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Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57 d20+10=18 ; d20+14=29 ;
Friday December 2nd, 2016 3:51:51 AM
Alleah's mind remains unchanged in that she is not going to let Bliss venture more than 100ft away from her. She creeps along carefully at ground level, moving swiftly from bush to bush.

Stealth: 18
Perception: 29

Murphy (Kim) AC 15 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+23=31 ; d20+13=27 ;
Friday December 2nd, 2016 6:00:07 AM

Sigh. With the two having gone ahead anyway, Murphy changed into his eagle form, and flew above the large giant encampment following the plan he earlier described. Along with the giants, ogres, goblins, orcs, he tries to see if there is any evidence of the necromancer about - either anything resembling the stitched-together creatures that Uthvas introduced to them earlier, or a tent or shack or dwelling, or anything, whatever, that might cast a clue as to the presence of the necromancer who killed him. Not wanting to draw too much attention to himself, he does not spend as much time as he would like, letting a single pass suffice to learn what he might.

He also attends to the highlights of the pathway between the valley encampment and where he had left the party.

When he returns, he changed back to this halfling form. Murphy lets his friends know what he discerned. Murphy pulls out papers and pen, and a bit of charcoal. With five pages of parchment, on the first the druid sketches a quick map of the area, showing where various creatures were positioned. As this is a valley, he looks to see how close the hills are on either side, how steep the slopes, how many are on the slopes or at their base. Either now, or later, should now not be a good time, he will draw up a more detailed map by putting together the remaining four pieces.

As he draws, he explains: "There are nearly a thousand - a few stone giants, many hill giants and ogres. Some giant children who torture some goblins. Orcs and goblins of various tribes, judging by their varied clothing. Many wear hoods or headscarves." [Does a 31 perception reveal perhaps a bit more about the headscarf wearers? Perhaps Uthvas' critters? Or something else? Also, is there an obvious leader, or leaders discernible?]

"So, a question. Is there something we can do to damage a large number of them? Shake them up? I don't know about you all, but I want to spend some time praying - after we've had a chance to talk."

[Perception 31 - for observation, information gathering; Knowledge, Geography: 27 - for cartography]

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle) d20+18=36 ;
Friday December 2nd, 2016 11:49:27 AM
Bliss sneaks ahead, sneaks back, and reports in.

Perception check: 36

He sneaks back and stumbles on Alleah, who he did not expect to meet so close by. "Miss Alleah!" he exclaims in a whisper, quietly conveying alarm, worry, and surprise ... very softly. "You can't be here! There's an army of those things!" He leads her back to the party, wincing every time she snaps a twig or moves through a shaft of daylight.

Back at the camp, he explains it all. "Wowsy, as my mama used to say, this is scary! There's a thousand giants, and probably as many goblins and orcs! They have a monster camp and they are getting ready for a war! The orcs and goblins are like slaves, and they are trying to keep from being noticed, like by wearing hoods. There's lots of different tribes."

"I think we could pretty easily sneak into the camp disguised as goblins. Some of us can use shapechange magic to BE goblins or orcs. I have a hat of disguise and two vials of Stealth Elixer."

"In fact, I came ready for this! I have 4 Scrolls of Magic Vestments, 4 Scrolls of Barkskin, 3 witch Scrolls of Beast Shape I, 3 Scrolls of Heroism, and a wand of mage armor."

"We have to have a plan before we sneak in" Bliss tries to sketch a map based on what he saw.

[OOC: DM? Could we have a map or even a list of interesting big tents or meeting places? Thx!]

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (1/2 cast)
Friday December 2nd, 2016 1:18:28 PM
"Alleah, usually the ladies tell me to stay at least 100 ft AWAY from them," says Kezzem.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast) d20+13=26 ;
Friday December 2nd, 2016 1:21:41 PM
Perception: 26

"Okay folks, here's an idea," says Kezzem. "We get some of those hoodies and pretend to be goblins. "Um, does anyone speak Goblin?"

Sky & Meko HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18 d20+12=28 ;
Friday December 2nd, 2016 2:08:28 PM
Learning the same as the others, Sky and Meko sneak back to the party as well, with the same to report..

sneak in, disguised as goblins? Sounds like an idea... But then again. It doesn't seem like they have much say in this camp... Can we get big? Can anyone disguise themselves as a giant

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Friday December 2nd, 2016 3:00:38 PM

Bliss says, "There are kid giants running around. I could shapechange into a medium sized person, like an orc or a man, and then use my hat of disguise to make myself look like a giant kid, I think. For about four minutes a spell, two spells a day. I am god with disguises."

"It looked like the giant kids were bossing around the goblins and picking on them, so if one of us is a giant kid and is running with a stick and herding a pack of goblins, that would probably go unnoticed. So that would give us a four minute run to get to, say, the leader's tent, or the taxidermist's. Then we rush in, kill the bum, cast again and run out."

"Then we camp out for a day. The next day, we do some other sabotage."

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Friday December 2nd, 2016 8:53:18 PM
"Shape changing isn't my strong suit. I can confuse a few of them and all, but I'm no good at changing my appearance. But seriously, what are we going to do with a thousand Giants? If they find our village, our whole town is done for..."

Dm Shawn - The Loot
Saturday December 3rd, 2016 8:26:45 AM
Plans are quickly thrown out and most seem real good. The scouts who went ahead don't see any signs of a leader, or Uthvas.There are no tents or meeting places, just a rough encampment of smelly big'uns. They do see some caves, like the ones they have passed already, alongside the valley. They do notice that it seems the larger camp does look like two smaller camps mushed together. though there are spots of mingled giants, it does seem the hill giants and stone giants have staked claim to their own side.

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Saturday December 3rd, 2016 11:34:28 PM
Risky. All the better with Murphy and possibly Bliss giving back up from above. But still, this means your inside alone. But since we've obviously no chance against this force. I like the sabotage idea a lot more than going in looking for information. I mean, of course they plan to attack our town. I think The why is irrelevant at this point.

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57 d100=29 ;
Sunday December 4th, 2016 1:24:49 AM
"We need more intel, and a safe way to gather it"

Alleah casts Clairaudience/Clairvoyance to create a magical, invisible sensor 640ft in towards the camp. She should then be able to see and hear as if she was actually there. What's more, with the Comprehend Languages spell she has already cast, hopefully she can understand what is actually being said.

-----------------------------
Leyline check: 29 = Pass

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25 d20+14=17 ;
Sunday December 4th, 2016 4:41:40 PM
Pressi shook her head at Shel's meltdown. Those kinds of things tended to get her riled up herself.

She peered out at the camp as carefully as she could (Perception 17) but wasn't sure what she was looking for. At the moment, though, there wasn't much more than she could do besides wait, and try to figure out better ways to sneak or disguise her way in.

Murphy (Kim) AC 15 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Monday December 5th, 2016 1:06:20 AM

Murphy waits to learn what Alleah is able to learn. He also hopes to be able to better understand the layout of the valley he has flown over once now.

He does say he is willing to change into one of the forms he has mentioned, and to accompany one or two others on ground spying... or to go bird again, this time something other than an eagle.

Tendel (Robert) AC 27, hp 65/65 & Onalep: AC 18, hp 51/51
Monday December 5th, 2016 4:36:00 AM
Tendel awaits news from Alleah's spell. It is nice to get intel without risking your hide armour for it.

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Monday December 5th, 2016 8:07:45 AM

Bliss scouts ahead alone, before Alleah gets to the spot from which she will cast the spell. He wants to make sure that there are no scouts or guards. He is thinking that he has to look for goblins, who are surely the scouts for this army.

As Bliss scouts, he communicates with Mookie via Message cantrip. Mookie stays 100 ft back behind him, so that if Bliss finds anything, he can whisper back to Mookie.

