"Really sorry about this." Erhard says to the guard, punctuated with a bow. "Once we find the mouselings we'll make sure they and Miss Heidi all get home safe."
Erhard turns to Heidi and gives a wide smile as she pushes past the guards "I hope this confrontation hasn't added any more stress, but we're here to help you bring your children back safely."
Mistral’s mutterings are not wrong. Blackbur was promoted because the Mouse Guard is over-extended, ranging abroad, trying to provide for Lonelywood. That, and none of the existing patrols welcomed the idea of introducing irregulars into their midst, from disparate species.
To Sirithal, Heidi replies, “They’re playing in the locust grove, I know it, it’s where they always went, before the snow. It is not far, an hour, maybe.”
Two ladders have been constructed, in order to reach the world above, from the town now buried beneath the snowpack. The Mouse Guard controls one of them, so they make their way to it and head up. The ascent is not easy, especially with the cold weather gear they will need to face the relentless chill and biting winds.
Up and up they go, ten times the height of the tallest mouse, and more. When they finally exit out onto the snow, the cold hits them like a wall. Heidi leads them toward the locust grove, though it takes considerably longer than she had anticipated, and Kilmorrow needs to correct her bearings a couple times, in the driving snow. On further observation, it is not even snowing, just the wind violently blowing the topmost layer of powder about.
The patrol reaches the honeylocust trees, but the grove covers several acres of the woods. The trees soar a hundred feet in the air, bereft of leaves, but densely covered in spines, some as long as a mouse. Just when it seems like it will be impossible to track anything in the swirling snow, Kilmorrow discovers the prints!
Once he spies them, they are everywhere! Three mouselings at play, tracks crisscrossing this way and that, beneath the vast canopies of the old trees. Unless there are other signs, the trail will require some deciphering to locate the wayward trio. The ranger thinks he hears movement somewhere in the thorned branches above them, but is not sure where the sound originated. Could have just been the wind.
Everyone:
(Everyone may make a single check: Investigation, Perception, Survival, Nature; something else, if you think it could help. @Nschrock In response to the query you made in the previous post, make a Nature check in addition to whatever other check you choose, to possibly know more about the locust grove). Also, the Mouse Guard artwork does not do justice to the severity of the winter conditions you are being exposed to. Your characters have been outfitted with cold weather gear, including goggles, as well as footwear (boots, snowshoes, crampons, skis- personal choice, really).
Hurdrak shivered a bit at the cold despite the thick layers of clothing upon him. Not wanting to be out there for long, and knowing the mouselings had been out there for awhile already, time was short. Climbing a decent sized tree, he attempted to look for them at a higher vantage point.
Blackbur remembers playing in locust trees, from his own youth, breaking off the sharp spines and fencing with his mates. Then they would sit and eat the pulp from the inside of the long, twisting seed pods. He also recalls a sturdy shelf fungus that clings to the trunks of the honeylocust. It too was edible, but better served as platforms to hang out on, high above the forest floor.
“If these mouselings are anything like I was: the mushrooms up high will be where they went. Let’s get up there. If nothing else, they’ll give us a better vantage.” Blackbur begins the climb such as he remembers from his youth.
Using Blackbur’s input, Sirithal shrewdly narrows his search, focusing on only those trees where he can see the fungus shelves jutting out from the trunks. Soon, he finds one such tree where there are no tracks leading away. It is not the one Blackbur chose to climb, but it is adjacent to it, spiked branches almost touching.
Erhard looks around as everyone else quickly jumps right into searching, realizing he'd been standing still shivering as he hears Sirithal call out and Erhard looks to their leader in another tree, "I'll check this out," his voice wavering in the freezing air as he tries to yell out to his patrol members. His soft paws press into the snow as he scurries toward and up the tree Sirithal had pointed out. Scanning it for any signs that might be helpful
The renovated sled, currently being navigated by Dixie Fierypaws gains speed even though the ground has been covered with thick snow. She tries her best to keep up the normal pace. Right after receiving a crisis call from Mother Healer, she has set out to the rescue mission.
When the great plain of Locustgrove appears before her eyes, she halts the sled and gets down from the vehicle. She walks 5 feet, then with a Rabbit Hop she manages to cover 6 feet distance to reach her destination. After that, she attempts to find her companions.
Dixie is able to track the large patrol without too much trouble, despite the prevailing conditions. As she approaches the search and rescue team, she sees Healer Heidi, though she hardly recognizes her beneath the bulky parka she is wearing. Blackbur and Kilmorrow are both familiar with the lapin Ranger, and have worked with her before.
Looking up at the tree they have taken a special interest in, Dixie spies something peculiar. It looks like there are seed pods hanging from that branch, long and twisting, dangling in the wind. But that’s impossible?!
"Really sorry about this." Erhard says to the guard, punctuated with a bow. "Once we find the mouselings we'll make sure they and Miss Heidi all get home safe."
Erhard turns to Heidi and gives a wide smile as she pushes past the guards "I hope this confrontation hasn't added any more stress, but we're here to help you bring your children back safely."
‘What can you tell us about the mouselings, Master Healer?’ enquires Sirithal, his voice harsh.
Mistral’s mutterings are not wrong. Blackbur was promoted because the Mouse Guard is over-extended, ranging abroad, trying to provide for Lonelywood. That, and none of the existing patrols welcomed the idea of introducing irregulars into their midst, from disparate species.
