Lev wordlessly takes the cloak, holding it for a moment before giving a nod and a sigh. Well, at least it should be useful... well, some of the items anyways. Part of him is tempted to use the healing potion but the better part of him knows that would be foolish. The pain will go away after a good rest, well, most of it will anyways. He rolls up the cloak, tucking it under his arm as he listens to Iolinder give a rundown of their options.
"We should take the pass then," he says bluntly. "We can carry what we need and leave what we don't."Of course that means that they gathered all those copper coins for nothing. Odds are they won't head back this direction anytime soon. Sighing, he moves towards the cart and pulls out some of the climbing gear, "These are essentials. if we want to get to that fifth cache we need them."
He looks at Charlie, "I don't doubt he can make it, and we will need him. I'm no saddle maker but... I'll see what I can do for a pack saddle." Nothing he can construct quickly will be the most comfortable for the donkey, he doesn't have the right tools for that. But anything would be better than trying to tie all their gear on with nothing but some padding under the ropes. Surely there is enough wood around to build a pack saddle, all they really need is the tree anyways, which will just require some wood and binding.
(pack saddle would be something like this just tied together instead of nailed...)
Of course, this means Lev won't be getting a break, but that's fine. He's used to it anyways.
After seemingly conversing with Charlie for a brief time Zarbyn announces, "Well apparently Charlie agrees with all of you. He's sure he can make it and doesn't want to stay behind."
"If we're leaving the cart here but taking as much climbing gear as we can carry we could also leave many of the coins behind. I mean we're not going to need them immediately, not where we're going, and any of us who survive can return this way and reclaim them." Zarbyn pauses briefly considering how to best go about taking as much of the climbing equipment as they can, "It would allow each of us to carry more and if we wear some and spread out the other essential gear among us we should manage."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
(For Amdaeng: Describe a trick you would like to teach Ning. Depending on the difficulty, it will just take multiple successes at that DC)
Mushrooms:
Horsenip. A wide blue mushroom that horses can’t get enough of love. It seems to calm them. No one knows why.
Black Mushroom: If boiled in water, it becomes a pasty mixture or salve that can be rubbed on the skin, provides temporary resistance to fire
Silvery Blue: Psathyrella Aquatica. This mushroom can be found in rivers, lakes, and other waterways. It is small and silvery blue with white spots on its cap. When consumed Psathyrella Aquatica gives the ability to breathe underwater for 1d4 hours. Over consumption in humans can cause the consumer to grow gills behind their ears which damage hearing and affects perception.
Looking over the equipment in the boxes, you determine you could each take one set of items: Seal skin heavy jacket, harness, crampons, rations, ropes if needed, iron spikes and hammers). Doing so will distribute the weight evenly. You don't anticipate at this elevation, that weight will be an issue. Possibly, when you get to the ascent of the big mountain (cache 5), you may need to make some different arrangements.
Through some creativity, you are able to divy up the equipment, each of you taking the necessary equipment including the heavy seal skinned jacket, gloves, and climbing gear. You split the rations and dried salmon as best you can and are able to load up Charlie with some of the heavier items.
At first, Charlie smells Ning the bear and his ears go back, but seeing the little girl, Charlie seems indifferent.
You begin your travel through a beautiful valley, mountains on either side. (OOC: Pics are from my hike of a 14er in Colorado). Disappointed that you did not gain the artifact, you are determined to beat the groups to the next one.
It's a beautiful afternoon, the air is crisp and clean and much preferred to the musty cavern you were in. You realize that the two other groups have Natalie Storms old maps. These maps have 9 locations to search. Her private collection which you found under the seat of the destroyed cart had a much more detailed map, including information on the 5 locations she thought most likely to hold the artifacts.
As you get closer to the peaks you have a decision to make.
You could change your mind and head up the mountain on your right (not on the above picture) to cache 2. You estimate it is at the top.(Probably won’t get there until well after dark) You note there are some tracks heading up to cache 2.
Continue to the peaks across the river and head up the switchbacks (Yellow path on prior map posts) toward cache 3 (Need to decide on camping for the night (bottom or top)
Stay in the lower valley and follow it around to cache 3 (blue path, longer and safer).
