Basketweavers vs. The Sunless Citadel - IC

Warclam · December 04, 2012, 03:29:53 PM

"If you think it best, we can keep to rough ground. We must be sure not to take overlong, however. The goal of this group going ahead of the others was to find what trace we could of the young Hucreles. Thus far, we have discovered only that they traveled this road, which is not at all unexpected."

StormBringer · December 05, 2012, 03:09:44 PM

"I would prefer not to spend the next day picking our way through the woods to travel a mile up the road, and I would prefer to know what approaches from the road while we travel. A surprise from the road is no different than a surprise from the woods, except that we would have more room to manoeuvre on the path... " staring up the road, Llewellyn continues, "besides, we have their trail for now with the tracks on the road. I trust Winthrop isn't misreading those, so until we arrive at the gulch or the daylight fails us, following their trail is the best plan for finding them."

Sir Wulf · December 05, 2012, 03:26:06 PM

Lady Jastian considered the road ahead, then turned back to Sergeant Llewellyn. "Since we lack accord in this regard, I shall not argue further. In any hap, 'tis unlikely that an ambush would get the better of us. Let us forge forward along the road in concord! Sergeant, I place my trust in your alert senses and Winthrop's keen eyes."

Uncorking a flask of wine from her saddlebag, she poured a small amount out as an offering to whatever local spirits ruled here, then offered some to the others.

Josh · December 05, 2012, 07:00:03 PM

Winthrop sighs, and trudges back to the road. He happily accepts a swig from Jastian's flask, then calls out "onward" and proceeds down the road, shooting a glance of gratitude at Haddon and Llewellyn as he does.

Justin Alexander · December 06, 2012, 07:55:21 PM

Re-emerging from the tree line, Winthrop gives a shrug and heads down the road, rapidly out-pacing the horses even as they come freshly back up to a gallop.

WINTHROP ROLL 4 + SURVIVAL 13 = 17
ASHUR ROLL 14 + SURVIVAL 12 - 5 = 21

About a mile further down the road, however, Ashur comes up short and begins to whine -- his nose held to the scent of some track. Haddon swings down off his mount and Winthrop falls back to join him.

What they find is a strange track crossing the road from one side to the other. Small, hard impressions in irregular groupings. Almost as if someone were wearing tiny slippers made from bound twigs or sticks.

Ashur was still whining.

"What is it?" Haddon asks him with a low growl.

*It smells like a moving tree. So unnatural it stings the snout.*

OOC: Quick discussion/decision here. Then we can hopefully get the cart/wagon out of Oakhurst and move both forks forwards.

Warclam · December 07, 2012, 02:38:11 AM

Haddon is at a loss to imagine what manner of creature could be so described. Fortunately there is someone at hand greater in both imagination and knowledge.

"Sir Winthrop, these tracks appear to Ashur's nose to be those of a tree-beast, one whose unnaturalness is painfully obvious. What such creatures stalk this area? Should we be concerned?"

@Ashur: <>

Justin Alexander · December 07, 2012, 04:36:11 AM

Ashur snuffles around the road a bit. *Two days olds.*

HADDON ROLL 4 + SURVIVAL 4 = 8

OOC: Sure, that sounds plausible.

Josh · December 07, 2012, 08:46:41 AM

Winthrop pulls up short at the sight of the wolf sniffing around anxiously. "So it seems your friend is a better tracker than me, is he?" he says, jokingly, but he keeps his voice low so as not to carry, aware that tracks could mean enemies. He listens to Haddon's description, and his brow wrinkles in thought. He contemplates past adventures, trying to think of creatures that would fit the pattern. At the same time he looks for signs that the rider's tracks diverted along with those of the creature.

OOC: Can I make a knowledge (nature, maybe?) check to identify the creature from the scent description? I'm really at a loss myself, outside of a treant, but I'm not super familiar with plant monsters. Also, I'm not sure if I lost the track of the riders earlier, and if so if I can make a reroll, or if your description states the riders continued down the road.

Josh · December 07, 2012, 09:59:37 AM

"Aha!" Winthrop shouts, before realizing that danger still exists, and lowering his voice once more. "Years ago, before man settled in this valley, these woods and hills were ruled by great tree-men called Ents, and their children, the impish and wild entlings, made tracks such as these. I've heard that even an Entling stood ten foot tall and had the strength of a raging Manticore, and their parents threatened even the dragons of the air. Why, when Sir Kensington and the Laughing Monk first came to this valley in exploration they..."

