[Game Thread] Chapter One - Weathered

[Noquarter19]

Wyllis "Wyl" Underwood Wyl listened to the others speak while finishing a third mug of mead and rounding well into the fourth. He was quite warm now, his bearded face flushed from drink as well as the kind of heat that comes from having too many bodies in too confined a space. He was happy to be done talking. He didn’t have an issue speaking to people, not really. He just rather listen, and if he had to speak, he much preferred it to be a one-on-one conversation. Fortunately, his words hadn’t received too much pushback; if anything, there was some nodding of heads from the more rational types who recognized the true danger. Running short of resources in this part of the world was just asking for trouble, and Wyl had too much respect for nature to ever go around taking it for granted by being wasteful. Time enough for us to build later. The tracker stumbled back through the crowd and over to one of the few windows in the lodge. Looking outside, one might think there was hardly any world around them, like the building and all its occupants had been transported to the middle of a cloud. What if we really were in a cloud? That was ridiculous enough of a thought to make him put down the drink. Behind him, Lili was wrapping up her own addition to the conversation, and now Rana began adding her voice to the mix. Wyl listened up closely. He was a big fan of Rana Dulik and her dogs, but what he most admired was her outspokenness, her ability to cut through the bull to what mattered most. She was a true leader in Cilsie, someone he would follow to hell and back without question. When she had something to say, she said it, and she didn’t worry about who might get bent out of shape. She didn’t disappoint here, either. ”I hear people saying I’m helpful, Wyl’s helpful, so and so is so helpful, like it’s something special, but it ain’t. When one of us needs help, we give it – all of us. I’ve seen it. The only difference is some of us go looking for it, or are better at noticing it than others, but we all got that in us, one way or the other.” Damn right, Wyl thought, a growing pride filling his chest that warmed him better than any alcohol. He found himself having to resist the urge to cheer out loud to her words, but he was sober enough to recognize how that might be more disruptive than welcome, so he settled for beaming a ruddy smile at the young woman from his place beside the window. When she finished her proposal and handed the floor to Aeona, Wyl gave his friend a big thumbs up before turning his attention to the little gnome lady in the comically oversized furs. The small lady had a big heart, and when she offered up to help teach, Wyl couldn’t help but burst out, ”We could form a school!” before realizing what he’d done and putting a hand over his mouth. The crowd turned to face him then, and he felt himself overcome with embarrassment. ”I mean, uh, you know, because if we’re going to have the kids under one roof like Rana proposed, it stands to reason they chip in too. I mean, obviously a kid can’t be cutting down timber, or- or shooting a bear… but I mean, if kids are going to grow up and take care of the world down the road, then they should know a thing or two. And Aeona, you’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. I mean, half the time, I can’t even tell what it is you’re talking about – which is on me, obviously!” he piped in suddenly, recognizing how that might not have come across as a ringing endorsement of her educational abilities. ”What I mean was, you know a lot, and teaching would be a – a big strength for you. For both of you, you and Lili. And, well, I don’t have kids myself, but I’m sure for those of us who do, I’m sure they’d feel pretty good about leaving them in your capable hands.” Darnel listened patiently, and when it was clear that the rest of the council had nothing further to say, the old man chimed in with a pretty good summary of what the plan would be. ”Members of the council, are we in agreeance on this bargain? That in the evening we will plan events to reward our people for their hard work and constitution? That in the day times, we will assemble teams in an orderly fashion to collect food and wood for the community to share? If so, I will soon ask that you raise your hand-“ Oh. Wyl slowly lowered his already raised hand and waited for Darnel to finish. ”First though, whilst you ponder on this, I have one other matter to speak of.” Seeing the change in the old man’s expression, Wyl moved closer to the table and the unofficial leader of the council. It was clear whatever the man had to say was not intended for everyone to hear, and it was soon clear why. The thought that the storm was supernatural in origin was, to pardon the pun, chilling. Wyl listened thoughtfully, his mind going back to his brief prayer to Alsard before he had come to the lodge. I know I felt something. Could- could it be that Alsard is punishing us for some perceived slight, or is it something else entirely? He himself had pondered the question of the storm’s origin earlier that day, and it was reassuring to know that this thought was shared by a man he respected so highly. When talk came to checking out a distant mountain to get a better sense of the storm’s origin, Wyl quickly agreed. ”I’m with Lili on this one, I’ll happily go. But… well we just got done talking about how we’re going to be teaming up to gather resources for the community. I’m sure most of them would understand if we said it was to try to figure out what is going on, but I can see some of the gruffer folk take heading up a mountain as just us gallivanting off instead of chipping in like we just talked about. I figure you telling us this quiet-like is your way of keeping it under your hat for now, but it’s a small town and word spreads quickly. It might…” He sighed. Again with the hard truths. It was getting old. ”It might be better, once we decide – if we decide to do this – to tell the rest of the people. Maybe not the supernatural bit, but if we couch our going as trying to figure where the weather is blowing in from, it might go down a bit easier.” He frowned. It was times like this that he felt like his placement on the council was an error in judgment of the rest of them. I’m not good at coming up with ideas, especially ideas that please everyone. And then he thought of Rana and how she never seemed to let a hard truth wear her down, and he pressed on. ”I guess my concern is upsetting people who won’t see the merit of us doing this. But I suppose that can’t really be helped. Alright, I’m on board with the plan, with the condition that we make it a point to use the return trip to bring something back, whether it’s wood or food. That way if our mountain expedition doesn’t yield an answer, we at least have something to show for our trip. We might also want to see about taking a sled with us, but I’ll wait to hear what the rest of you think about the idea.”   Actions Action: rp Reaction: Bonus: Move: Object Interaction: Effects: Concentration: Spell Slots: 1 1 1 Refresh on short or long rest, two uses, one hour total per dayWild Shape: W W Inspiration: None Stat Block Name: Wyllis “Wyl” Underwood Armor Class: 14 | Hit Points: 22/22 | Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +3 | Pass. Percep.: 15 Melee Attack: Finesse, LightScimitar | +5, 1d6+3 | Ranged Attack: Ammunition, Loading, Two-Handed. Range: 80/320Light Crossbow | +5, 1d8+3 Abilities: Str 10 (+0) | Dex 16 (+3) | Con 12 (+1) | Int 12 (+1) | Wis 16 (+3) | Cha 8 (+0) Saves: Str +0 | Dex +3 | Proficient (from Resilient feat)Con +3 | ProficientInt +3 | ProficientWis +5 | Cha -1[/table] Languages Spoken: Common, Elvish, Druidic, Gnomish, Sylvan Proficient Tools & Instruments: Herbalism Kit, flute Prof. Skills: Athletics +2 | Medicine +5 | Nature +3 | Percep. +5 | Survival +5| Skills Skill Mod Skill Mod Acrobatics +3 Medicine +5 Animal Handling +3 Nature +3 Arcana +1 Perception +5 Athletics +2 Performance -1 Deception -1 Persuasion -1 History +1 Religion +1 Insight +3 Sleight of Hand +3 Intimidation -1 Stealth +3 Investigation +1 Survival +5 All Skills WIS +3, Save DC 13Cantrips and Currently Prepared Spells: Guidance: Divination Cantrip. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: Touch Target: One willing creature. Components: V S. Duration: Up to 1 minute You touch one willing creature. Once before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to one ability check of its choice. It can roll the die before or after making the ability check. The spell then ends.Guidance | Thorn Whip: Transmutation cantrip. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: 30 feet. Components: V, S, M (the stem of a plant with thorns). Duration: Instantaneous You create a long, vine-like whip covered in thorns that lashes out at your command toward a creature in range. Make a melee spell attack against the target. If the attack hits, the creature takes 1d6 piercing damage, and if the creature is Large or smaller, you pull the creature up to 10 feet closer to you. At Higher Levels: This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).Thorn Whip Cure Wounds: 1st-level evocation. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: Touch Components: V, S. Duration: Instantaneous A creature you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.Cure Wounds | Detect Magic: 1st-level divination (ritual). Casting Time: 1 action Range: Self. Components: V, S. Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any. The spell can penetrate most barriers, but is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.Detect Magic | Entangle: 1st-level conjuration. Casting Time: 1 action Range: 90 feet. Components: V, S. Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute Grasping weeds and vines sprout from the ground in a 20-foot square starting from a point within range. For the duration, these plants turn the ground in the area into difficult terrain. A creature in the area when you cast the spell must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be restrained by the entangling plants until the spell ends. A creature restrained by the plants can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, it frees itself. When the spell ends, the conjured plants wilt away.Entangle | Healing Word: 1st-level evocation. Casting Time: 1 bonus action Range: 60 feet. Components: V. Duration: Instantaneous A creature of your choice that you can see within range regains hit points equal to 1d4 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.Healing Word | Ice Knife: 1st-level conjuration. Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet. Components: S, M (a drop of water or piece of ice). Duration: Instantaneous You create a shard of ice and fling it at one creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 piercing damage. Hit or miss, the shard then explodes. The target and each creature within 5 feet of the point where the ice exploded must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage. At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the cold damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.Ice Knife Features and Abilities: Druidic: You know Druidic, the secret language of druids. You can speak the language and use it to leave hidden messages. You and others who know this language automatically spot such a message. Others spot the message's presence with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check but can't decipher it without magic.Druidic | Favored Enemy: Beginning at 1st level, you have significant experience studying, tracking, hunting, and even talking to a certain type of enemy. Choose a type of favored enemy: aberrations, beasts, celestials, constructs, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, giants, monstrosities, oozes, plants, or undead. Alternatively, you can select two races of humanoid (such as gnolls and orcs) as favored enemies. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them. When you gain this feature, you also learn one language of your choice that is spoken by your favored enemies, if they speak one at all. You choose one additional favored enemy, as well as an associated language, at 6th and 14th level. As you gain levels, your choices should reflect the types of monsters you have encountered on your adventures.Favored Enemy: Beasts | Natural Explorer: You are particularly familiar with one type of natural environment and are adept at traveling and surviving in such regions. Choose one type of favored terrain: arctic, coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, swamp, or the Underdark. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to your favored terrain, your proficiency bonus is doubled if you are using a skill that you’re proficient in. While traveling for an hour or more in your favored terrain, you gain the following benefits: Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel.Your group can’t become lost except by magical means.Even when you are engaged in another activity while traveling (such as foraging, navigating, or tracking), you remain alert to danger.If you are traveling alone, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.When you forage, you find twice as much food as you normally would.While tracking other creatures, you also learn their exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area. You choose additional favored terrain types at 6th and 10th level.Natural Explorer: Arctic Speech of the Woods: At 2nd level, you gain the ability to converse with beasts and many fey. You learn to speak, read, and write Sylvan. In addition, beasts can understand your speech, and you gain the ability to decipher their noises and motions. Most beasts lack the intelligence to convey or understand sophisticated concepts, but a friendly beast could relay what it has seen or heard in the recent past. This ability doesn’t grant you any special friendship with beasts, though you can combine this ability with gifts to curry favor with them as you would with any nonplayer character.Speech of the Woods | Spellcasting: Drawing on the divine essence of nature itself, you can cast spells to shape that essence to your will. Cantrips: At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the*druid spell list. You learn additional druid cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Druid table. Preparing and Casting Spells: The Druid table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your druid spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these druid spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. You prepare the list of druid spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the druid spell list. When you do so, choose a number of druid spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your Druid level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, if you are a 3rd-level druid, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Wisdom of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell*Cure Wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells. You can also change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of druid spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list. Spellcasting Ability: Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your druid spells, since your magic draws upon your devotion and attunement to nature. You use your Wisdom whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a druid spell you cast*and when making an attack roll with one. Spell save DC= 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier Spell attack modifier= your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier Ritual Casting: You can cast a druid spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared. Spellcasting Focus: You can use a druidic focus as a spellcasting focus for your druid spells.Spellcasting | Spirit Totem: Starting at 2nd level, you gain the ability to call forth nature spirits and use them to influence the world around you. As a bonus action, you can magically summon an incorporeal spirit to a point you can see within 60 feet of you. The spirit creates an aura in a 30-foot radius around that point. It counts as neither a creature nor an object, though it has the spectral appearance of the creature it represents. As a bonus action, you can move the spirit up to 60 feet to a point you can see. The spirit persists for 1 minute. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.The effect of the spirit’s aura depends on the type of spirit you summon from the options below. Bear Spirit. The bear spirit grants you and your allies its might and endurance. Each creature of your choice in the aura when the spirit appears gains temporary hit points equal to 5 + your druid level. In addition, you and your allies gain advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws while in the aura. Hawk Spirit. The hawk spirit is a consummate hunter, aiding you and your allies with its keen sight. When a creature makes an attack roll against a target in the spirit’s aura, you can use your reaction to grant advantage to that attack roll. In addition, you and your allies have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks while in the aura. Unicorn Spirit. The unicorn spirit lends its protection to those nearby. You and your allies gain advantage on all ability checks made to detect creatures in the spirit’s aura. In addition, if you cast a spell using a spell slot that restores hit points to any creature inside or outside the aura, each creature of your choice in the aura also regains hit points equal to your druid level.Spirit Totem | Wild Shape: Starting at 2nd level, you can use your action to magically assume the shape of a beast that you have seen before. You can use this feature twice. You regain expended uses when you finish a short or long rest. Your druid level determines the beasts you can transform into, as shown in the Beast Shapes table. At 2nd level, for example, you can transform into any beast that has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower that doesn't have a flying or swimming speed. You can stay in a beast shape for a number of hours equal to half your druid level (rounded down). You then revert to your normal form unless you expend another use of this feature. You can revert to your normal form earlier by using a bonus action on your turn. You automatically revert if you fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die. While you are transformed, the following rules apply: Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can't use them.When you transform, you assume the beast's hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form, For example, if you take 10 damage in animal form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren't knocked unconscious.You can't cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as*Call Lightning, that you've already cast.You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can't use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. Your equipment doesn't change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can't wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.Wild Shape   CR 0: Badger | Cat | Deer | Fox | Goat | Hare | Pig | Rat | Sheep | Spider | Weasel CR 1/8: Diseased Giant Rat | Giant Rat | Giant Weasel | Mastiff | Mule | Pony CR 1/4: Boar | Cow | Draft Horse | Elk | Giant Badger Giant Centipede | Giant Wolf Spider | Ox | Riding Horse | Wolf   A bear tooth necklaceAnimal Trophy Backpack Bedroll Bolt Case Coin Pouch Crossbow bolts x20 a dreamcatcher made of small animal bones and wild grasses, worn around the neckDruidic Focus Flute Hempen Rope, 50ft Herbalism Kit Hunting Trap Mess Kit Rations x10 Shovel Staff Tinderbox Torches x10 Traveler’s Clothes x2 Waterskin

