I will get back to you with a more develped character shortly.  

FYI - Life has been very busy for the last 3 days.  I will updat ethe game tomorrow - Sunday.  

Lily - what they have said about movement is correct with one small correction - you are small.  Humans and many others move at 30' per turn but the wee little ones only move at 25' per turn.  Little legs and such.  Thus you can move normally at 25' per turn or if you want to forgo attacking and use your action to dash - 50' 

Yes, you are still active!

Sorry about not responding, it got lost in the shuffle.  My fault.  I was waiting to figure out what would happen with the site and then . . . time passed.  But glad you are back.  

I still need a couple of posts . . . 

The group moved up to where Silver was watching the guards.  At this point they were a mere 30’ from the closest guard who was 25’ up a tree near the riverbank.  The other was further away – about 100’ up the ridge – a difficult climb, but doable.  The party members split their targets and took aim, hoping to silence the guards before they could react. 

               The group firing on the goblin in the tree coordinated their attacks and all stepped clear of coverage together to launch.  Hornet groaned as his bolt lodged itself in a branch partially blocking the creatures head while Uthal was similarly disappointed to see his sling shot ricochet off of a branch.  But the goblin didn’t have time to react to those misses as Lily whipped a stone at it and struck it right between the eyes.  She would never be sure if the stone alone killed it as Gerdar’s trusty javelin slipped through the branches and skewered it at the same time.  With barely a sound the creature slipped off its perch.  The silence didn’t last, however, as the body crashed through 25’ of branches on its way to a hard impact with the ground.  The noise hadn’t been very loud, but it was certainly not silent.

               That left Soledad and Thaoran to deal with the other guard.  To protect his fletching Thaoran allowed the witch to hurl her fire first.  The firebolt flew up at the goblin but splattered on the rock that partially protected it.  Thaoran’s arrow met a similar fate.  The goblin nearly jumped out of its skin and had to grab the rocks in order to avoid tumbling down towards the group.  It screamed and tried to hunker down behind the rocks but remind partially in view. 

               The scream and sudden blast of fire may have drawn some attention from those at the pyre.  You may have heard noise from that direction, but at over 100 yards it is hard to be certain. 

Overview

One goblin guard is dead.  The one on the rock above you is unharmed.  You are about 100’ away from that goblin with a climb up to get to it.  It can be targeted with spells or arrows – but at disadvantage.  The pyre appears to be about 100 yards (yards – so 300 feet) up stream from you.  So, imagine going 300’ north along the river and then turning right – up the ridge for another 100’ or so – that is approximately where the ledge under a shear cliff with a pyre on it is located.  Travelling along the river here is very easy but traveling up the ridge to reach the guard would be at ½ speed.  How quickly one could go up to reach the pyre is uncertain as that path is no visible. 

I'm hoping to post tomorrow- Sunday, if possible.  If not, it will be Monday.  Be sure to hae your attack plans in place.  You seem to have the drop on them, but once you shoot - well, as you may have noticed, sometimes all #$@#! breaks loose.

Distances - you can decide that for yourself.  Read the description.  The guards are 30' past Silver's position.  Where do you want to go before doing whatever you do?  That will dictate distance.  Of course, you might be seen as well.  But at the moment you don't think they see you.  What do you want to try?  

Sure, no problem.  Lets get things moving!  There are goblins who need to kill or be killed!

To be clear - the two guards (One in tree and the other in the rocks) are positioned in such a way that they can likely see each other.  It is possible that you could take one out without the other seeing, but it isn't very likely.  

*I know not everyone got a chance to post due to site issues, but I wanted to get something up so that we kept moving despite the long gap.

Having safely crossed the river on an ice boat the group cleaned up, dried off, and prepared to move northward.  They were about a mile south of where Boris (Who has currently disappeared again.) indicated the pyre would be located.  It wasn’t hard to spot – a greasy tower of smoke rose out of the ridge ahead.  Silver and Hornet took the lead – scouting a path while carefully looking for goblin scouts. The rest of the group trailed behind in various positions.           

