Play by Post Session
The wagon creaks to a halt at the forest's edge. Ancient oaks loom before you, their branches intertwined like gnarled fingers against the darkening sky. A mist rolls between the trunks, carrying with it the sound of distant whispers.
"This is as far as I go," the wagon driver mutters, avoiding eye contact. "The road ends here. Whatever business you have in Davokar... may the gods protect you."
What do you do?
KVAREK steps down from the wagon, her changeling heritage making her particularly sensitive to the mystical energies of this place. The whispers seem to call to her, but she shakes her head firmly.
"We should move quickly," she says to her companions, shouldering her pack. "These woods have a reputation for good reason. Stay close, and trust nothing you hear that doesn't come from one of us."
Action: KVAREK will take point, using her Discreet ability to move silently and watch for danger as the group enters the forest.
Discreet roll: Rolling to move silently and spot any immediate threats...
ORLAN pulls her cloak tighter around herself, feeling the mystical energies of the forest wash over her. Her goblin instincts make her more sensitive to the corruption that permeates this place.
"The forest... it's in pain," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "Something ancient and wounded dwells here. We must tread carefully."
She closes her eyes briefly, attempting to sense the source of the whispers.
Action: Using Quick to react swiftly to any threats and Ritualist to try and understand the nature of the whispers.
"I can feel it... there's something watching us already."
ANSEL adjusts his holy symbol, feeling the divine power of Prios flow through him. His theurgic training helps him sense the corruption around them.
"By the Light of Prios," he intones, his voice carrying divine authority. "There's evil here, but we've been chosen to face it."
He grips his shield firmly, ready to protect his companions.
Action: ANSEL will bring up the rear, keeping his shield ready and watching for any threats from behind.
"The Light will guide us through this darkness."
@shadowhunter - Your discreet movement reveals movement in the shadows between the trees, but when you focus on any particular spot, nothing is there. However, you notice that the animal sounds you'd expect in a forest are completely absent. Roll Discreet - you need 12+ to spot something more specific.
@mysticfae - Your goblin instincts are overwhelmed by the sheer wrongness of this place. The whispers aren't natural - they're the echoes of something that happened here long ago. Roll Quick (difficulty 10) to maintain your composure and not be affected by the mystical corruption.
@ironfist - Your theurgic senses serve you well. You notice the ground beneath your feet feels... wrong. Like it's been tainted by something ancient.
As you all focus your abilities, the whispers suddenly stop. The silence is somehow worse than the voices.
Then you hear it - the sound of something large moving through the underbrush, approaching from the north.
Discreet Roll Result: [Rolling d20+5] 16 - Success!
KVAREK freezes, holding up a hand to signal the others to stop. Her changeling eyes finally catch what was eluding her - there are humanoid shapes in the trees, but they're not moving like living beings. They sway with the branches, as if they're part of the forest itself.
"Undead," she breathes, drawing her dagger slowly to avoid making noise. "Hanging in the trees like grotesque fruit. And something bigger is coming."
She positions herself between her companions and the approaching sound from the north.
Action: Drawing weapon and taking a defensive stance. Ready to use Backstab if whatever's coming proves hostile.
Quick Roll: [Rolling d20+5] 13 - Success!
ORLAN takes a deep breath, steeling herself against the mystical corruption. The whispers try to worm their way into her mind, but her goblin resilience helps her maintain focus.
"I can sense them now," she says quietly, her hands beginning to glow with a soft green light. "The dead do not rest easy here. And something else... something that feeds on their torment."
Seeing KVAREK draw her weapon, she prepares her ritual magic.
Action: Preparing Ritualist to potentially command any undead that might attack, and ready to cast mystical powers if needed.
"Whatever's coming... it's not entirely natural either."
ANSEL raises his holy symbol, the light of Prios shining through the darkness. His theurgic training helps him sense the corruption around them.
"By the Light of Prios," he intones, his voice carrying divine authority. "This place reeks of death and worse. But we're not turning back now."
He moves to flank the group, his shield raised and holy symbol glowing.
Action: Taking up a flanking position, shield at the ready. If combat breaks out, he'll use Witch Hammer to deliver devastating blows against the corrupted.
"Let them come. The Light will protect us."
As KVAREK spots the hanging corpses and ORLAN prepares her magic, the source of the crashing sounds emerges from the northern treeline.
A massive Blight Boar bursts through the undergrowth - its tusks dripping with corruption, its eyes glowing with unnatural hunger. The mystical taint has transformed this once-noble forest creature into something monstrous.
Initiative order:
1. ORLAN (Quick)
2. KVAREK
3. ANSEL
4. Blight Boar
The hanging corpses begin to stir, attracted by the boar's presence and the scent of living flesh.
