"Whatever they are, well, besides the geography, I guess that's why they're sending WayWatchers and not regular couriers for this pick up and delivery service."  Tommary looks at the last hunk of his sandwich and opts to wrap it in oil skin for later, his gut just punched its time clock and he's in "work mode" trying to figure out if there's an approach to the statued entrance that isn't simply following a possibly watched trail.  He's got some mud in his hands and starts muddying up his armor face regardless of whether the party moves out in short order or a long rest.  Tommary hands Hawksley a fist of mud, "If you want to keep an eye on that, best look the part to not get looked at, so they or at least I say.  Or get some food.  Don't want a long bowman's stomach gurgling giving us away down there."  Streaking the last of his mud into his hair, working it down to shadow his forehead but out of his eyes, Tomarry takes a leaning sit by the party's cave entrance doing his best impression of a muddy rock cropping and keeping an eye on the mountain. 

*OOC: Do we know what specifically we're supposed to be recovering, or are we simply finding the lost scouts' last location and salvaging what we can?  Echolon, Tommary's a rogue scout and college of swords bard.  His rogue specialization is less thief and more, well, scouting.  As Sposta said, Bards pick colleges, and College of Sword is more about the fascination and showmanship of swordplay.  Both the scout and college of swords brings more to the the rogue's combat mobility game, or at least that's what I'm trying out in this character (he's got some spells too that I picked around being a mobile combatant whose role may be the party's "advance" or "point person" when exploring).  He's got a +10 in stealth and +9 so likes getting in the dirt and watching things.  I can also inspire, but unlike other Bards I can actually selfishly inspire myself to do showy stunts with my saber (scimitar).  

*OOC Tommary's "fancy clothes" are fancy outdoors clothes.  So like this world's equivalent of REI, LL Bean, Arc'teryx, etc.  Tacticool on a candy store budget from fixing fights gambling winnings.

(OOC: ouch! sorry ya'll! I'm not active on weekends, and now I missed 3 ENTIRE PAGES of content. I'll try to keep up.... in weekdays I pretty active, and I'll post as soon as I read the huge amount I missed...)

A dwarf, short and stout, with grey skin, white hair, pale eyes obviously accustomed to the underdark walks into the camp. 

"sorry, Moradin was calling." she says gruffly "food? yum, serve me some please!" she says seeing the food the others have.

((OOC: I hopes its fine I pretended she had to go pray to Moradin to explain me not being here.))

If you travel a third or more of the way around the mountain (near the ruins) you would probably be able to approach along the base without too much notice.

You know you are looking for a few artifacts that some stuffy royals want you to find. Evidently, the items hold more value than the lives of the scouts. Luckily, you seems to have happened upon the trail of the scouts as well as the location of the artifacts. Symbols of power for clans and guilds - a sword, a rod, and an amulet.

“Well, if we finish lunch and rest up a bit we should be better off to set out. But if we head out now we could maybe cover a bit more ground by sundown. You lot are the outdoorsy types, not me. What all do you think?”
*Toots looks a little sideways at Tommary and casts prestidigitation to artfully add some dirt in a few places. She then takes a moment to create a pattern of floating leaves to surround her outfit as a form of camouflage.*

Quote from IamSposta >>

“Well, if we finish lunch and rest up a bit we should be better off to set out. But if we head out now we could maybe cover a bit more ground by sundown. You lot are the outdoorsy types, not me. What all do you think?”
*Toots looks a little sideways at Tommary and casts prestidigitation to artfully add some dirt in a few places. She then takes a moment to create a pattern of floating leaves to surround her outfit as a form of camouflage.*

"Give me a moment." Oethe puts his paw in the fire(If one was made, I don't remember) and pauses as fire ripples over his fur for a few seconds.

"1000 yards by the direct approach.  If we go my preferred way, low and slow like y'all's cooking, we should make it inside an hour to that there statuary idols and attendant ... whatever those things are walking around.  I think it'll still be light out."  18 Nature check. "If that's the case, I'll let you all finish eating and keep a watch on them.  We can start scurrying this ground when you're ready."

“Moradin, Hawksley, Elyona, what say all of you?”

