Chapter One: The Cedar Forest

[Jedaii]

Year of the Spider, month of the Sparrow

 

The shining face of Eloah ducked and darted through passing clouds in the late evening skies over the realm. Mild temperatures had paced a day of long riding as night approached. Dragonflies and butterflies dueled for airspace around a quartet of road-weary adventurers traveling the ancient pathways of Atlantis.

The huntsman and Elven woodsman Rhys "Shadow" Mirapeiros, the Zephyr rogue and Naga-nemesis Kai, the barbarian Dwarvish mage Thalgack Frostshaper and the enigmatic Druas warlock Ethraniel. Fresh from the great Kobalos war where the combined forces of man, elf, dwarf and other heroic races were required to defeat the wicked goblin-king Buezl's continent-spanning goblin hordes. Risking life and limb, the quartet of brave adventurers evaded certain death to rescue hundreds of captive humans from the goblin forces' clutches which earned them honor among the proud armies of Atlantis. Garnered also was an atypical stipend of gold operating as emissaries of Atlantean merchants troubled by goblin raiders.

Thus as day gave way to night and beams of sunlight began slicing down slowly through the enormous trees of the Cedar Forest the quartet found themselves only still a day's ride from the great city Atlantis herself. A cascading harmony of melodious birdsong echoed across the forest as the adventurers neared a large pond roughly a hundred yards away. The bated breath and slowing gait of their winded horses reflected a day of hard riding. Their rations depleted days past the party fell back on survival skills honed from years of training and experience.

Would they pause and set camp for the night or ride on testing their endurance against the nocturnal dangers of the Cedar Forest?

OOC

Introduce your characters to the group! The party members have fought and traveled together over the two weeks so they would be friendly or at least civil with each other. If the party decides to continue riding all players should make a CON save for every hour riding with failure meaning the PC is tired of riding for the day. Of course the more the party rides today the less riding required tomorrow.

If they set camp I'll detail the scene near the pond and:

• Ethraniel can make a Hunting/Fishing/Trapping and Herb Lore rolls to produce the night's meal
• Shadow can make a Read Tracks roll (to identify the movements of forest animals), Hunting roll (to assist in producing a meal for everyone); a successful Scouting or Stalking roll provides a +10% bonus (for each roll) to Hunting; a Survival roll allows him to help set camp properly
• Kai can make a Trapping roll to assist the others in catching prey

 

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2023 by Jedaii (see edit history)

[darlis moonbeam]

Rhys "Shadow" Mirapeiros

Stats
STR	12	WILL	10
DEX	18	SPD	13
CON	12	CHA	12
INT	14	PER	18
HP	23	Protection	1

Combat Stats		Weapons Carried	Damage	Range
Total to Hit	+4			Min	Eff	Long
Total Dam Mod	+1	Short Bow	1d6	-	150 Ft	500 Ft
# of Attacks	1	Throwing Knife	1d4	-	60 Ft	120 Ft
Weapon Prof		Short Sword	1d8
Short Bow	Short Sword	Skills Read Tracks, Tracking, Archery I, Archery II, Scouting, Hunting, Survival, Stalking, Snare, Riding, Craft, Barter	Equipment Light Warhorse, Short Bow, Short Sword, Leather Armor, Throwing Knife, Rope, Saddle, Bit & Bridle, Backpack, Hooded Cloak, Small Tent, Waterskin, Rations, Money Pouch, Coffee, Honey, and Coffee Pot

 

 

 

As they traveled through the Cedar Forest Rhys's mood could be described as melancholy. He was thinking of the forest of his home. While he missed them, he knew that he was needed here. His king had asked him to join this endeavor to help safeguard his own people's interest in the world. While at first he did not care for these other races, battle had made strange bed fellows and they had grown close. He trusted these three with his life at this point, as he had most assuredly had to during the battles past. Now they were on their way to the city of Atlantis to be rewarded for a job well done.

The short but powerfully built horse he was riding was a shaggy haired but non-descript brown stallion, was specially trained by his people for its ranger corps. They had more endurance than you would expect by looking at them and trained to only allow their rider to ride them, unless a command word is used that their rider would have to provide to another. At a command it would move quietly, and took commands by leg movements as well so was not dependent on the bridle to be used to force it to ride. It was trained to help its rider in battle and to move smoothly so that they could fight with a bow while riding. His name was Surre, which was the Elvish word for The Wind.

As his mind comes back to the present, he looks around at his companions. "So should we make camp? If we travel much further, we will lose the light to be able hunt for dinner"

Edited September 2, 2023 by darlis moonbeam (see edit history)

[RedMax]

"It's as good a spot as any," Kai says. The Zephyr misses his homeland. This will mean more sleeping on the ground rather than up in an aerie as the gods intended. Kai starts scanning around for materials to build a ground nest, and eying spots where he can place his rabbit snares.