[Snicker]

Rana Originally Posted by Aeona "I think rationing food and coordinating duties is a great idea, and I'm really good at scheduling and logistics! We only have so many resources and so much man power, the balance is delicate, so offering free food and warmth to all at any time could be dangerous, especially since we don't know how long the storm will last. Work assignments, rations and scheduled leisure time would keep spirits and reserves up" https://www.deviantart.com/len-yan Rana Dulik | Character sheet | Character page | AC: 13 | HP: 30 / 30 | Hit dice: 3 / 3d10 | Insight: 12 Investigation: 10 Perception: 14Passive senses | Parry Precision Attack Trip Attack Superiority dice: 4 / 4d8 Maneuvers | Rustic Hospitality Defense combat style Sharpshooter Second wind: 1 / 1 Action surge: 1 / 1 Features | None Passed death saves: 0 / 3 Failed death saves: 0 / 3Conditions | Common DwarvishLanguages Rana, who had already returned to her stew, looked up to give Aeona a nod of agreement, then reach for her mead. Her fingers were just about to make contact when her head snapped back to Aeona, looking bug-eyed at the spectacles that had appeared on her nose. After a moment, Rana shook her head and sighed to herself before taking a big gulp of her mead. She was happy to hear her idea had caught on, though really, it wasn't her idea. It wasn't much more than a synthesis of what the others had said, plus more deliberate organization and minus the new temple. If the shrine they had now wasn't enough for Alsard, then he could come down and tell it to their faces, as far as she was concerned - and the same went for any other gods that wanted a temple. Rana prayed like anyone else, but it was to keep the gods out of the way, not for their support. She'd never seen a god do anything to help anyone; what others described as miracles, she just attributed to hard work and preparation. That was just her, though. "Even if it is unnatural, I don't see what we can do about it," Rana told Darnel grimly, lowering her voice to match his. "It'll help to know what's coming, though. If you think it's a good idea, Darnel, I'll go first thing in the morning." She leaned back in her seat and looked at the others. "I can see to asking my parents if we can take a sled and the dogs. No promises, though. It might be better off with the hunters or woodcutters." She figured not all of the council would come along. Wyl, definitely; she knew it before he said anything. Of course he'd suggest picking up something on the way back, too. Lilli was less obvious - she wasn't as outdoorsy as Rana or Wyl - but not a surprise, either. Aeona and Kirra hadn't answered yet, but Rana suspected they'd agree as well. Aeona was more traveled than almost anyone else in the village, and due to her curiosity besides - she was a natural to trek up the mountain to get a view of what's abroad. Kirra was adventurous enough to walk out to the forest to teach herself to fight. The others, probably not; Darnel was holding up incredibly well for his age, but even he couldn't go climbing a mountain at ninety, and Ingrid didn't have that same sense of physical confidence that Rana and the others did. Ragi might be capable of it, but she doubted he'd want to; he probably thought his elven wisdom was too valuable to risk on an expedition like this.

[97mg]

A Plan Darnel smiled, his head slowly bobbing up and down in a nod of both agreement and satisfaction. Ingirid and Ragi too appeared to be composed and satisfied with the way the meeting was going. These were strong decisions being made, and even if not everyone got their immediate desires attended to, it was a darn side more interesting and constructive than the usual meetings. Often these get togethers were about far more mundane things, like resolving the disagreement of a few villagers who didn't see eye-to-eye, or where young Willof's pet squirrel had escaped to, among others. Today, they had proven that in times of formidable challenge and change, everyone was up to the task of leading and helping these people. The voting wasn't complete yet, but early signs were that a majority was going to accept the current plan, if it wasn't accepted actually unanimously, which was also looking to be quite a possible outcome. "Friends, I will of course provide explicit directions on how to arrive at the viewing place. It is not difficult to reach, though of course these days a little extra care will be required. Thank you, on behalf of everyone, for doing this. As you prepare, the rest of us will get the other work and planning attended to, once the vote is done." * * * Eventually the meeting concluded. The thick throng of bodies within the Hunter's Refuge slowly dissolved into just a few souls who'd decided that an afternoon meal or pick-me-up had been deserved. With each opening and closing of the door, a cold burst of air and pocket snow floated in as folks returned home, or back to work. It was still nasty out there, but at least within the confines of the village they would be safe. Tomorrow, the group of explorers would be off to get a better view of things, and upon return would come an opportunity to review Darnel, Ingirid and Ragi's draft of team-scheduled ventures out for the careful and coordinated collection of both food and fuel. They looked forward to the council's review of it, long-term locals who knew their fellow villagers well, and Aeona's unique perspectives would be most appreciated. So, a journey was upon them! It was time to prepare... both mentally and physically.

OOC I don't mean to rush anyone or take any of the group's agency away, but for the sake of keeping the momentum and getting into the "good bits", I've assumed the vote is successful, and all our wonderful PCs are going on little trip the next day. Right, I need some rolls please (not urgent). @Cheshire: a 1d20 @Noquarter19: a 1d10 @Snicker: a 1d10 No maps at this point, you can assume Darnel's directions are accurate and not difficult to follow. We now move into "downtime" for the rest of the day. If there are specific things you want to do, please post them up. These might be such things as trading gear, purchasing supplies, asking folks around the village questions etc. If you can get everything you want to cover into one post each, I'll get you a reply with everyone's results or any required rolls along the way. Once that is done I'll forward us to the next morning when you meet and set off.

