D&D Adventure #5: Oakgate Complex

[Dog Pants]

I'd go with the latter. Probably easier to set up with a small group. Given how difficult it's been to get organise everyone, I think you're going to struggle getting someone to stream it too.

[Roman Totale]

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pls respond

[Grimmie]

It was an interesting Roll20 session.

[Roman Totale]

I liked the strict adherence to lore and role playing.

[Grimmie]

So what happened?

Grimmie got increasingly confused about how animals act in combat and resolved to learn about it. Again.
Then people found the text tool and started writing stuff on the map. It got a bit crazy.

I found the "Clear drawings" button guys. Just saying.

But in the game? Right, well.

Thoon delayed his action instead of drawing his throwing axes, and the dogs advanced on the party. A few hits are landed on people but nothing too grievous. The two-headed dog nears, its eyes bright green and teeth dripping with milky white spit, but the frenzied hound misses as it lunges for Thoon.

There follows a crazy melee between the canine attackers and the party who adeptly fend off the attack and don't allow the line to break once. The highlight is Thoon taking his battleaxe to the two-headed dog, assisted by Orovan, and removing the magical beast's head from its furry shoulders. It leaks vile black blood everywhere and collapses in a heap. The rest of the mutts are quickly wiped up and three of the pack flee back into the plains once their pack leader's felled. (Which is called Withdrawing, a move you should totally check up in the rule book under the Combat section. It allows you to move at twice your speed out of a threatened square so long as you don't pass through any others on the way out. I think.)

Everyone bags themselves a respectable 217 experience for the affair.

[FatherJack]

I liked the strict adherence to lore and role playing.

Yes, I think the screenshot clearly shows the concise, tight nature of the battle which saw our heroes focussed on the battle at hand. With their serious and professional outlook they were able to vanquish the marauding hounds, as you can clearly determine from this photorealistic depiction of events.

If only all roleplaying outings could be so quite convincingly realistic I feel sure we could teach those coasterly wizards a thing or two about gritty and veritarible adherance to the lore.

[Grimmie]

Bill gets off his driver's seat once the commotion dies down and comes to look at the damage.

Opportunistic little bastards, wild dogs. Glad I had you fellas along for the ride - anybody hurt?

Ah! Two heads! I've seen one of those buggers before, thought it was the drink, but there you have it. Didn't bite ya' did it?

The university students are cycling through terror and relief, and the clouds overhead begin to break and the rain comes down heavier, turning the ground thick and muddy. Bill climbs up onto the lip of the side of the wagon and starts rolling down the canvas flaps to cover the windows in the side, and kindly asks if one of you "tall lads" can help him do the other side.

It rains for the rest of the day, it's miserable and cold but bill sings songs to himself to keep his spirits high. Any of you who speak Dwarven will recognise the songs as cheerful drinking songs or songs sung between clan members celebrating their long, winding history.

What do you do to pass the time?

[Dog Pants]

anybody hurt?

I have a bite mark. A big one which took about a third of my hit points. Please tell me he wasn't just making conversation.

There's not a lot I can do really. Assuming Bill isn't a high level priest, I'll try out my porno wand of healing.

[Grimmie]

Nope, bill doesn't have anything to heal the wound, but plenty of booze to numb the pain if you want to go down that road.

However, Orovan can conjure up some tasty healing berries with some prep, you heal your level (2hp) during a good night's rest, and you know that Paladins tend to be gifted with the healing touch.

If you want to give your wand a spin however, seeing as Cure Light Wounds isn't on your spell list, you'll need a Use Magic Device check of 20 to activate it.

[Mr. Johnson]

I'll do my healing touch thingy and then I'll drink, obviously.

[Dog Pants]

I think I'm 5 down, so if I can get a lay on hands from Johnson (not there) and a berry I should be okay I expect. I don't know how much healing they do, and I also don't know if anyone else needs healing. I won't waste my wand unnecessarily though.

[Grimmie]

Thoon calms himself as he channel's Wenta's warm, comforting healing through his hands and onto Shankley's wounds.

