Climate Crisis: Defilement & Sacred Groves

[Spearmint]

This will be the expedition thread set up for those adventurers committed to trek the wilderness and locate an ancient Silvanus Sacred Grove that has been reputedly defiled by agents of Impurax, attacking the shrine during a Conclave of Treants, who infected by a deadly pestilence, took the virus throughout their wilderness realms.

Helix Village, Duchy of Aerik.

June 22nd 1066.

This expedition is organised by Moriartus and aided by ranger Dougal with his wolfhound companion Conmhaol, rogue Cadeweed, aesthetic monk Jorly, apprentice mage Raven with his sith-cat familiar Lenore and augmented by hireling mercenaries from the local guild, Two-Birds among them.

Everyone is it full health and mostly sane. The only bickering between barks of the hound and hisses of the cat who spar between them.

You have equipment packed, rations, sticked up on a 1st Aid Kit each and Two-Birds has secured two vials of Holy Water.

Arriving with her are two torchbearers, aide-de-camp and gopher types to assist with menial duties. Piggott and Eddery are mercenaries covered by Osen in gratitude for the safe return of the Bennerjake twins. Likely the guildmaster views the pair as 'barrow fodder' though your group reputation is high and they are assigned on a half share trove basis. They are eager to prove themselves worthy and each carry an expedition pack laden with surplus gear such as oil flasks, lanterns, rations, ropes and the like.

pic and stats for them included in the NPC thread.

any last actions? before you leave Helix and give me a general plan to cover the first day's trekking objectives.

[Spearmint]

Guys can post actions and plans here.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

"I think we should head west via the Crooked Yew, then follow the tree line south to the Merisc river. Brother Clive has been researching the bonsai tanks and the scions we found in the Green Man mound. With luck, we may be able to use them in the grove. The village is a natural stopping point, anyway."

[Karaunios]

Dougal nods in agreement.

"A'rate, sir. I'm ready when ye all are!"

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

"Sounds good to me." says a voice from the ether.

Edited to include note about invisibility.

[Spearmint]

Trek to Crooked Yew

I will edit here with my post later. After updates through the night bar this one, I need sleep but will post my draft, pending random rolls shortly.

[Spearmint]

apologies for belated update here.

The group trek outward, west of Helix along a well defined though only moderately used trail. Much pitted from the winter rains with deep cart ruts cut into the path and often meandering around deep pools of murky bog. The trail borders the Barrow Moor on your left (South) and the Blackened Forest to your right.

About three miles outside of the village is a turn off trail, signposted towards the Shrine of Herne that stands, not in the forest as one might expect but out in the wilderness. Perhaps it once stood as a ring of stones surrounded by the dense trees but the Moor encroachment grows every year. Now it is beyond view for the thick mist, so familiar after many Barrow Moor expeditions swirls right up to the trail, occasionally blowing a swathe of cloudy white across the trail.

Moriartus and Dougal are more familiar with this route than some, having trekked along here at the very beginning of their adventures. Thoughts turn to the Bennerjake twins, recently rescued and the unfortunate Friar John, his earthly pilgrimage ended on the sharp end of a harpy's hog roasting skewer.

And so, you near the former logging camp. Set in a deforested clearing about a bow shot from the trail. You could pass by but smoke is seen rising from a campfire within the grounds.

Last time you were here the place was deserted and since the attack upon the lumberjacks by Orphidian tribe-snakes, almost three month past, the felling of trees for Duchy projects has yet to be restarted.

Cadeweed is invisible, unseen but not unheard as he talks incessantly just so folk remember he is around. You could sneak into the camp ahead for a reconnaissance or you can all approach (or even ignore) the camp.

Actions please for Cadeweed, Dougal, Moriartus, Jorly & Raven.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

Normally, he would likely ignore the campfire. He wasn't feeling normal, not yet. Although they had rescued the Bennerjake twins from the harpies, the stress and angst of the hunt lingered in his mind. The missing Bublu family son, Fapp, was seen entering the Blackened Forest. He felt compelled to investigate the campfire for clues; not due to any sense of obligation, really. He wasn't quite sure why, yet... "We should check that campfire. Mr. Cadeweed? Please lead the way."

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Cadeweed says, "I will scout around and return in a few minutes. Barn owl hoot will be my distress call."

Assuming that there is no objections, Cadeweed will sneak around the camp in a clockwise direction.

Move Silently (42%) [1d100]=9

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

"Please proceed, Mr. Cadeweed."

[gurusql]

Andronichishche/Aliendron

Might be come name confusion here

[Quonundrum]

Thanks! Just how far were they teleported!

[Karaunios]

Dougal remains quite, thoughts of their initial experience with the harpies in his mind. He gets his bow ready, just in case.

[OGRE MAGE]

[Spearmint]

not sure where Jorly or Raven are. I will move this forward.

Exploring the Logging Camp.

