Athletics 22

(Also did we get a long rest or no?)

Once his hand gets a firm grip, he pulls himself up easily with just that one hand. The other holding tight onto the flaming axe in his other.

(Effort would help anyone who needed it, although it looks like these two muscle men don't need any help XD)

Brask pulls himself up confidently, turning around to help Burik...but he's not there. He spins around and the dwarf is already standing on the banks of the rushing water, wringing water out of his beard. It's for naught, though, as the rain continues to drive down. The initial surge of water has subsided, probably originating from the headwaters in the mountains, but the stream is still flooding over and flowing quite rapidly. Your camp is a big, muddy mess, but it seems like nothing washed away other than Burik and Brask.

OOC: Effort got a long rest in. Burik and Brask only got about 5-6 hours each, so you can take another short rest if you'd like, or try to find a way to rest up now.

Brask stands up, shakes himself like a dog after a bath, and roars to the heavens.  That... was awesome!!  His chest is pounding, his eyes glowing with the sheer adrenaline rush.  No way I'm going to sleep again now.  Let's grab what we can find and move on.  I need a run.  He sets off to recover what he can from the camp.

If we take a short rest Hit Die recovery for Effort: 6

Effort stands up, waterlogged, and stares at Brask like he grew a second set of horns when he declares how much he enjoyed being nearly washed away by the sudden surge.  "Ugh," she complains.  "At least we can say he bathed now."  Looking up into the trees, she searches for Cadmael.  Are you all right?

Hit die 8

"You know, sometimes I miss the mountain holds and their dry mines...." Burik packs up his things while still wringing out his beard, "Likewise Brask, I think all we can do now is push onwards, though I think a slower and less rigorous pace would be better today"

There's silence for a moment, but just as Effort starts to get worried, Cadmael swoops in and lands nearby. He looks miserable, and extends his wings and tries to shake out his feathers. I'll be okay. I don't much like rain.

You all start to make your way up the next set of hills. The torrent has subsided, but it's still raining and everyone seems in a dour mood other than Brask, who is eagerly jogging through the rain after nearly drowning in a flood. The hairy one is strange, Cadmael thinks.

After another hour of slogging through the mud and slipping up and down hills, you finally reach the great plateau that stretches out to the foot of the mountains. As you continue to make your way through the dark, the eastern sky starts to lighten up a bit. The rain turns to a gentle mist as the storm clouds overhead finally move past you, and you look up as the sun peaks out between the two tallest points in the mountain range ahead. It's a beautiful sight.

At this point Burik knows it's probably another half day or so until you reach his village, Van Durahl, on the other side of the evergreen forest. 

I... need... to rest now says Brask.  He looks at the ground.  Reckon we can get a fire started in all this?  He goes looking, without much optimism, for some dry-ish wood in the hopes of getting a little warmth at night: Survival 10

"If you gather the wood together, I can try to keep it going for some time using my magic," Effort tells the others.  "But it will take all of my concentration to maintain that spell long enough to dry out the wood so it will burn by itself.  I can ask Cadmael to help you with the watch, but I won't be able to myself."  This is not really an argument meant to discourage Brask from trying, however, as she is just as wet as he is.  Miserable is debatable, seeing as how he was nearly skipping through the aftermath of the storm, but then again, she didn't have a layer of fur protecting her from the cold, either.

Whatever firewood he is able to collect, he dumps in a pile near Effort and looks on hopefully, as he's starting to feel the cold and wet now.  He looks around.  Anyone know where we are?  Burik, this is your... homeland?  Right?  Or did I hear that wrong?

Effort looks up to the trees.  Cadmael, she thinks, keep an eye out for the others while I'm busy, but don't go too far.  I'd like you to warm yourself by the fire as well, once I get it going.

Setting her pack on the driest patch of ground she can find, she arranges the pile of wood as best she can and then seats herself next to it.  Taking her small knife, she carefully shaves off some matchstick-sized pieces of wood that are still dry enough to kindle with her small knife from her very own quarterstaff.  She arranges them underneath the damp logs, and then using her tinderbox, ignites the small drier pieces of wood with a few sparks.  Effort then raises her hands over the weak, trembling flame and begins to concentrate, repeatedly casting thaumaturgy over the flames to force them to latch on to the soaking wood and dry it out.  Thick white tendrils of steam rise into the air, as the wet wood resists her attempts, but Effort keeps at it, casting spell after spell as she is completely absorbed in keeping the fire alive until the wood is dry enough to sustain the flame on its own.