He trails off, realizing that the middle of a road where such fearsome creatures so recently passed is perhaps not the best place for one of his outlandish stories. "Ahem. It seems they have returned to this land. What portents this bodes, I cannot say. If they passed two days ago, they are surely no threat to us now, but they may have interfered with the previous party. What say you? Investigate these creatures, or press on to the gorge?"

OOC: Bad rolls are way more fun to roleplay than good ones.

Fenyx4 · December 07, 2012, 11:23:08 AM

Aminda hangs her head an places her face in her hands, "You have a wagon?" she sighs heavily, taking a moment and then looks up appearing more composed. She strides over to Hasor pulling a rod from her sleeve.

"Take this. It can summon an unseen servant to aid you. Perhaps it can help you hitch up the wagon faster. If not just have it help with the loading and unloading." she speaks louder so everyone can hear "Anyone else who is good with animals help with hitching the wagon, unhitching the cart or stabling the donkeys. Everyone else let's start moving the supplies."

OOC: I was hesitant to post anything. Everything else I've done to try to move things along has backfired. I apologize for that and hope y'all don't hate me.

Sir Wulf · December 07, 2012, 11:51:42 AM

Lady Jastian smiled at the suggestion. "But a short while agone, you counselled we needs must keep to the road, yet now you would have us venture amid the trees in search of tree-entings and their sires? 'Tis certain that MY stomach for adventure seeks not so large a feast."

Dismounting from Paladin, she walked over to examine the trail that Haddon's wolf had discovered. (1) "These footprints seem a trifle... tiny for the behemoths you described. Of course, it may hap that the forest spirits of your land are not so robust as the creatures of which I've heard.

"In any case, I know little of the spirits inhabiting these wilds, but should the creatures prove shy of us, it may hap that such searches squander precious hours. 'Tis wiser to stay our course, keeping to Sir Breford's trail while it may yet be deciphered."

Rolls:

1.) ROLL 17 + SPOT +9 = 26 (When shown the track, she notices that it resembled the tracks of someone "wearing tiny slippers made from bound twigs or sticks" Assuming a DC of 10 or lower, Survival could work as well. )

Josh · December 07, 2012, 02:05:53 PM

"Before, you advocated running off into the woods for no good reason. Now we have tracks, and if these ents dragged off our frends before they even got to the valley, it may be best to go after them. Haddon, can your pup tell if our quarry's scent left the road here or continues further toward the gorge?"

OOC: Sir Wulf... are you rolling and adjudicating the results of the rolls for yourself? I didn't think that was how it worked. Or does Justin have the ability to edit our posts?

Tanthius · December 07, 2012, 05:50:37 PM

Looking at how the gathered supplies fill the cart to bursting, Hasor scratches his head for a moment. Calculating weights and measures has never been his strong suit: since he can manage so much less than most, he tends to overestimate appropriate loads.

"Of course, miss Scroppings. I must admit... I don't have much familiarity with that spell. Perhaps you could give me a few pointers to get the phantasm started? Mika, Maggie, let's get the wagon hooked up and out here first, then we can just transfer the goods over and move the cart back inside."

OOC: Fenyx, I'm all for just getting us moving again too. I'd rather be in the gorge than still in town, and I think we're probably all set with the supplies now too. Onward ho!

StormBringer · December 07, 2012, 11:24:33 PM

"If they passed two days ago, they are surely no threat to us now, but they may have interfered with the previous party. What say you? Investigate these creatures, or press on to the gorge?"
"Nay, the previous party passed here nigh on two weeks ago, what made these tracks have aught to do with them, I should think." Considering the new information carefully, Llewellyn arrives at a possible conclusion, "I daresay these tracks are less likely the return of legendary Tree-Men, and more the cunning of a goblin raiding party concealing their number or their intent. If the tracks cross the path and continue to the woods, I suspect they may have their own gorge secreted away from the eyes of men. Mark this place, we may have need to return if our other searches come to naught."

Warclam · December 07, 2012, 11:43:44 PM

Haddon is not especially reassured by the sentiments. "Neither tree-men nor goblin trickery should be so unnatural that their scents would burn Ashur's nose..."

He hesitates briefly.

"...But then, hunting down twig-shod aberrations is not our goal. I agree, we should press onward. Still, I am concerned that some... some strange force is coming from the wastelands, and... well, I suppose there is nothing for it but to be wary." Haddon falls silent, noticeably sharing Ashur's unease.