               The hope was to sneak up on the creatures and so the group moved slowly, looking for any sign of guards and scouts from the enemy.  As the smoke tower drew closer the scouts began to see some signs of recent activity.  All around you are scrubby trees and brush with the occasional towering oak or pine climbing the ridge which rises steeply to your right.  (East)  Dead brush and branches appear to have been broken off or cut and dragged away – apparently the goblins were not hiding their search for fuel. 

               As you approached within 100 yards of where the smoke was heading skyward, Silver suddenly froze and quickly indicated to Hornet to do the same.  The rest of the group was a bit further back but saw the sudden stop and did so as well.  Silver slipped around a tree and disappeared for a moment from everyone’s eyes but Hornet.  She quickly reappeared and whispered to Hornet – who came back to the group.  Silver stayed where she was, looking ahead out from behind a tree and over a rock. 

               When Hornet reached the group, he quickly explained what they could see.  About 30’ ahead of Silver’s position there was a goblin about 25’ up one of the tall trees right near the river.  The “path” the group was on that had been beaten down by goblins throughout the day lead right past the tree.  About 20’ inland the ridge headed upward at a steep angle.  The lower 100’ or so (of height) were very tough going but could be climbed.  Beyond that it got very steep, in places almost straight up.  About 50’ up the ridge was another goblin hiding in a rock pile.  These are the only two goblins Silver had seen.  She did not think she had been seen.

Overview

The ridge is steep and rough but can be climbed for the first 100’ or so at this point.  You would not be able to reach the top (a long way up) without some serious climbing equipment.  Given where the goblin in the rocks is located, it would be hard to reach him unseen.  You might be able to reach within 20’ or so, but he chose this position for a reason – it has a fairly good vantage point.  Both the goblin in the rocks and in the tree have what would be considered partial coverage in terms of attacking them.  (That means disadvantage on attack roles – roll twice and take the lowest roll.)  The path by the river here is fairly easy walking thanks to the goblins previous efforts. 

               These guards appear to be a little under 100 yards away from the pyre.  You can’t see any other creatures besides the guards – just the smoke tower.  From what you can see the pyre appears to be located about 100 feet or so up the ridge.  Earlier Boris had indicated that there was a flat space there.  It seems like it is about the spot where the ridge transitions from tumbled down rocks and a steep climb through brush and rock to a vertical wall.  The pyre is at the base of that wall.  Which means getting above it would be very hard.  As far as you can tell from your current location, since you can’t see anyone at the pyre from where you are at it seems likely that they can’t see you or the guards either.  Probably. 

Well, hopefully your internet gets fixed.  I am going to get a post going here but also look more deeply into moving to D&D Beyond.  I don't want to - I have been on this site for over a decade and it has been very good to me.  But maybe.  

But the next post is here - and probably tonight.

I finally got this site to work!

I had head it was up a few days ago but every time I came here it failed to load.  Until now.  

I will try and get things moving again quickly.

Also, could everyone PM me their email address?  I want a way to communicate if this happens again.  I've seen the site go down before, but never for more than a day or so.  I'd like to keep the game here, but if need be we may have to move it.  Right now I believe Dragon Soul is the lone person I had no way to contact outside of this site, but having an email would make it easier if you are ok with that.  

Dragon-Soul:  The 4 known guards were at the ford.  You are currently South of the pyre.  You don't know how many are there becuase the numbers changed throughout the day as groups brought bodies or wood to burn.

I am not adverse to moving the location of the crossing.  It just wasn't clear.  If you did go South of the pyre quite a bit it would end up being mid afternoon before you make it across in case that matters.

The Ford is directly in front of the Vargolg.  Otherwise you are correct.

Nice timing Nimu - You suggested adding debris just before I started to write the post.  It was a good idea and made the crossing fairly simple, if a bit chilly and damp.

The party greeted Boris and the newcomer.  Time passed as introductions were made and plans discussed.  Hopes of a back door into the Vargolg were dashed quickly by Boris.  Thaoran asked about the possibility of digging their own backdoor, but the otter looked skeptical.  “Dig in?”  he looked quizzically at the elf and all of the others in the group.  “Hmmm.  Unless that Kender has a Xorn or Bullette in one of her pouches I don’t know how you intend to manage that.  The ridge is rock.  Solid rock as far as Boris knows.  But Boris doesn’t swim in rocks and ridges.  Perhaps the elvish knight has abilities Boris isn’t aware of?  Perhaps he is a purple worm in disguise?” 

