Seldom Spring

Maldorn, you're able to trap three small rodents — not a lot, but when supplemented with your dried meats, it's a fine meal.

Erric, it's surprising just how familiar Ebokk is with the route. It's almost like he has a direct link with the narrator of the story.

The group packs up, mounts their equines, and heads north once again. A little after midday, they take a smaller road heading east and then angling northeast along the southern foothills of the Sword Mountains. As the sun begins to dip behind the tallest trees, the group sets up camp in a clearing. It's been a bit of a dreary day with light rain falling for a few hours in the middle of the day. It's no longer raining, but the evening is still overcast, windy, and chilly.

Erric recommends some very serious scouting around the camp...

Before the party leaves the first camp behind, Maldorn reminds Anafrey: "Don't forget to grab some of those goblin arrows, Icy! They are a little short for my liking but fly just as well as hunting arrows."

At the new camp, Maldorn will follow up on Erric's suggestion and have a thorough look around. Afterward, once the party is ready to go to sleep, the ranger sets up his alarm in the periphery again. He volunteers for first watch this time.

Looking around as per Erric's suggestion (perception): 20

OOC: I deducted a ration from my inventory to account for those dried meats.

Jambiya will take last watch again. 

Maldorn, you carefully check the area, but see no dangers. You will take first watch, and Jambiya will take fourth. Ebokk volunteers for second watch, sounding a little nervous about it, but not too nervous.

Erric will take third watch, walking around the whole time and keeping the fire going...

During his watch, Maldorn smokes some regular tobacco and lets Sagitta hunt in case cooked meat was not to his liking.

OOC: Should I roll a perception check for the watch? If so, you can find a roll in the spoiler below:

"I suppose I will take third watch" Anafrey would reply as she gathers some of the goblin arrows. she would shake her head in disgust at the very poor quality of the ammunition but would collect it all the same. 

The night passes without incident. It's cold and damp, but not too miserable. Snap hangs around, curling up by the fire. When Sagitta is allowed to hunt, the pseudodragon lifts his head to watch, but doesn't join him.

The next morning, the clouds are thin and moving fast, there is no rain, but the wind is strong and almost biting. Ebokk says over breakfast that they should find the cave before the day is over. He pulls out a piece of paper and unfolds it. Tairdai Skadoula wrote some instructions for the group, using her visions to hopefully help them find the cave without much trouble.

Anafrey:

OOC: Wasn't Tairdai the maid? Wasn't the one doing the dreaming the spellcasting dwarf? Or am I confusing things?

"So soon?" Maldorn asks Ebook. "I very much enjoy these trips on land. They remind me of the long hunting voyages I would go on in my youth.... Oh the beasts we tracked!"

Maldorn helps pick up camp and then follows the rest of the party onward.

Erric will ask if he can read the paper from Skadoula, and is otherwise helpful, if a bit nervous. He'll suggest they go quietly, and defers to Maldorn and Anafrey on how best to look around. He doesn't play his lute at all.

"Right away, Erric." Maldorn says to the capable halfling. The ranger then launches Sagitta into the air after connecting with him telepathically in hopes that the serpent can spot something of interest. He then enters the nearby wooded area and searches meticulously for any signs of the right patch to follow or nearby dangers.

-> Sagitta's perception: 8

-> Maldorn's survival: 14

Jambiya starts the day subdued, but as the group walks she begins to lighten up. She will talk to just about every animal she sees, asking after big scary bugbears or small stinky goblins, and also about any especially noteworthy caves. Even when the animals prove less than useful (as she has grown to expect most are much too involved in their own survival to care about hers) she will be respectful and kind.

She will also chat with the horses.  And the party members, of course.

Maldorn, when you mention that you're going to send Sagitta to scout the immediate vicinity, Ebokk explains that the party has a ways to go before they find the location Skadoula has outlined. (We'll do this in a minute.)

Everyone mounts up and continues along the trail heading north along the eastern edge of the foothills toward the Sword Mountains. It's a quiet ride, but you do see some rodents and birds to talk to, Jambiya. All of them indicate that goblinoids of varying sizes are seen almost daily. It's afternoon, and you're traveling with the Sword Mountains on one side and the Kryptgarden Forest on the other before any indicate that there are any caves nearby. When a hawk mentions one not too far away, Ebokk tells Maldorn this is as good a place as any for Sagitta to take a look. Through your companion's eyes, Maldorn, you see a ravine to the west that captures your interest. There appears to be wooden structures and what might be a cave further on.

"I think I see our cave," Maldorn tells Ebokk first, and then repeats it to the rest of the group. "I also see humanoid-built structures, possibly the orcs we have been warned about. Make your preparations, and then I can lead the group there."

He then looks at the more intelligent folk in the group and asks: "Jambiya, Erric, what is our plan of approach?"

He welcomes Sagitta back into his arms but lets the group know that he has a few more minutes worth of "seeing-through-Sagitta" in case they have follow-up questions.

“Did Sagitta see any cookfires or smoke? Any orcs? Any sign of activity of any kind? Or just structures? Sagitta might be able to see more.

We are few but mighty, or mighty but few. Makes sense to be quiet as we approach. Like the best capers. Maybe approach in a wide loop to not be arriving from the road, where we’d be expected?”

Erric will ritually cast unseen servant just before they begin their approach and Jack manifest invisibly. He hands him an unlit torch just in case it comes in handy.

"We should really take advantage of all the things we can do, you know?" Jambiya says. "Like Ebokk here is good with his shield, he should stand with Anafrey and Erric, while Maldorn and I do more from behind. My dads always tell stories of how they fought their fights with amazing tricks together with their friends, and while I know it might be fanciful talk, we should see what we can do like that. Like, I've got a line on some inspiration of my own," she winks at Erric, "From my mom, I think, that could help us be sneakier, or smarter, or wiser... and I can pick out a bunch of them, if they're clumped together, to make them easier to hit. Stuff like that."

OOC > Guidance and Faerie Fire

“You are right, Jambiya. I have had to whip out my daggers a lot more often than I’m comfortable with.”

With that, Maldorn sends Sagitta up for another look before his spell fades away. He is hoping the snake can identify a few more details as pointed out by Erric.

Sagitta can't make out a whole lot of detail from this distance, and he can't get closer because of the surroundings/barriers between the party and the location (they have to stay within line of sight ... and you rolled an 8). He does not see any activity or cookfires or smoke.

Ebokk looks ready to do whatever he needs to protect his new friends. "Are we riding in, or should we hide the horses and ponies? Is that safe? I really hope nothing happens to these; they are only rented."