Kess hadn't said much as the party walked through the woods, her expression pensive as she considered the many converging circumstances. What had started as a mere errand to check on the well-being of a dryad had become so much more. Now, with the matters of that awful mask, to venturing to Silverymoon, to the job back at Yartar...
And now, although it would seem it was only on loan, Kessdarra now found herself possessing a sword arguably older than the entirety of the Pie Pals combined, and arguably nicer than anything she had ever owned short of her clothing.
Her clothing... she looked at her backpack, knowing that her finer clothes from her days of working as a barmaid and bouncer, and her thoughts drifted back across time and memories, to a bar in Luskan. Kess smiled as she took an occasional glance back at Nym, thinking back to her previous employer. One-eyed Jax, as he was known to Kess and the other girls who had worked at the inn baring his name, had always been a charming and genial employer. He'd kept an eye out on her, and even gifted her and the other girls with nice things for their wardrobes.
She couldn't help but wonder what he'd say now if he saw her, much less her choice of companions, and couldn't help but wonder how he was doing...? That one had habits of disappearing for days or even tendays at a time, and always with fascinating stories. Wherever he was, she hoped that he was okay.
Further back, Kess thought of her mother. The two hadn't spoken in quite sometime, and as much as she tried to emulate her human peers otherwise, Kess certainly missed her mother back in Icewind Dale. What would she say now...?
Even so, for the next two hours, Kess would do little but occasionally glance around, her focus solely upon the sheathed Moonpetal for as long as an hour. In fact, it wasn't until that time that she finally looked up.
Those who are paying attention notice there is a slight glimmer of bluish-white arcane light from the hilt of Moonpetal before it subsides and Kess ties the scabbard to her belt.
At that point... Kess would finally chime into the discussion, listening quietly at first and noting the frustrated and worried look on Nym's face. Kess knitted her brows in sympathy; she had also considered that possibility,
"Hm... that would probably be Lumen and myself," Kess would finally pipe up, speaking up. "The two of us tend to be the quickest, so it follows that we've the best chance of getting in and out without drawing Duskbringer's attention. Maybe, if we're lucky, the dragon flew off out of boredom... but at the most, it should be the two of us. That, and Lumen's silver tongue may yet come in handy. Though ideally, we won't need to match wits with the wyrm at all."
Lumen speaks up again. "I've actually been picking up some tricks recently, and I think I can make one of us invisible for a time. That should come in handy...."
His mood begins to perk up a bit after hearing some realism from the rest of the party, and remembering the spell he'd cobbled together. Feels like less of a fool's errand, now.
He does his best to help Nym navigate, though he's not been here before. He keeps his eyes sharp when there's more sunlight the drow has to endure, to help pick her up when she might grimace or squint in the dappled sunlight.
Leaving the small pond and the clearing behind, you re-enter the forest. Before going too far, Nym consults the map, studies the landmarks and plots out a southeasterly course that you'll take to Vehlarr. Leading through the woods, she sets a pace, which should allow a good balance between speed and navigational accuracy, knowing that getting lost in this unfamiliar region could give Duskbringer more time to heal.
The terrain is a bit sparse at first, which makes for relatively easy walking. In fact, the first two hours prove to be rather enjoyable forest ambling, but by mid afternoon, the trees start to get more dense, and the terrain becomes more hilly. Your pace slows down as you travel over the undulating ground, traversing though the thicker brush and over numerous small rises. Occasionally, you drop down into steep gullies, where you must cross small but brisk streams that weave through the woods.
None proves very difficult. At best, you can rock hop and cross over fallen logs; at worst, you get your feet and lower legs wet, but nothing like that time you were all swept downstream during your very first few hours in The High Forest, a day that now seems like weeks ago. You all have a good laugh remembering that even agile Kess took an awkward swim as she tried to fight the current, eventually flopping on the bank like a tired fish, a story that you're all too happy to relate to Nym.