That's 5hp out of Thoon's maximum 6hp of healing - so he's got a point to spare still if anyone else wants a helping hand.

[Grimmie]

Okay, I shall take your group silence as "nothing in particular". S'cool.

Is anyone interested in me pausing for roleplay opportunities while travel is taking place, or would you like me to move things along faster? I didn't want to horse "I travel silently for twelve hours" on to you. Similarly if you're stopping overnight somewhere I don't want to take the opportunity to mingle with the locals, make money or stock up on goodies away from you. If that's the case it's fine - I just want to know so I don't pause for too long as screw up the adventure pacing

You arrive at Springdell Crossing by nightfall, and the rain still hasn't relented. The students choose to sleep in the village's inn and Bill stables the oxen, clearing room in the caravan for his bedroll.

[Dog Pants]

I can't think of anything specific to do.

[Roman Totale]

That's 5hp out of Thoon's maximum 6hp of healing - so he's got a point to spare still if anyone else wants a helping hand.

I think I lost 2hp so I wouldn't mind getting in on some of that.

[Grimmie]

I just want to know so I don't pause for too long as screw up the adventure pacing

Mission failed

Anyway, you all tend to your wounds overnight and heal up. Orovan has a chance to pray to his God for a fresh set of spells if he wishes, or he can simply keep the ones he prepared the previous day. The rain relents overnight and Bill's up early to feel his oxen and get the cart prepared. Stable hands feed your horses and put out fresh food for Camilla and Sweetlips (being a town where a lot of travellers come through, it's seen as a complimentary service as part of your inn stay). Grizelle even gets some of the fish they were unable to sell last night. The sky is overcast for now, but dark clouds begin to roll in over the horizon.

Breakfast at Springdell Crossing is varied with it being a market town, with anything from oats and milk to sausages and cheese on offer. A gnomish trader on the outskirts is drawing a considerable crowd in selling what he claims to be a wonder miracle cure for hangovers.

The dog head Thoon's carrying in his sack is beginning to stink. It's really kinda bad.

Any business before we move on? I'll wait a few hours (rather than days) this time before I get you moving.

[Dog Pants]

I'll assume Shankley makes idle chatter with whoever's nearby, but nothing else. I'll stay upwind of the stinky dog head.

[Grimmie]

Okay, you all set off again the next morning, your route today is south to Orhedge and then east to Wildemill where you'll hold up for one more night before pushing on to Oakgate.

A few hours into the journey a pair of figures riding a broad, black horse and a malamute come in to view. They ride along a road intersecting yours and turn on just as you pass. It's a Human man and his Gnomish assistant, following them is a pack mule loaded up with heavy looking leather and chain saddlebags. Both are dressed in thick fur coats to protect from the cold, and the Gnome waves his hand in the air as you approach.

Hail! I am Gelbi Goldswatch of Breakwater, and this is my friend Ivan.

May we ride with you?

Ivan pulls back the thick black mop of hair hanging in his eyes and rubs his moustache, he looks pretty unkempt compared to his friend.

Morning.

[Dog Pants]

By all means. These are dangerous roads.

I'll engage them in chatter too if they're talkative, but at some point I'll drift over to Thoon.

I once had a comrade who was a warrior of his god. He could detect ill intent with great accuracy by way of a divine nod. Are you similarly possessed?

In other words, MJ, do you have Detect Evil and do you fancy dropping it on our new travelling companions?

[Grimmie]

Splendid! Hike, hike!

He kicks his heels against the flank of his dog and catches up with your caravan. With a little chatting Gelbi's quite happy to explain that his travelling companion is a famous and accomplished blacksmith from Ferrunea - a county to the west.

Ivan here, he produces some of the best blades I've seen forged by human fingers. Truly extraordinary. Strong without the burdonsome weight of Dwarven weapons, agile without being insubstantial like Elven steel.

He draws a gleaming dagger with his left hand and kisses his pinched fingers like a chef celebrating a gourmet meal. Holding it between his fingers by the blade, he presents the hilt to Shankley for inspection.