This’ll be the new campaign thread and we’ll pick up were we left off in the old one back in the Caravan.

((Great! I skimmed through the main parts I missed out on a while ago but I think I get the picture. If I'm right, I'm still outside looking around trying to stay hidden while Cetar, Balen and Jaren are inside the cabin rummaging around. If there was anything else of importance I should keep in mind just let me know please. Can't wait to get back into this thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!))

((AYYYY awesome! it's so good to have you back man!!!))

Balen takes one last look around the room before he decides to head out. "What is a king to a man if that man's not from around here?" He says out loud to himself. The changeling disguised as a dragonborn ducks under the caravan doorway (despite it being in his headrange) and just swiftly walks through the reeds with his head up high. He nods at Tildrash with a smile as he approaches the boat. Slugging his bag over his shoulders, he throws it promptly to the boat. 

"We best get moving before sundown... or till those guys notice something's up."

Tildrash nods as he gets up from his hiding spot. "Good idea, did you find anything around in there?" He heads over to the boat with Balen.

[Oh shoot so sorry guys, I didn't realise there was a new ICC thread! Real sorry if I held things up, so excited to get playing again!]

Cetar follows Balen and Tildrash to the boats. It seems like stealth isn't a priority, so he just runs through the reeds to get back to where the party is and gets in the boat promptly, eager to leave.

Once seated in the boat with the rest of the party, Cetar asks 'Alright, we ready to go? I'd like to head off soon before the distraction with the dragonborns fades.'

"Yeah sounds good," Balen stretches. "It's good to be back in the boat." He switches back into his main form and grabs the oars. "Didn't find anything much. Chests. Think there was some knots and an idol- Oh yeah wait the idol- er god?" He squirms in his seat a bit before paddling, looking over at Tildrash. "You think you know anything 'bout them?" 

Cetar shakes his head 'I dunno nothing about religion. We had a few Knowledge deities and saints that kids prayed too at Wizard School, but that was just when they wanted good exam results or forgot their homework. Other than that I'm clueless' (He's got a -1 in Religion lol)

Tildrash turns to Balen and shakes his head “I’ve never seen anything like it, but I could examine it anyways.”

Balen laughs at Cetar's response, "I'd aboutta pray to anything at that point too." He waves his hand dismissively, "I've never been one for school- not that they'd let me anyways- I've learnt everythin' myself." So, he smiles, "Same."

Then at Tildrash, "Man. Cetar, you got the book, right? I think it's something like a bird? Caw ca-caw." He makes the noises just for fun as he starts paddling the canoe upwards.

Cetar nods and says 'Yeah, I got the book, here!' He nearly throws it but then remembers they're in a canoe and Balen is paddling, so he instead opts in to handing it to him normally to look through. He laughs at his companions bird noises, and scrunches up his face to try and do a good one with a hint of druidic magic. He doesn't get far, only managing to squeeze out a half-baked wildshape assisted tweet before gasping for breath, laughing as he plucks a few feathers that sprouted out of his hair.

Tildrash chuckles at Cetar’s and Balen’s bird imitations and takes the book from Cetar. He observes the book for any signs of significance, checking every page for something that might catch his eye (Religion Check: 21).

You quickly leaf through the pages looking for something of interest. Chapter 28 makes you pause, 

28

Prophecies and Fulfillment 

All of the religions that I have encountered have had at least one or two prophetic revelations. That is why I will write a record of them, However  there are to many to write them all here so I will be selecting a few of those more interesting. The Qu Chu Lo are particularly fond of divination as they are led by oracles. So as you can imagine they have made a great deal more prophecies than I have parchment. Here are a few of  their  Claims on the Future——

Skimming through the pages you look for what you are most interested in. On the very end of the Chapter you find what your looking for.

