The Summit Road Campaign Thread

Taran flinches at the harsh words, even if he couldn't understand them. Then watched in... frustration, as the Kalashtar was impaled. The spike hadn't been that fast, well perhaps if you couldn't see it? He gnawed his lip a bit, something worth practicing he supposed.

"I-I w-w-wonder wh-where th-the l-light c-c-came from?" Taran said aloud, unloading his crossbow.

"That's something we can figure out later." Vishal says with a soft smile, "I think we should rest and be grateful that it wasn't something attacking us."

___________________

No change of activities for the day.

Perception: 9

"I-I s-s-suppose so." Taran says. That night during his practice away from the group, he tried to add in some of the moves he had seen the Kalashtar performing. They were incredibly difficult, but perhaps one day, he would be able to utilize some of them.


The next day he once more took the lead, keeping an eye out for trouble and keeping them on the quickest path through the mountains.

Perception: 23

The night of the fading battle, Akuma would take some time to practice her combat quietly a short distance from the fire, aiming to use parts of the battle to come up with counters and better tactics than the echo had displayed. 

Come morning, she'd continue to tail the end of the group, keeping a watchful eye out for anything of importance or any enemies that may try to sneak up on the group. Otherwise, she remained slightly recessed into her hooded fur cloak.

Perception:9

Kaori will spend some time training that night, trying to mimic some of the manoeuvres she saw in the battle. While travelling, she will softly whistle a happy little birb tune to keep spirits up.

Perception: 7

As you walk the third day, a snowstorm begins, although this one isn't as heavy as the manifest zone's blizzard. Around you, the wind's shriek begins to be interspersed with some creatures' howls.

Anyone who rolled higher than 16 can read this:

Taran isn't surprised to be dealing with a new blizzard, the rest though...

"C-Company." Taran says quietly, keeping his crossbow pointed down, "F-Fifty feet o-out, b-big an-and sh-shaggy, b-but I d-don't kn-know what. Th-They a-a-aren't ap-approaching th-though... Sh-Should w-w-we en-engage?"

Akuma tilts her head slightly to look in the general direction of the 'creatures' through the snow for a moment. "We shouldn't engage them if it's not necessary. But we should keep an eye on them. Not put ourselves in undesirable surroundings if they do decide to approach."

Vishal nods in agreement as he says, "Can you keep tracking them Taran, let us know if they slowly try and surround us? We don't want to attract unwanted attention." 

"O-Of c-c-course, S-Sir." Taran says, keeping an eye on them was always the plan, "I-I th-think I c-can a-avoid u-us g-getting c-cornered i-in a b-bad sp-spot, b-but th-these aren't m-mountains I-I'm used too... th-there m-may be s-surprises I-I'm n-not a-aware of."

Abruptly, one of the shaggy shapes drops down the mountainside, sliding to a halt about twenty feet in front of you. Closer, you can see that it's a massive creature, maybe twelve feet tall, covered in grey-white fur. A long ruff of fur extends below its jawline, and intelligent golden-brown eyes watch you through the snowstorm. Then, it opens its mouth, and words in Riedran come rumbling out in a rough voice. "Not Riedran. Who are you?"

Creature:

Taran's crossbow snaps up as the creature stops in front of them, worried about an attack. He keeps one eye scanning it's companions on the cliffside, hoping they weren't planning on showering them with boulders.

"W-W-We a-a-are fr-from A-Adar." He responds, "W-We d-d-d-don't m-mean y-you an-and y-y-yours a-any h-h-harm. M-M-May w-w-we p-p-pass?"

The creature chuckles. "Not Riedra. Means didn't come to kill through the slopes. Don't know Adar." He tilts his head. "You used our marks. Why are you here?"

Vishal tilts his head as he says, “Those were your marks, they’re very smart and helpful.” He then softly smiles as he asks. “Has there been a blue dragon near here?”

The creature snorts softly. "So you are here for the lightning bringer. I am Luiri. The lightning bringer came, has been shaking the slopes. Too big and new for the balance."

"Y-Yes, w-w-we w-w-were s-sent to d-d-deal w-with th-the S-Storm Guardian." Taran says lowering his crossbow, "An-And y-your m-markings s-saved o-our l-lives. Th-Thank you, Luiri. I-I a-a-am T-Taran."

He hesitates a moment, "W-We w-w-would b-be gr-grateful f-for n-news of the p-paths ahead. W-We d-do n-not w-wish to di-disturb th-things b-best l-left alone. We c-could tr-trade, if y-you w-w-wish."

Luiri lets out a chuffing chuckle. "You want our help against the lightning bringer? Then come with me. Introduce you to slopeseer."

"W-We would b-b-be h-honored, um, I-I w-w-was th-thinking j-j-just kn-knowing the l-local t-terrain," Taran says, shocked by the sudden offer, he turns to look at the rest of them "Sh-Shall we?"

Caelius nods,

"Who is slope seer?" Vishal ask hesitantly not forgetting that we're in enemy territory still.