Combat Round 1 - ORLAN's turn
The boar is 15 meters away and charging. The stirring undead are 20 meters away in the trees. What's your action, @mysticfae?
ORLAN feels the mystical energy surge through her as the corrupted beast charges. Her goblin heritage gives her the speed advantage, and she uses it wisely.
"I'll try to control it before it reaches us!" she calls out, her voice clear despite the chaos.
Action: Using Ritualist to try and influence the Blight Boar. This will require a Quick roll against the boar's Resolute.
Quick Roll: [Rolling d20+5] 17 - Strong success!
The green light around her hands intensifies as she focuses her ritual magic on the charging beast.
"Stop!" she commands, her voice carrying mystical authority.
Result: The boar's charge falters as it struggles against her command. It's not fully controlled, but it's definitely confused and slowed.
KVAREK sees her opportunity as the boar hesitates under ORLAN's mystical influence. Her changeling instincts take over.
"Now!" she shouts, charging forward with her dagger raised.
Action: Using Backstab to attack the confused boar from behind. With the beast slowed by ORLAN's magic, this should be easier.
Backstab Roll: [Rolling d20+5] 19 - Excellent hit!
Damage: [Rolling d6+3] 8 damage
KVAREK's dagger finds its mark, cutting deep into the boar's corrupted flesh. Black ichor sprays from the wound.
"It's bleeding corruption!" she calls back to her companions.
ANSEL sees his companions' success and raises his holy symbol high. The light of Prios flows through him, empowering his attack.
"By the Light!" he roars, charging in with his shield and holy symbol.
Action: Using Witch Hammer to deliver a devastating blow to the wounded boar.
Witch Hammer Roll: [Rolling d20+3] 15 - Solid hit!
Damage: [Rolling d8+3] 12 damage
The holy light connects with a satisfying crack, and the boar staggers under the impact. ANSEL's divine power combined with the holy weapon proves devastating.
"The Light prevails!" he bellows triumphantly.
The combined assault proves too much for the corrupted beast. With a final, pained squeal, the Blight Boar collapses, its form beginning to dissolve into the dark soil.
Combat Result: Victory! The party has successfully defeated the Blight Boar.
Experience: Each player gains 50 XP for the encounter.
Loot: The boar's tusks are still intact and might be valuable to the right buyer, though they're tainted with corruption.
However, the hanging corpses in the trees are now fully animated and beginning to descend. The party has a choice:
What do you choose?
KVAREK wipes her dagger clean on the grass, eyeing the descending undead with grim determination.
"We've got momentum," she says, her voice steady despite the fatigue. "And I want to know what's behind all this corruption."
She looks to her companions for their thoughts.
Action: KVAREK votes to investigate the source. She believes understanding the root cause is more valuable than fighting endless undead.
"We need to find what's causing this. Otherwise, we'll just be fighting corpses forever."
ORLAN nods in agreement with KVAREK's assessment. Her mystical senses are still tingling with the presence of something ancient and malevolent.
"I can feel it," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "There's a... presence. Something old and wounded that's lashing out at the world."
She looks toward the deeper forest, where the corruption seems strongest.
Action: ORLAN agrees to investigate the source. Her ritual abilities might be crucial for understanding what they're dealing with.
"But we need to be careful. Whatever it is, it's powerful enough to corrupt an entire forest."
ANSEL raises his holy symbol, still glowing from the recent battle. His theurgic training wars with his tactical mind.
"Aye, let's find the root of this evil," he intones. "But we'd better be quick about it. Those corpses aren't getting any slower."
He gestures toward the undead, which are now fully descended and beginning to shamble toward them.
Action: ANSEL agrees to investigate the source, but suggests they move quickly. He's ready to fight if needed.
"Lead the way, goblin. Your magic seems to be our best chance of finding this thing."
The party quickly agrees to investigate the source of the corruption rather than fight endless waves of undead. ORLAN's mystical senses guide them deeper into the forest.
New Scene: The deeper woods are even more oppressive. The trees here are twisted and blackened, their branches reaching like skeletal fingers. The ground is covered in a strange, dark moss that seems to pulse with malevolent life.
ORLAN's Mystical Sense Roll: [Rolling d20+5] 18 - Success!
She can feel the source of the corruption - it's coming from a massive, ancient tree at the center of this blighted area. Something is trapped within it, and it's spreading its corruption outward.
The party has reached a decision point:
- Approach the corrupted tree
- Try to find a way to purify it
- Attempt to destroy it
- Retreat and return with reinforcements
What's your plan?