Overall, the terrain is challenging, but not exceedingly strenuous, and you find yourselves making good time. By Nym's account, you're staying right on course, and with Lumen's positive encouragement, she navigates with confidence, spotting landmarks and keeping them in sight as you keep plodding along. You spot a good variety of forest animals, including chipmunks, squirrels, birds, some deer and even a wild boar; nothing that proves remotely threatening.
The afternoon hours pass quickly, and eventually, the light inside the forest starts to get much more dim, signaling the end of the day. You figure it will be dark within the hour.
(Survival check to find a good campsite. Anyone can help.)
Kess will assist with finding a campsite, grateful for having picked up a few magical tricks in travelling with the party; hopefully, she wouldn't be doing her best impression of a knucklehead trout flopping around off of the banks of Maer Dualdon in the summer sun anytime soon.
"Y'know, this almost reminds me o' when I used ta go campin' in the hills,"Chrys says conversationally to the others as they search for a place to rest. "Well, 'cept without the view. Nothin' but trees 'round these parts. Still, the ground ain't too different. E'en better, if I have ta be honest. It ain't as rocky. Nothin' like findin' what ya think is the perfect spot in a meadow, an' fallin' asleep in it, only to wake up with a crick in yer back 'cause ya slept on a stone."
She helps the others to find what she considers the "ideal" camping spot -- "It's gotta have lotsa moss! An look out fer roots or sticks under the surface, or you'll be regrettin' it tomorrow mornin'!"
Lumen encourages the party, inspiring Nym the Navigator again, to keep marching a few hours into sunset. “It’ll make the journey a bit faster, and it’ll be easier on Nym’s eyes. Plus, if we keep pressing forward, we can find a nice clearing and maybe do some stargazing. Nym, has Duaric taught you the constellations? I bet he hasn’t taught you the orcish ones. They’re messy, but imaginative.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nym chuckled along with the dwarf's laugh at her acceptance of her role in the party's dynamic but then swallowed awkwardly as she brought up a rather good point. Who would be the one best suited to try and quietly retrieve the elvish children? Chrysoberyl, Kessdarra and herself were all fairly armored and thus too heavy to be light on their feet. Which just left Lumen and Vesper. Not wanting to bring the matter up herself just yet, the cleric concentrated on their travel for a bit before catching the elvish warrior smiling back at her and Nym smiled back in amused surprise and confusion, not saying anything since she didn't either. She did seem to be focusing rather hard on her new sword... Was she communing with her own deity about it? Or perhaps it was more of a warrior thing?
Instead of pestering the woman with questions about it, Nym kept quiet and consulted with Chrysoberyl and the map that Aelor had drawn up for them to make sure they were on course. But for a moment she could have sworn she saw an odd light on Moonpetal just before Kessdarra sheathed it. Noting the odd instance for another time, she listens eagerly to the jovial story of the fighter's soggy mishap, laughing at the unconventional image of the put together elven warrior in such a position, smothering it with a hand as she eyes Kess with companionable mirth in her eyes.
As the sun got lower and thankfully wasn't directly in her eyes, Nym had to squint less as she tried to look for said ideal campsite. "I can't say that I can relate, but I also can't say that I don't envy your experiences." Smiling at Chrys before nodding along with Lumen's encouraging tune and words with a grateful dip of head. "I-I wouldn't want to impose though. It's rare for surface races to be able to see well in the dark, or is it?" Not entirely sure. "He mainly just taught me the few big ones that are important to know where you are. It's still...really weird to be honest. I can't help but look up at it," Gesturing to the sky and canopy, "Like a cave ceiling. But I'm interested in learning these orcish constellations." Regardless, she would press on until the rest of the group decided that they had found a good enough spot.
After walking a bit further and ascending a few hundred feet, you come across a stretch of nice, flat grassy ground at the top of a hill beneath a rather large oak tree. This spot seems to offer an ideal campsite, and a decent vantage point from which to keep an eye on your surroundings.
As the sun sets through the trees, you get a brief view of golden light bathing the lower terrain off in the distance. This gives you a pleasant sight for your eyes, and also an indication of just how far the expanse of forest stretches all around. Then, the last light fades, and the twilight of evening descends upon you.