It is now that I turn  to a singular prophecy the only one left of a bygone era. I speak of this time and the rulers of it with much hesitation, for little record of it remains. And that itself is questionable at least to me. Supposedly the whole world was once under a single empire ruled by a council of Oracles. Despite their ‘Culture being Global’ no record save it be their last prophecy remains. How then do we know anything about the givers of the prophecy? Well there are the oral records and some of the more conspiratorial types have pieced together fragments of data. But these equate to rumors and superstitions. Nevertheless their prophecy dispite being of the most common verity—end of the world— it is of the most study and analysis so I will list it here

’There shall be three. The first will lead the way

like dusk before night and dawn before day. 

He shall be Strong he Shall be meek

always ready to defend the weak

The second shall come soon after 

like day he’ll shine with laughter 

his past will become unknown his future will be bright 

despite the loss he’ll always do what’s right 

the third will not conform 

for fate they have forlorned

But together they will stand up against the end

with time who is their friend 

And they shall come bringing with them all time on

their backs renewing the clock so we shan’t parish. ’

There has been no fulfillment as the days have come and gone as usual and the sung ‘three heroes’ have never come. I will defend myself in ridiculing  this as it isn’t really a religion but claims itself to be a historical account. Those who believe it have no evidence as would be needed for historical accounts. The oddest part to me is that those who believe in it tend to be in positions of power. I have spoken to a few of them and they all seem hesitant to admit anything perhaps they are afraid that I will expose them. This is all I will say on the subject as any more would indulge their stupidity.

Cetar reads the text along with the rest of the party and says 'Woah...that's deep stuff...' He scratches his chin and says tentatively 'D'you think it could maybe be talking about us?'

Balen laughed too at Cetar's bird noises. "Man, you wildin'." That was both a praise and also a pun. He clicks his teeth, "With that imitation, you'd make a fine changeling. Though obliviously mine was the better of the two." He boosts playfully, twirling his right hand regally and adding to it with some sort of posh accent. "As a natural born changeling, of course. Hohoho"

When Tildrash also chuckles, he smiles. He is glad to spend some time with his new found crewmates. This was not what he had expected what would happen this morning, but it sure was something. Looking over at the incoming sunset made his thoughts feel warm and fuzzy. Though fuzzy-

He squints. He should be really writing this down in case he forgets. 'past unknown...'

"Us?" he blinks, momentarily taken out of his trance. "No. Nah uh no way. Man, that guy was just tellin' legends. I mean no doubt that Tildrash does look the part-"

He bites his lip and paddles faster. He mumbles a curse. "Man, do you really think so? What? Which part do you think you be?"

Tildrash pats Balen on his side “I would be surprised if any of you weren’t one of the three, seeing as each of show no fear. I was a complete stranger to each and every one of you, and yet you came running into danger with someone you met just yesterday.”

He smiles and returns to his reading “Well, no matter the case, Fungus sent us to Sandhill to meet the wizard Gareth. Hopefully he’ll have some answers for us. In the meantime, we should continue on ahead and hope for the best.” 

Cetar laughs alongside his friends and says to Balen that 'Well clearly I'd be the third and final hero right? I mean I didn't conform at all in school, and then I guess I really did change my own fate by becoming a druid instead of a wizard like I was expected to be!' He grins as it comes together in his mind. He then nods to Tildrash and says 'Yeah, let's keep heading steadily towards the Sandhills; I expect things will become a lot clearer when we meet up with this mysterious Gareth!'

The further down the river the your boat travels the thinner the vegetation becomes. Your view—no longer obscured by the high grass— takes in a wide lake pushed up against a mountain range backlit by the golden light of a sinking sun. Although much smaller than the peaks of Gladen they still stand in stark contrast to the flat landscape surrounding them. Far to the left other vessels can be seen heading for the mountains. A little farther right on land between the lake and the mountains is a faint trail of rising smoke. 

Cetar continues to paddle, but as they come into the lake, he says to the other two 'So, which way are we headed? You guys know the specifics more than I do! It seems the other boats are headed for those peaks, though that rising smoke implies a settlement of some sort. Should we moor our boat there and investigate, and then continue on after?'

“Smoke may mean a civilization, however it could also mean danger. I’d say be on your guard, we should try to investigate quietly before we follow through with anything else. Stealth served us well at Clan Gorthax, it will serve us well here.”