Play by Post D&D: The New Begining

Glitch Girl · July 30, 2007, 06:33:28 PM

( OOG: That and it's easier for the PC's to say than "Hey Mysterious Hooded person, Duck!" ;) )

"A pleasure Annia. I am Nathan. Pelor's blessings be apon you."

You trudge thruogh the wet and the woods. You've strayed somewhat from the main road but Whisper seems to know where he's going, at least you hope he does. Occasionally, lightning cracks through the sky, lighting the overgrowth aruond you in strange and almost fearsome-looking shapes.

Starbuck, Whisper, Dakkon
[spoiler]Just for a moment, you think you saw something large move just ahead and off to the left a bit. You couldn't really tell what, but it was a) very large, and b) possibly alone, or at least you didn't see anything else moving with it[/spoiler]

Viking · July 30, 2007, 06:49:17 PM

Starbuck is uncharacteristically brief. He speaks in a low voice, such that only those nearest him are likely to hear over the roar of the storm.

"Something big is moving just ahead and to the left. Whisper - your thoughts?"

BlueBard · July 31, 2007, 06:53:02 AM

Whisper motions for everyone to stop and be quiet. He transfers Swift to a convenient branch and gives it the command to stay. Then he points to himself, points in the direction of the shape he saw moving, points to his eyes, and then back in the direction he is going to scout in.

As soon as he's satisfied that his hand signals have been understood, he carefully and silently scouts ahead. He readies a glitterdust spell just in case, with the intent of blinding anything hostile if it attacks.

If anyone insists on coming with him, Whisper will try to determine if they are moving silently enough not to alert anything to their presence. If they are too noisy, Whisper will emphatically motion them to go back.

BentonGrey · July 31, 2007, 06:59:54 AM

Dakkon strained his azure eyes through the gloom ahead, and dropped his hand to rest uneasily on the hilt of his sword. He nodded wordlessly to Starbuck, and crept as silently as possible after Whisper.

Uncle Yuan · July 31, 2007, 07:10:46 AM

I'll take a careful step away from the travois to give me room to maneuver and ready to draw my sword too. While Whisper scouts out the noise that was heard, I'll peer into the darkness in the opposite directions to make sure there's nothing trying to sneak up while our attention is diverted.

Glitch Girl · July 31, 2007, 07:22:14 AM

Whisper, Dakkon
[spoiler]Whisper, Dakkon seems surprisingly quiet as he moves through the damp underbrush. Not perfect, mind you, but still much quieter than you expected.

The two of you venture a little deeper into the trees. That large shape is still there, and suddenly it gets a whole lot larger as a huge black bear rears up and starts sniffing the air about 10 feet away[/spoiler]

Everyone else:

Nathan shifts the grip on his staff to a more combat-ready position. He glances over at Orloid with a wordless look of "What's going on?"

A moment later, all of you (except Og, who the dice say is distracted by a pretty rock) see some huge shape loom up in the direction that Whisper and Dakkon went. It's still quite a few yards from where you are, and you can't tell what it is beyond "big".

Uncle Yuan · July 31, 2007, 07:43:40 AM

How big? Big like an ox? Big like a minotaur? Big like a giant? Does it appear to be upright/humanoid or more animal?

I give Nathan what I hope is a reassuring smile, gesture towards the injured man and murmur, "Stick with him. It'll be your job to guard him and keep your eyes open for surprises."

"Og!" I whisper fiercely. "Some thing's out there!" I gesture in the direction of Whipser and Dakkon. "Set the man down gently and be ready for trouble."

Glitch Girl · July 31, 2007, 07:49:35 AM

OOG: RE - Big

Big like a 6 foot plus barrel - tall and broad (though not nearly as broad as it is tall). It doesn't appear to be humanoid shaped but it's hard ot tell at this distance with all the rain.

BlueBard · July 31, 2007, 08:03:41 AM

To GM:
[spoiler]Hmm. If I were alone, there would be any number of things I might do to avoid provoking the bear into an attack. This situation is a bit stickier.

Without taking my eyes off the bear, I motion for Dakkon to back away. If he does so, I will back away with him.

If successful and without startling the bear, I will cast Speak with Animal and use my Wild Empathy ability and animal handling skill to convince the bear that we mean it no harm.