When Bliss finds a good hiding spot from which Alleah can cast, he heads back to the group and leads her there. He suggests that only those with confidence in their stealth come along.

"I wish that Miss Fatine were still in the group," Bliss whispers to Alleah. "Then we could make a circle and help you cast your spell," Bliss says.

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Monday December 5th, 2016 9:37:30 AM
what about the caves we passed? Maybe one of them connects with the caves within the camp?

Meko says this with frown, knowing they didn't bother actually checking them...

May have passed up orcs or goblin scouts mini camp...

Dm Shawn - The Loot
Monday December 5th, 2016 11:53:26 AM
Bliss scouts ahead, and luckily stumbles on no guards. Apparently this war machine doesn't fear a sneak attack and no guards are actually set. He finds a nice spot for Alleah to cast her spell.

Once in the spot Alleah casts her spells and pears in on the camp. She hears the usual lewd jokes coiming from a giant, aimed at one of the scrawny goblins.

she does pick up two names that alot of the ogres and giants say Dolp and Hairshirt... maybe names of the leaders, or the backers of the plan, or perhaps just the names of two drunk Ogres. More surveliance would help.

She also hears some of the goblins and orks talking about how the giants don't take the halflings serious, and they pose no threat. The orks and goblins seemed more inclined to get out of the servitude of the giants and ogres.

Sky suggests checking out the caves to see if they connect to caves in the camp.

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Monday December 5th, 2016 8:27:15 PM
"I say we let Alleah keep using the Clairaudience spell to find out more details. At some point, they will say something useful. When she needs a break, Sky is right, we could explore those caves. Maybe there is a way to get closer than we are now through those caverns."

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Monday December 5th, 2016 8:31:28 PM

"Hey Mister Sky, maybe before we go in the caves and stink 'em up, your doggie friend can maybe sniff out if there've been goblins or orcs or anything in there lately."

"If there is a goblin spell, then we gotta look out for traps and such. They love those, I think."

"But yeah, sure, let's take a peek. There might be a spot through which only tiny fellows like me can fit!"

Bliss will take point in caving, with his darkvision and his tiny form and his good escape artist and acrobatics skills.

"Mookie, you stay here with Miss Alleah."

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Monday December 5th, 2016 8:54:39 PM
Pressi flipped through her notebook and the various notes. "Everytime I hear one of those names, a little bird says... Ok, here we go. Dolp is the guy who sent those giants out for halfling in a bag, and we decided he was hill. Hairshirt is the guy who sent this note to Gurgax... about the necromancer... and they were stone giants. Oh, and we have a letter that the stone giants are going along for now, maybe a letter that should be filed somewhere important. Wonder what the hill giants think about this necromancer."

There isn't much more that Pressi can do at the moment, to the point where she considers volunteering for cave duty.

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Monday December 5th, 2016 10:06:59 PM
Alleah shares with the others what she has learned - especially the two names she often hears.

"So do you guys want me to try that again, or should we explore the caves? Every spell I use to scout is one less that I can use in battle though"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast)
Monday December 5th, 2016 11:27:25 PM
"Hairshirt, why is that name familiar," ponders Kezzem.

Murphy (Kim) AC 15 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Tuesday December 6th, 2016 5:30:22 AM
"At some point we may let Dolp of the hill giants know that Hairshirt - the leader of the stone giants," Murphy says, concurring with Pressi, "- takes counsel from Gurthax, who wrote the letter - I think you flipped those two, Press - and Gurthax calls the hill giants 'stupid,' and says that the stone giants will rule over the hill giants later.

"To translate that for hill giants, we tell them that Gurthax calls them stupid, and Gurthax and Hairshirt plan to the enslave the hill giants after taking over the halflings.

"If we can get them fighting among themselves, instill discord among the different types of giants, that may help keep them from attacking us so quickly, or in an ordered fashion. Strife among them may lead to a delay in their plans to attack us.

"The necromancer may be with Gurthax, with Gurthax located elsewhere, rather than in this valley of biguns. But, until we look deeper here, we will not know.

"For the moment - if all or most of us want to explore a cave together, then perhaps I can summon a few air elementals to stir things up in one area of the valley, and draw focus away from whatever cave we want to explore. Or, a few can explore, and a few remain back. Also, for disguise? Just wear a hood. I have a few empty sacks we could use for the purpose.

"Bliss - I'll join you as a bat - but will look a bit different from the bat form I took in Bright Springs. More like a local bat. If you don't mind, may I just grab on to your shirt and let you carry me along, until we get to a place where it makes sense for me to fly? I'll be smaller than you. I can see in the dark just fine, now, in that form.

"You're right, Alleah - hold off on casting another scrying spell for now. We don't know whether something might be stirred up that we'll need to conserve power to deal with. Let's see what we find out from the caves and listening about. If you want, I can remain as a bat, find an obscure place to hide out for a while in the camp and listen, perhaps observe, then join back up with you all. I know, I know - try not to divide up the party. But, I'm willing to do that, as I don't think, at the moment, a flitting bat is likely to raise any sort of major alarm."

Note: Murphy does not summon air elementals if hoods and imitation of goblins' walking styles are adequately imitated, and no alarm is sounded.

Tendel (Robert) AC 27, hp 65/65 & Onalep: AC 18, hp 51/51
Tuesday December 6th, 2016 5:18:56 PM
Tendel is feeling bewildered by the number of options being thrown about.

"What was our mission here, again? Scout and cause mayham, wasn't it? I think we should leave the caves alone and scout a little more then go cause some mischief. "

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Tuesday December 6th, 2016 7:44:16 PM
Mischief, well I like turning them against each other with letters, a well places fly by attack from Murphy is also a grand idea. But those caves do worry me...

and Meko would go check it out for us first, before we stink it up of course

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Tuesday December 6th, 2016 7:50:00 PM

"How would we deliver these messages?" Bliss asks. "I could deliver them dressed as an orc!"

"Mister Sky, if these caves lead to those caves, that's our best way to sneak into the enemy camp!"

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Tuesday December 6th, 2016 8:41:48 PM
"I still say a quick scouting of the caves might be the best move right now. Figure out if they lead anywhere, or if there's any useful gear forgotten over the years in there. We need whatever we can find to fight off these bad biguns."

Dm Shawn - The Loot
Tuesday December 6th, 2016 9:48:12 PM
More ideas are thrown out. Perhaps Alleah should listen and watch more. Or they can send Meko in to check the caves. Murphy can do a fly by attack and maybe a letter can be placed to cause disention among the giants.

The only defintive idea that is acted upon is seaching of one of the caves. After Meko gives the all clear, Bliss heads in and checks. There is no obvious signs of goblins living here. No food or fire pit, scat or beds. This cave has a few twists and turns, but eventually ends in a solid rock wall. This one is empty, but there are over a hundred more.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast) d20+15=33 ;
Tuesday December 6th, 2016 11:20:52 PM
Kezzem juggle his daggers while Bliss scouts the cave(s).

Sleight of Hand: 33.

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 7:22:38 AM
Alleah will wait for Bliss to return. Scouting the caves sounds like the best course of action at the moment. Firstly in case any goblins are hiding nearby, and secondly, in case one provides a stealthy way to enter the camp.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25 d20+14=25 ; d20+14=20 ; d20+18=24 ;
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 10:20:51 AM
"With over a hundred caves, it could take forever to find the right one."

Pressi peered at the caves (Perception 25), looking for signs of visitation or unusual markings or anything that might differentiate a cave from the others. If so, she marks it, but does not go in.

"Ok, one last scouting mission. I'm going to slip down to the perimeter, as close as is safe for a non-flier, and see if I can spot some good entry points for us." She pulled her cloak over her head. "Anyone who wants to keep me company may, but you may want to stand back. No sense risking us all."