[Tyrtaeus]

Aeona Brightcap | School of Divination Wizard | Gnome

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AC: 12 | HP: 11 | Speed: 25ft | Spell-casting: +5 / DC13
Passive Perception: 14 | Insight: 12 | Investigation: 13

• Score: -1
• Athletics: -1

Str: 8 |

• Score: -1
• Acrobatics: -1
• Stealth: -1
• Sleight of Hand: -1

Dex: 8 |

• Score: -1

Con: 8 |

• Score: +3
• Arcana: +5
• History: +5
• Investigation: +3
• Nature: +3
• Religion: +3

Int: 8 |

• Score: +2
• Animal Handling: +2
• Insight: +2
• Medicine: +4
• Perception: +4
• Survival: +2

Wis: 8 |

• Score: +2
• Deception: +2
• Intimidation: +2
• Performance: +2
• Persuasion: +2

Cha: 8
Languages: Common, Gnomish, Elivsh, Draconic

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.Feats |

Racial features

Class Features

Gnome Cunning: You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic. Darkvision: Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. Natural Illusionist: You know the minor illusion cantrip. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it. Speak with Small Beasts: Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts. Forest gnomes love animals and often keep squirrels, badgers, rabbits, moles, woodpeckers, and other creatures as beloved pets.

Ritual Casting: You can cast a wizard spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don’t need to have the spell prepared. Arcane Recovery: You have learned to regain some of your magical energy by studying your spellbook. Once per day when you finish a short rest, you can choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than half your wizard level (rounded up), and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher. For example, if you’re a 4th-level wizard, you can recover up to two levels worth of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd-level spell slot or two 1st-level spell slots. Divination Savant: Beginning when you select this school at 2nd level, the gold and time you must spend to copy a divination spell into your spellbook is halved. Portent: Starting at 2nd level when you choose this school, glimpses of the future begin to press in on your awareness. When you finish a long rest, roll two d20s and record the numbers rolled. You can replace any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature that you can see with one of these foretelling rolls. You must choose to do so before the roll, and you can replace a roll in this way only once per turn. Each foretelling roll can be used only once. When you finish a long rest, you lose any unused foretelling rolls.

Features |

• Quarterstaff: One-handed
  Type: Bludgeoning
  Range: 5ft
  Damage: 1d6-1
  

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• Quarterstaff: Two-handed
  Type: Bludgeoning
  Range: 5ft
  Damage: 1d8-1

Actions |

Cantrips	Level 1	Level 2
Create Bonfire Mending Minor Illusion Prestidigitation	Absorb Elements Comprehend Languages Detect Magic Feather Fall Identify Shield Silvery Barbs Sleep Unseen Servant	Augury -
Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
-	-	-

Spells | . Equipment | . Reactions

When Wyl suggests the formation of a school, the eyes of the little witch light up with a mischievous glee normally reserved for illusions and casual sticky fingered magic, but the idea of teaching a bunch of the little snowlings a bit of magic suddenly made Cilsie seem so much more warm and fun. By the time they realized what they would have done, it would be too late, she would have an army of spellcasting children behind her and nothing would be able to stop them. It was the perfect plan. But those plans were for another day, as the meeting went on and they developed a well-proposed idea, but as Darnel adjourned the meeting momentarily to share with them the plans of the adventure they would be setting out upon the next day, all thoughts of Aeona's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry vanished from her mind when the opportunity to explore a true natural phenomenon was presented before them. Again, she keeps her excitement to a minimum, to prevent the others from getting too worried about her enthusiasm at taking a trip into the unknown and risking their lives. Instead, she smothers her wide grin with a deep gulp of the ale, and the night began to spin out from there.

---

Aeona is practically vibrating with excitement when she tears the sheets off of the bed and launches herself across the room to get prepared for the day. The sheer thought of investigating a cursed storm was enough to make her cartwheel around the room, as she went through her usual morning routine of casting Prestidigitation on her messy bed head, on her crumpled witches robes and hat, and on the fur coat that she had so carelessly spilled ale on during the celebrations the night before. What took her the most time was the ritual to cast Unseen Servant, so that the disembodied presence could prepare her tea while she dug through her books to find anything that could be useful for them on the way up the mountain. There were probably things she should be preparing for the physical activity involved in their exploration today, but she was confident Wyl would make sure she was not going to freeze to death, or fall into any holes again, or get stuck up any more trees, or get chased by any moose again, or wake up any other hibernating bears. He was good like that. Rana had mentioned that there may be dogs involved too, which had excited her, so she would have to make sure one of her pockets was free to fill with some dehydrated beef so she could sneak them treats.

The dogs were not technically small forest animals, but she liked to think that they understood her Gnomish just as well as the squirrels and other diminutive wild beasts. By the time she would get down the stairs into the Lodge, she realized that there was yet to be any others to wake, leaving her and her Unseen Servant (carrying her teapot silently behind her) alone in the middle of the large lodge. Without the rest of the bodies of Cilsie in here, she was left feeling smaller than ever in the large hall without the encroaching crowd around her. Remaining undeterred, she marches towards the still smouldering hearth in the center, having her servent plop the tea and cup down on the stones surrounding the fire, before having it drag over one of the more comfy chairs, so she could stay warm wrapped in her furry bundle by the fire, with the teapot and cup hovering nearby while she began to page through the dusy tomes in her lap. A quick flick of her wrist and a word in Gnomish, and the fire once more becomes the impressive pyre as it had been the night before. When the sun was finally dawning and they were going to be ready to meet, she would be off on her awaiting adventure. Hopefully with some answers to share.

OOC Nature Roll: 1d20+3 Dice Roll: 1d20+3 (4)+3 Total = 7 Arcana Roll: 1d20+5 Dice Roll: 1d20+5 (13)+5 Total = 18

[Vaynol]

Lili And so the course of action was set. Tomorrow morning their small, yet intrepid group would set out on a mission of scouting and reconnaissance. They would travel to the viewing point in the hope that they would find something that would provide some clue as to the origin of this mysterious storm. It was, as Lili herself inwardly recognised, a faint hope at best….and yet a faint hope was infinitely better than none. Perhaps it would be enough. The young bard scanned the crowd, looking into their eyes to see the fear, uncertainty and worry reflected right back at her. Perhaps Darnel’s plan would lead to nothing, but right now the people needed to see that there was action if any sort being carried out….that they would do what they could to see the people of Cilsie through the hard times ahead. ”A sled and dogs would be a start,” she said looking to Wyl, Rana and Darnel in turn. “What sort of hazards and creatures are we likely to run into on the trio, those who have travelled there before?” But that was tomorrow. As for today there was the small matter of making sure that she was ready for whatever the morrow would bring. And although she already had most of what she needed to make that journey, there were still other things that were a necessity to take on the journey. Picking up her lute and pack, swinging them over her shoulders, Lili bowed her head goodbye to the others and moved out of the door, back into the chill winds beyond. Trudging through the snow, Lili pulled her furs closer around her as she tried in vain to block out the swirling cold. Moving as quickly as she could to Lorgen’s shop, she greeted the dwarf with warm words and a smile. Purchasing a few things for the journey ahead, she then went back to her small dwelling. Placing her purchases and her pack on the floor next to her bed, Lili thought about calling it a day and spending the rest of her time in restful contemplation for the journey tomorrow….but that was not the behaviour of a young, aspiring bard was it? Making the short trek back to the Hunter’s Refuge, armed with her lute and the pan flute she carried with her, Lili spent the rest of the day enjoying the company of the Cilsiean folk and, of course, entertaining them with music and song until day turned into evening into night. Before she even realised it, the next day was upon her.   Lili will purchase rope, a grappling hook and a tent from Lorgen’s. I’ve added them to her sheet and deducted the 5 gold.

[Cheshire]

Kirra was very excited to be asked to go on an adventure. She had spent so many years working as a barmaid listening to the stories of others and far away places that she was itching to get out of the town. Even if that trip was just to collect firewood, but to go on a long adventure, with this group? The self taught monk would have to be out of her mind to pass on such an opportunity. "I will go on the trip. I have always wanted to go have my own adventures I can tell others about instead of having to live through others."

As the council came to an end, Kirra spent the rest of the day daydreaming about what it was going to be like traveling with people who have seen so much of the world. Who much they could teach her..."Wait would she just get in the way? Would she be more of a hindrance? No, no she won't she has a lot to offer." To calm her mind, the barmaid grabbed her violin and began to play while sitting on the bar. Normally she would play to entertain the patrons, this time however, she was playing to quiet the flood of thoughts going through her head.

Dice Asked roll:

D20

20

 

Stat Block Kirra | CLASS=Monk | Level 3 HP: 20/20| AC: 14 | Speed: 50ft Stats: Str (8), Dex (14), Con (15), Int (8), Wis (15), Cha (10) Languages: Common Currently wielding: Weapons: Fists, Darts

[97mg]

Aeona thinks, and Lili goes shopping Ever contemplative, thoughtful and with her heads in what must be low-lying magical clouds, Aeona found some of her relaxing tea-time wondering about the weather. Well, not just seasonal changes and things, but also magic related to the summoning of sunshine, rain, and of course... blizzards. She knew of course, that some magic users were capable of calling upon lightning and the like, but what about storms with durations so long as Cilsie's current predicament? Ooo... her jaw might drop. Lili meanwhile, had seen fit to visit Lorgen's Protective Gear! Actually, there was a strange air around the village as she made her way to the old store. Despite the literally chilling horrors the village now faced, and the prospect of a strict working regime, generally folks looked rather happy. She received smiles and nods of approval, pleasant greetings and thumbs-ups along the way. Even though it was so cold, folks seemed to have a renewed sense of purpose and comradeship around here. Lorgen, the dwarf with long red hair, a red braided beard and weather-worn skin, well he smiled as the entertainer stepped inside his establishment. Rope and a grappling hook were no problem, but when asked about a tent, he grumbled a bit. "Sorry miss, I just don't have any left! Folks have been buying them up to use as tarps and the like. Miss Nello took one to seal off a bit of her roof where the rain and snow was leaking in. Bobby Guip bought one too, just yesterday, thinking that he'd be needing it when joining one of those timber and food teams everyone is in a buzz about. I have other fine wares though!" He ran his hand around the countertop, and also pointed at several items hanging from rusty nails hammered into the shop's far wall. "I gots chain mail! Can you believe it? You wouldn't believe how long that took to make. What a nightmare! Yours for 60 golds, lass. A crowbar perhaps? This here is a nice one, or if you're looking for tools, I've got some neat things for working with wood, stone or steel!"

