Chapter 4.3: Returning to Report

mathias0077 Inactive for 1 months

"Let’s target their leaders first. They’ll be inspired to run."

OOC:

Before we commit, we should get an idea of how many Kobolds there are. Also, would Morton be willing to scout ahead?

Dell Brandstone

Aug 30, 2026 12:33 pm

Dell will continue to advance through the trees toward the disturbance. He is trying to remember if koblods have darkvision.

Aug 31, 2026 5:55 am

mathias0077 Inactive for 1 months

CancerMan says:

Before they can answer, Amnestria communicates with Grallaria. How many Small People with bows are there?

mathias0077 says:

Dell will continue to advance through the trees toward the disturbance. He is trying to remember if koblods have darkvision.

Having heard all about them from the Dungeon Busters in Hochoch, Dell recalls that kobolds do have darkvision. But it is daytime, so it's merely dim lighting in the Dim Forest now.

Morton is willing to move ahead also.

OOC:

Who is:
- advancing on the Road?
- advancing off the Road?
- staying with the cart (aside from the three retainers)?

Dell Brandstone

Aug 31, 2026 9:26 am

OOC:

Dell is off road right side

Last edited August 31, 2026 8:33 pm

Aug 31, 2026 4:06 pm

Berthold (Baronet of Dunsdale)

"We do outnumber the little creatures and apparent leader, if we're going strictly by count," reports Amnestria. "They're also in the way, so we'll have to deal with them sooner or later."

Since it looks like the group has disembarked from the wagon, the wizard follows suit and leaves Berthold's retainers in charge of the oxen. However, she remains in place until it's apparent that the team is moving onward; she distinctly remembers the pain from the last projectile she took to the back.

matmaisan Inactive for 1 months

Aug 31, 2026 6:39 pm

Mathfuric Inactive for 1 months

The Knight moved forward with determination.

OOC:

Berthold’s approach depends a bit on what he can discern about the path ahead. If he can go slightly off-road in order to gain some concealement or cover, he’d prefer that. But not at the cost of mobility : if what he sees suggest off-road would be difficult terrain and therefore half movement, then he’d stick to the road. If he can move through the forest at more or less his normal movement, he’ll do that.

He would also prefer to approach unseen, but that depends on the existence or not of large boulders or other large obstacles that could hide him from the kobold’s view. Even if they heard the armored man moving through the bushes, they might be unable to pinpoint him (and attack) while he approaches.

Antonius Block

Aug 31, 2026 11:55 pm

WhtKnt Inactive for 1 months

Antonius considers the plan for a moment before nodding toward Berthold. "Agreed. Berthold is little sense in rushing blindly into an ambush. Let the quieter ones see what awaits us first." He gestures toward the road. "Remain here with Kazzak, Amnestria and I keeping to the road, until we know what we face. We can advance once our scouts have given us the numbers."

As Morton moves off into the trees, Antonius raises his hand, murmuring a brief prayer to Wee Jas. A soft warmth passes toward the elf as he casts Healing Word, seeking to mend some of the wounds Morton still carries from his ordeal. "Take what strength the Lady grants you, Sir Morton. We may need it before this is done."

With that, Antonius settles his borrowed mace in his hand and watches the forest ahead, waiting for the scouts to reveal what lies beyond.

Last edited August 31, 2026 11:58 pm

Rolls

Healing word - (1d4+3)

(2) + 3 = 5

Sora

Sep 1, 2026 12:49 am

Sora stays in the shadow of the wagon.

Sep 1, 2026 2:42 am

rpgventurer Inactive for 1 months

"If you wish, I can go back in the cart and report exactly what my owl sees," says Amnestria. "Berthold knows of this utility, and that I am deaf and blind to anything going on here, so I would appreciate being in the wagon in case we start moving. Someone would have to shake me to get me to end my connection."

Kazzak Thunderblood

Sep 1, 2026 2:54 am

Kazzak stands next to the oxen team.

Sep 1, 2026 7:17 am

Dell and Morton move off into the woods as Antonius extends the power of Wee Jas to heal the elf.
Morton regains 5 HP.

Berthold tells his servants to stay with the wagon and ready the crossbow in case of trouble while the other Dungeon Busters climb down from the wagon, too. Amnestria and Berthold then stride west down the Road, but when the wizard notices that Antonius, Kazzak, and Sora aren't coming, she hesitates, turning back to offer seeing through Grallaria's eyes. As she climbs back into the wagon, Antonius expounds on the wisdom of waiting to let the others report.

OOC:

@CancerMan - You suggested it as a possible course of action, but let me know explicitly if you have Grallaria fly back to be within 100' so Amnestria can see through her eyes.

Dell and Morton have already moved into the undergrowth. Reaching the point where they left the Road, Berthold sees that there is a small game trail that enters here. It's not much, but it is more of a path than anywhere else nearby, and it clearly has allowed Dell and Morton to move quietly, as the knight does not hear either of them blundering through the undergrowth. The yipping is louder here.