 

Edited September 2, 2023 by RedMax (see edit history)

[cybersavant]

Ethraniel scanned the area. "I'll look for food." He heads into the sweet embrace the trees to set a few simple snares hunting

herb lore and looks for anything he can season anything he catches.

[darlis moonbeam]

Rhys "Shadow" Mirapeiros

Stats
STR	12	WILL	10
DEX	18	SPD	13
CON	12	CHA	12
INT	14	PER	18
HP	23	Protection	1

Combat Stats		Weapons Carried	Damage	Range
Total to Hit	+4			Min	Eff	Long
Total Dam Mod	+1	Short Bow	1d6	-	150 Ft	500 Ft
# of Attacks	1	Throwing Knife	1d4	-	60 Ft	120 Ft
Weapon Prof		Short Sword	1d8
Short Bow	Short Sword	Skills Read Tracks, Tracking, Archery I, Archery II, Scouting, Hunting, Survival, Stalking, Snare, Riding, Craft, Barter	Equipment Light Warhorse, Short Bow, Short Sword, Leather Armor, Throwing Knife, Rope, Saddle, Bit & Bridle, Backpack, Hooded Cloak, Small Tent, Waterskin, Rations, Money Pouch, Coffee, Honey, and Coffee Pot

 

 

 

With the decision made to camp there, Rhys slides off of Surre's back and whispers in their ear in the elven tongue the word for Guard. Surre stands in place but continues to look around the area. Rhys then melts into the woods as if he disappeared. The others remembered that the elves in the army used to call him Rueno which meant shadow in the elven tongue. Seeing him move through the woods you understood why they did so. He made no noise, and with his mottled cloak he blended into his surroundings.

After leaving the others, he begins to scout for any animal tracks with his bow ready to fire if he finds anything for the group. While he found many tracks around the area, he did not have any luck finding anything to bring back to the group. Coming back he was just as quiet as he left and it seemed like he just appeared in the open area, one moment nothing was there and the next he was. While he was upset that he was unable to find anything, he hoped that Ethraniel had better luck. So he busied himself setting up the camp. He found enough loose rocks to make a circle to build the fire in. Then he gathered some wood and nettles to be able to build a fire. With the fire started he puts some water into his coffee pot and began to brew some coffee off of one of the rocks by the fire.

 

All of that done, he unsaddles Surre and brushes him down giving him some water and feed. Then he whispers the elven word for rest Surre seems to relax and munch on the grass in the area but does not stray from the camp. It always seemed to surprise the others how well trained the horse was. They also noticed a very close bond between the horse and rider.

Rhys then sets up his tent for the night, and any other tents the group had.

Edited September 4, 2023 by darlis moonbeam (see edit history)

[CJL]

Thaglack speaks up as Rhys returns from hunting, "Do you need any help with the fire?" He asks, proffering his tinderbox to Rhys.

Regardless of Rhys' answer, he continues, "If any of you want to get some rest now, I can take first watch."

[Jedaii]

Cedar Forest, Dusk

 

 

Everyone:

The party goes about setting up camp and hunting about for a meal to quiet their grumbling stomachs. The horses are set roughly thirty feet away to nibble at greenery and rest in between trips to sip at the lake. The sounds of the forest - scurrying animals and quieting birds - radiated across the tangled evergreen terrain. As the forest shadows expanded with the setting sun, the adventurers prepared to settle down and eat whatever was available in the face of their crackling campfire ...

Map

The spacing is open (no graph). Wasn't sure about positioning so I can shift tokens at player request - otherwise, I'll assume they're sleeping where I put them.

Expect the typical fantasy forest here (anything can happen) but the PCs are all experienced enough to know to keep their guard up even when sleeping.

 

[cybersavant]

On 9/4/2023 at 4:03 PM, CJL said:

Thaglack speaks up as Rhys returns from hunting, "Do you need any help with the fire?" He asks, proffering his tinderbox to Rhys.

Regardless of Rhys' answer, he continues, "If any of you want to get some rest now, I can take first watch."

Ethraniel

 

"Sounds good. Wake me for middle watch." The warlock finds a spot between the fire and the trees to bed down down for the night, his flail laid beside him in case of unexpected company.