It takes longer than you're expecting, but eventually the wood begins to dry out and the smaller branches ignite. The small fire grows larger as the bigger logs Brask was able to find catch as well. The warmth is welcome after last night, and the rising sun contributes even further to the cause. At this point it's showing completely over the mountains to the east. Burik stands silently near the fire, staring off in the direction of the mountains.

Forest is thick up ahead, but it doesn't look impassable, Cadmael lands about ten feet from the fire, shaking again and then letting the heat warm his body. I can already see where the tree line ends. Not far.

Brask settles very close to the fire.  Very very close.  Toasty, in fact, and he doesn't care if his fur gets a little singed - or a little more singed.  Ah, that's good.  Real good.  Burik, whatcha lookin at?

"Home. Its been... a while since I've come back this way. Its not far either, should make it by days end."

Burik seems completely unphased by the cold and the damp, not even shivering as the winds blow through. He's still holding the greataxe in his hand, sheathe off so the flames flicker in the gloom. 

Turning back as if broken from a trance," there's a spectacular view just before we reach the town, looking back down the hills. I think even the tallest buildings of Lorvilla can be seen the clearer days." 

Brask opens his mouth to make a smart remark and then closes it again.  He grunts and turns back to the fire.  

When ready, he'll take the first watch:  Perception 1

(Are we taking a short or a long rest? We don't need watches if it's a short rest.  If it's a long rest, it won't be physically possible for Effort since it's been less than 8 hours since she had one, and therefore, she can keep watch for everybody while y'all just sleep.  I'll post based on what we're doing right now ;-) )

I guess I thought it was night, but maybe not.  Brask will still keep watch - I think that's good to do on a short rest - but others can do so at the same time.

Yeah, it's actually early morning now - the flood and rain happened in the wee hours of the morning before sunrise. Brask and Burik, you can get the remainder of your long rest on the journey to the village. No more encounters right now. :)

Burik leads the way into the forest, following paths unseen by Brask and Effort. It's actually quite calming in the dense pines. The air is so pure, and the dancing sunlight coming through the pine needles as the day wears on is enough to keep everyone in good spirits. The hours pass by easily - it would hardly be noticeable if it weren't for the occasional glimpse at the sun overhead. Burik veers off course suddenly, bringing you all to a blueberry patch filled with plump, juicy fruit. You take your time snacking, enjoying each other's mostly quiet company.

You find the trail again, and after another hour or two of hiking, start to see the trees thinning out. Reflecting back, it's significantly colder than it was yesterday. Up until now you haven't really felt the elevation change, but now you can feel the crispness of the air as you breath in. The forest ends rather abruptly, with only a few hundred feet of thinning trees before you emerge at the foot of the White Wind Mountains. They're truly spectacular, stretching upward into the blue sky with their peaks covered in snow. Burik knows these aren't even the tallest peaks in the mountain chain, but he doesn't want to spoil the majesty for anyone.

Between you and the mountains, only about a quarter-mile away, sits the village of Van Durahl. It's modest in size, only a few dozen structures, but in the context of this complete wilderness it looks impressive. You can see some residential buildings on the outskirts, with smaller pines living among them. The center of the village holds a few two-story buildings. Burik recognizes the general store, the inn where his father works and brews beer, and the smith his mother runs.

Before moving on, though, Burik pauses and turns back the way you all came. He nods in the direction of Lovilra, and the rest of you turn around. The view is almost unbelievable. Stretching out before you is the pine forest, miles and miles of verdant rolling hills, and way off in the distance - almost imperceptible - is the point of the cathedral in Lovilra. You're sure it would be invisible with even the slightest bit of haze, but the day is incredibly clear. Burik takes in a deep breath of cool mountain air.

"... this must've been the farthest I've ever walked in my life," Effort says, wiping some sweat from her brow.  "It's very inspiring," she tells the others, uncharacteristically.  When they look at her, she shrugs.  "It inspires me to learn a teleportation spell," she elaborates.  "How much further until we reach civilization?"

"...and do they sell insect-repellent salve over there?" she mutters under her breath, scratching at her neck.

Fur, says Brask.  He looks at Effort.  Fur helps.  Fewer bites, I mean.

He looks back at the distant cathedral.  Oh.  Yeah.  Heh!  he says, remembering the stupid dog cultists whose heads he caved in.  Good times!

He turns around again and starts walking towards the village.