               The elf could only shake his head at the hopeful otter.  None of the party were tunneling monsters in disguise and, as far as he knew, none had any hidden in their pouches either.  They didn’t even have shovels or picks.  Neither dwarf seemed to think the plan was likely to work without a lot of time and equipment either. 

               Thus, the plan of attack was shelved for the moment and the obstacle of the river was considered.  The waterway that had protected their retreat the night before now blocked their return to the site of the battle.  Walking across was only possible at the ford but according to Boris that was being watched.  That meant a boat of sorts was needed.  It was noted that they were surrounded by the means with which to make a raft as they stood amid a forest.  But Soledad had an option for going more quickly.  After much discussion it was decided that an ice raft was the best method to get across quickly.  With the druid’s ability provide power it should allow them to move across the river. 

               By shaping the ice carefully Soledad quickly made a 10x10x2 raft.  The others quickly moved on and started to try and stick their weapons into the ice to get a better grip.  With an inward grimace of disgust, she waved them off the raft and let the spells go.  It was a good thing it was only a cantrip and she could redo it as needed.  She directed the others to grab some dirt, leaves and thick branches.  Right before she cast the spell the leaves and dirt were tossed onto the water and the branches were stuck into it.  When the water froze all of the objects were frozen into it.  The top of the ice was had a nice gritty lair of dirt and leaves stuck into it making it almost easy to stand upon.  Meanwhile the branches provided an additional anchor for group to hold onto as they crossed.  The witch smiled at her handiwork.  It wouldn’t win any awards for looks, but it should be effective.  Boris actually clapped at the creation. 

               As the group climbed onto the chilly raft Uthal transformed himself into a crocodile.  Pushing ice blocks around was not unknown to the mountain born goliath, but pushing them as a croc?  Interesting times.  As the sun passed its zenith (noon) the ice made its way toward the middle of the river.  The current was faster there than any of them had realized and Uthal was glad the ice block had handholds.  Water washed over the top of the raft getting everyone wet and the raft rocked a bit as the group tried to keep themselves stable.  Silver almost slid off once, but easily kept her grip with the aid of Thaoran.  Boris circled the raft as it crossed as the otter seem amused by the entire endeavor.  The plan was well crafted and the group quickly found themselves climbing onto the far shore.  They were all wet, but also on the far side of the river.  Most wished for a warmer and brighter sun to dry them out, but an overcast summer day would do the trick before long.  Even the chill of the ice wouldn’t last long. 

               Soledad let the spells go and the raft disappeared.  With evidence of their crossing gone the group moved away from the shore to get more cover.  They couldn’t go far as only 25’ or so to the east the ridge started its climb skyward.  Many of them had come down this way before on their first march to the Vargolg.  This side of the river was passable, but uncomfortable. 

               Now the decision needed to be made – how to attack the Vargolg’s goblins for the second time?

Overview

You crossed the river about a mile south of the ford/Vargolg.  So from where you are the pyre is a mile north of you.  The Vargolg and the ford is about a mile north of that. 

You don't have much information on exactly what is at the pyre.

You know of at least 4 goblins watching the ford and the entrance to the Vargolg – two near the water and two higher up the ridge. 

It is now about one in the afternoon of a cloudy but otherwise nice summer day. 

A croc pushing an ice boat?  

Whatever the outcome, I love the idea.  Only in D&D.  

FYI - the river does get deeper than the Goliath is tall in quite a few parts.  There is a current - it is fairly strong as it would be in any river of this size, but not crazy.

Intrigued enough to bring in another phyicist, but this one also has a lot of D&D experience.  

The most stable option is to make a 10x10x2 raft.  You get 5 square feet of volume - nothing says it has to be in an exact cube.  That would be relatively stable.  But such a raft would get water on the top of it and wet ice is very slippery.  So you would need some way to grip the boat to hold on or sliding off is very likely.  This is doable, but still not perfectly stable.  And currents do exist.  And you still need to figure out how to power it.  And remember, if anyone falls off, well, armored dwarves sink quickly.  