"I can keep first watch," Chrys offers, as everyone digs into their rations for a hearty dinner. It's surprisingly tasty for nature-food, as Chrys likes to call it; maybe these druids really are onto something, she thinks, as she munches on some of the dried berries provided in their packs. "This wasn't so bad for the first day... let's hope the rest o' them can be this peaceful," she mumbles around mouthfuls.
As she listens to Nym marvel at the sky, she looks up at the twinkling stars. "If ya think this is somethin', you should come to Twilight Tor sometime. That's what we're most famous for, an' why we get all the tourists," Chrys tells Nym. "The Simril festival is a yearly gatherin' we hold specifically to go stargazin' at night. The view's real good from the mountainside. We say all them stars in the sky are the sparks from the Duin's hammer, an' that he put 'em there so travelers would never lose their way in the evenin'. Ah... good ol' home. When ya look up at the sky, it makes ya feel all small, like you ain't nothin' more than one of them specks o' stars. But everyone put together shines enough to 'luminate the whole evenin' sky. Knowin' you're a part o' that tapestry makes ya feel like you're part o' somethin' bigger, too. I like it. We all do our part an' shine as best as we can, an' together, we become somethin' beautiful."
After setting up camp on top of the hill and enjoying a dinner of rations provided by Dauric, Chrys settles down to take the first watch. Although the sky is now too dark to enjoy the distant view over the surrounding forest provided by this vantage point, she at least has a full view of the immediate area, and would likely be able to spot anything approaching from below.
She sits in the still night air, watching the stars twinkling above, feeling very small indeed, and feeling very far away from Twilight Tor, and anything she ever knew from her younger life. In fact, not one of her friends or family members would have the slightest idea where she is right now, atop a remote hill deep inside the High Forest, with the company of a large, twisted oak tree next to her, as she makes her way her way to a supposed ancient elven city even further inside the wood.
Looking at this old tree, she cannot help but wonder what it has seen here at its vantage point high above much of the surrounding forest, if trees can even see. As the gentle breezes blows over the hill, she can hear the faint rustling of its leaves above. Listening closely, it almost sounds like a series of faint whispers, although she cannot discern anything specific. Perhaps it's only her ears playing tricks on her in the dark.
Eventually, her shift ends, and she wakes the next person who will take over the watch before retiring to catch some much needed sleep and prepare for another long day of travel through the woods.
Following Chrys, Kess takes her shift, followed by Vesper and finally Lumen. They each watch the stars over head, which seem to shimmer with extra brilliance every so often. At times, they're so bright that they even illuminate part of the distant forest all around, which makes it seem like a dark, rolling ocean of faintly illuminated leaves treetops. Other times, the light is not quite as bright, and all is dark around you.
Fortunately, nothing bother you during this first evening, and all is peaceful and quiet for the entire night. When the sun finally comes up, you can see it illuminating the entire forest below with a brief glow of magical, golden light. You wake feeling rested and ready for another day, where you will hopefully make good progress as you continue your journey towards Vehlarr.
Departing your campsite, you descend the hill away from the oak tree and drop a few hundred feet down a long, moderately steep embankment until the terrain levels off and you find yourselves deep in the heart of a huge expanse of thick forest. Much more dense than the woods that you walked through yesterday, this area seems like a near-impenetrable woodland, compared to much of the other parts of the High Forest that you've navigated.
The thick undergrowth beneath the canopy stretch as far as the eye can see, which isn't very far, but with every step, it's the same thing. The trees are gnarled and twisted, casting strange shadows across the forest floor, and they seem to grasp at you as you walk by, occasionally snagging on, and even ripping bits of clothing and scratching your skin. The howls of wolves ring through the woods, as well as the near constant creaking and moaning of the woods themselves. Although light does penetrate through the thick canopy, the thin shafts of light do little to illuminate this umbral woodland.
