an eerie fluidity. Their limbs contort, elongating in unnatural ways, their ribs protrude, and their spines curve in an arch, as if they've been sent by some malevolent force. DM I have rolled Initiative for the group and the 4 wolves, whichever group has the highest average Initiative goes first as a group. In this case you go first, so each player describes their desired action, roll for attack and for damage and/or saving throw for the target. So if you take an action that involves your target to make a saving throw you roll for the target in the same post. I have created an Excel file, put your character on a location on the map by putting the first letter of your name in the grid as a starting location. When you move during your combat, please add the name of the square in your post you are moving from and to. Let me know if you have any question and/or I have screwed things up.

I’m sort of on vacation the coming week but I’ll try to post a bit

As the dusk turns into a night the forest becomes pitch black, except for where the light of the fire built by Kresh manages to penetrate the night. Looking around all you can see is trees with your own dancing shadow projected unto those trees. The forest is so quiet you almost become convinced there is no living creature in the forest, at least not at night. It's like the creatures normally roaming the forest at night looking for food are afraid to come out. You wonder if something is wrong and if it has something to do with the disappearance of the crystal. Staring into the flames your mind starts to wander, the flames almost have an hypnotic effect on you. Both Kresh and Ultonius can hear some twigs breaking and a faint foul smell prickling their noses.

Cool! Thanks for the tips and info. I had indeed read somewhere that in pbp the DM rolls for the players quite often but I didn't know for what specific rolls it should be done. I was also a bit worried that some players might think that I would take too much control away from them by making those rolls. So for the watch we will have a standard order. For combat I will be going with block initiative, where I will also roll for the players and let every player post their actions when its the groups turn and then describe what the monsters are doing as a group.

As dusk settles in and the air become a lot colder than one would expect in such a dense forest everybody gets ready to get some sleep. The forest is really quiet, too quiet. DM Whoever takes first watch make a Perception check

"So, to the Skewered Dragon then?", Vadania asks, "it doesn't seem like we'll be getting more information on the whereabouts of our friend here." Vadania starts to walk in the direction the guard pointed them to.

The first night you slept in the Hall of Wisdom, this is the second night but the first actually on your quest

As you keep to the northeast you look around to see if you see any sign of the scouts that are supposed to have come through here, but although the forest is quite dense you see no sign of broken twigs or footsteps in the moss on the forest floor or something else that indicates someone walked this path before you. You just have to rely on your compass and the directions the High Council gave you are correct. As you venture deeper into the forest and the hour becomes later you do notice some subtle changes in the forest. When you started your journey the forest was lush with plants and flowers but as you travelled further that has become somewhat less. How long was it since you last heard a bird make a noise? As the end of the draws near, dusk is settling in as you decide to set up camp in a small clearing. DM Please continue until everybody is asleep except for the first watch, that person can make another Perception check.

Yes, you add your proficiency bonus to any of the following: - Attack rolls using weapons you’re proficient with - Attack rolls with spells you cast - Ability checks using skills you’re proficient in - Ability checks using tools you’re proficient with - Saving throws you’re proficient in - Saving throw DCs for spells you cast

Elysandra simpy looks at Chip with a friendly smile on her face. "Trisae and Victor are both right, your primare objective is to find the scouts that went looking for information, second if you happen to across the crystal you will definitely know it." She looks at everyone to check if everyone is ready to leave. "Now, there is no time to waste. You must be on your way." And with she turns around and returns to the tree. You stand outside the tree from a little moment longer as if deciding if this is really the moment to make you to the cave to the northeast? Without a word your party decides that it is indeed time to get going. As you leave the giant ancient tree behind you set course for the northeast. The air is fresh and filled with the scent of dew-kissed leaves and blooming wildflowers. A gentle breeze rustles through the towering trees, their leaves shimmering in the sunlight like emeralds. The forest floor, carpeted with moss and ferns, is dappled with sunlight filtering through the canopy above. The chirping of birds echoes through the stillness, a symphony of nature that breathes life into the serene landscape. The forest is alive, a testament to the enduring cycle of life. It's a place of peace and tranquility, a sanctuary from the outside world. As the sun continues to rise, casting long shadows and painting the forest in hues of gold, it's clear that this is not just a forest. It's a magical realm where every creature, every leaf, every ray of sunshine has a story to tell. The first day of your journey goes by without any trouble and you make good progress towards your goal. DM If there is anything special you would like to do during the day. Also, please roll a Perception check for those who wish to do so.

As dawn breaks, you stir from your slumber within the Hall of Echoed Wisdom, the giant tree’s ancient bark creaking softly as if whispering ancient secrets. The air is filled with the scent of earth and leaves, a gentle reminder of the natural sanctuary you find yourself in. You awaken to the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. Suddenly, a soft, rhythmic sound echoes through the hall - the sound of a wooden staff tapping against the tree’s wooden floor heard through entire tree it seems. After getting out of bed and gathering your things you find your way back to same room you entered first late last night. There Lu-Tze, with the same calm expression on his face, awaits you. "Good morning," Lu-Tze says, his voice as calm as the morning breeze. "I trust the Hall has provided you with a restful sleep. The journey ahead is long and treacherous, but I have faith in your abilities." "Trisae was kind enough to prepare breakfast for everyone, already showing to be a great addition to your group", Lu-Tze bows towards Trisae as a show of gratitude. "Please, enjoy your breakfast but I sadly must encourage you not to linger too long. You have a long journey ahead of you." After breakfast he leads you to a table laden with supplies - compasses, rations, and other essentials for their quest. "Make sure you have everything you need," he advises, his gaze sweeping over the items. "The crystal you seek will not be easily found." Just as the monk speaks those last words the Hight Council, led by Elysandra Moonshadow, joins you and looks to each of you. When she is certain she has everyone's attention she speaks: "May your path be clear, your hearts steadfast. May the wisdom of the Hall guide you, and may you return safely with the crystal." DM If there is anything you would like to do here before you leave, please do so now.

DM If there's something you like to do before taking a long rest please do so. Otherwise we'll move ahead to the next morning just before you leave. Each of you can add some provisions in the form of some basic food supplies like dried meat, hardtack, and dried fruit. Also some herbal remedies like healing herbs, antidotes for common poisons or ingredients for basic potions. The party will also get the map Lu-Tze

“You can rest here until morning, we wouldn’t send you in the middle of the night in a dark corrupted forest like that of course.” Lu-Tze said with the friendliest face so far. “And after breakfast tomorrow you can stock up on provisions for a bit before you leave tomorrow, although our stock isn't endless. I’ll show you to your rooms.” At hearing Aelysûne's frustration and others loudly speak of the messages they received in private those in the room see something neither of them thought was possible, Lu-Tze seems rather annoyed and dissapointed. If they can not even follow such an easy task in keeping a message private then maybe the High Council had put their trust into the wrong people. His face quickly clears and the same stoic an calm expression returns to his face. "There, there, please do not fret. I can imagine this all comes as a bit of a shock to you all and that we put a lot of responsibility on your shoulders that you didn't expect. Just keep in mind that the High Council hasn't just randomly chosen you, they have put great thought into this, if they didn't think you were able to handle yourself in this situation you wouldn't have been standing here." Lu-Tze looks around the room at those still being present and continues, "Now, let me show you to your room so you all can get a good nights rest before you leave tomorrow,. You are going to need i'd think." And with that the monk turns around and walks out the room to round everybody up.

That is correct