Into the Gray

Session Summary

We follow the goblin tracks north, then east until we find a hastily-constructed camp where 20 or so goblins are apparently refugees from their former home. Star manages to negotiate with them, learning that they blame the miners for the presence of owlbears nearby. I ask for the white staff which I've been seeking and they give it to me in exchange for us removing the owlbears from their former village. Once at the village, several hours away, we kill all the owlbears we can find there.

Log

#encounters #encounters/owlbears

I explain to the party I’m looking for information and clues so I’d like to go about this cautiously. 

We follow the tracks north for a few miles. Then we lose track of the tracks at some point. The trail meanders a little to the east along the way. We’re in a grassy area with scattered trees. We begin looking around for clues as to where to go.

The local ranger Wash is familiar with the terrain, and would likely be able to pick back up on the trail. Star can tell there have been a lot of creatures through this way. It’s hard to pick up on the trail again.

Star asks Wash for help. Wash is hesitant. He finally decides to help, he’s not so keen on this mission. He wants us to get this over with. We remain alert to danger.

Eventually we see smoke rising up in the distance. Wash recognizes it as smoke we’d see from a small campfire. 

Star goes into stealth jumping between tree to tree. Wash suggests he should crawl within the grass. He runs up ahead to scout out. It takes him about ten minutes to get close, staying stealthy. 

Up close, he makes out what appears to be a very hastily built camp. There are a couple of goblins on lookout. There are about 20 goblins at most, assuming the tents are full.

I am asking around about who might speak goblin. Star gets back and offers to use Comprehend Languages.

“I don’t know how aggro these goblins are.” Star says, worriedly. 

Arachne offers to go up with a white flag and attempt to communicate. If they start being hostile we can be hostile back.

Side Note: The grass is taller than Twinkletoes.

Meta Notes: Re: White Quarterstaff|staff It has a special feature of appearance that you can decide right now, it was said to be used by a famous General from Conqel.

Arachne is following myself, Star, and Elzara who are approaching the encampment with the universal sign of no harm. Twinkletoes is trying to be stealthy behind Arachne, but not doing a great job. Wash and Elzira are hanging back. 

As we approach with our white flag, we can hear a bunch of shuffling in the camp. As we get close to the camp, we see there are a bunch of goblins scrambling around. The lookouts definitely saw us approaching. They are holding up just sharpened sticks. 

The rest of the goblins appear to have gathered up whatever they can. They seem to be waiting for instructions. 10 goblins are in the back gathering. 10 goblins are armed with pointy sticks. 

“Does anybody speak Common?” Star asks as we draw near. We get within 30 feet of the spiky stick bois. 

It seems clear that none of them have really been in combat. 

Star can hear them yelling, “Stop, don’t come any closer!” 

The one who was shouting seems surprised and confused that we listened. 

Star says “Yes,” in common while nodding his head.

It sounds like they’re trying to figure out what they want to do.

They call out something towards the back. One of the goblins in the back steps forward.

From what Star can tell, they called him forward because he’s the guy who best understands Common. 

Star explains that goblins attacked the town and we want to know why. The goblin scowls and is clearly upset at the bad news, seeming to assume that we have killed their friends.

I am extremely upset. He just told them everything before I could get the information I want about my staff.

Star listens carefully as the goblins try to speak quietly, but they don’t cover it well. They’re freaked out because we probably will kill them all since we slaughtered their actual soldiers.

“I want to prevent bloodshed, if possible,” Star shouts out. 

The translator turns back and repeats it in goblin. One of them blurts out, “It’s because you stupid humans ruined our peaceful existence, causing those monsters to come here and ruin our lives!” 

Star explains.

“What kind of monsters!” I shout out at the translator. 

Star hears, “As if you don’t know, those cursed beings, unholy combinations of different animals! Like a bear combined with an owl!” 

“We weren’t the cause of those creatures, we also fought those monsters and we don’t know where they come from,” Star explains. He asks if they know where they are and whether we can establish a treaty.

The goblins discuss, angrily, that they don’t believe this is true. They arrive upon an idea, “If you can get rid of them, that would be fantastic. We might even believe you.” 

“Where are the monsters?” Star asks.

I attempt to ask about whether they’ve seen a white quarterstaff nearby. Star can hear them talking about bribing me with it. To my great surprise, one of the goblins pulls out the staff matching the description of what I’ve been saying. #clues

“Is this what you’re talking about?” they ask.