The guards do not respond to Hurdrak, but they do shut the door and resume their posts. As the Mouse Guard patrol turns to depart, twit one calls out:
”It will be on your heads, should anything befall the Healer.”
To Sirithal, Heidi replies, “They’re playing in the locust grove, I know it, it’s where they always went, before the snow. It is not far, an hour, maybe.”
If she notices his tone, it does not show.
‘Let us start our search on the path there, then...’ Sirithal looks over to Killmorrow ‘You’ll have your chance to search the trail now...’
"If I might be of assistance...?", Mistral offers. "I am not without some skill, although it is of a mundane rather than magical nature."
His tone suggests that had he possessed such magics, the mouselings would already be as good as found.
What is there to know about the locust grove?
Paladin - warforged - orange
Two ladders have been constructed, in order to reach the world above, from the town now buried beneath the snowpack. The Mouse Guard controls one of them, so they make their way to it and head up. The ascent is not easy, especially with the cold weather gear they will need to face the relentless chill and biting winds.
Up and up they go, ten times the height of the tallest mouse, and more. When they finally exit out onto the snow, the cold hits them like a wall. Heidi leads them toward the locust grove, though it takes considerably longer than she had anticipated, and Kilmorrow needs to correct her bearings a couple times, in the driving snow. On further observation, it is not even snowing, just the wind violently blowing the topmost layer of powder about.
The patrol reaches the honeylocust trees, but the grove covers several acres of the woods. The trees soar a hundred feet in the air, bereft of leaves, but densely covered in spines, some as long as a mouse. Just when it seems like it will be impossible to track anything in the swirling snow, Kilmorrow discovers the prints!
Once he spies them, they are everywhere! Three mouselings at play, tracks crisscrossing this way and that, beneath the vast canopies of the old trees. Unless there are other signs, the trail will require some deciphering to locate the wayward trio. The ranger thinks he hears movement somewhere in the thorned branches above them, but is not sure where the sound originated. Could have just been the wind.
Everyone:
(Everyone may make a single check: Investigation, Perception, Survival, Nature; something else, if you think it could help. @Nschrock In response to the query you made in the previous post, make a Nature check in addition to whatever other check you choose, to possibly know more about the locust grove). Also, the Mouse Guard artwork does not do justice to the severity of the winter conditions you are being exposed to. Your characters have been outfitted with cold weather gear, including goggles, as well as footwear (boots, snowshoes, crampons, skis- personal choice, really).
Hurdrak shivered a bit at the cold despite the thick layers of clothing upon him. Not wanting to be out there for long, and knowing the mouselings had been out there for awhile already, time was short. Climbing a decent sized tree, he attempted to look for them at a higher vantage point.
Perception 9
Blackbur is wrapped as tightly as he can be in his cloak with heavy boots and more.
He searches high and low with his eyes and ears, while trying to recall what he can about the locust grove.
perception 7
nature 17
Paladin - warforged - orange
Blackbur remembers playing in locust trees, from his own youth, breaking off the sharp spines and fencing with his mates. Then they would sit and eat the pulp from the inside of the long, twisting seed pods. He also recalls a sturdy shelf fungus that clings to the trunks of the honeylocust. It too was edible, but better served as platforms to hang out on, high above the forest floor.
Sirithal starts examining the local area, relatively unconcerned by the cold weather...
Investigation: 22
“If these mouselings are anything like I was: the mushrooms up high will be where they went. Let’s get up there. If nothing else, they’ll give us a better vantage.”
Blackbur begins the climb such as he remembers from his youth.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Using Blackbur’s input, Sirithal shrewdly narrows his search, focusing on only those trees where he can see the fungus shelves jutting out from the trunks. Soon, he finds one such tree where there are no tracks leading away. It is not the one Blackbur chose to climb, but it is adjacent to it, spiked branches almost touching.
'Blackbur!' Sirithal calls out urgently 'This tree, not that one...' He gestures to the tree he's identified...
Erhard looks around as everyone else quickly jumps right into searching, realizing he'd been standing still shivering as he hears Sirithal call out and Erhard looks to their leader in another tree, "I'll check this out," his voice wavering in the freezing air as he tries to yell out to his patrol members. His soft paws press into the snow as he scurries toward and up the tree Sirithal had pointed out. Scanning it for any signs that might be helpful
Perception 13
The renovated sled, currently being navigated by Dixie Fierypaws gains speed even though the ground has been covered with thick snow. She tries her best to keep up the normal pace. Right after receiving a crisis call from Mother Healer, she has set out to the rescue mission.
When the great plain of Locustgrove appears before her eyes, she halts the sled and gets down from the vehicle. She walks 5 feet, then with a Rabbit Hop she manages to cover 6 feet distance to reach her destination. After that, she attempts to find her companions.
Perception: 13
Nature: 15
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Dixie is able to track the large patrol without too much trouble, despite the prevailing conditions. As she approaches the search and rescue team, she sees Healer Heidi, though she hardly recognizes her beneath the bulky parka she is wearing. Blackbur and Kilmorrow are both familiar with the lapin Ranger, and have worked with her before.
Looking up at the tree they have taken a special interest in, Dixie spies something peculiar. It looks like there are seed pods hanging from that branch, long and twisting, dangling in the wind. But that’s impossible?!
Blackbur gets himself sorted out and goes to climb the right tree, seeming much more chipper now that they’re on the right track.
Paladin - warforged - orange