(Perception 20, +1 for traps. Stealth 24).

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18 d20+20=33 ;
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 12:11:43 PM
Sky and meko will search for tracks near multiple cave openings.

perception 33

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 12:55:39 PM

Bliss comes back and says, "Wowsy, there are so many caves! We need a way to pick out the right one to get to the camp!"

Diminutive Bat Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+26=30 ; d20+26=37 ; d20+26=31 ; d20+26=29 ; d20+26=43 ; d20+26=41 ; d20+26=35 ; d20+26=38 ; d20+26=44 ; d20+26=39 ; d20+14=32 ; d20+14=21 ; d20+14=21 ; d20+14=28 ; d20+14=31 ; d20+14=22 ; d20+14=23 ; d3=2 ; d20+14=24 ; d20+14=28 ; d20+14=32 ; d20+14=32 ;
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 3:14:28 PM

Murphy, who had made arrangements to accompany Bliss on his first foray into a cave, did so. After Bliss left the first cave, Murphy continued on his exploration, hitting a total of ten caves - or fewer, if he finds one that offers passage through to a separate exit. If, along the way, he should hear an interesting conversation, or spot something useful for what the party has in mind, he will pay attention as well.

He moves at half speed, using stealth, finding nooks and crannies for cover or concealment along the way.

Once done with that quantity of exploration, he returns to the party. In bat language, he communicates through Tendel (who has comprehend languages available, I believe) what he has seen, found, learned.

When Pressi decides to go out - he will accompany her - but at a distance, flitting here and there, taking advantage of stealth. To make things easy - taking 10 on perception, and on stealth, for 36 Perception and 24 Stealth as he is in her vicinity - say within 60 feet or so. He listens for goblin and giant speech. He also listens for orcish - but only knows a few words here and there in that tongue.

In the first column is the number of the cave, second column is perception, the third column stealth

Cv Pr St
01 30 32 (with Bliss)
02 37 21
03 31 21
04 29 28
05 43 31
06 41 22
07 35 23
08 38 24
09 44 28
10 39 32

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast) d20+19=25 ;
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 7:13:56 PM
Kezzem stealths behind Murphy and Pressi on the first cave.

Stealth: 25 (Murphy will notice him, but Pressi does not).

Kezzem slips up right behind Pressi and says, "Watcha doin', Pres."

Dm Shawn - The Loot
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 10:19:56 PM
10 Caves and 10 trips into nothing. Some of the caves show the casual occupancy of an animal or two. On of the caves does have some goblin prints, but nothing else is useful in any of the caves checked. Some of them do tie into each other but most just go nowhere.

Pressi moves down to the edge of the camp, and can easily see the various race moving around. She hears bits of conversation, the most useful thing being the fact both Dolp and Hairshirt reside in their own caves. Sperate but equal apparently.

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 10:33:02 PM
"Okay, the caves might not lead anywhere. At least we know we would be safe in one, if it came down to it. I think the play now is to find a way to turn the tribes against each other. A Confusion spell would do that on a small scale but we need something much bigger than that. The hill giants might be the dumbest of the crew, and easiest to take advantage of. Perhaps if we could leave something saying the stone giants and the necromancer are in cahoots to make hill giant zombies, or something. If they could read that it."

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Wednesday December 7th, 2016 11:57:48 PM
Feeling better about being safe from behind after the caves were checked, Sky puts more thought into the trial ahead...

sounds like a good plan honestly. But like you said, it could end up being moot if small scale... Its worth a shot, with Murphy causing mayhem from above, hopefully they would think its the necromancers doing.

Knowing that he is a little more than useless in this mischief plan, Sky feels something he's not uses to, fear.

If this goes bad, thousands of enemies could possibly reign death upon him and his new friends.

Diminutive Bat Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Thursday December 8th, 2016 12:05:47 AM

Murphy, speaking through Tendel (if he will be so kind as to translate for bat-Murphy), chirrups, "Good idea, Shel. Very good. Perhaps a drawing showing a stone giant kicking a hill giant, and tying up hills giants in chains, with nasty words written in the giant tongue, then a few copies left where hill giants can find them. Maybe we can forge a copy of the letter to Hairshirt, too, or let them find it. Or, dress as a goblin, and read it out loud to the - hey, I know. We make sure that Dolp sees it before Hairfoot sees it. What if a bat holds the actual letter in his mouth, or claws, or has a string which ties it to his leg - with a quick release knot, and delivers it right to Dolp's cave - and then flies away quickly?"

He thinks a bit more, then adds, "Maybe we have a different note about those assembling against the giants, should they travel southward. It should mention 500 elven archers, 400 dwarven fighters, a large cadre of druids, 6 covens of witches, a force of 45 wizards and sorcerers, a group of 2000 humans, and another of 1500 humans, five different experienced adventuring groups, experienced against giants, as well as dragons -- three silver dragons, two gold dragons, a nasty bronze dragon family, and one ancient steel dragon, plus numerous skilled halfling adventurers, abundant traps laid in store for big clumsy giants, and the trained giant eagle riders who carry wands of fire, frost, lightning, and one who can make the earth shake and open up beneath giants and their allies. Does someone want to write that out in common?"

"One more thing," bat-Murphy adds, further taxing Tendel (or perhaps Mookie, who may understand him, too), "As long as I am a bat, shall I set out and see if I can figure out where either or both of the leaders' caves are? I can stay high at first, and only descend if absolutely necessary, just watching and listening from above."

If most of the party agree with his last request, bat-Murphy will fly out for further reconnaissance as he just suggested. Use the 36 Perception, 24 stealth, as before. Or go ahead and roll extra times for Murphy if desired. If trees or other high spots are available to occasionally alight, he will take advantage of those.

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Thursday December 8th, 2016 12:35:00 AM
"I'm just remembering back to our discussion with the elves. They knew that the giants were amassing here, and didn't want to tell us for fear we would go and stir things up. I think we also told them we would only scout and then report back, though I don't remember it that clearly.

Wouldn't we be better coordinating with the dwarves and elves on this? If we make the wrong move now we could alert the giants to our presence. If we can combine our forces against them though, we might catch them unawares

What I'm saying, is I think we should leave well enough alone and report back. There's more than just our necks on the line here"

Tendel (Robert) AC 27, hp 65/65 & Onalep: AC 18, hp 51/51
Thursday December 8th, 2016 1:02:54 AM
Tendel listens ready to translate, instead replies, "Can we get parchment big enough for giant's use? Can we even write and draw convincingly large enough?"

Tendel (Robert) AC 27, hp 65/65 & Onalep: AC 18, hp 51/51
Thursday December 8th, 2016 6:28:07 PM
[ooc]Sorry, these are the last few days of the school year and people keep finding jobs for me. I will be back online properly in about 12 hours.

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Thursday December 8th, 2016 9:36:12 PM
Shel wasn't sure. Aleah's advice has always been good. And maybe we did tell them we would just scout. But Murphy makes sense, too. If we could drop just a couple notes to the right giants, maybe they'd start fighting with each other. Oh bother.. She waited to see if any of the others wanted to chip in to sway her feelings.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Thursday December 8th, 2016 10:43:32 PM
[OOC: sorry, thought I had already posted.]

Pressi continues to circle the camp quietly, trying to observe anything that can help. The desire to simply slip into the camp and mingle with the crowd becomes irresistible, but she holds.

All sorts of ideas come to mind, from pretending to be a soothsayer to pretending to be part of the house of keys selling the halflings out. But the precise lie means nothing until she can figure out where they are - and what motivates them.

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle) d100=70 ;
Thursday December 8th, 2016 11:23:47 PM

Mookie cocks his head and listens to Murph-bat's squeakings. [OOC: Mookie has no ability to understand bats, or even other avians. I'm not even sure he gains the ability to speak to others of his kind, but if he does, it won't be until Bliss is a better witch.]