OOC:

@matmaisan - The yipping is loud enough that Berthold has the chance of approaching unseen/unheard through the trees or on the Road. If you want him to do either, please declare which and also roll his DEX (Stealth) check (the DC will be lower in the trees).

Rolls

Morton Stealth - (1d20+2)

Sep 1, 2026 4:06 pm

Berthold (Baronet of Dunsdale)

OOC:

I figured that the range between us and the target area is greater than 100 feet, so if we're going by the book then Amnestria wouldn't be able to communicate with Grallaria at all. Since it seems that we have some scouts heading forward while the rest of the party waits, I'll forego looking through Grallaria's senses.

May I have given her instructions to head back within 100 feet if it seems Dell and Berthold are discovered?

matmaisan Inactive for 1 months

Sep 1, 2026 4:26 pm

WhtKnt Inactive for 1 months

Noticing that most of his companions were not moving forward, Berthold stepped off the road and waited In the nearby bushes or trees. He had no intention to run alone into enemy fire, and was sure that there was considerable risk he might be heard when walking through the woods.

OOC:

Berthold is not Leroy Jenkinsing this. Here he was looking about to see if there was obvious and readily accessible cover to allow the party to approach. It would seem that this is not the case, although the forest provides some cover and might muffle movement (lower DC on stealth). Berthold is aware that his chain and shield combination makes for noisy movement (IC he knows he has disadvantage on stealth). So for now he is waiting, but he is doing so off the road, seeking to hide his body from the yet unseen group by using nearby trees for cover.

Sora

Sep 1, 2026 4:37 pm

Sora remains in the shadow of the wagon, staying low for maximum surprise against the foe. She moves as the wagon moves, each step as quiet as possible.

Rolls

Dexterity check (Stealth) - (1d20+2)

(6) + 2 = 8

Sep 1, 2026 10:59 pm

CancerMan says:

I figured that the range between us and the target area is greater than 100 feet, so if we're going by the book then Amnestria wouldn't be able to communicate with Grallaria at all. Since it seems that we have some scouts heading forward while the rest of the party waits, I'll forego looking through Grallaria's senses.

May I have given her instructions to head back within 100 feet if it seems Dell and Berthold are discovered?

OOC:

@CancerMan - Sure, or we could say that Grallaria scouted and then flew back to report the news that Amnestria has already received, doing a loop back and forth.
A second alternative is that Amnestria dismisses Grallaria and then causes her to reappear at her side. Which would you rather?

WhtKnt says:

Sora...moves as the wagon moves, each step as quiet as possible.

OOC:

@WhtKnt - Sora is hidden, but just FYI: the wagon is stationary at the moment, as no one is driving the oxen.

Sep 1, 2026 11:31 pm

OOC:

We'll stick with the mundane plan. Amnestria will trust the owl to understand the situation and head back when it is appropriate, otherwise remain on station as the scouts advance.

Sep 2, 2026 1:46 am

mathias0077 Inactive for 1 months

Dell and Morton continue to sneak their way along the trail, following the yipping, barking noises. As they approach, they can hear a voice speaking in addition to the noise. Getting a little closer, they start to make out the words as Keolish: "You can see the situation you're in, and it doesn't look good. But it doesn't have to come to violence, despite what my little friends are saying." Coming up to a rock outcropping, the two Dungeon Busters peer to the north over it. Through the foliage between them and Cecily's Road, they can see this tableau:

An ox-drawn covered wagon has pulled to a stop. Its human driver (Devon) sits on the buckboard, reins held loosely in his hands. On either side of the wagon two humans have stopped where they were, walking alongside the vehicle (Wanda and Walter), holding walking staves. Four medium humanoid archers - likely humans or half-breeds - surround the wagon with arrows nocked but not drawn (Annie, Arthur, Aaron, Amy). Further back on either side of the Road stand four kobolds with arrows nocked AND drawn (Kathy, Ken, Kelly, Karl). The speaker stands in the path of the wagon in the middle of the Road: another medium humanoid (Ben).

Amnestria (9/9) and Grallaria (1/1) upstairs
Antonius (10/10)
Berthold (10/11)
Dell (6/8)
Kazzak (12/12)
Morton (8/15)
Guilbert (4/4)
Olyena (4/4)
Reynald (4/4)
Sora (12/12)

Dell Brandstone

Sep 2, 2026 9:31 am

Dell will look to Morton and whisper"Head back to the others and report what we have seen. I will stay and keep an eye on the situation."

Morton

Sep 3, 2026 1:45 am

Morton

Morton nods and whispers, "You won't be alone for long; I think the other knight was right behind us." He looks around, and seems a little surprised that Berthold doesn't appear after a moment. "Well, be safe. I'll return soon." He sneaks off back down the game trail.

Sep 3, 2026 1:56 am