Voyage of the Windhook: Campaign

"Hunting small game for a preserve, you?"

Gliding as lazily as possibly next to the bounty hunter

"I've encountered a nuisance though, a local militia of sorts, barbarians really"  His voice takes on a slightly disgusted tone as if they are 'lesser' in some way, " barbarians but effective ones.  They infest the grove there" gestures at the grove the party moved on from "but I got the impression something else had already riled them up. MY quarry appears to have moved on though so I guess it is professional courtesy that compelled me to warn you.  Just don't trust the tree."

He falls silent awaiting a reply.

Shatter's helmet gives a nod.  "I appreciate the tip."  Shatter turns a bit, scanning the ground and the horizon.  

A steady silence for a few minutes.  "I have a contract.  I'd advise you keep out of the way.  Unless your quarry is the same as mine.  Then..." the helmet figure turns to look back at Wilson.  "I'd advise against keeping your contract.  I'd prefer to keep the body count low."

The mounted bounty hunter continues to circle in the air.  Noticing the lone figure off in the distance, but seemingly uninterested in the Ashgard falconer.

Morgan remembers the loxodon hexblade warned them that the Ashgaurd have a keen sense of smell and was specifically told to avoid them, tries to see if the Loxodon managed to pick up their scent. insight 4 Either way Morgan isn't going to lead this guy back to the their team. Morgan goes towards the hubtown "Good thing I covered myself in Urine earlier holdfully that masked my true sent some..."  When they get a chance they'll make sure they aren't being followed or watched, perception 12 and they'll hide in the tall grass again stealth 16, use disguise self to look like a Wilsonish aarakockra and then cast Fly to get off the ground and rejoin the team.  Morgan will tell them about the Falconeer, and that they were caught, but they'll say it was to see if they had anyclues on them and not just because they wanted cool knives. 

Once Morgan is out of sight, the Ashgard seems to pay them no interest - thinking they are nothing more than one of the several bandits along the roads and countryside.  It's hard to tell if the Ashgard picked up on Morgan's scent or not.  Seemingly not interested enough to follow, regardless.

Shatter eventually loses interested in Wilson, continuing to fly and search.  Not finding any reason to engage with the Ashgard below.  Flying over the crew hiding in the farms, unable to find them from their swooping search.

The Gnome begins to take lead once again, moving slow as to stay stealthed.  Only using what little bursts of speed he has to move from one best fit hiding spot to the next.  

Two Days Later
Camp - Night

The Gnome seems to have regained most of his strength.  The glow in his eyes, and liver spots brighter.  Like a candle that's trying to stay alive.  He constantly uses his walking stick to itch his shoulder blades, grumbling.  He's lead you all in a dizzying array of wandering.  Both trying to get you lost, and perhaps a bit confused.  

((Navigator's Tools + INT Check to find yourself on the map DC 13.  Or, INT Check DC 16))

"It's about an hour south from where we are.  I think," the gnome says as he scratches his back.  "Don't think I could make it tonight.  Feet are killing me."

The small clearing where camp has been made does show signs of footprints, and activity ((Survival to know more)) - but nothing on the horizon can be easily seen.  Periodically a loud and incredibly deep sounding bass tone echoes through the camp... feeling like pressure against the crew's chest.

What do you do?

Lafetha cast Harth of Moonlight  to protect the group (+5 to stealth and perception checks if you use them)

survival 12

Over the couple days traveling with various conversations Tarak asks the gnome his name and tries to get to know him.

Tarak notices the gnome scratching his back more than normal. “Are you ok? I’ve noticed you scratching a lot. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Persuasion if needed. 11

He glances over to Tarak, looking him up and down.  That warm toothy grin spreading across his face as he shakes his head.  "I guess you can call me Sir Ouro, if you need a name.  But, not much one can do for this itching.  Just slowly healing from what the ruffians did to me.  Always gets itchy."  

He takes the stick and taps the bones covering Tarak's arm.  "That messes with your divine sight doesn't it..."

Tarak looks at the gauntlet. “I suppose it can. But there are burdens that I must carry for the greater good and pray that the Queen blesses me with the strength to always contain it.

Sir Ouro, why does your skin glow like that? Is it a divine blessing?

How do you know what the gauntlet is? I am hunted for this can it be tracked? Can it be hidden?”