[darlis moonbeam]

Rhys "Shadow" Mirapeiros

Stats
STR	12	WILL	10
DEX	18	SPD	13
CON	12	CHA	12
INT	14	PER	18
HP	23	Protection	1

Combat Stats		Weapons Carried	Damage	Range
Total to Hit	+4			Min	Eff	Long
Total Dam Mod	+1	Short Bow	1d6	-	150 Ft	500 Ft
# of Attacks	1	Throwing Knife	1d4	-	60 Ft	120 Ft
Weapon Prof		Short Sword	1d8
Short Bow	Short Sword	Skills Read Tracks, Tracking, Archery I, Archery II, Scouting, Hunting, Survival, Stalking, Snare, Riding, Craft, Barter	Equipment Light Warhorse, Short Bow, Short Sword, Leather Armor, Throwing Knife, Rope, Saddle, Bit & Bridle, Backpack, Hooded Cloak, Small Tent, Waterskin, Rations, Money Pouch, Coffee, Honey, and Coffee Pot

 

 

 

Rhys finishes the coffee and pours himself a cup as he listens to the others make plans for setting a watch. "I can take the last watch and scan the perimeter to make sure nothing is watching us, as well as perhaps scare up some breakfast." he takes a sip of the coffee and sighs. This human blend of coffee just was not as good as what he is used to back home. He could not wait to get his hands on a good elven blend. After eating dinner, he lays down and falls quickly to sleep, and will wake when he is asked to start his watch.

[RedMax]

Kai nods and yawns, taking Thaglack up on his offer. He quickly gathers together the makings of a ground nest and crouches in it, tamping the grass and twigs down like a dog before wrapping his white wings around himself in self-embrace. He tries to will himself to sleep by reciting a mantra to Vania over and over in his head in an effort to distract from his homesick-plagued thoughts of Mu.

Edited September 8, 2023 by RedMax (see edit history)

[Jedaii]

The Cedar Forest

 

As the sun sets the new moon rises across the great forest and birdsong gives way to the night melody: crickets, cicadas, owls, frogs and the careful scurrying of nocturnal mammals searching for sustenance. After a warm meal and intermittent chat, the adventurers turn in for a well-deserved respite with one on watch as their horses and canines also rest or sleep. The night passes quietly for the most part with only the passage of deer or buzzing insects to distract the watchman from his thoughts.

But on the third watch well after the midnight hour Rhys is semi-startled by a large shadow passing as something swoops into a cluster of nearby trees! There's a cracking of branches and rustling of leaves that shocks the animals alert and the dogs bark at the adjacent shadows as something comes to rest roughly a hundred feet from the adventurers' camp! The loud barking rouses Kai, Ethraniel and Thaglack as their eyes adjust to the semi-moonlit darkness of the forest! Fortunately most of them can see the heat signatures of various forest creatures sprinting away from the location of the commotion! They see a slender warm humanoid figure in dark robes stumble from the treeline towards the nearby lake - and then stumble and fall with a splash at the water's edge! A long, anguished groan escapes the felled figure as he or she props themself up on an elbow and seems to bring a handful of water up to their hooded face, laying at the shore roughly a hundred feet away!

The dogs continue to bark aggressively and the horses pace and bray at this odd event ...!

OOC

I'm thinking Infra-vision resembles the below at night (example: people and animals = yellow-orange-red, plants = green-blue, metal and earth/rock = purple-black):

Kai has bird-like scope and accuracy, but the darkness would still affect him more than the others. What does the party do?

 

[cybersavant]

Ethraniel grabs his flail and watches the figure drink. He glances around for signs of any other periodically, but focuses more on the river.

[RedMax]

Kai draws his short sword, but lets his see-in-the-dark comrades take the lead.

[darlis moonbeam]

Rhys "Shadow" Mirapeiros

Stats
STR	12	WILL	10
DEX	18	SPD	13
CON	12	CHA	12
INT	14	PER	18
HP	23	Protection	1

Combat Stats		Weapons Carried	Damage	Range
Total to Hit	+4			Min	Eff	Long
Total Dam Mod	+1	Short Bow	1d6	-	150 Ft	500 Ft
# of Attacks	1	Throwing Knife	1d4	-	60 Ft	120 Ft
Weapon Prof		Short Sword	1d8
Short Bow	Short Sword	Skills Read Tracks, Tracking, Archery I, Archery II, Scouting, Hunting, Survival, Stalking, Snare, Riding, Craft, Barter	Equipment Light Warhorse, Short Bow, Short Sword, Leather Armor, Throwing Knife, Rope, Saddle, Bit & Bridle, Backpack, Hooded Cloak, Small Tent, Waterskin, Rations, Money Pouch, Coffee, Honey, and Coffee Pot

 

 

 

Rhys watches the figure, and notices that it may be hurt. Still being cautious, he motions for the others to stay back and he quietly melts into the woods and slowly makes his way forward as stealthy as he knows how trying to get close to the creature to get a better look at them and assess their danger to the party.

[CJL]

Thalgack kneels down to scoop up his staff, then stands back up to wait and see how Rhys's approach plays out.