Now that he is back in close proximity Auger looks toward the mountain and tries to localize the sensation that has drawn him here in the past. Up to where the airships dock? To the giant castle itself?

As the others talk about options for proceeding Auger puts in, "I think starting with the Red Cypress, if we can, is the better option. If we can create an agreement of some sort we at least will be able to avoid their interruptions and we might gain some insight that will help us with moving around in this area."

"I'm pretty sure the tree-woman said the Red Cypress will contact us, not the opposite. Until that happens, we should proceed here, I think." Not that Varielky was thrilled to meet the Cypress or sneak into a guarded city withoutcat least fighting a guard or two on the way, but she accepted that this is what's about to happen, and... fighting will probably start regardless.

"I don't think splitting will help, though. If one of us gets caught, releasing them might be impossible for the other three. They might even be taken away to Kalahata, or the Jenghen capital... or simply executed. The same could happen for all of us together, but at least we'll have a chance to help one another." 

Granophyre’s brow knits slightly at Varielky’s statement. “I believe,” his sagely basso announces, “the words were, ‘If you answer her call, go to the hill, outside of El Harrouch Castle, where the Spirit of the Red Cypress dwells. The Red Cypress will show you the way when you are close.’ This could mean we must discover the location of the hill before we are 'shown the way.' Shall I send my golden bird to investigate the surrounding countryside?

"A further question to ponder: How shall we arrive at the mainland, presuming the Red Cypress is not on one of these islands. From here it seems our choices are limited to rowboat, or… raft,” he says, pointing to two old boats with oars pulled up and tied on the shore just off the marina. There is also a raft, just large enough for you four, with poles, beside the rowboats. The sun is no longer visible behind the Bantu peaks, however, you know there are almost two hours left before darkness will fall.

The fairytale fortress is impossible to miss, this close, for it is gloriously perched on the mountain's lower face, above Akkara, and its pennants blow in the breeze and lanterns burn, beckoning from windowed minarets. Auger, now that he is close, feels the pull once again, but not from the castle. Rather, the high peak over El Harrouch castle: the rocs' aerie, circled by the huge flying birds and their riders draws his attention like a spell half-remembered. A pair of large braziers can be seen in the evening light burning to either side of its entrance, the tramline landing just below that.

"I suppose I missed the first past," Varielky apologizes. "Then I will go whichever way you choose. However, will we leave now, in the dark, or wait for tomorrow? We'll be less likely to be noticed in the dark, but... I won't be able to see as well as you all do, and maybe them, either. If something happens, I won't be as helpful. And of course, carrying torches will make us visible even from the castle. As for the boats... I could row if needed, but I don't know if anyone will let us borrow their boats. We might not bring them back anytime soon, after all." They could also swim, but even for Varielky swimming with armour on is not simple. And anyway... she did not really want to get wet, for no reason in particular.

Snow looks up at the sky, “We have a couple of hours before it gets dark, I think waiting until morning gives those soldiers more time to reach Outghal and realise the Animu Borongo is not there. I am not sure if they will travel further North than that, but they may come back looking more thoroughly”.

”Let’s go and talk to the dock master about borrowing the raft or row boats. If we can get across we could maybe camp at the foot of the hill of the castle, and see what happens with the Red Cypress. We could even avoid the marina so no-one on the mainland sees us”.

Auger agrees that heading over sooner is the better course of action. "Perhaps we can rent one of these boats for a small amount. Or some of these fisherman may live in El Harrouch and we can catch a ride."

As the others talk Auger nods along and goes with the flow as he again thinks about his vision of the mountain that came to him again and again at different times. Always just the mountain or he was flying towards it. Is he to take an airship somewhere? And did the thing that attracted him have anything to do with Granophyre's quest? Why hadn't he brought it up with the Lady before? Next chance perhaps.

The dock manager, her brown and grey toga rustling in a slight northerly breeze, answers, “Yes… you’d be doing me a favor in fact, to take that raft back over. One of my crew, Duhab (the young curr) is out today after hurting his arm in a bar fight — so I’m told. Take it across to the north edge of the marina and see to it that Aksil — the marina manager — sees it. They need it in the morning.”

“Excellent”, Snow replies to the dock manager. “I am glad we can be of help to each other. We will do as you ask”.

He looks to the others, “We’d best hurry if we want to make it across before the light fades entirely”.

He gathers his things and heads over to the raft, dropping his backpack into the centre and taking up one of the poles.

“Not my usual sort of craft, but this will be an experience”, he says as the others get aboard.