You also remember there is some important notes in Natalie Storms Journal about each cache and that reviewing this may provide you some clues as to your next destination.
Iólinder crouched to inspect the tracks leading up to where cache 2 was supposed to be. Professor Storm had mentioned something about Rockmen in her notes on the caches. Perhaps the tracks could provide more insight.
The tracks are those of a fairly large group of kobolds. They are fairly recent (2-4 hours)
the track lead up a somewhat difficult trail toward the top of the ridge. It makes you consider that others may be able to see your tracks when you head up the ridge toward the third cache.
Amdaeng is surprised by the little bear's intelligence. Ning is food-motivated, she is especially interested in horsenip mushrooms as is Charlie. You estimate if you work on "Stay" for a few days, she will learn the command. (OOC: Determine what language you would like to use for the commands.)
Ning is too small to keep up with the pace of the group, and needs to be carried by someone or Charlie, she weights 15 pounds. Ning is also very interested in Vydar. She keeps going back to him, riding on her hind legs, and smelling him (Her nose goes to his knees). She allows most to pet her, especially behind her ears. No one is sure of the duration of the shrink curse. So far, when a victim of the curse died, they returned to their original size.
Rock Men: Amdaeng has heard stories of Rock Men and an ancient Allansian city called Gar-Goldoran. There were some sort of sentinel that protected the city. Related to rock trolls, it is said they could remain motionless for days, waiting for someone foolish enough to come close and then they would attack. Like a constrictor snake, they would grab their victims and squeeze them until their ribs cracked. Perhaps an old wives tale but it was said Rock Men would eat the bones of their victims, but not the flesh, especially enjoying ribs.
Lev has heard rumors of some sort of Rock creatures placed in the Death Trap Dungeon from time to time, killing most that encountered them.
Knowing that the other groups have multiple locations, the clever Paevira wonders if you should allow the Kobolds to follow you and set up some sort of ambush after you explore the third cache. Doing so, you might be able to acquire the first and second artifacts but reduce the chances the cultists or coven going to the wrong cache after this one. Likely if you went to cache 3, you would have a days rest before they caught up. Effectively, the groups could bring you the artifacts, doing some of the dirty work for you.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Since we're here should we check out cache 2 just to make sure whether another group already got the artifact here or continue on to cache 3 with all due haste?"
Zarbyn takes a moment to stretch and look around at the kobold tracks.
Perception: 4
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Zarbyn does not see anything else with the tracks that others have not pointed out already. It's just a matter of choosing to go to cache 2 where there are likely two known groups (goblins (Saw tracks split at the top of the ridge at the saddle after the wolf encounter) and kobolds: the cult of the dragon king and the Coven), or getting the jump on them with cache 3 and "leading" them there for an ambush.
Iòlinder frowned as he organised his thoughts. 'It's a fairly large group of kobolds.'He said pointing out the tracks. 'Then again, it's kobolds. If they are not in their own lair I do not believe they are as dangerous as some tales would have you think.'
He stood up and swiped the dirt from his trousers. 'I'd say they are about two to four hours ahead of us. Luckily, with their short legs I do not doubt we can overtake them.'Iólinder hoisted his backpack a bit higher. 'Onwards to cache two then, ladies and gents?'
"Might as well since we're already here." Zarbyn looks up the trail to where the kobold tracks lead. "With any luck the goblins and kobolds have decimated each other and we should have an easy time of it."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Team Storm decides as a group that since you are close to cache 2, you may as well take a look.
You head up the mountain, taking a few hours and arrive an hour before sunset. As you crest the top, you see an interesting sight. The top is a plateau of sorts, spanning the ridge. The middle of the plateau is sunken in, like a large crater. A large stone pyramid rises out of the sunken center. The pyramid is surrounded on all sides by a lake or pool of water. On closer inspection, you realize this may have once been a volcano, and the top likely blew off in an eruption long ago. The terrain is difficult, with rocks, cracks, and deep chasms, and cliffs. You will likely need your climbing gear, ropes, ladders, and even harnesses to get down to the base.
