The Wandering Archipelago (D&D 5e)

[WearsHats]

Kal signs: "I, Kal Galad, acolyte and paladin of Pelor, hereby bear witness that the gnome woman here described is dead this day [today's date]. [Formal signature]"

He hands the letter to Mehr to sign.

"If there's nothing else..." Assuming there are no objections, he heads up the path to the tree.

[thinkslogically]

The half-orc nods and accepts Kal's signature on the document.

"Thank you. The Hunters will hear how you helped us today. I will take the body back to my camp before the rain comes. Frul will know what to do with her. "

With that the half-orc scoops up the body with no effort at all and begins heading back down the trail towards his camp.

Kal sighs and begins to walk towards the gnome's tree.

((Where will the rest of you go?))

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Gwen mentally tells Mehriv she doesn't want to see the half-orc claim the bounty for himself and that they should go and claim it too.

---------------

Korrik swats a mosquito away from his ear as the gnome in the camp wanders away down the path towards the toilet.

He wonders what has happened to the rest of his party then shrugs and goes back to reading the love letters (all of which are in Common).

► Show Spoiler

"My Dearest F,
I cannot begin to express my joy at receiving your letter at last! It had been so long since you left I admit I was beginning to doubt your sincerity, but I shall doubt no longer! Oh how I wish I could shout our love from the rooftops I am so happy! Be safe, and hurry back,
Yours for ever and always,
M xxx

► Show Spoiler

"My darling F,
I am so pleased to hear you are doing well for yourself! I have no doubt you will rise through the ranks of the Hunting Club with ease. After all, you captured my heart with barely a look! Stay safe my love!
Until we see each other again,
M xxx

► Show Spoiler

"My darling F,
Everything is ready for your visit. I can't wait to see you!
Your love,
M xxxx

► Show Spoiler

"My darling F,
It was so wonderful to see you again. I'm sorry we had to cut things short, but my sister is getting suspicious. She has been keeping a close eye on me since you left and keeps asking probing questions. I haven't told her anything of course. Does your family suspect anything?"
Forever yours, M xxx"

► Show Spoiler

"My darling F,
I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, my family are growing more and more suspicious that something is going on. They tried to set me up with a Delver last month and couldn't understand it when I refused. I hope you can send me good news soon. It's getting harder and harder to fend off their questions.
Yours always,
M xxx

► Show Spoiler

My dearest F,
I do not know what I will do! My sister won't stop questioning me, and now... Gods, I don't know how to tell you this, but I think I may be with child. Write soon, I don't know what to do!
Your M xxx

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen flinches when Syli kicks the gnome, frowning as she leaves but says nothing. Her head held low as she follows Merhiv, not really wanting to follow Syli.

[Dlover]

"Irritated though you may be by her stubbornness, Syli, the dead deserve no disrespect."

Mehr waits for the orc to leave before responding to Gwen, "There was no reward for the bounty, it was a task for public safety and job security... On another note, you should calm your mind. You used to be a bounty hunter yourself, why does this event cause you such trouble?"

Mehr follows Kal, "We're heading for the stump? For what cause?"

[Arch Lich Burns]

"I....normally go out of my way to avoid something like this. I failed to do more to prevent this. And now I am responsible for another death. Death is never easy, no matter what path leds you to it."

[Dlover]

"You could not have protected her without leaving her to threaten the safety of others. Focus on that."

[WearsHats]

"There was much she did not tell us about her purpose. I had hoped to question her. I had not planned on trying to outrace a bounty hunter, nor in her being brought down when it was perfectly clear where we'd be able to find her. But, with her dead, our only chance at finding answers is to search her home. Besides, there may be more to that squirrel of hers than meets the eye. I do not intend to spend hours on this, but I feel it would be remiss to simply walk away. In any case, Syli seems to have had similar thoughts. She's already ahead of us. Might as well give her a hand. "

[spiderwrangler]

Letters carrying little of immediate interest, I fold them up and tuck them in a pocket, returning the arrowhead and parchment to the pouch and doing likewise. I'll make sure to hunker down out of sight and wait for the others to return, keeping an eye on the path.