While they step up and attempt to hand it to me, but think better of it as they want to make a deal. They want us to kill the monsters living in their old camp.

Star agrees to their deal if they can make a treaty.

I take the staff quickly, the goblin backs away from me as fast as possible.

Star asks where the old camp is. They seem panicked as they realize they need to take us to it.

I am getting caught up in the excitement of the new staff. 

Star notices and reminds me we have work to do for this. 

A little goblin comes with us as we rejoin our party, he is here to give us directions.

Star explains there is a bigger threat than the goblins, and explains the situation in full. He says we need to take care of these owlbears, because even if we kill the goblins, the owlbears will still be a problem.

As Star convinces the rest of us, the goblin is getting impatient. I’ve become intrigued because Star has very convincingly pitched this as a mystery that needs solving.

Wash is staying super alert because he is highly suspicious of this entire situation.

We follow the goblin.

Star asks what’s so exciting about the staff and I simply explain that I like special items and was given a tip about this one. 

Wash asks why we’re still on a mission if I got what I was looking for, but I shrug and say this is Star’s mission now. I got what I wanted.

Several hours later, we finally arrive at what appears to be ruins of a goblin village.

 The goblin points at it with a matter of fact look.

Wash points out how suspicious all of this is. Star tries to explain that this makes a lot of sense. Wash asks if he even could even tell the difference between an escape camp and a raid camp.

“Yes,” Star says confidently. “Wait what?”

Then, the map populates with owlbears.

Upon arriving, Wash can sense there are precisely 7 owlbears.

It’s between ten or eleven AM in-game.

Wash and Star discuss the owlbears and history. Star suggests setting up a trap. Elzara has a large net she can use to capture one. 

Star carefully approaches the village. He gets up next to the wall and peers around. As he peers around, he sees a lone owlbear that appears to be sniffing around one of the buildings. 

He can tell this is where the owlbears are based out of.

The goblin is hanging back watching us decide what to do. He wants to see what’s happening but he also doesn't want to die. 

Star returns to us. “I only saw one owlbear. This is definitely where they come to eat and sleep. We should either make a trap here and lure them over, or ambush them.” 

Wash wants to know how damaged this village can get. 

Star says probably some damage is fine.

We decide how to lure the owlbear over here. Wash draws his bow. I prepared to cast Fire Bolt. 

Star sets up traps with great debate, it takes about 10 minutes. 

Arachne Blesses myself, Wash, and Elzara. I get to add 1d4 to attack rolls and saving throws for 1 minute.

I cast Fire Bolt for 4 damage, Star shoots his bow for 8+6 damage. Wash shoots his Longbow for 9 damage. Elzira casts Fire Bolt and misses, setting a house on fire.

The owlbear screams.

I throw another fire bolt for 3 damage. 

Wash hits with an arrow for 7 damage.

Star casts Eldritch Blast and deals 1 damage.

Elzara prepares to strike with her hammer once the owlbear is in range.

Twinkletoes moves forward and prepares to strike with her rapier when the owlbear comes into range. 

Arachne moves close to Elzara and casts Sacred Flame. She misses. She then casts the most epic Spiritual Weapon there ever was. It can deal 7 damage.

The owlbear charges at everyone. It enters the range for Elzira’s flaming sphere. The owlbear attempts to evade the spear, but it trips over the rope, pulling the sticks out of the ground on the sides holding up the rope. This lands it on to another spike. As it falls onto the spike, it appears to be dead.

Round 2

I yeet another fire bolt at Wash’s suggestion. This sets another building on fire.

An owlbear emerges from the town and starts raging towards us.

Wash Nat20s with his longbow, dealing 9+2 damage.

Star attempts to jump out and take a shot, but misses.

A second owlbear comes out of the darkness in a sprint.

Elzara prepares to smash them with a hammer.

Elzira moves her flaming sphere, dealing either 9 damage to both bears.

Twinkletoes casts Shatter, dealing 10 damage or half to both bears.

Two more owlbears appear to the east.

Arachne casts Sacred Flame, but misses. She rolls her eyes, she uses her bonus action to strike an owlbear for 4 damage.

Round 3

I cast a firebolt at whichever owlbear looks more wounded, dealing 8 damage.

That owlbear charges at Elzara, and starts swinging.

Elzara smashes it for 10 damage. 

The owlbear swings but loses its balance, and then misses again with its beak just barely.