OOC Don't want to interrupt the flow too much, but had some time to post so thought best to get the results of the downtime up for Aeona and Lili. Regarding Lili's question, common foes out in the wilds around here are such lovely beasts as (secret stuff below)...

[Vaynol]

Lili "What, no tent?" Lili fixed the dwarf with what could only be described as a faux expression of pure, unadulterated horror as her mouth dropped open. "What is a girl like myself supposed to sleep in at night with the snow coming down? I mean, tarps and stuff is perfectly fine and all but surely I need some comforts up there in the cold by myself," eyes sparkling with mirth as she playfully continued, eventually sighing as she slid the two gold she was going to use to pay for the tent back into her pouch. Another time perhaps. In the meantime she was going to have to get used to the cold nights under the sky with little to no protection from the cold or the rain. Perhaps Aeona could conjure them up a magical tent of some description to sleep in while the more hardy outdoor folk like Wyl and Rana slept outside. They both must be used to sleeping in the rough surely? They seemed like it and, particularly for Wyl, surely his thick beard was enough to keep him warm from all that snow? Unfortunately though, old Lorgen was struck down with the infectious sales bug. Lili could see him about to launch into a sales pitch for the other items that he had in the shop, and although the bard tried to put her hand up to stop him before he started, he was not to be deterred. "Chain mail, uhuh, uhuh," she nodded sagely, wearing a look of infinite patience on her face, "It is certainly a fine item, and the craftsmanship is astounding as always good sir dwarf but, you know, I'm not really a metal armour kind of girl. It chafes the skin you know," she nodded again. Undeterred, he tried to extol the virtue of the crowbar and just as Lili was about to politely decline, she thought it over. He wasn't wrong. You never knew when a crowbar would come in handy out in the wilds. Plus it would shut him up, and that was surely not a bad thing. "Ok sir dwarf, you've talked me into it," she slid the two gold she had just taken back over the shop counter again. "I'll take the crowbar. You never know when a girl like me would need a, uh, crowbar, and it is a very fine-looking crowbar at that." Bowing politely to Lorgen, Lili made a swift exit from the shop, heading back to her place to secure her new belongings for the trip at hand before making the short trek back to the Hunter's Refuge for the rest of the evening.

[Snicker]

Rana Originally Posted by Lili ”A sled and dogs would be a start. What sort of hazards and creatures are we likely to run into on the trio, those who have travelled there before?” https://www.deviantart.com/len-yan Rana Dulik | Character sheet | Character page | AC: 13 | HP: 30 / 30 | Hit dice: 3 / 3d10 | Insight: 12 Investigation: 10 Perception: 14Passive senses | Parry Precision Attack Trip Attack Superiority dice: 4 / 4d8 Maneuvers | Rustic Hospitality Defense combat style Sharpshooter Second wind: 1 / 1 Action surge: 1 / 1 Features | None Passed death saves: 0 / 3 Failed death saves: 0 / 3Conditions | Common DwarvishLanguages "Like I said, no promises on the dogs," Rana said, raising one hand. "We don't know who else'll need them. Path might not be clear enough for sleds, neither. "As for critters, there's a few. Bears, wolves, owlbears, some others. Dangerous folk, like gnolls or giants. Trolls or yetis, too - those are sort of in-between." Rana finished up her stew and mead before sitting back in her seat and exhaling slowly through pursed lips. She was tired from her chores that day alrady, and she had more to complete before day was done. A part of her wanted to sit in the Hunter's Refuge for hours, hide from the cold of the outside world and the difficulties it would bring her. But that would only make things worse for her and everyone else, so she put a hand on the tabletop, pushed herself to her feet, and dutifully donned her coat. She opened the door just enough to slip outside, trying to reduce the cold blast of air that occurred every time someone entered or exited the Hunter's Lodge. She pulled her coat tighter around her and scrunched her face against the stinging snow and wind. At least she only had to brave the cold a few minutes before she got home, grabbing some firewood from the pile and tucking it under her arm before entering the front door. "I'm home!" she called out. Her family was lucky enough to have a house with multiple rooms. Removing her outdoor gear, she put the wood by the fireplace and went to check on her things, preparing for the trip tomorrow. If everything goes smooth, they'll only be out for a few hours, but she can't count on that. In times like this, she'd better be prepared for the worst. They'll have to camp along the way, but she won't bring firewood; it's heavy and there'll be trees along the way. She'll bring the tinderbox, though. Food and a mess kit - it'll be hungry work - but she wasn't sure about the pot. It's heavy and bulky and she's not much of a cook anyway. She'll probably leave it if she can't bring the sled along. Rope, of course - one never knows when they'll need rope. She'd bring her tools, of course: tinker's tools to repair her equipment, if necessary, and leatherworking tools to skin game if it comes up. A shovel, just in case. Finally, she rolled out the spare tent. They shouldn't need it, but if a truly nasty storm rolls in, they might have to shelter in place. It only fit two, but it was what she had. She'd bring her bedrool and blanket, for the same reason. I'll need to grab spikes and a hammer, maybe a sledge for the permafrost. She also laid out the longbow and quiver of arrows. She'd been given them to experiment with hunting, but after some trials, she'd decided she just can't grip the arrows as well as she'd like through her thick gloves. She'd really prefer to stick to the crossbow. She's sure someone in the village will be willing to trade for them, though. After taking inventory, she went and found her parents in the kitchen. "Ma, pa!" she said, leaning on the kitchen table. "I cut some firewood for the big pile. Thornton's looking happier to be out." Sled dogs like Thornton needed to stay active to keep happy, but a few recent days, the blizzard had been too severe to leave Cilsie at all. Thornton in particular got bored easily without frequent stimulation. "Darnel asked me and some others on the council to head up the mountain a ways tomorrow. If all goes well, it shouldn't be more'n a few hours, but Wyl suggested we pick up supplies on the way back. I was thinking I'd take the sled and one of the dogs out, probably Thornton. What do you say?"

Purchases If we assume a sled dog is equivalent to a mastiff in the Player's Handbook, one dog can pull a sled with several hundred pounds to spare (though riders will eat into that very fast). One mastiff and one sled cost 45 gp, which is more than Rana has, unless she can trade in the longbow and arrows at cost. If she can take the sled, she'll also want to pick up iron spikes and a sledge for use with her tent, but she'll probably do without them or the tent if she can't get the sled.

[Noquarter19]