Mookie caws, "The bat-boy has something to say. Seems important, just to judge by the amount of squeaking ya got here."

He tilts his head around even further, then declares, "Something about using a BATtering ram, to BATter ourselves, or else we BATter give up now!"

Bliss laughs, casts Speak with Animals, and then really translates Murphy's words. [OOC read above, ley check A-OK]

The little fellow says, "Well, if we cannot fight the whole army, then we should do more scouting, like we said we would, and then go back. But we can't say we scouted until we walked into that camp and looked around. Or at least, until I did. I saw that camp, and I just KNOW I can get away with it! For sure!"

Bliss seems set on personally checking the camp out, in some kind of disguise.

Dm Shawn - The Valley
Friday December 9th, 2016 12:27:37 AM
Shel realizes the caves can be used as a place to crash if it is needed. She also thinks they can try tricking the giants into fighting among themselves.

Sky is for the plan to cause mischief, but hopes it would work.

Alleah thinks they should leave and report their findings to the leaders.

Instead of translating, Tendal asks a question of Murphy's plan.

Bliss casts his speak with animals spell, to help the conversation out.

Press and Murphy scout in their own ways. Murphy heads up into the sky and from this vantage point he can see the situation more fully. The valley lies between the two hills, and is stripped of any renewable resources. Once the tree line that the party is hiding in ends, there are no more trees to be spotted. The valley is almost split down the middle with the stone giant favoring one side, and the hill giants the other. He can see two cave complexes, on either side with a lot of foot traffic coming in and out of both.

Pressi for her hiding and scouting learns that Dolp is the leader of the hill giants, while hairshirt is the leader of the stone giants. They have two different views on this invasion... but she isn't quite sure what the differences are yet.

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Friday December 9th, 2016 7:20:02 AM
Alleah doesn't dare get any closer to the camp. Sure, she could shift into some more discreet form, but that's not her specialty. Best save her mind affecting spells for when the time would be right.

Diminutive Bat Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Friday December 9th, 2016 2:45:59 PM

Bat-Murphy thanks Bliss for interpreting his messages. He tells Tendel when he asks him about the parchment, "The size of the writing and the size of the parchment we found on the stone giant were not particularly large - and it is that very parchment I suggest we give to Dolp. The other things, if we do them - I think large enough to read, small enough to fit on a normal parchment sheet, should work fine."

After that exchange is when he flew out for the overview described above, and he returns to update his companions on what he sees. He looks at Tendel. "Good Tendel, ask me what you will, but first, please, interpret what I say. Pretty please?" he requests with a bright chirrup. Then he relates what he saw, and where the two main used cave complexes are. He pauses every so often, so that Tendel can interpret small bits, then continues. "Tell me what you think of this, friends. Bliss and I, and any other who think you may remain hidden and can fly, will go together. We will go to the hill giants' cave complex, and learn which is Dolp's cave.

"Once we do that, tell me - shall I then try to deliver the parchment? Or simply return to you to let you know? If the former, then, IF the opportunity presents itself, I will try some means to get the parchment to the leader of the hill giants, then we will return.

"Now, I could do something as simple as attach myself to the back of a hill giant's clothing, or that of an ogre, and let them bear me inside, hiding myself in the fur or folds of their smelly clothing.

"If any of you have any items or spells that might aid us in hiding, in protection, even in invisibility, that would be most welcome.

"Meanwhile, while there, I will listen to what giants, ogres, and goblins may have to say, to learn what I might of their plans. As Pressi has said that the two giant groups have different plans of approach to the invasion, let us see what we may discern.

"One more thing - if we succeed in getting into the hill giants' caves without causing too great a ruckus, perhaps we next might try to spend a little while over by the stone giants' caves, to learn their perspectives on things.

"In summary, on this foray, do we:
1. Spy out hill giants, and learn a bit about their cave arrangement?
2. Try to get parchment to Dolp?
3. Spy out stone giants next?
"Give me your thoughts, friends," bat-Murphy requests. "And two last things: How might we get word back to Humble's Ford? I can use animal messenger, but it will take a few days for the critter to get there. Second - for those remaining behind, do you want to set up camp in tunnel three, which also opens through to tunnel six?"

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25 d20+18=23 ; d20+21=27 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+14=29 ;
Friday December 9th, 2016 3:37:27 PM
"Ok, lets start at the beginning. I know everyone's in a rush to start dropping notes and tying shoelaces together, but we've only got one shot at this. If it leads to our discovery, or to their bemusement, or tells them something they already know and are prepared for, we are done. And these two groups probably already know that the other side could betray them at any moment, let alone that the other side isn't in suitable awe of them. Remember how I tried to prick the giant's sense of honor and species to no avail - I wasn't even trying to turn them against each other, just to get a "fair" fight - should you think a simple drawing be able to cut it.

"So in short, the answer to the question of whether we should start dropping notes is "no." If you are that unsure that you have to even ask for a vote, the answer is no."

"As for sending back for further instructions or trying to remember our original instructions or co-ordinations, we were sent here isolated and without supervision to use our judgment. What we can get away with, what we can do to slow these groups down without exposing ourselves, that is our mission. And that starts with gathering as much information as we can, and then watching for opportunities or information to exploit. If we don't have information, we can't use it to cause mischief."

As Bliss and Murphy fly inward towards the leader's cave, Pressi pushes towards the outer edge of the camp, moving at the last minute to slip into the crowd, her hat of disguise in front of her face.

(Stealth 23, Acrobatics 27, Disguise 22, Perception 29)

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Friday December 9th, 2016 7:14:47 PM
Allean eagerly nods along to what Pressi is saying. She had summed up the situation well.

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle) d20+37=45 ; d20+37=42 ; d20+37=45 ; d20+18=30 ; d20+18=37 ; d20+18=25 ; d20+14=23 ; d20+14=24 ; d20+14=15 ;
Friday December 9th, 2016 9:52:37 PM

Bliss gives Murphy (and helps apply) an elixer of hiding -- +10 on stealth checks for an hour.

Bliss does the same for himself.

He decides to rely on his hide in plain sight and finding cover to spy, since his alter self and / or beast shapes would only last 4 minutes. He does use his hat of disguise to make him look like a goblin toddler.

Bliss leaves Mookie behind.

He heads in, sneaking through the camp. He relies on cover, behind rocks, under wagons, etc as much as he can. He looks around, learns what he can, and gets back out.

Stealth 45, 42, 45
Perception 30, 37, 25
Disguise (-4 for different race and age) 23, 24, 15

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Friday December 9th, 2016 9:56:47 PM
Shel casts Protection from Evil, Invisibility, and Haste on Murphy and Bliss in that order, giving them all the support she was capable of with her magic.

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Saturday December 10th, 2016 12:32:03 AM
Sky holds quite, hoping and worrying, l about the scouts. Once again feeling as though there is more he could do to help the infiltrators.

Dm Shawn - The Valley
Saturday December 10th, 2016 11:58:14 AM
Just waiting for a ruling from Jerry on something for Kim, and then the post will be up.

Diminutive Bat Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Saturday December 10th, 2016 12:08:22 PM
2nd post by special permission (thanks, Jerry & Shawn), hopefully useful for DM (and fellow players) sanity, to avoid confusion or delay of game during foray:

Once Bliss and Shel have offered their help, right after Shel's haste, Murphy takes off like a bat, flying at full 'running (4x)' speed. 190' 1st 8 rounds, 160'/round thereafter, straight toward hill giants' caves. If still invisible, he flies into the hill giant complex. Shortly before the invisibility expires, he heads back out, then flies stealthily toward stone giant's complex - maybe eating some air-borne bugs along the way, as bats do. Once there, he will stealthfully try to hitch a ride in the fur or hidden among the smelly clothes of a stone giant or ogre entering the complex, learning what he can, then again, steathfully hitching a ride or two back out. If he needs to fly partway while in the caves, he does so. Overall, he strives to discern where Dolp and Hairshirt are, and to pick up what other chatter and intel he can.