Vydar ultimately agrees to head to cache 2 after seeing the many many Kobold tracks. As they walk, he nearly trips over Ning a few times as she continuously tries to smell him. At first, he just rubs her head a bit and pushes her gently out from under foot. She is very cute and despite his irritable demeanor, Vydar has a soft spot for animals. However, as it continues on he starts to get a bit irritated. He feels bad for the now tiny bear, but constantly tripping on her get's annoying quickly. Eventually he starts just dodging her, as he doesn't want to scare her by scolding or pushing her roughly.
"Amdaeng can you please keep your bear out from under my feet?" He says bluntly, "Why does she only do this to me!" He dodges her again.
He looks down at cache 2, good thing they brought climbing gear. Wordlessly, he starts unpacking the gear.
Vydar figures they could use ropes, harnesses, likely the pitons and hammer to secure ropes so they can get back out, and even a ladder could come in handy. The bear also figures out that she can ride on Charlie's back, and does so from time to time. As long as she picks bugs out from his fur, he is fairly happy, or as happy as a donkey can be. Like many animals, they develop an "understanding" of each other. Donkeys are often VERY protective of their family, and have been known to chase off predators at night. Between Charlie and Ning, the group might be in good shape in the evenings.
Map is sort of to scale, but it is quite a climb to the "flat" base where the water is located. Will likely take about 30 minutes to get down. Then, it may be too dark to climb down without attracting attention with torches.
Amdaeng attempts to get Ning to leave Vydar alone using the Northern Orcish word for 'remain' to try and get her to stay at Amdaengs side...it is occasionally successful....but putting her on Charlie seems to solve most issues.
" Something about you must be delectable, Vydar........though its a mystery to me what it could possibly be.", she gives him a sly smirk followed by a grin.
" Ok....that pyramid is REALLY cool.....if someone wants to belay I'm happy to head down to take a look...."
Amdaeng was unsure if she'd seen kobolds before....she knew they were similar to goblins but little else.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Lev wordlessly takes the cloak, holding it for a moment before giving a nod and a sigh. Well, at least it should be useful... well, some of the items anyways. Part of him is tempted to use the healing potion but the better part of him knows that would be foolish. The pain will go away after a good rest, well, most of it will anyways. He rolls up the cloak, tucking it under his arm as he listens to Iolinder give a rundown of their options.
"We should take the pass then," he says bluntly. "We can carry what we need and leave what we don't." Of course that means that they gathered all those copper coins for nothing. Odds are they won't head back this direction anytime soon. Sighing, he moves towards the cart and pulls out some of the climbing gear, "These are essentials. if we want to get to that fifth cache we need them."
He looks at Charlie, "I don't doubt he can make it, and we will need him. I'm no saddle maker but... I'll see what I can do for a pack saddle." Nothing he can construct quickly will be the most comfortable for the donkey, he doesn't have the right tools for that. But anything would be better than trying to tie all their gear on with nothing but some padding under the ropes. Surely there is enough wood around to build a pack saddle, all they really need is the tree anyways, which will just require some wood and binding.
(pack saddle would be something like this just tied together instead of nailed...)
Of course, this means Lev won't be getting a break, but that's fine. He's used to it anyways.
After seemingly conversing with Charlie for a brief time Zarbyn announces, "Well apparently Charlie agrees with all of you. He's sure he can make it and doesn't want to stay behind."
"If we're leaving the cart here but taking as much climbing gear as we can carry we could also leave many of the coins behind. I mean we're not going to need them immediately, not where we're going, and any of us who survive can return this way and reclaim them." Zarbyn pauses briefly considering how to best go about taking as much of the climbing equipment as they can, "It would allow each of us to carry more and if we wear some and spread out the other essential gear among us we should manage."
Amdaeng shrugged, " I don't know anything about this hiking stuff so me and Ning will follow your lead."
Training Results- Animal Handling- 6
(For Amdaeng: Describe a trick you would like to teach Ning. Depending on the difficulty, it will just take multiple successes at that DC)
Mushrooms:
Horsenip. A wide blue mushroom that horses can’t get enough of love. It seems to calm them. No one knows why.