Wyllis "Wyl" Underwood It sounded like tomorrow morning would be the day, which left the rest of that afternoon to prepare for the trip and finish up any last jobs. Wyl thanked the people of Cilsie for coming to the meeting, and for their patience and understanding. He saved the other councilmembers for last, thanking each in turn before quietly excusing himself. He donned his furs quickly, his thoughts far away. There were five of them going, five souls – possibly more if they brought dogs and a sled. Wyl knew how fond Rana was of her canines. He would never put them at risk needlessly, and had quietly pulled her aside to mention how he could certainly pull a sled himself using his druidic talent for shapeshifting. ”I was being quite literal when I referred to myself as a workhorse,” he said with a shy smile. ”Besides, it was my idea to bring the sled, it’s only fitting I’d be the one responsible for it. No need to put the little doggos in harms way.” The wind had slowed some, but the snow was still thick, fat white flakes falling downwards to pile atop their frozen brethren. Wyl lifted his face up to the sky and let them fall on his face. Wyl liked the cold. He was probably a strange one for doing so, but he couldn’t help it. The chill made his senses feel sharp, and every breath felt crisp and alive. Inside, with the fire blazing, he felt dull and slow. Out here, he felt like a coiled spring, ready to go at a moment’s notice. Still, not everyone in Cilsie was as crazy as he was, not to mention the strain of keeping the village fed and warmed in the arctic environment. That burden tempered his joy somewhat. He was excited for tomorrow, but nervous at the same time. It was unusual to have such trepidation – but then, it was unusual to be leading such a large group. Normally when he had set off into the woods it was with only one other person. Typically, he traveled with Rana when she was off gathering firewood and he wanted to offer up another pair of hands. Since her recent arrival, the little gnome Aeona had utilized him for her eccentric trips into the forest to study a dizzying array of minutiae about the outside world. Kirra the barmaid never went too far afield with him, but when she picked a spot for sparring practice it was usually secluded enough to avoid an audience. And then there was Lili and her curious rangings into the wild, always seeking, never finding. Wyl was polite enough not to ask; besides, it was nice to be out in nature and spending time with someone as friendly as the little blonde. He did have to stop and think a bit after the third or fourth one of these trips. Those weren’t… dates. Were they? He concluded later that no, in fact, they were not. The point was, each time he had gone out, it had just been him and one other. He’d never gone afield with such a large group, and he found his biggest concern for the following day was keeping them safe, keeping them all on the trail and warm, and not making a fool of himself. Everyone was making their own preparations, and he could have gone right then, but it wouldn’t have been a smart idea; it was already early afternoon and heading toward evening, and at this latitude the sun set quickly. He had a few hours of daylight left, so he would make of it what he could. Looking through his gear, he was mostly set as far as equipment went. He needed a new axe to replace the one he had lent an older fellow in town and then never seen again. He passed Lili coming out of Lorgen’s shop and gave her a shy smile before entering the dwarf’s business. ”Lorgen, good to see you, pal. Hey, you got any handaxes? We’re supposed to be taking a trip tomorrow and I seem to have misplaced mine. I can pay you in gold now, or I can barter a bit with you. I was just going to head out here in a minute, look for some game. will pay the full 5 gold if a fail, assuming he has one to sell.* Dice * Persuasion (barter with Lorgen): 1d20-1 (20)-1 Total = 19 Any interest in knocking the price down a bit if I bring you a bit of fresh supper?” After finishing his transaction with Lorgen, Wyl ducked under the rope that stretched from the dwarf’s shop toward one of the two dozen other buildings in Cilsie and traipsed off into the wilderness with crossbow in hand. He hoped to bring down a nice buck, or something equally delicious, but he was no beggar; he would take what nature gave him and give thanks all the while. And so he found a nice looking spot under a thick canopy of pine boughs, a place that he could crouch and watch and Dice * Survival (hunt for game): 1d20+5 (14)+5 Total = 19 wait for some good looking game to pass by.   Actions Action: Rolls. DM requested 1d10 was a 6 Reaction: Bonus: Move: Object Interaction: Effects: Concentration: Spell Slots: 1 1 1 Refresh on short or long rest, two uses, one hour total per dayWild Shape: W W Inspiration: None Stat Block Name: Wyllis “Wyl” Underwood Armor Class: 14 | Hit Points: 22/22 | Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +3 | Pass. Percep.: 15 Melee Attack: Finesse, LightScimitar | +5, 1d6+3 | Ranged Attack: Ammunition, Loading, Two-Handed. Range: 80/320Light Crossbow | +5, 1d8+3 Abilities: Str 10 (+0) | Dex 16 (+3) | Con 12 (+1) | Int 12 (+1) | Wis 16 (+3) | Cha 8 (+0) Saves: Str +0 | Dex +3 | Proficient (from Resilient feat)Con +3 | ProficientInt +3 | ProficientWis +5 | Cha -1[/table] Languages Spoken: Common, Elvish, Druidic, Gnomish, Sylvan Proficient Tools & Instruments: Herbalism Kit, flute Prof. Skills: Athletics +2 | Medicine +5 | Nature +3 | Percep. +5 | Survival +5| Skills Skill Mod Skill Mod Acrobatics +3 Medicine +5 Animal Handling +3 Nature +3 Arcana +1 Perception +5 Athletics +2 Performance -1 Deception -1 Persuasion -1 History +1 Religion +1 Insight +3 Sleight of Hand +3 Intimidation -1 Stealth +3 Investigation +1 Survival +5 All Skills WIS +3, Save DC 13Cantrips and Currently Prepared Spells: Guidance: Divination Cantrip. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: Touch Target: One willing creature. Components: V S. Duration: Up to 1 minute You touch one willing creature. Once before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to one ability check of its choice. It can roll the die before or after making the ability check. The spell then ends.Guidance | Thorn Whip: Transmutation cantrip. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: 30 feet. Components: V, S, M (the stem of a plant with thorns). Duration: Instantaneous You create a long, vine-like whip covered in thorns that lashes out at your command toward a creature in range. Make a melee spell attack against the target. If the attack hits, the creature takes 1d6 piercing damage, and if the creature is Large or smaller, you pull the creature up to 10 feet closer to you. At Higher Levels: This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).Thorn Whip Cure Wounds: 1st-level evocation. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: Touch Components: V, S. Duration: Instantaneous A creature you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.Cure Wounds | Detect Magic: 1st-level divination (ritual). Casting Time: 1 action Range: Self. Components: V, S. Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any. The spell can penetrate most barriers, but is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.Detect Magic | Entangle: 1st-level conjuration. Casting Time: 1 action Range: 90 feet. Components: V, S. Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute Grasping weeds and vines sprout from the ground in a 20-foot square starting from a point within range. For the duration, these plants turn the ground in the area into difficult terrain. A creature in the area when you cast the spell must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be restrained by the entangling plants until the spell ends. A creature restrained by the plants can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, it frees itself. When the spell ends, the conjured plants wilt away.Entangle | Healing Word: 1st-level evocation. Casting Time: 1 bonus action Range: 60 feet. Components: V. Duration: Instantaneous A creature of your choice that you can see within range regains hit points equal to 1d4 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.Healing Word | Ice Knife: 1st-level conjuration. Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet. Components: S, M (a drop of water or piece of ice). Duration: Instantaneous You create a shard of ice and fling it at one creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 piercing damage. Hit or miss, the shard then explodes. The target and each creature within 5 feet of the point where the ice exploded must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage. At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the cold damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.Ice Knife Features and Abilities: Druidic: You know Druidic, the secret language of druids. You can speak the language and use it to leave hidden messages. You and others who know this language automatically spot such a message. Others spot the message's presence with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check but can't decipher it without magic.Druidic | Favored Enemy: Beginning at 1st level, you have significant experience studying, tracking, hunting, and even talking to a certain type of enemy. Choose a type of favored enemy: aberrations, beasts, celestials, constructs, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, giants, monstrosities, oozes, plants, or undead. Alternatively, you can select two races of humanoid (such as gnolls and orcs) as favored enemies. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them. When you gain this feature, you also learn one language of your choice that is spoken by your favored enemies, if they speak one at all. You choose one additional favored enemy, as well as an associated language, at 6th and 14th level. As you gain levels, your choices should reflect the types of monsters you have encountered on your adventures.Favored Enemy: Beasts | Natural Explorer: You are particularly familiar with one type of natural environment and are adept at traveling and surviving in such regions. Choose one type of favored terrain: arctic, coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, swamp, or the Underdark. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to your favored terrain, your proficiency bonus is doubled if you are using a skill that you’re proficient in. While traveling for an hour or more in your favored terrain, you gain the following benefits: Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel.Your group can’t become lost except by magical means.Even when you are engaged in another activity while traveling (such as foraging, navigating, or tracking), you remain alert to danger.If you are traveling alone, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.When you forage, you find twice as much food as you normally would.While tracking other creatures, you also learn their exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area. You choose additional favored terrain types at 6th and 10th level.Natural Explorer: Arctic Speech of the Woods: At 2nd level, you gain the ability to converse with beasts and many fey. You learn to speak, read, and write Sylvan. In addition, beasts can understand your speech, and you gain the ability to decipher their noises and motions. Most beasts lack the intelligence to convey or understand sophisticated concepts, but a friendly beast could relay what it has seen or heard in the recent past. This ability doesn’t grant you any special friendship with beasts, though you can combine this ability with gifts to curry favor with them as you would with any nonplayer character.Speech of the Woods | Spellcasting: Drawing on the divine essence of nature itself, you can cast spells to shape that essence to your will. Cantrips: At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the*druid spell list. You learn additional druid cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Druid table. Preparing and Casting Spells: The Druid table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your druid spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these druid spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. You prepare the list of druid spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the druid spell list. When you do so, choose a number of druid spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your Druid level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, if you are a 3rd-level druid, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Wisdom of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell*Cure Wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells. You can also change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of druid spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list. Spellcasting Ability: Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your druid spells, since your magic draws upon your devotion and attunement to nature. You use your Wisdom whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a druid spell you cast*and when making an attack roll with one. Spell save DC= 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier Spell attack modifier= your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier Ritual Casting: You can cast a druid spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared. Spellcasting Focus: You can use a druidic focus as a spellcasting focus for your druid spells.Spellcasting | Spirit Totem: Starting at 2nd level, you gain the ability to call forth nature spirits and use them to influence the world around you. As a bonus action, you can magically summon an incorporeal spirit to a point you can see within 60 feet of you. The spirit creates an aura in a 30-foot radius around that point. It counts as neither a creature nor an object, though it has the spectral appearance of the creature it represents. As a bonus action, you can move the spirit up to 60 feet to a point you can see. The spirit persists for 1 minute. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.The effect of the spirit’s aura depends on the type of spirit you summon from the options below. Bear Spirit. The bear spirit grants you and your allies its might and endurance. Each creature of your choice in the aura when the spirit appears gains temporary hit points equal to 5 + your druid level. In addition, you and your allies gain advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws while in the aura. Hawk Spirit. The hawk spirit is a consummate hunter, aiding you and your allies with its keen sight. When a creature makes an attack roll against a target in the spirit’s aura, you can use your reaction to grant advantage to that attack roll. In addition, you and your allies have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks while in the aura. Unicorn Spirit. The unicorn spirit lends its protection to those nearby. You and your allies gain advantage on all ability checks made to detect creatures in the spirit’s aura. In addition, if you cast a spell using a spell slot that restores hit points to any creature inside or outside the aura, each creature of your choice in the aura also regains hit points equal to your druid level.Spirit Totem | Wild Shape: Starting at 2nd level, you can use your action to magically assume the shape of a beast that you have seen before. You can use this feature twice. You regain expended uses when you finish a short or long rest. Your druid level determines the beasts you can transform into, as shown in the Beast Shapes table. At 2nd level, for example, you can transform into any beast that has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower that doesn't have a flying or swimming speed. You can stay in a beast shape for a number of hours equal to half your druid level (rounded down). You then revert to your normal form unless you expend another use of this feature. You can revert to your normal form earlier by using a bonus action on your turn. You automatically revert if you fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die. While you are transformed, the following rules apply: Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can't use them.When you transform, you assume the beast's hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form, For example, if you take 10 damage in animal form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren't knocked unconscious.You can't cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as*Call Lightning, that you've already cast.You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can't use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. Your equipment doesn't change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can't wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.Wild Shape   CR 0: Badger | Cat | Deer | Fox | Goat | Hare | Pig | Rat | Sheep | Spider | Weasel CR 1/8: Diseased Giant Rat | Giant Rat | Giant Weasel | Mastiff | Mule | Pony CR 1/4: Boar | Cow | Draft Horse | Elk | Giant Badger Giant Centipede | Giant Wolf Spider | Ox | Riding Horse | Wolf   A bear tooth necklaceAnimal Trophy Backpack Bedroll Bolt Case Coin Pouch Crossbow bolts x20 a dreamcatcher made of small animal bones and wild grasses, worn around the neckDruidic Focus Flute Hempen Rope, 50ft Herbalism Kit Hunting Trap Mess Kit Rations x10 Shovel Staff Tinderbox Torches x10 Traveler’s Clothes x2 Waterskin

[97mg]