[Nioca]

Syli quietly marches toward the gnome's home tree. Frowning, she mostly seems to just keep her eyes on the path she's following.

[Arch Lich Burns]

"I will try." Gwen sighs and nods, following the path back to the gnome, motioning Merhiv to follow.

[thinkslogically]

((The gnome has currently wandered off to the toilet area if Korrik wanted to risk trying to put the stuff back? Up to you though - it'd be risky ))

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The chase team commiserate the death of the gnome and wonder if there was more they could have done, or if this was simply as inevitable as the half-orc seems to believe. They head up to the hollow tree trunk where the woman had made a den.

((Based on what you've already posted, I'll take perception rolls to look for the squirrel, and investigation rolls to search the tree stump. Syli can have advantage on the investigation roll since she already spotted the gnome looking at part of the ground inside the trunk. If you want to do something different, just let me know.))

[spiderwrangler]

((How long since he went to the toilet area?))

[thinkslogically]

((As long / little time as you like. You were paying attention to the guy, so if you were waiting on him to leave them you can move as soon after him as you want. ))

[Arch Lich Burns]

Gwen, still pretty shaken of what happened barley makes an effort in the search.

per, investigate: 1D20+1 = [1]+1 = 2
1D20-1 = [5]-1 = 4

[spiderwrangler]

((If I wasn't still feeling woozy from the snakes I might push it more, but I'm just gonna stay put I think.))

[thinkslogically]

((Cool))

Korrik stays put in the bushes. After a couple of minutes, the gnome returns from the bushes and rummages around in the orc's pack, pulling out a little food and sitting down next to the cold campfire to eat it.

Shortly after, Korrik is slightly surprised to spot the half-orc appearing about 60 feet away from him on the path. It seems that his vantage point may not have covered quite as much of the path as he thought... The half-orc appears to be carrying a bundle in his arms.

[spiderwrangler]

((A bundle wrapped in my shirt? Stay put, stay hidden. Once the half-orc reaches camp, I'd like to eavesdrop if I can from where I'm at.))

[thinkslogically]

Let's have a perception check.

[spiderwrangler]

Perception: 1D20+2 = [12]+2 = 14

[thinkslogically]

As the half-orc walks past your hiding place, you spot a pair of dirty feet sticking out the end of the wrapped bundle. The wrapping looks an awful lot like your shirt...

The gnome looks up with a start as the half-orc returns to the camp. Korrik hears a note of urgency in the gnome's voice as he asks:

"What happened?"

The half-orc lays the bundle down, unwraps it and replies to the gnome, but his back is to the forest, and Korrik can't hear what is said.

"Well... After last night's fiasco, I wasn't expecting this."

((The half-orc speaks))

"At home we bury our dead beneath the rocks."

((A reply))

"Well I know that! What do you suggest then?"

((A shrug))

"Ugh."

The gnome pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs.

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Back at the tree, Gwen takes a quick look around, but her heart really isn't in the search and she is too preoccupied to find anything worthwhile.

[spiderwrangler]

((Biding my time until they are occupied with something else and neither is looking in my direction, then slipping back up the trail in search of the others. As far as I know, the half-orc murdered the gnome and may have done similar to the rest of my business partners.))

[thinkslogically]

Korrik holds tight, waiting and watching for a chance to make his escape. After a little more inaudible discussion, the pair begin to break down the camp and pack their things.

((Do you want to try and escape now, or wait longer? Whenever you decide to make a move, I'll take a new stealth check.))

[spiderwrangler]

While the pair are busy with breaking camp, I slip from cover and begin jogging up the trail.

((Had at least one more good roll in me! I'm looking to move fast, but not exhaust myself... alternate dash and regular movement as needed to stay fresh.))

Stealth do not fail me now...: 1D20+6 = [18]+6 = 24

[thinkslogically]

((Sounds good - where exactly are you heading to?))

[spiderwrangler]

((Back to the where the paths joined, and see if I can tell if my companions went one way or the other?))