Perception: Take 10+24=34. Stealth: Take 10+24=34 (or 10+44=54 while invisible within hill giant caves). If DM wishes to roll specific skill checks, that is fine.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast) d20+19=39 ;
Saturday December 10th, 2016 12:47:08 PM
Kezzem gets as close as he can to the giant camps.

Stealth: 39 (I'm invisible!)

Dm Shawn - The Valley d20+5=23 ; d20+5=20 ; d20+5=23 ; d20+5=9 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+24=40 ;
Saturday December 10th, 2016 6:27:08 PM
Alleah doesnt dare get an closer to the camp and stays back with the others.

Pressi moves to the edge of the woods and using her mask is able to move into camp. She is greated with sounds, sights and smells she would rather avoid. A pack of goblins are chained to a table and playing crude instruments. Every once in a while an ogre or hill giant launches a rock in their direction. Sometimes the goblin gets up, sometimes they don't. Pressi's disguise is working, so where does she head too?

Bliss does the same thing and moves around as a goblin toddler. While he is scouting he hears a footsep behind him... " Little baby, wander from his mommy. Little baby becomes food... " an ogre says to Goblin baby bliss as he pulls out a serated knife. " Be quick about it.. " his ork buddy says.

Shel decks Murphy and Bliss with her spells.

Sky stays back with Alleah. Worried he couldn't do more.

Kezzem moves to the edge of camp and watches while invisible.

Bat Murphy skitters into the camp and heads to the side he believes is for the hill giants. He heads in to the cave and is greated with a grotesque site. Two giants sleep on makeshift cots, while some liquid boils in a pot. The part that makes Murphy hold his breath is a halfling make, impaled on a stick being rotiseried over a fire. The room has a door leading off, but at this moment it is closed.

On the way to the stone giant cave, Bat Murphy does notice some giants and ogres watching him with their eyes. One even elbows a pal, whispers something and points at Murphy.

At the Stone giants cave it is a similar situation. 2 ogres inside stirring a broth, but this time they have a pig on the spivot. The door this time is open, and inside murphy sees a giantesd and ogre woman preparing food while a chef cuts up some ribs that look halfling. The next door is closed, and beyond Murphy hears dogs barking obviously catching wind of the bat.

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Sunday December 11th, 2016 3:51:34 PM
Sky looks to Alleah,

well, what you think about setting up a camp? The cave that connects to another? Meko can keep an eye out for the scouts as they come back.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25 d20+14=20 ;
Sunday December 11th, 2016 5:42:52 PM
So where does she head to?

It was tough to think about where to go as the hustle and bustle continued about. She wanted to get the lay of the land as best as possible. Where did they store their equipment? Their mounts? Their prisoners? She craned her neck as best as she could without looking out of place, looking for cages or any non-cave structure.

But first things first, Pressi always went towards the food and drink. No better place to gather intel than where the targets were fed, drunk and relaxed.

She continues to listen as best as she is able to, and continues to watch for anything or anyone that seems "out of place." (Perception 20).

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Sunday December 11th, 2016 8:09:35 PM
"Sounds like a plan, Sky."

Alleah isn't in a great mood at the moment - she's too worried! The group had split up (again) and three of them were each off on their own.

"When we saw Gargul, he cautioned against this percise thing. To Bliss he said something about him being able to hide but to remember his friends. To Murphy it was something like to trust in the party. To Pressi it was something about biting off more than you can chew. And it's those three who have gone off! You know what, if any of them meet Gargul this week they can explain it themselves."

She crosses her arms in a huff. After a moment she raises an eyebrow as she comes up with a way to make things a little more interesting... "Want to wager a gold piece that at least one of them gets in trouble?"

---------------------------------------
OOC: Question to DM. What time of day is it? If it is evening, Alleah will cast "Call Spirit" to contact Quelius Qunidi, leader of the elves, using the box of sustenance as a focus since it has her family crest upon it.

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Sunday December 11th, 2016 8:14:11 PM
"When we saw Gargul, he cautioned against this percise thing. To Bliss he said something about him being able to hide but to remember his friends.

Bliss says indignantly, without his usual politeness, "Gargul Schmargle! Who cares what that guy says! He didn't like Pookie, and he was mean to my mom! I don't even like him!"

Bliss looks around, a little shocked that he would say that. Then defiant.

[OOC EDIT: Assuming Alleah says that before Bliss leaves. If Bliss is gaone then, well, of course he does not hear the comment and does not respond to it.]

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Monday December 12th, 2016 12:15:49 AM
I don't know em as well, but maybe they learned their lesson, I'll take that bet

He shakes her hand and begins looking for rocks and something to start digging the fire pit he learens about a few days ago.

Tendel (by ADM Kim for Robert) AC 27, hp 65/65 & Onalep: AC 18, hp 51/51 d20+7=11 ; d20+7=10 ; d20+9=17 ;
Monday December 12th, 2016 2:43:03 AM

Onalep paces for a while until the party moves toward the cave to set up camp there, then, entering with caution, sniffs around the perimeter, emitting a low growling noise as he examines one particular spot, but then padding around, and beginning to go deeper, until Tendel calls back the jaguar.

"Ha-ho, Alleah! No, I'll cast no wager on the welfare of our friends, but imagine that at least one of them will stumble across some, eh, challenge as they explore on our behalf. I will pray for them, however." And he does, quietly interceding to Maab for his three still fairly new companions. He concludes his quiet oration with the words, "And bless Bill, too."

He works with Sky and whoever else is going about setting up the third cave for the group to be able to rest in. After a bit, he asks if perhaps Alleah or Sky will accompany him as he navigates the passage from the present cave to the one Murphy called number six. Along the way he marks any alcoves, side passages, pinch points, and so forth, trying to get a good feel for the place, and how they might defend it - or how they might escape pursuit. He checks to see if the passageway between the two caves is small enough to prevent a giant, or even an ogre, from conveniently passing through. He also probes the structural integrity a little, wanting to ensure the roof is not in danger of imminent collapse.

Onalep seems satisfied once they have explored the shelter from end to end - after marking the one little corner at which he earlier growled.

[Perception: 11; Survival: 10; Knowledge, nature: 17]

Diminutive Bat Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+24=28 ; d20+24=41 ;
Monday December 12th, 2016 3:23:17 AM

Murphy is distressed at the poor dead halfling on the spit. As there were several cave entrances on each side, though, he would exit that first hill giant cave, and enter the next hill giant cave forming part of the cave complex that looked like it had more traffic, not spending more time than necessary if deeper passage is blocked, but rather probing, listening, learning what he may about travel patterns and where the bulk of the traffic is located, in and out (or deeper in where open passage exists), in and out for at least the remaining minutes of his invisibility. Recall that his stated plan was to discern where DOLP was, if possible. Only AFTER he has learned something more (with the prize info being Dolp's whereabouts), or the risk of discovery is about to increase, will he leave off hill giant side investigation.

After that more extensive exploration, he then headed over to the stone giant side - apparently under some observation as he flitted across the valley.

How far is it from one side of the valley to the other? Two hundred yards? 500? More? How far along the side of each cliff or hillside do the mainly used caves appear to be scattered? Are there 2-3 cave openings, or 10, 20, or, too many to count? Is smoke passing from within the caves to openings up higher on the cliff or hillside? These questions are for both hill giant and stone giant sides of the valley.

On the stone giant side - huh. Dogs barking behind a closed door. Time to flit over, stealthfully, to another cave further down the line.