Dogs and Axes Two families in Cilsie were the go-to for all things hound or sled. The Dulik's had for generations been the area's main breeder and trainer of animals fit for a life of obedience and work. Largely they were hunting companions and sled-pullers, but not all pups ended up with such duties. Depending on their temperament, some dogs went on to spend their time enriching resident's lives in other ways too. Pets, guards and assistant's for one or two of the elderly. The other family invested in the livelihood of four-legged friends, was the Hild's. Geirhild was an elderly halfling lady with a 30-year-old daughter named Fiora. Geirhild had studied under the Dulik's in her early years, and then gone on to work independently whilst also supporting the Dulik's business. Instead of being competitors though, the two families shared resources, knowledge and success as a team. Yes, Geirhild was old, but not to be underestimated. She just had a way with canines, and also timber. From her father she'd learned the ways of carpentry, metalwork, and sled-building. Her sleds were works of art! Not only strong and fit-for-purpose, but also carved here and there with inspiring little details like snowflakes, the outlines of bounding pups and depictions of their faces. It was said that a Hild sled was unlike any other, gliding so smoothly across snow and ice, expertly balanced, and always set up for the easy securing of goods. Rana was free to select from the numerous dogs available at either her home or the Hild's nearby pens. Thornton in particular! Furthermore, Hild had built the Dulik's a sled or two of their own over the years, so Rana would have no difficulty in securing one or two for the imminent journey. Meanwhile, Wyl had seen fit to visit Lorgen like some of his companions! The friendly dwarf greeted the man with a wide smile and a wave befitting a true friend. The pair had done business many a time of course, as sometimes Wyl's handiwork required tools and consumables along the way. "Aha! A trusty handaxe. Alas, I don't have anything freshly made in that regard, but I might just be able to offer you Willi here." There was some rummaging behind the counter. "Willi"? Was Lorgen back into naming his stock as though they were people? Or was this some form of jest regarding Wyl and Lili? Perhaps without enough time to fully contemplate the meaning, Lorgen then popped an aged-looking axe onto the countertop. It looked well-used this one. The handle had the texture of one that had seen many a day tightly gripped. The blade though a touch rusty along its sides, had what appeared to be a clean and recently sharpened edge. "Willi has proven herself many a time. Was traded to me for a couple of nice chisels a few weeks back. Been checked over and all good to go. That's five goldies... but..." He stroked his chin for a bit, considering Wyl's offer of an easy dinner. "... look, folks are talking about how the council is taking action and doing good things in this damned blizzard, so I'll let her go for three. Just bring me back a rabbit or two, okay?" As it so happened, Wyl was able to do much better than a few cottontails. Outside the village not too long after, he wondered if anything at all was going to be nabbable this day. Then, through the thick air of falling snow and windswept mist he spotted a lone deer. It turned to run, but merely managed to hobble away. It was then that he noticed the trail of bloody spots on the ground, and the large claw marks to the beast's side. Perhaps this was meant to happen? The animal would be put out of its misery, and also have a purpose in its ending. As Wyl went about his work, he might wonder if it had succumbed to a bear, or some other large predator, and only just got away...

Day Eight Cilsie - Late Autumn Weather: Blizzard Day: Eight At dawn on the eighth day of the blizzard, having prepared themselves with hopefully adequate supplies, the group met at Cilsie's eastern gate. Through here it would be a walk across a bridge, and then off northwards in the directions supplied by Darnel. In normal circumstances it would be a fairly simple day trip, but just like the week that had preceded it, today brought frequent lashings of heavy snow, ear-chilling wind, and less than ideal visibility...

OOC Great work team! I just need to know your manner of travel. On foot with supplies on sled, or two sleds with folks riding etc. We need an Animal Handling roll for however many dogs are in attendance. From this info I'll work out your travel time and any events along the way

[Tyrtaeus]

Aeona Brightcap | School of Divination Wizard | Gnome

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AC: 12 | HP: 11 | Speed: 25ft | Spell-casting: +5 / DC13
Passive Perception: 14 | Insight: 12 | Investigation: 13

• Score: -1
• Athletics: -1

Str: 8 |

• Score: -1
• Acrobatics: -1
• Stealth: -1
• Sleight of Hand: -1

Dex: 8 |

• Score: -1

Con: 8 |

• Score: +3
• Arcana: +5
• History: +5
• Investigation: +3
• Nature: +3
• Religion: +3

Int: 8 |

• Score: +2
• Animal Handling: +2
• Insight: +2
• Medicine: +4
• Perception: +4
• Survival: +2

Wis: 8 |

• Score: +2
• Deception: +2
• Intimidation: +2
• Performance: +2
• Persuasion: +2

Cha: 8
Languages: Common, Gnomish, Elivsh, Draconic

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.Feats |

Racial features

Class Features

Gnome Cunning: You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic. Darkvision: Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. Natural Illusionist: You know the minor illusion cantrip. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it. Speak with Small Beasts: Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts. Forest gnomes love animals and often keep squirrels, badgers, rabbits, moles, woodpeckers, and other creatures as beloved pets.

Ritual Casting: You can cast a wizard spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don’t need to have the spell prepared. Arcane Recovery: You have learned to regain some of your magical energy by studying your spellbook. Once per day when you finish a short rest, you can choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than half your wizard level (rounded up), and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher. For example, if you’re a 4th-level wizard, you can recover up to two levels worth of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd-level spell slot or two 1st-level spell slots. Divination Savant: Beginning when you select this school at 2nd level, the gold and time you must spend to copy a divination spell into your spellbook is halved. Portent: Starting at 2nd level when you choose this school, glimpses of the future begin to press in on your awareness. When you finish a long rest, roll two d20s and record the numbers rolled. You can replace any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature that you can see with one of these foretelling rolls. You must choose to do so before the roll, and you can replace a roll in this way only once per turn. Each foretelling roll can be used only once. When you finish a long rest, you lose any unused foretelling rolls.

Features |

• Quarterstaff: One-handed
  Type: Bludgeoning
  Range: 5ft
  Damage: 1d6-1
  

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• Quarterstaff: Two-handed
  Type: Bludgeoning
  Range: 5ft
  Damage: 1d8-1

Actions |

Cantrips	Level 1	Level 2
Create Bonfire Mending Minor Illusion Prestidigitation	Absorb Elements Comprehend Languages Detect Magic Feather Fall Identify Shield Silvery Barbs Sleep Unseen Servant	Augury -
Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
-	-	-

Spells | . Equipment | . Reactions

Aeona, though wrapped in furs and having just left the warmth of the slowly populating inn, was already cold. The fur hood of the robes was pulled tightly around her face, and she was wearing thick boots with fur lining with her witches robes tucked into them so the snow could not get in. Getting snow in ones boots was a quick way of getting hypothermia, Wyl had impressed her on the importance of making sure she stayed dry. So far she found it quite difficult, but today, she was doing admirably. Still, her little nose was bright red, and her rosiness of the cheeks highlighted the snow burn. For once she had forgone her hat in favour of the extra warmth of the rabbit-fur lined hood, and though she would never admit it because it sounded silly, she felt as though she would not be able to cast magic as well without it. Her hands were tucked inside three pairs of gloves of increasing size and thickness, to the point she was barely able to move her fingers, and she could still feel every chilling breeze that blew past, and that was even after taking cover behind the staunch post of the gate acting as a barrier to prevent her from blowing away. Grumbling, she spoke some muffled words from beneath the high collar of the fur coat and started a small fire near the gate.

Normally they would have frowned upon this action, but even if anyone would have been around to see her do it, it was doubtful they would even have the energy to correct her anymore. The fire whipped and whorled in every direction as the wind tried to kill it, but the magical energies and slight coverage from the nearby shelter kept it from burning out. When the others start to arrive to see the little Gnome crouched in front of her magical bonfire, looking like a shivering pile of discarded furs more than a Witch from the wilds, they would be met with Gnomish cursing and hollering at how long she had been forced to wait, regardless of whether or not she had left extra early in her earnest excitement to go on this adventure. Her studies had given her nothing but ideas, but the more she had ruminated on those thoughts, the more ecstatic she had grown about the possibilities of discovering ancient magic artifacts or encountering mystical beings of untold powers. All things she had set out to research.

"HEY! Over here!"

Worried they would not see her, she waved her arms and moved past the magical bonfire, moving away from the windbreaking protection of the gate to go and greet them. Only for a particularly powerful gust of wind to blow her off of her feet and into a snow drift three times her size.

[Noquarter19]