So this could work.  But you would need to be precise about what you are doing.  And there may be some dex saves involved depending on things.

This is not the type of question I have ever considered . . . so I asked my wife.  She happens to be a college physics professor so . . .

We looked at bouancy, density and all sorts of things.  

The short answer is  . . . doable but risky.  It would sink fairly low in the water which would help, but is likely to still be tippy.  If it tipped it would completely roll.  So four people inside (Guessing here since that seems the best way to balance people) would need to stay really well balanced.  And your weights are not the same.  How are you planning to power it across the river?  Doing something like paddling would put someone up near the edge and reaching over - increasing the liklihood of tippage.  And there is a current to deal with.

I give a lot of points for creativity so I would definitely give it a chance to work.  But you would be making saves of some sort.  And if they fail you are wet.  With whatever consequences that brings.  Also, it is extremely unlikley that you would get across dry.  Water splashing in wouldn't sink you but it would be cold and wet.

I can envision some things that might make it safer, but none eliminate that reasonably high chance of tipping.  .

Those are some interesting options - I like creative spell use and tend to reward it, but there are a few problems here. 

1.  Ice raft.  You could make a raft with two copies of the spell that is 5'x10' and 5' thick.  Two people at a time cold easily ride this - maybe three.  So it would take more than one trip across for 8 of you.  Also, "easily" is perhaps not the right description.  You would be riding ice - and wet ice at that - across a river.  The river isn't rough, but it isn't perfectly smooth either.  There would be a need for a couple of dexterity checks to try and maintain your grip.  (There might be things you could do to make it easier, but it is hard to imagine dex checks not being needed.) A fail means you slip off into the river.  Depth varies, but it is over people's heads in parts.  And some are wearing armor.  You would also have to figure out a way to stear or propel the ice - otherwise it would just bob in the river.  Oh - and the range of the spell is 30' so if Soledad is casting the spell, she would have to remain within 30' of the ice at all times.   

2.   The water tunnel is intriguing, but also has issues.  The problem is that the water can be shaped, but then the shaped water can't be moved.  So essentially you would create a 5x5x5 bubble of air in the water - that works well.  But then to move forward you would need to put the next tunnel in front of you and move into it.  Ok, so far.  Then cancel the one behind you and put a new one in front of you.  You would never have more than a 5x5 space.  How many could fit in that?  Two?  Three?  But then you'd have a chance of being caught half in and half out.  Soledad would again have to be going back and forth in the bubble as the spell caster.  Your party members did mention the question of mud on the bottom.  Boris could tell you that the bottom is fairly sandy.  It wouldn't be aweful muck.  But it is soft sand - you would sink into wet sand and in some spots mud.  How far would an armored dwarf sink?  Hard to tell.  Probably not enough to cause major issues beyond a ton of sand in awkward places.  Probably.  You wouldn't know until you tried it.  Anything sinking into the sand would get wet as the spell would presumably not cover the sand/mud.

A heads up on the plan - Since you have already travelled South along the river to get to this point you would know that you did not see anything North of here that is a fordable place in the river.  That means 1/2 day to the bridge, then 1/2 a day to Botkinburg - at least that far and nothing fordable.  The closest crossing without a boat to the north is the bridge.  Boris can confirm this.  He can also confirm that you would have to go even further South to cross the river without a boat.  Sorry, this river isn't made for walking.  Thus the ford was noteworthy.

Hornet - Elf Rogue

Thaoran - Elf Eldritch Knight

Silver - 1/2 Elf Rogue Swashbuckler

Dok - Dwarf Cleric

Gerdar - Dwarf Paladin

Soledad - Elf Wizard

Uthal- Goliath Druid

Lily - Kender Rogue

Also, the introduction posts are great, but you also need to decide what you are doing next.  

dragon-soul  Boris' response to your question would be to repeat what he said before.  There is no other entrance he knows of and he strongly doubts there is another.  

dragon-soul  Boris' response to your question would be to repeat what he said before.  There is no other entrance he knows of and he strongly doubts there is another.  

Lets get some posts up!  

Say hello to the new character and also figure out where you are going next.  That probably needs some planning as well.