You suddenly realize that navigating here will be much more difficult, and dangerous, and your travel pace suddenly becomes noticeably slower than normal. You get the sense that there are likely to be many more hazards in this primal landscape, as well. As you move through this tight landscape, and pick your way through the tangled undergrowth and under and around an endless sea of sharp branches, you see a multitude of different plants, mosses and flowers growing on the forest floor and climbing up the trunks of the trees, many of which are types you have never seen before, even for Kess, who has traveled much more extensively through forested areas.
Lumen's been really rather quiet for the last day or two, humming to himself in a low bass tone and being helpful, and considerate, if brusque when spoken to. He usually helps scout ahead, offering to make himself or someone else invisible if needed. Whether it's from the task ahead, or frustration at not being able to create music (due to the group's need to stay quiet), you can't be sure. But he offers to inspire people as they attempt difficult things, whenever needed.
Chrys simply focuses on getting through the forest. The High Forest was bad enough, and that place was downright friendly, compared to this one. She keeps her lookout for trouble as the others do the work to ferry the group across the difficult landscape.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Sorry for the long gap in posts, work's been kicking my butt.)
Nym would stay up for a bit that first night first with Lumen and then Chrysoberyl, talking of the stars and wondering what Twilight Tor was like in person. She marveled at the cultural customs of the woman's people. But her previous exhaustion still wore on her and she took advantage of being among allies in a more or less safe space to try and actually sleep after she did her nightly prayers to Eilistraee. It seemed like the group was equally quiet as the roused and Nym couldn't help but notice the unspoken cues and symbiosis that they showed. Each taking up their own roles and pulling their weight. It only mildly made her feel like an odd wheel and made her strive to be of help. Making sure to keep her eyes and senses keen as she continued to lead.
While she was used to occasionally cramped and narrow tunnels, the atmosphere of this cloying forest was much different. Everything setting her on edge and causing her to stiffen and pause for a moment to try and look about or listen before continuing. It was slow going. Especially with her becoming increasingly interested in the odd flora they were coming across. "My mother always said that the prettier something or someone is, the more deadly... Do you think that's the case for these?"
It's slow going today, and you spend the better part of the day picking your way through the thick brush, descending into and climbing out of steep gullies, and trying to make sure you're staying on track. Nym seems to do a good job of navigating, with inspiration and help from Lumen, and by late afternoon, she feels that you guys are making relatively good time and maintaining your course, despite the constant meandering.
The travel is tiring, though, and as you trudge your way through this thick forest, you do your best to stay alert as you go forward with each step. You occasionally hear the sounds of wolves off in the distance, and every once in awhile, the seem to get closer, before receding again in the background. Eventually, the day comes to an end, and you manage to find a halfway decent campsite on a small patch of flat ground. There's just enough room for you to cram your tent and bedrools close together admits the tree trunks and brush. As far as campsites go, it's nothing special, and certainly way less appealing than the site you had last night, but it's no better or worse than anything you've come across during the past few hours.
As you set up camp, you begin to hear the sounds of wolves again, and they seem to be getting closer.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Your mother sounds like she is a woman of good sense and grace," Kess would comment to Nym as the party went, doing her best not to trip over winding ancient roots and thick brush that likely needed a good burning to renew that part of the forest. "Appearances can be deceiving, for certain; apparent fragility is not always so. I've seen deer kicking wolves in the face with such force that the predator spent the next several minutes laid out in a daze. It's quite something to witness!"
And speaking of... that was when she heard the howls.
"Mm... speak of a fiend and it shall appear," Kess would comment to herself at the approaching wolfsong, wary at hearing the echoing howls approaching the party's position. "It may be wise for us to think about sleeping in the trees tonight, if we can manage it. I'd think we'd rather not awaken to a dozen sets of snapping jaws at our throats. I'm willing to take first watch, if you all would like..."
Kess would listen carefully, doing her best to try and focus, seeing if she could pick out the direction of the howls from the echo through the timbers.
Kess hadn't said much as the party walked through the woods, her expression pensive as she considered the many converging circumstances. What had started as a mere errand to check on the well-being of a dryad had become so much more. Now, with the matters of that awful mask, to venturing to Silverymoon, to the job back at Yartar...
