The Wandering Archipelago (D&D 5e)

[thinkslogically]

Gwen looks to where the gnome is pointing and is able to make out a patch of the forest where there is a bit of a clearing on some higher ground. She knows from her experience in the wilderness that those are the sorts of places that people often seek out as camps since the ground usually stays a little drier.

Korrik also follows the gnome's gesture. Like Gwen he is able to make out the clearing, but he also notes that the trees around the area seem to all be of the same type. He suspects (based on the gnome's happy gesticulating with the odd brown seeds), that he's just learned what tamarind trees look like at a distance. As he watches, he also spots just the faintest shimmer in the air and a tiny puff of white smoke rising from the clearing.

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[Dlover]

"I assume that's where the hunters shot you? Let's head that way, then."

[WearsHats]

"We should scout around first. See what we're up against before we rush in."

Perception: 1D20+1 = [8]+1 = 9

"Can't see much from here, but if we get closer and stay behind the trees, I bet we can get a look at the camp before they spot us. Whoever or whatever they are."

[Dlover]

"It may be best to make sure they're not outlaws, yes."

[thinkslogically]

So you're about half a mile from the clearing at the moment, so you don't see much more than what's been described already (if Korrik points out the smoke haze, you can all see it). The paths seem to head towards there at least.

So, let me know if that's where you're going, what your marching order is and what special actions you're taking en route (if any).

Also, someone roll me a d12 please

[spiderwrangler]

((Did you mean Korrik instead of Kal earlier then? If so, then yes, I'd mention the smoke.))

[thinkslogically]

((crap! Yes I did! Sorry, I don't know why I'm so bad at keeping you two separate...))

[spiderwrangler]

"Hey look! Smoke!"

[Nioca]

Syli's staying near the back, to keep an eye on the gnome.

((Also, something tells me that d12 is nothing good, but I'm going ahead and biting the bullet anyway: 8))

[WearsHats]

"I'm not exactly a ranger, but I can try to take point. Or scout ahead a little. Then again, though it pains me to say it, Korrik may be better qualified to scout. Just enough to see who's out there. So we know if we can talk to them or if we need to be ready for hostilities. Oh, but if they're hunters we should watch for snares."

[spiderwrangler]

"Certainly willing, though I'm still feeling a bit woozy..."

[thinkslogically]

The party move on towards the little clearing. As they travel through the trees, the forest gets increasingly dense and spider-filled, and the old-lady gnome seems more and more chirpy and you walk, as if she's delighted by some private joke. She scampers in and out of the edge of the forest, kicking up dry leaves and swooshing Korrik's shirt around like a cape. It remains entirely ineffective as an item of clothing.

Suddenly, a loud cracking sound from the side of the path makes Kal and Korrik jump, and the party instinctively reach for their weapons, until they realise it's nothing more than a terrified, small, fanged deer and it crashes away into the undergrowth before they can react with more than a communal "oh!" and a cackle of delight from the little gnome.

The rest of your short journey passes more or less uneventfully, and after about another half hour, you guess that you must be getting close to where you saw the little clearing, though you can't hear or smell any of the usual sounds of a camp. The druid looks around as the group pause and sighs.

"Why stop? Hunters in there!" She shakes the seeds at you and points impatiently before continuing a little way on ahead and gesturing enthusiastically for you all to follow.

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If any of you intend to scout ahead, I'll take some checks. Survival / Perception / Stealth are probably most appropriate for general scouting, but if you can justify something else, just plead your case Similarly, if anyone's staying behind, let me know what you're planning on that front too.

If you have any instructions for your gnome friend, now might be a good time for them.

It's probably somewhere around midday at the moment.

[spiderwrangler]

I move a little ahead of the party to scout, but not so far ahead that they can't reach me quickly, as I'm still not feeling great after getting snake bit.

► Show Spoiler

Stealth: 1D20+6 = [13]+6 = 19
Perception: 1D20+2 = [13]+2 = 15

[Dlover]

Mehr responds to the gnome in a low voice, "We're stopping to scout, because you could well be wrong about them being hunters. If these are criminals, walking in there would be dangerous."

[thinkslogically]

"Oh! Oh... good plan! Smart lizard! I go too!"

[Dlover]

"I would feel more comfortable if you stay with us. I have my doubts that you would recognise the difference."

[WearsHats]

Kal considers going for a look, but he knows he's not well qualified for the task. He knows it's because he focused on his paladin training, but some of the less kind-hearted souls in his village used to whisper that his mediocre attempts to move stealthily through the forest were a result of his only being half wood elf. Those voices were often hushed by those who respected his human mother's abilities, but still...

Kal hangs back and waits for Korrik's report.

[thinkslogically]

Mehriv keeps the druid back with him. She looks a little sulky, but otherwise doesn't object and amuses herself by climbing into the lower branches of a nearby tree and making bird whistles.

Everyone else just sort of hangs out while Korrik reluctantly starts heading towards the camp, being extra-super cautious on account of still feeling pretty terrible from his snakebite. He blends stealthily into the trees and moves towards where he thinks the camp is. He gets turned around in the undergrowth a couple of times, but eventually catches the faintest scent of woodsmoke through the trees and follows it to the edge of a small clearing where there's a little encampment. From his vantage point, he spots an enormous, half-naked half-orc prodding absentmindedly at a little campfire. A pair of unbooted feet stick out from under a small tent.

► Show Spoiler

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[spiderwrangler]

Are the feet of a recognizable size? Visible weapons?

[thinkslogically]

You spot a javelin next to the big guy with a delicate piece of yellow material tied around it; otherwise there's a pack and some rope stowed off to one side. The feet are fairly small, and look about the same size as an adult gnome's feet or a child of one of the larger races. From here, you can't see any other weapons or anything, but there could be more hidden inside or behind the tent. You'd have to reposition yourself to see though.

[Dlover]

Mehr's keeping an eye on the gnome until word comes back about the camp ahead.

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen keeps a watchful eye on the gnome and whispers to Syli "Do you know what she is saying to the birds?"

[spiderwrangler]

I'll return to the group and report what I saw.

[thinkslogically]

Ok, you do that and nothing bad happens.

[spiderwrangler]

"So we all going in, or just a few to start?"