Black Mushroom: If boiled in water, it becomes a pasty mixture or salve that can be rubbed on the skin, provides temporary resistance to fire
Silvery Blue: Psathyrella Aquatica. This mushroom can be found in rivers, lakes, and other waterways. It is small and silvery blue with white spots on its cap. When consumed Psathyrella Aquatica gives the ability to breathe underwater for 1d4 hours. Over consumption in humans can cause the consumer to grow gills behind their ears which damage hearing and affects perception.
Looking over the equipment in the boxes, you determine you could each take one set of items: Seal skin heavy jacket, harness, crampons, rations, ropes if needed, iron spikes and hammers). Doing so will distribute the weight evenly. You don't anticipate at this elevation, that weight will be an issue. Possibly, when you get to the ascent of the big mountain (cache 5), you may need to make some different arrangements.
Through some creativity, you are able to divy up the equipment, each of you taking the necessary equipment including the heavy seal skinned jacket, gloves, and climbing gear. You split the rations and dried salmon as best you can and are able to load up Charlie with some of the heavier items.
At first, Charlie smells Ning the bear and his ears go back, but seeing the little girl, Charlie seems indifferent.
You begin your travel through a beautiful valley, mountains on either side. (OOC: Pics are from my hike of a 14er in Colorado). Disappointed that you did not gain the artifact, you are determined to beat the groups to the next one.
It's a beautiful afternoon, the air is crisp and clean and much preferred to the musty cavern you were in. You realize that the two other groups have Natalie Storms old maps. These maps have 9 locations to search. Her private collection which you found under the seat of the destroyed cart had a much more detailed map, including information on the 5 locations she thought most likely to hold the artifacts.
As you get closer to the peaks you have a decision to make.
You also remember there is some important notes in Natalie Storms Journal about each cache and that reviewing this may provide you some clues as to your next destination.
Iólinder crouched to inspect the tracks leading up to where cache 2 was supposed to be. Professor Storm had mentioned something about Rockmen in her notes on the caches. Perhaps the tracks could provide more insight.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
(Perception or investigation roll w advantage as party will help)
Perception: 21
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
The tracks are those of a fairly large group of kobolds. They are fairly recent (2-4 hours)
the track lead up a somewhat difficult trail toward the top of the ridge. It makes you consider that others may be able to see your tracks when you head up the ridge toward the third cache.
Amdaeng had taught Ning to STAY.....which seemed fairly important currently....
She looked up at the mountains, " So? Number 3 or Number 2? Can you tell how old those kobold tracks are?"
She tried to recall if she knew anything about Rockmen- Nature- 3
Amdaeng is surprised by the little bear's intelligence. Ning is food-motivated, she is especially interested in horsenip mushrooms as is Charlie. You estimate if you work on "Stay" for a few days, she will learn the command. (OOC: Determine what language you would like to use for the commands.)
Ning is too small to keep up with the pace of the group, and needs to be carried by someone or Charlie, she weights 15 pounds.
Ning is also very interested in Vydar. She keeps going back to him, riding on her hind legs, and smelling him (Her nose goes to his knees). She allows most to pet her, especially behind her ears. No one is sure of the duration of the shrink curse. So far, when a victim of the curse died, they returned to their original size.
Rock Men: Amdaeng has heard stories of Rock Men and an ancient Allansian city called Gar-Goldoran. There were some sort of sentinel that protected the city. Related to rock trolls, it is said they could remain motionless for days, waiting for someone foolish enough to come close and then they would attack. Like a constrictor snake, they would grab their victims and squeeze them until their ribs cracked. Perhaps an old wives tale but it was said Rock Men would eat the bones of their victims, but not the flesh, especially enjoying ribs.
Lev has heard rumors of some sort of Rock creatures placed in the Death Trap Dungeon from time to time, killing most that encountered them.
Knowing that the other groups have multiple locations, the clever Paevira wonders if you should allow the Kobolds to follow you and set up some sort of ambush after you explore the third cache. Doing so, you might be able to acquire the first and second artifacts but reduce the chances the cultists or coven going to the wrong cache after this one. Likely if you went to cache 3, you would have a days rest before they caught up. Effectively, the groups could bring you the artifacts, doing some of the dirty work for you.