And now, although it would seem it was only on loan, Kessdarra now found herself possessing a sword arguably older than the entirety of the Pie Pals combined, and arguably nicer than anything she had ever owned short of her clothing.
Her clothing... she looked at her backpack, knowing that her finer clothes from her days of working as a barmaid and bouncer, and her thoughts drifted back across time and memories, to a bar in Luskan. Kess smiled as she took an occasional glance back at Nym, thinking back to her previous employer. One-eyed Jax, as he was known to Kess and the other girls who had worked at the inn baring his name, had always been a charming and genial employer. He'd kept an eye out on her, and even gifted her and the other girls with nice things for their wardrobes.
She couldn't help but wonder what he'd say now if he saw her, much less her choice of companions, and couldn't help but wonder how he was doing...? That one had habits of disappearing for days or even tendays at a time, and always with fascinating stories. Wherever he was, she hoped that he was okay.
Further back, Kess thought of her mother. The two hadn't spoken in quite sometime, and as much as she tried to emulate her human peers otherwise, Kess certainly missed her mother back in Icewind Dale. What would she say now...?
Even so, for the next two hours, Kess would do little but occasionally glance around, her focus solely upon the sheathed Moonpetal for as long as an hour. In fact, it wasn't until that time that she finally looked up.
Those who are paying attention notice there is a slight glimmer of bluish-white arcane light from the hilt of Moonpetal before it subsides and Kess ties the scabbard to her belt.
At that point... Kess would finally chime into the discussion, listening quietly at first and noting the frustrated and worried look on Nym's face. Kess knitted her brows in sympathy; she had also considered that possibility,
"Hm... that would probably be Lumen and myself," Kess would finally pipe up, speaking up. "The two of us tend to be the quickest, so it follows that we've the best chance of getting in and out without drawing Duskbringer's attention. Maybe, if we're lucky, the dragon flew off out of boredom... but at the most, it should be the two of us. That, and Lumen's silver tongue may yet come in handy. Though ideally, we won't need to match wits with the wyrm at all."
Lumen speaks up again. "I've actually been picking up some tricks recently, and I think I can make one of us invisible for a time. That should come in handy...."
His mood begins to perk up a bit after hearing some realism from the rest of the party, and remembering the spell he'd cobbled together. Feels like less of a fool's errand, now.
He does his best to help Nym navigate, though he's not been here before. He keeps his eyes sharp when there's more sunlight the drow has to endure, to help pick her up when she might grimace or squint in the dappled sunlight.
Leaving the small pond and the clearing behind, you re-enter the forest. Before going too far, Nym consults the map, studies the landmarks and plots out a southeasterly course that you'll take to Vehlarr. Leading through the woods, she sets a pace, which should allow a good balance between speed and navigational accuracy, knowing that getting lost in this unfamiliar region could give Duskbringer more time to heal.
The terrain is a bit sparse at first, which makes for relatively easy walking. In fact, the first two hours prove to be rather enjoyable forest ambling, but by mid afternoon, the trees start to get more dense, and the terrain becomes more hilly. Your pace slows down as you travel over the undulating ground, traversing though the thicker brush and over numerous small rises. Occasionally, you drop down into steep gullies, where you must cross small but brisk streams that weave through the woods.
None proves very difficult. At best, you can rock hop and cross over fallen logs; at worst, you get your feet and lower legs wet, but nothing like that time you were all swept downstream during your very first few hours in The High Forest, a day that now seems like weeks ago. You all have a good laugh remembering that even agile Kess took an awkward swim as she tried to fight the current, eventually flopping on the bank like a tired fish, a story that you're all too happy to relate to Nym.
Overall, the terrain is challenging, but not exceedingly strenuous, and you find yourselves making good time. By Nym's account, you're staying right on course, and with Lumen's positive encouragement, she navigates with confidence, spotting landmarks and keeping them in sight as you keep plodding along. You spot a good variety of forest animals, including chipmunks, squirrels, birds, some deer and even a wild boar; nothing that proves remotely threatening.