As he goes to exit the cave he looks about outward (perception 28), and strives to maintain his stealth (stealth 41) to avoid being spotted by anyone as he exits. He flies very close to the top of the cave entrance, veering off in the direction down toward some other caves. If it is obvious someone is tracking his movements (tough with his stealth roll), then he will be extra bat like, going for insects (or at least appearing to go for them, up high along the face of the cliff or hill).

Otherwise, he does as described in earlier post - see if he can hitch a ride hidden among the fur or thick clothing of an ogre or giant heading into another cave, mindful to find one at the back of a group (or off to one side) to lower the possibility that someone else may spot him. If he finds out where Hairshirt might be, or other useful info, he will gather what he can, then carefully work his way back out.* [So, if possible, DM Shawn, more detailed, actionable information as the result of the risks we are taking would be great. A cup or bucket full of data, rather than lesser amounts, would be welcomed!]

He wonders what he might do should he find some living halflings. Blasted over-hungry giants!

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Monday December 12th, 2016 5:46:47 AM

Action in camp for Bliss: When spotted, Bliss runs away, as fast as he can, to a shadowy spot with cover where he can use his stealth.

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18 d20+12=29 ;
Monday December 12th, 2016 2:22:22 PM
Sky and Meko happily helps Tendel and onalep scout out our cave and note anything at all.

(Perception 29)

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Monday December 12th, 2016 9:49:23 PM
Shel stays with Alleah and Sky. There was nothing she could do for the time being. She certainly wasn't following the others to investigate the giant camp. Right here was plenty close, thank you very much. She found a comfy looking patch of grass and sat down on it, waiting for the others.

Dm Shawn - The Valley
Monday December 12th, 2016 11:51:59 PM
Sky suggest camping in one of the empty caves, and the remaining group thinks it is a good idea.

Pressi makes her way into the camp and come across a drinking circle full of orks, ogres and goblins. One of the orks is holding court... but doesn't mention any names.

"The one giant wants to take over the valley and use the haflings as slave labor and food, and the other wants to just destroy them and take the valley. Which side you on?"

"The side that smashes them... " the ogre replies with a hearty laugh.

Alleah is ticked off the group split up again, and sees something bad coming from it. She wants to contacgt the elves when it gets darker. (It is midday right now.)

Bliss is startled by the sudden appearence of the orks and ogre, but they too are startled when the Goblin baby Bliss disapears right before their eyes.

Tendel waits for Onalep to give the ok before moving in. He helps set up camp, before looking around at the surroundings. No giant is entering this cave, and an ogre would have to give up a serious advantage to get in. The caves don't really connect.

Bat Murphy exits the hill giant cave and enters a series of smallers caves, all of which have nothing. He does not learn Dolp's wereabouts. He skitters over the camp again, getting the same looks. A bat in broad day light, with no trees around is an easy site to spot. The camp is about 500 yards from side to side, there are smaller caves on the sides but each side has one main cave.

If Murphy wants to hitch a ride, he will have to wait as no ogres enter or exit either cave. Inside are the Giants and Ogres mentioned.(Who do not leave.) He again does not learn of were Hairshirt is due to the doors being closed.

OOC: If not enough info is given, it is for a reason. It doesn't pertain to the adventure and will just lead you{the group) way of the beaten path and stall the adventure as it has down countless times since Mark and I took over. I will not give more information based on the risk, unless it is learnable. Murphy chose to fly into the caves of the giant leaders, and is not learning anything due to the doors being closed. Pressi moved into a drinking circle, and learned more. Murphy is obviously in the riskier situation, but Pressi is learning more.

Shel stays with Alleaha and hangs out waiting for the others to return.

Diminutive Bat to normal Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Tuesday December 13th, 2016 1:46:52 AM
Regarding the 10 explored caves near the party, and whether any join together, DM's post of Dec 7: "Some of them do tie into each other but most just go nowhere."

For clarification: Murphy did NOT go back and forth. He went to the hill giant side, saw the sleeping giants and the roasting halfling, checked out a few more caves on the hill giant side without success, figured out the first one he came to was the main entrance, then flitted to the SG side - observed by some giants (stone, hill, or both?) and ogres as he once crossed the valley, saw what he saw, checked out a few more caves on stone giant side... then opted to return to the party, thusly:

Bat-Murphy flits up the stone giant hillside - deliberately running into sparse vegetation or dirt occasionally, appearing to be confused, and erratic - 'drunken bat,' and eventually makes it over the hill to the far side, out of sight of those in the valley. One more check to see if there are giants, ogres, or others on the far side of the hill, or obvious cave entrances, then he uses the far side as cover to return with fair speed, and at a height whereby something may not easily grab him from below, but not so high as to be easily seen from afar. He goes a fair distance before he eventually turns to circle his way about to the party - trying to be well away from interested eyes, and rejoining them about 40 minutes or so after he first left.

Murphy drops his bat form, now again a halfling, and lays out to the party what he saw, giving every detail he feels is of some importance (which includes everything from DM's and Murphy's posts). On separate pieces of paper he sketches the beginning of a map for the hill giant cave, and for the stone giant cave. "I thought to explore further, but did not want to answer to Gargul, or Alleah."

He will help his friends prepare to camp, and hears others' counsel and reports. Murphy says he believes their work here is not yet done. "We should get Gurthax's letter for Hairshirt over to Dolp. Also, there may be some halflings to rescue, who can provide us more information." He allows the latter is risky, perhaps dubious.

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57 d100=12 ; d100=25 ;
Tuesday December 13th, 2016 3:23:38 AM
With the others gone, and things quiet, Alleah takes the time to meditate. It's not something she does regularly and truth be told she's not very good at it. But she just needs something to refocus her mental energy for the day.

After an hour or so and feeling a little more refreshed, she sits down with Shel and Sky and lays out her thoughts.

"You know, we have made quite a few allies who might be able to help us out. Or at least give us some information. For instance, where's that giant that we rescued from the necromancer? Perhaps he could help us get into the camp, give us some information, or even lay some traps inside the camp to stir things up?

Then there's the goblin family we met. You know, Rais' parents. Perhaps there's news in goblin circles about what is going on here with the giants?"

Alleah also has come up with a number of spells she will cast to try and gather more information...

Speak with Plants - Alleah will look for some sort of tree nearby to "talk" to. She understands that most trees don't know a lot of what is going on in the Wold, short of things in their immediate area. She's hoping it might be able to tell her how long ago "those creatures" (ie: the giants) set up camp here. Perhaps which way they came from? Perhaps if they've been scouting? Who knows what a tree will see, but she's happy to take the chance even for the slimmest of information.

Scrying - Alleah will attempt to scry on Uthvas using any one of the items they recovered from his lab that the party took with them (DM Post July 18th lists some of the things we took from him. Uthvas can make a Will Save vs DC23 to foil the spell and prevent Alleah from scrying on him for another 24hrs).

------------------------------------
Leyline checks: 12 = Pass, 25 = Pass.

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Tuesday December 13th, 2016 8:27:35 PM
"I don't know how we would contact the families of that goblin, unless you have some way to contact hem magically. Searching for our giant friend is probably easier, and he might know more, come to think of it. I bet Mookie or Murphy in bat form might be able to find him, if he's still wearing his headband..."

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Tuesday December 13th, 2016 9:49:52 PM
Bliss comes back to report on what he found. He listens to Alleah and says that he thinks she has a good point.

"Yeah, too bad it's on top of her head," says Mookie, cracking wise.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Tuesday December 13th, 2016 10:50:57 PM
Pressi frowned in the discussion, her face continuing to be covered. She took a drink, steeling herself further as she decided to press her luck.

"Not that the two sides are incompatible, but I for one am all in favor of burning that accursed place to the ground without leaving survivors." She turned towards the orc, face still obscured. "Be a dear and remind our jokes term about the valley's importance. Remind him what those halflings did to us."