"Since we're here should we check out cache 2 just to make sure whether another group already got the artifact here or continue on to cache 3 with all due haste?"
Zarbyn takes a moment to stretch and look around at the kobold tracks.
Perception: 4
Zarbyn does not see anything else with the tracks that others have not pointed out already. It's just a matter of choosing to go to cache 2 where there are likely two known groups (goblins (Saw tracks split at the top of the ridge at the saddle after the wolf encounter) and kobolds: the cult of the dragon king and the Coven), or getting the jump on them with cache 3 and "leading" them there for an ambush.
Iòlinder frowned as he organised his thoughts. 'It's a fairly large group of kobolds.' He said pointing out the tracks. 'Then again, it's kobolds. If they are not in their own lair I do not believe they are as dangerous as some tales would have you think.'
He stood up and swiped the dirt from his trousers. 'I'd say they are about two to four hours ahead of us. Luckily, with their short legs I do not doubt we can overtake them.' Iólinder hoisted his backpack a bit higher. 'Onwards to cache two then, ladies and gents?'
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
"Might as well since we're already here." Zarbyn looks up the trail to where the kobold tracks lead. "With any luck the goblins and kobolds have decimated each other and we should have an easy time of it."
Team Storm decides as a group that since you are close to cache 2, you may as well take a look.
You head up the mountain, taking a few hours and arrive an hour before sunset. As you crest the top, you see an interesting sight. The top is a plateau of sorts, spanning the ridge. The middle of the plateau is sunken in, like a large crater. A large stone pyramid rises out of the sunken center. The pyramid is surrounded on all sides by a lake or pool of water. On closer inspection, you realize this may have once been a volcano, and the top likely blew off in an eruption long ago. The terrain is difficult, with rocks, cracks, and deep chasms, and cliffs. You will likely need your climbing gear, ropes, ladders, and even harnesses to get down to the base.
Please go to owlbear rodeo again. https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/0fqD33C25Ytz/TheWasteCrimp
Here is the owlbear map, each square is 10 feet.
Vydar ultimately agrees to head to cache 2 after seeing the many many Kobold tracks. As they walk, he nearly trips over Ning a few times as she continuously tries to smell him. At first, he just rubs her head a bit and pushes her gently out from under foot. She is very cute and despite his irritable demeanor, Vydar has a soft spot for animals. However, as it continues on he starts to get a bit irritated. He feels bad for the now tiny bear, but constantly tripping on her get's annoying quickly. Eventually he starts just dodging her, as he doesn't want to scare her by scolding or pushing her roughly.
"Amdaeng can you please keep your bear out from under my feet?" He says bluntly, "Why does she only do this to me!" He dodges her again.
He looks down at cache 2, good thing they brought climbing gear. Wordlessly, he starts unpacking the gear.
Vydar figures they could use ropes, harnesses, likely the pitons and hammer to secure ropes so they can get back out, and even a ladder could come in handy. The bear also figures out that she can ride on Charlie's back, and does so from time to time. As long as she picks bugs out from his fur, he is fairly happy, or as happy as a donkey can be. Like many animals, they develop an "understanding" of each other. Donkeys are often VERY protective of their family, and have been known to chase off predators at night. Between Charlie and Ning, the group might be in good shape in the evenings.
Map is sort of to scale, but it is quite a climb to the "flat" base where the water is located. Will likely take about 30 minutes to get down. Then, it may be too dark to climb down without attracting attention with torches.
Amdaeng attempts to get Ning to leave Vydar alone using the Northern Orcish word for 'remain' to try and get her to stay at Amdaengs side...it is occasionally successful....but putting her on Charlie seems to solve most issues.
" Something about you must be delectable, Vydar........though its a mystery to me what it could possibly be.", she gives him a sly smirk followed by a grin.
" Ok....that pyramid is REALLY cool.....if someone wants to belay I'm happy to head down to take a look...."
Amdaeng was unsure if she'd seen kobolds before....she knew they were similar to goblins but little else.