When she gets a moment to herself, Abigail attempts to find where they are on the map (Navigator's Tools: 7), but does not let on if she happens to figure it out... 

((She mainly wants to make sure that the gnome has not been wasting all of our time in a significant fashion through his roundabout route... because otherwise, we may need to have some words reiterating how saving him was not part of the original contract.))

Abigail will also check the site (Survival: 13) to see if she can determine if there is any immediate or future danger.

Either way, she will suggest that the group attempt to keep a low profile when not on lookout.

Abigail, the map...

Rolling it back up, you take a few moments to look around the campsite.

Survival (10 - 14)

 Ouro lets out a small laugh.  "Blessings are... an odd choice of words.  I just am.  If you listened to my grandmother, her grandfather was a Unicorn.  A divine gift for some kind of nonsense.  But me?  I'm just me."

His stick taps on the bones again.  "Remains of a Wish Dragon.  Some would say they are creatures of horrible power and evil.  Next time you're in a library, or a grand temple, look into the stories of the Hunt."  He taps a few more times.  "I suppose it could be tracked.  But honestly, I don't know.  Only seen drawings and a few of the bones before.  Never so many put together like this though."

Morgan talk to the gnome in intermittent burst, "how did you get caught? They caught me like twice, and I was thinking about getting caught on propose to try to find you... that was probadly not the right call, I'm glad we found you.  What are you going to do after this? You want to join a river boat company? I could probadly get you a job on that, it's okay, but great if you've got a history of needing to leave for a while town until things blow over. You have any idea what the Ashgaurd want to do? Anything we should expect once we get to where we're going? Any face I should wear? If we get in a fight for some reason can you handle yourself?... tee hee..."

Morgan makes a note that when they get to a descent library to look up how to shunt their patron and to look up wish dragon bones.... and half unicorns they hope half unicorns are like centaurs . Morgan takes first watch perception 7 (forgot about the +5 bonus from Hearth of Moonlight and Shadow)

Through out their trip, camp fire chats, and times during their trek - Morgan and Ouro get into some intermittent conversations:

"I'm not entirely sure on the how I was caught.  Well... they once got me cornered at a room I was staying in and then dragged me away.  Only so much I can do to stop a team of brutes.  So they knocked me out and before long, I was bound and questioned for however long it's been."  He gives a bit of a sigh, knowing he lost track of time.  "But the greater sense in the how I got caught.. maybe I was sloppy.  Maybe there's a mole.  Maybe it was just dumb luck."

During a conversation about boats, he gnome looks physically ill for a minute.  "Boats and all their rocking..." he shakes his head as he comes back to the conversation at hand.  "I'm afraid I will likely have more work to do once this is all done.  At some point.  So after we get through all this, I've got to come back to Unity.  I could possibly try to find all of you work; assuming we make it through all this together and at least me and some others alive.  Always have need for skilled folks at arms."

While sitting by the campfire, an hour away from the town.  "What do they want?  Well, they want what I hid," the gnome gives a bit of a wink before continuing on.  "Where I hid it does have some kind of monster living around it.  Reasons I would say we go in morning light, rather than night.  I think it's nocturnal, and currently making that sound," he holds his hand on his chest.  Feeling that low bass line coming from the air.  "So I would certainly rather not deal with it awake, but perhaps asleep?  But I'm not a fighter.  I never studied the martial arts, unlike you all," he states gesturing to the weaponry most people are carrying.  "So I will likely do my best to... stay behind the biggest one of you in the back."

Tarak quirks an eyebrow at the mention of the Wish Dragon. Filing the topic away for later. When he mentions the monster Tarak asks for details about what the monster looks like and what danger it might bring if roused.

If he gets a description Nature 2

He simply shrugs.  "Leaves bones behind.  Probably eats yaks and other large animals. I'd put the races of the world on the menu.  But didn't stick around to find out."

((Feel free to post other questions from the two day travel / night before / other rolls - but also giving the prompt to go forward))

The night passes without incident, the crew taking to their shifts at the watch.  Once the sun begins to break, the gnome is one of the first to assist in getting things underway.  Leading the crew out towards the horizon.  The hour journey passes without much issue.  It's more of a climb along flatter roads.  The land near the coming village feeling different.  Swaths of clovers and small grass.  A more reddish, fine sand-like dirt that has flecks of blue in it.

