Rokav and his pet wolf Ash stand in the scorched Tower at 2114. (Red hex)
The fire damage is extensive and the smell of smoke is strong. Normally there is a haze in the air, although last night a thick mist crept in and visibility is poor, even worse than under the normal canopy of trees in the Forest of Ghosts. Rokav knows that beneath the mist is a few hundred yards of black stumps and charred earth before the normal tree line returns. Out there somewhere is a crater where the fireball had struck.
Rokav looks out into the mist, feeling weary but otherwise fighting fit. He cannot return to his tribe, the Nehar, for many reasons. But the hunter has supplies, treasure, and is in a lush unexplored forest with Ash by his side. The Forest of Ghosts is not so terrible, he thinks. With a wry smile, he scratches Ash’s ears, and waits for the noon sun to burn away the mist.
Loading up his supplies, Rokav turns back to the tower and scratches a rune into the door that indicates Graggar and Silvar’s bloodline. Then he turns his back on his tribe. The mist has burned away, so he gets his bearings and strikes north. From his days spent ranging, he has made some friends in the people of the eastern Steppes, and will seek them out.
As he is weary (0HD) he only moves north to 2113 (empty) in the afternoon, no special events for the rest of the day, they take rations and water, and Rokav heals 3 HD, pretty much fully fit. As they are out of water, Rokav and Ash both spend the day hunting and foraging, and looking for a place for the Traps. Nothing happens during the daylight hours. Ash automatically sustains himself, and Rokav gets partial success, finding enough food for 2 days, and enough water for himself and the skins. Overnight there is an encounter! It happens right at the end of Ash’s watch, so Rokav is fully restored before it happens.
Looking online, a D&D5e encounter table says “Blights” which are like small animated twigs, vines, thorns etc. I prefer a “forest imp” type creature which is a small (like 1-2 feet tall) humanoid but with thorns for fingertips, holly as hair, roots for legs and so on. Ash’s animal sense will assist here.
Animal Sense (WIS) 4+6-1 = partial, so yes, we’ll rule here that the Imps want to steal something and they are in Rokav’s pack as he awakens.
Rokav rolls to his feet as Ash growls and nudges him with a wet muzzle. They are surrounded by 6 Forest Imps, plus another who is rummaging in his backpack. It pulls out the (random item=) lantern and turns to run, holding it in both hands. The Imps scatter.
Rokav “Catch Imp” (DEX) 5+5+2 = Crit! He can capture the Imp and regain his item. 1d6=5 of the Imps return to the campsite and chitter angrily. (Speak common? Unlikely = no). Ash snarls, but Rokav picks up all his belongings then pushes the Imp away to his friends, making a “go away” gesture with the back of his hand. Imps retreat? Likely = No but … they aren’t aggressive. They move back into the trees and bushes, watching. Rokav shrugs and packs his kit, then they head out to the Trap site (Did the imps find it? Unknown = yes but they don’t like the food. Survival (WIS) 1+1+0 = only 1 ration found). The Imps follow in the treetops, climbing or swinging like monkeys. Rokav tuts in annoyance. 50XP.
Rokav heads north to 2112 (middle of the yellow oval) in the afternoon, yet another encounter! Half Orc patrol from the tent village? Likely = No, but … Charity. An offering from the half-orcs to the forest imps!
Rokav spots some … shelves? … nailed high up in some trees in a clearing. Metal glints off some of them. The Imps suddenly start chittering excitedly and rush up to the shelves, where they excitedly examine a bunch of brik-a-brak of mostly little value. There are a decent amount of human-type tracks here, heading northwest. Rokav suspects this means he is close to the north edge of the Forest, as such frequent passage indicates a settlement or regular route, as civilised humanoids rarely live or travel in numbers in the deep forest. The Imps seem distracted, and Rokav decides that evil folk wouldn’t try to placate the Imps, so he will follow the tracks northwest to 2012 for the chance of human company and a warm bed.
The Half Orc Settlement at 2012 is a combination of tents at forest level, and single or twin room “tree houses” connected to each other and the ground by vines, rope ladders, planks etc. There are over a hundred souls here by estimate of the lodgings.
Rokav presents himself to the leader of the settlement:
“Drilu?” asks the chief, referring to a nearby tribe. “Nehar” answers Rokav.
“Why are you here?” asks the chief. “Nomad” answers Rokav.
“You are welcome, as long as you head south or east when you leave”.
Rokav agrees. The “man’s business” is at ground level, which includes weapons care, fletching, lumber, racks for skins and hooks for meat, there is even a “bar tent” of sorts, Ash is welcome inside for a tip. Silver is only worth half here, although items not easily obtainable are worth double, and “pretty things” can be found buyers for wives and mothers etc. He trades the “innkeeper” the pretty coral for some silver and all his board, food and drink for 2 nights and arranges a deal with the fletcher and barkeep for some arrows. He also gets some trinkets for offering to the Imps.
He learns of the history of the place by chatting with the locals, and meets an “orphan” called Wushir who wants to accompany him when he leaves. He has no family and is treated badly by the Half Orc tribe. Rokav sizes him up, he has some basic equipment but looks a tough lad. He agrees. Rokav hands over his old sling when he sees that Wushir has no ranged weapon and they agree to meet after first food in 2 days - Wushir looks for Mistletoe (Quicksilver) in the forest and finds 1 each day (weak success x2).
The group head southeast to 2112 back to the Offerings Place and leave some trinkets, then in the afternoon strike out northeast to 2212 intending to skirt the Imp nest. There is an Encounter - Imps? Likely = Yes, they are returning to the Nest with their trinkets and avoid the group. 50 XP. The group are travelling relatively fast so they have some time in the evening, Rokav will set his traps while Ash will forage for himself and Wushir looks for water.
Wushir Survival partial = 2 days water (they can refill their skins in the morning)
Rokav Survival Crit! 2 days rations each, in the morning.
Overnight events = no.
Picking up their supplies, the group head east to 2312. Every so often they leave some trinkets for the Imps, until they leave their domain with no encounters, and strike out northeast to 2412. The forest is quiet but in the mid-afternoon they discover a clearing with a sloped entrance leading underground. Interesting! What’s also interesting is they fail to notice the cocooned animals and humanoids concealed hanging in the treetops above! The burrow is home to a colony of Large Flying Ants, and the cocoons are the remains of meals hunted by Giant Spiders. Are there spiders above? Unknown = No but … on their way. Are there any Ants outside or in the first chamber? Unknown = No but … on their way!
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