As they leave he takes a look back at the Animu Borongo, hoping it won’t be discovered here. They should have a day at least, with the fisher folk gone until tomorrow, there haven’t been many prying eyes to talk of it as yet.

You cross over the half-mile distance to the western shore without incident, and arrive at the north edge of the marina as another boat from downstream moors, depositing passengers who absorb the attention of the stevedores and the obese man with brightly buttoned coat who seems to be Aksil, the marina manager. Were you still employing pass without trace, and do you alert Aksil of your arrival?

(OOC: I had assumed Pass Without Trace would have expired, has it been longer than an hour since it was cast?)

On the journey across to the marina, just before they moor up, Snow disguises himself as a fisherman, wearing similar garb to those he has seen before, but not trying to impersonate any one particular person.

"If you all head off, I will deal with the marina manager and raft when we moor", he says to the others.

After they have moored and the others have disembarked, he moves closer and calls across to Aksel, "Hey Aksel, there's your raft. Just helping Duhab out, the young curr".

As soon as he sees the recognition of the raft in Aksel's eyes, he will leave him to the passengers of the other boat.

Akkara is a river town whose primary purpose is to support the needs of El Harrouch Castle’s luxurious inhabitants. Quaint as can be and fast-moving, you see rushing about the heavily guarded plaza: government officials, importers, exporters, merchants, and carpenters and masons making small repairs and building bright new edifices. There are no beggars, children, or elderly people, only valets, handmaidens and servants in a rush. 

Aksil takes notice of Snow, whose illusion holds perfectly — and with a forced smile, replies, “Thank you, soooo much. I am sooo indebted.” He bows, smirking with barely concealed sarcasm and then turns on his heel to yell at a porter hoisting a parcel for one of the new arrivals.

(OOC: yes, original casting of Pass Without Trace is over. I was curious if you would recast.:)

(OOC: Not yet, thanks. Burning through slots a bit quickly at the moment :-) )

Auger steps off the raft and wanders the area for a moment, trying to get a feel for the hustle and bustle of it all. Once Snow has finished his business he waits a moment for him and then heads with the others in the direction of the Red Cypress, north of town.

Py, I'll send you ahead to look for this tree but do not stray too far from us. I fear its magic may not accept you.

As Py flits away northwest, Granophyre’s golden bird’s mercurial wings extend and flap lightly to lift it into the air to explore the mountain’s southern foothills. Within thirty minutes, they both return. There is nothing on the south slope, but Py informs you that a tall, red-leafed cypress stands on the northern slope in a dense forest perhaps two miles from you. Heading north and then west on dirt farm roads, you come to the wood in forty minutes, at twilight. 

The old woodland is deep and thick with underbrush. But momentarily, it’s as if the world twists inward with a groaning creaking noise, and a dark path appears, leading into the ancient growth. Pale moonlight seems to pierce the canopy and illuminate the path, and the bottoms of the clouds, a half mile ahead of you are lit from below with the same pale light. Odd, for the moon has not yet risen. A chorus of tree frogs enlivens the darkness and a musky earthen odor floats on the air. 

Snow, still wearing the appearance of a fisherman, looks to Strewn, Varielky and Auger in turn as the dark path appears.

"Now that is a bit foreboding, don't you think?", he says motioning at the path. "I guess this is the Red Cypress showing us the way. We should all go right? I mean, Strewn was called to commune with the tree, but we aren't leaving him alone?".

As he says this, he takes a good look down the path as far his vision will allow, to see what awaits them.

Perception: 13+7=20

Auger pauses a moment at the very sensible questions. But quickly, he remembers. Follow the scholar. See what he sees. Auger says, "Yes. I believe it would be best to stay with Strewn and meet this entity together. Py, stay with me and rest on my shoulder."

Seeing the strangely lit path, Auger proceeds down to it, only pausing to see is Strewn wants to wait for any reason.

See what he sees.

Granophyre takes his golden bird in hand and places the inert form into a pocket. He looks around to the three of you and when you are ready, leads you down the path, whose full course is beyond the power of mortal eyes to view. 

As you walk, the edges of the path continue to twist in an unreal dance. You see in the near distance men riding slowly atop many strong vines, keeping pace with you, each one wearing a robe embroidered with the same sigil as the flagbearer’s banner. After what seems like a long time, you reach the end of the path, for it suddenly opens out upon a small moonlit meadow beside a pond of dark water covered in lily pads. And there, behind the pond, stands a cypress with blood-red leaves. Not the tallest tree nor the broadest you’ve seen on your journey, but possessing grandeur in its subtle perfection, its supple limbs a brush painting, its leaves, each one, breathtaking in its minute perfection. The earthen smell enfolds you, as if you were a seed planted in freshly tilled soil.