The afternoon hours pass quickly, and eventually, the light inside the forest starts to get much more dim, signaling the end of the day. You figure it will be dark within the hour.
(Survival check to find a good campsite. Anyone can help.)
Kess will assist with finding a campsite, grateful for having picked up a few magical tricks in travelling with the party; hopefully, she wouldn't be doing her best impression of a knucklehead trout flopping around off of the banks of Maer Dualdon in the summer sun anytime soon.
"Y'know, this almost reminds me o' when I used ta go campin' in the hills," Chrys says conversationally to the others as they search for a place to rest. "Well, 'cept without the view. Nothin' but trees 'round these parts. Still, the ground ain't too different. E'en better, if I have ta be honest. It ain't as rocky. Nothin' like findin' what ya think is the perfect spot in a meadow, an' fallin' asleep in it, only to wake up with a crick in yer back 'cause ya slept on a stone."
She helps the others to find what she considers the "ideal" camping spot -- "It's gotta have lotsa moss! An look out fer roots or sticks under the surface, or you'll be regrettin' it tomorrow mornin'!"
Lumen encourages the party, inspiring Nym the Navigator again, to keep marching a few hours into sunset. “It’ll make the journey a bit faster, and it’ll be easier on Nym’s eyes. Plus, if we keep pressing forward, we can find a nice clearing and maybe do some stargazing. Nym, has Duaric taught you the constellations? I bet he hasn’t taught you the orcish ones. They’re messy, but imaginative.”
Nym chuckled along with the dwarf's laugh at her acceptance of her role in the party's dynamic but then swallowed awkwardly as she brought up a rather good point. Who would be the one best suited to try and quietly retrieve the elvish children? Chrysoberyl, Kessdarra and herself were all fairly armored and thus too heavy to be light on their feet. Which just left Lumen and Vesper. Not wanting to bring the matter up herself just yet, the cleric concentrated on their travel for a bit before catching the elvish warrior smiling back at her and Nym smiled back in amused surprise and confusion, not saying anything since she didn't either. She did seem to be focusing rather hard on her new sword... Was she communing with her own deity about it? Or perhaps it was more of a warrior thing?
Instead of pestering the woman with questions about it, Nym kept quiet and consulted with Chrysoberyl and the map that Aelor had drawn up for them to make sure they were on course. But for a moment she could have sworn she saw an odd light on Moonpetal just before Kessdarra sheathed it. Noting the odd instance for another time, she listens eagerly to the jovial story of the fighter's soggy mishap, laughing at the unconventional image of the put together elven warrior in such a position, smothering it with a hand as she eyes Kess with companionable mirth in her eyes.
As the sun got lower and thankfully wasn't directly in her eyes, Nym had to squint less as she tried to look for said ideal campsite. "I can't say that I can relate, but I also can't say that I don't envy your experiences." Smiling at Chrys before nodding along with Lumen's encouraging tune and words with a grateful dip of head. "I-I wouldn't want to impose though. It's rare for surface races to be able to see well in the dark, or is it?" Not entirely sure. "He mainly just taught me the few big ones that are important to know where you are. It's still...really weird to be honest. I can't help but look up at it," Gesturing to the sky and canopy, "Like a cave ceiling. But I'm interested in learning these orcish constellations." Regardless, she would press on until the rest of the group decided that they had found a good enough spot.
(Survival Roll: 18 + 4 = 22 )
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
After walking a bit further and ascending a few hundred feet, you come across a stretch of nice, flat grassy ground at the top of a hill beneath a rather large oak tree. This spot seems to offer an ideal campsite, and a decent vantage point from which to keep an eye on your surroundings.
As the sun sets through the trees, you get a brief view of golden light bathing the lower terrain off in the distance. This gives you a pleasant sight for your eyes, and also an indication of just how far the expanse of forest stretches all around. Then, the last light fades, and the twilight of evening descends upon you.