Wash yells “Owlbear on the left!” Then shoots at the owlbear in front of Elzara. He misses and hits Arachne in her back for -9 damage.

Arachne manages to save her concentration. 

Star attacks a bear with a short bow. He shoots true and deals 14 damage. He moves behind the group with Elzara.

That owlbear steps on a trap as it runs up to Elzara and takes some damage. It attempts to swipe her with its claws, hitting and dealing -10 damage. Its beak also hits, dealing -15 damage. 

Elzara strikes back with 8 damage.

Elzira moves her sphere and deals 11 damage to two of the bears. One of the bears falls over and appears to have died.

Twinkletoes does little bit stabby with their rapier. It misses. She heals Arachne for 6 hit points.

Arachne casts mirror image. This lasts for 1 minute. She moves her sword to hit another owlbear, the injured one next to Elzara. It hits for 11 damage. It dies.

Round 4

I move closer to the group, and cast Fire Bolt, dealing 7 damage. 

Wash strikes the bear near Arachne with a shortsword, dealing 7+4+2+3 damage. He seems extremely adept and is able to strike this well.

Star casts Faerie Fire, lighting up three owlbears which gives us advantage on attack rolls towards these creatures. It is effective for all three in the range. 

The owlbear attempts to attack Arachne, and Elzara uses her reaction to cause disadvantage. Unfortunately it still hits, Arachne screams and attempts to block with a mirror image, but all for naught. She takes -11 damage. Arachne attempts to block the incoming beak attack with a clone, and it works. Arachne has lost her concentration. 

Bless is no longer in effect.

Elzara strikes it for 7 damage. 

Elzira moves the flamey boi to deal some damage. It doesn’t hit.

Twinkletoes stabs the owlbear that just attacked Arachne. She misses, but casts Healing Word on Arachne for 8 hit points.

An owlbear goes for Wash. It swipes with its claws, then pecks, but misses both times.

An owlbear goes to attack Twinkletoes, and Elzara goes to cause disadvantage. Unfortunately, the owlbear swipes and deals -13 damage. Elzara is able to deflect the beak attack.

An owlbear then deals -9 damage to Elzara with its claws, then -9 damage with its beak. Elzara is now in the throws of death.

Arachne casts Heal Wounds on Elzara, bringing her to 6 health. Arachne swings her magic sword behind the owlbear right in front of her. She deals 9 damage.

Round 5

I use Twinned Metamagic to target two owlbears with Chromatic Orb, dealing 10 damage and 22 damage. 

Wash swings and deals 10 damage.

Star shoots with his bow, dealing 12+5 damage.

Elzara goes to hit the owlbear next to Twinkletoes, dealing 10 damage. She strikes a second time, dealing 7 damage.

Elzira moves his sphere over to the owlbears near Elzara and Twinkletoes, dealing 5 damage.

Twinkletoes finally hits with her rapier, dealing 6 damage. She casts 5 healing on Elzara.

An owlbear swings at Wash, losing balance and missing. It pecks, but misses.

An owlbear slashes at Twinkletoes, Elzara goes to protect, the claws unfortunately hit anyways, and deals -13 damage. Twinkletoes has -2 health now.

Elzira takes -8 damage from an owlbear.

Arachne uses Spare the Dying on Twinkletoes and then grants her 7 health with Healing Word.

Round 6

I use Twinned Metamagics to cast Chromatic Orb again. I miss with one, but hit the bear that is glowing for 16 damage.

Wash deals 8+5+2 damage to the owlbear near him.

Star shoots and misses.

Elzara smashes the owlbear by Twinkletoes for 10 damage.

Elzira attacks with her sphere boi. She deals 4 damage for each. She then casts Fire Bolt at the owlbear next to Wash, dealing 11 damage.

Twinkletoes casts Shatter. The owlbears take some damage. The one on the left looks like it is hit by the full force. The other dies. She then inspires me with Bardic Inspiration.

The owlbear near Wash deals him -13 damage with its beak.

The other owlbear swings with its claws and pecks with its beak, dealing -12 damage. Elzara is now at -9 damage. 

Arachne runs back into the thick of it. She stabilizes Elzara with Spare the Dying. She then smacks the bear with her sword. It deals 11 damage.

Round 7

I use my Fey Step to appear next to the owlbear near Elzara, dealing 4 damage, then swing my quarterstaff dealing 8 damage.

Wash annihilates the owlbear next to him. 

Star attacks with his rapier, dealing 16 damage. It is apparently dead.