She focuses on the group trying to determine the ranks of the group.

Dm Shawn - The Valley d20+12=23 ;
Tuesday December 13th, 2016 11:56:32 PM
Murphy rejoins the party and informs them of what he learned.

Alleah speaks with a tree. " Ahh... helllllooooo non tree. The big ones... the moved in, no longer then my leaves fell last. Maybe 45 raises of the light. "

As for her scrying... nothing comes to her.

Shel has no clue how to contact the goblins, and thinks the giant is a better plan.

Bliss comes back and gives his info that he learned, and cracking wise as well...

The ogre looks at Pressi for what feels like a minute..... " What are you rambling about. You're using bigger words then I care for. Beat it before I smash your face in...."

The rest of the group is working on the cave camp as time passes..

An hour after Murphy returns... (Around 2pm)... those in the cave hear a noise. It sounds like someone is moving around outside the cave. Anyone going to view sees a goblin male picking up rocks and grabbing any bugs underneath and pocketing them. He is unaware of the group.

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18 d20+8=17 ; d20+5=18 ;
Wednesday December 14th, 2016 3:32:10 PM
In a hushed voice, Sky signals meko to go check it out, quietly.

Meko stealthily (17) moves up to watch the goblin.

Perception 18, stealth 17

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Wednesday December 14th, 2016 5:32:27 PM
"Thankyou for speaking with me" Alleah will cast Create Water around the base of the tree in a gesture of appreciation.

She returns to the cave to let the others know what she has learned - that the giants have been here for around 45 days so far. "It's not a temporary camp as I first thought. Perhaps they are waiting for something?"

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

At the sound of someone moving outside the cave, Alleah sits still. She finds herself holding her breath trying to be completely silent.

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle) d20+27=30 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+11=14 ;
Wednesday December 14th, 2016 9:54:02 PM

Bliss sneaks outside to see what is the what.

Sneak 30, Perception 27.

He sees that it is a goblin, and he remembers Mookie's tales about how his Mom hated goblins. They had cut off her ear! And treated her like a slave!

If there is shadow within 10 ft of the goblin, Bliss hides in plain sight and picks its pocket.

Sleight of Hand 14

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Wednesday December 14th, 2016 10:24:55 PM
Shel also sits quietly in the cave. She readies an action to blast the goblin, if it were to try and raise an alarm or alert its fellows.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Wednesday December 14th, 2016 11:16:53 PM
Pressi frowns at the ogre, but figures any action besides withdrawal would be risky. With a shrug, she moves on, blending back into the crowd.

She notes that nobody seems to have agreed on a plan, and the Giants aren't ready to leave anytime soon. She takes another look around before finally heading back.

Dm Shawn - The Valley d20+3=20 ;
Wednesday December 14th, 2016 11:54:39 PM
Meko moves up to gaze at the goblin..... and at the last moment steps on a stick. The goblins yellow eyes shoot up and a look of dread comes over his face.

" Helllooo.... " the goblin whispers. " I don't want to bother you....." he says through chattering teeth as he backs up.

Alleah thanks the plant and moves back to the cave.

Bliss uses the shadows from a tree to get by the goblin and reach into his pocket. A handful of bugs is what he gets.

She readies a spell to blast the goblin if needed.

Pressi moves away from the camp and heads back to the cave.

Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d20+6=20 ; d20+11=18 ;
Thursday December 15th, 2016 12:22:02 AM

[Tried to post earlier, before DM post, got XLM errors. Copied text of post to Notepad. Finally got back on just now]

[Was goblin speaking in goblin, or in common?]

Murphy, hearing the noise, and noting various friends doing various things, moves quietly to the edge of the cave, peeking out, and, the goblin there, he reaches into his haversack, takes out a unit of rations, and into his component pouch, from which he extracts a tiny shovel, and, in the goblin tongue, says, holding forth the food, "Hello there, searcher. Would you like some real food? Here, I'll set it on the ground over here, and walk away from it. Then, if you want it, it is yours."

He walks about 20 feet out of the cave, off to one side, sets the parcel of food down, then steps back about 15 feet, and sits on the ground. He then says, to no one in particular, "Just offering him some food. There are lots of hungry people around here."

He is prepared, should the goblin decide to flee, to cast expeditious excavation, so that the goblin has a convenient 5'x5'x5' hole for him to fall within. If he does not flee, then he does not cast that spell.

Stealth: 20
Diplomacy: 18

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast) d20+19=23 ;
Thursday December 15th, 2016 1:37:06 AM
Stealth: 23

Kezzem attempts to get behind the goblin.

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Thursday December 15th, 2016 4:47:57 AM
Things are certainly happening at the front of the cave. Alleah edges backwards - awya from the mouth of the cave. Who knows what might be out there? "More giant and goblins most likely." she concludes

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle) d20+3=13
Thursday December 15th, 2016 11:38:38 AM

Bliss, still disguised as a goblin toddler, toddles out of hiding and holds out his bugs to the goblin.

Perform acting untrained 13!

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Thursday December 15th, 2016 3:04:44 PM
Pressi eventually trudges towards the camp - to see a goblin (couple of goblins?) gallivanting about as Murphy attempts to feed them. "Yeah, that's about right," she muttered.

If the goblin runs past her, she grapples it. Otherwise, she moves past and peeks into the cave, particularly at Alleah and Shel. "Well, glad to know Operation Do Nothing is in full swing. Get permission to move yet?"

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18 d20+5=9 ;
Thursday December 15th, 2016 3:13:58 PM
Sky sets back in the cave, bow and arrow at the ready, whistles quietly to Meko.

Meko, understanding the signal moves out of the cave, looking around to see if any others are present. If not, he stays at the ready to Pounce if the goblin makes any threatening moves.

Perception 9

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Thursday December 15th, 2016 7:48:24 PM
Shel waits on the goblin's reaction to Murphy before deciding how to proceed. If it acts violently, it will take some magic to the face. If it wants to engage in conversation, Shel will join in.

Dm Shawn - The Valley d20+4=11 ; d20+4=21 ;
Thursday December 15th, 2016 11:40:29 PM
Kezzem gets behind the goblin, while Murphy puts some food out. The goblin just stares at Murphy and doesn't advance for the food.

He does look at Bliss and his nose scrunches up as he tries to understand what is going on.

In the cave Alleah backs up and is preparing for more deadly enemies.

Shel readies her magic to either let the goblin talk or die.

Meko looks around for more, but doesn't find any goblins.

The goblin noticing more and more halflings turns and bolts and ends up in Murphy's hole. The goblin begins screaming and yelling very loudly

Murphy (Kim) AC 20 HP 66/66 CMD 17 d6+4=8 ;
Friday December 16th, 2016 12:52:17 AM
Murphy goes to the edge of the hole. IF the goblin was speaking in the goblin tongue earlier, he speaks in that language. IF he spoke common earlier, he speaks that language. "If you scream more, you may die. If you quiet down, you may live. He sends a little lightning arc (8 hp electrical damage to dirt in one corner of the pit) a couple feet away from the goblin, so that he can see it, but he ensures it does not touch him. "I missed on purpose. Now, quiet. Do you want some good food?

In halfling, he says to his friends, [i]"Do not harm him, but you may quiet him down, gently, if need be."[i] In common he says, looking to Bliss, "I know you'll be nice to him. We might have an ally, here."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast)
Friday December 16th, 2016 2:01:11 AM
Kezzem asks the goblin, "Hey, is that free food?"