If the bear is startled and attacks, I will cast Web. I hate to blow a spell that useful on this, but it's better than having to kill it and risk severe injury or death. Not to mention possibly ticking off the druid. It would be just our luck that it's the druid himself in bear form. :P[/spoiler]

To Dakkon:
[spoiler]Without taking my eyes off the bear, I motion you to back away.[/spoiler]

Viking · July 31, 2007, 08:57:28 AM

Not knowing what the ominous figure actually is, Starbuck keeps his lute at the ready.

"So far, no sounds of our traveling companion screaming in pain, calling for help, or being eaten. I imagine this means that he's trying to handle this potential threat without our intervention. It could be an animal, after all..."

Starbuck continues to hold his ground in relative silence after that, trusting in Whisper to signal if help is needed.

Panther_Gunn · July 31, 2007, 11:24:26 AM

In a low voice "ooh, that rock look like bugsy-bare head......after Og squish it. hehe"

Quote from: Uncle Yuan on July 31, 2007, 07:43:40 AM"Og!" I whisper fiercely. "Some thing's out there!" I gesture in the direction of Whipser and Dakkon. "Set the man down gently and be ready for trouble."

His head snaps up in the direction of Orloid's whisper. "uh?" :huh: Orloid's tone, and use of particular words, gets Og's attention to shift focus much quicker than previously witnessed. Og sets down the end of the travois, pivots to square off in the rough direction of where Orloid indicated, and brings the mauling hammer up into a two-handed, ready position. "Things in trees not always like Og. Og not always like fight them, but be ready good."

BentonGrey · July 31, 2007, 04:06:47 PM

Dakkon needed no second urging as his companion motioned him back towards the party, and he crept back with as much stealth as he could muster. While he made his way, he wondered silently what manner of creature this was, as large as the sharks of the deep waters....

Glitch Girl · July 31, 2007, 04:54:25 PM

Everyone but Dakkon and Whisper:

Everything is very still. The shape is moving a bit, but it doesn't seem to be getting closer. It's almost like it's... searching for something.

Whisper, Dakkon
[spoiler]Dakkon seems to understand Whisper's signal. He starts moving off back towards the rest of the group. Just as he manages to get a few feet away, the bear suddenly turns in your direction. It makes kind of a "wwuff" noise as it's black eyes focus at you two[/spoiler]

BlueBard · July 31, 2007, 06:02:27 PM

To GM:

[spoiler]I keep very still and hope that Dakkon does the same.

If the bear does not immediately charge, I attempt Wild Empathy and animal handling to put it at ease. I doubt I'd have time to get off 'Speak with Animals'.

If the bear does charge, I cast Web.

If Dakkon attacks the bear, I attempt to knock him off balance. Then I try to get the bear's attention by throwing things at it and running like heck.[/spoiler]

BentonGrey · July 31, 2007, 06:45:49 PM

"Wonderful," the azure elf thought to himself, but he had the good sense to freeze in his tracks, his piercing cobalt eyes fixed on the massive creature ahead.

Glitch Girl · July 31, 2007, 07:33:40 PM

Whisper Dakkon
[spoiler]The bear continues to size you two up.

Dakkon, you notice Whisper's posture and stance change a little bit. The bear does too, but it doesn't seem to be alarmed. It cocks it's head slightly, sniffing the air again.

After a while, the bear drops back to all fours and shakes itself a bit, creating an aura of rainwater. It's still watching you, but it doesn't seem to be hostile or worried, just curious now.[/spoiler]

BlueBard · July 31, 2007, 08:33:04 PM

GM & Dakkon

[spoiler]I speak to the bear softly in Elven... not expecting understanding, just speaking in soothing tones.

"That is good. We mean you no harm. We will let you pass on your way, friend bear."[/spoiler]

GM

[spoiler]One more thing, is this a male bear or a female bear? I want to be certain there are no cubs nearby to provoke an attack.[/spoiler]

Uncle Yuan · August 01, 2007, 06:21:39 AM

"This silence is unnerving," I mutter softly. "Can anybody tell what's going on?"

Glitch Girl · August 01, 2007, 08:35:39 AM

Everyone except Whisper and Dakkon:

Nathan shakes his head no. "They've been gone a while..."he whispers.
"Do you think they're okay?"