"I can keep first watch," Chrys offers, as everyone digs into their rations for a hearty dinner. It's surprisingly tasty for nature-food, as Chrys likes to call it; maybe these druids really are onto something, she thinks, as she munches on some of the dried berries provided in their packs. "This wasn't so bad for the first day... let's hope the rest o' them can be this peaceful," she mumbles around mouthfuls.
As she listens to Nym marvel at the sky, she looks up at the twinkling stars. "If ya think this is somethin', you should come to Twilight Tor sometime. That's what we're most famous for, an' why we get all the tourists," Chrys tells Nym. "The Simril festival is a yearly gatherin' we hold specifically to go stargazin' at night. The view's real good from the mountainside. We say all them stars in the sky are the sparks from the Duin's hammer, an' that he put 'em there so travelers would never lose their way in the evenin'. Ah... good ol' home. When ya look up at the sky, it makes ya feel all small, like you ain't nothin' more than one of them specks o' stars. But everyone put together shines enough to 'luminate the whole evenin' sky. Knowin' you're a part o' that tapestry makes ya feel like you're part o' somethin' bigger, too. I like it. We all do our part an' shine as best as we can, an' together, we become somethin' beautiful."
If a watch roll is needed: 15
After setting up camp on top of the hill and enjoying a dinner of rations provided by Dauric, Chrys settles down to take the first watch. Although the sky is now too dark to enjoy the distant view over the surrounding forest provided by this vantage point, she at least has a full view of the immediate area, and would likely be able to spot anything approaching from below.
She sits in the still night air, watching the stars twinkling above, feeling very small indeed, and feeling very far away from Twilight Tor, and anything she ever knew from her younger life. In fact, not one of her friends or family members would have the slightest idea where she is right now, atop a remote hill deep inside the High Forest, with the company of a large, twisted oak tree next to her, as she makes her way her way to a supposed ancient elven city even further inside the wood.
Looking at this old tree, she cannot help but wonder what it has seen here at its vantage point high above much of the surrounding forest, if trees can even see. As the gentle breezes blows over the hill, she can hear the faint rustling of its leaves above. Listening closely, it almost sounds like a series of faint whispers, although she cannot discern anything specific. Perhaps it's only her ears playing tricks on her in the dark.
Eventually, her shift ends, and she wakes the next person who will take over the watch before retiring to catch some much needed sleep and prepare for another long day of travel through the woods.
(Lumen will take last watch!)
Kess will volunteer to take second watch. As much as she wanted to properly sleep, she knew that the use of a trance was more prudent here.
Vesper will take third watch.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Following Chrys, Kess takes her shift, followed by Vesper and finally Lumen. They each watch the stars over head, which seem to shimmer with extra brilliance every so often. At times, they're so bright that they even illuminate part of the distant forest all around, which makes it seem like a dark, rolling ocean of faintly illuminated leaves treetops. Other times, the light is not quite as bright, and all is dark around you.
Fortunately, nothing bother you during this first evening, and all is peaceful and quiet for the entire night. When the sun finally comes up, you can see it illuminating the entire forest below with a brief glow of magical, golden light. You wake feeling rested and ready for another day, where you will hopefully make good progress as you continue your journey towards Vehlarr.
Departing your campsite, you descend the hill away from the oak tree and drop a few hundred feet down a long, moderately steep embankment until the terrain levels off and you find yourselves deep in the heart of a huge expanse of thick forest. Much more dense than the woods that you walked through yesterday, this area seems like a near-impenetrable woodland, compared to much of the other parts of the High Forest that you've navigated.
The thick undergrowth beneath the canopy stretch as far as the eye can see, which isn't very far, but with every step, it's the same thing. The trees are gnarled and twisted, casting strange shadows across the forest floor, and they seem to grasp at you as you walk by, occasionally snagging on, and even ripping bits of clothing and scratching your skin. The howls of wolves ring through the woods, as well as the near constant creaking and moaning of the woods themselves. Although light does penetrate through the thick canopy, the thin shafts of light do little to illuminate this umbral woodland.