Alleah -- RobC -- AC 19/13/17 -- CMD 13 -- HP 57/57
Friday December 16th, 2016 3:08:48 AM
If the goblin doesn't immediately stop screaming after Murphy requests it, Alleah will cast a Silence spell in the area. It's quicker than trying to gag a goblin. "Hmm. 'gag-the-goblin'. Probably a much loved ogre-child game"

Clerical spell. No Leyline check needed

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast) d20+5=13 ;
Friday December 16th, 2016 4:14:11 PM
Forgot to roll for Kezzem:

Diplomacy: 13.
Add another 8 if Kezzem could use Bluff instead.

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle)
Friday December 16th, 2016 6:45:34 PM
Bliss gets out his bah in case he needs it. He loads in a fresh clip.

Tendel (by ADM Kim for Robert) AC 27, hp 65/65 & Onalep: AC 18, hp 51/51
Friday December 16th, 2016 8:30:57 PM

Tendel walks out the cave, comes over to the edge of the 5' hole, smiles and waves to the goblin. If the silence spell has not been cast, he asks, "Want a hand up, fella?"

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51 4d4+4=12 ; d20+3=23 ;
Friday December 16th, 2016 8:58:44 PM
Shel isnt a killer but she wasn't going to let the goblin give them away. Assuming a Alleah beats her in initiative, Shel's magic missile is blocked. If Shel was quicker than Alleah, she lets her spell go and blasts the tiny creature doing 12 damage.

Assuming the silence spell went first, Shel moves to the front of the cave and looks for any stragglers that might have heard the scream. OOC: Perception 23 with a natural 20!

Dm Shawn - The Valley
Saturday December 17th, 2016 12:25:05 PM
The goblin continues screaming until the silence spell quiets him down. He pantomimes the yelling for a few but then notices no one is attacking him.

Finally Tendel reaches his hand down and the goblin puts his slimy, bug gut covered hand in his and pulls himself up.

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Saturday December 17th, 2016 1:30:05 PM
great, now goblin friend... What's the wold coming to...

Sky thinks to himself,

this oughta be interesting

Sky remarks aloud, he probably ran away from the gag the goblin game

Murphy (Kim) AC 15 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Saturday December 17th, 2016 2:04:06 PM

As Tendel reaches down and helps the goblin up, Murphy goes to retrieve the food parcel, and hands it to the goblin as Tendel escorts him from the area of silence. In goblin (or common - still don't know which language he used in talking with Meko), he says, "We really mean you no harm. We just do not want you to bring us harm.

"You can call me Bombo," he says, using his old road name. "What is your name?"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast)
Monday December 19th, 2016 1:02:07 AM
Kezzem asks the goblin "Are you going to eat that?"

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle) d20+3=16 ;
Monday December 19th, 2016 10:02:39 AM

Bliss looks around and wanders out of the silence.

"So, maybe this goblin knows something. Maybe we were lucky to find him."

The people who are friendly and good with others should try to smooth-talk some info out of him.

Bliss tries to help, but his natural talents are in other realms.

[OOC: Aid Another on a Gather Info (Diplomacy) check: 16 should give someone (Murphy? Shel? Alleah?)

Bliss asks if there is anything the goblin might say that will make us change our plans? "We're still going to gather info and then go home to report, right?"

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Monday December 19th, 2016 11:26:24 AM
Pressi continued to watch silently, waiting for something to happen.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Monday December 19th, 2016 4:08:22 PM
Pressi shrugged as to Bliss' question, having been the one who pushed for the study and leave in the first place. "I think that, at the end of the day, it was left up to us as to whether we wanted to go further. And I honestly don't know if we have the luxury of coming back out here if we need to."

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Monday December 19th, 2016 6:53:33 PM
If the silence spell is dismissed, Shel speaks in Common to see if the goblin happens to understand her. "Can you understand me? I'm Shel. We don't mean to hurt you. Answer me quietly if you can understand me.". She repeats her message in both halfling and gnome if it doesn't seem to understand common.

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Monday December 19th, 2016 6:55:52 PM
If the silence spell is dismissed, Shel speaks in Common to see if the goblin happens to understand her. "Can you understand me? I'm Shel. We don't mean to hurt you. Answer me quietly if you can understand me.". She repeats her message in both halfling and gnome if it doesn't seem to understand common.

Dm Shawn - The Valley
Monday December 19th, 2016 11:42:27 PM
Meko shares his opinion and how this is set up to go...

The goblin looks at Murphy and takes the hand offered to him. He moves with the halflings out of the silence spell and nods when Murphy uses his road name, "I'm Bizig," the goblin says.

To Kezzem he adds.... "The bugs? Yeah... me and Orky, and Ugz, and Iggys.. we were planning a party."

Bliss helps the others to calm and talk with the goblin.

Pressi responds go Bliss' question. Noting it is probably the only time they are going to be out here.

'Shel?" the goblin asks. "I'm Bizig. " he whispers.

The goblin continues. " Sparky...he was our boss. He was the ogre who told us what to do. Well he got caught stealing food and got hung. So the boys and I were throwing a little party. We don't much like the ogres. '

Murphy (Kim) AC 15 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Tuesday December 20th, 2016 3:13:07 AM

"Good to meet you, Bizig. Well, a party sounds like fun. Ogres are not fun. So a party about a not-fun ogre who is now gone has to be extra fun," Murphy comments. "I have a question for you. Do you think that, if you goblins had some help, how would you like to have the ogres not ruling over you?"

He speaks whatever language the goblin is speaking in... which appears to be the common tongue.

"Also - since Sparky was hung for stealing food... what if other ogres were accused of doing bad things? Would the giants hang them, too?"

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 58, CMD 25
Tuesday December 20th, 2016 10:39:01 AM
"A pleasure to meet you, Bizig. I am Pressi.

"If I might ask, how did a number of goblins that hate ogres wind up working for a number of ogres in the first place? And how did you wind up here?"

Shel Gerald--AC 18/16/14--CMD 17--HP 51/51
Tuesday December 20th, 2016 8:33:04 PM
"Nice to meet you, Bizig. I've met others of your kind who were quite pleasant before. I hope all of us and yourself gets along just as well. How did that big ole gathering of ogres and giants come together? How did your tribe get taken?"

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22, HP 71/74, CMD 20; Spells: 1st (0/2 cast)
Wednesday December 21st, 2016 2:39:32 AM
"Yeah, ogres are the worst!" says Kezzem. "They're always laughin' and callin' you mean names, and never they never let you play games with them."

Bliss (AC28, HP56) & Tiny Mookie (AC23, HP28) (Cayzle) d20+3=6 ;
Wednesday December 21st, 2016 4:52:17 PM

"Big dummies!" Bliss agrees. He tries to encourage the bonding of little folk vs bigguns.

Diplomacy (untrained) 6

Sky & Meko (Marty) HP:61; Ac:22 & Meko HP:42/42 Ac: 18
Thursday December 22nd, 2016 12:24:45 PM
Sky mumbles something under his breath, but puts his bow away seeing that this situation doesn't seem to be turning hostile.

Meko gives an awkward yawn, walks over to Sky an plops down in front of his friend. Just in case something was to go bad.

Murphy (Kim) AC 15 HP 66/66 CMD 17
Thursday December 29th, 2016 6:03:16 AM

"By the way - good work on the fire pit, Sky," Murphy says to the ranger.

Dm Shawn - The Valley
Thursday December 29th, 2016 9:21:52 PM
" That would be great but I dont see it happening. The giants are smart. Or smarter then us. They will know its a trick. "

Turning to Pressi, he adds..." We're goblins. We really dont have much say on it."

Turning to Shel.. " Don't know.. one day an ork named Penndy told our hovel we were working for his bosess, bosses boss. "

While this is going on Tendal has been quiet, but finally breaks his silence.

" look this is a good plan but I am going to warn the others how this is looking. Onalep can get me back to Humbles real quick. "

He takes his time to say his good byes before heading out.

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