Quote from MidnightPlat >>

"1000 yards by the direct approach.  If we go my preferred way, low and slow like y'all's cooking, we should make it inside an hour to that there statuary idols and attendant ... whatever those things are walking around.  I think it'll still be light out."  18 Nature check. "If that's the case, I'll let you all finish eating and keep a watch on them.  We can start scurrying this ground when you're ready."

"I'm ready, but light is unnecessary for a few of us."

“Well I need light. Luckily, I can make my own.”

*Toots casts light on the seat of Tommary’s britches and giggles to herself before dismissing it.*

Tommary tosses a coin in the air it glows with light on its fall back into Tommary's palm.  "I got that too," he says.  While Tommary secures the lighted coin in one of his pouches, Toots hears in his head Tommary's message, "I can also do this if you all want me to give me a hundred foot head start."  "Maybe I should creep ahead and signal when it's clear for our clanky confederate to proceed" he suggests gesturing to Eloyna.

*OOC: not particular about marching order; but I do have a +10 stealth and +9 perception that should get us pretty close if whoever they are aren't looking too hard for us.  Basically I sneak 100', if coast is clear I message so and the group moves to a spot I choose for group cover.  If not I message otherwise and we adapt.  Hence my hour estimate for 1000 yards.

In Tommary’s head he hears Toots’ message, “Betcha didn’t expect this, didja?” *laughter* This way we can communicate with you too from way back where it’s safe. Work for you?”

Tommary salutes Toots with the small piece of copper wire in his off hand.

*OOC Elochon, Toots and Tommary are playing around with utility cantrips.  Cantrips are low powered spells that don't take spells slots and can be used, at least in my game, as long as the DM doesn't get irritated.  A lot of spells have material components, in the case of message you need a pinch of copper wire (yes, there's often a joke to the design of a lot of spell's material components).  

Quote from MidnightPlat >>

Tommary salutes Toots with the small piece of copper wire in his off hand.

*OOC Elochon, Toots and Tommary are playing around with utility cantrips.  Cantrips are low powered spells that don't take spells slots and can be used, at least in my game, as long as the DM doesn't get irritated.  A lot of spells have material components, in the case of message you need a pinch of copper wire (yes, there's often a joke to the design of a lot of spell's material components).  

 *Toots tips her hat with her lute.*

OOC Echelon: Bards can use their instruments instead of components like a Wizard can use a wand or staff and like a Cleric or Paladin can use holy symbols.

Quote from IamSposta >>

OOC Echelon: Bards can use their instruments instead of components like a Wizard can use a wand or staff and like a Cleric or Paladin can use holy symbols.

OOC: Dang it, I can use my sword as a spell focus, that would have been so much cooler.  Bard playing is new to me.

Elyona takes a last bite of the meal she put together with some help from the others and puts out the fire.  "I'm ready whenever the rest of you are.  But, as Tommary pointed out, my armor is a bit noisy, and," glancing a bit nervously at Toots, "I'm not all that surefooted to begin with.  I think having Tommary scout ahead makes sense."

*OOC:  I've been meaning to ask about making rolls:  do you want us to use the forum dice roller, or can we use the digital dice and the game log, and report rolls here for so Halfastbracegirdle can see them?  I've never used the forum dice roller, so my preference is the digital dice, but I can certainly learn to use the forum roller if that's better.  

OOC: Echelon- I was just perusing your character sheet and apparently you only selected one bonus from your 4th-level ASI, not both. If you put that other point into Wis or Int then your skills like Perception or Investigation could be a point higher. Don’t cheat yourself. 😉

"I'm ready, let's be off" Taslyn says, getting up. "my armor has been specially forged to not be loud, but I can't say I'm very quite myself. if anyone if going stealthily, I'm sure I could ask Moradin for guidance"

OOC: If we short rest I get my inspirations back and can give some to Elyona for stealth. If we don’t then I only have two left and would hold them just in case.
Oh, wait! Toots inspired Elyona already back on page 3 for cooking. If Elyona hasn’t used it yet then she still has a 1d8 Inspiration die she can add to her Stealth and we can skip the rest!

“I’m ready. Is that everyone? Does anyone need any more dirt on them?”
*Toots holds up her hands ready to prestidigitate.*