You suddenly realize that navigating here will be much more difficult, and dangerous, and your travel pace suddenly becomes noticeably slower than normal. You get the sense that there are likely to be many more hazards in this primal landscape, as well. As you move through this tight landscape, and pick your way through the tangled undergrowth and under and around an endless sea of sharp branches, you see a multitude of different plants, mosses and flowers growing on the forest floor and climbing up the trunks of the trees, many of which are types you have never seen before, even for Kess, who has traveled much more extensively through forested areas.
Lumen's been really rather quiet for the last day or two, humming to himself in a low bass tone and being helpful, and considerate, if brusque when spoken to. He usually helps scout ahead, offering to make himself or someone else invisible if needed. Whether it's from the task ahead, or frustration at not being able to create music (due to the group's need to stay quiet), you can't be sure. But he offers to inspire people as they attempt difficult things, whenever needed.
Chrys simply focuses on getting through the forest. The High Forest was bad enough, and that place was downright friendly, compared to this one. She keeps her lookout for trouble as the others do the work to ferry the group across the difficult landscape.
(Can make perception rolls if needed)
(Sorry for the long gap in posts, work's been kicking my butt.)
Nym would stay up for a bit that first night first with Lumen and then Chrysoberyl, talking of the stars and wondering what Twilight Tor was like in person. She marveled at the cultural customs of the woman's people. But her previous exhaustion still wore on her and she took advantage of being among allies in a more or less safe space to try and actually sleep after she did her nightly prayers to Eilistraee. It seemed like the group was equally quiet as the roused and Nym couldn't help but notice the unspoken cues and symbiosis that they showed. Each taking up their own roles and pulling their weight. It only mildly made her feel like an odd wheel and made her strive to be of help. Making sure to keep her eyes and senses keen as she continued to lead.
While she was used to occasionally cramped and narrow tunnels, the atmosphere of this cloying forest was much different. Everything setting her on edge and causing her to stiffen and pause for a moment to try and look about or listen before continuing. It was slow going. Especially with her becoming increasingly interested in the odd flora they were coming across. "My mother always said that the prettier something or someone is, the more deadly... Do you think that's the case for these?"
(Nature Check: 15)
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
It's slow going today, and you spend the better part of the day picking your way through the thick brush, descending into and climbing out of steep gullies, and trying to make sure you're staying on track. Nym seems to do a good job of navigating, with inspiration and help from Lumen, and by late afternoon, she feels that you guys are making relatively good time and maintaining your course, despite the constant meandering.
The travel is tiring, though, and as you trudge your way through this thick forest, you do your best to stay alert as you go forward with each step. You occasionally hear the sounds of wolves off in the distance, and every once in awhile, the seem to get closer, before receding again in the background. Eventually, the day comes to an end, and you manage to find a halfway decent campsite on a small patch of flat ground. There's just enough room for you to cram your tent and bedrools close together admits the tree trunks and brush. As far as campsites go, it's nothing special, and certainly way less appealing than the site you had last night, but it's no better or worse than anything you've come across during the past few hours.
As you set up camp, you begin to hear the sounds of wolves again, and they seem to be getting closer.
Need watch order and perception check.
"Your mother sounds like she is a woman of good sense and grace," Kess would comment to Nym as the party went, doing her best not to trip over winding ancient roots and thick brush that likely needed a good burning to renew that part of the forest. "Appearances can be deceiving, for certain; apparent fragility is not always so. I've seen deer kicking wolves in the face with such force that the predator spent the next several minutes laid out in a daze. It's quite something to witness!"
And speaking of... that was when she heard the howls.
"Mm... speak of a fiend and it shall appear," Kess would comment to herself at the approaching wolfsong, wary at hearing the echoing howls approaching the party's position. "It may be wise for us to think about sleeping in the trees tonight, if we can manage it. I'd think we'd rather not awaken to a dozen sets of snapping jaws at our throats. I'm willing to take first watch, if you all would like..."
Kess would listen carefully, doing her best to try and focus, seeing if she could pick out the direction of the howls from the echo through the timbers.
Perception: 8