Just about then, the large looming shape drops out of view.

Whisper
[Spoiler]The bear is female. No sign of cubs at the moment though.[/spoiler]

Uncle Yuan · August 01, 2007, 10:03:33 AM

Quote from: Glitch Girl on August 01, 2007, 08:35:39 AM
Everyone except Whisper and Dakkon:

Nathan shakes his head no. "They've been gone a while..."he whispers.
"Do you think they're okay?"

"Well, like our bard said, no screams should be taken as a good sign . . . "

BlueBard · August 01, 2007, 12:19:27 PM

GM & Dakkon:

[spoiler]Still speaking in a soft, soothing tone I say in Elven, "We will now slowly turn away and go back to the others. This bear is a female, so we will need to keep watch that we do not surprise any cubs."

And with that, making no sudden motions, I turn around and go back.[/spoiler]

BentonGrey · August 01, 2007, 10:09:37 PM

OOC: Dakkon is going to keep trying to edge his way back to the group, leaving this matter in the hands of someone obviously better suited.

Glitch Girl · August 02, 2007, 07:06:00 AM

Everyone except Dakkon and Whisper:

Silence hangs over your group broken only by the falling raindrops and occasional distant thunder. You hear a soft groan coming from nearby.

Specificly, from the travois.

Starbuck
[spoiler]You also see something move in the woods nearby, off the way Whisper and Dakkon went. Looks like one... no, two people trying not to be seen nor heard.[/spoiler]

Whisper and Dakkon
[spoiler] The two of you back away from the bear. It continues to calmly watch you until the trees and darkness hide you from its view. There's no sigh the bear is following you.[/spoiler]

Uncle Yuan · August 02, 2007, 07:47:55 AM

I step over to the travois and examine the man. Is he regaining consciousness, or simply reacting to being moved/stopping?

BlueBard · August 02, 2007, 08:09:27 AM

I rejoin the group, not making any effort at stealth... I want the bear to know where I am. Being a cautious sort, I call out before coming in sight of the group.

"It is Whisper. Dakkon and I are returning."

Once in view I say, "We encountered a bear. I managed to soothe it. We should make a little bit of noise just to let it know where we are. It will likely move away from us peacefully."

Viking · August 02, 2007, 08:26:42 AM

GM:
[spoiler]Did the two stealthy people that I saw eventually emerge as Whisper and Dakkon? Or are these different stealthy figures? I want to be clear before inadvertently starting something.[/spoiler]

Glitch Girl · August 02, 2007, 08:39:52 AM

Starbuck
[spoiler] Yup, it's them. Sneaky aren't they?[/spoiler]

The rest of you hear a soft voice at the edge of the darkness say "It is Whisper. Dakkon and I are returning."

The two emerge almost soundlessly out of the blackness. Whisper quickly tells the rest of the group what happened.

The body on the travois stirrs slightly. You think he might be trying to wake up.

Panther_Gunn · August 02, 2007, 11:17:49 AM

Upon hearing an explanation, Og finally relaxes from his ready position, with an audible "hmff". He moves back over towards the travois, to resume his task, but waits until everyone is done fussing over the "sick man".

"Bears cranky. Not like others around, sometimes. Think steal food. Og not like bear food much, maybe fishies." He then gets a wistful look on his face, eyes looking upwards a bit. "Sometimes, bears make good food, though. Kinda tasty, if burnt right."

Uncle Yuan · August 02, 2007, 11:40:31 AM

OOC: I was good about staying in character with regards to the spoilers - I assume at this point we can all respond as if we know the whole story . . .

"Huh. Well, I'm glad things ended peacefully, if only for the bear's sake. We should hurry though. Our friend looks like he's waking up, and I'd like to get him under cover as soon as we can. Clean, dry, and well lit are the next orders of business."

BlueBard · August 02, 2007, 11:46:37 AM

"Aye," Whisper agrees. "Starbuck, I think it might be time for a tale. Not too loud. We need to alert the local wildlife of our presence without drawing attention we do not need."

Whisper calls his falcon back to perch on his shoulder and will attempt to lead the group around the place where we encountered the bear.

From this point on, he will try to stay well out in front of the rest of the group but within sight.