The site of a previous raid by Orphidian cultists; the logging camp victims perishing here from wounds sustained or bitten and afflicted by the lycanthropic like virus, transforming into Snake-men creatures themselves and slithering off into the Barrow Moor. Bodies have been laid to rest, their graves still covered and undisturbed. Cadeweed sneaks by the simply erected markers, there is no sign of ghoulish resurrection thankfully, something he is alert to since encounters in the Barrow Mounds. But the place is not so deserted judging by the wafts of smoke rising from the embers of a recently dampened fire.

The perimeter of the camp has a few footprints in the grass, much larger toes and heels than a halfling's. Impressions in the boggy ground that appear to come from deeper in the forest. You notice some brushwood on the forest fringe, probably walked through judging by the bent twigs. A spot of blood? Hard to tell to an untrained eye. What do you spot? A flight of birds overhead, a deer warily grazing a few yards into the forest, nibbling in fresh berries and verdant leaves, jack rabbits that hop playfully among the stumps of felled timber. They scatter at your scent or footsteps though you are unseen.

You circle around from '6' through to '12' and then to the main cabins at '3'. The main cabin does have a trail of blood, a single streak that goes across the threshold and in to the interior. You halt you progress to listen. Nothing is heard within.

Cadeweed actions please.

By the trail, a bowshot away, the others shuffle feet waiting to get a tap on a shoulder from Cadeweed giving an all clear or a rallying cry of danger with three hoots as an owl.

Two-Birds reminds Moriartus and Dougal of the predatory Owl-wolves you fought last time.

[gurusql]

Cadeweed

Cadeweed checks the blood trail to (1) see if he can tell if was in or out of the building and (2) how old the blood is. Given the number of woodland creatures that he drove off I would assume pretty old and that there is not something in the cabin. Given that Cadeweed can see that the blood "goes across the threshold and in to the interior" as he is sneaking by he will scan the interior of the cabin (assuming the door is open) which should cover most of the a single room cabin except the just next to the doorways. He will be careful NOT to step in the blood. Assuming that this scan does not give him something to focus his attention on he will toss a piece of gravel or a small rock about halfway into the cabin as he prepares to do his best impression of a jack rabbit.

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

He lights a cigar and nods in acknowledgment at Two-Birds' wise counsel. "There are also the bugbear tribes. The death of Katka likely provoked a struggle for power between rival chiefs. Successful raids would earn one respect and legitimacy to lead the tribes."

He also casts Shield.

1st level spell retention (17): [4d6+1]=17+1=18

[Karaunios]

Dougal nods at Two Birds remark. "Troo. Let's haup they daen't smell him if they're araund."

He holds his bow in case he has to cover fire Cadeweed.

[Spearmint]

I have prompted actions from Jorly & Raven, at least to confirm they are included here.

I will give a general update but add a little more for Cadeweed.

Moriartus, you previously took a diary from here which had entries regarding the Orphidian attack and just prior to that this information.

Then the writer details an attack by a roving band of renegade hobgoblin and ogres who were driven off but not without casualties. Work resumed and the watch strengthened.

. You mull over that recalled snippet.

Cadeweed inspects the cabin exterior. The remaining window panes are either very dusty on the inside or boarded over so viewing inside is difficult, especially when even on tip toes you don't see fully inside.

The blood over the threshold is fresh, congealed but 'sticky dry'. The drag marks come from a section of logging and into the cabin rather than a victim being dragged out.

No one responds to your pebble trick. Looking over the door threshold, (there is a main door that hangs loose in one hinge). You not that one side of the cabin has a large Mess Hall type interior and judging by an exterior chimney, perhaps an adjoining kitchen and hearth. The other side has a corridor which has three rooms, a store, an office and the last being the Foreman's bedroom. (the other seasonal lumberjacks bunked in tents outside, some ragged ones still drape over pitching stakes, scattered around the wider cleared camp ground).

The bloody drag marks include a large booted print, larger than your feet. Different to the other barefoot print you noticed on the edge of the camp perimeter. So barefoot figure, booted figure.

After a minute of silence and no response, you follow cautiously the drag marks, avoiding the oh-so-creaky floorboards and protruding nail. You creep by tables, one more clean of cobwebs and dust than the others. A left behind tankard and plate, empty pitcher of water on the top. Another table has also been cleared but several bloody bandages drape over its edge. It gives the impression that first aid was used upon someone here.

And that someone is still here, though not responsive to your investigation.

Against the back floor, head lolled upon unmoving chest is a large goblin like figure. His helm cast to one side, dented. A crumpled portrait in his hands. He is slumped or rather abandoned, lying in a pool of blood that has seeped from his grievous wound for his left leg has been amputated from below the knee.

Flies crawl over his form, buzzing over the blood. It smells of death.

actions Cadeweed please.



Cadeweed: Move Silently vs 42% [1d100]=8

[ravenn4544]

Jorly remains quiet among the stillness of the camp. Eerily still. As the cabin is investigated he takes a knee to examine the foot prints left behind while scanning the perimeter for any unusual sounds or movement.

After a few minutes of acclimating to the sounds he ticks off notable places of defense should these ogres or hobgoblins from the diary come a-calling.

Sorry for delay - I completely missed the start of this thread!