The Wandering Archipelago (D&D 5e)

[Arch Lich Burns]

Survuval on the squirrel: Surv: 1D20+3 = [2]+3 = 5

[thinkslogically]

You think it would make a decent enough snack and maybe half a mitten.

[Dlover]

Mehr's not doing much of anything.

[spiderwrangler]

Keeping an eye on the tree and surrounding underbrush.

Perception: 1D20+2 = [10]+2 = 12

[WearsHats]

Kal is worried we're getting a little too preoccupied with the squirrel and stops to listen and look around for any other potential dangers or signs of their quarry. After all, we didn't come here looking for a squirrel.

Perception: 1D20+1 = [5]+1 = 6

Nature: 1D20+3 = [6]+3 = 9

Not sensing much, when he gets the chance, he'll take a closer look at the squirrel.

Perception: 1D20+1 = [12]+1 = 13

Nature: 1D20+3 = [9]+3 = 12

Unless something else comes up, he'll keep scanning around for signs of their quarry or other dangers. Always have to be alert when you're in the wilderness, especially if you know there's a dangerous animal about.

[thinkslogically]

Korrik keeps an eye on the tree stump, but doesn't spot anything particularly suspicious or weird.

Kal is uncertain why there's suddenly so much interest in the squirrel and casts around in case there's something dangerous sneaking up on them from somewhere else. Fortunately, it appears that there are no stealthy bears creeping up behind them, and he turns his attention to the squirrel. It seems unusually bold for a normal forest squirrel, but maybe it's just more used to people because it lives so close to the city? Otherwise, it appears to be a perfectly normal squirrel.

[Nioca]

Syli crosses her arms, still staring at the squirrel. "Ptto mftdpg gt zlmy bpp gbc edz qc zxbrhpmsk ftqvbsmtsy bxh vxtebepc khzzmsk b pmzzph mqvbzmhsz. Mj ctdxh ult uh yhho stu utdpg eh bs hifhpphsz zmqh zt ftsjmxq mz. Tzlhxumyh mq ktssb vtoh bxtdsg trhx zlhxh bsg byydqh ctd'xh jmsh umzl mz." She says, jerking a thumb over toward the tree.

► Show Spoiler

Druidic Translation: "Look, I could do this all day, but my traveling companions are probably getting a little impatient. If you're who we seek, now would be an excellent time to confirm it. Otherwise, I'm gonna poke around over there, and assume you're fine with it."

[thinkslogically]

The squirrel squeaks again then kind of shakes itself and blinks a couple of times before startling and racing up into the treetops and chittering loudly.

Another thump comes from the stump and a small shower of dirt and leaves comes floating down from somewhere inside. A woman's voice shouts out:

Tzkus!! Tzk fysgdb jsbdnakd jdhd sgihsjf!! Jdjekp!

► Show Spoiler

"Please! Just go away and leave me alone!! Begone!!

Even those who can't understand the words can hear a note of fear in the voice.

[Arch Lich Burns]

"I hope you can understand me... It's okay you can come out."

[thinkslogically]

Let's have a persuasion check please.

[Arch Lich Burns]

Persuade: 1D20+4 = [16]+4 = 20

Huzzah!

[thinkslogically]

You hear a bit of scuffling from inside the tree and then spot an aged face peek out from the shadows. In a heavily accented voice, she says:

"Leef alone! you... go! Ples... go!"

[Dlover]

"We have been hired to resolve an apiarist's theft problems. If you are responsible, then the ideal way to resolve the problem is to help you so you need not steal."

Persuasion: 25 (Critical success)

[thinkslogically]

"...You... halp?

...How? Why?"

[Arch Lich Burns]

"I for one am afraid if we don't help you then someone might try to harm you. If we knew what is going on we can better understand the how."

[thinkslogically]

"What is..? Harm!?

Kkndfb and wyrudb sjfur jsbfjei kdufubk....."

► Show Spoiler

"What are they talking about?! Who are you people? And how do YOU know the Old Tongue?

...I don't want to hurt anyone, I just... I just want to go home, but everyone's going crazy in the forest! Stupid lizards are making everything dangerous now!"

[Arch Lich Burns]

"Calm down, it is okay. I meant with a bear constantly stealing honey from a farm, some people might try to harm the beast in order to stop them. I can show whomever is doing this better areas to eat at around here so they aren't running the risk of putting themselves or anybody else in danger."

[Nioca]

Syli glances in the direction of Mehriv and Gwen for a moment before replying to the woman's queries. "Muby qhsztxhg ec ytqhtsh ybu jmz zt zboh flbsfh ts ptupc yzxhhz xbz. Zlbz mysz mqvtxzbsz... qc uhppqhbsmsk ftqvbsmtsy zxc hivpbms uh ndyz zxc yztv zlhjzy zlbz ehhs tffdxxmsk. Stz mszhxhyzhg xhzxmedzmts. Ndyz zxcmsk qboh ydxh hrhxctsh kthy ltqh lbvvc...

...bpzltdkl ulbz ctd ybmg ytdsgy pmoh lbrmsk zxtdeph umzl zlbz. Mlhbxg xdqtxy tj pmabxgjtpo qtxh exbahs ms qtrhqhsz. Ctd jbx jxtq ltqh?"

► Show Spoiler

Drudic Translation: "I was mentored by someone who saw fit to take a chance on a lowly street rat. But that isn't important... as my well-meaning companions are trying to explain, we're just trying to help stop some thefts that have been occurring. We're not interested in retribution, we're just trying to make sure everyone goes home happy...

...although from what you just said, it sounds like you're having trouble with that. I've heard rumors of these lizardfolk that have been getting more brazen in their movement. Are you far from home, then?"

[thinkslogically]

The woman takes a couple of cautious steps further into the open. You can see that she appears to be a VERY old gnome, and is completely naked save for a binding around her side, that looks like some sort of poultice. She seems to be in some pain.

"I am not thief!! ..dsfhjh kdsjh ddkjfh erdkf..."

► Show Spoiler

"Far and not so far... The whole forest is my home, but this place... is not good. The rivers are poison, and the creatures are... different. There is a deep sickness in this marsh and it is making everything angry... I want to go north again and return home, but I think maybe I was meant to be here first."

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen eyes the bandage. "Did a bear attack you? ...Darruk are you too sick to heal someone?"

[thinkslogically]

Darruk looks up and nods weakly. "No, I can manage."

(He can heal if you need him to. It's partly why I didn't have him stay in town )

The woman looks confused for a moment then smiles.

"oh no! No bear attack. I am bear! Hunter shoots me! Stupid smelly man..."

[spiderwrangler]

"Hunter? Can you describe him?"

[Arch Lich Burns]

(Does syli tell us what the bees said and also what she is saying?)

[spiderwrangler]

"And when you say you are bear... is that a choice? Or a curse thing...?"

[WearsHats]

Kal tries to figure out what kind of creature we're talking to, but he can't see much besides a talking squirrel and can't understand the language, so it seems he doesn't have much to go on.

Nature: 1D20+3 = [8]+3 = 11

Since Syli is better equipped to handle the situation, he'll go back to scanning the woods around them. If there's one thing his mother taught him while patrolling the wilderness, it's always be alert. Just because you can see the beast you're stalking, don't assume there isn't something else that might want to stalk you.

Perception: 1D20+1 = [15]+1 = 16

► Show Spoiler

I hope my making multiple rolls in these situations is okay. I just figure it's simpler this way since we're playing by post and not on combat time. If you prefer, I can stick to one roll per post. Wait for the results and everyone else, then roll for the other thing, whether that be looking at the same thing with a different skill or searching for something else when I'm done looking at the first thing.