Wyllis "Wyl" Underwood Wyl picked up the handaxe and turned it over in his hand, inspecting it with an appraising eye. It was used, no doubt about that, but the blade was still sharp. He ran a thumb along it to test the edge. There were no significant nicks in the steel, and even though the leather-wrapped handle was worn with use, it seemed a solid piece of kit. He nodded agreeably at the merchant. ”You know, I actually prefer that it’s been field tested, show’s it’s not just some display piece. Keep it here for now, I’ll be back soon, and hopefully with something a little tastier than rabbit.” He put the axe carefully back onto the counter, then shook Lorgen’s hand before stepping back out into the cold. The sun was just about to slip behind the mountains and take the last of the day’s light with it, when the wounded buck limped into the clearing. Wyl, chilly but not quite freezing enough to quit, had settled for the cover of a large pine’s sagging, snow-dusted boughs. He had been about to call it a day and go see Lorgen empty handed, when a snort caught his attention. He watched as the buck – at least an eight-pointer – hobbled into the firing alley. It was difficult to fully distinguish between what was shadow and what was the deer’s natural markings and what might have been a wound, but clearly something had taken a hit at the poor boy to leave him lumbering around like an old man with a tricky hip. Every so carefully, Wyl raised the crossbow and aimed down the simple iron sight. It was as if Alsard had willed the animal to this exact spot, not twenty yards from where Wyl was crouched. He took a breath, held it, and gently squeeeeezed the trigger. with apologies to any real bowhunters, I am awful at onomatopoeiaThere was a click, a sudden movement of air like quickly exhaled breath, and then a startled grunt, all in the span of a heartbeat – a last heartbeat. The bolt pierced heart and lung and caught a rib before it could exit. The buck stumbled, righted, and took a few more halting steps before collapsing into the snow, but by that point Wyl was already up and moving toward it. There was red foam in its mouth and its eyes were glassy with pain. Up close now, Wyl could see where a predator’s claw had torn a deep, six-inch gash in the animal’s flank. The hunter knelt in the pink snow and watched the light of life fade. Thank you, he said, softly brushing the animal’s neck. There was always a hushed reverence whenever he took the life of an animal, and he always did his best to ensure the kill was quick and clean; it was the very least he could do. He had no sled, nor did he wish to find out what had wounded the deer – or if it was still in the area. It was dusk, he was surrounded by fresh blood and meat, and there were wolves and bears out here – and worse. He took a few deep breaths to open his lungs, swung his arms around in circles to limber up his shoulders, and then bent down and muscled the animal up onto his shoulders and back. The weight was enough to make him stagger a few steps, and he almost went down to a knee, but he was able to power through it and stay vertical. One step at a time. Just take it slow. One step at a time. By the time he’d made the mile and a half trek back to Cilsie, it was pitch black and his body was sweat soaked under his furs. He chided himself for his hubris while fighting against the rising exhaustion. The exact damn thing you tell the others not to do, but of course, it’s you doing what you always do and not following your own advice. He was sucking wind and the cold was starting to settle into his bones now. There was a real worry that he might not find the village in the dark. The whirling blizzard had almost buried his backtrail, and just as he started to consider dumping the animal to the ground to focus on saving himself, he smelled the smoke of woodfire. He sniffed the air, and the thought of warmth and dinner gave his tired legs and arms and back new strength. Almost there, Wyl. Just a little more. Ten minutes later, the dwarf Lorgen heard a steady rapping on the door to his shop. The merchant looked out to see Wyl sagged against the outer wall, gasping for breath. A dead buck lay on the cold ground at his feet. ”So, I’ll… <huff> get you… <huff> your gold… <huff> right after… <huff> I stop… <huff> dying…” Wyl came in from the cold and warmed himself by the fire. ”Th-thanks, Lorgen,” he said quietly as the dwarf passed a mug of something warm and fiery. The chatter had almost gone from him as he warmed himself up over the next twenty minutes or so. He had stripped down to his breeches and laid his wet clothes across a chair by the fire to dry. After gutting the kill with a sharp knife, he and Lorgen had rope-tied and hung the deer from a hook set into an overhanging roof beam outside of the dwarf’s shop. While the rest of the blood slowly drained, Wyl had come in to warm up and dry off. His muscles throbbed and his back felt like it was permanently stooped forward, but the fire was comforting and Lorgen was great company. When he felt up to braving the cold again, he dressed, grabbed his new handaxe, and wished Lorgen a pleasant evening. He lumbered through village, the guide ropes keeping him on course as well as giving his tired body something to hold onto. By the time he reached his simple little cabin he was yawning. He hit the pillow and was asleep in minutes. Dawn came knocking all too quickly. His head didn’t seem to have laid on the pillow, but instead just bounced off it. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, yawned fit to split his face, then winced in pain as his jaw muscle locked up. Rubbing the spot tenderly, he looked around for his clothes and something to eat – but of course there was little else but jerky and a few stale biscuits. He’d insisted that Lorgen keep the whole harvest, or share it with some of his customers, but now with his stomach grumbling he couldn’t help but salivate at the thought of a nice fresh venison steak. He was wondering why he’d been so generous, then looked over at the rust-pitted axe and nodded in recognition. That’s right. We’re hiking today. Fan-tas-tic. With a sigh, he pulled himself to a seated position and tried to convince his muscles to get their act together and stand up. It was snowing, the eighth day since the blizzard had started. Wyllis Underwood was thirty-nine years old, and right now, he was feeling every one of them. Ten minutes later, he was dressed. He’d broken his fast on what scraps of food he had lying around, and his gear was all packed. He was as ready as he was ever going to be, and as he closed his door and passed by the simple monument to Alsard in the center of town, he stopped and knelt. Guess I should start figurin’ out how to pray for real, he thought dimly. His gloved fingers brushed lightly, almost reverently, against the plain stone slab. Despite the tarps stretched between buildings which served as crude awnings against the elements, driving wind had blown a thin layer of snow onto the slab. His fingers brushed against the unmolested dusting and left a quartet of lines. A part of him regretted this, like he had marred it somehow, but another part balked at this. If the slab were indoors, it would have been dust; out here it’s snow. I’m sure Alsard would rather have you here making lines than forgetting about do we know/care if Alsard has a preferred pronoun? I’d just as soon use they/them if you don’t already have something in mindthem. He took a deep breath, wondering what he was going to say, wondering if the warmth he’d felt yesterday hadn’t just been his imagination. Then he shook his head and began. Alsard. I don’t know much about you, and for that I’m sorry. My friends and I, we’re fixing to head up country for Darnel and the town, hoping to find out just what is going on with this storm. I don’t know if we’ll find anything, and I don’t mind being asked to do it even if we don’t turn up answers. All I want is for my friends to come back safe, no matter what. I’ll do my best to get ‘em there and back in one piece, but I’m just one man, and I know there’s some real nasties out here in the woods. We don’t take out here lightly, and I’ve had enough close calls to take things for granted. I’m just looking for a little edge, I guess. I talked about you to the council. I’m not against building you a temple if that’s what would make you happy, but it’ll have to wait until this storm dies down. Thank you for the deer last night. Thank you as well for not beating me up too bad with the cold, even though I was an idiot and didn’t deserve to be so lucky. I’ve still got my fingers and toes and ears and nose, and I get to see another sunrise, even if it is blocked out behind all these clouds. Better a cloudy day than no day at all. Anyway, just, thank you, and thank you for any help you can give keepin’ an eye out on the others. Especially the little gnome girl, keep her out of any tall snow drifts, if I lose her Darnel will kick my… Well, it won’t be good. Alright, this is getting long and my knees are getting cold kneeling, so I’m just going to say thanks again, and I’ll talk to you soon. Wyl stood up awkwardly, looked around to see if anyone had been watching him pray for the last few minutes in the middle of a blizzard, then decided he didn’t much care what people thought if he felt like praying. He shifted his pack on his shoulders and made his way toward the simple little gate that served as an entrance to their humble town. My home. ”Morning, friends,” he said amiably as he approached the waving form of Aeona and the other adventurers. He was not so bold as to just refer to them as ‘ladies.’ He didn’t know why, it just felt… reductive, or demeaning somehow? He couldn’t explain it; calling them friends just felt better in his mind. ”Y’all ready for a nice stroll through the park?”   Actions Action: -3 gp from sheet for handaxe Reaction: Bonus: Move: Object Interaction: Effects: Concentration: Spell Slots: 1 1 1 Refresh on short or long rest, two uses, one hour total per dayWild Shape: W W Inspiration: None Stat Block Name: Wyllis “Wyl” Underwood Armor Class: 14 | Hit Points: 22/22 | Speed: 30ft | Initiative: +3 | Pass. Percep.: 15 Melee Attack: Finesse, LightScimitar | +5, 1d6+3 | Ranged Attack: Ammunition, Loading, Two-Handed. Range: 80/320Light Crossbow | +5, 1d8+3 Abilities: Str 10 (+0) | Dex 16 (+3) | Con 12 (+1) | Int 12 (+1) | Wis 16 (+3) | Cha 8 (+0) Saves: Str +0 | Dex +3 | Proficient (from Resilient feat)Con +3 | ProficientInt +3 | ProficientWis +5 | Cha -1[/table] Languages Spoken: Common, Elvish, Druidic, Gnomish, Sylvan Proficient Tools & Instruments: Herbalism Kit, flute Prof. Skills: Athletics +2 | Medicine +5 | Nature +3 | Percep. +5 | Survival +5| Skills Skill Mod Skill Mod Acrobatics +3 Medicine +5 Animal Handling +3 Nature +3 Arcana +1 Perception +5 Athletics +2 Performance -1 Deception -1 Persuasion -1 History +1 Religion +1 Insight +3 Sleight of Hand +3 Intimidation -1 Stealth +3 Investigation +1 Survival +5 All Skills WIS +3, Save DC 13Cantrips and Currently Prepared Spells: Guidance: Divination Cantrip. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: Touch Target: One willing creature. Components: V S. Duration: Up to 1 minute You touch one willing creature. Once before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to one ability check of its choice. It can roll the die before or after making the ability check. The spell then ends.Guidance | Thorn Whip: Transmutation cantrip. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: 30 feet. Components: V, S, M (the stem of a plant with thorns). Duration: Instantaneous You create a long, vine-like whip covered in thorns that lashes out at your command toward a creature in range. Make a melee spell attack against the target. If the attack hits, the creature takes 1d6 piercing damage, and if the creature is Large or smaller, you pull the creature up to 10 feet closer to you. At Higher Levels: This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).Thorn Whip Cure Wounds: 1st-level evocation. Casting Time: 1 action. Range: Touch Components: V, S. Duration: Instantaneous A creature you touch regains a number of hit points equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st.Cure Wounds | Detect Magic: 1st-level divination (ritual). Casting Time: 1 action Range: Self. Components: V, S. Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes For the duration, you sense the presence of magic within 30 feet of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use your action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its school of magic, if any. The spell can penetrate most barriers, but is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.Detect Magic | Entangle: 1st-level conjuration. Casting Time: 1 action Range: 90 feet. Components: V, S. Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute Grasping weeds and vines sprout from the ground in a 20-foot square starting from a point within range. For the duration, these plants turn the ground in the area into difficult terrain. A creature in the area when you cast the spell must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be restrained by the entangling plants until the spell ends. A creature restrained by the plants can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, it frees itself. When the spell ends, the conjured plants wilt away.Entangle | Healing Word: 1st-level evocation. Casting Time: 1 bonus action Range: 60 feet. Components: V. Duration: Instantaneous A creature of your choice that you can see within range regains hit points equal to 1d4 + your spellcasting ability modifier. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.Healing Word | Ice Knife: 1st-level conjuration. Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet. Components: S, M (a drop of water or piece of ice). Duration: Instantaneous You create a shard of ice and fling it at one creature within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 piercing damage. Hit or miss, the shard then explodes. The target and each creature within 5 feet of the point where the ice exploded must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage. At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the cold damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 1st.Ice Knife Features and Abilities: Druidic: You know Druidic, the secret language of druids. You can speak the language and use it to leave hidden messages. You and others who know this language automatically spot such a message. Others spot the message's presence with a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check but can't decipher it without magic.Druidic | Favored Enemy: Beginning at 1st level, you have significant experience studying, tracking, hunting, and even talking to a certain type of enemy. Choose a type of favored enemy: aberrations, beasts, celestials, constructs, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, giants, monstrosities, oozes, plants, or undead. Alternatively, you can select two races of humanoid (such as gnolls and orcs) as favored enemies. You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them. When you gain this feature, you also learn one language of your choice that is spoken by your favored enemies, if they speak one at all. You choose one additional favored enemy, as well as an associated language, at 6th and 14th level. As you gain levels, your choices should reflect the types of monsters you have encountered on your adventures.Favored Enemy: Beasts | Natural Explorer: You are particularly familiar with one type of natural environment and are adept at traveling and surviving in such regions. Choose one type of favored terrain: arctic, coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, swamp, or the Underdark. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to your favored terrain, your proficiency bonus is doubled if you are using a skill that you’re proficient in. While traveling for an hour or more in your favored terrain, you gain the following benefits: Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel.Your group can’t become lost except by magical means.Even when you are engaged in another activity while traveling (such as foraging, navigating, or tracking), you remain alert to danger.If you are traveling alone, you can move stealthily at a normal pace.When you forage, you find twice as much food as you normally would.While tracking other creatures, you also learn their exact number, their sizes, and how long ago they passed through the area. You choose additional favored terrain types at 6th and 10th level.Natural Explorer: Arctic Speech of the Woods: At 2nd level, you gain the ability to converse with beasts and many fey. You learn to speak, read, and write Sylvan. In addition, beasts can understand your speech, and you gain the ability to decipher their noises and motions. Most beasts lack the intelligence to convey or understand sophisticated concepts, but a friendly beast could relay what it has seen or heard in the recent past. This ability doesn’t grant you any special friendship with beasts, though you can combine this ability with gifts to curry favor with them as you would with any nonplayer character.Speech of the Woods | Spellcasting: Drawing on the divine essence of nature itself, you can cast spells to shape that essence to your will. Cantrips: At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the*druid spell list. You learn additional druid cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Druid table. Preparing and Casting Spells: The Druid table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your druid spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these druid spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. You prepare the list of druid spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the druid spell list. When you do so, choose a number of druid spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your Druid level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, if you are a 3rd-level druid, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Wisdom of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell*Cure Wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells. You can also change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of druid spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list. Spellcasting Ability: Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your druid spells, since your magic draws upon your devotion and attunement to nature. You use your Wisdom whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a druid spell you cast*and when making an attack roll with one. Spell save DC= 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier Spell attack modifier= your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier Ritual Casting: You can cast a druid spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared. Spellcasting Focus: You can use a druidic focus as a spellcasting focus for your druid spells.Spellcasting | Spirit Totem: Starting at 2nd level, you gain the ability to call forth nature spirits and use them to influence the world around you. As a bonus action, you can magically summon an incorporeal spirit to a point you can see within 60 feet of you. The spirit creates an aura in a 30-foot radius around that point. It counts as neither a creature nor an object, though it has the spectral appearance of the creature it represents. As a bonus action, you can move the spirit up to 60 feet to a point you can see. The spirit persists for 1 minute. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.The effect of the spirit’s aura depends on the type of spirit you summon from the options below. Bear Spirit. The bear spirit grants you and your allies its might and endurance. Each creature of your choice in the aura when the spirit appears gains temporary hit points equal to 5 + your druid level. In addition, you and your allies gain advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws while in the aura. Hawk Spirit. The hawk spirit is a consummate hunter, aiding you and your allies with its keen sight. When a creature makes an attack roll against a target in the spirit’s aura, you can use your reaction to grant advantage to that attack roll. In addition, you and your allies have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks while in the aura. Unicorn Spirit. The unicorn spirit lends its protection to those nearby. You and your allies gain advantage on all ability checks made to detect creatures in the spirit’s aura. In addition, if you cast a spell using a spell slot that restores hit points to any creature inside or outside the aura, each creature of your choice in the aura also regains hit points equal to your druid level.Spirit Totem | Wild Shape: Starting at 2nd level, you can use your action to magically assume the shape of a beast that you have seen before. You can use this feature twice. You regain expended uses when you finish a short or long rest. Your druid level determines the beasts you can transform into, as shown in the Beast Shapes table. At 2nd level, for example, you can transform into any beast that has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower that doesn't have a flying or swimming speed. You can stay in a beast shape for a number of hours equal to half your druid level (rounded down). You then revert to your normal form unless you expend another use of this feature. You can revert to your normal form earlier by using a bonus action on your turn. You automatically revert if you fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die. While you are transformed, the following rules apply: Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature's bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary or lair actions, you can't use them.When you transform, you assume the beast's hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed. However, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form, For example, if you take 10 damage in animal form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn't reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren't knocked unconscious.You can't cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as*Call Lightning, that you've already cast.You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can't use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature's shape and size. Your equipment doesn't change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can't wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.Wild Shape   CR 0: Badger | Cat | Deer | Fox | Goat | Hare | Pig | Rat | Sheep | Spider | Weasel CR 1/8: Diseased Giant Rat | Giant Rat | Giant Weasel | Mastiff | Mule | Pony CR 1/4: Boar | Cow | Draft Horse | Elk | Giant Badger Giant Centipede | Giant Wolf Spider | Ox | Riding Horse | Wolf   A bear tooth necklaceAnimal Trophy Backpack Bedroll Bolt Case Coin Pouch Crossbow bolts x20 a dreamcatcher made of small animal bones and wild grasses, worn around the neckDruidic Focus Flute Hempen Rope, 50ft Herbalism Kit Hunting Trap Mess Kit Rations x10 Shovel Staff Tinderbox Torches x10 Traveler’s Clothes x2 Waterskin a handaxe from LorgenWilli