The men you saw before wearing embroidered robes in the tree’s image appear from the woods, stepping silently or held aloft by thickets of strong vines, then deposited to stand at the edge of the little clearing, a score of silent observers.

Beside the tree sits a motionless giant black panther, 40’ tall at the shoulder, whose fur reflects the pale light and whose eyes shine platinum and green.

A dense, supernatural silence grips you like a vice, unbroken, until a sound emanates from the tree, the groaning voice you heard before from the flag bearer. 

“Why have you come to the Vale?”

Strewn seems dumbstruck and looks to you helplessly to answer.

While moving through the forest, Auger keeps his eyes on the vine-swinging men and wonders at their athleticism to be able to keep up. As their numbers become clear Auger finds himself worrying at this step they have taken. The fight in Kalahata was difficult. Now there were at least 5 times as many to contend with. Probably not a winnable fight. Still, they were invited and there might be something to gain from this meeting. Turning back was certainly not an option now.

When they arrive in the clearing and see the tree and the enormous unmoving panther sitting next to it, Auger is momentarily struck by the pairing and wonders at the symbolism in the moment. (Religion check: Does the pairing of the Red Cypress and the Panther have any special significance based on what Auger knows of religion? Roll: 16 +4 = 20).

Hearing the groaning question at last, Auger turns to Strewn, wondering how he will choose to answer. Seeing Strewn unable to speak in the moment Auger ventures a few statements, looking to the old scholar to help him.

"We seek information. A person found an axe in the hills here in the Vale, during the years of the rebellion. This axe turned out to be of some historical significance. The history of the Dwarves in this area. Long ago. Strewn here became interested in the matter and the three of us travel with him to... help. To help find this person who found the axe and see what more we can learn. But... it appears you already know something of this as you sent people to stop us in Kalahata, correct?"

Auger looks to Strewn, hoping he would add any needed details about the Core of Dacite should that come up. Then he looks to the others to chime in.

If asked why he personally is in the Vale, Auger offers the following:

Snow walks along the path, catching glimpses of the people in the vines flanking them. He tries to pay them no mind, but a sense of foreboding builds.

As they finally reach the clearing, and gaze upon the Red Cypress and the giant panther sitting along it. And as the followers appear and watch them as the silence builds, he feels a mixture of intrigue, awe and that same foreboding. If his disguise is still in place at this time, he drops it out of some sort of deference.

He startles slightly as the tree speaks to Strewn, who seems to have been struck dumb by it all. He couldn't blame in really. He gives the old dwarf time to recover his wits, but as the silnce once more drags, Auger is the one to break.

He listens to him intently, feeling like his place here is as a spectator, much like the ones who tracked their passage along the vines.

Standing very still and making no gesture that might be deemed provocative, he waits for the tree's response.

As they walk, Varielky pays little attention to the followers. This is exactly what she was worried about, but they decided to go anyway. Now, she figures they will not attack until that Red Cypress commands them to, at least. And, if they do, her only choice would be to fight as she always has.

While the silence drags on, Varielky is unsure too. She was supposed to keep any and every detail of their mission a secret whenever possible, and since Strewn wasn't sharing details himself, she wasn't sure what the right course of action should be.

When Auger finishes talking, however, Varielky decides to add a bit of what she can. "If the safety of the people of the vale is what concerns you, then you should see us as no threat. We have no reason to harm any of them. In fact, we wish to help them, of possible, though that is unrelated to our expedition into the vale. We - at least I - cannot turn a blind eye to the way the people of the vale are treated. Especially the children who work the poppy fields."

Varielky hesitates for a moment, but then resolves to continue. This was the said Red Cypress, a supposed guardian of the vale. "We've even talked to some of the villagers, and suggested they prepare for an uprising to shake off the claws of the opium lords, and perhaps the empire too. I was later concernes that this wish might be impossible to achieve with mere farmers, but perhaps with your strength I have already witnessed, if our interests match about this topic, perhaps there's a chance. We won't be able to do any of that before our quest is done, however, so impeding it will only cause the oppression of the vale to continue for longer, and thus the suffering of its residents as well." 

Perhaps it was a risky approach, but to Varielky, it was more important to make sure the Red Cypress does not become an obstacle, rather than making a new ally. If nothing else, taking her out here - if they become enemies - would be crucial, otherwise it'll be yet another enemy added to a long list that will get in their way.