A faint rumble, and the sound of a explosion from the distance rock the crew's ears.  A rude wake up call, but still they press on.  Reaching the top of the hill and seeing the village ahead.  It's more run-down than the others you've been in, and passed by.  Smaller.  Likely far less people actually live here than the others.  The surrounding region doesn't appear to be that stepped terrace system the Loxodon have terraformed this area into.  Instead this town appears to be a quarry.  Along the outskirts two large pits where they've been excavating.  A elevator clearly visible through the outer homes that leads down.  Giving some shade to one section of the town are three, intertwined large trees.  Long since having died but their massive branches still covering and providing shade when the sun would be up higher.  

Ouro ((21)) holds his head, face twisting in pain as he nearly collapses.  "No no no no...." he rolls back and forth on the ground.  Another explosion sound rumbles from one of the two quarry pits.  "They know... they know...."

His breathing becomes a bit faster.  "Ok.. ok... ok."  Golden eyes snap open as he looks around between the crew.  "Ok... we have a window.  I need you all to get inside there as fast as possible," he points to the quarry.  "Down in the caves, I hid a box.  It's no bigger than this," he gestures with his hands. Making it seem like the size of a tin of pickled fish.  "It's the nesting chamber.  If you haven't seen it yet.. you're not deep enough and if you passed it you've gone too far."  Wildly he looks around, as if trying to see if you're followed.  "No.. they wouldn't have to...." he mutters to himself before reaching into his mouth, and plucking out a tooth.  He gives it over to Abigail, "This'll help you to deliver it, and to keep it safe."

Abigail you feel...

...the Gnome close your hand around it with a small nod.

"Now.  I have to hide.  Or run.  They just tried to find me, through whatever powers they have.  I think I resisted once.. but.. I don't think I can do it again."

He grimaces in pain as two dull gray beams of light spill out of his back.  Dirty looking gray wings sprouting from his back made of that translucent gray light.  "...go.  Now."

What do you do?

"Alright team, looks like it is time to get down to business."

Abigail looks around to see if there are scouts or guards present (Perception: 18)

If there are no signs of individuals set to monitor nearby, Abigail suggests making haste toward the quarry entrance; shifting over to stealth once they get closer.

If it looks like their are guards stationed outside the entrance of the quarry, then start stealthing over now.

Stealth: 18

Abigail's quick look around doesn't reveal any guards - per se.  But there are the villagers beginning to wake up and begin their day.  Heading off to the quarry to mine.  Others moving around the street, saying hello to one another.  It's likely only a third of the population of the village you first arrived at.  Moving closer to it would be quite obvious.

Without knowing how deep it is, more intel will be needed.  Likely an attempt for the group to stealth over to the elevator and it's controls.  Or attempt to climb down what could be a very deep pit..

Tarak thanks the gnome for his help and wishes him well when Sir Ouro sprouts wings Tarak definitely wants to know what that is about. Maybe they are connected to Dragonborn.

Arcana 10

Then Tarak heads into the cave with the group. He will be up front sword and shield at hand if needed.

Perception 6

Tarak glances at the gnome - definitely not connected to Dragonborn.  More along the lines of the Aasimar.  

Abigail heads forward, the others following behind.  She gestures to get down; there is enough people out...  Nobody sees anything like a guard; there haven't been any except the two in the library.  

The Loxodon people are friendly enough that stealth may not be required; but it will require plenty of talking.  And will be a dead giveaway to the Ashgard if they're here, or show up.  But, there appear to be two easier entry points to the quarry.

The first is heading over to the elevator.  It involves cutting through the town itself, between the buildings and eventually reaching the machine to be lowered.  From this distance, it does appear that they can be operated from inside the box.  Likely a pully system inside.  ((Stealth rolls for everyone))

The second option, is skirting around the town.  While there are some rocks and boulders to hide around, it'll be clear if caught what you all are trying to do.  Not to mention, having to climb down into the quarry itself which could be a issue for all save Wilson and Abigail.  ((Stealth rolls for everyone, followed by athletics checks to climb down))

Morgan says, "Makes more sense to blend in with the crowd and then try to talk our way out of, then relying on us to climb somewhere... remember the undead hydra pit? we suck at climbing." Stealth 17