[Cheshire]

THUD...THUD...THUD... The rhythmic thumping of fists and feet against wood could be heard nearby. After the barmaid had enough of playing her violin for an empty tavern so she decided to get some of the excitement of the coming trip by training. With cloth tightly wrapped around he fists, the self trained monk stood in the forest breaking bark and limbs of the local pine trees. With each strike, snow drifted down around her from the snow covered branches.

Whipping the sweat from her brow, Kirra took a drink and then slowly made her way back to the warmth of her home. The embers of a small fire were still smoldering in the fireplace and Kirra entered the dwelling. One of the benefits of working in an inn, was being able to take left over food home at the end of the day. This time it was venison stew from the day before. Not the freshest meal, but it is hard to complain about free food. Kirra built up the fire once more and put the stew into a pot to warm it up over the fire.

As the monk awoke just as the sun was rising. It was just to bad the storm was blocking the normally beautiful view of the sun rise through the forest. Gathering her things she placed them near the door one by one making sure not to forget anything. This was her first time going on one of these adventuress and she did not want to be the one to forget the simple things in front of her new travel mates. Instead of her usual dress, Kirra instead wore loose pants under the warm furs witch allowed her to move more freely. The barmaid wrapped a cloth around her head and then pulled a hat down over the cloth. After putting a warm furn coat on, she grabbed her never used backpack and with one last look back at the room, she stepped out into the storm.

The crunching of snow and blowing wind was all Kirra could hear as she made her way to the meeting place. Through the blowing snow she could just make out a set of smaller tracks traveling the same direction. "Aeona maybe?" As she got closer, the monk could just make out what looked like a bonfire a short distance away. "I didn't think anyone could start a fire in this storm."

"HEY! Over here!"

Suddenly the fire went out. Kirra swore she heard someone call out, and after seeing the fire disappear, she began running as fast as she could to where the fire was. Sliding to a halt, the monk looked around, she noticed two things. First was that there was no evidence of a fire anywhere. Second, there was an oddly shaped imprint of a small person in a nearby snowbank. With a smile on her face, Kirra reached into the snowbank and found the squirming body of the gnomish wizard. "Don't worry I got you." She pulled, helping Aeona from the snowbank. With a laugh, Kirra brushed off the wizard. "are you alright?"

 

Stat Block Kirra | CLASS=Monk | Level 3 HP: 20/20| AC: 14 | Speed: 50ft Stats: Str (8), Dex (14), Con (15), Int (8), Wis (15), Cha (10) Languages: Common Currently wielding: Weapons: Fists, Darts

[Snicker]

Rana https://www.deviantart.com/len-yan Rana Dulik | Character sheet | Character page | AC: 13 | HP: 30 / 30 | Hit dice: 3 / 3d10 | Insight: 12 Investigation: 10 Perception: 14Passive senses | Parry Precision Attack Trip Attack Superiority dice: 4 / 4d8 Maneuvers | Rustic Hospitality Defense combat style Sharpshooter Second wind: 1 / 1 Action surge: 1 / 1 Features | None Passed death saves: 0 / 3 Failed death saves: 0 / 3Conditions | Common DwarvishLanguages Rana stepped out of Lorgen's, a longbow and quiver lighter and a sledge and spikes heavier than she'd been an hour ago. She probably wouldn't need the latter, but it was better to be prepared and not need it than the reverse. The worst way to die, in her opinion, was to carelessness. The sun had set, but Rana could near enough navigate the village blind. Through the dark and the snow, she approached the shrine to Alsard until the dark shape of the stone slab loomed in front of her. She rested the sledgehammer's head in the snow, put her hands together, and bowed her head. "Keep the cold and the snow where it belongs, and out of our homes and our coats." She knew others liked to get flowery with their prayers, but Rana didn't know any other way to talk than plain. "Leave us enough to share each other's warmth. See us through the winter, and you'll find us and your shrine here for you again, next year." She paused, then sighed softly. "If we're doing something we shouldn't, tell us. If we're not doing something we should, tell us. What we see, we'll tell the whole village." The crack of a whip cut through the morning air, accompanied by the sound of running feet and skis cutting across the snow. Three dogs approach the gate - one in lead, then two side-by-side - pulling a sled laden with gear, but with plenty of room for more. On the back of the sled was Rana, who cracked the whip again, this time almost directly overhead. "Woah! Woah." The dogs slowed to a stop, but all but vibrated with eager energy. They liked to move and didn't want to stop just a minute after starting, not so early in the morning. The lead dog in particular pulled on his harness and turned his shoulder to look plaintively at Rana, who stayed in the sled. "You all ought to thank Grandma Geirhild when we get back," Rana said, slapping one gloved hand against the side of the sled. "She let us borrow this sled, no strings attached, as long as we bring it back today. I figure we'll find enough to load it up on the trip." She looked over at Wyl. "I know you didn't want to risk the dogs, but they've been cooped up long enough as it is. I see them getting depressed."